Although they reached the play-off final, the team were beaten on penalties by Huddersfield Town at Wembley Stadium, thus failing to achieve promotion and being destined to spend the following season in League One.

[5] Following relegation from the Championship at the end of the previous season, company chairman Kevin McCabe sacked manager Micky Adams, insisting that the club needed a new start to take them forward.

[7] Wilson began to assemble his back room team, appointing former United defender Frank Barlow as his number two,[8] fellow former Blade Billy Dearden as chief scout[9] and Dave Morrison as fitness coach.

[15] The club announced a low-key series of friendlies for July,[16] while Wilson continued to reshape his squad, allowing young defenders Kingsley James and Phil Roe, both products of the Blades Academy, to leave and rejoin former boss Micky Adams at Port Vale on free transfers.

[29] The Blades won the opening game of the season away from home, outclassing Oldham Athletic,[30] but a strong side needed penalties to overcome Hartlepool United at Victoria Park in the first round of the League Cup a few days later.

[31] Midfielder Kevin McDonald was added to the squad on a free transfer after a lengthy trial period,[32] before the Blades resumed their league campaign, beating Brentford at home,[33] and overturning a two-nil deficit to overcome Walsall at Bramall Lane.

[34] Having spent the previous season on loan at United, Argentinian Elian Parrino returned to South Yorkshire on a one-year deal from Estudiantes de La Plata,[35] after which the Blades embarked on a four match run of away games in the space of eleven days.

[47] Danny Wilson added to his defensive options by signing Marcus Williams on a months loan from Reading,[48] with the defender making his début only hours later, although he was unable to prevent the Blades from crashing to their first league defeat of the season as they were trounced 3–0 at home by Huddersfield Town.

[56] Despite this disappointment the team bounced back to score an emphatic away win at Preston a few days later with both new signing Matt Phillips and old hand Lee Williamson netting two goals apiece.

[60] Once again the Blades quickly responded to the setback by beating fellow promotion rivals MK Dons 2–1 at Bramall Lane,[61] but then conspired to throw away yet more points, allowing Exeter City to come from behind twice in the closing minutes of the next game to snatch a 4–4 draw.

[66] By mid–November, and with Danny Wilson still seeking to add to his attacking options, it was reported that former striker and fans favourite James Beattie had returned to training with the club and could be handed a contract depending on match fitness,[67] and a short term deal was duly signed a few days later.

[85] The following week Wilson continued to overhaul the squad with reserve keeper Mihkel Aksalu leaving the club on mutual terms,[86] but was boosted by 'fans favourite' James Beattie agreeing a deal to remain at Bramall Lane until the end of the season.

[94] After various match postponements due to a spell of bad weather and the various cup competitions United finally returned to league action in mid February with new signing Hoskins scoring on his début as the Blades ran out 3–0 victors over Wycombe Wanderers.

Despite their form, United suffered a catastrophic start to March as they lost at home to Oldham Athletic having had a two-goal lead only to see both Matthew Lowton and Harry Maguire sent off and the team subsequently collapse.

[103] With the entire back four unavailable, United were forced to draft in Matt Hill and John Egan on emergency loans,[104] but this was not enough to prevent them slipping to their third defeat in four games as they capitulated at Walsall.

[105] Danny Wilson remained keen to find first team experience for the younger members of the squad and as such allowed Seamus Conneely to join Alfreton Town on loan[106] before United returned to winning ways with two goals from Ched Evans being enough to defeat Brentford at Griffin Park.

[107] Unfortunately the Blades failed to take advantage of their game in hand, being held to a draw by Colchester United,[108] before once again allowing a lead to slip as they drew with Tranmere Rovers at Bramall Lane.

[119] The next week however their campaign was dealt a crushing blow as star striker and top scorer Ched Evans's case came to trial where he was found guilty of rape and sentenced to five years in prison.

[121] Worse was to come as United could only register a draw with Stevenage in a dramatic final home game at Bramall Lane, meaning they slipped out of the automatic promotion places for the first time since February.

[124] The Blades entered the second leg still bereft of forwards, with Richard Cresswell having contracted an illness on the morning of the game, so were forced to play with just Chris Porter as a lone striker once more.

[128] Experienced defender Chris Morgan was appointed reserve team coach at the start of the season and given the responsibility of developing the young players which made up the bulk of the side.

In January 2012 Danny Wilson expressed the need to reform the reserve team structure due to this infrequent number of matches citing that experienced players do not gain much from them and the cost of staging the fixtures as issues.

Following a nine match unbeaten run the title was clinched with the final game of the season as United held a strong Nottingham Forest side to a 1–1 draw at the coach and Horses ground.

[128] Danny Philliskirk ended the season as top scorer, having netted six goals, whilst he was also the joint leading appearance maker along with Matty Harriott and Shane Murray.