BLADE SHUNNER
Norwood admits jokes about their dismal start have hurt but says: We’ll keep fighting
OLIVER NORWOOD has heard all the sniping and jokes about Sheffield United being the next Derby County.
Of them being written off as relegation certainties and tipped to take the Rams’ tag as the worst team in Premier League history.
He is aware of the constant rumours about Paul Heckingbottom being replaced by former Blades boss Chris Wilder.
So when Norwood scored a winning penalty deep into added time, the raucous celebrations were understandable.
United took one point from their first 10 games and have looked too bad to stay up at times. Take their 8-0 home mauling by Newcastle or recent 5-0 stuffing at Arsenal.
Now, though, they are finally up and running thanks to their long-serving midfielder, who kept his cool to fire home for their first win of the season. It was two fingers up to United’s critics and 32-year-old Norwood revealed: “It’s been tough.
“We see things being said outside of here and that people are laughing and joking. We’re human beings and it hurts your pride as a professional.
“Everybody has an opinion but it doesn’t mean you have to respect it. Sometimes you have to take it on the chin but if you keep doing rubbish in your job it’s not nice is it?
“You can’t feel sorry for yourself in this game, though, because it will pass you by.
“We’ll keep fighting for our lives because that’s got to be the bare minimum.”
United marched to automatic promotion last season before a turbulent summer saw prized assets Iliman Ndiaye and Sander Berge sold as an ownership saga rumbles on.
But in the second half against Wolves the Blades rediscovered the tight-knit spirit which Heckingbottom harnessed so successfully last term.
The players had a meeting without their manager last week but remain right behind him.
Norwood added: “The dressing room door was shut and it stays in there because it needed to be said and done.
“That’s just what we did and the manager left us to it, which is up to as players because we’re the only ones who can sort it.”
On the recent speculation Heckingbottom faces the axe, Norwood fumed: “It’s massively disrespectful. The job he’s done since he came to the football club has been incredible.
“You guys know everything that’s been going on – transfer embargoes and different bits and bats – but he’s got on with the job and has never faded away from the responsibility.
“He has our backing as players and I don’t think you’ve seen anyone throw the towel in and not play for him. That speaks volumes for the respect we have for the manager.”
Wolves were the better side before the break but went behind to Cameron Archer’s stunning 25-yard piledriver.
Jean-Ricner Bellegarde scored an 89th-minute equaliser from a shot deflected in off George Baldock, who was responsible for the foul on Fabio Silva that allowed Norwood to convert from the spot (above).
Heckingbottom said: “The connection between the players and fans is something you could see in the second half.
“We’ve a new squad and a lot of players who haven’t experienced it.
“Until you feel it and deliver it, it’s just words, but this will bring a lot of belief.
“We’ll take a lot from the performance, but we need many more of them.”