Sheffield United: Why it's points over performances for Blades star Jack O'Connell

Jack O'Connell admits he is happy for Sheffield United to win ugly if it means they win promotion to the Championship this season.
Jack O'Connell of Sheffield Utd. Pic: Simon Bellis/SportimageJack O'Connell of Sheffield Utd. Pic: Simon Bellis/Sportimage
Jack O'Connell of Sheffield Utd. Pic: Simon Bellis/Sportimage

Chris Wilder’s Blades maintained their five-point gap at the top of League One on Saturday as they drew 1-1 at home to their nearest challengers, Scunthorpe United.

Wilder believes United could have been two or three goals ahead at half-time after a dominant first 45 minutes, before Paddy Madden gave the visitors a shock lead within minutes of the re-start.

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Billy Sharp, the former Scunthorpe striker, restored parity with his 21st of the season and although Iron finished the game with ten men after Harry Toffolo’s sending off, United had to settle for a useful point ahead of Saturday’s visit of third-placed Bolton.

And O’Connell admitted: “I’d always take points over a performance. As long as we get the points, that’s all that matters to me.

“We’ve shown we can get points in different ways and I think that’s important. We’ve shown with the subs that the gaffer made, with people like Matty Done coming on, the quality that’s here.

“Jay O’Shea came on and nearly scored the winner, hitting the post, and he’s been awesome in training. Hans [James Hanson] has been good, too; he really puts himself about and is really unselfish.

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“He and Billy will hopefully score the goals that will get us across the line. Jay was wheeling away and getting ready to jump in the Kop at the end, so we’re disappointed to only take a point.

“But, at the end of the season, we might look back on that as a big one.”