Blades must dig in to overhaul the Owls again

DANNY WILSON has warned his Sheffield United side to ignore Rochdale’s league standing tonight as they look to reclaim second place from Steel City rivals, Wednesday.
By The Newsroom
Published 10th Apr 2012, 09:34 BST

The Blades slipped a place yesterday as the Owls beat Oldham at Hillsborough in front of the Sky cameras.

A point from the trip to Spotland will be enough to return to the automatic promotion places due to United’s goal difference being so superior.

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Wilson, however, wants all three points as United look to make it a fifth straight win in the race for the Championship.

He said: “We go to Rochdale now and they are fighting for their lives. Anybody who is expecting a pretty game may well be disappointed.

“We expect to have to work as hard for the points as we did against Bournemouth and we are sure there will be times when we have to be strong and dig in again.”

Rochdale seem destined to return to League Two just a couple of years after winning promotion under Keith Hill, who last summer left Spotland to take charge of Barnsley.

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He was replaced by Steve Eyre but another managerial change means United will take on a team led by former Accrington Stanley manager John Coleman.

Wilson added: “Rochdale will be wanting to claim a scalp and they will relishing competing against us. They will still believe they have a chance of staying up and they will be determined to try and get all three points.

“We have been playing well ourselves recently and will travel over with great confidence, making sure we don’t underestimate our opponents we too will be doing all we can to claim all three points.”

Wilson may consider giving Bolton loanee Michael O’Halloran, who replaced Richard Cresswell up front in the 58th minute of Saturday’s win against Bournemouth, an opportunity.

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“Sometimes you become a bit predictable and you need to change tack. Michael has great pace and has not had much game time with us yet but we are going to see a lot more from him when he gets a better understanding of us and we of him on the pitch,” said Wilson.

Last six games: Rochdale DWLLDL, Sheffield United DDWWWW.

Referee: E Ilderton (Tyne & Wear).

Last time: Rochdale 0 Sheffield United 1; January 16, 1982; Division Four.

Related topics:BladesRochdaleDanny WilsonKeith HillHillsboroughSky