New manager or not, Vale can get a result

Chris Birchall doesn’t yet know whether or not he will be in the starting eleven for the trip to Bramall Lane on Saturday, but he believes whatever side Micky Adams puts out can come back with a positive result.

The Blades have not yet appointed a new manager, but if they do, the Vale midfielder believes it can make a huge difference to the home side.

On saying that, he still has faith in the ability of his team mates to put in a performance and send the travelling supporters home happy.

He said: “Hopefully they won’t get a manager in for Saturday so the buzz and excitement won’t be there, but if Chris Morgan is in charge oandwe go into the game with a new manager not appointed, we still know it is going to be a tough game.

“The way Chris Morgan is, he has got a reputation of being a tough, aggressive player and he will want his team like that.

“I am sure a lot of the lads saw their game against Coventry when they performed really well in the second half and should have got a point out of the game.

“But I think their league position is a fair reflection on the way they have been playing this season and hopefully we don’t catapult their season.

“We will go there and try and give a good account of ourselves and know that we can get the three points, but it will be a good atmosphere – it is a great stadium to go to and I am sure the fans are looking forward to it as well.

“If they appoint a new manager before Saturday’s game it can cause us a massive problem really because it gives them that little bit of a lift.

“It is then an even playing field and everyone wants to perform well for the new manager and stat their stake for a place in the starting line-up and in the squad.

“It gives the fans a lift as well, the stadium would be louder, but for us it would be better if it didn’t happen before Saturday, but if it does the lads are confident the way we are playing and the way we are doing the dirty stuff can really pay off and we can get something.

Sheffield United are rock bottom of League One right now, but are they better than that? Chris Birchall believes they are.

He said: “They are better than that, the squad is better than where they are, but it is a true reflection of the way they have been playing at the moment.

“We know that they are not going to end up there, that’s for certain, unless things go diabolically wrong for them.

“But the squad that they have got and the budget that they have got to bring players in is more than anybody else and I am sure they will be up there towards the end of the season.”