Sheffield United: Substance not style is the key for Clough

The Blades tightened their grip on a play-off position and have now accrued 13 points from the last 15 available, with goals either side of half time from Marc McNulty and John Brayford enabling them to triumph at Scotland.

Jack O’Connell pulled one back for Dale but it proved only to be a consolation.

Clough said: “It won’t come any harder than the last three away games we’ve had, Bristol City, Notts County and Rochdale.

“Rochdale cause you loads of problems, they play with so much attacking freedom, mix it up and go short, long.

“Keith Hill has got them very competitive to say the least, I think the two games we’ve had against them have been as hard as any this season.

With a third of the way through the season left, it’s not really about being pretty; it’s not even about playing good football at times.

“It’s about getting the results and what’s necessary to get those.”

United now face another away trip, to relegation threatened Crawley Town, at the weekend.