Sheffield United 0 Watford 1: Blades beaten by away stars

SHEFFIELD United manager Gary Speed saw his side draw a blank for the sixth time in all competitions this season but is backing his players to start finding the net.

Only Ched Evans, Richard Cresswell and Jean Calve have scored Championship goals for United this term and Speed knows that must change if they are to arrest their slide down the table.

Speed said: "Goalscoring is a recurring theme. It was a problem already before (Saturday) and it's not something new at all.

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"If you aren't scoring then you aren't going to win football games. That's obvious.

"Have I got faith in the strikers? Yes, of course I have. They're the only ones that I've got but that doesn't mean I don't have belief or faith in them. I have.

"What we've got to do is keep working hard on the training ground. That's the only thing we can do other than try and bring somebody else in.

"We're always looking but doing business in the loan market isn't as easy as people think."

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Watford were among the favourites for relegation before the start of the season but find themselves in fourth place in the Championship table after Marvin Sordell's goal gave them victory at Bramall Lane.

Speed has only won three of his first eight games in charge since replacing Kevin Blackwell in August but the former Leeds United, Everton and Newcastle midfielder believes he is learning the ropes the hard way.

He said: "Hopefully our luck will change.

"Obviously it's been a hard introduction to management for me but, in the long term, I think it will stand me in good stead. This situation, this challenge, will make me a much better manager."

Watford manager Malky Mackay hailed his side's 'guts' after they held on to record their impressive win.

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Sordell scored in the 16th minute but Mackay was then delighted with the way his side dug in to record a fourth away win of the season.

He said: "I'm delighted with another away win. This place, throughout my career, has been a tough place to come – both as a player and a coach.

"It's no different as a manager so to start in the fashion that we did is very pleasing.

"After the interval I was pleased with the guts and commitment we showed when defending. That was good to see; people throwing their bodies in the way and working hard for each other.

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"To be up where we are makes me very happy and I think we're good value for it, especially away from home."

Sheffield United: Simonsen, Calve, De Laet, Nosworthy, Jordan, Yeates, Montgomery, Ertl (Evans 71), Quinn (Slew 86), Bogdanovic, Cresswell. Unused substitutes: Wright, Morgan, Britton, Taylor, Lowton. Booked: Jordan, Yeates.

Watford: Loach, Doyley, Mariappa, Martin Taylor, Andrew Taylor (Hodson 71), Buckley (McGinn 61), Eustace, Mutch, Cowie, Graham, Sordell (Deeney 46). Unused substitutes: Gilmartin, Walker, Bryan, Bennett.

Referee: Colin Webster (Tyne & Wear).