Defender praises teammates after Blades victory...
Vice-captain James O’Connor says it is “massively important” that we build on our battling 1-0 victory over Sheffield United.Amadou Bakayoko’s first-half goal – his seventh of an impressive breakthrough season - proved the difference on a memorable evening in South Yorkshire.
Victory – our first in six league outings - moved us to within three points of the play-offs, and O’Connor believes it is essential that we use it as a springboard for further success.
“It’s massively important we build on this result,” said the experienced defender.
“We’ve got a break now with no game this weekend and had we gone into it on the back of a defeat, then it could have had a negative effect on the season.
“But we can use it the other way now. Hopefully we can clear up a few little niggles, freshen up, and really kick-start our season.”
The Bramall Lane triumph came exactly a week after the defeat at Rochdale – and O’Connor was keen to praise his teammates for responding so positively.
“You look back seven days at how low everyone was after Rochdale - you’re not going to simply kick a ball and play great football all of a sudden,” O’Connor added.
“It starts with hard work and application, and we showed that in abundance [at Sheff Utd].
“The effort from the boys was absolutely different class. We were obviously under a lot more pressure than we would have liked, but we put our bodies on the line.”