Sheffield Utd v Peterborough: Clough urges Blades to pile on pressure at the top

The Blades are unbeaten in six games and have pulled to within nine points of the automatic promotion places in League One.

But after draws with lowly Coventry and Crawley in two of their last three games, Clough sees home fixtures against Peterborough United and Fleetwood Town this week as a chance to atone for recent slips.

“It’s a good opportunity this week because we’ve thrown four points away,” said Clough.

“You’re not going to win every game, you’re going to get setbacks for whatever reason; sendings off, conceding daft goals.

“It’s the way we react to those setbacks and it’s important we make it up in the next two.

“There’s no reason with the fixtures we’ve got why we can’t put some pressure on. Our aim is take it to the last game of the season.

“When you look at the fixtures, the teams above us have all got to play each other.

“If you can put that run of games together then it’s massive.

“We’ve gained six or seven points on MK Dons and Swindon in the last six games. We’ve got to do the same in the next six and see where we are from there.”

United’s recent form of four wins and two draws is bettered only by Preston, who have won their last five games to draw level with second-placed MK Dons on 62 points. Everyone else in the promotion hunt has faltered in recent weeks, save for Bristol City, who are now eight points clear at the top.

And Clough, whose team have 53 points and a game in hand on the MK Dons, believes his team are growing in belief while others may be struggling to handle the demands of the promotion race. “I think the pressure is more likely to get to MK Dons than Swindon because they’re not as experienced,” he said.

“I think Preston and Bristol City have the most experienced squads, they’re less likely and it looks like we’re chasing those two at the moment.

“But we’ll give them a run for their money. We’ve just got to keep getting results.

“It’s frustrating for us because of those dropped four points against Coventry and Crawley.

“We are maybe a young side but we’ve got experience, and we were able to strengthen in January, more than anyone else really.

“We’re still improving, we’re not there yet, we’re probably about three quarters of the way there.

“Whether it’s with the current players or certainly making one or two additions, that would help get us to the next step.

“The next step is turning a draw at Crawley into a win.”

And to ensure they start doing that in a remaining 14 games which sees them play none of the top four, Clough is demanding his side show a versatility to their play and that players take greater responsibility.

He cites the recent away trips to Rochdale and Crawley as prime examples, as the former never allowed the Blades a moment to settle, while the latter sat back and invited United on.

“The players need to recognise it’s a different game,” he said.

“Everything was 500mph at Rochdale then four days later at Crawley we arrived with the same mindset, and it was a different game at Crawley.

“You need to change and adapt.

“The players are responsible when they step on the pitch, we can only give them guides and pointers beforehand. We need them to take a bit more responsibility and recognise what type of game it is.

“Ability, quite a lot of the time, is very similar, but decision-making, thought-process, that’s what sets good players apart.

“All you can do as a manager is encourage them, show them, tell them.”

On the challenge Peterborough pose, he said: “We need to show a bit less patience than we did on Saturday, and show a bit more decisiveness and urgency to get us a goal.

“There won’t be many teams coming to Bramall Lane and being expansive. Even MK Dons came here and were cautious. It means we have to play slightly differently and be a little more dynamic around the penalty area.”

Clough also had to defend his side’s inability to score from corners, stressing the fact that his side are small and therefore set-piece routines are practiced with the onus on getting the ball to the front post.

“There’s no point us whipping it into the penalty spot when they’ve got four or five six-footers and we’ve only got one,” he said.

“Defensively, we’ve got to stop giving free-kicks away.”

Defender Terry Kennedy is out indefinitely with a knee injury, while goalkeeper Mark Howard is close to a return.

Last six games: Sheffield United WWWDWD; Peterborough DLWLLW.

Referee: O Langford (West Midlands).

Last time: Sheffield United 2 Peterborough 0; March 4, 2014; League One.