Deadbat
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It was another frustrating afternoon in the league for the Blades as they failed to win at home again. This time Walsall were the latest side to leave the Lane without being beaten as they came back from a Chris O’Grady goal to level thanks to Tom Bradshaw. After the endeavours of the week; many United fans would have been fearful over the side being flat or fatigued and so it proved as a mostly lacklustre show failed to yield the win again. In truth United still had enough of the game and chances to win the game but a sloppy piece of defending saw another cross and headed goal conceded.
Manager Clough freshened things up by bringing back in Jose Baxter, Stefan Scougall, Che Adams for his first full start and also the returning O’Grady after he was cup tied in the week. There was no place in the starting eleven for Paddy McCarthy as the same defence that had been so good in the week started again. Louis Reed and Jamal Campbell Ryce were not in the match day squad presumably out injured.
United were playing with a more attacking line up with Baxter in an advance role alongside O’Grady and Scougall in the centre of midfield with Michael Doyle. The game began with few chances of note and the game mired in midfield. O’Grady was showing strong hold up play early on and Flynn was looking to get forward. From one such move he put in a great ball but Baxter headed over when he ought to have done much better.
Walsall had offered little going the other way although the talented Sawyers was causing some problems getting into good areas but Basham made two excellent tackles.
United had another chance when this time O’Grady had a headed effort that once again was a good chance but like Baxter he headed over. Referee Horwood had to go off injured and was replaced by Wootton.
Just before the break United hit the top of the bar but it would have been a fortuitous goal as Baxter’s shot took a wicked deflection spinning up and caroming the woodwork on the way over.
As the second half started it seemed like Flynn had picked up a knock and was replaced by McGahey who surprisingly went to right back with Basham remaining in the middle of the defence.
United were playing at a bit better tempo with more aggression all over the field and won a flurry of corners and free kicks. Just before the hour they made the break through.
Baxter played a delightful through ball that split the defence and the offside trap and O’GRADY was through. He was able to take his time and pick put it in at the near post at the Kop end. United had not been great but had the better chances and were now in front.
However as they had done at Fleetwood sloppy defending where they failed to do the basics saw a leveller out of nothing soon after. McGahey gave his winger way too much time and the cross came in unopposed. The ball was headed accurately into the corner past the stationary Howard by BRADSHAW.
After this Walsall had a good spell and Harris had to kick over his own bar under pressure before Baxter had a shot over and then Harris was even closer as his searing shot grazed the top of the net.
Bradshaw flashed a shot just across the goal and at this point it was a game that could go either way after United had been the better side if not comprehensively better, much of the game till the leveller.
Baxter came off to be replaced by McNulty as United tried to find the winning goal. Adams then went down in the box looking for a penalty but nothing was given and the fall was quite theatrical maybe. Cuvelier replaced Adams as the game entered the closing stages and the Belgian headed just over as he got onto a deep O’Grady cross.
There was four minutes of stoppage time but United could not register another effort on goal as the game faded out to another disappointing outcome for the home fans.
United – It wasn’t great. We were not at the same tempo, did not have the same zest and hunger as the other night and yet we still did enough to win the game. We had two good headed chances in the first half which was flat but one should have been converted. We were sluggish but still better than Walsall. After the break the same theme continued.
At least we got a goal (well made and taken) and then you hoped we would kick on but gave away a stupid goal (poor play by McGahey and the centre backs) and after this Walsall got some confidence and improved and they had as many chances as us after this but there were probably only a couple of efforts either way. We did not test the keeper all game apart from the goal really with shots and headers flashing over. They were the same. It was a poor game really but one we should have done enough to win regardless but it was worrying we conceded a copy cat goal to many we have been conceding this season.
The tempo was flat, we did not snap around the opposition like Tuesday and did not move the ball at the same pace. We also struggled to create many chances and looked a bit clueless in the final third despite O’Grady impressing. The other 3 forwards failed to impress sadly. We should have given McNulty longer and I felt the defensive change also cost us (did not have too many options as if he had put Basham to right back we would have probably moaned but at least he has played there – not sure McGahey has? They exposed this weakness, scoring and could have had another from this side. Overall, United have to be beating in truth ordinary sides like they faced in Walsall but the fact they failed to do so is concerning.
The top two failed to win but we let another opportunity go of course to gain ground on them. We cannot keep tossing away home games if we want to be in with a chance of the top two; which now is looking increasingly unlikely unless we go on a run like last season. The main concern is there are 5 or 6 teams just below us and a tough run of games in January could see us back in mid table if we don’t start getting some wins soon. That is the negative way of looking at it. The positive side is with O’Grady playing well and if we can get Wallace back and sign a few more; then we could kick on and if we won say 3 or 4 on the bounce we then could make a late charge.
Walsall – I thought for most of the game they were poor really. They looked slow and gave the ball away a lot. They failed to look any kind of attacking threat until they scored and I thought were there for the taking. After they scored they woke up and had a few other half chances and would argue they looked as likely to win as we did. They have been gradually moving up the table but I was not impressed with them today but they got a point and will be happy with that. I like the lad Sawyers and think he is one that could be a possible signing and they are always fairly solid defensively. The lad Downing is better than Butler for me (when they formed a good pairing last season). Bradshaw caused us some problems with his work rate and movement and scored a decent goal in the end. A side that will probably be on the cusp of the playoffs but not sure they have enough to get in there. The Manager Smith does a great job there though as he loses talented players year in, year out and keeps them in the upper reaches of this level with little resources.
Manager Clough freshened things up by bringing back in Jose Baxter, Stefan Scougall, Che Adams for his first full start and also the returning O’Grady after he was cup tied in the week. There was no place in the starting eleven for Paddy McCarthy as the same defence that had been so good in the week started again. Louis Reed and Jamal Campbell Ryce were not in the match day squad presumably out injured.
United were playing with a more attacking line up with Baxter in an advance role alongside O’Grady and Scougall in the centre of midfield with Michael Doyle. The game began with few chances of note and the game mired in midfield. O’Grady was showing strong hold up play early on and Flynn was looking to get forward. From one such move he put in a great ball but Baxter headed over when he ought to have done much better.
Walsall had offered little going the other way although the talented Sawyers was causing some problems getting into good areas but Basham made two excellent tackles.
United had another chance when this time O’Grady had a headed effort that once again was a good chance but like Baxter he headed over. Referee Horwood had to go off injured and was replaced by Wootton.
Just before the break United hit the top of the bar but it would have been a fortuitous goal as Baxter’s shot took a wicked deflection spinning up and caroming the woodwork on the way over.
As the second half started it seemed like Flynn had picked up a knock and was replaced by McGahey who surprisingly went to right back with Basham remaining in the middle of the defence.
United were playing at a bit better tempo with more aggression all over the field and won a flurry of corners and free kicks. Just before the hour they made the break through.
Baxter played a delightful through ball that split the defence and the offside trap and O’GRADY was through. He was able to take his time and pick put it in at the near post at the Kop end. United had not been great but had the better chances and were now in front.
However as they had done at Fleetwood sloppy defending where they failed to do the basics saw a leveller out of nothing soon after. McGahey gave his winger way too much time and the cross came in unopposed. The ball was headed accurately into the corner past the stationary Howard by BRADSHAW.
After this Walsall had a good spell and Harris had to kick over his own bar under pressure before Baxter had a shot over and then Harris was even closer as his searing shot grazed the top of the net.
Bradshaw flashed a shot just across the goal and at this point it was a game that could go either way after United had been the better side if not comprehensively better, much of the game till the leveller.
Baxter came off to be replaced by McNulty as United tried to find the winning goal. Adams then went down in the box looking for a penalty but nothing was given and the fall was quite theatrical maybe. Cuvelier replaced Adams as the game entered the closing stages and the Belgian headed just over as he got onto a deep O’Grady cross.
There was four minutes of stoppage time but United could not register another effort on goal as the game faded out to another disappointing outcome for the home fans.
United – It wasn’t great. We were not at the same tempo, did not have the same zest and hunger as the other night and yet we still did enough to win the game. We had two good headed chances in the first half which was flat but one should have been converted. We were sluggish but still better than Walsall. After the break the same theme continued.
At least we got a goal (well made and taken) and then you hoped we would kick on but gave away a stupid goal (poor play by McGahey and the centre backs) and after this Walsall got some confidence and improved and they had as many chances as us after this but there were probably only a couple of efforts either way. We did not test the keeper all game apart from the goal really with shots and headers flashing over. They were the same. It was a poor game really but one we should have done enough to win regardless but it was worrying we conceded a copy cat goal to many we have been conceding this season.
The tempo was flat, we did not snap around the opposition like Tuesday and did not move the ball at the same pace. We also struggled to create many chances and looked a bit clueless in the final third despite O’Grady impressing. The other 3 forwards failed to impress sadly. We should have given McNulty longer and I felt the defensive change also cost us (did not have too many options as if he had put Basham to right back we would have probably moaned but at least he has played there – not sure McGahey has? They exposed this weakness, scoring and could have had another from this side. Overall, United have to be beating in truth ordinary sides like they faced in Walsall but the fact they failed to do so is concerning.
The top two failed to win but we let another opportunity go of course to gain ground on them. We cannot keep tossing away home games if we want to be in with a chance of the top two; which now is looking increasingly unlikely unless we go on a run like last season. The main concern is there are 5 or 6 teams just below us and a tough run of games in January could see us back in mid table if we don’t start getting some wins soon. That is the negative way of looking at it. The positive side is with O’Grady playing well and if we can get Wallace back and sign a few more; then we could kick on and if we won say 3 or 4 on the bounce we then could make a late charge.
Walsall – I thought for most of the game they were poor really. They looked slow and gave the ball away a lot. They failed to look any kind of attacking threat until they scored and I thought were there for the taking. After they scored they woke up and had a few other half chances and would argue they looked as likely to win as we did. They have been gradually moving up the table but I was not impressed with them today but they got a point and will be happy with that. I like the lad Sawyers and think he is one that could be a possible signing and they are always fairly solid defensively. The lad Downing is better than Butler for me (when they formed a good pairing last season). Bradshaw caused us some problems with his work rate and movement and scored a decent goal in the end. A side that will probably be on the cusp of the playoffs but not sure they have enough to get in there. The Manager Smith does a great job there though as he loses talented players year in, year out and keeps them in the upper reaches of this level with little resources.
