Sheffield United manager Nigel Clough spoke to his club's official website after his side's 1-0 win over Carlisle at Bramall Lane, Clough first talking about the Blades making it ten wins in a row in all competitions with the victory:
“I just heard them playing The Perfect Ten by The Beautiful South when we came off, it was a lovely touch but I don’t think we can play any song to do the players justice after what they have just achieved in the last five or six weeks. I thought at times we played some good stuff, in the first-half especially. We started the game well, could have scored after 20 seconds of the match and had enough opportunities to get a second goal today.
“But, if you can't get that second goal which makes the game safe, you have to look after the one you already have and we dug in, it was backs to the wall but again we defended admirably. But, the goal we did score was excellent, the pass from Conor Coady first of all, not many players would have handled that sort of pass with the pace on it like Jose Baxter did. But, he has taken it one movement, then turned and side-footed it in off the post, an exceptionally good goal at this level especially.
“But, I thought in the second-half it just hit us, everything that went on Sunday, hanging on and it just the sheer determination and character that gets you through in those circumstances. All of them too, even at the end we have got Stephen McGinn with a block on the far side to stop the ball coming into our box. Mark [Howard] wasn't overworked, but he was decisive when he came to take crosses or make punches. The protection he received in front of him was once again tremendous and we can't praise the players enough.
“As the second-half progressed we were dead on our feet but sheer determination, desire and character got us over the line. Carlisle gave us a real test, especially in the last 30 minutes or so. The crowd were urging us on and we were trying to get forward, but fatigue had kicked in and we struggled to influence the game as we would have liked.
“I thought Michael Doyle was brilliant tonight, I thought energy-wise for somebody who is getting around his thirties he was excellent in his levels. His work goes un-noticed because people see Coady and little Stefan Scougall making runs forward and the wide men Jamie Murphy and Ryan Flynn and Baxter creating chances. But, he has been as instrumental as anything, as they all have, but especially him in keeping us those clean sheets.
“We took a bit of a gamble playing just about the same team, only one enforced change with John Brayford. We got the benefits from some of the quality in the first-half, and then you saw the other side of it when we were so tired in the second-half. But, it’s unbelievable, remarkable, call it what you will. I’m running out of superlatives for these lads. They’re absolutely shattered in there but, as we’ve all agreed in the dressing room, it’s worth it for the feeling you get when something like this happens.
“It takes a lot of character, heart and desire to achieve what they’ve just done. And the great thing is, they all want to carry it on. Some of them were dead on their feet out there but they kept on going and going. But, and this is important, everyone in the squad has contributed to this run at some stage and it’s important that’s not forgotten. We are incredibly proud of what the players have achieved. Ten straight wins in all competitions is something, but to have kept nine clean sheets in the process in quite staggering.”