Deadbat
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After the jubilation of the first victory just over a week ago, the Blades were able to build on this and pick up their first away point of the season, with a fighting draw at the Amex. After a poor first half when Adringa converted after a lovely run and one two, Brighton could and should have put the game away despite a weakened side. The Blades had struggled to make much headway at all but after a wild tackle from Dahoud saw the Brighton man sent off, the contest changed. Bogle’s cross was turned into his own net – remarkably the third own goal United have profited from this season – the Blades then could have gone on and won it! In the end, they will be content with a point and have moved off the bottom of the table before the next international break.
The Blades made one change with McAtee in for the injured Brewster and they seemed to be playing one up top as they did at Arsenal but with five at the back. Brighton rotated their side fresh from an impressive European road win in the week but had bags of talent and experience in their line up spearheaded by Barcelona loan man Fati.
United playing in a yellow and red strip which evoked memories of the early 90’s almost took an early lead after Van Hecke’s error from a throw in and Hamer reacted but his instinctive header as it bounced up went wide. However, the home side soon began to assert their domination and a ball through saw United wide open down the middle and Fati should have done better but shot at Foderingham.
Brighton continued to move through the away side easily with Heckingbottom’s side playing a strangely high line which seemed ripe to be picked off with one ball or run through. On 7 minutes the opener came. ADRINGA came in from the left and Bogle failed to stop his man. The winger then was allowed to run and run and Souza just let him go before the Brighton man played in Buonanotte whose clever wall pass saw it come back for Adringa who slotted home clinically. It was a lovely goal but atrocious defending with not one challenge incoming.
The Seagulls continued to dominate and the defence being on half way did not help the Blades. A ball through almost saw them in again in a very one-sided contest. Fati then got down the middle and hit a shot that Foderingham had to make the low save before another through ball and Lallana was close to getting his shot away. After 20 minutes, the Blades seemingly had not completed a move or series of passes in succession, let alone a meaningful attack after that early chance that came due to the Brighton error.
The home side had rested a number of players but the pace, movement and skill seemed a different level to the opposition and another move saw them dissect United before Thomas brought down his man. The free kick was flighted in and Webster should have scored but did not get enough contact. Soon after the Buonanotte was able to outmuscle Robinson and his shot went into the side netting. United somehow were only 1-0 down in a game they were not really competing in at all and it seemed like they had accepted they could not really hurt the home side. Fati was causing Trusty all sorts of problems and he wriggled away again but United managed to turn it behind for a corner.
With 10 minutes of the half left, United got in the home half and won a throw in and then a corner before Souza had to have treatment seemingly injuring his back. An effort finally came from the Blades but it was a woeful one as Bogle’s sliced effort did not even make it out for a throw in! Hamer then played a poor ball when Archer looked to get in as United at least finally had a mini spell in the game.
Bogle was beaten easily by Adringa at the other end and brought him down and was rightly cautioned. The ball in was punched clear by Foderingham but Gilmour hit a return effort towards goal on the volley but the keeper pushed over.
Hamer showed good work to get away and Buananotte cynically chopped him down to take the booking for the home side and United did force another corner but the effort as it came in was blocked just before the half time whistle went. Despite a better closing spell to the half, the game has been extremely one side and Brighton really will have thought they should have put the game away against a desperate Blades side who looked clueless in all aspects of the game, both with and without the ball.
Mitoma and Pedro came on for Buananotte and Lallana as Brighton looked to put United away after squandering so many first half opportunities to be in cruise control. Norwood committed two fouls in quick succession and there was a good chance when Adringa got in again and pulled it back for Pedro whose effort was curled over. Souza had tried to go on but was still struggling and he came off for Osborn.
Brighton had an appeal for a penalty as a cross struck Bogle who turned his back but it did hit his arm but fortunately for United VAR decided his arm was close enough to his body and did not come out enough. Brighton continued to dominate the ball but slowly United at least were able to get in the field and the first decent move of note came when Norwood and Baldock linked and the ball across was not anticipated by Archer who was on his heels
Trusty was beaten on halfway by Mitoma and as the Japanese international turned and got on the subsequent pass but Robinson made the last-ditch tackle. The corner came over and Van Hecke’s header was down but up and onto the top of the net. Brighton then had a series of chances and efforts as Mitoma’s effort after he went past Bogle too easily was saved at Foderingham’s near post. The same player than had a shot that Foderingham had to push away after the corner came out to him.
United were at least trying to find some space at the other end and Archer and McAtee combined well but as the ball came across, Bogle’s ball as overplayed and Hamer ran out of room. Adringa was booked for waving an imaginary yellow card after Thomas committed the foul. However, the next card was to prove crucial.
On 68 minutes, Dahoud made a ridiculous and dangerous lunge raking his foot down the back of Ben Osborn’s leg and the red card brandished was instant. The Brighton man did not protest and even came back to check on the welfare of the United substitute.
This instantly saw the home side make two changes with Veltman and Balema on for Gilmour and Fati. United were able to get level not long after. The ball was sent over to the left and Trusty managed to keep it alive and it was helped across, Bogle was able to take a touch and fire a ball across and WESBTER (OG) could only divert it into his own net under pressure from Webster.
De Zerbi was booked for his protests on the goal but it was unclear what his grievance was as there was no offence committed in the lead up to the goal. Brighton had lost their way completely since the red card and United now were the side who suddenly looked in control. Norwood and McAtee linked and the ball was cleared away but then at the other end Brighton had appeals for a free kick and corner turned away with frustration growing amongst the home fans.
The Blades had a great chance to take the lead when McAtee and then Archer moved it on superbly and it led to Bogle having a chance to have another positive contribution despite an otherwise difficult afternoon for the former Derby man. However, he pulled his shot wide when he really should have done much better.
McAtee got on a loose ball and went round Steele who was a long way off his line but could not get a shot or cross away and the ball was eventually cleared. United were now moving the ball around well and for the first-time controlling possession and looking composed after being second best for the first 70 minutes of the game. Thomas hit an effort over the bar and then Archer nearly got in before McAtee had to come off with cramp. Slimane came on for the City loanee.
Robinson seemed to get the ball in a challenge and his reaction suggested so but he was booked before United were able to get in a good area again but Bogle’s shot lacked power and was straight at Steele -this was remarkably United’s only effort on goal of the whole game – coming in the final minute.
The game moved into an additional 5 minutes and United then had a moment of concern as Bogle’s appeals for a foul was not given and Adringa was brought down by Thomas just outside the box. The free kick came to Mitoma but Bogle blocked the cross. The corner came over and Webster appealed in vain for a shirt pull on Robinson but with players on both sides grappling all over the box, it was unlikely to be awarded and Brighton from a position of complete control seemed a bit desperate. Bogle went down with a knock and Osula came on but little else happened and United will be happy after such a poor start to the game, to take a point and break the away losing streak, despite maybe having an opportunity to get all three in the end.
United – Delighted with a point which may sound off v 10 men for the final 20 minutes and us getting level and had a good chance to win in. In the end, I just did not want to give a stupid goal away on the break and with their quality I was just wanting us not to do anything daft. Granted we may say in a few weeks we maybe needed to go for it but after so many losses away and how we started today, I was just pleased to take something and a point no one really expected at the start.
Another desperate first half where we came out and just did not compete at all. The lack of tackling, intensity, and tempo on and off the ball was frighteningly bad. We had the chance via Hamer from their error but after this for almost 35 minutes we just did not compete. The goal summed it up as a run from the touchline was unchecked and we let him run and run and did not tackle at all. They had lots of other opportunities and our defensive line was bizarrely high. I get it if we were not playing a side with pace or runners but their plan was to break through and they did this time after time. I guess Hecky thought we have sat deep and lost every away game and inevitably conceded so let us compress the pitch but you can still do that and not be so high up. I felt we were ripe for conceding every time they came forward and one pass and they were in.
The two wing backs were nowhere near their men, the centre backs got turned time after time and the midfield slow and static passengers. Archer had no service but did not work hard enough when the ball went his way – to be honest it barely did. Overall, other than Wes, I cannot think of one positive thing from the first half. We had a corner and throw near the end but for the entire half almost, it was so one sided and only poor finishing and decisions from a second-string Brighton stopped us going in 3 or 4 down. I was not at Fulham; but it was as bad as it has been all season and we have had some bad showings!
Once again I had no idea what the plan was, with and without the ball. We just let them have it and seemed unable to even have a shape that stopped them coming through. We looked like we had no belief again and had forgotten about the efforts of the second half last week. When they put on two of their better players at half time I thought they would go on and win 2 or 3-0 at least and they did have a few chances but seemed to get complacent and we at least had a few attacks even before the red card but never really looking like scoring.
The red card completely changed the game. It was a stupid tackle and cost them the win. It was odd as I feel if they had kept going and attacking they still would win even with a numerical disadvantage but almost automatically sat back. They made changes and sort of panicked when they probably did not need to as would have got chances on the break. The goal was a bit lucky but a decent bit of pressure football. Bogle had a poor game but involved in a few of our better moments and then missed a good chance. The likes of Hamer and McAtee got on the ball more and improved hugely after the red card. It was strange as we were caught between going for it and just keeping it tight but kind of got the right balance. Sure, some will say we should have put more men forward and attacked more but we did have quite a lot of men in their box and I was actually worried when we lost it we had committed too many forward. I felt we tried to get a winner and some chances without being stupid. It is easy to say we should have created more but we have poor striking options. Brighton still had a few chances late on and we gave away some silly fouls. I was pleased in the end to just get a point as for 70 minutes and certainly the first 45 – we were never in it really. We started then to keep the ball after the red card and move them around. It was perhaps psychological for both sides that one man less/more changes how players approach things and we became more positive and they became more negative.
To take a draw on the back of a win is a good two weeks. It is a shame Bournemouth won and I am not sure this mini league of 4 will quite pan out. It seems the bottom three in my opinion are a long way off the rest when you look at teams like Fulham, Forest, Wolves and Everton all who are a lot better than us. The game v the Cherries in a few weeks is a big one though. We must start games better and not be so passive and inert in tackling/pressing opponents. We seem almost afraid and this feeling our way into games is seeing us lose most games before we have begun. I expect Ahmedhodzic and McBurnie back in for Bogle and Norwood or Souza and we need to play more front football. At the moment we look a long way short and waiting for something to happen or us to concede before we play is not good enough. Still the positive is, taking away the red card and the poor opening, we did do better after the break, got a goal (own goal out leading scorer and main man!), and played pockets of good stuff. We did not fold like we have in other away games and stayed in the game somehow before the final stages where we weirdly looked the better side. We have to build on that and now have a break and time to get a few back and hopefully can put in a complete/r performance in the next home game and face a run of vital games coming back.
The Blades made one change with McAtee in for the injured Brewster and they seemed to be playing one up top as they did at Arsenal but with five at the back. Brighton rotated their side fresh from an impressive European road win in the week but had bags of talent and experience in their line up spearheaded by Barcelona loan man Fati.
United playing in a yellow and red strip which evoked memories of the early 90’s almost took an early lead after Van Hecke’s error from a throw in and Hamer reacted but his instinctive header as it bounced up went wide. However, the home side soon began to assert their domination and a ball through saw United wide open down the middle and Fati should have done better but shot at Foderingham.
Brighton continued to move through the away side easily with Heckingbottom’s side playing a strangely high line which seemed ripe to be picked off with one ball or run through. On 7 minutes the opener came. ADRINGA came in from the left and Bogle failed to stop his man. The winger then was allowed to run and run and Souza just let him go before the Brighton man played in Buonanotte whose clever wall pass saw it come back for Adringa who slotted home clinically. It was a lovely goal but atrocious defending with not one challenge incoming.
The Seagulls continued to dominate and the defence being on half way did not help the Blades. A ball through almost saw them in again in a very one-sided contest. Fati then got down the middle and hit a shot that Foderingham had to make the low save before another through ball and Lallana was close to getting his shot away. After 20 minutes, the Blades seemingly had not completed a move or series of passes in succession, let alone a meaningful attack after that early chance that came due to the Brighton error.
The home side had rested a number of players but the pace, movement and skill seemed a different level to the opposition and another move saw them dissect United before Thomas brought down his man. The free kick was flighted in and Webster should have scored but did not get enough contact. Soon after the Buonanotte was able to outmuscle Robinson and his shot went into the side netting. United somehow were only 1-0 down in a game they were not really competing in at all and it seemed like they had accepted they could not really hurt the home side. Fati was causing Trusty all sorts of problems and he wriggled away again but United managed to turn it behind for a corner.
With 10 minutes of the half left, United got in the home half and won a throw in and then a corner before Souza had to have treatment seemingly injuring his back. An effort finally came from the Blades but it was a woeful one as Bogle’s sliced effort did not even make it out for a throw in! Hamer then played a poor ball when Archer looked to get in as United at least finally had a mini spell in the game.
Bogle was beaten easily by Adringa at the other end and brought him down and was rightly cautioned. The ball in was punched clear by Foderingham but Gilmour hit a return effort towards goal on the volley but the keeper pushed over.
Hamer showed good work to get away and Buananotte cynically chopped him down to take the booking for the home side and United did force another corner but the effort as it came in was blocked just before the half time whistle went. Despite a better closing spell to the half, the game has been extremely one side and Brighton really will have thought they should have put the game away against a desperate Blades side who looked clueless in all aspects of the game, both with and without the ball.
Mitoma and Pedro came on for Buananotte and Lallana as Brighton looked to put United away after squandering so many first half opportunities to be in cruise control. Norwood committed two fouls in quick succession and there was a good chance when Adringa got in again and pulled it back for Pedro whose effort was curled over. Souza had tried to go on but was still struggling and he came off for Osborn.
Brighton had an appeal for a penalty as a cross struck Bogle who turned his back but it did hit his arm but fortunately for United VAR decided his arm was close enough to his body and did not come out enough. Brighton continued to dominate the ball but slowly United at least were able to get in the field and the first decent move of note came when Norwood and Baldock linked and the ball across was not anticipated by Archer who was on his heels
Trusty was beaten on halfway by Mitoma and as the Japanese international turned and got on the subsequent pass but Robinson made the last-ditch tackle. The corner came over and Van Hecke’s header was down but up and onto the top of the net. Brighton then had a series of chances and efforts as Mitoma’s effort after he went past Bogle too easily was saved at Foderingham’s near post. The same player than had a shot that Foderingham had to push away after the corner came out to him.
United were at least trying to find some space at the other end and Archer and McAtee combined well but as the ball came across, Bogle’s ball as overplayed and Hamer ran out of room. Adringa was booked for waving an imaginary yellow card after Thomas committed the foul. However, the next card was to prove crucial.
On 68 minutes, Dahoud made a ridiculous and dangerous lunge raking his foot down the back of Ben Osborn’s leg and the red card brandished was instant. The Brighton man did not protest and even came back to check on the welfare of the United substitute.
This instantly saw the home side make two changes with Veltman and Balema on for Gilmour and Fati. United were able to get level not long after. The ball was sent over to the left and Trusty managed to keep it alive and it was helped across, Bogle was able to take a touch and fire a ball across and WESBTER (OG) could only divert it into his own net under pressure from Webster.
De Zerbi was booked for his protests on the goal but it was unclear what his grievance was as there was no offence committed in the lead up to the goal. Brighton had lost their way completely since the red card and United now were the side who suddenly looked in control. Norwood and McAtee linked and the ball was cleared away but then at the other end Brighton had appeals for a free kick and corner turned away with frustration growing amongst the home fans.
The Blades had a great chance to take the lead when McAtee and then Archer moved it on superbly and it led to Bogle having a chance to have another positive contribution despite an otherwise difficult afternoon for the former Derby man. However, he pulled his shot wide when he really should have done much better.
McAtee got on a loose ball and went round Steele who was a long way off his line but could not get a shot or cross away and the ball was eventually cleared. United were now moving the ball around well and for the first-time controlling possession and looking composed after being second best for the first 70 minutes of the game. Thomas hit an effort over the bar and then Archer nearly got in before McAtee had to come off with cramp. Slimane came on for the City loanee.
Robinson seemed to get the ball in a challenge and his reaction suggested so but he was booked before United were able to get in a good area again but Bogle’s shot lacked power and was straight at Steele -this was remarkably United’s only effort on goal of the whole game – coming in the final minute.
The game moved into an additional 5 minutes and United then had a moment of concern as Bogle’s appeals for a foul was not given and Adringa was brought down by Thomas just outside the box. The free kick came to Mitoma but Bogle blocked the cross. The corner came over and Webster appealed in vain for a shirt pull on Robinson but with players on both sides grappling all over the box, it was unlikely to be awarded and Brighton from a position of complete control seemed a bit desperate. Bogle went down with a knock and Osula came on but little else happened and United will be happy after such a poor start to the game, to take a point and break the away losing streak, despite maybe having an opportunity to get all three in the end.
United – Delighted with a point which may sound off v 10 men for the final 20 minutes and us getting level and had a good chance to win in. In the end, I just did not want to give a stupid goal away on the break and with their quality I was just wanting us not to do anything daft. Granted we may say in a few weeks we maybe needed to go for it but after so many losses away and how we started today, I was just pleased to take something and a point no one really expected at the start.
Another desperate first half where we came out and just did not compete at all. The lack of tackling, intensity, and tempo on and off the ball was frighteningly bad. We had the chance via Hamer from their error but after this for almost 35 minutes we just did not compete. The goal summed it up as a run from the touchline was unchecked and we let him run and run and did not tackle at all. They had lots of other opportunities and our defensive line was bizarrely high. I get it if we were not playing a side with pace or runners but their plan was to break through and they did this time after time. I guess Hecky thought we have sat deep and lost every away game and inevitably conceded so let us compress the pitch but you can still do that and not be so high up. I felt we were ripe for conceding every time they came forward and one pass and they were in.
The two wing backs were nowhere near their men, the centre backs got turned time after time and the midfield slow and static passengers. Archer had no service but did not work hard enough when the ball went his way – to be honest it barely did. Overall, other than Wes, I cannot think of one positive thing from the first half. We had a corner and throw near the end but for the entire half almost, it was so one sided and only poor finishing and decisions from a second-string Brighton stopped us going in 3 or 4 down. I was not at Fulham; but it was as bad as it has been all season and we have had some bad showings!
Once again I had no idea what the plan was, with and without the ball. We just let them have it and seemed unable to even have a shape that stopped them coming through. We looked like we had no belief again and had forgotten about the efforts of the second half last week. When they put on two of their better players at half time I thought they would go on and win 2 or 3-0 at least and they did have a few chances but seemed to get complacent and we at least had a few attacks even before the red card but never really looking like scoring.
The red card completely changed the game. It was a stupid tackle and cost them the win. It was odd as I feel if they had kept going and attacking they still would win even with a numerical disadvantage but almost automatically sat back. They made changes and sort of panicked when they probably did not need to as would have got chances on the break. The goal was a bit lucky but a decent bit of pressure football. Bogle had a poor game but involved in a few of our better moments and then missed a good chance. The likes of Hamer and McAtee got on the ball more and improved hugely after the red card. It was strange as we were caught between going for it and just keeping it tight but kind of got the right balance. Sure, some will say we should have put more men forward and attacked more but we did have quite a lot of men in their box and I was actually worried when we lost it we had committed too many forward. I felt we tried to get a winner and some chances without being stupid. It is easy to say we should have created more but we have poor striking options. Brighton still had a few chances late on and we gave away some silly fouls. I was pleased in the end to just get a point as for 70 minutes and certainly the first 45 – we were never in it really. We started then to keep the ball after the red card and move them around. It was perhaps psychological for both sides that one man less/more changes how players approach things and we became more positive and they became more negative.
To take a draw on the back of a win is a good two weeks. It is a shame Bournemouth won and I am not sure this mini league of 4 will quite pan out. It seems the bottom three in my opinion are a long way off the rest when you look at teams like Fulham, Forest, Wolves and Everton all who are a lot better than us. The game v the Cherries in a few weeks is a big one though. We must start games better and not be so passive and inert in tackling/pressing opponents. We seem almost afraid and this feeling our way into games is seeing us lose most games before we have begun. I expect Ahmedhodzic and McBurnie back in for Bogle and Norwood or Souza and we need to play more front football. At the moment we look a long way short and waiting for something to happen or us to concede before we play is not good enough. Still the positive is, taking away the red card and the poor opening, we did do better after the break, got a goal (own goal out leading scorer and main man!), and played pockets of good stuff. We did not fold like we have in other away games and stayed in the game somehow before the final stages where we weirdly looked the better side. We have to build on that and now have a break and time to get a few back and hopefully can put in a complete/r performance in the next home game and face a run of vital games coming back.
