Maguire urging Blades to play on front foot against Fulham

But that is what the Cottagers face on Sunday when they travel to Bramall Lane for the fourth round of the FA Cup

With over half the season gone 20-year-old Sheffield United defender Harry Maguire is United’s top marksman with six goals to his name.

The latest came in Saturday’s 2-2 League One draw with Yorkshire rivals Bradford City, which left them still in trouble.

Without a league win in 2014, Nigel Clough’s Blades have the same points as fourth-from-bottom Shrewsbury and have scored just 26 goals in as many games. Only bottom club Stevenage have a worse goalscoring record.

That sorry statistic makes United’s stunning 2-1 win at Premier League Aston Villa all the more impressive. It came in the middle of defeats on the road at Walsall and Notts County.

Goals from Jamie Murphy and Ryan Flynn shocked Paul Lambert’s top-flight side and secured a televised fourth-round tie with Fulham.

Sheffield-born Maguire believes while the league table does not lie, it does not fully reflect United’s resurgence since Clough arrived.

“The Cup is a game where we play Premier League opposition and all the lads want to play,” said Maguire, who has previously been linked with a £4m move to Manchester United.

“It’s reward for going to Aston Villa and winning. It’s another game where we want to be positive and show Fulham that we can actually put up a good fight. With a bit of luck on our side, like we had at Villa, we can win. It’s a game of football over 90 minutes and anything can happen.”

The Blades have impressed in their last three home games, the Boxing Day draw with Oldham, a 3-1 win over Tranmere, and Saturday’s draw with Bradford.

Against the Bantams, United looked to be cruising at 2-0 until Gary Jones’s deflected shot deceived goalkeeper George Long and James Hanson then capped a derby comeback.

With four out of United’s next five games at Bramall Lane, Maguire, pictured celebrating Saturday’s goal, believes this is something he and his team-mates can build on over the next month.

“We felt the performance was good in the second half against Oldham, all the game against Tranmere, and then on Saturday,” he said. “If we carry on in that fashion, on the front foot, positive and going at players, creating numerous chances, we will be okay.

“We now need to take it into the next game against Premier League opposition.”

Murphy had put United in front against Bradford, and when Maguire headed home Jose Baxter’s cross it looked like being a welcome home win.

“We came out like a house on fire in the first half and deservedly went 2-0 up,” he said.

“Bradford had two what you can’t really describe as anything but lucky goals.

“The first one took a deflection which could have gone anywhere, and the second one came off the striker. On another day, we could have won by five or six.”

Top goalscorer is an unwanted tag for Maguire – he has already beaten last season’s tally of five – and he would prefer to see a striker leading the way.

He hopes to reach double figures this season, but Saturday’s goal ended a lean spell for Maguire who was given a gentle reminder before the game.

“My dad was saying before the game I hadn’t scored for 11 games, so he was on my back a bit.

“I am trying to aim for double figures. I know it will be hard, I have had a bit of a dry spell.

“I am still having chances every game and feel when I do go up for corners, I feel like I can score.”

Goalscoring centre-backs are worth their weight in gold, and Maguire did start out as a striker in his early playing days.

“When I was younger, I started off centre midfield, but as I grew I moved to centre-half,” he recalled.

“I played as a centre-forward when I was eight or nine, played for Brunsmeer and a bit at Barnsley.

“But I wasn’t that good. That’s what happens – when you are not a good centre-forward you move to midfield, and when you’re not a good midfielder you move back. I will probably put some gloves on soon and see if I am better there,” he joked.

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