Blackwell seeking Blades support

13 February 2009 13:47
Blackwell wants to mark his first anniversay in charge on Saturday by clinching a place in the last eight.[LNB]A Premier League scalp would go some way towards patching things up following the fall-out from last weekend's defeat to Sheffield Wednesday.[LNB]Not for 95 years had the Blades lost both league matches in the same season against their Steel City rivals and Blackwell, who stopped just short of locking himself in a darkened room this week, knows a win over Hull would allow the club to put last weekend's misery behind them.[LNB]Blackwell said: "I would say without question it's been the hardest week since I've come back. It's the lowest point of my career since I've been here.[LNB]"So much good has been undone by one game. People have been dwelling on the Sheffield Wednesday game, like I have done. I had nothing to eat for three or four days.[LNB]"I just apologise to the fans. It was something we didn't set out to do and it hurts greatly. I couldn't speak to anybody for four or five days. This is the first time I've spoken to the press because it's taken me that long to get over it. It hurts badly."[LNB]Blackwell is equally hurt by the level of vitriol hurled his way from certain quarters and also unable to quite fathom it.[LNB]His side had lost only once in 13 games leading up to last weekend's derby defeat. They remain in the thick of the race for promotion and their players genuinely fancy their chances of upsetting Hull and reaching the quarter-finals.[LNB]He added: "I've always felt the fans here were one of the biggest factors. When we weren't right they were the ones who helped and I think right now the expectation levels have overridden that a bit and some of the criticism that's come my way and the players' way is harsh.[LNB]"It hurts when people say 'you don't know what you're doing' and I get a bit bored sometimes with that."[LNB]Blackwell will be forced into a major reshuffle with three of his recent signings - Arturo Lupoli, Leigh Bromby and Jamie Ward - cup-tied and striker Darius Henderson still suspended.[LNB]Both Gary Speed (back) and Ugo Ehiogu (Achilles) are still long-term absentees, while skipper Chris Morgan (calf) remains a big doubt.[LNB]The Blades manager feels the cup-tie is "very winnable", but hailed Hull's performance in the top flight this season, describing their achievements as "absolutely fabulous".[LNB]He added: "It's a fairytale at Hull. Six or seven years ago they were bottom of the fourth division and look where they are now.[LNB]"It's a fabulous job that they've done there and Browny (manager Phil Brown) in particular. We've all got similar formulas and you need that bit of luck, but they've recruited well, they got some good players in and they've got a good manager."[LNB][LNB]  

Source: Team_Talk