Sheffield United Football Club News

• Nickname:The blades
• Founded:1889
• Manager:Danny Wilson

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Blackwell stands up for Kenny

28 Feb 2008 - 08:11:07

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Sheffield United boss Kevin Blackwell supported goalkeeper Paddy Kenny after his cruel own goal handed Middlesbrough a 1-0 FA Cup fifth round replay victory.

Kenny knocked the ball into his own net in the second half of extra-time, after Mido's shot had taken a huge deflection and rebounded back towards the Irishman off an upright.

Blackwell said after his side's exit: "I will tell you what I thought was cruel for the announcer to say 'Paddy Kenny own goal'. I thought that was cruel.

"Paddy did not deserve that, he had played well all game. Whoever shot, give them the goal as far as I am concerned.

"Particularly after extra-time and everything else, you want to go out and get on the bus and say 'what a great goal that was, we are out of it because of something brilliant'.

"If you are going to win the cup, you need an element of luck. You need the ball to bounce left instead of right, right instead of left and we needed it to bounce right and it went left and went in.

"Paddy was unfortunate, but I am proud of the players."