Mark Rankine hopes to celebrate his 34th birthday next week by helping Sheffield United continue their push for promotion to the Premiership. Having scored ten goals in their last two games the Blades have moved up to second spot and givemefootball's Lawrie Madden caught up with the experienced midfielder after the 5-3 victory against Cardiff at the weekend.
Q:NO GOALS AT HALF TIME AND THEN EIGHT IN THE SECOND HALF. YOU CAN'T HAVE PLAYED IN TOO MANY GAMES LIKE THAT?
A:No, it was pretty remarkable. Cardiff played well, but so did we - eventually. We got battered in the first half and were lucky to go in level at the interval but we got our goals at the right time and it would have been a bit of a travesty if we hadn't picked up all three points. At the moment Ndlovu and Tonge are on fire.
Q:AFTER LAST SEASON'S EXPLOITS WAS THERE A WORRY THAT IT MIGHT NOT HAPPEN THIS SEASON?
A:Yes, I thought and wondered if there would be a hangover. I was at Preston a couple of years ago and we had a good season and then the following year it was a case of 'after the Lord Mayor's show'. But the gaffer had a word about it and set players targets for pre-season and everyone came back and did the work in either the same time or better than last season. We are very fit and focused.
Q:LAST YEAR YOU RELIED A LOT ON MICHAEL BROWN TO GET YOU GOALS BUT THIS SEASON HE HAS BEEN INJURED AND YOU DON'T SEEM TO HAVE MISSED HIM TOO BADLY?
A:Michael scored a lot of goals last season and he is a very good player but it is a team game and the gaffer tries to create a squad game and everyone chips in. Ndlovu has scored seven already.
Q:ARE YOU STRONGER THAN LAST SEASON?
A:Yes, definitely. We have added seven players, the gaffer has freshened things up and kept competition for places at a premium. There are now 18 players who all think they should be playing. The training is done at a very high tempo and that's how we play.
Q:WAS IT IMPORTANT FOR NEIL WARNOCK TO BRING IN SOME EXPERIENCED PLAYTERS?
A:Yes. I think the gaffer felt we lacked a bit in that department. I think he felt that was a factor in being turned over by Wolves in the play-offs last season. He has brought in players who have experience and who have played in big occasions.
Q:WHAT ARE YOU HOPING FOR THIS SEASON?
A:Well, I think we will be disappointed if we do not get into the play-offs again. I know there are no guarantees but that is what we are hoping and then kick on from there because we are capable of a top two place if everyone plays to their capability.
Q:WHO DO YOU THINK WILL BE THE MAIN DANGERS IN THIS DIVISION?
A:I think a pattern is forming already. West Ham and West Brom look strong with Reading and Forest going well. Norwich have brought in a couple of players recently so that will help them. Wigan and Cardiff will be in with a shout too. The longer Wigan stay at the top the more dangerous they will become because then the Chairman will have no qualms about going out and spending £3 or £4 million on additional players.
Q:WHAT HAVE BEEN YOUR BEST QUALITIES SO FAR?
A:Our home form is good. We have always had a good home game with a cutting edge. We have a lot of strikers. Look at the Cardiff game when we put on two new strikers after 60 minutes and we suddenly went from being on the back foot to the front foot. We gradually grind teams down. We score a lot of goals in the last 15 minutes. We also have pace in the side and we counter-attack very quickly.
