Sheffield United: Apology to sidelined Blades Trophy star

Baxter struck two penalties and was withdrawn shortly before the Blades were awarded a third spot-kick 16 minutes from time – which Che Adams netted.

Adkins, delighted his side started to make amends after a disappointing 2-1 weekend loss at Port Vale, added: “We had a giggle about it in the dug-out.

“I think Jose is still talking to me. If he’d still been out there on the pitch, then we might not even have got the penalty. Who knows?

“Jose took them really well. I asked him after he’d scored the first if he’d take another one and he gave an emphatic ‘yes’ which shows the confidence he’s got from those situations.”

Matt Done and Stefan Scougall also netted on a good night for the Blades, who hit three goals in the first half to ensure they head into Saturday’s home encounter with Rochdale in renewed heart.

That said, United suffered a scare early on when Done, on the mend after a broken collarbone, went down injured - but Adkins says the problem was not related to that old injury.

He said: “Matty played really well. It was nothing to do with his collarbone.

“He runs around and we know all about his capabilities. That was another real positive for us out there.”

“We played some good football and changed the shape, but with a few players coming back from injury well. Matty looked likely and Che up top and we scored some good goals.

“We scored five and could have scored a few more.”