Preview: Cleverley On Sheffield United

Tom Cleverley believes there are fewer distractions ahead of the Sky Bet Championship clash at home to Sheffield United (Saturday January 4, 3pm KO) after he lost his unbeaten home record as the Hornets’ Head Coach.

Cardiff City’s 2-1 win on December 29 ended a superb 17-game unbeaten run at The Vic in all competitions, which started when Cleverley first took charge in March.

Now, the challenge is to create a similar streak, starting with the visit of a high-flying Blades side managed by former Watford boss Chris Wilder.

“Obviously every game is worth three points, and you try and focus on the specific game,” Cleverley said.

“But then there was a lot of noise about not just the three points, but the record.

“Now that noise is gone we’re trying to re-create an even better record, game by game.

“It’s nice that the noise surrounding it is just about us against them.”

Cleverley has had limited time to prepare with his players after the 3-1 New Year’s Day defeat at Queens Park Rangers – an issue which is the same for every side at this time of year.

“It’s hard to try and focus on an area on the training pitch,” he said. “The players who played Wednesday, on Thursday they can’t do anything because it’s physically impossible.

“On Friday you have to be very light with them. You do a lot of work in the classroom and the video meetings. That’s my chance to get information to the players.”

The Head Coach admitted that the mental side of the game and dealing with balls into the box are areas which need improvement following the result at Loftus Road.

“The first goal on Wednesday, you don’t see a group of players who are absolutely alert and on their toes, so that is the mental side, but if you look back on the goals we’re conceding, a lot are coming from crosses,” he said.

“So we will do a big piece of work in video meetings, at the hotel tonight, and when we’re back on the training pitch when we get more time, about how to defend our box better.”

Wilder is someone Cleverley knows well, with the Blades boss giving the former club captain one of his first tastes of management by inviting him into his preparation meetings at Vicarage Road.

His Sheffield United side are sure to provide a stern test and sit third in the table despite being deducted two points.

“Chris is very good at organising his team, they’re not conceding many goals this season,” Cleverley added.

“They’ve got very good individuals. They are struggling with injuries to key players, but we know they have quality in a lot of areas still.

“Organisation and really spirited performances, that’s what Chris does with his teams.”