Walsall v Sheffield United: Every cup is crucial as Blades look to progress

Will it be the afternoon last April when he led Sheffield United out at Wembley ahead of an FA Cup semi-final? Or maybe one of the two times he won at Old Trafford when sporting the colours of Leeds United and Coventry City?

Failing that, it could even be this year’s triumphs for the Blades at Premier League duo Aston Villa and West Ham United.

Regardless of which game Doyle plumps for, what is unlikely to be in even his top ten is a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy area quarter-final tie at Walsall.

That, though, won’t affect how the 33-year-old Irishman and United approach tonight’s trip to the Bescot Stadium.

“We take our lead from the manager,” said Doyle to The Yorkshire Post ahead of a tie that will be shown live on Sky Sports. “And he has made it clear since arriving at the club that every game is important.

“League, FA Cup, League Cup or Johnstone’s Paint (Trophy), it makes no difference to the manager what the match is. He wants to win and he wants to progress.”

Nigel Clough’s approach is clearly paying dividends with the Blades having followed last season’s appearance in the last four of the FA Cup with a place in the quarter-finals of the Capital One Cup this time around.

Southampton, the surprise package of the Premier League, await United at Bramall Lane next month but it is a competition that began life in 1983 as the Associate Members’ Cup that is focusing minds at the Lane right now.

The club’s record isn’t great. This is the sixth time United have played in the Football League Trophy and their best effort came in 1983-84 when Ian Porterfield’s side reached the Northern Area semi-final.

Five years later, the Blades qualified for the knockout stage but then lost to Wrexham and it wasn’t until 2011-12 that the club took part again due to being in the top two divisions.

Both the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons ended in penalty shoot-out frustration at the regional quarter-finals stage as, first, Bradford City held their nerve from 12 yards and then Coventry City.

Last season, a 1-0 home defeat to Hartlepool United in the second round signalled the end of David Weir’s short but troubled reign as manager.

The challenge for Clough’s men, therefore, is to beat Walsall and at least match the club’s previous best performance by reaching the Northern semi-finals.

Doyle said: “Promotion is the priority, as it is for every team. But we also want to do well in the Cups. This one is no different. It is actually a difficult competition to do well in.

“We are at the stage where people are possibly thinking about Wembley. But a team needs a lot of luck to get that far and we are no different. What with the two-legged area final and the later rounds coming during an already busy time of the season, injuries and suspensions can play a part.

“People might question whether we need another game after drawing in the FA Cup at Crewe to leave us with a replay next week but you won’t find any of the lads thinking like that.

“All we are concerned about is going on another good run. And we all saw last season how much impact a Cup run can have in the league. Good form feeds good form. The games are coming thick and fast but we prefer it that way.”

When United beat Hartlepool United in the last round, Clough made 11 changes from the previous weekend.

This time around, the Blades chief has vowed to play a similar team to the one held at Crewe Alexandra in the FA Cup first round on Saturday.

Despite that, Diego De Girolamo, Chris Porter, Stephen McGinn and Louis Reed will all be hoping to secure a rare start, while Iain Turner could be handed only his second start of the season in goal.

Ben Davies (foot), Michael Higdon (hamstring) and Murray Wallace (muscle) are all expected to miss out but Doyle insists United are raring to go.

He added: “We are not the sort to take our foot off the gas. Not beating Crewe was disappointing at the weekend. To me, we should have won the game quite comfortably and not scoring was a disappointment. Everyone is aware that in certain games this season we have failed to capitalise on chances created. But I wouldn’t say that was the case at Crewe.

“It was more that the ball just didn’t run for us in the final third.

“Nothing quite went for us. Now, though, we want to get through in another competition and that means winning at Walsall.”

Last six games: Walsall LLLWWD, Sheffield United WWWWLD.

Referee: D Coote (West Yorkshire).

Last time: Walsall 2 Sheffield United 1; January 1, 2014; League One.