Heckingbottom says ability to fight back is no fluke

Posted Sunday, April 16, 2023 by PA

Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom praised his side’s character after their 4-1 win against Cardiff at Bramall Lane.

The visitors took the lead early on in the lunch time clash but with an almost instant equaliser from James McAtee and a second half onslaught with goals from Jack Robinson, Iliman Ndiaye and Ciaran Clark ensured an important win for the Blades.

The three points cement their position in second place and they remain favourites to take the final automatic promotion spot behind Burnley.

Heckingbottom said: “The fact we won 4-1 after going behind shows a lot about the group. It’s not the first time in recent weeks.

“It says a lot about what we are trying to do. Our message has been the same regardless of what the outside narrative is.

“We knew it was going to be tough, Cardiff are scrapping for their lives and we knew they would throw everything at us and try and impose their style. We were prepared for them to try and create stoppages but that doesn’t mean it’s not frustrating. It can have an effect on our crowd.

“James (McAtee) has been doing what he did today more and more, we can see that in training and now in games. He’s been growing into the Championship and it’s these things we wanted to sign him for.

“We have put ourselves into a position where it’s about us. It was the same at Sunderland and Blackburn – we went behind and it was the same today.

“The really pleasing thing is it says a lot about our character. We talk a lot about not panicking in any situation and that really helps at this stage of the season.

“Yes, Middlesbrough won again and Luton’s form is unreal. It feels strange because of the run we went on last year.

“Nothing we are doing is a fluke, we have been sustaining it for a long time. Every time we win the margin of error gets tighter for the teams chasing us.”

Cardiff manager Sabri Lamouchi said his side, who remain in relegation battle, could have had a better result without the small mistakes.

Lamouchi said: “When you lose it’s never a good day.

“Of course, I’m not happy with the result. I’m not happy because today my players deserved something else. But we need to take care of the small details. Unfortunately with the small mistakes and small details against us, it is like it is.

“We started the game very well and I can say that the first half was very good. We probably deserved to stay ahead, because they score with their first shot and we could score our second with Joe (Ralls) in that one-on-one with the keeper. We missed our chance to increase the score or to come back in the game.

“But given it was like that, we need to be more of a killer in the two boxes and not give anything away. Against a good team like Sheffield United it’s a mistake and you pay.

“We take it game by game. We have five games to play. One more than the others, it will be five finals. But as I said to my players, if we play like we played today, we will not so unlucky.

“If we take care of the small details, we can avoid the small mistakes, and we can maybe have a different result.”