Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom says his side weren’t up to their usual standards during their 1-0 defeat against Rovers.

Harry Pickering got the decisive goal inside the opening five minutes, firing home after a well-worked counter attack.

Tyrhys Dolan and Sam Szmodics were both denied by the woodwork, while Chris Basham wasted a decent chance for the visitors after a mazy run.

Heckingbottom felt his side had control of the game in large spells but says they didn’t show enough quality in the final third.

He told Sky Sports: “My analyst has just been showing me some stats. We had a bit more of the ball, a bit more chances, more expected goals, that type of thing.

“But if I’m really honest, we weren’t at our best today. We didn’t play with the same sort of pace and energy that we want to play with.

“I thought at half time we were still going to win the game after what I had seen in the first half. I thought we passed the ball well on a difficult pitch.

“They had three attempts – two from counter attacks and one where we left the runner, which we can easily stop by running harder.

“We needed that little bit more quality when we were getting in and around Blackburn’s box, but we didn’t start the second half well.

“I thought they started it better than us and then we had to work really hard to get back on top. Changing personnel and changing shape, but when we did that we just couldn’t create enough openings to take a chance.”

The result sees Rovers climb above third-place Middlesbrough, who are in action against Reading this afternoon.

Jon Dahl Tomasson’s men have now won their last five matches in all competitions and are building momentum heading into the business stage of the campaign.

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