Defender pushing for a starting place...
PAUL Downing joined the action with just a quarter-of-an-hour on the clock at Sheffield United following Dean Holden's dismissal and put in an assured performance in the heart of the back-line."I thought that we did well as a team," said the summer signing from West Bromwich Albion. "We knew that it would be difficult coming here and then going down to ten men early on made it even tougher, but we stuck at it and can take a lot of heart from our performance.
"We showed character and restricted our hosts to only a few chances. In fact, I would say that we had the better opportunities.
"From a personal point of view I have waited patiently for my chance; it's a long season and I knew it would eventually come along. I was pleased to come on, give a good account of myself and keep a clean sheet whilst I was on the field.
"It's about continuing to work hard and hopefully I have put myself in the gaffer's thoughts for a starting place at the weekend.
"There is a good spirit here and whilst our recent results have been disappointing, if we keep doing the right things, we will get back into winning ways again. We're playing well but we know that we have to start turning it into winning results."