Blades win one of best nights of my career – McLaughlin

McLaughlin was the hero of a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over the Blades after getting the nod ahead of regular first-team goalkeeper Matt Duke.

Manager Phil Parkinson now has to decide whether to stick with the 24-year-old for this Saturday’s FA Cup first-round tie against Rochdale.

McLaughlin had not started a first-team game this season but saved three penalties and also foiled Blades winger Billy Clarke in the final seconds of the game.

“I would definitely say it is one of the best nights of my career,” he admitted. “And it is always great to win big games like this.

“We have been a bit up and down in terms of our form but we seem to be really playing well in the cup competitions.”

The Bantams had already beaten Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield Town and Sheffield Wednesday in penalty shoot-outs to reach Tuesday’s northern area quarter-final.

They are now just two rounds away from the final at Wembley and will discover the identity of their next opponents when the draw is made on Sky’s Soccer AM programme on Saturday morning.

“We knew it was always going to be tough against Sheffield United,” added McLaughlin. “We knew that they were a really good side and were doing well in their league.

“We knew we were going to be asked a lot of questions, and that was the case, but fair play to all of our lads though. Our back four was really solid and we limited them to very few chances.”

Manager Parkinson confessed afterwards that ‘the pressure was on’ following his side’s dismal home defeat by Cheltenham last weekend.

The Bantams are only one point clear of the League Two relegation zone but will be able to forget their troubles, albeit briefly, this weekend in the FA Cup.

Reflecting on his side’s victory at Bramall Lane, Parkinson said: “It was a very good performance and a great response after a very poor performance on Saturday.

“I felt the pressure was on, irrespective of coming to play a big First Division club. We demanded a performance out of the boys and they produced it. I thought we were immense.

“We showed a lot of courage in the way we played and we got the ball down and passed it – which takes bravery because we were live on TV and up against a very good team.”

Parkinson was also impressed with the performance of defender Simon Ramsden, who made his first appearance in nine months after injury and scored in the penalty shoot-out.

“His performance was absolutely outstanding. The way he has conducted himself and the way he worked in the gym and training ground to enable him to play 90 minutes is an absolute credit,” added Parkinson.

“I can’t speak highly enough of Simon. All the young boys in our dressing room have got to use him as an example.”

Ramsden, 29, will now be hoping to keep his place against former employers Rochdale.