Paul Ince reveals Paul Heckingbottom's full-time reaction and makes Sheffield United prediction

Paul Ince was full of praise for his opposite number yesterday. His Reading side secured all three points at Bramall Lane in a thoroughly deserved win.

The result gave the Royals' survival hopes a real boost, opening up a nine-point cushion over third-bottom Derby. He was understandably delighted with his side's performance against a Sheffield United side he feels is a 'top team'.

However, he was just as impressed with the reaction at full-time of Paul Heckingbottom. The Blades boss was the first to congratulate Ince on a job well done and he felt that was refreshing in a world where he believes plenty of managers speak 'a load of pish'.

"Sheffield United are a top team and to be fair to Paul Heckingbottom he said the best team won," Ince said. "I like that, because a lot of managers talk a load of pish sometimes and their assessment of how the game went is totally off the Richter Scale but after the game he shook my hand and said 'listen, you were the best team and you deserved to win', which I thank him for.

"It's hard to swallow when you are going for the play-offs. I have a lot of respect for Paul."

United were sixth ahead of kick-off and looking to take advantage of a number of fixtures involving teams in and around them playing each other. However, they were second best for large parts of the game and it was Reading who looked more like a side pushing for promotion.

The Blades had not tasted defeat under Heckingbottom at home and had gone 12 games unbeaten, conceding only two goals in the process. Ince felt that highlighted just how well his team had played to get the three points.

He then went on to predict a top six finish for United, believing the setback won't have too much of an impact on their promotion