This week could save us or sink us, says Warnock

14 April 2012

Neil Warnock has put his basement joust with Watford's Aidy Boothroyd into chilling perspective by admitting Sheffield United's Premiership survival prospects could be decided by the weekend.

'The next two games will define our season,' said Warnock, whose side face bottom team Charlton at Bramall Lane on Saturday. 'We can't afford to get left adrift.'

Vicarage Road sounds an unlikely setting for what promises to be an unholy war between Premier League newcomers who have failed to match Reading's adaptation to the top flight. It might not be the type of contest to which the brand name aspires but few fixtures this season will have more at stake.

United, currently a point above Watford in the bottom three, can leave Boothroyd's side in their wake, and level with Newcastle and Blackburn, if they win.

Alternatively, Warnock's men face sliding to the bottom should they lose both vital games.

That's why the Blades boss - still so aggrieved about being denied a late equaliser at West Ham that he contacted referees' manager Keith Hackett yesterday - won't pretend Tuesday night's match will be anything other than a survival slog.

Warnock likes to see his teams pass the ball around these days but his erstwhile expertise in route one football means he is uncomplaining about the expected bombardment from Boothroyd's players.

'We know it will be a battle because of the way Watford play but I have no argument with that,' he said. 'You have to work to your strengths, so good luck to them. The main thing is that we compete with what they do.'

But Warnock does admit that he is upset at Watford's postponement of their scheduled game at the weekend because of opponents Blackburn's UEFA Cup date.

It doesn't rankle, however, as much as Mike Riley's disallowing of what should have been a legitimate equalising goal at Upton Park when Rob Kozluk 'scored' after West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green missed his punch and clattered into the back of United defender Derek Geary.

Warnock is only slightly appeased by the fact that one of his more favoured referees, Martin Atkinson, will be in charge tonight. 'We've had him before and he's all right,' said the United manager.

But the injustice of Saturday could prove of crucial significance in a season punctuated by decisions that seemed to have been unfair on the Blades.

Warnock, remarkably restrained in the circumstances, is attempting to argue from logic these days as he takes his argument to the top. He said yesterday: 'I'm disappointed not just in Mike Riley but in the type of decisions that referees are getting wrong.

'The one on Saturday was plainly incorrect. It was a legitimate goal. If that was a foul then referees are not being coached properly. If Mike saw it that way then the interpretation is wrong.

'I've contacted Keith Hackett and I'm hoping he can answer my points.'

Warnock clearly suspects that referees often assume keepers have been fouled when they fail to gather the ball or punch cleanly.

Former Watford striker Danny Webber will return from a two-match lay-off tonight, either in the starting line-up or on the bench, following his recovery from a hamstring injury.

Warnock added: 'Danny will be involved in some way and all we need now is a bit of luck. We should certainly have got something on Saturday and we have to start picking up points now.'

Watford boss Aidy Boothroyd has also been in contact with referees' manager Keith Hackett following his outburst at Chris Foy after he granted a late penalty to Portsmouth, consigning his side to a 2-1 defeat last time out.

Foy's decision - in Boothroyd's opinion he had failed to spot Kanu was offside before Jay DeMerit's foul on the Nigerian striker - prompted the Hornets chief to suggest referees who get decisions wrong 'should be put in the stocks and hit with rotten tomatoes'.

Discussing his conversation with Hackett, Boothroyd, who seems likely to escape an FA charge for his comments, said: 'I had a good chat with Keith Hackett and as far as I am concerned the matter is over.

'I expressed my opinion on the performance of the referee. Keith dealt with me very, very well. I try really hard not to blame other for fortune or misfortune. We are responsible for what we do, not referees or anybody else. All I ask is that they are fair and straight and that is what tends to happen.

'I have learned a few lessons. It is a difficult one. If you shout your mouth off and say what you think, sometimes that can come back to haunt you. But if you stay quiet all the time, then you never really cause any ructions and people might think we'll be all right because they are not going to give me a hard time.

'One positive thing to come from it is that if referees will know that if they do get it wrong, I'll get after them.'

TV: Sky Sports 2 from 7.30 (kick-off 8.0).

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