John Egan says Sheffield United believe as daunting relegation battle resumes

BELIEF: John Egan (right of group) celebrates Sheffield United's opening goal at Bristol Rovers

With just two points from their opening 17 games, the history books and all logic would suggest hope is lost for the Blades to be playing top-flight football next season. But having made a habit of defying the odds before, and buoyed by their long-awaited first win of the campaign in the FA Cup on Saturday, centre-back Egan expects them to go into the game with a positive mindset.

“We approach it with belief,” said Egan, who started his career at Newcastle's local rivals Sunderland. “We always believe in ourselves. It's decided out there on the grass in 90 minutes and everyone here is highly motivated every week, every game, no matter what. That's all we're focused on.

“The next game is the most important one in the Premier League no matter who you're playing. It's up to us to try and earn the three points. We're 17 games in now and we can't blame anyone else but ourselves, we can't make excuses, we've just got to go out there and try and get three points.”

The Blades came through a hard-fought 3-2 win over Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium on Saturday, with Jayden Bogle and more significantly striker Oliver Burke getting their first goals for the club. That Lys Mousset's shot led to the first, albeit it went down as an own goal after ricocheting off the goalkeeper, will also have been important as the centre-forward is yet to get off the mark in an injury-disrupted season.

The victory was Sheffield United's first in 22 matches.

“Any game you play, you want to win,” said Egan. “We had a good cup run last year (getting to the quarter-finals) and any game you win breeds confidence, no matter who you're playing. The win at the weekend will definitely have given a few lads confidence and it's always good to have a cup run.”

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