Sheffield United 2 Derby County 1: Billy Sharp puts Blades ahead as they come from behind in EFL Cup clash

It’s about the team, we mentioned Billy and some young players, we didn’t perform in the first 45 minutes and there were a lot of mistakes. We moved the shape and started to be more comfortable, finding a bit more quality and scored two goals. In the end, the team showed intent and desire to change the story.

It’s important, especially after the start to the season we have had. We expected to be at a better level, we expected we’d find it easier to win games. It’s good for our confidence and our mentality, and it’s another push for us before the Luton game. It’s important to win the game in the competition we are competing.

Billy was clever a lot of the years and is still clever. He wants to play the games. All of my players have different attributes, Billy is a good option for us and is clever in and out of the box. He has scored a lot of goals and is still scoring.

Wayne Rooney, the Derby County manager, believes his side deserved to win tonight’s Carabao Cup second-round tie at Sheffield United after crashing out of the competition at Bramall Lane.

Derby led 1-0 at half-time through Louie Sibley’s crisp strike, but the Blades prevailed in the second half with goals from Luke Freeman and Billy Sharp sealing their safe passage into the third round.

Derby could have drawn level immediately from kick-off after Freeman’s equaliser, Michael Verrips saving smartly from Jack Stretton’s effort, and Rooney was impressed with his young side’s showing in South Yorkshire.

“I thought overall we deserved to win the game,” insisted the former England international. “But that’s cup football. If you don’t take your chances, that’s what can happen.

“If we’re more clinical I think we win the game comfortably. We were superb in terms of coming to Sheffield United away, they had some experienced players on the pitch and I think the young players deserve a lot of credit.”

They did their best to raise spirits beforehand, publishing videos of past goals against Derby County on their official Instagram account.

and the Blades are in the hat. They had to come from behind to book their place, after trailing to Sibley’s earlier strike. Luke Freeman got them back on terms before Billy Sharp did what Billy Sharp does and sealed victory with a typical finish in many ways. United’s young guns stood up well to the test - I was impressed with Lopata again, and Gordon did well too - and there’s no such thing as a bad game of football to win. Let’s see if United can take that into the weekend now... stay with us for a full report, player ratings and post-match reaction when we have it.

from long range after the space opened up for him and he turned into it, think Sharp wanted the pass played but Freeman went for glory instead and it flew wide

here for the Blades to see this out and book their place in round three... a Derby goal would probably send it to penalties, you feel

with a clever slipped pass but Bryson recovers just in time to get a toe on it and poke it to safety

after Freeman’s free-kick is clipped in - the defender rose highest and got his head on it but it sails just wide of Allsop’s post