We went from sixes and sevens to sevens and eights

Last updated : 14 March 2003 By Tony Scholes
Stan doesn't like Blades' boss Neil Warnock and this is one game he must really want to win each season. But it never happens and that is the third time he has been there as Burnley boss and got nothing.

There wasn't even any consolation from the fact that we scored our first goals there for over ten years, since Adrian Heath scored twice to put us 2-0 up in an FA Cup tie. Even that ended in a draw with us losing the replay.

Naturally the enemy, Neil Warnock, was more than happy with his team's performance and the result in a season that just seems to be getting better and better for them.

"I thought we played some really good stuff tonight," said Warnock after the match. "We were very competitive, created some good chances and played some good football.

"I was disappointed to concede those two goals though and it hasn't helped picking up more injuries.

"I did want to make three or four changes after the cup win but the players put a stop to that, everyone wants to play at the moment. When I asked them they all assured me they were fit and ready and wanted to play.

"Michael Brown was great tonight, the game's outstanding player, he did his stuff in the first half and then dug in for the second half."

Stan could offer no excuse for the performance and no explanation as to why we played so badly.

"We still have a chance of getting into the play offs but, realistically, anyone watching a performance like that would think we were a relegation side, never mind top six," Stan said after the game.

"We have 12 games left, more than a quarter of the season, and we will have to win three-quarters of them. We have been playing catch-up all season but the last two performances have not been anywhere near the standard the players have set for themselves.

"But we will start again today and go to Walsall on Saturday for our fifth game away from home in a row. We have got four points from three away from home so if we win that will be seven, which is a good return

"I'm not disappointed because we did not perform. Certainly not in the first half and we were lucky to only go in two down at half time. Too many players were right off the pace and the performance was totally unacceptable.

"I don't know whether it was a hangover from the FA Cup or because Sheffield United were miles too good for us but it was not good enough. Sheffield United were better than us by a million miles.

"When we scored there was hope we could go on from there but Coxy made a rick in the corner. There were far, far too many players playing nowhere near their capabilities but I can assure you that we will perform a lot better for the rest of the season."

Commenting on the change of formation during the second half after Robbie Blake replaced Dean West Stan added,

"We went from sixes and sevens to sevens and eights."