Deadbat
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The Blades got back to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at Bramall Lane. This coupled with Leeds shock defeat at home to Wigan means United now have things back in their own hands in the promotion race. United were still not at their best but improved from a drab first half to up the tempo and after a red card to Yohan Benalouane for a trip on David McGoldrick, they took the lead thanks to a great goal from Mark Duffy. United then did go for the second but did not get in and had a nervous spell for 20 minutes before a great breakaway saw the games two outstanding players combine. McGoldrick played in Stevens who slotted home superbly on the overlap to kill the game.
Wilder made the expected changes with Cranie and Stearman in for the injured Basham and suspended Egan. Baldock was back in for Freeman at right wing back. Madine got the nod over Hogan to partner McGoldrick. Martin O’Neill had made several changes in recent games with Forest’s season effectively over and he did that again leaving out several normal first teamers as he attempted to halt a terrible run of form.
The game began with United seeing most of the ball but in the early stages they were guilty of going a bit long and Madine was hit too much wit the aerial ball. Stevens was busy down the left but chances were limited with Norwood with a quick free kick the closest but an easy save for Pantilimon. Cash was hurling in a few long throws and Yacob had a wild effort for Forest who were largely content to sit back.
On 20 minutes Colback came inside but referee Madley felt he dived as he went to ground as Duffy was closest to him and booked the Forest man – this effectively ended his time at Forest as he now faces a three-match ban. United came out and Madine just missed Stevens driven cross. United then had a spell with a lot of the ball but did not hurt Forest. The best effort came from a ball across and McGoldrick headed back across and Madine could not quite head it back goalwards.
Forest had a rare chance when Duffy lost the ball and Murphy was in but with men getting back opted to shoot early and it was wide with Henderson probably having it covered. Byram then was booked for a foul as he tripped McGoldrick after Forest gave the ball away cheaply. United tried a clever one, playing it down the side of the wall but the cross just evaded a United player in the box and was cleared for a corner. Cranie then was booked after a mix up at the back but Forest did not cause any discomfort in the box. The half time whistle came after four minutes of stoppage time.
The second half saw United start immediately at a better tempo and Duffy was involved early on linking with Baldock and then McGoldrick as Forest were pushed back. Then a Fleck tackle after Pele fell over saw him feed McGoldrick who skipped away and went away from Benalouane who seemed to bring him down as the striker tried to hurdle him. The referee brandished a red card immediately feeling the cover would not have got round and he was the last man. Milosevic came on for Gomes but the opening goal came a minute later.
The ball came across from Norwood and after it was not cleared, it dropped for DUFFY who took a touch and then curled a delightful effort into the corner of the goal past the despairing dive of Pantilimon. The noise and relief was palpable around the ground as the vital breakthrough came.
United were pushed forward by Wilder after the regression following the opener last week and nearly got a second soon after. Colback was lucky not to get another yellow card following a poor foul but the pressure kept coming. More good play from Duffy who jinked past Colback and played it across and McGoldrick toed it goalwards but Pantilimon made a tremendous save to turn it behind. Baldock got in a few times but took too long to make his decision but his energy was causing problems for the side with ten men.
Duffy was now really running things although his effort that was tipped over was probably a cross and was turned behind. Norwood then drove wide from a decent position as United turned the screw. Grabban was on for Murphy and then Madine came off for Hogan just after the hour as both teams changed strikers. United started to become a bit scrappy and lost the ball a few times and started to sit back more. Baldock gave away a handball as he got tangled up in a defensive position but Cash’s effort went further away than went it started. Forest won a few corners and Henderson had to punch clear as the crowd started to look at the clock conscious of what happened the previous week. Lundstram came on for Cranie as United went to a flat back four for the final stages of the game. Appiah replaced Yacob.
Forest had not really threatened too much but it was a concern United were going back deeper and therefore such a relief with five minutes to go, the Blades made it save. Fleck had made some good tackles and interceptions and made another one to win the ball. McGoldrick advanced and at the perfect moment found the streaking STEVENS who had ran the entire half. The wing back hit a low shot right into the far corner giving the keeper no chance and another huge roar erupted around the
After the goal Duffy left to applause from all sides of the Lane as Dowell came on to replace him. Forest looked a side ready for full time and the four minutes of stoppage time United saw things out professionally and kept the ball well to ensure they got the three points.
United – It’s a win and a better performance if not perfect but the three points were all important. With three key men missing, it was just vital to get back to winning ways. Not great by any stretch of the imagination and at times we were still anxious and slow. We also sat back too deep for periods in the second half but we scored two goals, were more attacking and eventually played better football. I felt we were more like our normal self but not quite there…if that makes sense! First half it was a bit like last week – we were quite edgy and took too long to do things. We took too many touches and barely had an effort on goal. We were the better side against a poor Forest side but did not do enough to lead and even though we had a bit of a spell just before the break with a few half chances and then the free kick and a few corners etc. I felt we had to up it massively and too many players were just a bit off it (again). We needed several players to up it.
After the break I felt that happened and the players played higher up the field and the wing backs got further forward but Duffy started to really penetrate and dictate. The red card helped us massively though and meant Forest had one less man to pack the defence and stop us trying to work through. We scored a wonder goal and then we went for the 2nd and McGoldrick was close to getting it. I felt we kept going forward but then when Madine went off, it seemed to disrupt us a bit and we lost the momentum and we started clock watching a bit. We sat back and Forest had a few moments but cannot recall too many clear chances at all but they got a few corners and free kicks. You worried they might nick a chance and then when Grabban came on, I was fearful something may drop but it didn’t. The second goal came at a great time though and that killed it. After that Forest gave up completely.
I am not sure we were that great as I say. We certainly did some things better and at least we restricted the opponent to few openings but Forest are a poor side and are on the beach and have lost 5 straight. They did not really attack us much at all and not sure they had any belief they would get anything. The crowd for us were probably more worried than the crowd for Forest were hopeful! The players who came in did ok. I felt Duffy and Fleck improved after the break and we started to show some desire.
The Leeds result was huge. I sat watching it nervously and Massey was superb as was the lad James. Even Clarke and Evans did ok. They defended heroically but Leeds did start getting anxious. The crowd were starting to panic and all the daft scarf twirling stopped completely. They have a few tricky games but I feel Brentford will be tougher than Villa. Think Villa will beat Millwall and almost be there for the playoffs and then they may rest a few. Today though Leeds looked like us last week. We now have it back in our hands. The reality is if we got in the playoffs, we would have to win probably 2 and draw 1 or win all 3. That is now what the season boils down to against two mid table sides and a team relegated. We have to go for it. Hull will be much more of a threat and have been scoring goals freely with two talents in Bowen and Grosicki. We have to improve from today to win that game. We play before Leeds in both games and if we win then the pressure is really on them at Griffin Park as to lose that or fail to win that they would be 2 or 3 behind with 2 to play and us having a chance to go 5 or 6 clears before they play after us again. Monday to me is so big. If we win this; I think we can do it; a week after I felt we had blown it. It is a really incredible race with both teams not exactly looking convincing.
What a nervous few weeks it is going to be! I will be at Hull on Monday biting my nails and hope we can stick one against our former manager. Certainly, now though it seems it is going right to the wire.
Nottingham Forest – Thought they were abject. They defended deep and with numbers and just tried to stop us going through them. They sent us wide but our crosses were really poor to be honest and they will feel they actually had the best chance when Murphy got through and shot wide first half but Henderson did not have a significant save to make all game. We were all panicking but not sure they ever looked like scoring. That free kick that went further wide than where it started summed them up. The fans were sarcastically cheering when they put a few passes together.
Actually, first half they stayed in the game and defended well, covering and working hard but they did not do much when they had it. Lolley had a few good runs but they obviously have rotated the team round and are trying a few things. Nothing is really working as they keep losing. O’Neill (and Keane) have not really had an impact at all since they came in and they look further away from a playoff team now then when he went in – stats may show otherwise. After the red card and goal, they looked a bit of a mess but then they had a bit of a spell before we killed it. Overall though they were well beaten over the course of the game as we had more chances, shots on/off target, corners, possession and ultimately moments that count.
Not sure of their identity. They have a few loan players in and some international players that cost a fair bit admittedly not many played today) and then Grabban is a decent striker also and I was glad he did not play. They have a big summer to kind of change things around a bit. They seem to keep changing their manager but it is not working. They have spent a fair bit actually when you look at the outlay on the players but it has not really gelled. Today they looked a team just waiting for the season to finish and complete contract to Millwall last week. The fact United struggled was as much down to us as them I felt.
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Opponent man of the match – Lolley. Not even close. Plays right hand side but comes onto his left. Good runner, decent on the ball and links play. Got a few tricks and runs in from the wing. Very good player. He tried hard but ultimately had little help. In the end he got tired and lost Stevens on the goal. Not sure anyone else really stood out.
Weak link – Benalouane was a bit moronic to dive in and might have to take the award here. However, the lad Cash seemed to be like a special team taking the free kicks and long throws – either illegally as was the case with the latter. Also Pele in midfield was erm not like Pele. Colback was lucky to stay on the pitch and was out of depth in a full back position.
Wilder made the expected changes with Cranie and Stearman in for the injured Basham and suspended Egan. Baldock was back in for Freeman at right wing back. Madine got the nod over Hogan to partner McGoldrick. Martin O’Neill had made several changes in recent games with Forest’s season effectively over and he did that again leaving out several normal first teamers as he attempted to halt a terrible run of form.
The game began with United seeing most of the ball but in the early stages they were guilty of going a bit long and Madine was hit too much wit the aerial ball. Stevens was busy down the left but chances were limited with Norwood with a quick free kick the closest but an easy save for Pantilimon. Cash was hurling in a few long throws and Yacob had a wild effort for Forest who were largely content to sit back.
On 20 minutes Colback came inside but referee Madley felt he dived as he went to ground as Duffy was closest to him and booked the Forest man – this effectively ended his time at Forest as he now faces a three-match ban. United came out and Madine just missed Stevens driven cross. United then had a spell with a lot of the ball but did not hurt Forest. The best effort came from a ball across and McGoldrick headed back across and Madine could not quite head it back goalwards.
Forest had a rare chance when Duffy lost the ball and Murphy was in but with men getting back opted to shoot early and it was wide with Henderson probably having it covered. Byram then was booked for a foul as he tripped McGoldrick after Forest gave the ball away cheaply. United tried a clever one, playing it down the side of the wall but the cross just evaded a United player in the box and was cleared for a corner. Cranie then was booked after a mix up at the back but Forest did not cause any discomfort in the box. The half time whistle came after four minutes of stoppage time.
The second half saw United start immediately at a better tempo and Duffy was involved early on linking with Baldock and then McGoldrick as Forest were pushed back. Then a Fleck tackle after Pele fell over saw him feed McGoldrick who skipped away and went away from Benalouane who seemed to bring him down as the striker tried to hurdle him. The referee brandished a red card immediately feeling the cover would not have got round and he was the last man. Milosevic came on for Gomes but the opening goal came a minute later.
The ball came across from Norwood and after it was not cleared, it dropped for DUFFY who took a touch and then curled a delightful effort into the corner of the goal past the despairing dive of Pantilimon. The noise and relief was palpable around the ground as the vital breakthrough came.
United were pushed forward by Wilder after the regression following the opener last week and nearly got a second soon after. Colback was lucky not to get another yellow card following a poor foul but the pressure kept coming. More good play from Duffy who jinked past Colback and played it across and McGoldrick toed it goalwards but Pantilimon made a tremendous save to turn it behind. Baldock got in a few times but took too long to make his decision but his energy was causing problems for the side with ten men.
Duffy was now really running things although his effort that was tipped over was probably a cross and was turned behind. Norwood then drove wide from a decent position as United turned the screw. Grabban was on for Murphy and then Madine came off for Hogan just after the hour as both teams changed strikers. United started to become a bit scrappy and lost the ball a few times and started to sit back more. Baldock gave away a handball as he got tangled up in a defensive position but Cash’s effort went further away than went it started. Forest won a few corners and Henderson had to punch clear as the crowd started to look at the clock conscious of what happened the previous week. Lundstram came on for Cranie as United went to a flat back four for the final stages of the game. Appiah replaced Yacob.
Forest had not really threatened too much but it was a concern United were going back deeper and therefore such a relief with five minutes to go, the Blades made it save. Fleck had made some good tackles and interceptions and made another one to win the ball. McGoldrick advanced and at the perfect moment found the streaking STEVENS who had ran the entire half. The wing back hit a low shot right into the far corner giving the keeper no chance and another huge roar erupted around the
After the goal Duffy left to applause from all sides of the Lane as Dowell came on to replace him. Forest looked a side ready for full time and the four minutes of stoppage time United saw things out professionally and kept the ball well to ensure they got the three points.
United – It’s a win and a better performance if not perfect but the three points were all important. With three key men missing, it was just vital to get back to winning ways. Not great by any stretch of the imagination and at times we were still anxious and slow. We also sat back too deep for periods in the second half but we scored two goals, were more attacking and eventually played better football. I felt we were more like our normal self but not quite there…if that makes sense! First half it was a bit like last week – we were quite edgy and took too long to do things. We took too many touches and barely had an effort on goal. We were the better side against a poor Forest side but did not do enough to lead and even though we had a bit of a spell just before the break with a few half chances and then the free kick and a few corners etc. I felt we had to up it massively and too many players were just a bit off it (again). We needed several players to up it.
After the break I felt that happened and the players played higher up the field and the wing backs got further forward but Duffy started to really penetrate and dictate. The red card helped us massively though and meant Forest had one less man to pack the defence and stop us trying to work through. We scored a wonder goal and then we went for the 2nd and McGoldrick was close to getting it. I felt we kept going forward but then when Madine went off, it seemed to disrupt us a bit and we lost the momentum and we started clock watching a bit. We sat back and Forest had a few moments but cannot recall too many clear chances at all but they got a few corners and free kicks. You worried they might nick a chance and then when Grabban came on, I was fearful something may drop but it didn’t. The second goal came at a great time though and that killed it. After that Forest gave up completely.
I am not sure we were that great as I say. We certainly did some things better and at least we restricted the opponent to few openings but Forest are a poor side and are on the beach and have lost 5 straight. They did not really attack us much at all and not sure they had any belief they would get anything. The crowd for us were probably more worried than the crowd for Forest were hopeful! The players who came in did ok. I felt Duffy and Fleck improved after the break and we started to show some desire.
The Leeds result was huge. I sat watching it nervously and Massey was superb as was the lad James. Even Clarke and Evans did ok. They defended heroically but Leeds did start getting anxious. The crowd were starting to panic and all the daft scarf twirling stopped completely. They have a few tricky games but I feel Brentford will be tougher than Villa. Think Villa will beat Millwall and almost be there for the playoffs and then they may rest a few. Today though Leeds looked like us last week. We now have it back in our hands. The reality is if we got in the playoffs, we would have to win probably 2 and draw 1 or win all 3. That is now what the season boils down to against two mid table sides and a team relegated. We have to go for it. Hull will be much more of a threat and have been scoring goals freely with two talents in Bowen and Grosicki. We have to improve from today to win that game. We play before Leeds in both games and if we win then the pressure is really on them at Griffin Park as to lose that or fail to win that they would be 2 or 3 behind with 2 to play and us having a chance to go 5 or 6 clears before they play after us again. Monday to me is so big. If we win this; I think we can do it; a week after I felt we had blown it. It is a really incredible race with both teams not exactly looking convincing.
What a nervous few weeks it is going to be! I will be at Hull on Monday biting my nails and hope we can stick one against our former manager. Certainly, now though it seems it is going right to the wire.
Nottingham Forest – Thought they were abject. They defended deep and with numbers and just tried to stop us going through them. They sent us wide but our crosses were really poor to be honest and they will feel they actually had the best chance when Murphy got through and shot wide first half but Henderson did not have a significant save to make all game. We were all panicking but not sure they ever looked like scoring. That free kick that went further wide than where it started summed them up. The fans were sarcastically cheering when they put a few passes together.
Actually, first half they stayed in the game and defended well, covering and working hard but they did not do much when they had it. Lolley had a few good runs but they obviously have rotated the team round and are trying a few things. Nothing is really working as they keep losing. O’Neill (and Keane) have not really had an impact at all since they came in and they look further away from a playoff team now then when he went in – stats may show otherwise. After the red card and goal, they looked a bit of a mess but then they had a bit of a spell before we killed it. Overall though they were well beaten over the course of the game as we had more chances, shots on/off target, corners, possession and ultimately moments that count.
Not sure of their identity. They have a few loan players in and some international players that cost a fair bit admittedly not many played today) and then Grabban is a decent striker also and I was glad he did not play. They have a big summer to kind of change things around a bit. They seem to keep changing their manager but it is not working. They have spent a fair bit actually when you look at the outlay on the players but it has not really gelled. Today they looked a team just waiting for the season to finish and complete contract to Millwall last week. The fact United struggled was as much down to us as them I felt.
–
Opponent man of the match – Lolley. Not even close. Plays right hand side but comes onto his left. Good runner, decent on the ball and links play. Got a few tricks and runs in from the wing. Very good player. He tried hard but ultimately had little help. In the end he got tired and lost Stevens on the goal. Not sure anyone else really stood out.
Weak link – Benalouane was a bit moronic to dive in and might have to take the award here. However, the lad Cash seemed to be like a special team taking the free kicks and long throws – either illegally as was the case with the latter. Also Pele in midfield was erm not like Pele. Colback was lucky to stay on the pitch and was out of depth in a full back position.
