Late show is not an issue for Clough
BETTER late than never suits Nigel Clough right down to the ground after Sheffield United struck deep in stoppage time to beat Gillingham.
It had looked like the Gills were going to snatch an undeserved victory after Luke Norris slotted home in the 83rd minute.
But defiant United came back strongly and levelled through Michael Higdon, before Jamie Murphy fired past Stephen Bywater in the seventh minute of injury time.
Clough said:“I have got a team that does not give up and plays right to the very end.
“Already this season we have scored some very important late goals.
“Late goals are very important and often it feels more than just a win when you get them for what it does to confidence.
“It was a massive part of Rotherham’s promotion last season. That is one of our best performances of the season.
“I thought it was going to be one of those days. I feel for Peter Taylor, because it is not a nice way to lose, but it would have been a travesty if we had not got anything today.”
But opposite number Peter Taylor was left questioning the amount of time added on.
“The lateness of the goal is disappointing,” said Taylor.“The goal came in the seventh minute of injury time, but the board went up for six minutes.
“I don’t know where that amount of time came from, but there is nothing I can do about it.
“We came here with a gameplan as we have to do. Sheffield United are one of the promotion favourites and will always cause problems.
“I thought we defended well and worked very hard. I can’t fault the effort of the lads. Even though they had more chances, I think we deserved to get something out of the game.”
Ben Davies’ shot from a narrow angle was beaten away by Bywater in the fifth minute before James Wallace thrashed a long-range effort over on 20 minute.
Gavin Hoyte alertly cleared Davies’ goalbound strike on 34 minutes as the home side pressed. Bywater showed good reflexes to parry Marc McNulty’s header, before Doyle’s follow up was scrambled away in first-half injury-time.
Callum Davies superbly cleared McNulty’s effort off the line before both McNulty and Higdon then cracked shots against the post.
And Gillingham’s defensive heroics were rewarded when Norris slotted home with their first meaningful shot.
But the Blades levelled four minutes later when Higdon alertly turned home before Murphy burst from midfield to slot past Bywater in the 97th minute.