Sam laments Cup exit

Last updated : 31 August 2014 By Plymouth_hammer

United’s keeper Mark Howard took the plaudits with a fine display for the Blades.

“They were fantastic save by their goalkeeper because time after time we hit the target, and time after time he pulled off saves well beyond the league he is playing in,” Sam told of Howard.  “He has had one of those inspired nights and, of course, if he plays like that all season he won’t be staying in League One.

“We found a ‘keeper in his top form and that has cost us in the end because he’s the one who saved the penalty as well.  It’s a disappointing night in the fact that we lost, but the football that we played and the people going out there and getting the game they needed under their belts gave an excellent account of themselves.

“We didn’t score enough goals because a reflective score would have been three or maybe even four-one.  The fact they scored through an own-goal was very lucky for them when they went through the entire 120 minutes having just two shots on target.

“That showed how much we dominated.  Yet again, we should have got more goals, but we didn’t.

“You’ve got to give Sheffield United credit for the way they defended.  When you decide to not try to go forward, which they did, it’s difficult to break them down.  However, we had the quality of player to break them down, but we didn’t and we couldn’t find a way past their goalkeeper.