‘We gave it to them – Sheffield United boss Heckingbottom reacts to 3-2 defeat at Millwall

Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom accused his side of handing Millwall victory in today’s Championship thriller.

Tom Bradshaw’s hat-trick sealed a 3-2 victory for the Lions.

The Blades, second in the table and with the joint-best away record in the division, twice levelled through Tommy Doyle and James McAtee.
Bradshaw settled an absorbing contest with an 88th-minute winner.

Heckingbottom said: “You get what you deserve. We started like the team who had played Wednesday night, had travelled and were still in our beds for a early kick off.

“The biggest disappointment is that it is difficult to stop that and turn it around – but we did that in the second half. We were the team then, I felt, at 1-1. We quietened the crowd – they were turning – and we were on top. It’s disappointing to give them the goals the way we did.

“In my eyes we’ve given Millwall the game.

“We’d shown everything we said we’re about – the character, determination and drive. We were on the front foot and that’s how we want to play.

“We can easily make a foul on the halfway line, stop the second goal. The third goal Millwall actually outnumber us on a long free-kick. We know where they are putting the ball – right on top of us and right on Cooper. Little bits like that, which aren’t us, usually.

“We did all the hard work, got back in the game and we gave Millwall it.

“How they started, you can’t really stop them putting the ball long if that’s what they want to do. We didn’t win enough first balls and certainly didn’t win enough second balls. We changed it second half.

“To change the momentum of the game so much and then give it away, that’s what is hurting me.”