Sheffield United manager Kevin Blackwell has praised his team’s character after the Blades 1-0 victory over Peterborough United at Bramall Lane today.
United ended their seven game run without a victory, and the Blades manager also claimed his 100th managerial victory.
Despite seeing little of the ball for the final forty-five minutes, and negative tactics being utilised from the start of the second half, Blackwell praised his team for the professional performance they put in.
‘Overall I think it was a fair result but most of all I am just delighted that we have got the win at last – and with a clean sheet which we haven’t had for a long time either.
‘We created some good chances in the first-half and I think Ched Evans’ shot which hit the bar did bounce down over the line so we could have been two or three up.
‘People should remember that we had two lads making their debuts today in Williamson and Camara, and Ward playing only his second game in three months.
‘We knew that they would tire and that helped Peterborough more the longer the game went on which is why we tried to shore things up through substitutions.
‘There were some tired legs out there, especially when Peterborough were throwing the kitchen sink at us. We were getting overmanned which is why we tucked Quinny in there.
‘With Darius Henderson suspended we had no target man but I think Camara and Evans did a really good job. Camara’s movement early on was Premiership class and the defenders couldn’t handle him.
‘The way he took his goal showed the predatory instinct of a quality player we haven’t had recently, but his hamstring was tightening and we took him off because we couldn’t risk losing another one to injury. He hasn’t played for about five months.
‘Lee Williamson can run beyond defenders and has an eye for goal. Although, surprisingly, he was running out of steam in the second half he showed that he will be an asset when he is match sharp.
‘Mark Bunn made a terrific save from the penalty. It is proving hard to get another goalkeeper worthy of being in our side, which proves just how good Paddy Kenny is because replacing him has proved almost impossible.
‘With Ian Bennett out for three or four weeks and the loan deadline next week we can’t do without bringing in another goalkeeper before Christmas. But it means we have to do something for the short term until then, and again for the long term.
‘It was a big game for us to win and when we needed to show character we showed it in abundance. And the good news is that Henderson is back next week, along with Naysmith, Cresswell and Montgomery so we should start to try and get something like our best eleven out there.
‘We have been used to going on long unbeaten results and having a reputation for being mean as regards conceding goals, and we want to get back to that.’
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