Blades back
On-loan ace
GARY MADINE admits it’s a relief to now be loved by both halves of Sheffield.
The former Sheffield Wednesday striker feared the worst when he signed on loan for United last month.
But after scoring twice – his first goals since January 20 last year – Blades fans are now more than happy to forget about the abuse they used to chant at him for his four years at Hillsborough.
Madine, on loan from Cardiff, was given a standing ovation and said: “I was given a great reception in my first game and that surprised me to be honest.
“The crowd clapped me off when I was subbed late on. I think the fans here appreciate hard work. If you can top that off with a couple of goals, all the better.”
Madine’s first-half double followed Kieron Freeman’s opener after just 38 seconds of play.
And when John Fleck scored a fourth after 49 minutes, Reading were well and truly floored.
Royals boss Jose Gomes said: “We started by losing the game in that first minute.
“Now we must recover fast. Our next game against Rotherham (on
Saturday) is our match of the season. They are in the same fight as us at the other end of the table.”
Blades boss Chris
Wilder is delighted at Madine’s impact.
“He’s gone a long time without a game, but Cardiff got promotion with Gaz being in and around the action,” said Wilder.
“He’s desperate to help us out and he was desperate to score. That’s great for me. He contributes and he’s got a lot more attributes than simply scoring.”
Ragged
Wilder gambled with dropping his normal first-choice strike partnership of Billy Sharp and David McGoldrick, who have scored 33 goals between them, only one less than the Royals have scored as a team all season. But it paid off as Madine and Scott Hogan, on loan from Aston Villa, ran Reading ragged.
Madine added: “There’s a good blend up front. Billy Sharp is a master poacher and a target man, David McGoldrick is a flair player, Hogey and Connor Washington have the legs, and then there’s me.
“We have a good attack, a sound defence and an effective midfield. I believe this club can go all the way.”
Reading sub Jon Dadi Bodvarsson said: “We have to show more character. We have to realise that we are playing for more than ourselves as individuals. We are playing for the club and the supporters.”