Sheffield United v Nottingham Forest: Forget the mind games and dig deep, says Blades boss Adams

The Blades, who host Nottingham Forest tonight, have now gone 14 games without a league victory and remain six points adrift of safety in the Championship relegation zone.

Over recent weeks, Adams has been bombarded with offers from psychologists who are convinced their skills could make a difference to the team in the final 11 games of the season.

The Blades manager, however, has largely been unimpressed and has shut the dressing room door on their advances.

“If the players are fighting battles against themselves in their minds, they shouldn’t be at a club like Sheffield United,” he said. “You have got to be a big player to play for a big club like this and I always believe – when you are having these periods in life – you have to dig deep and be mentally tough and change it around.

“I am getting lots of strange people ringing me up to offer their services – psychologists, team building people – but, it is funny, at the beginning of the season when I was top of the league in another division (with Port Vale), I didn’t get any of them.

“Now, because we are bottom of the league, you get all these people who think they can change everything.”

Asked if he had accepted any of the offers, Adams said: “No. We had someone in talking about ‘team ethics’ but they have not invented the wheel or anything.”

Tonight’s game against fifth-placed Forest has stirred memories of one of the club’s most celebrated mid-season revivals and could even serve as an inspiration to the club’s current squad.

Just over 20 years ago, the Blades had gone 16 games without a league victory in the top flight when they defeated Forest 3-2 at Bramall Lane thanks to goals from Ian Bryson (2) and Brian Deane. The following month, Dave Bassett’s side clocked up seven consecutive league wins and eventually finished nine points clear of the First Division relegation zone.

Bassett, now 66, recently returned to Bramall Lane as a ‘football advisor’ which could also be a lucky omen.

“We have got to believe something like that can happen again,” said Adams, “Anything is possible.

“In the last three games, we have conceded five goals – four from set-pieces and one penalty – so, from a football point of view, that is not too bad,” he added. “We have to take a bit of confidence from the fact that teams are not scoring goals against us from open play. If they do have a mental block at the minute, it’s when we concede set-pieces. So you would think the mentality would be ‘don’t give set-pieces away’ or ‘don’t give them away cheaply’.”

Midfielder Micky Doyle, one of seven new arrivals since Adams took over on December 30, said there had been a number of dressing room meetings involving players – all designed to help bring about a return to winning ways.

“I have been here eight games now and it’s been really disappointing,” said Doyle. “We are all pulling together and having meetings between the lads to put things right. We talk about everything, how we can do things better, and everyone has an opinion. A few of us have been in this situation before and there are a few big characters. I am still confident we can get out of trouble we just need that first result to kick us on.”

Forest suffered a first home defeat of the season on Saturday against Hull City and have won only one of their last seven games. However, the Blades are still seeking a first win under Adams and have not won since beating Swansea at home on December 18.

Nick Montgomery, Joe Mattock and Sam Vokes are all likely to return to the Blades starting line-up tonight after spending recent weeks on the sidelines. All three were on the bench for last weekend’s 1-0 defeat at Portsmouth.

Adams, who spent six months with Bassett at Forest 12 years ago, expects an open contest tonight and said: “They will be wounded after losing on Saturday and will want to come and get back to winning ways.

“I don’t see them playing like Derby County (in the last home game) – sitting behind the ball and hoping for the best. They will have an attacking philosophy, particularly with their attacking players, and will come and play, but we don’t have to fear them.

“They were difficult times when I was at Forest,” he recalled. “We were dealing with problems like Pierre Van Hooijdonk but every football club has its problems.

“He quite liked me actually,” Adams recalled with a smile. “He just hated ‘Harry’ (Bassett) – but I think the feeling was mutual.”

Last six games: Sheff Utd DDLLLL, Forest LWDDDL.

Last time: Sheff Utd 0 Forest 0; December 8, 2009, Championship.

Referee: A Bates (Staffordshire).