TAYLOR & O’SHEA READY FOR BRAMALL LANE

Duo look ahead to Blades battle

Charlie Taylor and Dara O’Shea are looking forward to the opportunity to fight for valuable Premier League points when Vincent Kompany’s men travel to Sheffield United on Saturday afternoon.

In addition to looking ahead to the encounter, the pair have been reflecting on last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion which saw Josh Brownhill put the home side ahead before an Aro Muric own goal secured a point for the Seagulls.

Defender O’Shea was suspended for the fixture, watching on did he feel it was a missed opportunity for the three points?

“Yes definitely it feels like two points lost there. I thought the lads played really well. To concede the goal in the way that we did was disappointing but that’s football and we’re looking forward to the game at the weekend now to put things right.”

How has Taylor found the mood in camp following the fixture?

“It’s been really good, we’re really upbeat. Obviously, a win always makes everything better in football. So, if we could have held on and got the three points that would have made a huge difference. But it’s been really good, it has been all season. We’re just preparing and getting ready for Sheff U on Saturday now.

“Performances have been really good recently. We’ve been in games; we’ve been pushing top teams all the way. I think we’ve lost one in the last six now which on paper is good going. So, confidence is high, and we still believe.”

O’Shea added: “I think we’ve got that bit of momentum that was probably missing at the start of the season which is what you need especially in the position we are in now. It’s a good time to start picking up points. The games are running out, so the points are running out too.

“Every game is a massive opportunity for us to put points on the board and put us in the right position at the end.”

The own goal came in the 79th minute and whilst disappointed, O’Shea and Taylor are in agreement of just how much teammate Aro Muric brings to the side – believing the team are lucky to have the quality of goalkeepers in the squad.

“He’s kept us in a lot of games he’s played in. Those two mistakes don’t define how he’s played as a goalkeeper, he’s been unbelievable for us. I think that everybody understands that in the team. He’s trying to play in the way we want to play, which you have to have huge admiration for. It’s not an easy position to play as a goalkeeper. You make a mistake; it tends to lead to a goal. We understand that as players, I think he understands that himself. We’re all getting around him and I’m sure he won’t be dwelling on it too much, that’s his sort of character and he’ll look forward to the game in Sheffield to put things right.”

With Taylor adding: “He’s just a top player. We knew that from last season, he was brilliant. And then this season he’s been unlucky, he’s had to be patient, wait for his chance and then when he’s got it, he’s taken it with both hands. With his feet, with his hands, shot stopping, he’s got it all really and we’re lucky to have a few good keepers in the team.”

Saturday’s game sees a battle at the bottom of the table, with both teams on the hunt for valuable points.

“I think Sheff U on Saturday is a must win,” said Taylor. “For us we have to win to have any chance of getting out of the position that we’re in. So, if we can pick up three points, it’d be three big points and we can use that as momentum and go from there with the remaining fixtures we have left.”

“No one is safe yet,” added O’Shea. “That’s the main thing until the end of the season comes, you don’t know people’s fate and there’s the opportunity for us there still and we’re going to keep on going. This weekend’s a great game to add to that and put points on the board hopefully. It’s going to be a tough game; we understand that but it’s a game that we’re going into with confidence.”

Four points separate 19th placed Burnley with 20th placed Sheffield United, what has Irish defender O’Shea made of the Blades this season?

“I think they’ve been good. They’ve been unlucky at times as well this season. They are definitely a different side to the side we faced earlier on in the season, which is going to be a different test for us. A new manager in there now, playing a different sort of football. A manager who understands the club as well. It’s going to be a test, we know the test they’re going to bring to us at the weekend, we’ve got to be ready for that and also play our style of football too.”

Last time the two sides met at Turf Moor in December the Clarets ran out 5-0 winners, with Taylor helping the team get off to the perfect start when his cross found Jay Rodriguez who headed home within the first minute.

“There’s not been so many highs as there has been in previous seasons this season, but that was definitely one of them. Such a fast start, put us on the front foot, we never looked back, and I think that’s definitely one of the highlights for us this season. If we can replicate anything like that on Saturday that’d be brilliant.

“It just shows what we’ve done. But like Dara said they’re a different team now, a different outfit, new manager. But we’ve done that to them once already so there’s no reason why we can’t do something similar and get a result.”

With five games to go this season, O’Shea and Taylor say the team are working hard and will fight until the end.

“We’ve got massive belief; I think we have to as a group. It’s a big ask as well we understand that we’re realists about it, we’re in the position we are for a reason. Until the season’s done, we have to keep on believing, keep going into every game with that belief that we can go out there and get three points.”

Taylor added: “First and foremost, we’ve got to take care of our own games and not focus too much on other team’s fixtures and results. Just do the best that we can. But we’re all human, we’re obviously naturally going to look at the other results and if they can go our way then it’s a bonus for us.”