Southgate satisfied with first point

08 August 2009 09:36
Boro had the best of the play at the Riverside Stadiium but were made to work hard at the back to keep the Blades out. "We've seen what the Championship is all about," Southgate said. "There are no better exponents of football in this league than Sheffield United. "They are big, strong, well organised and very direct but I was pleased at how we stood up to the physical challenge. "That was a tough start for us but we didn't shirk the challenge. We've got a clean sheet and a point on the board. We know we need goals but we are working on that." Blades boss Kevin Blackwell was also pleased with the performance from his team. "Boro are a good team and we know they have quality," he said. "So I was delighted that, with five new players in, we got a performance like that. "We caused them quite a few problems up front and we were strong defensively. Maybe we could have come away with three points but I've got to be pleased with one." United showed first after two minutes when a long throw from the right was nodded on in the box for Keith Treacy to rifle goalwards but it was cleared by Robert Huth. And the visitors threatened again from another set piece on 20 minutes as Chris Morgan headed down a corner into a crowd and Brian Howard stabbed it goalwards but it was cleared after a scramble. Boro's first chance came on 24 minutes as new boy Mark Yeates cut in from the left to drill in a low shot that sent United keeper Mark Bunn full length to save. That sparked a good spell of pressure from Boro and Yeates and Didier Digard had shots blocked. David Wheater then headed over but United broke out on 33 minutes and Darius Henderson held up a long ball forward to send Stephen Quinn into the box but his thundering angled drive was well saved. Boro went close just before the break as Johnson cut into the box but his shot from a tight angle was pushed away by Bunn. Boro started brightly in the second half and had what looked a strong penalty shout on 49 minutes as Kyle Walker brought down Johnson in the box but it was waved away. Boro were dominating possession and playing some neat, fluent football but as with last season, when they were the lowest scorers in all four divisions, they lacked penetration. United still threatened occasionally from set pieces and they could have snatched it in stoppage time when a ball from the right found Henderson just inside the box but his stabbed shot was cleared by Huth.

Source: Team_Talk