Jagielka modest after shut-out

Stand-in goalkeeper Phil Jagielka played down the heroics that helped Sheffield United secure a 1-0 win over Arsenal at Bramall Lane.

Midfielder Jagielka took over in goal when Paddy Kenny limped off on the hour with the Blades leading through Christian Nade’s 41st-minute goal.

And Jagielka kept the Gunners at bay, showing good reactions to tip over a Robin van Persie shot when the Dutchman seemed certain to equalise six minutes from time.

“It was my fifth time in goal and we’ve won three and lost two, so that’s not bad,” Jagielka told Sky Sports.

“Thankfully I didn’t have too many saves to make. Van Persie’s shot came at me, I threw my hand up and fortunately it went over.”

Recalling how he came to be United’s stand-in number one, Jagielka added: “We had a mess-about in training one day and I did OK. I then did a bit of training with the ‘keepers and the gaffer decided I could be an alternative ‘keeper.”

Jagielka felt the Blades had made light of their injury problems to get the better of Arsene Wenger’s men.

“We knew if we got a goal ahead it would be a hard game for them because it’s not a nice place for teams to come to with the crowd getting behind us like they do.”

Skipper Chris Morgan agreed, saying: “The crowd can be our 12th man at times. We’ve had a few home games over Christmas and we’ve had 30,000-odd each time.

“A few of the lads have been feeling under the weather but credit to those who have come in to the side tonight. It’s a fantastic three points.”

Jubilant Blades boss Neil Warnock felt his side had been well worth their win.

“I don’t think we just won….we deserved to win,” he said.

“We were hanging on at the end but we put bodies in the way and made tackles and we scored a goal fitting to win any game.

“You saw the team sheet. It’s been a nightmare this week and we were decimated today but I could just smell it tonight. I thought we would win.”

Warnock admitted he had every confidence in Jagielka when he took over from the injured Kenny.

“I never worry when Jags goes in goal,” he said, “and the lads said to (second-choice keeper) Paul Gerrard afterwards ‘sorry, you’ll have to be on the bench at Middlesbrough on Monday. Jags stays in goal!”’

The newly-promoted Blades were hot tips for relegation at the start of the season but Warnock is confident about their survival prospects.

“It’s the pundits who don’t fancy us. We’ve played some great football and not got our rewards but tonight we have got our just rewards and it’s a fantastic result for us.”

Wenger, his fifth-placed side now 17 points behind leaders Manchester United, was in sombre mood but made no excuses for the Gunners' defeat - despite the fact he was without nine key players.

“I felt we had enough quality to win the game today,” insisted the Frenchman.

“My team gave everything until the last minute. I feel the team has done very well recently and shown great spirit.

“The first mistake we made they took their chance – and although we fought hard, we couldn’t come back.

“In the second half the pitch was very difficult. But credit to them – they kept going to the end too.”

Asked if he felt the Gunners should have put Jagielka under more pressure, Wenger replied: “At that stage it was very difficult to get into the box by passing, and we were hitting long balls into the box.”