Deadbat
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Walsall had been the last side to beat the Blades, doing so at the Bramall Lane (in the Checkatrade trophy) back in early October and they repeated the feat ending United’s 14 match unbeaten run. United blew a golden chance to go second and have now only picked up a point from two games they really should have won.
As they had done in so many previous games, the Blades dominated possession and chances but tonight as in previous games could not turn this into goals. A smash and grab goal from Bakayoko after a fine ball from Oztumer gave Walsall a lead and they defended it wilfully, putting bodies on the line, making clearances and restricting United to scrambled efforts on the whole. When the Blades did get in they were wasteful with Sharp missing a crucial penalty; his second successive spot kick miss and other chances also went begging.
Manager Wilder made one enforced change with Freeman in for Wright and Basham switching into the backline. They started again with Clarke and Sharp up front. Walsall had former Blades Cuvelier on the bench but had not won for 5 games.
In bitterly cold conditions, the game began in the same manner as the last few home games with the opponents banking up in front of United and making the Blades play through them. Coutts, Duffy and Fleck had a lot of the ball but the Blades struggled to create much with the play quite narrow. Clarke and Sharp had not had any clear sights early on with much off the play in midfield. After a bright 10 minutes, Walsall started to come into the game. They won two corner and then a free kick after Basham’s sloppy touch saw Ebanks Landell pull his man down. The kick was taken by Oztumer and was looped up onto the bar before bouncing away. Moore was well beaten and almost caught out.
Clarke then had his first opportunity but headed wide from a Duffy cross. Duffy then shot wide before Fleck had an effort off target. United had reasserted control and had their best chance when from a decent Fleck corner, O’Connell powered his header goalwards but Etheridge made a great reaction save and the ball was cleared on the line before a United player could react. Soon after Sharp had an effort block before Lafferty’s shot was deflected but Etheridge made a smart save low down. It had been the home side asking all the questions but against the run of play they were stunned when the visitors took the lead.
The tricky Oztumer picked up the ball and with no one near him he managed to knock a through ball into the path of BAKAYOKO. It ought to have been dealt with by United’s backline but Ebanks Landell was slow to react and the striker got in and toed it past Moore and into the net. It was such a straight forward pass and finish and very much route one. The Blades had been caught completely cold. Half time came a few minutes later.
After the break Oztumer’s shot was heading for the top corner but Moore made a good save tipping over. United were soon back on the attack and Sharp went down after getting caught up in a challenge but the referee waved play away. Great work from Freeman and Coutts saw the wing back away and send over a delightful cross that evaded everyone with Clarke too slow to react at the far post.
Etheridge was warned for timewasting but the referee oddly decided to stop the game and tell him but not book him. He had already warned him previously which drew the ire from the United crowd even further.
United continued to force the pressure but were struggling to break Walsall down and despite good patient passing, the final ball was awful. So many crosses were overplayed or hit the first man. From one good delivery, O’Connell ghosted in to head downwards and into the net but the referee saw some pushing by Ebanks Landell and disallowed the goal. It seemed a strange decision as not many Walsall players had appealed.
Sharp was sent through from Fleck and Etheridge blocked before Clarke went around the keeper but could not convert from a narrow angle as the ball was blocked. Coutts then had an effort blocked as United ramped it up in front of the Kop. Sharp’s clever flicked effort was just over from a decent through ball over the top from Fleck. Appeals for another spot kick for a hand ball this time were waved away when the players hand seemed to be up as the ball struck him.
Chapman was on for Basham and soon after United forced Etheridge into his first real save of the second half with Duffy’s clever free kick almost catching him out.
Lavery came on for Lafferty as United now had almost a front 5 as they piled on the pressure as the game entered the final 10 minutes. Clarke headed wide as it was attack v defence but United could not get the vital breakthrough.
A shot came in from Fleck and again loud shouts went up for a penalty kick. Finally; after giving United little all game, the referee deemed it had struck a Walsall players hand and gave the penalty kick.
Sharp took it but as in the last game at the Lane; it was a really poor effort. He hit it almost down the middle again and the keeper saved it easily, holding the ball.
United kept coming despite this huge disappointment. An O’Connell header looped just over and then as the game entered five minutes additional stoppage time; from a great Chapman cross Sharp bundled home. It seemed as if the equaliser had come but the referee deemed the United skipper had used his hand to convert.
Freeman then had a shot at the keeper and Moore came up for a corner but Sharp could not turn goalwards from Clarke’s knock down. Soon after another wasted cross was taken by the excellent Etheridge and full time came moments later. A game United will wonder how they did not win let along fail to even get a point but once again inability to be ruthless in the final third and take chances came back to haunt a side that has controlled a game once again almost from start to finish.
United – Really disappointing both in terms of the result and the performance. Do not get me wrong we were not awful. Nowhere near. Compared to last season it is still night and day. Once again we controlled a game almost from start to finish but this time a team did not have 9 men and scored a goal. They had two banks of players and we struggled to break them down. Yes, we had 20+ shots again. Yes, we had umpteen corners and crossing chances but overall I have to say how many clear-cut chances did we have? How many saves did the keeper make? I reckon the O’Connell one first half and then maybe the Duffy shot second half. We got into so many good positions and then just could not make the right pass or cross and it just petered out or went behind the goal or into the keeper’s hands.
Outside of the couple of efforts I am struggling for shots that actually really tested him. May seem daft as we missed a penalty (this did not test him!) and had 2 disallowed but for all the good play in area of pitch the overall lack of quality in the final third showed. We could have the ball as much as we wanted, if we cannot play that killer ball or make the right cross/pass to lead to chances we will have a lot of games like that this season. We still had enough chances to score probably but for the amount of play/possession we had, we were incredibly wasteful and kind of looked clueless when we got in the last third. Eventually another awful cross came over. When we played it quickly and got players wide with quick one twos we did get in but too often aimless balls were played. Sharp and Clarke (Clarke will get all critics but Sharp was as bad) are both so static. Without pace and movement up top we will struggle to break teams down as we have to play killer pass/ball. We have no pace and we had little width. The last few games have been like those training ground exercises of defence v attack and overall the defence has won most of the contests really.
Maybe it was coming after we had struggled past Shrewsbury and Bury with 9 men each and then were pegged back at the Valley. Wilder had been quite critical of the lack of ruthlessness but tonight we saw more of the same. Did we do enough to draw/win the game? Probably but in the last third the quality was lacking badly. We got into great position time after time but wasted crosses, through balls and when we got it into a decent position were wasteful.
Sure we had two goals disallowed and missed a penalty and on another night could have had another penalty but despite this for all the ball we had, we did not create lots of clear cut chances. The issue was we either overplayed or when we got it into good areas, the final ball was woeful. We hit the first man, lobbed it to the keeper and sent it behind the goal. The odd decent ball that came in we had little chance as Sharp and Clarke were miles apart and no midfielders were supporting. The strikers also were not really moving and they looked very still at times. So, it was a combination of poor final ball and little to hit at times.
We did have most of the ball and had so many more chances but overall it was all a bit desperate I felt towards the end more than good play that led to knock downs and a flurry of better chances. However, in overall play we lack quality when it matters and lack penetration/pace. We are a very slow side and rely on pin point passing / play. Luckily Coutts and Fleck along with Duffy have shown real ability to do this but we lack that movement up top. I am not sure either Clarke/Sharp are doing enough at the moment for me. They are not scoring and when they are getting chances are missing them. Sadly with Done and Lavery not exactly looking any better options it means we have a quandary up this end of the pitch.
At the back we had little to do but Basham and Ebanks Landell made a mess of the few things we did have to deal with and of course led to one goal and nearly another couple. For all play we had, they hit the bar and forced one of the best saves of the night from the long shot. They had as many ‘good’efforts on goal as us for all our play.
Really disappointing to get in a good position and then toss away 5 points really in the last few games. I feel like we will have more games like this down at the Lane. If we do not start showing better play in the final third whether it be crosses/final ball or finishing, we will have many more frustrating games as teams now have the blueprint. They defend deep knowing we have no pace, compress the play and make us play through them. We have struggled do this. However, for all this another night one of the disallowed ones is given, we score a penalty and we still should win the game but for three games to go in a similar fashion is a bit of a concern despite the great run.
We go again but we now have nearly 10 days till next home game. It is crucial we now try and build another run. The only positive from tonight; if you can actually say this is that Ebanks Landell was garbage and may end up staying here as Lambert will not have been impressed at all.
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Walsall – Seem to be a big of a bogey side this season winning twice at the Lane. They had not won for 5 games and were not in great form so it was of course a surprise they won tonight. They were in the game for a spell in the first half and had a decent free kick. However, when the goal came out of the blue. It was well made and taken but should have been avoided. After this it was back to the walls stuff. They timewasted, spoiled and did every trick in the book but we should be able to overcome this. The longer the game went, the deeper they sat and they kept throwing men in front of the ball. They had a lot of run of the ball and some fortune when blocks or crosses fell kindly but the keeper and centre backs played well. They will say they fought hard for the win but it was a real smash and grab. They play another 4 or 5 games likes that and they will lost most of them. It was one of those nights really where things went for them helped by a referee who certainly could not be accused of being a homer.
Manager John Whitney took over after the excellent work from his predecessor Dean Smith (Sean O’Driscoll’s reign did not quite work out) but the yearly sales that seem to take place means the squad does not have the quality it once had. Even since last year they have lost key men such as Bradshaw and Sawyers and it was going to be hard to sustain another play off campaign. They have done well to be in and around the top 6 the last few years but this year was always going to be mid table at best I felt. If they finish there they will do well. They have a few decent players but their team spirit and work ethic may be their greatest quality and if they can replicate effort tonight they will be alright. Not sure they have enough quality to get near the top 6 but in this league, anyone can put a run together.
Opponent man of the match : The referee?! No probably Erhun Oztumer. Surprised Peterborough let him go in the summer as he has always shown to be a clever little player. Hit the bar, made the goal and had their other good effort well saved. The centre backs played well throwing bodies in the way and the keeper took a lot of routine crosses but in overall play he only made one really good save. Other efforts including the penalty were routine.
Opponent Weak link : Not really sure there was a weak link. They all put a graft in and although they had little of the ball, they worked hard to get a result.
As they had done in so many previous games, the Blades dominated possession and chances but tonight as in previous games could not turn this into goals. A smash and grab goal from Bakayoko after a fine ball from Oztumer gave Walsall a lead and they defended it wilfully, putting bodies on the line, making clearances and restricting United to scrambled efforts on the whole. When the Blades did get in they were wasteful with Sharp missing a crucial penalty; his second successive spot kick miss and other chances also went begging.
Manager Wilder made one enforced change with Freeman in for Wright and Basham switching into the backline. They started again with Clarke and Sharp up front. Walsall had former Blades Cuvelier on the bench but had not won for 5 games.
In bitterly cold conditions, the game began in the same manner as the last few home games with the opponents banking up in front of United and making the Blades play through them. Coutts, Duffy and Fleck had a lot of the ball but the Blades struggled to create much with the play quite narrow. Clarke and Sharp had not had any clear sights early on with much off the play in midfield. After a bright 10 minutes, Walsall started to come into the game. They won two corner and then a free kick after Basham’s sloppy touch saw Ebanks Landell pull his man down. The kick was taken by Oztumer and was looped up onto the bar before bouncing away. Moore was well beaten and almost caught out.
Clarke then had his first opportunity but headed wide from a Duffy cross. Duffy then shot wide before Fleck had an effort off target. United had reasserted control and had their best chance when from a decent Fleck corner, O’Connell powered his header goalwards but Etheridge made a great reaction save and the ball was cleared on the line before a United player could react. Soon after Sharp had an effort block before Lafferty’s shot was deflected but Etheridge made a smart save low down. It had been the home side asking all the questions but against the run of play they were stunned when the visitors took the lead.
The tricky Oztumer picked up the ball and with no one near him he managed to knock a through ball into the path of BAKAYOKO. It ought to have been dealt with by United’s backline but Ebanks Landell was slow to react and the striker got in and toed it past Moore and into the net. It was such a straight forward pass and finish and very much route one. The Blades had been caught completely cold. Half time came a few minutes later.
After the break Oztumer’s shot was heading for the top corner but Moore made a good save tipping over. United were soon back on the attack and Sharp went down after getting caught up in a challenge but the referee waved play away. Great work from Freeman and Coutts saw the wing back away and send over a delightful cross that evaded everyone with Clarke too slow to react at the far post.
Etheridge was warned for timewasting but the referee oddly decided to stop the game and tell him but not book him. He had already warned him previously which drew the ire from the United crowd even further.
United continued to force the pressure but were struggling to break Walsall down and despite good patient passing, the final ball was awful. So many crosses were overplayed or hit the first man. From one good delivery, O’Connell ghosted in to head downwards and into the net but the referee saw some pushing by Ebanks Landell and disallowed the goal. It seemed a strange decision as not many Walsall players had appealed.
Sharp was sent through from Fleck and Etheridge blocked before Clarke went around the keeper but could not convert from a narrow angle as the ball was blocked. Coutts then had an effort blocked as United ramped it up in front of the Kop. Sharp’s clever flicked effort was just over from a decent through ball over the top from Fleck. Appeals for another spot kick for a hand ball this time were waved away when the players hand seemed to be up as the ball struck him.
Chapman was on for Basham and soon after United forced Etheridge into his first real save of the second half with Duffy’s clever free kick almost catching him out.
Lavery came on for Lafferty as United now had almost a front 5 as they piled on the pressure as the game entered the final 10 minutes. Clarke headed wide as it was attack v defence but United could not get the vital breakthrough.
A shot came in from Fleck and again loud shouts went up for a penalty kick. Finally; after giving United little all game, the referee deemed it had struck a Walsall players hand and gave the penalty kick.
Sharp took it but as in the last game at the Lane; it was a really poor effort. He hit it almost down the middle again and the keeper saved it easily, holding the ball.
United kept coming despite this huge disappointment. An O’Connell header looped just over and then as the game entered five minutes additional stoppage time; from a great Chapman cross Sharp bundled home. It seemed as if the equaliser had come but the referee deemed the United skipper had used his hand to convert.
Freeman then had a shot at the keeper and Moore came up for a corner but Sharp could not turn goalwards from Clarke’s knock down. Soon after another wasted cross was taken by the excellent Etheridge and full time came moments later. A game United will wonder how they did not win let along fail to even get a point but once again inability to be ruthless in the final third and take chances came back to haunt a side that has controlled a game once again almost from start to finish.
United – Really disappointing both in terms of the result and the performance. Do not get me wrong we were not awful. Nowhere near. Compared to last season it is still night and day. Once again we controlled a game almost from start to finish but this time a team did not have 9 men and scored a goal. They had two banks of players and we struggled to break them down. Yes, we had 20+ shots again. Yes, we had umpteen corners and crossing chances but overall I have to say how many clear-cut chances did we have? How many saves did the keeper make? I reckon the O’Connell one first half and then maybe the Duffy shot second half. We got into so many good positions and then just could not make the right pass or cross and it just petered out or went behind the goal or into the keeper’s hands.
Outside of the couple of efforts I am struggling for shots that actually really tested him. May seem daft as we missed a penalty (this did not test him!) and had 2 disallowed but for all the good play in area of pitch the overall lack of quality in the final third showed. We could have the ball as much as we wanted, if we cannot play that killer ball or make the right cross/pass to lead to chances we will have a lot of games like that this season. We still had enough chances to score probably but for the amount of play/possession we had, we were incredibly wasteful and kind of looked clueless when we got in the last third. Eventually another awful cross came over. When we played it quickly and got players wide with quick one twos we did get in but too often aimless balls were played. Sharp and Clarke (Clarke will get all critics but Sharp was as bad) are both so static. Without pace and movement up top we will struggle to break teams down as we have to play killer pass/ball. We have no pace and we had little width. The last few games have been like those training ground exercises of defence v attack and overall the defence has won most of the contests really.
Maybe it was coming after we had struggled past Shrewsbury and Bury with 9 men each and then were pegged back at the Valley. Wilder had been quite critical of the lack of ruthlessness but tonight we saw more of the same. Did we do enough to draw/win the game? Probably but in the last third the quality was lacking badly. We got into great position time after time but wasted crosses, through balls and when we got it into a decent position were wasteful.
Sure we had two goals disallowed and missed a penalty and on another night could have had another penalty but despite this for all the ball we had, we did not create lots of clear cut chances. The issue was we either overplayed or when we got it into good areas, the final ball was woeful. We hit the first man, lobbed it to the keeper and sent it behind the goal. The odd decent ball that came in we had little chance as Sharp and Clarke were miles apart and no midfielders were supporting. The strikers also were not really moving and they looked very still at times. So, it was a combination of poor final ball and little to hit at times.
We did have most of the ball and had so many more chances but overall it was all a bit desperate I felt towards the end more than good play that led to knock downs and a flurry of better chances. However, in overall play we lack quality when it matters and lack penetration/pace. We are a very slow side and rely on pin point passing / play. Luckily Coutts and Fleck along with Duffy have shown real ability to do this but we lack that movement up top. I am not sure either Clarke/Sharp are doing enough at the moment for me. They are not scoring and when they are getting chances are missing them. Sadly with Done and Lavery not exactly looking any better options it means we have a quandary up this end of the pitch.
At the back we had little to do but Basham and Ebanks Landell made a mess of the few things we did have to deal with and of course led to one goal and nearly another couple. For all play we had, they hit the bar and forced one of the best saves of the night from the long shot. They had as many ‘good’efforts on goal as us for all our play.
Really disappointing to get in a good position and then toss away 5 points really in the last few games. I feel like we will have more games like this down at the Lane. If we do not start showing better play in the final third whether it be crosses/final ball or finishing, we will have many more frustrating games as teams now have the blueprint. They defend deep knowing we have no pace, compress the play and make us play through them. We have struggled do this. However, for all this another night one of the disallowed ones is given, we score a penalty and we still should win the game but for three games to go in a similar fashion is a bit of a concern despite the great run.
We go again but we now have nearly 10 days till next home game. It is crucial we now try and build another run. The only positive from tonight; if you can actually say this is that Ebanks Landell was garbage and may end up staying here as Lambert will not have been impressed at all.
–
Walsall – Seem to be a big of a bogey side this season winning twice at the Lane. They had not won for 5 games and were not in great form so it was of course a surprise they won tonight. They were in the game for a spell in the first half and had a decent free kick. However, when the goal came out of the blue. It was well made and taken but should have been avoided. After this it was back to the walls stuff. They timewasted, spoiled and did every trick in the book but we should be able to overcome this. The longer the game went, the deeper they sat and they kept throwing men in front of the ball. They had a lot of run of the ball and some fortune when blocks or crosses fell kindly but the keeper and centre backs played well. They will say they fought hard for the win but it was a real smash and grab. They play another 4 or 5 games likes that and they will lost most of them. It was one of those nights really where things went for them helped by a referee who certainly could not be accused of being a homer.
Manager John Whitney took over after the excellent work from his predecessor Dean Smith (Sean O’Driscoll’s reign did not quite work out) but the yearly sales that seem to take place means the squad does not have the quality it once had. Even since last year they have lost key men such as Bradshaw and Sawyers and it was going to be hard to sustain another play off campaign. They have done well to be in and around the top 6 the last few years but this year was always going to be mid table at best I felt. If they finish there they will do well. They have a few decent players but their team spirit and work ethic may be their greatest quality and if they can replicate effort tonight they will be alright. Not sure they have enough quality to get near the top 6 but in this league, anyone can put a run together.
Opponent man of the match : The referee?! No probably Erhun Oztumer. Surprised Peterborough let him go in the summer as he has always shown to be a clever little player. Hit the bar, made the goal and had their other good effort well saved. The centre backs played well throwing bodies in the way and the keeper took a lot of routine crosses but in overall play he only made one really good save. Other efforts including the penalty were routine.
Opponent Weak link : Not really sure there was a weak link. They all put a graft in and although they had little of the ball, they worked hard to get a result.
Bad news is I miss the Swindon home game too so I hope its nowt to do with me.
