Sheffield United caretaker manager Paul Heckingbottom says Daniel Jebbison deserved his chance against Crystal Palace.

Heckingbottom introduced the teen in the 2-0 defeat.

He later said, "Daniel Jebbison's someone I've worked with all season. He has done great with the young teams. He has great workrate about him. He has a lot of good attributes. He is only 17 and there is a long way to go for him to be the finished article but he deserved his opportunity."

On the game, Heckingbottom also remarked: "When you are a team where we are in the league, to suffer that goal so early was really tough. It put us on the backfoot and it was always going to be tough from there. We responded well in the second half but we were always vulnerable to their attacking quality on the counter-attack.

"I'll be totally honest, I don't like the way the game is going. But it's a stonewall penalty if [Sander Berge] goes down. There was a naivety on our part, definitely. But there is that honesty that has been so successful for us. The game is changing in a way I don't like.

"When we are on top in terms of momemtum, if we get that goal, you fancy us to go on and win it but we didn't get it. I feel for the players. They are flat and down. The honesty cost us in not winning a penalty. But that honesty means they will keep going to the end. We can't feel sorry for ourselves. That will be the message. There will be more players getting opportunities."