Chris Kamara has added his name to the list of football dignitaries backing Sheffield United for promotion after naming Kevin Blackwell as March’s Coca-Cola Championship Manager of the Month.

Former Blades midfielder Kamara, now a television pundit and chairman of the Coca-Cola Manager of the Month Awards panel, plumped for Blackwell after the United manager led his charges through an undefeated month, which included clashes with two of their rivals for promotion to the Premier League.

“Sheffield United had the hardest fixtures out of any team in the Championship and came through with flying colours,” Kamara said.

“They beat two of their fellow promotion contenders, Birmingham City and Cardiff City, and in doing so, have put themselves in contention not only for the play-offs, but also for automatic promotion if they continue this sort of form.”

Also in contention for the recognition were Owen Coyle (Burnley), Mick McCarthy (Wolves) and Bryan Gunn (Norwich City).

Blackwell added: “I am very happy to receive the award on behalf of the club but managers don't win games, players do, so I think it should really go to them - and everyone connected with Sheffield United who has helped, including our supporters. Since I came about 14 months ago we must have had around 60 games and I think our record in those would put us top overall.

“The award is for the month but we have been building for a long time.”

Blackwell’s exact record since taking over from Bryan Robson is an impressive 30 wins from 62 games, and United’s haul of 14 points from a possible 18 last month has catapulted them to fourth in the table.

After watching his charges keep up the pressure on the top two with a 2-0 victory over Ipswich Town at Bramall Lane on Saturday, Blackwell dismissed talk that the award is 'cursed' - instead preferring to give his team the plaudits after a Greg Halford wonder strike and a archetypal header from Darius Henderson ensured United began this month as they finished the last.

"We talked beforehand about the so-called managerial curse," Blackwell admitted, "but said we should just get on with the job.

"Ipswich couldn't really contain us in the first 30 minutes, and we could have sewn the game up with four or five goals.

"Greg has so much ability, and the sky's the limit for him."