Striker David McGoldrick reveals why he is convinced Sheffield United can win their battle for Premier League survival

David McGoldrick says past experience has taught him Sheffield United are equipped to win their battle for Premier League survival, despite entering tomorrow’s game against Leicester City still without a win this season.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Insisting Chris Wilder’s men are only a victory away from kick-starting a campaign which has seen them lose nine of their last 10 outings, McGoldrick warned those already writing off his team mates there are countless examples of clubs supposedly destined for relegation beating the odds.

Drawing comparisons between United and the Ipswich Town side he helped reach safety in 2013 - and explaining why Wilder’s squad is different to the one he was a part of at Southampton, when they were relegated from the top-flight at the beginning of his career, McGoldrick said: “When I went to Ipswich, they had six points or something like that around November and December, but we stayed up and ended up doing it pretty comfortably. We got that result and then it just went from there.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I’ve done a few difficult things in my career. I got relegated at Southampton but that was so different to what’s happening here at the moment. Performances there at the time weren’t great and we were getting beat three and four nil.

Sheffield United striker David McGoldrick is certain his team mates can survive in the Premier League: Darren Staples/SportimageSheffield United striker David McGoldrick is certain his team mates can survive in the Premier League: Darren Staples/Sportimage
Sheffield United striker David McGoldrick is certain his team mates can survive in the Premier League: Darren Staples/Sportimage

“I don’t get the same feeling here. I think one win will turn it. We’ve been in basically every game we’ve played so far this season, other than the second half at Chelsea when we lost our shape a little bit, and could have got something out of all of them. So, for me, that tells you something.”

United remained at the bottom of the table after losing to West Bromwich Albion last weekend, with a first-half goal from Conor Gallagher proving enough to settle a contest which saw Wilder’s side draw a blank despite creating more than 20 chances.

Speaking to journalists before City’s visit, Wilder acknowledged United must become more clinical but leapt to the defence of striker Oli McBurnie, who has been subjected to some particularly venomous criticism on social media.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Echoing those sentiments, McGoldrick said: “Results bring confidence. It will be like that in football forever. If you have it, then you take a man on at the right time or you take the right shot. If you don’t, then you take a shot when you shouldn’t.

"Oli is a really good player. We know the value he brings to the team and how good he is. I don’t think people sometimes appreciate how he works physically, puts himself on the line, and how good he is on the ball. Things quickly change, I know that myself personally.”

McGoldrick, whose first league goal last season came in July, added: “If you keep getting into the right positions, then it means you can do it. It’s when you don’t, that’s the time to start worrying.

“We’re creating chances and so that shows we’re good enough. The key now is to start taking them, but we’ve shown we can do that in the past and I know we’re capable of it.”

An important message: To help us maintain the high-quality reporting that you are used to from the football team at The Star, please consider taking out a subscription to our new discounted sports-only package. You'll find all the details at https://www.thestar.co.uk/subscriptions/sports.