We've got nothing to fear. That's the defiant message from Matt Kilgallon, who has come out fighting following the Blades' unlucky loss to high-flying leaders Wolves on Tuesday.
The 3-1 victory for Mick McCarthy's men – their 15th in 19 Championship matches prior to this weekend – failed to tell half the story on a night when the footballing fates went against United, just as they did when the Blades took plaudits, but no po
ints, in defeats to fellow top-three members Birmingham and Reading.
Their latest loss was particularly galling with United on top for large periods of the encounter – only for their goal attempts to flounder.
Visiting keeper Carl Ikeme pulled off a 'worldie' save to somehow block Kilgallon's thumping first-half volley, while a 'goal' direct from a 49th-minute corner from Brian Howard, which appeared to creep over the line, wasn't spotted by officials when Wolves were leading 1-0 and the game was delicately poised.
The Black Countrymen, who went into Tuesday's fixture on the back of six straight victories, rubbed salt in the wounds by proving ruthless on their limited forays up front with hot-shots Chris Iwelumo (2) and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake taking Wolves' seasonal goal tally to 44 already this term.
While disappointment was the order of the game for United the post-match verdict was bruised but unbowed, according to ex-Leeds stopper Kilgallon – who told it straight after the game by saying that the hosts had been desperately unfortunate.
The York-born centre-back told Yorkshire Sport: "If they are top of the league and 10 points in front, then we've nothing to fear.
"Even one of their strikers said to me when we were on the pitch when the second goal went in that we had them and that they were really worried.
"We were on top for 70 minutes of the game and really looked good. We played some really good stuff, but just didn't finish off the job.
"But we still lost and obviously we really care when we do. But we played really well, as we have against all the teams at the top – Reading, Birmingham and now Wolves.
"We've not deserved to lose in any of them and even though we've lost, we can take heart – while still being disappointed.
"We've played all the top sides and have shown that we're a strong team who can pass the ball well – especially against Wolves. The possession count could have been 70 to 30 with us on top.
"They took their chances, I suppose, and that's why they are top of the league.
The full article contains 448 words and appears in Yorkshire Sport newspaper.
