Robson is making difference for Blades that McMahon expected

The pair spent almost three years together at Middlesbrough so know each other’s game inside out. McMahon, a summer arrival from the Riverside, thought the former Scotland international might just make all the difference to the Blades’ push for automatic promotion and so far he believes his former Boro team-mate is doing just that.

He said: “Robbo has done really well for us. You know what you will get from him. He works his socks off and the gaffer managing to bring him to the club was massive for us.

“He has played a lot of football and is someone who knows how to win games. For Celtic, he played in the Champions League.

“The delivery he provides is brilliant. He has a great left foot and I can see why he wants to come inside on his left all the time. The standard of the balls he delivers are great.

“He sees passes that most don’t. I spent a few years with him at Middlesbrough and we know each other’s game well.

“When he plays on the right in front of me, I love linking up. He helps me massively.”

Robson’s positive influence on United was never better illustrated than in Good Friday’s 1-0 win at Tranmere Rovers.

Against one of their main rivals for promotion, United produced the kind of away performance that makes managers drool with a defensive steel married to an ability to eke out openings.

Robson was behind most of the latter with his eye for a pass and ability on the ball shining through even on a surface as terrible as Prenton Park.

Wilson was delighted with all his players. However, as his side prepare to host Carlisle United today at the Lane, the Blades manager has praised both Robson and 
McMahon.

He said: “As the game went on, Barry got better and better. He knew when was the right time to get on the ball and play.

“Barry and Tony know each other’s game from playing together at Middlesbrough. It is a very similar partnership to Matty Lowton and Lee Williamson (last season).

“The telepathy between the two players was there from day one and I see the same thing in Barry and Tony.”

That understanding will again be put to the test today as United look to complete a league double over the Cumbrians, Wilson’s men having triumphed 3-1 at Brunton Park in December.

Another win would be a big boost to fifth-placed United’s hopes of breaking into the top two.

McMahon said: “We need to take what we did at Tranmere into every game this season.

“Our performance was really professional. We had a few chances to put the game to bed, but we defended really well as a team.

“Every single one of us stood up to the battle to earn a really important three points.

“I thought the result on Friday was massive. We knew beforehand that nothing less than a win would do so it was great to get that.

“It maybe wasn’t a great game to watch, but after losing like we did at Stevenage (4-0) it was important we bounced back.

“To be honest, not a lot got said after Stevenage because we all knew what needed to be put right. I think that showed against Tranmere.

“We dug in, defended well and also got a great goal.”

McMahon’s final comment was delivered with a huge smile and a laugh, as it was the full-back’s ambitious 40-yard shot which Rovers defender Ash Taylor sliced horribly into his own net to settle Friday’s game.

However, while the winner may have had an element of fortune about it, the three points it helped secure mean United go into today’s game firmly in the hunt for automatic promotion. Just four points separate the top five and with Wilson’s men having games in hand on all their rivals, they are feeling confident. McMahon added: “The table is really tight thanks to a few results going our way last Friday. Doncaster losing was a big one for us.

“Having said that, we have to just concentrate on what we do. We have two games in hand on everyone bar Brentford, who we have one on.

“If we keep winning then the league will take care of itself and we will take top spot, which is where we want to be.”

Jamie Murphy will again be missing for United despite travelling to Tranmere on Friday, but manager Wilson hopes to see him back soon.

In League Two, Rotherham United will, like the Blades, be looking to build on a 1-0 Good Friday win to further their promotion hopes.

Steve Evans’s side travel to leaders Gillingham in confident mood after seeing off AFC Wimbledon at the New York Stadium three days ago.

Also facing a long Bank Holiday trip are Bradford City, who face Torquay United at Plainmoor.

A 2-2 draw at home to Southend United caused further damage to the Capital One Cup finalists’ slim hopes of gate-crashing the play-offs.

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