Last updated on .From the section Football

Captain Billy Sharp was hoisted aloft by jubilant Sheffield United fans after the Blades confirmed promotion to the Championship

Sheffield United confirmed their return to the Championship after a six-year absence with victory at Northampton.

The Blades knew a win was enough to send them up and, after Marc Richards put the hosts ahead, Leon Clarke and John Fleck scored to secure promotion.

Chris Wilder made a triumphant return to Northampton, having led the Cobblers to the League Two title last season.

United will win the League One title if they take four points from their final four games of the campaign.

Even if the Blades had lost, they would still have been promoted as third-placed Fleetwood were beaten at Oldham.

John Fleck's late winner at Northampton secured Sheffield United's 26th league victory of the season

Blades end long wait to leave League One

Promotion from League One has been a long time coming for United, who were relegated from the Championship under Micky Adams in May 2011.

They had three failed play-off campaigns in their previous five seasons in the third tier, but have secured automatic promotion this time around with four games to spare.

Danny Wilson, David Weir, Nigel Clough and Nigel Adkins all had spells in charge of the Blades before Wilder, a boyhood Sheffield United fan, was named as manager in May 2016.

Wilder's appointment came shortly after he had led Northampton to automatic promotion from the fourth tier, but he made a slow start as his new side took only one point from his first four league matches.

However, the Blades have lost only three more league games since 20 August and have not dropped outside the top two places in the division in 2017.

Key to the club's success this term has been captain and striker Billy Sharp, who has scored 26 goals in 42 league outings.

Since the start of the 2015-16 season, Wilder has taken charge of 88 league matches and won 55, collecting 187 points.

Sheffield United need four more points to win the League One title

Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield: "It's just incredible. It's life-changing and I feel quite emotional about it.

"We all put our heart and soul into it. They're a special group of players and they deserve to go down as that because they have had pressure on them week in and week out. I am so proud of them.

"The scenes at the end of the game and in the dressing room will live with me for a lifetime."