Rob Holding on life at Sheffield United

The Star, Sheffield

Rob Holding on life at Sheffield United, speaking to Radio Sheffield

Transcript

00:00Robert, a gritty performance from the team today.

00:02You are finding ways to win, aren't you, in these games?

00:05Yes, exactly.

00:06The main thing is just getting the three points, and we knew it was going to be tough coming down here.

00:10It's a very tight stadium and a lot of long balls, direct balls, fights for first and second balls.

00:15So we have to be up for that and match that.

00:17And then we have a bit of quality and we can find a goal.

00:20It certainly felt like something needed to change a little bit at half-time there.

00:23We're getting a little bit too much joy.

00:25The manager's gone through at the back, thrown you on,

00:27and you could just see how it kind of put United in control in the second half.

00:31Yes, I think prior to the game, when we saw their team shoot and saw how they were set up,

00:35it took us by surprise a bit.

00:36So we tried first half to play against that, and the gaffer changed it at half-time.

00:41I got the call to come in.

00:42So middle of a back three, something I'm very familiar with.

00:45And yes, anything to help the team, really.

00:47Bring a bit of experience there and get the three points.

00:50And after all that patience, we've seen this story a couple of times this season.

00:53You might not necessarily have seen it,

00:54but there's been a couple of games where it's been pretty even,

00:57but the team's found that moment, and Callum O'Hare comes off the bench,

01:00sets up Anel, and you've found that moment again.

01:03Yes, exactly.

01:03Since I've been here, it's happened on Wednesday against Middlesbrough,

01:08and it's happened again today, where we just get a late goal that takes the three points.

01:11And if we keep doing that, we'll see where we are at the end of the season.

01:14And yes, the lads never give up.

01:16The fans behind the goal were sort of wanting the ball into the net as well,

01:19so that helped us and that momentum.

01:21And yes, Anel took his goal very well for a centre-back,

01:24took it, back-foot take, and then slotted it in the bottom corner.

01:26So, yes, I'm very happy.

01:27Yes, two-in-two, he might be fancing a bit of a stint up front now.

01:30Yes, get him up front if we need, we can always launch him up there.

01:33It says a lot, though, doesn't it, about the character of the team and where it's at.

01:37That's, I think, seven wins in eight now.

01:40There's some real momentum there, isn't there?

01:42Yes, exactly.

01:42And like I said, I've been there two weeks now, and just slotting into that,

01:46the vibes around the changing room, the training ground, the stadium,

01:50and Bramall Lane has just been so welcoming.

01:52And I can feel that good energy, and just slotting in and helping where I can

01:56has been very easy, and the team have made it that.

01:59Did you enjoy it today?

02:00Because it's a real battle, isn't it, with the likes of Elijah and Carlton Morris up there,

02:04the three of you at the back, they really did test you at times, defensively.

02:08Yes, I know Carlton from when we were back at under-18s,

02:10when he was at Norwich and I was at Bolton, we played against each other,

02:13so I knew what he's like.

02:14He's a very big, physical, strong centre-forward, but also got good technical ability,

02:18and if you give him a yard in the box, he'll get a shot off.

02:20So, it was a tough test, and the lads stood up in a clean sheet away from home, it was great.

02:25It just shows that it's a real squad game, doesn't it?

02:27With the players coming off the bench, with people like Moore,

02:30and Cannon, Nahama, not even here today.

02:33Everyone is going to be needed, isn't they, over the next few months?

02:35Yes, I mean, it's the story of the Championship, isn't it?

02:37There's 46 games and you go back-to-back three times a week,

02:41so everyone's going to get used,

02:44and it's about the attitude of the lads that aren't used, and how they support the team.

02:47I think the way the gaffer is, he won't let anyone disrupt the team,

02:51so everyone's on board with it, and you chip in when you do,

02:54and hopefully it'll be a great ending.

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