Sheffield United v Burton Albion - Nigel Clough will look to quieten crowd in hope of them turning on Blades players, says Nigel Adkins

SHEFFIELD United manager Nigel Adkins believes that his predecessor Nigel Clough's primary motivation will be quietening the home crowd tonight '“ not securing personal payback.
Graphic by Graeme Bandeira.Graphic by Graeme Bandeira.
Graphic by Graeme Bandeira.

Burton Albion boss Clough makes his first return to Bramall Lane this evening following his sacking by the Blades in late May in the wake of their failure to clinch promotion to the Championship.

Surprise League One leaders Burton – who Clough took charge of in December following Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink’s exit to QPR – currently look far better placed to reach the second tier in 2015-16 than 10th-placed Blades, who trail the Midlanders by 16 points.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But Blades boss Adkins, who has urged his side to show patience against defensively-strong visitors this evening, is not expecting Clough’s approach to differ from any other visiting manager who has brought a team to Bramall Lane this season.

Former Sheffield United manager Nigel Clough returns to Bramall Lane for the first time tonight, as boss of Burton (Picture: James Williamson).Former Sheffield United manager Nigel Clough returns to Bramall Lane for the first time tonight, as boss of Burton (Picture: James Williamson).
Former Sheffield United manager Nigel Clough returns to Bramall Lane for the first time tonight, as boss of Burton (Picture: James Williamson).

Adkins, confident that his side still have every chance of reaching the play-offs this season despite their inconsistent recent run, said: “Ultimately when you go back, it’s about winning because you represent the football club you are at. It’s about winning for them and the supporters you have got.

“All managers want to do well here and I speak to all the managers that come.

“They know when they come to Bramall Lane that if they can just keep the crowd quiet for five minutes they will turn on the home team and it makes life a lot easier for them. I have done it previously when I have come as a visiting manager.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“For us, it’s another game and for those who saw it (on Saturday), it was very good for an hour. It was probably even alright after the hour; it was the scoreline which did us.

Former Sheffield United manager Nigel Clough returns to Bramall Lane for the first time tonight, as boss of Burton (Picture: James Williamson).Former Sheffield United manager Nigel Clough returns to Bramall Lane for the first time tonight, as boss of Burton (Picture: James Williamson).
Former Sheffield United manager Nigel Clough returns to Bramall Lane for the first time tonight, as boss of Burton (Picture: James Williamson).

“That’s the top and bottom, but when you break down the structures of it, there was a lot of very good stuff that went on.

“However, it means nothing if you lose. But you have got to believe you are doing the right things.”

One man well placed to speak about the merits of both managers is utility player Chris Basham, brought to the Blades by Clough from Blackpool in 2014.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

While Adkins’s maiden season in South Yorkshire has not worked out as he would have wished for so far, Basham remains confident that his meticulous analytical approach will eventually reap its rewards.

On Adkins and his Blades predecessor Clough, Basham said: “These are probably two of the most influential managers I’ve had in my career.

“They’re both different people and different managers, but they’ve both been really good for my career and taught me a lot. I’ve had the best times of my career under them as well.

Nigel Clough really brought on the defensive side of my game and Nigel Adkins is just so thorough in terms of the analysis and detail he gives you.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Seeing what happens behind the scenes, I know the work the gaffer and his staff put in is going to bear fruit.

“He’s very different in what he does; we do lots of video work, coming in on a Sunday and stuff like that.

“The work they have done on this system is really good, they’ve worked so hard on it.

“When we cross that line, it is up to us though.”

Last six games: Sheffield United DLWLWL; Burton WLWWLD.

Referee: S Stockbridge (Tyne & Wear).

Last time: Sheffield United 1 Burton 2, August 6, 2013; Capital One Cup.