Sheffield United: Disapproving Clough questions Blades’ desire after sorry loss

Despite being destined for League Two football next term, while United’s competitive fires are still burning, it was Paul Sturrock’s Glovers who possessed the intent with a goal midway through the second half from Stuart Arthurworrey sealing victory.

It was only the rock-bottom west country’s outfit fifth home win this term and first success of any sorts in eight matches.

The Blades remain in fifth spot, although Chesterfield are now just a point behind them, although a bad night at least was not made worse with seventh-placed Rochdale failing to cash on Clough’s side’s loss, with Fleetwood also losing too.

On a poor night in Somerset, Clough, who will be expecting much better at home to Yorkshire rivals Bradford City this weekend, said: “It comes from within. The individual and showing exactly how much you really want it.

“That’s why you see someone like John Brayford out there shining like a beacon.

“He covered more ground than probably anyone else out there and that pitch because he was trying to drive people on.

“There’s nothing to be gained from going overboard or singling out individuals. Because, with the exception of John, it was a group thing out there.”

Injuries to Steven Davies and Ryan Flynn added to Clough’s frustration and while it has undeniably been a long and strength-sapping season for the Blades, the Bramall Lane chief was in no mood for excuses for building momentum likely to be a key aspect of any successful play-off crusade.

He added: “Yes, they looked mentally and physically tired out there which, to a degree, is understandable.

“But we said to them during the break that it doesn’t matter how mentally or physically tired you are, just go out there and get a result.

“Even if it had been 0-0 then, although we’d have got all this negative stuff again, it would have kept the unbeaten run going and that would have seen us go nine points clear.

“The only consolation is most of the others losing. But that makes it even more disappointing because that was a chance to effectively put things to bed. Now there’s a lot more riding on the final three.”