As Sheffield United prepares for a date with destiny, a key aspect is laying the way for a survival fight.

 

 

Sheffield United will return to action after the international break with renewed vigour, having won four of their last six games. The 1-1 draw at Brighton on Sunday followed a 2-1 win against Wolves to keep their Premier League survival hopes alive.

Back-to-back games against Bournemouth and Burnley might determine the course of their season. The Blades, who have risen from the bottom of the table for the first time since September 23, now trail fourth-bottom Cherries by four points as a result of late comebacks against Wolves and Brighton.

Oliver Norwood’s 100th-minute penalty capped a superb second-half performance against Gary O’Neil’s side, before a powerful finale to Sunday’s battle at the Amex saw Jayden Bogle’s cross turned into his own net by Adam Webster.

It was a first point on the road and a huge step forward for Sheffield United, who moved up to 19th place. That didn’t matter much to Heckingbottom, who was more satisfied with how they concluded the game.

The fact that it came after such a good finish against Wolves was key for the Blades manager, who believes those closing moments are an indication that they are on the right track.

 

 

“It’s always about the points,” he continued. “There are a lot of reasons why we haven’t been able to pick up points, including how we started the season, final moments, minutes in games, home and away, and how we could have, should have, and maybe, but until you get them, they’re just excuses.” It’s crucial. It all comes down to points.

“We have to keep picking up points.” There have been moments in each game, but the pleasant thing for me, especially in the last two games, has been that we have been the stronger team at the end of the game, which is what I want to see. When you witness that, it lifts myself, the players, and the fans.

“You’re not seeing it and you’re clinging on.” By the way, I’d like to do it as well. I want to make sure we can win those types of games, but we’re getting rewarded for our efforts. We came away from a great team and jumped upon them in the second half and gave it our all.”

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Sheffield United showed Premier League doubters their true colors with an encouraging sign at Brighton.

 

 

Sheffield United have responded to critics who doubt their ability to compete in the Premier League with four points from two games before the international break, a mini-resurgence that has seen them rise off the bottom of the league.

United entered the two-week break following a fighting draw away at Brighton, their first away point of the season just over a week after their first victory of a season that was shaping up to be a battle. The corner has not yet been entirely turned, but confidence is increasing, with results in their next two games after the break – at home to fourth-bottom Bournemouth and bottom club Burnley – potentially determining their fate.

At times, United rode their luck at the Amex, with Wes Foderingham making a series of brilliant saves to keep them in the game, but Mahmoud Dahoud’s red card and Adam Webster’s own goal flipped the game on its head. Jayden Bogle pulled wide a golden chance to give United back-to-back victories, but any disappointment was short-lived.

“It’s a very good point,” remarked Ollie Norwood, United captain and former Albion player. “It’s always difficult away from home in the Premier League, and it was critical to stay in the game and take it as long as we could after conceding early.”

“It was tough [in the first half].”They make an excellent team. They’re really patient and may move you around as they play. As a result, it was challenging. It’s easy to lose faith, especially when you concede early, but we persisted.

 

 

From their perspective, the red card definitely impacted the game, but we were relieved to score so soon after, and we pushed and tried, but it wasn’t to be.

“It’s an excellent point for us away from home.” We’ve taken our fair share of thrashings, and the last few games have shown a little more of what we’re capable of. We’re battling for our lives and to stay in this league, so as players, we have to give it our all and see where it takes us.”

United’s approach was notable for their choice to accelerate when Albion were down to ten men, seeing their opportunity to attack and freeing up defender Auston Trusty to add to their attacking arsenal. And the strategy paid off when the former Arsenal man started the move that resulted in Webster’s own goal, with United’s Bogle losing his cool after a brilliant flick from Cameron Archer.

 

 

“You’ve got to realise what we’re playing against as well,” he said. “We’re up against top players in the world’s best league.” Because of their speed on the counter-attack, they are most threatening when we have the ball. That is something that every team possesses, and we were wary of it.

“At halftime, it was about believing more and being more aggressive.” Get closer to people and create more eye contact. They had it very easy, but their style of play is difficult to counter, and we were a little more aggressive. We felt we were coming into the game even before the red card, and then we got the goal and pushed, but it just wasn’t to be.”