Sheffield United 3 Rochdale 0: Wilson will fight to keep rookie Lowton at Blades

SHEFFIELD United manager Danny Wilson has vowed to ‘fight tooth and nail’ to keep defender Matthew Lowton at Bramall Lane.

Lowton, wanted by Championship clubs Burnley and Cardiff City, produced a top class performance against Rochdale this weekend to help the Blades chalk up a third consecutive league victory.

The Chesterfield-born player insists that he is no rush to leave – but his future may still be dictated by the financial pressures at Bramall Lane.

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Wilson said: “I don’t want Matt Lowton to go anywhere. He’s a terrific player and one that we want to work with for a long time.

“We don’t want to let anyone go at this moment in time because we are doing well. Whether it happens or not, I don’t know?

“I am guessing there will be a few people looking at him but we are going to fight tooth and nail to keep him,” he added. “If something happens we will have to react to it.”

Lowton, 22, has been a first-team regular less than 18 months and previously spent time on loan with Sheffield FC and Hungarian club Ferencvaros.

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But his performances at rightback have quickly won a host of admirers fuelling speculation that he may be sold in the New Year transfer window.

“It is flattering to read links with other clubs but I have to keep my head on playing for Sheffield United,” Lowton said.

“If anything comes in, it is up to the club whether they want to listen or not,” he added. “But Sheffield United is where I play at the minute and I want to play well for them every week.

“We are in a great position to get promotion – which was our aim at the start of the season – so it would be nice to carry that through and get rewarded for playing well.”

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Two goals from Ched Evans and a third from Richard Cresswell put paid to Rochdale this weekend – but the main talking point after the game was the health of Dale goalkeeper David Lucas.

Knocked out in a collision with defender Dean Holden, the game was delayed for over 10 minutes as Lucas received treatment from medics.

He was taken to hospital suffering concussion but was able to re-join his team-mates for the coach journey home.

“When you see someone with an oxygen mask on and their eyes closed, you fear the worst sometimes,” said Wilson, who managed Lucas at his previous club Swindon Town.

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“They are not nice moments but thankfully I have just seen him walking through the door and he is okay which is terrific.”

Lucas, who spent three years at Sheffield Wednesday and also played for Barnsley and Leeds United, had been stretchered off the field to applause from all sides of the stadium.

The Blades were often second best in the first half and it took a brave one-on-one save from Steve Simonsen to deny Nicky Adams and keep the scoresheet goalless.

But Evans settled United’s nerves on 39 minutes and Lucas’s subsequent injury on the stroke of halftime dented Rochdale’s concentration.

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The Blades started the second half intent on imposing greater authority.

However, there was still a general unease at the back which offered Dale hope of getting back into the game.

It was not long before a section of home supporters began to tire of Lecsinel Jean-Francois, the fullback with a penchant for a misplaced pass.

The hapless Haitian managed to regain some favour by delivering the cross which enabled Cresswell to make it 2-0 with a near post flick.

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By sharp contrast, Lowton – the full-back at the opposite side of the field – enjoyed one of his best performances for months. A willing worker and always available to join in the attack, it was easy to see why he is being linked with a clubs higher up the league.

“A lot of things have been said about Matty but if he wants the accolades he has got to come up to that standard every week,” said Wilson.

“I am not sure he knows what’s in his own locker yet. He’s still testing himself. But as the game wore on we saw what he is capable of doing.

“When we are playing like we can, he is a major threat. When we start to get our game going he is instrumental in what we do on the attacking side.

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“But sometimes I think he’s quite happy to sit back and see what is going on,” Wilson added. “When he drives the game, he is arguably the best in the league but he has to understand that attacking is part of his game that also helps the team.

“Defensively, he is as good as anybody but going forward he is a fantastic outlet. There’s a lot of legwork for a fullback but tough luck, that’s what the job is, you get up and down that park. I want more from Matt and I think he has got more in his locker.”

When Evans scored his second of the game – a beautifully converted freekick with 26 minutes to play – the game was effectively over .

Not even the introduction of Dennis Bergkamp’s nephew Roland as substitute could inspire a Rochdale revival.

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The last time the Blades hosted Rochdale, HMS Sheffield had just been bombed by the Argentines in the Falklands war.

The Blades have been a sinking ship for the last few years, but there are signs now that the club is rising from the deep.