Deadbat
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After the drama of the cup in midweek; United took on league leaders Swindon at Bramall Lane and were able to get a vital league win. Despite making 10 changes, the Blades survived a lacklustre first half with a much improved second half showing. Jamie Murphy’s strike gave them the lead and after a late penalty scare, united broke out to score again at the death with Murphy again the scoring with a fine individual finish.
The game was delayed 15 minutes due to issues in the ticket office but as many home fans entered the ground they would have been shocked at the amount of changes Clough had made. Certainly a reshuffle was expected but such wholesale changes did raise a few eyebrows against the top of the league.
In came Ian Turner in goal, second time debuts for Kieron Freeman and John Brayford and a return for Terry Kennedy. Chris Basham was the lone survivor from the week in the back five. In midfield Louis Reed started as did Kieron Wallace and another debutant Paul Coutts. Che Adams and Ben Davies were on the flanks with Michael Higdon the lone striker. United had a strong bench with Michael Doyle, Stefan Scougall, Marc McNulty, Jose Baxter, Craig Alcock and George Long. There was no place in the 16 for new signing Jason Holt, Jamal Campbell Ryce, Ryan Flynn or keeper Mark Howard (due to family bereavement).
Brayford was made captain on his return and after a minute’s applause for the late Ken Furphy, the game began with the visitors the better to settle. Thompson and Byrne linked well and then Branco nearly found an opening. Kennedy was booked for a foul on Williams. This was the sign for a number of bookings including Higdon who was penalised several times in the opening period of the game. The game was bitty but Swindon were the side who looked most likely with more neat football nearly leading to a chance for Williams but Kennedy blocked well.
The first significant chance came when Toffolo curled a free kick wide but then Swift’s shot was saved well by Turner. The Robins had a great chance when smart play down the right saw the ball into the box and Swift completely miskicked in front of goal. Branco then headed over. It had been a struggle for United but Adams threatened to awake them from their slumber as he jinked inside, nutmegging a defender before curling wide of Foderingham’s goal.
Toffolo then had a shot that clipped the bar after a scramble in the United box. Byrne then got away from Freeman and his cross was cleared. United had struggled and Higdon’s fortunes was symbolic of this as a combination of slow play and also frustrating refereeing decisions; meant he was sacrificed just before the break. In truth fair or not, he may have been sent off if he had not been taken off. One clear dive just before was disappointing from the league leaders as they attempted to get the big striker sent off surrounding Coote.
Murphy was brought on just before the break and soon after Brayford’s cross was handled but adjudged to be outside rather than inside the box despite strong appeals. Soon after despite United being second best they nearly took the lead as after Reed was caught high and late, Davies took the free kick and hit the post. From the rebound Kennedy could not convert and Swindon got it away eventually.
The second half saw United fortunate to start as a good chance for Williams was well saved from Turner and then another chance was blocked by Kennedy. United then forced their way out with neat play from Reed leading to a half chance for Murphy. Wallace was withdrawn for Scougall who was instantly in the action and Brayford then had his first gallop of the game surging down the right wing before he chose sadly to pull back rather than shoot when well positioned.
United were now playing at a better tempo and after good work from Freeman and Adams, Murphy’s shot was saved well by Foderingham. Adams was getting more involved and one surging run saw him cynically chopped down as he attacked the last third. The offender Thompson could have walked but escaped with a booking. Scougall then took on Branco but the challenge was adjudged to have been fair in the box. United’s play was far better now and they were the side in the ascendancy. They got the all important break through with just under 15 minutes to go.
A quick throw saw Reed find space and he advanced before putting a lovely through ball into the path of MURPHY who was in on goal. He took it early perhaps surprising Foderingham and the power beat the keeper.
Buoyed by the goal United had a further decent spell but failed to create another chance and slowly they began to retreat and the defence was sitting further back. Still Swindon struggled to penetrate like they had in the first half and for the opening 5 minutes of the second half and a long range daisy cutter from Thompson was the closest they got.
United brought on Baxter for Coutts and Scougall then made a great tackles in the box after Swindon threatened to break.
The game entered the final five minutes of stoppage time and united now were penned in as the visitors tried to salvage a point. They had a good appeal for a spot kick when Reed came across Turnbull but as the appeals were waved away, United broke. Kennedy released MURPHY who ran from his own half, so could not be offside, he was in on goal but had to run the whole half. He had an age to decide what to do but did not let this worry him as he superbly dinked the ball over the keeper and into the far corner to seal all three points. It was a great way to celebrate his contract extension as the team celebrated the clincher by the Kop.
United – For so many changes and such a reshuffle, it was a big win today. Swindon had the best of the first half and missed a few chances and there were a few let offs for United who were slow and looked like they did not know one another (they didn’t in many cases!). They looked better on the ball and were more purposeful. I also felt we were 10 yards off them even in the last third and as I say if they had taken a couple of decent chances it could have been a different game. We were slow all over and with Higdon having a bit of a nightmare allied to a poor refereeing performance; it never got going for United. For all that we had a free kick right on the edge for a hand ball that could have been inside and was borderline. Then we had a Davies effort that hit the post and was then scrambled clear. This was as good an opportunity and effort as anything they had. Still it had been a scrappy game and stop start with the referee simply startling. When Higdon went off (before he was sent off) Murphy came on and second half we improved in all areas. They still had a few early chances which Turner did well to save but after this initial 5 minutes I felt we were the better side in the second half.
Reed got on the ball and we started to win more of the loose stuff and knock it about better on the floor instead of aimless high stuff. Murphy was always a threat and for 15-20 minutes we then had complete control. We moved it around with purpose and had chances of our own. Scougall came on and was able to make a difference and we started to run at them and create things.
The first goal was well made and taken but then after this we started to sit back and hold on instead of going for more. This meant we sat in and at times just tried to hang on to what we had. However, I cannot recall that many chances they had despite us sitting back. Thompson’s low shot was not far off but then I felt they had a really good shout for a spot kick at the end when Reed seemed to have baulked their attacker. We broke and scored the clincher after this.
Overall we were not scintillating but after a poor-ish first half we got much better and upped the tempo after the break. We played with more pace and movement and the midfield improved. We scored a decent goal and then threw bodies in the way and defended solidly before breaking to seal it. It does prove how we have wasted and tossed away so many games this season as against the top of the league we certainly were as good over the course of the game and with making so many changes.
It was good we could win and stay around and in the top 6 as a defeat and we would have been in the bottom half. It shows how we have to keep picking up points. We have more depth now and good to see some of the young talent in Reed and Adams doing well again but we do need at least 1 possibly 2 strikers before the end of Monday. Higdon’s performance was pathetic. He seems to make one step forward (Weds’ impact game) and then two back. In reality he is just not good enough and like Porter, McGinn and probably Collins soon; then we probably should move him on.
However we need that impact striker (or two) to do that. Worrying that Clough has taken so long to act and that he seemed to have put all his eggs in one basket (O’Grady – he won’t be coming now). Doyle scored again but unsure whether I would spend so much money on him really (have a feeling he may be a flash in the pan type) but we need to get one proper target man and someone with some pace too.
Overall though it has been a good week with the newcomers punctuated by Brayford’s signing, a decent draw at Preston and then a gutsy effort Weds. Today we then beat the top of the league and showed the squad has some depth too. I felt many of those that came in did well and showed they can be factors between now and the end of the season.
Swindon – I felt they were decent in possession first half and moved it about well. They missed one good chance after one move down the right when the striker really should have buried it. They then had a few other efforts and one scramble that somehow stayed out. They were bright and purposeful and showed in likes of Thompson and Byrne they have some really good footballers. Toffolo and Branco also were impressive on the ball. They were missing Luongo aswell one of their most influential players this season. They will have felt they were in control of possession and overall threat despite the late let off from the free kick.
Second half they were not the same side. United pressed them more and after they missed another decent early chance, they actually started to lose the midfield and struggled with some decent movement from United. Murphy and Adams caused them problems and they lost the battle for a big period of second half. They got opened up a few times and we scored the goal. After this they had a lot more of the ball but did not do that much against an organised United defence. They had a good shout for a penalty but Mark Cooper ought to remember we had a good shout (handball) in the first half that was given outside the box too. They then got done on the break right at the end as United sealed the game.
I was disappointed by some of the playacting and surrounding the ref to get Higdon sent off. Thought a top of the table side would be better than that.
For a top of the table side they knocked it about and played some pretty football but I also felt for a side that has scored a lot of goals and hammered us at their place, that they looked a bit powder puff up the top too today. The lad Smith who caused us so many problems at the County Ground was left out only coming on towards the end which was a relief. Today in terms of finishing and penetration when they got in good areas seems a one off looking at results over the season, but I did not see a side that before today looked 18 points better. You could say same about MK (beat us narrowly twice) and even Bristol but the fact is all these sides have been much more consistent than us and deserved to be competing for the automatic places that are almost certainly beyond us.
They, like us, have a lot of young players and some real talent but I do have a nagging doubt they might be the ones to dip out between them MK and Bristol City. Like Preston, they are another side we may see again somewhere down the line.
The game was delayed 15 minutes due to issues in the ticket office but as many home fans entered the ground they would have been shocked at the amount of changes Clough had made. Certainly a reshuffle was expected but such wholesale changes did raise a few eyebrows against the top of the league.
In came Ian Turner in goal, second time debuts for Kieron Freeman and John Brayford and a return for Terry Kennedy. Chris Basham was the lone survivor from the week in the back five. In midfield Louis Reed started as did Kieron Wallace and another debutant Paul Coutts. Che Adams and Ben Davies were on the flanks with Michael Higdon the lone striker. United had a strong bench with Michael Doyle, Stefan Scougall, Marc McNulty, Jose Baxter, Craig Alcock and George Long. There was no place in the 16 for new signing Jason Holt, Jamal Campbell Ryce, Ryan Flynn or keeper Mark Howard (due to family bereavement).
Brayford was made captain on his return and after a minute’s applause for the late Ken Furphy, the game began with the visitors the better to settle. Thompson and Byrne linked well and then Branco nearly found an opening. Kennedy was booked for a foul on Williams. This was the sign for a number of bookings including Higdon who was penalised several times in the opening period of the game. The game was bitty but Swindon were the side who looked most likely with more neat football nearly leading to a chance for Williams but Kennedy blocked well.
The first significant chance came when Toffolo curled a free kick wide but then Swift’s shot was saved well by Turner. The Robins had a great chance when smart play down the right saw the ball into the box and Swift completely miskicked in front of goal. Branco then headed over. It had been a struggle for United but Adams threatened to awake them from their slumber as he jinked inside, nutmegging a defender before curling wide of Foderingham’s goal.
Toffolo then had a shot that clipped the bar after a scramble in the United box. Byrne then got away from Freeman and his cross was cleared. United had struggled and Higdon’s fortunes was symbolic of this as a combination of slow play and also frustrating refereeing decisions; meant he was sacrificed just before the break. In truth fair or not, he may have been sent off if he had not been taken off. One clear dive just before was disappointing from the league leaders as they attempted to get the big striker sent off surrounding Coote.
Murphy was brought on just before the break and soon after Brayford’s cross was handled but adjudged to be outside rather than inside the box despite strong appeals. Soon after despite United being second best they nearly took the lead as after Reed was caught high and late, Davies took the free kick and hit the post. From the rebound Kennedy could not convert and Swindon got it away eventually.
The second half saw United fortunate to start as a good chance for Williams was well saved from Turner and then another chance was blocked by Kennedy. United then forced their way out with neat play from Reed leading to a half chance for Murphy. Wallace was withdrawn for Scougall who was instantly in the action and Brayford then had his first gallop of the game surging down the right wing before he chose sadly to pull back rather than shoot when well positioned.
United were now playing at a better tempo and after good work from Freeman and Adams, Murphy’s shot was saved well by Foderingham. Adams was getting more involved and one surging run saw him cynically chopped down as he attacked the last third. The offender Thompson could have walked but escaped with a booking. Scougall then took on Branco but the challenge was adjudged to have been fair in the box. United’s play was far better now and they were the side in the ascendancy. They got the all important break through with just under 15 minutes to go.
A quick throw saw Reed find space and he advanced before putting a lovely through ball into the path of MURPHY who was in on goal. He took it early perhaps surprising Foderingham and the power beat the keeper.
Buoyed by the goal United had a further decent spell but failed to create another chance and slowly they began to retreat and the defence was sitting further back. Still Swindon struggled to penetrate like they had in the first half and for the opening 5 minutes of the second half and a long range daisy cutter from Thompson was the closest they got.
United brought on Baxter for Coutts and Scougall then made a great tackles in the box after Swindon threatened to break.
The game entered the final five minutes of stoppage time and united now were penned in as the visitors tried to salvage a point. They had a good appeal for a spot kick when Reed came across Turnbull but as the appeals were waved away, United broke. Kennedy released MURPHY who ran from his own half, so could not be offside, he was in on goal but had to run the whole half. He had an age to decide what to do but did not let this worry him as he superbly dinked the ball over the keeper and into the far corner to seal all three points. It was a great way to celebrate his contract extension as the team celebrated the clincher by the Kop.
United – For so many changes and such a reshuffle, it was a big win today. Swindon had the best of the first half and missed a few chances and there were a few let offs for United who were slow and looked like they did not know one another (they didn’t in many cases!). They looked better on the ball and were more purposeful. I also felt we were 10 yards off them even in the last third and as I say if they had taken a couple of decent chances it could have been a different game. We were slow all over and with Higdon having a bit of a nightmare allied to a poor refereeing performance; it never got going for United. For all that we had a free kick right on the edge for a hand ball that could have been inside and was borderline. Then we had a Davies effort that hit the post and was then scrambled clear. This was as good an opportunity and effort as anything they had. Still it had been a scrappy game and stop start with the referee simply startling. When Higdon went off (before he was sent off) Murphy came on and second half we improved in all areas. They still had a few early chances which Turner did well to save but after this initial 5 minutes I felt we were the better side in the second half.
Reed got on the ball and we started to win more of the loose stuff and knock it about better on the floor instead of aimless high stuff. Murphy was always a threat and for 15-20 minutes we then had complete control. We moved it around with purpose and had chances of our own. Scougall came on and was able to make a difference and we started to run at them and create things.
The first goal was well made and taken but then after this we started to sit back and hold on instead of going for more. This meant we sat in and at times just tried to hang on to what we had. However, I cannot recall that many chances they had despite us sitting back. Thompson’s low shot was not far off but then I felt they had a really good shout for a spot kick at the end when Reed seemed to have baulked their attacker. We broke and scored the clincher after this.
Overall we were not scintillating but after a poor-ish first half we got much better and upped the tempo after the break. We played with more pace and movement and the midfield improved. We scored a decent goal and then threw bodies in the way and defended solidly before breaking to seal it. It does prove how we have wasted and tossed away so many games this season as against the top of the league we certainly were as good over the course of the game and with making so many changes.
It was good we could win and stay around and in the top 6 as a defeat and we would have been in the bottom half. It shows how we have to keep picking up points. We have more depth now and good to see some of the young talent in Reed and Adams doing well again but we do need at least 1 possibly 2 strikers before the end of Monday. Higdon’s performance was pathetic. He seems to make one step forward (Weds’ impact game) and then two back. In reality he is just not good enough and like Porter, McGinn and probably Collins soon; then we probably should move him on.
However we need that impact striker (or two) to do that. Worrying that Clough has taken so long to act and that he seemed to have put all his eggs in one basket (O’Grady – he won’t be coming now). Doyle scored again but unsure whether I would spend so much money on him really (have a feeling he may be a flash in the pan type) but we need to get one proper target man and someone with some pace too.
Overall though it has been a good week with the newcomers punctuated by Brayford’s signing, a decent draw at Preston and then a gutsy effort Weds. Today we then beat the top of the league and showed the squad has some depth too. I felt many of those that came in did well and showed they can be factors between now and the end of the season.
Swindon – I felt they were decent in possession first half and moved it about well. They missed one good chance after one move down the right when the striker really should have buried it. They then had a few other efforts and one scramble that somehow stayed out. They were bright and purposeful and showed in likes of Thompson and Byrne they have some really good footballers. Toffolo and Branco also were impressive on the ball. They were missing Luongo aswell one of their most influential players this season. They will have felt they were in control of possession and overall threat despite the late let off from the free kick.
Second half they were not the same side. United pressed them more and after they missed another decent early chance, they actually started to lose the midfield and struggled with some decent movement from United. Murphy and Adams caused them problems and they lost the battle for a big period of second half. They got opened up a few times and we scored the goal. After this they had a lot more of the ball but did not do that much against an organised United defence. They had a good shout for a penalty but Mark Cooper ought to remember we had a good shout (handball) in the first half that was given outside the box too. They then got done on the break right at the end as United sealed the game.
I was disappointed by some of the playacting and surrounding the ref to get Higdon sent off. Thought a top of the table side would be better than that.
For a top of the table side they knocked it about and played some pretty football but I also felt for a side that has scored a lot of goals and hammered us at their place, that they looked a bit powder puff up the top too today. The lad Smith who caused us so many problems at the County Ground was left out only coming on towards the end which was a relief. Today in terms of finishing and penetration when they got in good areas seems a one off looking at results over the season, but I did not see a side that before today looked 18 points better. You could say same about MK (beat us narrowly twice) and even Bristol but the fact is all these sides have been much more consistent than us and deserved to be competing for the automatic places that are almost certainly beyond us.
They, like us, have a lot of young players and some real talent but I do have a nagging doubt they might be the ones to dip out between them MK and Bristol City. Like Preston, they are another side we may see again somewhere down the line.
