Clough pleased with 'attitude'

Nigel Clough paid tribute to Sheffield United's attitude as they stretched they unbeaten run five matches with a win over Rochdale.

Jamal Campbell-Ryce's deflected effort six minutes from time proved enough to put Rochdale to the sword, although Blades goalkeeper Mark Howard was forced to deny Peter Vincenti with only seconds remaining and the visitors had earlier gone close when Ian Henderson struck the crossbar. Clough, the United manager, said: "We had to work hard against a very good team but we kept on going and got our reward. "You need to show that type of attitude in this division because it's a very tough league. You can't take anything for granted and so that's why you've got to be ready to work. "It might not always be pretty - although I thought there was some good stuff played out there at times - but you've got to be able to dig-in. And that's what the lads did so I'm really pleased for them." Clough added: "There's still a lot more to come from us. There are still lots of areas where we can improve and we'll be looking to do that. "But, in the meantime, we want to keep on winning and keep on picking-up points. To do that, you've got to show the right work ethic. And the lads are buying into that. "There was a little bit of fortune to the goal, of course, but I think we deserved to get that." Despite gaining promotion last season, Rochdale appear more than comfortable at League One level and caused their opponents plenty of problems during an entertaining first half. But despite seeing Howard forced to divert Vincenti's shot away from goal midway through the opening period, it was United who created the better chances with Jose Baxter a particular threat. The former Everton and Oldham midfielder glanced a header just wide after meeting Ben Davies' fifth-minute centre before giving Conrad Logan a scare from long range. Jamie Murphy also went close with a curling attempt as the match became increasingly stretched. But it was Rochdale who made the brighter start to the second half as Matthew Done and Vincenti both tried their luck. United, who saw Jamie Murphy limp off with an injury, wrestled back control when Chris Basham tested Logan's handling skills with a stooping header. The Rochdale goalkeeper showed good reflexes again when Neill Collins climbed highest to meet a corner. Henderson, who impressed for Rochdale, struck the crossbar with a powerful shot on the turn. Baxter, United's most impressive player, beat the wall but not Logan with a free-kick while substitute Marc McNulty blazed wastefully wide after seizing possession in midfield. But Logan was powerless to stop Campbell-Ryce's cross flying into the back of his net during the closing stages. Keith Hill, the Rochdale manager, said: "In the end, Lady Luck has smiled on Sheffield United and not us. But I'm not going to be too disappointed because of the way we performed. "They (United) will be right up there challenging at the end of the season. I'm absolutely sure about that, without a shadow of a doubt in fact. But we've come here and made it really difficult for them. In fact, we could quite easily have come away with something to show - and probably deserved it too." Hill added: "It was a bit of a fluke, the goal, because he meant to cross the ball and it took a real kick off our lad. But that's the only thing which has really undone us, so we can take a lot of heart from that. "Going forward, if we know we can come to places like this and play like that then there should be no problems in terms of belief. None at all. There certainly aren't from me."