VIDEO: Nigel Adkins defends Sheffield United players after fans jeer home display
Nigel Adkins leapt to the defence of his Sheffield United team after they were booed by sections of the home crowd following their draw with Swindon.
The result, which saw United fail to climb back into the play-off positions, prompted fresh criticism from supporters critical of the club’s selection policy and approach.
But Adkins, whose side returns to action at Blackpool tomorrow, dismissed claims they had been punished for trying to protect a 1-0 lead after Billy Sharp scored for the seventh consecutive League One game.
“It’s our frustration that we want to go win games of football,” Adkins said. “It’s all about results and we are looking to get the three points.
Most Popular
-
1
These are the most annoying things you can say to somebody from Sheffield - don't mention John Lewis
-
2
Hunt to find woman responsible for sexually assaulting man at Sheffield railway station
-
3
Knife-wielding thug who stabbed four victims on a Sheffield estate faces a possible life sentence
-
4
Several areas of Sheffield experiencing flash flooding as deluge of rain lifts surface off major city road
-
5
Sheffield flash flooding leads to closure of several roads as motorists are advised to 'take care while travelling'
“Maybe the frustrating thing is, the results of the teams above us, there was a good opportunity if we could have got the three points. But we have another point on the scorecard and we move forward.”
Adkins, who could be without Chris Basham at Bloomfield Road after the midfielder was withdrawn due to injury, added: “It’s another point on the board. We started the game very well. Paul Coutts won a penalty, which was despatched by Billy Sharp. Billy could have scored again straight after. We knew Swindon got players forward and left themselves exposed, that’s why I left two up front.
“We changed the shape at half-time, I thought that was good. We wanted to give the opposition problems.
“We looked to try and get a second goal and we so nearly did that. Had we scored that second goal it would have put a different complexion on the game. Goals change games, and the mindset, the moods.”
Basham was undergoing an intensive bout of treatment at the Steelphalt Academy yesterday as United, eighth in the table after losing once in eight league outings, prepared for the visit to Lancashire.
“Chris was injured,” Adkins said. “When you look at Basham, (Dean) Hammond and Coutts I think they have been doing really well for us.
“We had fresh legs to put on the field of play, so we have done that. With them striving to get a goal, we are leaving people up the field of play and counter-attacking from that. The range of passing of Jose Baxter, sitting in there, who can spring, was all part of trying to do that.”