Deadbat
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2009
- Messages
- 6,333
- Reaction score
- 35,793
It is now 2 home wins and 2 away defeats for the Blades, as they repeated their opening day win against Brentford at the Lane with another 1-0 win against local rivals Barnsley. This was a dominant performance from United who in truth should have won by more than the single goal scored from Billy Sharp. United missed numerous chances to extend the margin in a game where both sides had a man sent off after an altercation between Leon Clarke and Angus McDonald on the stroke of half time. Overall, United will be pleased with a relatively commanding performance where they were the better side for much of the game and protected keeper Jamal Blackman well who had barely a save of note to make all game.
Chris Wilder made two chances with one enforced with Richard Stearman’s injury seeing Jake Wright come in and another tactical change as Mark Duffy came in for Samir Carruthers. Ched Evans and David Brooks were both on the bench and were joined by Burton target John Brayford. Barnsley manager Paul Heckingbottom kept the same side for the fourth successive side with talk of Chinese investment on the eve of the fixture.
The home side began on the front foot with Duffy heavily involved and the Tykes were forced back. United won three early corners and a free kick deep in Barnsley territory. Stevens sent over a dangerous cross that was cleared before a golden chance came on 6 minutes as Stevens sent another dangerous cross over and Sharp was unmarked on the penalty spot. He hit his first time shot goalward but Davies made a brilliant reaction save. Not long after a lovely interchange saw Coutts, Clarke and then Sharp combine and the latter was upended cynically right on the edge of the box. The free kick was taken by Duffy but his effort was deflected over for a corner.
United had dominated the game and Coutts then nearly fed Clarke before a rare Barnsley attack saw Hammill poke harmlessly wide. United were back on the attack and the opening goal seemed inevitable and it came when another decent move saw the ball switched to the left. O’Connell sent over a lovely cross and on the spot SHARP was able to send the ball into the net despite Davies’ frantic dive to keep the ball out. It was no more than the home side deserved for a dominant display.
United continued to attack and Clarke’s good work nearly led to a chance but he overplayed the ball before Coutts and Duffy combined before the latter just overplayed the ball. Barnsley had struggled to pick up the United runners from deep with Duffy in particular causing real problems. Stevens and Freeman continued to overlap down the flanks and the one-way traffic continued.
Barnsley has a brief spell of the ball but did not really threaten the United rear guard with smart defending from Wright and then Basham clearing up danger. Sharp was booked for a relatively innocuous challenge before McCarthy went in late and was also booked not long after. The game became a bit scrappy for a period with United not quite having the same control they had done but the visitors had offered few opportunities at goal.
Just before half time, there was a flashpoint as a player from either side were sent off. A long ball was chased down from Clarke but as it ran down towards Davies, it seemed McDonald had taken offence to Clarke chasing the ball down. Initially it seemed the defender pushed Clarke, the striker reacted by trying to brush him off but did appear to raise his hand. In reaction McDonald seemed to aim a head towards Clarke. There was no initial reaction from the officials and the referee did not seem to see it. There was no flag from the assistant who was closer to it but the referee decided to have a word with him. He may have had help from the fourth official but after they conferred; he brandished a red card to both player. It may have seemed a bit harsh but by the letter of the law both players probably could not have too many complaints.
Fleck had a shot blocked and United then won a corner and a free kick as Hammill was booked but O’Connell headed wide from the free kick. United ended the half as they began it; firmly on top but the two red cards had certainly added uncertainty to proceedings as the half time whistle came.
At the break, it seemed Heckingbottom has seen enough of a rather limp first half performance and made a double change taking off Moncur and McCarthy for Ugbo and Pinnock. It seemed a more forward-thinking change as Barnsley effectively lined up with a 3-4-1-1 formation to begin the game. United kept the formation as they had with Billy Sharp left up front on his own supported by Duffy.
United began the half on top with Stevens and O’Connell firing over after good patient build up in both moves. Duffy then shot wide after a good move from United and then Potts had another rare effort from Barnsley as he flicked his header over. United came again as a lovely move saw the ball switched from Coutts to Duffy and onto Basham. His cross was measured but Sharp just could not quite get there and on the stretch poked wide at the far post.
Coutts drifted away from two players to feed Stevens whose cross came in but just evaded two United players as the home side looked to get the vital second goal.
Duffy had played really well but his efforts had taken their toll on him and he was replaced by the youngster Brooks. The substitute was soon into the action and drifted past Pinnock and nearly fed a chance for Sharp before he had another run before being robbed at the last moment.
Barnsley had not really had any attempts of note and Wright made a good interception before Hammill drifted inside but overplayed his pass. United continued to look the better side and were very close to another goal.
Stevens sent over a cross and Brooks got in front of his man and diverted it goalward but Davies saved with his legs; the ball squirmed across goal and agonisingly hit the base of the post before bouncing to safety. O’Connell then had a header tipped over when he maybe should have scored and then the same man had a header blocked.
Evans came on for the tiring Sharp with 15 minutes to go. United had been in complete control but it was inevitable Barnsley would have a late push and they did at least have a spell of possession.
Thiam came on for Bradshaw as Barnsley looked for a spark to get back into a game they had been second best for long periods. Potts shot well wide and then Hammill was also way off target before they finally had an effort on goal as Ugbo’s shot on the turn was saved easily by Blackman. Brooks helped see the ball into the corner as the game entered an additional four minutes but in this time the United defence headed and cleared the ball away and never looked that threatened. The final whistle came to signal another 1-0 win for the Blades at the Lane and signalled a respectable start to the return to the Championship.
United – We played really well today. It was the most complete performance we have had albeit against the poorest side we have played. We won 1-0 but in truth it should have been 3 or 4-0. It was the inverse of the Cardiff game where United were lucky not to be on the end of a hiding. Today though Barnsley barely had a shot on goal and Blackman made maybe one token save and watched a few other shots go well wide. United were in complete control and only poor finishing stopped it being more convincing. We began the game really well, Sharp should have scored and then did score. We had other chances and then there was the red card. After this I felt we looked like the side with a man advantage even though it was 10 v 10. We had numerous other chances with Sharp, O’Connell and Brooks all so close to getting the second. We had more of the ball and generally looked the much better side. The only concern was it was only 1-0 and that of course gave Barnsley a chance but despite us going a bit deeper that we would have wanted, we never looked like conceding.
Defensively we looked better other than a few moments where we looked a bit susceptible when they attacked on the break and we had committed men forward. A few times Hammill looked dangerous running at us but they never had any real clear chances. At the other end a bit more poise, better final ball and more ruthlessness and it would have been out of sight. I felt we played some nice stuff with Sharp, Clarke, Duffy, Stevens, Coutts and Duffy all heavily involved first half and then after Clarke went off I felt Freeman, Fleck and then latterly Brooks caused problems. We knocked it about well and as I say just a bit more clinical play and it would have been a more deserved win.
Player wise some mixed bags still; Blackman was untroubled despite a few nervy moments and his handling and general play was fine. I felt Wright and O’Connell did well but Basham and Freeman were a bit slow at times defensively. Stevens had a really good game. Fleck had some poor moment and some bad giveaways but then also did some good things. Coutts had a few moments of poor play but for the most part he was excellent. Duffy did well and always looked a threat. Not everything came off but he always got into pockets and caused problems. He tired but was much more of a threat than Carruthers from an attacking sense. I felt Clarke did well and was a real handful until his moment of madness where he got involved in something he shouldn’t have. Sharp missed two but scored one and was always on the shoulders and buzzing around. The subs saw Brooks look a threat showing his close control and running and nearly scored. Evans sadly looked sluggish and leaden footed.
Important to get another win after the two defeats away from home. We are mid table which is a decent start. Derby will be much harder next week but we go into it with confidence. We know we can get chances and get through teams but have to be more clinical. Expect Evans to get a start in the week against Leicester before next week. I still feel we are three players short, a big dominating centre half, a big dirty so and so in midfield and a quick striker. I am not sure any of the players that have played with Sharp so far have really pressed their claim. We need some pace up that end. The midfield pairing have found it harder this season against better players but today came out on top.
I do hope we can add to the squad and get those 2-3 we need to improve the actual staring eleven. One of my main arguments on the recruitment side in the summer was only maybe Stearman and Stevens actually improved the starting side. I also feel we are missing a trick by not looking outside the UK and do not seem to have any kind of European or International scouting infrastructure. That is something we have to improve as just using a purely UK (tried and trusted) type approach can be a bit insular and costly. A Lenihan, Leonard type player could arguably be recruited and a lot cheaper from outside the UK. That is one area I feel we need to improve on. Still I hope we will get those extra players, UK or otherwise, to give us that lift as we move into September.
Barnsley – They really were poor. I expected much better. They had a good win in the week and that took the pressure off. However today they were never in it really. United came out firing and scored in the first half and the home side could have been out of sight. It was one-way traffic and they did not have much of the ball, let alone create any chances of note. They had a spell of play around the half hour mark but again no real efforts.
After the break, they regressed again and the two red cards seemed to give United more time and space on the ball if anything. We came at them again and again. The keeper, the post and some fortunate let offs saw them remain in the game. They always had a chance at 1-0 I suppose but I cannot recall many real chances. They changed tactics, personnel and formation but it did not matter a jot as United won rather comfortably in the end. They lacked any real attacking creativity and they never had a concerted spell where they had the ball let alone exert any pressure on United. If the game had finished 3 or 4 they could not have really complained.
In reality, the manager Heckingbottom has done a superb job. To finish mid-way last year, on a vastly reduced budget to most at this level and losing so many key players, was a superb achievement. They have sold player after player and had a talented squad ravaged time after time. They have to keep rebuilding and this summer had to bring in more lower league players. They have to keep rebuilding and whilst they still have some decent players and will keep plucking out gems, I feel they may be looking over their shoulder this year. Today they lacked a real goal threat and the other way but for Davies could have been well beaten. They looked quite slow and lacked real creativity or drive in the key areas. They also lack experience and a relatively young side. The talk of Chinese investment swirled around pre-game and they do need some monetary injection to avoid this constant player turnover. Without it, I expect them to be in a relegation battle.
Opposition Man of the Match: Not sure there was anyone that particularly impressed. The strikers did not really look threatening but had little service all game. The defence looked stretched all game. The lad who looked most likely was probably Hammill; he got on the ball and at least tried to attack the defence. His final product lacked. In truth, the best player was DAVIES, the keeper. He made three outstanding saves that stopped it being more than 1-0. The one from Sharp was a stunner and not quite sure how he kept out the Brooks shot.
Opposition Weak link: Could be any one of 7 or 8 really. They never got going and even the changes they made did not make a difference. I felt that the defence always looked like they may concede chances and they struggled to cope with movement and creativity early on. McCarthy was struggling with power and movement of front two and went off but McDONALD was stupid in what he did. Albeit Clarke went off also but he raised his arms also and then aimed a head butt. Stupidity when his team were already losing and no need whatsoever to get involved.
Chris Wilder made two chances with one enforced with Richard Stearman’s injury seeing Jake Wright come in and another tactical change as Mark Duffy came in for Samir Carruthers. Ched Evans and David Brooks were both on the bench and were joined by Burton target John Brayford. Barnsley manager Paul Heckingbottom kept the same side for the fourth successive side with talk of Chinese investment on the eve of the fixture.
The home side began on the front foot with Duffy heavily involved and the Tykes were forced back. United won three early corners and a free kick deep in Barnsley territory. Stevens sent over a dangerous cross that was cleared before a golden chance came on 6 minutes as Stevens sent another dangerous cross over and Sharp was unmarked on the penalty spot. He hit his first time shot goalward but Davies made a brilliant reaction save. Not long after a lovely interchange saw Coutts, Clarke and then Sharp combine and the latter was upended cynically right on the edge of the box. The free kick was taken by Duffy but his effort was deflected over for a corner.
United had dominated the game and Coutts then nearly fed Clarke before a rare Barnsley attack saw Hammill poke harmlessly wide. United were back on the attack and the opening goal seemed inevitable and it came when another decent move saw the ball switched to the left. O’Connell sent over a lovely cross and on the spot SHARP was able to send the ball into the net despite Davies’ frantic dive to keep the ball out. It was no more than the home side deserved for a dominant display.
United continued to attack and Clarke’s good work nearly led to a chance but he overplayed the ball before Coutts and Duffy combined before the latter just overplayed the ball. Barnsley had struggled to pick up the United runners from deep with Duffy in particular causing real problems. Stevens and Freeman continued to overlap down the flanks and the one-way traffic continued.
Barnsley has a brief spell of the ball but did not really threaten the United rear guard with smart defending from Wright and then Basham clearing up danger. Sharp was booked for a relatively innocuous challenge before McCarthy went in late and was also booked not long after. The game became a bit scrappy for a period with United not quite having the same control they had done but the visitors had offered few opportunities at goal.
Just before half time, there was a flashpoint as a player from either side were sent off. A long ball was chased down from Clarke but as it ran down towards Davies, it seemed McDonald had taken offence to Clarke chasing the ball down. Initially it seemed the defender pushed Clarke, the striker reacted by trying to brush him off but did appear to raise his hand. In reaction McDonald seemed to aim a head towards Clarke. There was no initial reaction from the officials and the referee did not seem to see it. There was no flag from the assistant who was closer to it but the referee decided to have a word with him. He may have had help from the fourth official but after they conferred; he brandished a red card to both player. It may have seemed a bit harsh but by the letter of the law both players probably could not have too many complaints.
Fleck had a shot blocked and United then won a corner and a free kick as Hammill was booked but O’Connell headed wide from the free kick. United ended the half as they began it; firmly on top but the two red cards had certainly added uncertainty to proceedings as the half time whistle came.
At the break, it seemed Heckingbottom has seen enough of a rather limp first half performance and made a double change taking off Moncur and McCarthy for Ugbo and Pinnock. It seemed a more forward-thinking change as Barnsley effectively lined up with a 3-4-1-1 formation to begin the game. United kept the formation as they had with Billy Sharp left up front on his own supported by Duffy.
United began the half on top with Stevens and O’Connell firing over after good patient build up in both moves. Duffy then shot wide after a good move from United and then Potts had another rare effort from Barnsley as he flicked his header over. United came again as a lovely move saw the ball switched from Coutts to Duffy and onto Basham. His cross was measured but Sharp just could not quite get there and on the stretch poked wide at the far post.
Coutts drifted away from two players to feed Stevens whose cross came in but just evaded two United players as the home side looked to get the vital second goal.
Duffy had played really well but his efforts had taken their toll on him and he was replaced by the youngster Brooks. The substitute was soon into the action and drifted past Pinnock and nearly fed a chance for Sharp before he had another run before being robbed at the last moment.
Barnsley had not really had any attempts of note and Wright made a good interception before Hammill drifted inside but overplayed his pass. United continued to look the better side and were very close to another goal.
Stevens sent over a cross and Brooks got in front of his man and diverted it goalward but Davies saved with his legs; the ball squirmed across goal and agonisingly hit the base of the post before bouncing to safety. O’Connell then had a header tipped over when he maybe should have scored and then the same man had a header blocked.
Evans came on for the tiring Sharp with 15 minutes to go. United had been in complete control but it was inevitable Barnsley would have a late push and they did at least have a spell of possession.
Thiam came on for Bradshaw as Barnsley looked for a spark to get back into a game they had been second best for long periods. Potts shot well wide and then Hammill was also way off target before they finally had an effort on goal as Ugbo’s shot on the turn was saved easily by Blackman. Brooks helped see the ball into the corner as the game entered an additional four minutes but in this time the United defence headed and cleared the ball away and never looked that threatened. The final whistle came to signal another 1-0 win for the Blades at the Lane and signalled a respectable start to the return to the Championship.
United – We played really well today. It was the most complete performance we have had albeit against the poorest side we have played. We won 1-0 but in truth it should have been 3 or 4-0. It was the inverse of the Cardiff game where United were lucky not to be on the end of a hiding. Today though Barnsley barely had a shot on goal and Blackman made maybe one token save and watched a few other shots go well wide. United were in complete control and only poor finishing stopped it being more convincing. We began the game really well, Sharp should have scored and then did score. We had other chances and then there was the red card. After this I felt we looked like the side with a man advantage even though it was 10 v 10. We had numerous other chances with Sharp, O’Connell and Brooks all so close to getting the second. We had more of the ball and generally looked the much better side. The only concern was it was only 1-0 and that of course gave Barnsley a chance but despite us going a bit deeper that we would have wanted, we never looked like conceding.
Defensively we looked better other than a few moments where we looked a bit susceptible when they attacked on the break and we had committed men forward. A few times Hammill looked dangerous running at us but they never had any real clear chances. At the other end a bit more poise, better final ball and more ruthlessness and it would have been out of sight. I felt we played some nice stuff with Sharp, Clarke, Duffy, Stevens, Coutts and Duffy all heavily involved first half and then after Clarke went off I felt Freeman, Fleck and then latterly Brooks caused problems. We knocked it about well and as I say just a bit more clinical play and it would have been a more deserved win.
Player wise some mixed bags still; Blackman was untroubled despite a few nervy moments and his handling and general play was fine. I felt Wright and O’Connell did well but Basham and Freeman were a bit slow at times defensively. Stevens had a really good game. Fleck had some poor moment and some bad giveaways but then also did some good things. Coutts had a few moments of poor play but for the most part he was excellent. Duffy did well and always looked a threat. Not everything came off but he always got into pockets and caused problems. He tired but was much more of a threat than Carruthers from an attacking sense. I felt Clarke did well and was a real handful until his moment of madness where he got involved in something he shouldn’t have. Sharp missed two but scored one and was always on the shoulders and buzzing around. The subs saw Brooks look a threat showing his close control and running and nearly scored. Evans sadly looked sluggish and leaden footed.
Important to get another win after the two defeats away from home. We are mid table which is a decent start. Derby will be much harder next week but we go into it with confidence. We know we can get chances and get through teams but have to be more clinical. Expect Evans to get a start in the week against Leicester before next week. I still feel we are three players short, a big dominating centre half, a big dirty so and so in midfield and a quick striker. I am not sure any of the players that have played with Sharp so far have really pressed their claim. We need some pace up that end. The midfield pairing have found it harder this season against better players but today came out on top.
I do hope we can add to the squad and get those 2-3 we need to improve the actual staring eleven. One of my main arguments on the recruitment side in the summer was only maybe Stearman and Stevens actually improved the starting side. I also feel we are missing a trick by not looking outside the UK and do not seem to have any kind of European or International scouting infrastructure. That is something we have to improve as just using a purely UK (tried and trusted) type approach can be a bit insular and costly. A Lenihan, Leonard type player could arguably be recruited and a lot cheaper from outside the UK. That is one area I feel we need to improve on. Still I hope we will get those extra players, UK or otherwise, to give us that lift as we move into September.
Barnsley – They really were poor. I expected much better. They had a good win in the week and that took the pressure off. However today they were never in it really. United came out firing and scored in the first half and the home side could have been out of sight. It was one-way traffic and they did not have much of the ball, let alone create any chances of note. They had a spell of play around the half hour mark but again no real efforts.
After the break, they regressed again and the two red cards seemed to give United more time and space on the ball if anything. We came at them again and again. The keeper, the post and some fortunate let offs saw them remain in the game. They always had a chance at 1-0 I suppose but I cannot recall many real chances. They changed tactics, personnel and formation but it did not matter a jot as United won rather comfortably in the end. They lacked any real attacking creativity and they never had a concerted spell where they had the ball let alone exert any pressure on United. If the game had finished 3 or 4 they could not have really complained.
In reality, the manager Heckingbottom has done a superb job. To finish mid-way last year, on a vastly reduced budget to most at this level and losing so many key players, was a superb achievement. They have sold player after player and had a talented squad ravaged time after time. They have to keep rebuilding and this summer had to bring in more lower league players. They have to keep rebuilding and whilst they still have some decent players and will keep plucking out gems, I feel they may be looking over their shoulder this year. Today they lacked a real goal threat and the other way but for Davies could have been well beaten. They looked quite slow and lacked real creativity or drive in the key areas. They also lack experience and a relatively young side. The talk of Chinese investment swirled around pre-game and they do need some monetary injection to avoid this constant player turnover. Without it, I expect them to be in a relegation battle.
Opposition Man of the Match: Not sure there was anyone that particularly impressed. The strikers did not really look threatening but had little service all game. The defence looked stretched all game. The lad who looked most likely was probably Hammill; he got on the ball and at least tried to attack the defence. His final product lacked. In truth, the best player was DAVIES, the keeper. He made three outstanding saves that stopped it being more than 1-0. The one from Sharp was a stunner and not quite sure how he kept out the Brooks shot.
Opposition Weak link: Could be any one of 7 or 8 really. They never got going and even the changes they made did not make a difference. I felt that the defence always looked like they may concede chances and they struggled to cope with movement and creativity early on. McCarthy was struggling with power and movement of front two and went off but McDONALD was stupid in what he did. Albeit Clarke went off also but he raised his arms also and then aimed a head butt. Stupidity when his team were already losing and no need whatsoever to get involved.
