Deadbat
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The Blades eased through to the 2nd round of the FA Cup as they easily dispatched a poor Leyton Orent side at a bitterly cold Sunday afternoon at Bramall Lane. United hit Orient for six thanks to goals from Chris Basham, Stefan Scougall, Kieron Freeman and a second half hat trick from Harrison Chapman.
Manager Chris Wilder rested a few players such as keeper Simon Moore and striker Billy Sharp and had to do without Ethan Ebanks Landell whom Wolves denied permission to play. Young keeper Aaron Ramsdale was given his debut and United opted to play without a recognised striker with Scougall and Chapman the most advanced players. Orient had been struggling in the league but still fielded a number of players that have played higher up the pyramid.
United had youngsters Brooks, Reed and Whiteman on the bench along with Lavery, Brown and Long. Sharp was also on the bench even though he had apparently been feeling unwell.
After an impeccable period of respect to honour those fallen in conflict; complete with a trumpateer playing the last post; the game began.
United forced an early corner and then Lafferty nearly played in Scougall. Both wing backs were getting well forward and Freeman was caught just offside from one good run. Orient had one shot well over after the ball was not cleared properly but they had a really good chance soon after. Basham’s loose ball was intercepted and Palmer sprinted away from Wright but as he cut in, his shot was saved by Ramsdale who pushed it wide.
United came back and Coutts volleyed over before Scougall’s work nearly found Chapman. Then a neat move saw a back heel played to Duffy whose low driven shot was saved at the near post.
This spell was the signal for the opening goal soon after. Good work from Coutts led to the ball going forward and Fleck took it on with a superb piece of play to drive at the defence. His cross was inviting and BASHAM still up from a previous set play was able to head home unopposed with the keeper completely exposed.
Chapman then drove down the right hand side and his shot was saved by Cisak and then the rebound was eventually cleared despite a scramble ensuing. The second goal was not long coming. The build up again involved Fleck and when the cross came over from the right, the ball dropped to SCOUGALL who did not hit the ball cleanly and actually hit it down into the ground. It bounced high into the air and into the far corner. In truth he could not have put it any better but how it got there maybe was a tad fortunate!
United were now in rampant form and came again with Fleck and Scougall finding Duffy but he could not get his shot away. The third came just before half time. This time it was good work from Chapman down the left and his cross was pinpoint leading to FREEMAN’s diving header from close range into the net.
At the break Wilder opted to make a change with Lavery coming on for hard working Scougall and went straight to the top of the pitch in his distinguished bright yellow boots. Coutts long diagonal ball to Lavery set up an early chance but the cross to Chapman could not quite be converted.
The keeper then tipped over from an O’Connell header at the back post as Orient struggled to clear. Chapman had the ball in the net after good work in the build up but was adjudged offside but soon after he had his goal and it was a superb effort. CHAPMAN took the ball on and drifted across the defence going past a few defenders before eventually clipping a low shot beyond Cisak and into the far corner. It was all Chapman’s own work.
There were ironic cheers from the Orient fans when they had a rare shot; that was easily saved by the largely inactive Ramsdale. Brooks came on for Duffy on the hour mark and soon after he nearly scored but his shot deflected narrowly wide.
A poor mistake saw Chapman in but he opted to unselfishly play in Coutts who should have scored but his effort was straight at Cisak who pushed away.
With just over 20 minutes to go CHAPMAN was able to get his second as Brooks assisted with a cross into the box that was converted at the far post.
United were now playing exhibition stuff with Coutts and Fleck continuing to pull the strings. They won a free kick after a poor foul but Chapman’s effort was saved by Cisak.
Orient had a rare corner that came to nothing and then Ramsdale missed a cross that was headed over.
Right at the death and CHAPMAN got his hat track. It was an awful back pass (not for the first time) and the Middlesbrough loanee ran through and nonchalantly chipped it over Cisak as he came out. An extra two minutes was rather generous to say the least but the final whistle could not come soon enough for the dejected Orient players as United ran out convincing winners.
United – It was a cakewalk. It became easy and could have been double figures but it became like this due to the effort we put which basically ensured we won all the tackles/loose balls and thus made sure we had most of the ball. The possession stats on the BBC have it 60-40 to us. Sorry but that is a nonsene. I would say it was more 90-10. We had complete control of the game once we went 1-0 up. Even before this we had more of it but after the goal their heads dropped and it just became a case of how many.
We moved it around well and got it into the last third quickly before playing quick football to get into openings. We did not begin brilliantly and indeed they had the first chance but slowly we took control and started to have chances. After we scored it was effectively game over as I say. We then had lots more chances and even though we did not have an out and out striker we did not need to as the three ‘little’ players up top caused problems with movement, running and skill. They did not know who to pick up out of these and left our wing backs all game. Lafferty and Freeman had so much time on the ball and right in the final third as they never marked them. They seemed to have no idea what formation we played or who to mark. The fluidity of the formation and how players moved around made us look so dangerous. Even defenders were coming out of the back and Basham and O’ Connell were often two of the most forward players.
Coutts and Fleck ran the midfield against slow and static players and dictated the play. The others all did their jobs but these two made it easy with crossfield balls/switches of play and some lovely touches. The ones in front were never static and made things so hard for a slow and clumsy defence.
Those that did not go missed a great performance with some lovely football and some good well made and taken goals too. Orient were really bad but I will praise United. We put in a lot of effort and the standards over the run we have had were kept. They never missed tackles, interceptions and blocks. They kept running even to the end and the winning mentality / desire to do even the dirty things was obvious again.
We scored six goals and some lovely finishes too from all around the team – those fears about where goals are coming from seem to unfounded at the moment with likes of Scougall, Freeman and Basham all scoring more than one this season. We had even more chances and with a bit less over play and a bit more clinical play in front of goal it could have easily been double figures.
We were able to rest a few players too and good to see Ramsdale, Brooks and Whiteman get some playing time. Even the ball boys were rested with a collection of ball girls brought in for this game!
I hope we play a team of kids at Grimsby (shame Chapman, Reed and Ramsdale can’t play as away with young England squads) and get everybody a full week of rest for Chesterfield next week. It worries me as we are on fire and been unbeaten since the end of August. They in comparison cannot buy a win in the league. Add in the Ched factor and you start to think could this be the end of the run but if we keep doing what we have been doing (work ethic and effort / intensity to start games) then we will be ok even if we do have a dip whether it be next week or whenever.
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Manager Chris Wilder rested a few players such as keeper Simon Moore and striker Billy Sharp and had to do without Ethan Ebanks Landell whom Wolves denied permission to play. Young keeper Aaron Ramsdale was given his debut and United opted to play without a recognised striker with Scougall and Chapman the most advanced players. Orient had been struggling in the league but still fielded a number of players that have played higher up the pyramid.
United had youngsters Brooks, Reed and Whiteman on the bench along with Lavery, Brown and Long. Sharp was also on the bench even though he had apparently been feeling unwell.
After an impeccable period of respect to honour those fallen in conflict; complete with a trumpateer playing the last post; the game began.
United forced an early corner and then Lafferty nearly played in Scougall. Both wing backs were getting well forward and Freeman was caught just offside from one good run. Orient had one shot well over after the ball was not cleared properly but they had a really good chance soon after. Basham’s loose ball was intercepted and Palmer sprinted away from Wright but as he cut in, his shot was saved by Ramsdale who pushed it wide.
United came back and Coutts volleyed over before Scougall’s work nearly found Chapman. Then a neat move saw a back heel played to Duffy whose low driven shot was saved at the near post.
This spell was the signal for the opening goal soon after. Good work from Coutts led to the ball going forward and Fleck took it on with a superb piece of play to drive at the defence. His cross was inviting and BASHAM still up from a previous set play was able to head home unopposed with the keeper completely exposed.
Chapman then drove down the right hand side and his shot was saved by Cisak and then the rebound was eventually cleared despite a scramble ensuing. The second goal was not long coming. The build up again involved Fleck and when the cross came over from the right, the ball dropped to SCOUGALL who did not hit the ball cleanly and actually hit it down into the ground. It bounced high into the air and into the far corner. In truth he could not have put it any better but how it got there maybe was a tad fortunate!
United were now in rampant form and came again with Fleck and Scougall finding Duffy but he could not get his shot away. The third came just before half time. This time it was good work from Chapman down the left and his cross was pinpoint leading to FREEMAN’s diving header from close range into the net.
At the break Wilder opted to make a change with Lavery coming on for hard working Scougall and went straight to the top of the pitch in his distinguished bright yellow boots. Coutts long diagonal ball to Lavery set up an early chance but the cross to Chapman could not quite be converted.
The keeper then tipped over from an O’Connell header at the back post as Orient struggled to clear. Chapman had the ball in the net after good work in the build up but was adjudged offside but soon after he had his goal and it was a superb effort. CHAPMAN took the ball on and drifted across the defence going past a few defenders before eventually clipping a low shot beyond Cisak and into the far corner. It was all Chapman’s own work.
There were ironic cheers from the Orient fans when they had a rare shot; that was easily saved by the largely inactive Ramsdale. Brooks came on for Duffy on the hour mark and soon after he nearly scored but his shot deflected narrowly wide.
A poor mistake saw Chapman in but he opted to unselfishly play in Coutts who should have scored but his effort was straight at Cisak who pushed away.
With just over 20 minutes to go CHAPMAN was able to get his second as Brooks assisted with a cross into the box that was converted at the far post.
United were now playing exhibition stuff with Coutts and Fleck continuing to pull the strings. They won a free kick after a poor foul but Chapman’s effort was saved by Cisak.
Orient had a rare corner that came to nothing and then Ramsdale missed a cross that was headed over.
Right at the death and CHAPMAN got his hat track. It was an awful back pass (not for the first time) and the Middlesbrough loanee ran through and nonchalantly chipped it over Cisak as he came out. An extra two minutes was rather generous to say the least but the final whistle could not come soon enough for the dejected Orient players as United ran out convincing winners.
United – It was a cakewalk. It became easy and could have been double figures but it became like this due to the effort we put which basically ensured we won all the tackles/loose balls and thus made sure we had most of the ball. The possession stats on the BBC have it 60-40 to us. Sorry but that is a nonsene. I would say it was more 90-10. We had complete control of the game once we went 1-0 up. Even before this we had more of it but after the goal their heads dropped and it just became a case of how many.
We moved it around well and got it into the last third quickly before playing quick football to get into openings. We did not begin brilliantly and indeed they had the first chance but slowly we took control and started to have chances. After we scored it was effectively game over as I say. We then had lots more chances and even though we did not have an out and out striker we did not need to as the three ‘little’ players up top caused problems with movement, running and skill. They did not know who to pick up out of these and left our wing backs all game. Lafferty and Freeman had so much time on the ball and right in the final third as they never marked them. They seemed to have no idea what formation we played or who to mark. The fluidity of the formation and how players moved around made us look so dangerous. Even defenders were coming out of the back and Basham and O’ Connell were often two of the most forward players.
Coutts and Fleck ran the midfield against slow and static players and dictated the play. The others all did their jobs but these two made it easy with crossfield balls/switches of play and some lovely touches. The ones in front were never static and made things so hard for a slow and clumsy defence.
Those that did not go missed a great performance with some lovely football and some good well made and taken goals too. Orient were really bad but I will praise United. We put in a lot of effort and the standards over the run we have had were kept. They never missed tackles, interceptions and blocks. They kept running even to the end and the winning mentality / desire to do even the dirty things was obvious again.
We scored six goals and some lovely finishes too from all around the team – those fears about where goals are coming from seem to unfounded at the moment with likes of Scougall, Freeman and Basham all scoring more than one this season. We had even more chances and with a bit less over play and a bit more clinical play in front of goal it could have easily been double figures.
We were able to rest a few players too and good to see Ramsdale, Brooks and Whiteman get some playing time. Even the ball boys were rested with a collection of ball girls brought in for this game!
I hope we play a team of kids at Grimsby (shame Chapman, Reed and Ramsdale can’t play as away with young England squads) and get everybody a full week of rest for Chesterfield next week. It worries me as we are on fire and been unbeaten since the end of August. They in comparison cannot buy a win in the league. Add in the Ched factor and you start to think could this be the end of the run but if we keep doing what we have been doing (work ethic and effort / intensity to start games) then we will be ok even if we do have a dip whether it be next week or whenever.
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