Sheffield United boss Nigel Clough has admitted that he was pleased to end a "difficult week" on a high by seeing his side beat Doncaster Rovers.

The Blades kept up their promotion challenge in League One on Saturday as their 10 men defeated Donny 1-0 at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Following the club's controversial decision to allow convicted rapist Ched Evans to train with them, Clough was glad to deflect attention away from that situation with a victory.

"We showed the spirit of the club on the pitch and turning up in the numbers they did showed the spirit off the pitch," he is quoted as saying by the Yorkshire Post.

"It has been a difficult week and it is lovely to finish it with three points in circumstances of adversity, which is the best way to describe it. It has not been easy for anyone at the club, I don't think. All we can do is our bit on the pitch."

United are back in action on Tuesday night when they host Crewe Alexandra in an FA Cup first-round replay.