“Absolutely stupid” – Sheffield United’s Paul Heckingbottom rips into particular QPR tactic | OneFootball

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Football League World

·5 October 2022

“Absolutely stupid” – Sheffield United’s Paul Heckingbottom rips into particular QPR tactic

Article image:“Absolutely stupid” – Sheffield United’s Paul Heckingbottom rips into particular QPR tactic

Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom has outlined his frustration with Queens Park Rangers slowing the game down during last night’s clash at Bramall Lane.

QPR inflicted a second defeat of the season on Heckingbottom’s side, with Chris Willock’s strike on 51 minutes enough for a 1-0 win for the R’s.


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Heckingbottom was left frustrated by the tactics employed by Michael Beale’s side, particularly the one that saw them slow the game down and waste time taking restarts.

“I’m still getting frustrated with the amount of time people are allowed to take at our place and I’ve been in with the referees,” Heckingbottom told Sheffield United’s YouTube channel.

“That’s not taking anything away from QPR but that’s why I’m not disappointed with our performance, just the result.”

Pressed on that point further, Heckingbottom was disappointed that it took until after the 80th minute before Jimmy Dunne was booked.

“It’s 81 minutes until the first booking comes, it’s absolutely stupid,” Heckingbottom continued.

“We know it’s a tactic and the problem is, we know the game plan for away teams at Bramall Lane. They’ll come and sit behind the ball, play on the counter and take as long as they can. QPR maybe had 15-20 minutes of possession and I guarantee they only had 10 minutes ball-in-play possession.

“It’s poor and you could say it’s the same for everyone, but it isn’t. If that’s the tactic for every team that comes to your place, it isn’t. It’s against us in games but we have to deal with it.

“I’ve just been speaking to the players in there and said it’s down to us to get the refs to see that during the week or during the game.

“We know the game plan and can’t be surprised by it, we’ve just got to accept it and deal with it.”

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Article image:“Absolutely stupid” – Sheffield United’s Paul Heckingbottom rips into particular QPR tactic

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Despite that defeat, Sheffield United remain top of the Championship on goal difference, leading Norwich City who themselves dropped points at Reading.

The coming weekend sees Sheffield United travel to Stoke City looking for their first win since the September international break.

The Verdict

It’s always frustrating to see the game being played at the pace it was last night, whatever level of football you are watching. It’s a tactic that the officials have the power to stop but, for some reason, don’t.

However, as Heckingbottom says in a roundabout way, it can’t be an excuse for Sheffield United. They have to overcome that when they are sitting top of the league.

More often than not they manage that and will be hoping to do the same at the weekend when they head to Stoke.

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