Sheffield United vs Watford

14 UTB
UTB: Would it be a fair
comment to say as a team we
are stronger when the game is
tighter, rather than more open as
it perhaps has been in the last
couple of matches?
WF: “We are at our best and
look at our best when we are
defensively solid first and the
quality shines through, that
has made us a good side and
recently the standards have
perhaps slipped, and we’ve
looked a bit more fragile. When
a game becomes stretched
we are usually good in those
scenarios too, there have been
instances when games have
become stretched earlier in the
season and defensively we’d
got it right, so we’ve managed
to see games out, but when we
do get it wrong defensively we
can look more exposed and
unfortunately that has been the
case of late and we’ve paid the
ultimate price when the game
has become basketball like. If
we can get back to being solid
at the back and control the
game in and out of possession
I’d always back us to score at the
other end.”
UTB: Is it important to stay
calm and focused in the current
situation, there has been a lot
of noise from outside the club
about automatic promotion, but
there are still 14 games to be
played?
WF: “We are very much where
we want to be, but the reality
is two games ago we were in
a much stronger position than
we are now. You can’t be naive
though and think the run-in is
going to be plain sailing, there
will always be twists and turns
in this division. This is probably
a period now where we really
have to knuckle down and grind
out some positive results and
I’ve got no doubts we’re more
than capable of doing that, we’ve
already shown our resilience
numerous times this season.”
UTB: Has a blank midweek
come at a good time this
week, giving the manager and
his staff the chances to work
more with the players on the
training ground?
WF: “Coming off the back of
two defeats in a week, it has
been ideal for us. The chance
to get on the training
pitch more, work on a
few things in greater
depth and have a
bit more rest has
certainly been good
for us and hopefully
that’ll reflect in our
performances
moving
forward. This
league can be
really frantic
at times and
momentum is
always key at
this stage of
the campaign,
so to take a
step back,
reassess
and refocus
will hopefully
work to our
advantage.”
SHEFFIELD UNITED vs WATFORD