Deadbat
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Finally, Sheffield United got a victory after a difficult start to the season as they secured three points with a hard fought comeback victory against Oxford United. Another difficult start at the Lane saw United behind as Kane Hemmings scored but the Blades fought back and goals from Billy Sharp and James Wilson saw the home side gain a deserved victory in the end.
Manager Wilder opted to change things at both ends with Jake Wright coming in for Jake O’Connell and Matt Done coming in for Leon Clarke.
The game began with Basham cautioned for a late challenge on Dunkley in a competitive start. Oxford had the opening chances with a low shot from Maguire saved from Moore and then the same man shooting into the side netting. United had struggled to get going and the crowd started to become frustrated. Sharp nearly played in Done and Duffy nearly forged an opening but United had another player in referee Kinseley’s notebook with Wright this time being carded for going in late.
From the resultant free kick Oxford took the lead. As they have much of the time this season the defence stood off allowing a shot from outside the box from Sercombe from a quick free kick. The shot had power and Moore pushed away but as with Long in the previous game it was pushed out centrally and no United player reacted. HEMMING did and was onto it quickly to turn the ball home over the diving keeper. The groans from the home side predictably came. It was another remarkably soft goal to concede.
United tried to respond and had a few set plays and then a decent move saw Done play in Freeman but keeper Eastwood and Dunkley managed to block it away. Soon after Done shot over and then the same man got in and was able to turn a shot towards goal from Scougall’s poked ball but Eastwood spread himself well. At least the home side had forced the keeper into two saves and had shown some penetration in an otherwise poor first half performance.
The remaining 5 minutes were played out without chances or incident and the half time whistle came with more frustration than out and out criticism from the home fans at the lowly Blades trooped off. Manager Wilder opted to make a change taking off Hussey and bringing on O’Connell who went in at left back.
United tried to forge an opening. Scougall and Done were working hard and the former forged an opening for the cross to come over but Ruffels errant header was held by Eastwood. At the other end Oxford had a break but Lundstram’s effort was saved from Moore.
United were toiling but struggling to create much. Done summed things up with more industry after a Dunkley mistake but his shot lacked power and Eastwood smothered. However, Done was involved not long after in the equaliser.
The original ball forward saw a challenge from Sharp and as the visitors appealed for a free kick the ball ran loose to Done who got wide and put over an inviting cross that SHARP got on the end of it to steal in and convert from close range. The U’s appeals continued in vain up to the restart but United were back on level terms and the volume ramped up from the home crowd who sensed a turning point in the game and the season.
United were now firmly on the front foot. Done and Sharp combined but the ball was cleared. They won two corners in a row and Oxford were struggling to get out. It was not scintillating stuff from the home side but sheer effort and bodies saw the U’s now hanging on. However, they could not hang on and from a set play, the Blades took the lead.
It came from a free kick on the right. Duffy swung it in and WILSON powered in a header that gave Eastwood no chance. Wild celebrations ensued at the Kop end ensued to signal the vital breakthrough as the crowd noise went up another notch.
United now had something to hold onto and were now fighting for every loose ball but as seems inevitable they started to sit back and Oxford had a spell with Maguire having an effort that Moore saved.
Scougall has put a lot of effort into the game and he was now struggling and after a series of treatments he was replaced by Fleck.
Both Sharp and Done had ran themselves into the ground but it was Sharp who made way for Clarke as United looked to run the clock down as the game entered the final five minutes. United managed to do enough to restrict chances for the visitors and a late free kick from Maguire that came to nothing was all that they could muster. The game entered an additional four minutes of stoppage time but most of this was played in the Oxford half as the Blades professionally saw out time. The thumbs up from Chris Wilder at the end signalled relief as much as anything as United he finally had that winning feeling as the Blades manager.
United – A win. Finally. We were not great an at times looked like we did not have much of an idea how to break Oxford down; a relatively poor side. However through sheer effort and application alone we slowly hauled ourselves back into the game. Done and Scougall summed us up today. Not great on the ball but just ran around a lot, chased lost causes, forced mistakes and ultimately the former made the vital first. After this they sat back and invited pressure and we got the winner with a decent cross (finally) and a great header. I felt it was a deserved win. They had a few half chances but nothing major really and even the goal came out of nothing. Still they had something to defend and you feared the worst when we went one down. The crowd could have really turned but stayed with the side relatively and appreciated some of the above players’ efforts. I felt it was more of a United effort in the way they toiled and they seemed more together second half. At times the team does seem to be unclear on how they are meant to be playing in terms of going long, short or playing through midfield. Today was a bit of a mixed bag. We still went too long at times when Sharp and Done of course would struggle with high pumped up balls.
Formation wide it may have been a 4-2-3-1 as Done and Sharp alternated as lone striker and certainly in the middle we had Basham and Coutts and then Scougall, Duffy and one of above as a three floating about. It was more flexible than it has been. We lacked width but at least we had much more of the ball in general play and today we actually created some chances; not loads but a few in the first half and a few in the second half. We had more than they did in that regard.
The game was won today not by great play (although Done and Duffy’s crosses were very good for the goals) but just by sheer will and not wanting to lose. We simply did not want to lose and as the game went on we won battled individuals and collectively. It was not flowing football and not great moves but just graft and gradually pinning them back. As that happened we started to get the odd chance and the goals came.
Quality wise we are still lacking. We played too much behind the defence and did not really hurt Oxford. We looked a bit clueless in terms of how to create but of course we lack pace and drive. The midfield barely get in front of the attackers with only Scougall showing some zest to run in beyond. Everything is so static and slow all over the field. We really lack leader and drive. I felt the lad Wright gave us some organisation and that Done coming in gave us some legs up top. Him and Sharp did not offer much as a goal threat (until we scored) but Done at least did not give the defence much time and forced errors, even in terms of them just knocking it out for a throw in /corner. Coutts showed he is a footballer even if most of his good work comes in areas that don’t hurt opponents. Sharp still needs to do more and I feel Duffy’s end product is still lacking. Defensively Hussey continues to look an issue and we ball watch too much (the goal saw nobody close down and nobody react to the loose ball when it came off the keeper).
We have a long way to go. As a performance it was disjointed for long spells again but I liked the fact we started to win some battles. Just the harrying and application alone warranted the win in the end against a poor side whom with better quality should have been dispatched rather easily. However, for tonight we just take the win and it is a start and gets us off the mark. We have two away games to come and have to hope we can gradually get on a run but as I have alluded to we will probably lose as many as we win with the current set up and look a very average side. Oxford will be nearer the bottom than the top and we only just eked out the win in the end. A sign that for us to compete with top sides we need to improve the personnel considerably.
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Oxford – They were ok to start the game and sensed out brittle confidence. The goal they scored was quick thinking in the outset as they took a quick free kick and after the decent shot the lad got on the rebound to score. They must have sensed a result here as the other sides who have been down to the Lane in recent times. Second half they will have felt they coped with us ok and we did not create much but the leveller changed the game. They asked for a foul but it was a case of us being stronger for once and not sure there was enough in it to be given. Besides a lot happened even after the challenge and they lost Done and Sharp. After this they sat back and back and we scored from the free kick after a clumsy foul out side. They tried to come out after we scored but with less than quarter of an hour to go they had to change how they had been playing. They had a few free kicks and effort but no clear chances of note. Overall over the game for possession and chances, it was similar to Millwall last week in that United took the role of the home side and had more chances and play and did enough to win.
They did not offer much at the top with a few half chances from Maguire and Thomas did not really get in the game. The game ended up very narrow and they started to sit further and further back instead of pushing on. This proved to be their undoing although ironically had a very high line on the set play that saw the headed winner coming out too far.
Oxford have a few decent players but lost a couple of key players in the summer in O’Dowda and Roofe and look a bit light at this end of the field. Squad wise they also lack depth. I think they may just have enough to stay away from the bottom places but think they may have to look over their shoulders come season end and it would not surprise me if they get sucked into a relegation scrap. Home form will be key and they need to make sure they can get enough wins at the Kassam.
Opponent man of the match : Thought Maguire was decent on set plays and was busy but the lad Lundstram was maybe their best player as he always looked to run forward with the ball and try to move it on. He got muscled out second half as the game went on and I felt he got little help.
Opponent Weak link : Chey Dunkley. He is a highly rated centre back who had done well for the U’s but today he made a number of mistakes and often his dithering led to chances or us winning set plays.
Manager Wilder opted to change things at both ends with Jake Wright coming in for Jake O’Connell and Matt Done coming in for Leon Clarke.
The game began with Basham cautioned for a late challenge on Dunkley in a competitive start. Oxford had the opening chances with a low shot from Maguire saved from Moore and then the same man shooting into the side netting. United had struggled to get going and the crowd started to become frustrated. Sharp nearly played in Done and Duffy nearly forged an opening but United had another player in referee Kinseley’s notebook with Wright this time being carded for going in late.
From the resultant free kick Oxford took the lead. As they have much of the time this season the defence stood off allowing a shot from outside the box from Sercombe from a quick free kick. The shot had power and Moore pushed away but as with Long in the previous game it was pushed out centrally and no United player reacted. HEMMING did and was onto it quickly to turn the ball home over the diving keeper. The groans from the home side predictably came. It was another remarkably soft goal to concede.
United tried to respond and had a few set plays and then a decent move saw Done play in Freeman but keeper Eastwood and Dunkley managed to block it away. Soon after Done shot over and then the same man got in and was able to turn a shot towards goal from Scougall’s poked ball but Eastwood spread himself well. At least the home side had forced the keeper into two saves and had shown some penetration in an otherwise poor first half performance.
The remaining 5 minutes were played out without chances or incident and the half time whistle came with more frustration than out and out criticism from the home fans at the lowly Blades trooped off. Manager Wilder opted to make a change taking off Hussey and bringing on O’Connell who went in at left back.
United tried to forge an opening. Scougall and Done were working hard and the former forged an opening for the cross to come over but Ruffels errant header was held by Eastwood. At the other end Oxford had a break but Lundstram’s effort was saved from Moore.
United were toiling but struggling to create much. Done summed things up with more industry after a Dunkley mistake but his shot lacked power and Eastwood smothered. However, Done was involved not long after in the equaliser.
The original ball forward saw a challenge from Sharp and as the visitors appealed for a free kick the ball ran loose to Done who got wide and put over an inviting cross that SHARP got on the end of it to steal in and convert from close range. The U’s appeals continued in vain up to the restart but United were back on level terms and the volume ramped up from the home crowd who sensed a turning point in the game and the season.
United were now firmly on the front foot. Done and Sharp combined but the ball was cleared. They won two corners in a row and Oxford were struggling to get out. It was not scintillating stuff from the home side but sheer effort and bodies saw the U’s now hanging on. However, they could not hang on and from a set play, the Blades took the lead.
It came from a free kick on the right. Duffy swung it in and WILSON powered in a header that gave Eastwood no chance. Wild celebrations ensued at the Kop end ensued to signal the vital breakthrough as the crowd noise went up another notch.
United now had something to hold onto and were now fighting for every loose ball but as seems inevitable they started to sit back and Oxford had a spell with Maguire having an effort that Moore saved.
Scougall has put a lot of effort into the game and he was now struggling and after a series of treatments he was replaced by Fleck.
Both Sharp and Done had ran themselves into the ground but it was Sharp who made way for Clarke as United looked to run the clock down as the game entered the final five minutes. United managed to do enough to restrict chances for the visitors and a late free kick from Maguire that came to nothing was all that they could muster. The game entered an additional four minutes of stoppage time but most of this was played in the Oxford half as the Blades professionally saw out time. The thumbs up from Chris Wilder at the end signalled relief as much as anything as United he finally had that winning feeling as the Blades manager.
United – A win. Finally. We were not great an at times looked like we did not have much of an idea how to break Oxford down; a relatively poor side. However through sheer effort and application alone we slowly hauled ourselves back into the game. Done and Scougall summed us up today. Not great on the ball but just ran around a lot, chased lost causes, forced mistakes and ultimately the former made the vital first. After this they sat back and invited pressure and we got the winner with a decent cross (finally) and a great header. I felt it was a deserved win. They had a few half chances but nothing major really and even the goal came out of nothing. Still they had something to defend and you feared the worst when we went one down. The crowd could have really turned but stayed with the side relatively and appreciated some of the above players’ efforts. I felt it was more of a United effort in the way they toiled and they seemed more together second half. At times the team does seem to be unclear on how they are meant to be playing in terms of going long, short or playing through midfield. Today was a bit of a mixed bag. We still went too long at times when Sharp and Done of course would struggle with high pumped up balls.
Formation wide it may have been a 4-2-3-1 as Done and Sharp alternated as lone striker and certainly in the middle we had Basham and Coutts and then Scougall, Duffy and one of above as a three floating about. It was more flexible than it has been. We lacked width but at least we had much more of the ball in general play and today we actually created some chances; not loads but a few in the first half and a few in the second half. We had more than they did in that regard.
The game was won today not by great play (although Done and Duffy’s crosses were very good for the goals) but just by sheer will and not wanting to lose. We simply did not want to lose and as the game went on we won battled individuals and collectively. It was not flowing football and not great moves but just graft and gradually pinning them back. As that happened we started to get the odd chance and the goals came.
Quality wise we are still lacking. We played too much behind the defence and did not really hurt Oxford. We looked a bit clueless in terms of how to create but of course we lack pace and drive. The midfield barely get in front of the attackers with only Scougall showing some zest to run in beyond. Everything is so static and slow all over the field. We really lack leader and drive. I felt the lad Wright gave us some organisation and that Done coming in gave us some legs up top. Him and Sharp did not offer much as a goal threat (until we scored) but Done at least did not give the defence much time and forced errors, even in terms of them just knocking it out for a throw in /corner. Coutts showed he is a footballer even if most of his good work comes in areas that don’t hurt opponents. Sharp still needs to do more and I feel Duffy’s end product is still lacking. Defensively Hussey continues to look an issue and we ball watch too much (the goal saw nobody close down and nobody react to the loose ball when it came off the keeper).
We have a long way to go. As a performance it was disjointed for long spells again but I liked the fact we started to win some battles. Just the harrying and application alone warranted the win in the end against a poor side whom with better quality should have been dispatched rather easily. However, for tonight we just take the win and it is a start and gets us off the mark. We have two away games to come and have to hope we can gradually get on a run but as I have alluded to we will probably lose as many as we win with the current set up and look a very average side. Oxford will be nearer the bottom than the top and we only just eked out the win in the end. A sign that for us to compete with top sides we need to improve the personnel considerably.
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Oxford – They were ok to start the game and sensed out brittle confidence. The goal they scored was quick thinking in the outset as they took a quick free kick and after the decent shot the lad got on the rebound to score. They must have sensed a result here as the other sides who have been down to the Lane in recent times. Second half they will have felt they coped with us ok and we did not create much but the leveller changed the game. They asked for a foul but it was a case of us being stronger for once and not sure there was enough in it to be given. Besides a lot happened even after the challenge and they lost Done and Sharp. After this they sat back and back and we scored from the free kick after a clumsy foul out side. They tried to come out after we scored but with less than quarter of an hour to go they had to change how they had been playing. They had a few free kicks and effort but no clear chances of note. Overall over the game for possession and chances, it was similar to Millwall last week in that United took the role of the home side and had more chances and play and did enough to win.
They did not offer much at the top with a few half chances from Maguire and Thomas did not really get in the game. The game ended up very narrow and they started to sit further and further back instead of pushing on. This proved to be their undoing although ironically had a very high line on the set play that saw the headed winner coming out too far.
Oxford have a few decent players but lost a couple of key players in the summer in O’Dowda and Roofe and look a bit light at this end of the field. Squad wise they also lack depth. I think they may just have enough to stay away from the bottom places but think they may have to look over their shoulders come season end and it would not surprise me if they get sucked into a relegation scrap. Home form will be key and they need to make sure they can get enough wins at the Kassam.
Opponent man of the match : Thought Maguire was decent on set plays and was busy but the lad Lundstram was maybe their best player as he always looked to run forward with the ball and try to move it on. He got muscled out second half as the game went on and I felt he got little help.
Opponent Weak link : Chey Dunkley. He is a highly rated centre back who had done well for the U’s but today he made a number of mistakes and often his dithering led to chances or us winning set plays.
