Paul Heckingbottom urges Sheffield United to use Millwall defeat as marker for another run

Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom is hoping his side will use Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Millwall as motivation to begin another run of form.

The Blades saw their nine-match unbeaten run come to an end at the Den as Jake Cooper’s second half goal was enough for the hosts to secure all three points.

Prior to the weekend, United last suffered a defeat back in the middle of January, when they were on the wrong end of a 2-0 scoreline at Derby County.

That result was a particular frustration for Heckingbottom’s side, as in their previous match they had just beaten high-flying Fulham away from home but then had to wait almost a month for their next league encounter.

However, in the days that followed the game against the Rams, Heckingbottom refused to make any excuses for the performance and challenged his side to show something else moving forward – which they did.

He said: “We can all say, ‘we didn't do this, there was nothing in that’… but it was our performance.

“We weren't where we want to be and where we are striving to be.

“So that's been a message to the players."

Up until the international break at the end of March, United will face five matches in less than three weeks, which makes it extremely important they get back on the horse quickly and avoid losing any momentum.

With so many games in such a short space of time, the table could have a very different feel to it in a couple of weeks and Heckingbottom knows how important a response in their next match against Nottingham Forest will be.

Speaking after Saturday’s game, he said: "We know it's going to be nonstop until the Barnsley game at the international break but we've been doing well at it.

“We'll continue we'll keep working hard there's some good