Coyle: Clarets deserved the points

21 April 2009 08:13
A first-half header from Martin Paterson went a long way towards sealing a Championship play-off berth for the Clarets, who leapfrogged Reading into fifth. "To be fair to Sheffield United they do put the ball into your box. Whatever way it comes in, whether it's long throws or set plays, they have a good delivery," said Coyle. "They stood up to everything they had and Brian (Jensen, goalkeeper) didn't have too many saves to make. But if you look at the other end, Paddy Kenny was outstanding, and he kept them in it. "We scored a terrific footballing goal and I felt when we did get the ball down and pass and move - although it was frantic at times - we showed great composure on the ball. "The players we have are terrific running with the ball - The (Chris) McCanns, the (Chris) Eagles, the (Wade) Elliotts - and they all did that." Coyle went against the grain by insisting that performances were still paramount at this crucial stage of the season. "The three points were important but the level or performance is what we are after," he added. "And at this stage of the season against a very good side who are going for automatic promotion and still have a chance to do so. "But we more than merited the three points tonight and I'm just disappointed we didn't add to our goal tally." Coyle singled out goal-scorer Paterson for special praise after the Northern Ireland international, who recovered from a hamstring complaint in time to partner Robbie Blake in attack, nodded home the decisive goal and his 18th of the season in the 24th minute. "Martin Paterson played for four weeks, maybe five, with a tight hamstring and wasn't 100 per cent, but I asked him to play because he was the focal point of what we're trying to do," he said. "And he did that probably to the detriment of his own goal-scoring so we brought him right out of things and put him on the bench for QPR and left him out completely at Cardiff. "But you can see he looked so sharp in training and we brought him back tonight. I could tell there was a goal in him and so it proved because it was an excellent finish." The defeat ended the south Yorkshire side's unbeaten record on the road which stretched back to October. And assistant manager Sam Ellis, who stepped in for boss Kevin Blackwell who was otherwise engaged, said: "They were better than us. It's not a bad reason is it, it happens in football matches. "We knew they'd be a good side from the cup runs they had and the league position they are in, and there's no shame in coming here and being second best. "I'm just disappointed that we were." Ellis also insisted automatic promotion was not out of the question for his side after the defeat, saying: "If we win on Saturday then the pressure is on Birmingham to win their game." Explaining Blackwell's absence he added: "He's got some business on with the lads. "We've got one or two knocks with the lads and things to see to before the lads disperse because they are not all coming back on the coach."

Source: Team_Talk