Swindon v Sheffield United: Adkins detects flaws in expansive Robins

The Blades make their return to Wiltshire today following that scarcely believable 5-5 League One semi-final, second leg draw on May 11, with the Robins going through 7-6 on aggregate.

It proved Nigel Clough’s swansong and his successor is predicting another exciting game today, hopefully without the palpitations in the Blades’ box.

Adkins admits to being a fan of Swindon’s ‘total football’, but the manager in him acknowledges a few flaws in it, too.

Adkins said: “They are a good team and it will be a good game and I am looking forward to it.

“Mark (Cooper) has got them playing the way I love watching football to be played, which is playing out from the back and through the thirds.

“They are very exciting and expansive. But being very expansive, sometimes you leave yourselves very open as well.

“It will be a challenging game, but one we are looking to embrace.”

Four Blades players have been called up for international duty this week, with Che Adams hogging the lion’s share of the limelight by virtue of his England Under-20s call-up.

Another England Under-19 call-up for team-mate Louis Reed was heralded with less fanfare, with Adkins delighted with his development, too.

He added: “Louis is a young lad who has just turned 18 and it is great he has been called up into the England Under-19 set-up.

“He’s a long way to go. But he’s working hard and that’s important.”

United’s game at Colchester next Saturday is now postponed due to international call-ups.