Blades put the brakes on McClaren
STEVE McCLAREN believes Sheffield United are a safe bet for a top-six finish, maybe more, after watching them blunt his side’s impressive run with a 1-0 win.
QPR were six games without defeat when they arrived at Bramall Lane, but a David McGoldrick header was enough to move the Blades up to second.
McClaren, right, said: “You have to take them seriously. They’re top six, I expect them to stay there and the top two is a real possibility.”
Blades manager Chris Wilder said: “Our players want to be in around the top of the division and I’m not going to hide from their desire and their ambition.” Middlesbrough centre-back Daniel Ayala says Birmingham’s Che Adams did not dive.
Adams was booked after tumbling under an Ayala challenge during the Blues’ 2-1 defeat.
Ayala said: “I was surprised when he showed the yellow.
I wouldn’t have given that. It was harsh. There was contact, so I don’t think it was a dive.”
Adams equalised before Britt Assombalonga hit the winner for Boro. Blues defender Kristian Pedersen said: “Che is very important. He makes the goals and is the difference for us at the moment.”
Dean Smith says Aston Villa’s promotion chances have not taken a dive despite their 3-0 defeat at Wigan. Just one win in seven has seen the club slip to mid-table. Gary Roberts opened the scoring, with Michael Jacobs and a penalty from Joe Garner sealing it. “There’s a lot of ability in that dressing room, the players know it and it’s up to them to turn it around,” said Smith.
John Swift believes life is improving for Reading under new boss Jose Gomes as they ended a winless run of 11 by beating nine-man Nottingham Forest 2-0.
“It has been tough,” said Swift. “We started the season really badly but we’re doing everything we can in training.”
Swift netted his first league goal this season, then Forest skipper Daniel Fox was sent off for a second yellow and Tendayi Darikwa saw red for a lunge. To add to their troubles, managerless Forest conceded an own-goal through Jack Robinson.
Fox pleaded his innocence after getting involved in a melee to earn his second caution. “I was trying to calm things down,” he said. “It’s killed me.”