BATTLING DISPLAY PLEASES REDFEARN

BATTLING DISPLAY PLEASES REDFEARN

Head coach gives his verdict on 1-1 draw at Bolton...

Head coach Neil Redfearn described the 1-1 draw at Bolton as a “great battling performance” after seeing his side pick up a valuable point on the road.

Rodolph Austin dispatched a third-minute penalty to get United off to a dream start at the Macron Stadium, but the early opener was cancelled out by Eidur Gudjohnsen’s spot-kick shortly after half-time.

"I thought we applied ourselves really well, I thought it was a great battling performance from start to finish," said Redfearn.

"I think, with the chances we created and how we played, we could have had all three points."

Redfearn made four alterations to the much-changed side beaten at Sunderland a week earlier and the head coach believes there is a good sense of unity within his squad.

"I said to the lads right from the off, ‘Everybody’s involved’. We need them all pulling together, he said.

"I have to say, with regards to what they’ve been through over the course of the season, the togetherness has been exemplary.

"They’ve stuck by one another. Even at the end, we had Jason Pearce cheering his mates on, encouraging them.

"It’s great. He’s not in the side and he wants to get back in, but he does it right.

"They’ve been like that all the way through the season and I think they’ve got to take great credit for that.

"We needed a competitive edge. We needed to be solid, aggressive and able to compete.

"I wanted us to be able to compete in midfield areas and I wanted legs to get us up and around the front.

"I didn’t want to leave Steve Morison isolated down the middle. I thought Lewis Cook and Sam Byram were both excellent.

"I thought Casper Sloth played his part, he showed good touches and good discipline as well in his defensive role. I think that was the main thinking behind it."

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