Sheffield United match reaction as Chesterfield make Blades work after 'tough week'

Sheffield United’s assistant manager Michael Collins reflected on a “difficult” 0-0 encounter against an “organised” Chesterfield side in their second pre-season fixture of the season. United had a number of chances to break the deadlock but couldn’t find a breakthrough at the SMH Group Stadium. The Blades welcomed back Callum O’Hare and Sydie Peck in the second half after both missed last week’s win over Halifax Town, while new signing from Brentford Romelle Donovan made an impressive debut. “We always enjoy coming here in pre-season,” Collins told The Star. “We know Chesterfield, and Paul Cook will have them organised; they're a good team, he's had a very clear way of playing for a number of years, so we know it's always going to be a difficult afternoon coming here.” He added: “Even more so off the back of the week, we've had a tough week with the lads, put a lot of work into them, and obviously the heat's had a little bit of a factor in it, which has made the week a little bit more intense, which is brilliant for us.” Following on from Halifax Town last weekend, the Blades didn’t have things quite as easy in front of goal against Spireites.. While the emphasis is on fitness and preparation for the upcoming campaign, Collins also stressed that the Blades are out to win games in their pre-season schedule, explaining: “We do want it [pre-season] to be like the league feel with regards to we want to win games of football. “We don't want to be one of those teams that says for the first two, three, four games, it's about minutes in the legs. It is, everybody knows that, but it's also about winning. “It's a good habit, it's one that you want to get in quickly, and we've had that so far in pre-season with the encounters that we've had, and today, as I say, if we'd have been a little bit cleaner in key moments, both before an actual attempt at goal, and in the action of taking them opportunities when they presented them, we'd have scored two, three, four goals.” Debutant Donovan was a standout for Chris Wilder’s side before being taken off at half-time. On the Brentford loanee’s debut, Collins commented: “I think you saw some real good glimpses of what we were expecting. Bear in mind he's only had a day or so of training with us. “I think he quickly complemented Femi [Seriki] on that right-hand side, and I think over time, once they get the hang of playing together, they'll have a real dangerous partnership. “He's come in, he's been infectious with his character, he's very willing to take things on board, and I think he sees it as much of an opportunity for himself as it is for us to get the best out of him.”