Deadbat
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The Blades remain unbeaten but it was another frustrating afternoon at Bramall Lane as a much improved performance still failed to herald all three points. United took the lead after dominating proceedings thanks to Dave Kitson’s first goal but after a series of chances were missed to kill off the game some awful defending from the home side led to a scrappy equaliser courtesy of Lee Hughes. United now find themselves in 8th position and continue to throw away opportunities to win games. Certainly three straight home draws against less than impressive opponents is not the sort of form that is going to see United contend for promotion. The Blades now have two games on the road and know they have to start finishing teams off.
The Blades brought back Michael Doyle and Ryan Flynn from suspension and opted to keep faith with the front two with Dave Kitson and Nick Blackman starting up front. David McAllister and Richard Cresswell dropped to the bench. County came with an impressive record lying second at the start of the day and were managed by former Blade Keith Curle.
The game began with County playing in an unusual pink shirt that seemed to clash somewhat with the home red and white! United began well with an early chance blazed over badly by Doyle and then the same man had a low shot straight at the keeper. Blackman then had a shot blocked and it was one way traffic. Gallagher had begun wide left but had switched with Flynn and it was the former Falkirk man who had the first really good effort on goal. After the flick from Kitson, it fell for the winger and he cut inside and shot goalwards but the keeper pushed the ball away. After Blackman played forward after County appealed for a foul Gallagher was in on goal but one on one with Bialkowski, he took too long and his shot was saved.
County had not been in the game for the opening fifteen minutes but broke out and a cross from the wide right was headed wide by Jeff Hughes with United’s marking slack. Maguire headed over at the other end from a corner when well-placed and United had been well on top in the game controlling the pace and possession. However, despite this superiority, United were nearly hit with a sucker punch. Judge arrived late from a Campbell Ryce cross and nearly converted before Regan shot off target as they suddenly found a foothold in the game. McDonald found some space and set up Blackman whose powerful shot was tipped over before Kitson was booked for a pull back after a number of earlier fouls had not been deemed worthy of a yellow card.
United had the final chance with a pulled back corner to Gallagher but his shot was somewhat scuffed but even then it hit a county man and was somehow scooped over by the keeper. The half time whistle came not long after and united will have been pleased with the performance if not that their superiority had not been rewarded with goals.
The second half saw United continued to assert their authority and they finally got in front after a series of chances and let offs from the visitors. Blackman went down the outside and hit a vicious shot that caromed off the angle of bar and post. The ball came out and was played forward into the path of Blackman again but he was thwarted at close range by Bialkowski and the ball span away. Finally at the third attempt the ball was in the net. Flynn made space and sent over an inviting cross but there was a great deal of work to be done from KITSON but his header had power and accuracy and nestled into the top corner. It was a deserved goal for the home side who had dominated much of the game.
United nearly doubled their lead when after good work from Flynn again, the cross fell to Gallagher but he really ought to have done better as his close range shot at the back post was blocked. Kitson appealed for a penalty but he was adjudged to have fouled before the alleged offence.
United needed that second goal and it so nearly was level when Campbell Ryce got away and put in a teasing cross that Zoko seemed certain to score with but Howard saved superbly at close range. Labadie and Lee Hughes came on for Kelly and Zoko soon after and it was not long after United made their first change. Kitson had committed a few more niggly fouls and was perhaps tiring too so it was perhaps the right call that Wilson replaced him with Porter.
On 76 minutes County were level and it was a ridiculous goal to concede. An innocuous ball forward should have been dealt with by McMahon but his horrible slice bounced wide for a corner on the other side of the pitch where he made the attempt! The corner came in and another awful slice, from Kevin McDonald, saw the ball spin up and United could not clear as first a header from Labadie looped onto the bar and came out. The ball was knocked goalwards rom Jeff Hughes with no challenge from United and from right on the line it was predictably that man LEE HUGHES who turned it home from barely a yard.
This goal seemed to stun the home side that tried to re-group and from a free kick Maguire’s header drifted into the far corner but was adjudged offside to cut short any celebrations. United kept plugging away but were running out of time. A series of bookings and fouls stopped the game having any kind of momentum Cofie replaced Gallagher and went wide on the right hand side as the game entered the final moments with 5 minutes of stoppage time to be played. In this period United had three chances alone with Maguire firing wide after a knock down from Collins; Flynn fire wildly over and then Cofie nod wide from a deep cross McMahon at the death. The final whistle came signalling another frustrating afternoon with a much improved performance but ultimately the same result so many other games had heralded this season.
The Blades brought back Michael Doyle and Ryan Flynn from suspension and opted to keep faith with the front two with Dave Kitson and Nick Blackman starting up front. David McAllister and Richard Cresswell dropped to the bench. County came with an impressive record lying second at the start of the day and were managed by former Blade Keith Curle.
The game began with County playing in an unusual pink shirt that seemed to clash somewhat with the home red and white! United began well with an early chance blazed over badly by Doyle and then the same man had a low shot straight at the keeper. Blackman then had a shot blocked and it was one way traffic. Gallagher had begun wide left but had switched with Flynn and it was the former Falkirk man who had the first really good effort on goal. After the flick from Kitson, it fell for the winger and he cut inside and shot goalwards but the keeper pushed the ball away. After Blackman played forward after County appealed for a foul Gallagher was in on goal but one on one with Bialkowski, he took too long and his shot was saved.
County had not been in the game for the opening fifteen minutes but broke out and a cross from the wide right was headed wide by Jeff Hughes with United’s marking slack. Maguire headed over at the other end from a corner when well-placed and United had been well on top in the game controlling the pace and possession. However, despite this superiority, United were nearly hit with a sucker punch. Judge arrived late from a Campbell Ryce cross and nearly converted before Regan shot off target as they suddenly found a foothold in the game. McDonald found some space and set up Blackman whose powerful shot was tipped over before Kitson was booked for a pull back after a number of earlier fouls had not been deemed worthy of a yellow card.
United had the final chance with a pulled back corner to Gallagher but his shot was somewhat scuffed but even then it hit a county man and was somehow scooped over by the keeper. The half time whistle came not long after and united will have been pleased with the performance if not that their superiority had not been rewarded with goals.
The second half saw United continued to assert their authority and they finally got in front after a series of chances and let offs from the visitors. Blackman went down the outside and hit a vicious shot that caromed off the angle of bar and post. The ball came out and was played forward into the path of Blackman again but he was thwarted at close range by Bialkowski and the ball span away. Finally at the third attempt the ball was in the net. Flynn made space and sent over an inviting cross but there was a great deal of work to be done from KITSON but his header had power and accuracy and nestled into the top corner. It was a deserved goal for the home side who had dominated much of the game.
United nearly doubled their lead when after good work from Flynn again, the cross fell to Gallagher but he really ought to have done better as his close range shot at the back post was blocked. Kitson appealed for a penalty but he was adjudged to have fouled before the alleged offence.
United needed that second goal and it so nearly was level when Campbell Ryce got away and put in a teasing cross that Zoko seemed certain to score with but Howard saved superbly at close range. Labadie and Lee Hughes came on for Kelly and Zoko soon after and it was not long after United made their first change. Kitson had committed a few more niggly fouls and was perhaps tiring too so it was perhaps the right call that Wilson replaced him with Porter.
On 76 minutes County were level and it was a ridiculous goal to concede. An innocuous ball forward should have been dealt with by McMahon but his horrible slice bounced wide for a corner on the other side of the pitch where he made the attempt! The corner came in and another awful slice, from Kevin McDonald, saw the ball spin up and United could not clear as first a header from Labadie looped onto the bar and came out. The ball was knocked goalwards rom Jeff Hughes with no challenge from United and from right on the line it was predictably that man LEE HUGHES who turned it home from barely a yard.
This goal seemed to stun the home side that tried to re-group and from a free kick Maguire’s header drifted into the far corner but was adjudged offside to cut short any celebrations. United kept plugging away but were running out of time. A series of bookings and fouls stopped the game having any kind of momentum Cofie replaced Gallagher and went wide on the right hand side as the game entered the final moments with 5 minutes of stoppage time to be played. In this period United had three chances alone with Maguire firing wide after a knock down from Collins; Flynn fire wildly over and then Cofie nod wide from a deep cross McMahon at the death. The final whistle came signalling another frustrating afternoon with a much improved performance but ultimately the same result so many other games had heralded this season.
