Deadbat
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It was a disappointing afternoon at the Lane as United failed to do enough to see off Oldham in a game that for long spells United were chasing. The home side fell behind to former Blade Jonathan Forte’s strike and toiled for nearly an hour after before finally getting level thanks for substitute Jamal Campbell Ryce’s strike. In truth United had been second best much of the first half and although improve after the break it was still less than convincing and they failed to really have control of the contest at any real point.
Clough once again made changes as this time the pack was shuffled with Reed, Campbell Ryce dropping to the bench and in came Baxter and McCarthy with the former going up top and Basham operating in a midfield role. Oldham included former Blades Forte and Danny Philliskirk with another ex loanee Dominic Poleon on the bench.
The game began with United straight on the attack. Flynn went past his man and knocked a ball back which Baxter clipped on goal but Rachukba was able to palm behind the goal. Alcock then had a half chance on the corner but this was as good as it got for United for the opening stages. Oldham slowly got into the game and started to win the 50/50 challenges and with the strong Ibhere causing problems, United were now forced back. The striker had one shot blocked and another header that was nearly forced home.
United had an effort via Murphy whose shot stung the hands of the keeper but they were struggling to make much headway as a confident Oldham were knocking it about with confidence. Doyle chopped down Forte but the subsequent free kick was cleared but soon after the visitors were able to create a chance and score.
The ball was knocked forward and McEveley was caught exposed as he tried to catch FORTE offside. However the Oldham man had timed his run well but the United defender still had time to try and affect the clearance but Forte took a touch and then moved forward before rolling it easily under Howard. He did not celebrate in front of the Kop after he had grown up supporting the Blades. It was a really poor defending from a lacklustre United side.
Soon after Johnson curled wide as the crowd began to sound their frustration as United could make little headway as Murphy was doubled up on and the midfield had no control of the ball. Baxter was trying to win free kicks but to no avail and as the Latics fans noise increased it showed how assured their side had been.
Harris has a low shot saved and Scougall then shot wide. However Oldham came again and had a succession of corners after some more controlled play. United’s fans reaction at half time told the story as the home players trooped off.
The second half saw Baxter hit a poor free kick over the bar after a clumsy foul and then a succession of bookings for both sides broke up any fluency in the game.
Johnson shot over and then Ibhere was just wide as Oldham looked to finish off the Blades who had improved but still created little goal threat.
Baxter had not been in the game and came off for Campbell Ryce with Murphy going up to in a more central role.
It was not long after the change when an immediate impact was felt. CAMPBELL RYCE took the direct route and simply powered into the box and then hit a fierce angled shot that Rachukba maybe ought to have done better with but it could have took a slight deflection as it then bounced off his hand and into the corner of the net. United were level and the crowd had
renewed hope.
United at least showed some urgency and Basham had one shot saved before Campbell Ryce again caused problems with another deflected effort tipped over this time. At the other end Mills was just wide from a corner and it looked like it could go either way at this stage with United’s improved second half pointing that they maybe had more inclination they may get the winner.
Ibhere had been a handful all game but had already picked up a booking and stupidly got involved with Flynn after the ball and was rightly given a second yellow. There was not much of an appeal.
McEveley’s day of uncertainty continued right to the end as his underhit pass saw Oldham intercept and the United man pulled back Poleon as he advanced on goal. On another afternoon he could have been shown a straight red as although on the angle there seemed no one between him and the goal. The yellow was perhaps a little fortunate and the Oldham fans seemed very aggrieved behind the goal.
The game entered five minutes of stoppage time but other than Campbell Ryce as an outlet and looking for a flick on from Basham; it seemed United had few ideas how to get the winner. A few balls went across the box but the afternoon was summed up when with only seconds left United opted to take a short free kick allowing the ref to blow for full time rather than get the ball in the box.
United – Thought we were really sub par today. We started the game well in the first 2 or 3 minutes and had one decent chance via Baxter. I joked that might be as good as it gets and it almost proved right. After this we regressed badly and Oldham won midfield, snuffed out any threat we had and looked more like creating and scoring the other way. They fought hard, pressed us and we looked slow and lacking energy all game. We awoke from our slumber for some spells in the second half but it was pockets and no controlled play or pressure. Campbell Ryce gave us some life but overall we had so many players whose touch, passing and overall play was simply not good enough. We lost a lot of individual battles and never came onto the ball from defence outwards and this meant the ball often was never in our control for longer than a few minutes. It was really frustrating as short passes mixed with aimless balls meant we never really could have any passage of play. It was scrappy as
Oldham fight hard and disrupted us all afternoon.
For professional footballers (players who are much higher up the pyramid like McCarthy) to be so bad at simple control and passing was inexcusable. We can bleat about formation and tactics all we want and I will in a bit but failure to do the basics, harrying, tackling, winning header, controlling and passing the football means it matters little who plays where and what formation you have. We were lacking in those simple things today and met a side that had as much or more desire aswell.
As for the tactics; it is bad enough having just one up top but when the one is Baxter it really is simply not good enough as the ball just comes back time after time. We had no focal point, no target and no one to hit all game. That is not about long ball but about playing it somewhere or to someone where the ball can be retained and we can then get men round him/them and force the play. It is so hard when you are relying on League One players (who are there for a reason) to try and pass and thread balls through sides combined with the fact we have no one who penetrates or has real pace (Murphy maybe but was double marked) and it was left to Campbell Ryce to save us.
I did feel the run we went on was as much about playing poor sides as an increase in form and against two mid table sides Barnsley and Oldham we have struggled massively to break them down in any kind of way. With two further home games against better sides (at least positionally) we have to change our approach in tactics and personnel as otherwise we are hoping to nick a game here and there and there is no sense we can go and score more than the odd goal. With Bristol, Preston, MK and
Swindon all being quite consistent; it is worrying we still look so hit and miss. Today was a perfect chance for us to put on a commanding and positive performance and result and in the end we were fortunate in some ways to get a point as a hungrier and more organised Oldham showed us to be a distinctly average and mostly clueless side.
Oldham – Thought they were decent to be honest. They were very good in the first half, winning the ball in most areas of the field and pressing us high. They had two up front and were dangerous with Ibhere’s height and Forte’s pace. They scored a decent goal and looked a threat. I felt for a side that had 2 up top and should have had a disadvantage in midfield they won this area and worked hard all game until the second half when they began to tire. Not for the first time this season a manager had done his homework on Clough and snuffed out our main threats making sure Doyle did not win the ball and was pressed and then when Murphy had it was double teamed and had no chance to get on the outside.
Their side if full of average journeymen (we had a few of them at some point) but were testament to a side that if they work hard, press and do the basics they can cause sides problems. They were nothing remarkable but they defended well when they had to, broke when they had and possess a solid spine. They will finish mid way at least on work ethic and organisation alone.
Today they easily deserved a draw and maybe a bit disappointed not to have got all three as for the most part we looked pretty clueless on how to break them down.
Credit to Lee Johnson. A budget probably less than half of our own but has them right with us in the table and a side that is scoring goals and looking a threat and taking games to teams like us on the road.
As for players they all worked hard as a unit. Forte took his goal well and had a few other bursts without really being massively threatening. Ibhere the lad that went off caused us most of the problems holding it up and ensuring they could come onto the ball. We never got to grips with him all game. The lad Johnston was a handful (impressed me when he played for Villa against us in the Youth Cup) and surprised he did not stay with Chesterfield. The defence did well until we finally stretched them with Campbell Ryce and the keeper was well protected not having many saves to make all game.
Clough once again made changes as this time the pack was shuffled with Reed, Campbell Ryce dropping to the bench and in came Baxter and McCarthy with the former going up top and Basham operating in a midfield role. Oldham included former Blades Forte and Danny Philliskirk with another ex loanee Dominic Poleon on the bench.
The game began with United straight on the attack. Flynn went past his man and knocked a ball back which Baxter clipped on goal but Rachukba was able to palm behind the goal. Alcock then had a half chance on the corner but this was as good as it got for United for the opening stages. Oldham slowly got into the game and started to win the 50/50 challenges and with the strong Ibhere causing problems, United were now forced back. The striker had one shot blocked and another header that was nearly forced home.
United had an effort via Murphy whose shot stung the hands of the keeper but they were struggling to make much headway as a confident Oldham were knocking it about with confidence. Doyle chopped down Forte but the subsequent free kick was cleared but soon after the visitors were able to create a chance and score.
The ball was knocked forward and McEveley was caught exposed as he tried to catch FORTE offside. However the Oldham man had timed his run well but the United defender still had time to try and affect the clearance but Forte took a touch and then moved forward before rolling it easily under Howard. He did not celebrate in front of the Kop after he had grown up supporting the Blades. It was a really poor defending from a lacklustre United side.
Soon after Johnson curled wide as the crowd began to sound their frustration as United could make little headway as Murphy was doubled up on and the midfield had no control of the ball. Baxter was trying to win free kicks but to no avail and as the Latics fans noise increased it showed how assured their side had been.
Harris has a low shot saved and Scougall then shot wide. However Oldham came again and had a succession of corners after some more controlled play. United’s fans reaction at half time told the story as the home players trooped off.
The second half saw Baxter hit a poor free kick over the bar after a clumsy foul and then a succession of bookings for both sides broke up any fluency in the game.
Johnson shot over and then Ibhere was just wide as Oldham looked to finish off the Blades who had improved but still created little goal threat.
Baxter had not been in the game and came off for Campbell Ryce with Murphy going up to in a more central role.
It was not long after the change when an immediate impact was felt. CAMPBELL RYCE took the direct route and simply powered into the box and then hit a fierce angled shot that Rachukba maybe ought to have done better with but it could have took a slight deflection as it then bounced off his hand and into the corner of the net. United were level and the crowd had
renewed hope.
United at least showed some urgency and Basham had one shot saved before Campbell Ryce again caused problems with another deflected effort tipped over this time. At the other end Mills was just wide from a corner and it looked like it could go either way at this stage with United’s improved second half pointing that they maybe had more inclination they may get the winner.
Ibhere had been a handful all game but had already picked up a booking and stupidly got involved with Flynn after the ball and was rightly given a second yellow. There was not much of an appeal.
McEveley’s day of uncertainty continued right to the end as his underhit pass saw Oldham intercept and the United man pulled back Poleon as he advanced on goal. On another afternoon he could have been shown a straight red as although on the angle there seemed no one between him and the goal. The yellow was perhaps a little fortunate and the Oldham fans seemed very aggrieved behind the goal.
The game entered five minutes of stoppage time but other than Campbell Ryce as an outlet and looking for a flick on from Basham; it seemed United had few ideas how to get the winner. A few balls went across the box but the afternoon was summed up when with only seconds left United opted to take a short free kick allowing the ref to blow for full time rather than get the ball in the box.
United – Thought we were really sub par today. We started the game well in the first 2 or 3 minutes and had one decent chance via Baxter. I joked that might be as good as it gets and it almost proved right. After this we regressed badly and Oldham won midfield, snuffed out any threat we had and looked more like creating and scoring the other way. They fought hard, pressed us and we looked slow and lacking energy all game. We awoke from our slumber for some spells in the second half but it was pockets and no controlled play or pressure. Campbell Ryce gave us some life but overall we had so many players whose touch, passing and overall play was simply not good enough. We lost a lot of individual battles and never came onto the ball from defence outwards and this meant the ball often was never in our control for longer than a few minutes. It was really frustrating as short passes mixed with aimless balls meant we never really could have any passage of play. It was scrappy as
Oldham fight hard and disrupted us all afternoon.
For professional footballers (players who are much higher up the pyramid like McCarthy) to be so bad at simple control and passing was inexcusable. We can bleat about formation and tactics all we want and I will in a bit but failure to do the basics, harrying, tackling, winning header, controlling and passing the football means it matters little who plays where and what formation you have. We were lacking in those simple things today and met a side that had as much or more desire aswell.
As for the tactics; it is bad enough having just one up top but when the one is Baxter it really is simply not good enough as the ball just comes back time after time. We had no focal point, no target and no one to hit all game. That is not about long ball but about playing it somewhere or to someone where the ball can be retained and we can then get men round him/them and force the play. It is so hard when you are relying on League One players (who are there for a reason) to try and pass and thread balls through sides combined with the fact we have no one who penetrates or has real pace (Murphy maybe but was double marked) and it was left to Campbell Ryce to save us.
I did feel the run we went on was as much about playing poor sides as an increase in form and against two mid table sides Barnsley and Oldham we have struggled massively to break them down in any kind of way. With two further home games against better sides (at least positionally) we have to change our approach in tactics and personnel as otherwise we are hoping to nick a game here and there and there is no sense we can go and score more than the odd goal. With Bristol, Preston, MK and
Swindon all being quite consistent; it is worrying we still look so hit and miss. Today was a perfect chance for us to put on a commanding and positive performance and result and in the end we were fortunate in some ways to get a point as a hungrier and more organised Oldham showed us to be a distinctly average and mostly clueless side.
Oldham – Thought they were decent to be honest. They were very good in the first half, winning the ball in most areas of the field and pressing us high. They had two up front and were dangerous with Ibhere’s height and Forte’s pace. They scored a decent goal and looked a threat. I felt for a side that had 2 up top and should have had a disadvantage in midfield they won this area and worked hard all game until the second half when they began to tire. Not for the first time this season a manager had done his homework on Clough and snuffed out our main threats making sure Doyle did not win the ball and was pressed and then when Murphy had it was double teamed and had no chance to get on the outside.
Their side if full of average journeymen (we had a few of them at some point) but were testament to a side that if they work hard, press and do the basics they can cause sides problems. They were nothing remarkable but they defended well when they had to, broke when they had and possess a solid spine. They will finish mid way at least on work ethic and organisation alone.
Today they easily deserved a draw and maybe a bit disappointed not to have got all three as for the most part we looked pretty clueless on how to break them down.
Credit to Lee Johnson. A budget probably less than half of our own but has them right with us in the table and a side that is scoring goals and looking a threat and taking games to teams like us on the road.
As for players they all worked hard as a unit. Forte took his goal well and had a few other bursts without really being massively threatening. Ibhere the lad that went off caused us most of the problems holding it up and ensuring they could come onto the ball. We never got to grips with him all game. The lad Johnston was a handful (impressed me when he played for Villa against us in the Youth Cup) and surprised he did not stay with Chesterfield. The defence did well until we finally stretched them with Campbell Ryce and the keeper was well protected not having many saves to make all game.
