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Blades showthere is life after Beattie - MATCH REPORT AND SLIDE SHOW
Watford 0 Sheffield United 2 THOU shalt never accuse Steven Gerrard of diving, foreign imports don't like it up 'em and Sir Alex Ferguson must always be obeyed.
Football is governed by various unwritten laws, the most important being, as Danny Webber and Darius Henderson reminded at Watford on Saturday, that players always score against former clubs.
Both were on target as Sheffield United delivered a result which not only consolidates their grip on the Championship play-offs but also, and perhaps just as importantly, saw Kevin Blackwell's side provide further evidence against the argument that when James Beattie departed for Stoke City last week promotion became an unrealistc aim.
Fourth in the table - now just seven points behind second-placed Reading - and with a winnable FA Cup tie against Charlton Athletic next on Bramall Lane's agenda ... even the most eloquent of orators would struggle to convince United's manager that the best he can achieve this season is respectability and consolidation.
"We are where we want to be," said Blackwell. "We're going well in the league, well in the cup and there's no reason why that can't continue.
"First and foremost, we want to make sure we come in the top six - that's got to be the most important aim - but we've got to believe we can catch the top two too.
"And the nice thing is that we don't seem to be in anyone's line of vision.
"Everyone seems to be looking elsewhere."
Should they continue in the same vein, however, United will not be able to slip under the radar for much longer.
It says much for the level of Beattie's contribution during his 18 months in South Yorkshire - 34 goals in 60 starts is a remarkable tally by anyone's standards - that the 30-year-old's exit remains the most talked about topic during Blackwell's meetings with the press.
It understandably grates - "James left because of finances and I think it would be a little bit harsh if I was criticised for that".
But, after an indifferent Blades start to the campaign, Blackwell is once again demonstrating the ability to excert a positive influence over those matters which are within his sphere of influence.
A replacement for Beattie would still be desirable - preferably one boasting the same razor-sharp instincts in the final third - but the decision to spend 2 million prising Henderson away from Vicarage Road in the summer now appears inspired.
Combative and physically imposing, he might not be Beattie's equal in terms of grace or poise, but there can be fewer more destructive forwards operating outside of the Premier League.
And, as his strike here proved - it was a delicate control and finish after Webber had scooped the ball home following a melee in the box - Henderson's game is about more than just blood and thunder.
"Darius is proven in this division," Blackwell concurred. "He's proven in his own right.
"I've always had my eye on him and so when the chance arrived to bring him here I jumped at it.
"That's three matches without James now and we've got three wins.
"It was shame to see him go but I've always maintained we've got plenty of quality here and the lads up front showed that.
"Darius was a Watford favourite and I've always had my eye on him. We've always known what Danny can do too."
The platitudes extended beyond United's front two, with Nick Montgomery, Chris Morgan and Matthew Kilgallon also described by Blackwell as instrumental throughout an effective if not wildly entertaining afternoon.
Kilgallon in particular was a tower of strength - denying Jack Cork on the line before the interval and producing a perfectly-executed tackle to frustrate Jobi McAnuff after.
W Brendan Rodgers' men initially provided stiff resistance - Grzegorz Rasiak also going close - they capitulated when Webber finally broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute.
Henderson, whose header created the opportunity following some penalty-area pinball after a corner, doubled the visitors' advantage a quarter of an hour later.
While United, now unbeaten in eight outings, are displaying the consistency required to reach the highest level, Watford will be heading in the opposite direction unless Rodgers can instill some confidence in his gifted but mentally fragile squad.
"We need someone to organise," he said. "I can't spend big so it's up to me to come up with the solution another way.
"These players are giving me everything so I'm not going to criticse them, but it's what you do under pressure that counts."
And United, on that score, are doing very nicely indeed.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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