Peterborough United v Sheffield United: Wadsworth influence key, says Doyle, as Blades await Clough

United had not won inside 90 minutes – they edged out Scunthorpe United on penalties in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy – since the opening day of the season against 10-man Notts County.

But the Blades – who could name Clough as new boss as early as today – ended that sorry run, which had cost manager David Weir his job, with a 2-1 win over Port Vale on Saturday.

Wadsworth, who worked under Sir Bobby Robson with England and Newcastle, joined the Blades last week to assist caretaker-manager Chris Morgan.

Doyle believes Wadsworth – the 62-year-old Barnsley-born coach who has had a long career including managerial spells with Scarborough and Huddersfield Town – played a key role in reversing United’s recent results.

A pre-match pep talk with the 32-year-old Blades captain certainly had the desired effect as Doyle led his team to victory, scoring the 75th-minute winner which he celebrated, below right, in front of a relieved Kop.

“Morgs has been brilliant,” said Doyle. “He has just got us back to last season. It’s been hard with the manager and Lee (Carsley) going, but Morgs has got us regrouped.

“Mick Wadsworth has come in and both have been brilliant. Mick was great. He had a good chat with me before the game and helped me with a few things.

“I probably needed that, too, it was nice. They have given us a real lift and galvanised us.

“He just had a chat with me before the game. He said ‘Listen, you have got to dominate the game. Be what you have always been every game I have watched you play. Be a leader’. I probably needed that. I have felt a bit low. The last couple of weeks have been hard. It was a nice little pick-me-up which I really appreciated.

“Mick is brilliant to work with,” said the Celtic product and former Coventry City and Leeds United midfielder.

“He’s hard but fair. He has only been in for a couple of days but you can really feel his presence around the place. He doesn’t speak for the sake of speaking, he talks a lot of common sense.

“Obviously, with the career he has had – England and Newcastle assistant manager – you don’t get those sort of jobs if you don’t know much about football. For us to feed off that is brilliant for however long it’s going to be.

“We got our just rewards in the end on Saturday. It was great for Morgs because he has come in and worked really hard.”

Victory took United off the bottom of League One and out of the relegation zone, but they face a difficult trip to second-placed Peterborough United tonight.

“We have been under pressure as results haven’t gone our way over the course of the season,” said Doyle. “It’s been disappointing, but Saturday was just a relief. It was great for the players and supporters. But there’s no point dwelling on that, we now need to kick on and grab as many points as we can.

“We need to grind out a result at Peterborough. It’s going to be hard, as they are full of confidence.

“We have probably got a bit of a target on our back at the minute. Where we are in the table, a lot of teams would want to play us.”

Morgan will take charge again tonight for what is expected will be the last time.

Doyle has revealed the dressing room is united behind Morgan, even if just for the short-term, as it looks likely the Blades are to opt for a more experienced manager in Clough, whose appointment was stalled while he sorted out a financial settlement with his previous club Derby County.

“You know what Morgan’s stature is at this club, you see how the fans feel about him and that’s how the players feel about him,” said Doyle.

“He’s just a great person, honest, and treats everyone the same, and I can’t say enough about him.

“He brings an awful lot of football knowledge, too.

“He knows this division inside out. He knows the squad and what we have, so he’s been brilliant for us.

“He’s trying to keep going what the previous manager had us doing, but bringing back what we used to do well last year. We had that steel and grit about us.

“Confidence is a bit low because there’s not much to be laughing about at the minute.”

Last six games: Peterborough LWWWWW, Sheffield United LLDLLW.

Last time: Peterborough 1 Sheffield United 0; March 9, 2010; Championship.

Referee: R East (Wiltshire).