United finished 3rd in the illustrious 2002/2003 campaign, where the red and white wizards also reached the semi-finals of the League and FA Cups. The Blades ended the season with 80 points, exactly the same total they collected this season.
The first-leg of their play-off semi-final was at The City Ground where Nottingham Forest were the stern opponents. Michael Dawson saw red for a rash challenge on Steve Kabba. David Johnson gave the hosts the lead but Michael Brown converted from 12 yards to make it one a piece going into the highly anticipated second-leg at the Lane.
Over 30,000 Unitedites and Forest fans were in attendance to watch a seven goal thriller at Bramall Lane. Michael Brown, Steve Kabba, Paul Peshisolido and own goal from veteran Wes Morgan edged United through to the play-off final. It must be noted that the Blades were losing 1:3 on aggregate at one point, but the deficit was overturned in a truly entertaining game. Johnson, Reid and Robert Page (OG) were the three scorers for the Nottinghamshire outfit but Neil Warnock's men went through 5:4 on aggregate after extra-time.
The Blades marched to Cardiff to face 5th placed Wolverhampton Wanderers. Just under 70,000 made the trek down to the Millennium Stadium to watch Division One's play-off final. Mark Kennedy, Nathan Blake and Kenny Miller were on strike for Wolves in a 3:0 victory. Michael Brown's missed penalty rubbed salt into the wombs when United had to settle for another season in English's second tier.