Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom gives West Brom verdict, claims ‘only way is up’ for Baggies

Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom says he is delighted to get West Brom out of the way as they are only ‘going to improve’ now that Steve Bruce is at the helm.

The Blades ran out 2-0 winners on Wednesday evening in a contest that was all but over the second Baggies captain Jake Livermore was given his marching orders before half-time.

But despite the man advantage, Bruce’s men made it difficult for the home side and Heckingbottom believes it could be one of the more important wins of the season for his men come May.

“I’m pleased with the win against a top team,” he said.

“Everyone spoke and everyone knows how good the squad is and they are one of the favourites to go back up and rightly so.

“And now they've got a manager who knows his way around this league better than anyone so we knew how thought it was going to be and we were expecting that so to get the win was really pleasing.

“Arguably even more important was to take three points off a team that is going to be up there - they are going to be up there, the only way they are going now is up.

“They are going to improve and they are going to be one of our challengers without a doubt so from that respect it was a big win.”

There is of course the possibility that these two meet again in the play-offs later in the year and with how the season has gone so far, both may take that if offered the chance right now.

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