Manager Chris Wilder reflected on a highly-emotional afternoon which saw tributes paid to former player George Baldock as Sheffield United beat Stoke 2-0 at Bramall Lane.
Goals either side of the break from Kieffer Moore and Tyrese Campbell gave the home side victory following back-to-back defeats.
David Bowie’s ‘Starman’ – the song associated with Baldock – was played as Wilder gathered his players and staff after the final whistle.
They all stood in a circle on the pitch and the late player’s number two shirt was held aloft by some of his former team-mates as they walked round the pitch.
In the post-match press conference, a visibly emotional Wilder said: “We got the balance right off the pitch, got the balance right on the pitch.
“We needed to get that performance right and I believe we did. We controlled possession, we played really well.
“They played with freedom, they played with belief and personality and courage and that allowed them to dominate a dangerous outfit. Stoke are a team that’s well coached, with some good players.
“We had to make sure that emotionally we were spot on today and controlled our emotions and played in the way we wanted to play today.
“We had to get that right, that was the biggest thing. The biggest message to the players that we had to take it out of it and and we did.
“I thought the players were outstanding. We’re really proud of the players.
“They had a couple of chances so it would have been interesting but we managed to keep a clean sheet so I’m delighted with the players.
“It’s been the toughest two weeks, personally, from my time being in football since I was 16, really, so that’s the impact of it all. And for the players as well and staff and just even people in our canteen or people that saw someone every day.
“Then you chuck in two really difficult away games. Whenever it would have been, it would have been difficult to go and get a result at Leeds.”
Stoke manager Narcis Pelach had no complaints about the result and admitted they lost to the better side.
He said: “We knew that was going to be a tough test for us.
“Sheffield United away, coming back from the Premier League, very good players, good coach. We knew that was going to be hard but we always believed we could do something here.
“The first goal comes too quick, deflection after a free-kick. You cannot really control that but I think the team was organised, solid, with one extra man in defence in order to protect ourselves more.
“But you are not going to have many chances, so you have to take your moments in the game. We didn’t, so Ashley Phillips, Lewis Koumas, these two had big chances. Ashley Phillips had another one from a free-kick.
“You have to be clinical because you are not going to have many chances against Sheffield United away. They were solid. I expected them to be strong in duels, second balls, and I think they were better than us.
“Disappointed for us because there are moments in the game we can link better and we didn’t even have the chance to see the chance because we don’t do the last or the previous pass well.
“We couldn’t even see the speed of Lewis and Tom Cannon in the first half because we didn’t link the transition.”
