Oliver Arblaster hails Sheffield United spirit as he identifies improvement Blades must make
Oliver Arblaster helped Sheffield United get back on track with a win at Bristol City on Saturday.
Sheffield United midfielder Oliver Arblaster said he and his teammates used the disappointment they experienced against Portsmouth as motivation to get back to winning ways against Bristol City at Ashton Gate on Saturday.
Arblaster scored the only goal of the game to seal a 1-0 victory for Chris Wilder’s side and secure a return to winning ways. The ball sat up invitingly for Arblaster on the edge of the penalty area just five minutes into the game, and he struck an excellent effort past Robins goalkeeper Sam Tickle.
Although one goal was enough for United to claim all three points, they should have added to their tally, registering 16 shots compared with the Robins’ seven.
Nevertheless, Arblaster’s early strike proved decisive, meaning United bounced back at the first time of asking after being beaten 3-2 by Portsmouth at Fratton Park less than 72 hours earlier.
“It was hard because we stayed down here and had conceded late after doing a lot to get back into the game,” Arblaster told BBC Radio Sheffield. “It took a lot out of us. We had ten men, obviously.
“It was hard to get up the next day and motivate ourselves for another game with such a quick turnaround. But we knew we could put it right.
“All the staff and the players, the work that goes in and the platform they give us, we went out there and we executed the game plan. Especially [in the] first half, I think the game could have been done at half-time.
“I think that's what we've got to be better at. The spirit of the boys to keep another clean sheet, that's big for us and it ends a positive week.”
Delighted to have played his part in a strong team performance, Arblaster highlighted the spirit within the group, which enabled them to bounce back so swiftly from a gut-wrenching defeat. United had fought back from 2-0 down to level the score before conceding a late goal to lose 3-2.
“Yes, the boys were very good,” Arblaster continued. “I think that’s just the spirit of the group we’ve got.
“The last two or three weeks have been hard because, in some games, we’ve deserved more. The midweek game, the decision and things like that are just part of football.
“But the group has managed to stick together. We put in a great first-half performance, and we should have been out of sight.”