Sheffield United 0 Derby County 1: Blades are not dead andburied yet, insists Adams

A week that had promised so much had failed to deliver anything that will help Sheffield United stay up.

Three games against three other teams in relegation trouble had reaped not a single point.

As the jeers rained down from the stands, the players sank to their knees in desperation.

Six points adrift of safety and 12 games to play. The Blades have a mountain to climb.

For manager Micky Adams, it was another story of what might have been.

Plenty of pressure and passion but so often missing that extra bit of quality which can make the difference.

A section of supporters chanted ‘Sack the board’ at one stage, showing exactly where they feel the blame lies for the current malaise.

Adams, a born-and-bred ‘Blade’, is still waiting for a first victory as the club’s manager but can only try to soften the pain of what may soon be a crash landing.

A Premier League club four years ago, the Blades are heading back to the third tier of English football for the first time in 22 years unless results improve fast.

For Derby County, who have also been struggling in the last few months, this was a welcome win which lifted them eight points clear of the relegation zone.

A solitary goal from former Huddersfield Town striker Theo Robinson – making his first start since joining the Rams on loan from Millwall – settled the contest.

Adams did his best to sound upbeat after the game but the hurt was written across his face.

“I am sure a lot of people will write us off now, and I can understand that, but we are not dead and buried yet. All I know is that we will work as hard as we possibly can to try and turn it around.

“That’s not to say I’m not absolutely gutted,” he added. “I am. But we’ve just got to keep on working hard. I think everyone could see the players were trying.”

Asked about the mood of the crowd and chants of ‘You’re not fit to wear the shirt’, Adams said: “I’m a Sheffield United supporter as well so, of course, it’s not nice when I hear the crowd chanting that. Nobody enjoys it. But I know what a working-class area this is and if they get frustrated then they’re going to express an opinion aren’t they?”

There were sympathetic words of support from Derby manager Nigel Clough.

“I don’t think his players could have given him any more,” said Clough. “There are a few clubs struggling at the moment and all you can do is stick at it.”

The Blades had attempted to bolster their squad ahead of the game by offering Blackpool striker Marlon Harewood a move to Bramall Lane.

Harewood, however, opted to join local rivals Barnsley instead – another sign of the times for those at Bramall Lane to ponder.

Adams gave the players who had been vilified after defeat at Scunthorpe an opportunity to put things right.

Midfielder Lee Williamson returned in place of the suspended Shane Lowry but otherwise it was the same starting 11 with Johnny Ertl dropping back into the heart of defence.

Things started promisingly enough; defenders making good early interceptions and a quality corner from Bjorn Helge Riise putting Derby under pressure. Both situations helped lift the home crowd and initially boosted the confidence of the players.

Full-back Nyron Nosworthy was playing a home game for the first time since upsetting supporters at Burnley on New Year’s Day.

Despite a public apology for lifting a finger to the fans, Nosworthy is still mending broken bridges but his early enthusiasm won back a level of support.

The Blades looked comfortable for the first 25 minutes but allowed Derby to take the lead from their first attack, striker Robinson pouncing at the far post after Daniel Ayala delivered a good low ball across the area.

The goal stunned the home fans and inevitably changed the atmosphere inside Bramall Lane.

Adams’s players began making mistakes with increasing regularity and another Derby goal before the interval could have been fatal.

Derby captain Robbie Savage was booked for a foul on Stephen Quinn and, for a time, struggled to contain his frustration at referee Roger East. To be fair, he was harshly done by.

The Blades held on to half-time and then stepped up the search for an equaliser.

Matthew Lowton wasted a good shooting opportunity and Nosworthy’s cross was headed narrowly over by Richard Cresswell.

Derby spent the majority of the second period on the back foot but goalkeeper Frank Fielding was rarely called upon.

Adams sent on three extra strikers and even employed a bold 4-2-4 formation for the final 20 minutes but to no avail.

Fielding tipped over a close-range header from Lowton but too few chances were created.

Robinson might have scored again for Derby in stoppage time but failed to take the ball around Blades goalkeeper Steve Simonsen.