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MATCH REPORT: It's working for the Blades
QPR 0 Sheff Utd 0
PAULO Sousa was a member of Portugal's 'Golden Generation.'
But the former Benfica, Sporting Lisbon and Juventus midfielder, who last year accepted the challenge of leading Queens Park Rangers back to the Premier League, is quickly discovering that industry, not half a century of international caps or innovative theories on the beautiful game, is the most valuable currency in Championship football.
It's a quality which Sheffield United boast in abundance, enabling them to preserve an unbeaten away record in the league which stretches back to mid-October and, even more importantly, enhance their own top-six credentials.
At times Sousa must have wondered whether the action unfolding in front of him at Loftus Road on Saturday was the same sport he graced for over two decades.
Passes, particularly during a fractious first half, went astray with alarming regularity and when opportunities did arise it was often more by luck than design.
But Sousa, one of the finest defensive midfielders of the modern era, is certainly a fast learner and in United sees a team he believes is perfectly equipped to survive the rigours of the country's most unforgiving division.
"They're very, very tough," he said after watching QPR draw a blank for the second match in succession.
"The players at the front and in the middle work exceptionally hard and when they haven't got the ball they run, run, run.
"They have a speed, an intensity, which means they are difficult to break down."
For Blades boss Kevin Blackwell, who embarked upon personal fact-finding missions to some of Europe's most prestigious clubs before arriving at Bramall Lane, those words of praise will be worth almost as much as the point which leaves United fifth in the table and still harbouring ambitions of snatching automatic promotion.
"It's nice to hear Paulo say that, of course it is," the United manager said. "I think we are on the right track.
"In terms of the lads' work ethic I really couldn't ask for more.
"When I went to places like Milan and Inter it was amazing to see the sheer amount of effort they put in to what they do.
"It's not only about what you do with the ball, it's about what you do when you haven't got it too.
"The hallmarks of a good outfit are being compact, organised and ready to give everything."
Nick Montgomery, one of United's most influential performers in the capital, achieved all of the above.
But the visitors, who saw substitute Craig Beattie test Radek Cerny during the closing stages, were still indebted to the Czech's opposite number, Paddy Kenny, for making two crucial saves.
United deserved their share of the spoils but could have returned home empty-handed had the Republic of Ireland international not denied Dexter Blackstock either side of the interval.
The QPR striker's first attempt was heading for the far corner of Kenny's net until, having seen the ball take a vicious kick off the turf, the United keeper parried it to safety.
Then, just after the hour mark, he somehow clawed Blackstock's header out of the air before breathing a sigh of relief when Kaspars Gorkss inexplicably blazed the rebound wide.
"Nobody appreciates keepers enough," Blackwell, no mean shot-stopper during his own playing career, said.
"Brian Clough always used to say they can win or lose you 10 to 15 points over the course of a campaign and that's why he always used to go out and get good ones.
"Paddy certainly falls into that category.
"I don't think there's anyone better at this level and he can certainly hold his own at the highest too."
A gruelling schedule, which had pitted them against Hull, Birmingham and Coventry in quick succession, meant United could have been forgiven for being slightly off the pace.
But while they failed - largely due to another poor excuse for a pitch - to display the rhythm or imagination which have been a hallmark of their recent displays, they made up for it with dogged determination.
Kenny, having already thwarted Blackstock, then foiled Jordi Lopez from a set-piece before Montgomery and Danny Webber both tested Cerny.
United, with Jamie Ward impressing off the bench, nearly took full advantage of Gorkss' generosity when Beattie came within a whisker of stabbing beyond Cerny but the score remained deadlocked.
"If we aim for the stars and fall short then we've still got the play-offs," Blackwell said.
"All we can do is keep believing."
On the evidence of the past few weeks they are wise to do so.
Boss's View
We knew it would be tough coming here, that their players would be giving everything for Paulo. And they did.
There were chances at both ends and, at one stage, it became a little bit too end to end for a manager's liking.
We worked hard and the unbeaten run away from home goes on, which is obviously good news.
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Weather for Sheffield
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Fog
Temperature: -6 C to 0 C
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Wind direction: South east
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Sunny spells
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