Published: Friday, 14th November, 2008 13:00
Blades stronger for Warnock's absence
By Anthony Smith
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Steely determination: Reading boss Steve Coppell expects a tough test against an unbeaten Blades at Bramall Lane this weekend.
STEVE Coppell believes Sheffield United will benefit from Neil Warnock’s absence this Saturday as Reading attempt to become the first Championship side to win at Bramall Lane this season (3pm ko).
Warnock has been at the centre of some explosive clashes between the clubs in recent years and Royals supporters see the controversial manager as public enemy number one.
But it is Reading who appear to always have the last laugh, winning eight and drawing two of their last 10 matches against their Yorkshire rivals.
Yet this weekend’s mouthwatering fixtures looks wide open as the Blades are one of only three Championships clubs who can boast an unbeaten home record along with the Royals and Swansea City.
Coppell’s men, on the other hand, have already lost four times on the road this season, though their last trip ended in a superb 4-1 victory at Bristol City.
He said: “I haven’t seen much of Sheffield United but they look a very, very good outfit to me. They have some excellent individual players and they’ve got that Yorkshire toughness that makes them mentally very strong.
“I’m told we have done well against them recently but I’ve never known a previous result to guarantee another one. It’s a different season and two different teams.
“We have some battles over the years but in many ways we have mirrored each other in terms of promotion to the Premiership then relegation.
“But In many ways him (Warnock) not being there will help Sheffield United, I really believe that. Sometimes it is very easy to lose concentration on the most important thing, the game itself.”
Warnock’s most infamous bust-up with Reading came in his side’s 3-1 defeat at the Madejski Stadium in January 2007.
Blades’ Keith Gillespie was red carded for punshing Stephen Hunt and Warnock was involved in a touchline scuffle with Royals coach Wally Downes who was found guilty by the Football Association of improper conduct.
Both clubs were fined for failing to control their players, though Warnock escaped any punishment and it appears he as no intention of healing any lingering rifts after putting the boot into Reading’s players, staff and fans in his new autobiography.
Kevin Blackwell has replaced Warnock in the Blades’ hotseat and Coppell stressed: “This is not about individuals or anything that has happened in the past. It can be very easy to lose concentration.
“We put in a very good performance at Bristol City and also against Derby at our place last weekend. We’re capable of doing that.
“But the one big question is whether we can find that consistency? We’ve lost four times in our first 16 matches. That’s a lot to compensate for in a season.”
Meanwhile, Royals left-back Chris Armstrong has jumped to the defence of former Sheffield United team-mate Chris Morgan whose foul on Barnsley’s Iain Hume has dominated this week’s news.
Morgan appeared to elbow Hume in Saturday’s Yorkshire derby leaving the £1 million Leicester signing with a fractured skull and bleeding that required emergency surgery.
Morgan was booked by referee Andy D’Urso and is free to face Royals while Barnsley are considering legal action.
But Armstrong insisted: “Anyone who knows Chris Morgan knows that he is not like that at all.
“He’s full committed and he goes in for challenges. This is football unfortunately, bad things happen now and again. I’m sure he didn’t mean it and hopefully the guy will get better.”
Coppell added: “I don’t really want to comment on the matter. It is between the two clubs involved. All I’m trying to do is win Saturday’s game.”
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