Deadbat
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- Aug 6, 2009
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Podcast reaction….
Report below…..
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The Blades made it back to back wins for the first time since coming back into the Premier League after they beat fellow promoted side Aston Villa 2-0 at Bramall Lane. After a quiet and lacklustre first half and maybe the poorest game at least seen since the start of the season, United came out a different side and really took the game to an unadventurous Villa side. Goals from John Fleck that were assisted superbly by two pieces of skill from Chris Basham and David McGoldrick put United well in charge, but there were chances at both ends in a much more entertaining 45 minutes than the first. Another VAR went against United as a penalty was given to Villa to give them a lifeline with 15 minutes left but the Villain (in more ways than one) of the opposition side, Jack Grealish smashed his kick against the bar. After this the Blades cantered to victory and celebrated moving up to 5th place, at least temporarily until tomorrow when others play.
The team was unchanged from the win at Norwich with just one change on the bench with Ben Osborn in for the unwell Callum Robinson. Villa were without England centre back Tyrone Mings and midfielder Connor Hourihane but boasted an array of expensive and international talent punctuated by arguably their best two players John McGinn and the enigmatic Jack Grealish.
The first half began in cagey fashion and United tried to move the ball about but it was clear Villa, like Newcastle in the last game at the Lane, were set up quite defensively with men behind the ball. United attacked down the left with Stevens and O’Connell advanced but Hause cleared twice from the crosses into the box. United won a corner that came to nothing before Norwood was cautioned for his third foul and the referee clearly signalling the card was due to accumulation of misdemeanours. Stevens cross was finally taken at the second attempt by Heaton. Good work by Mousset nearly led to an opening before McGinn advanced forward but overplayed his pass in a rare Villa break.
The main feature of the game was Grealish throwing himself theatrically to the deck looking for free kicks but it seemed to be an epidemic amongst Villa players as Guilbert went flying to the floor for a foul by Fleck. The yellow card came out meaning a suspension for the United midfielder. The same player than embarrassingly held his face after an innocuous challenge by Egan where the defender barely touched him.
A VAR check for a penalty after the ball struck the chest of Hause never looked convincing at all. Soon after the first effort towards goal saw Stevens half volley go well over the bar. The final stages of the half continued to be scrappy as United had most of the ball but were maybe too slow to move it and stretch Villa. The half time whistle came after another patient United move came to nothing in the final stages.
After the break, the Blades came out flying and noticeable were playing further up the field in terms of each department. Also, the midfield were now getting on the ball and winning all the loose stuff and in turn then driving the team forward with quicker, more incisive and thoughtful passing that led to a more penetrative approach.
McGoldrick nearly got on the end of a Norwood cross and then Baldock and Basham combined for a half chance that just evaded Mousset. However, the opening goal came on 50 minutes and it was delightful in it’s build up and finish. The ball came over to the right and Basham with his back to goal saw the run of Lundstram and cleverly backheeled into his path. The ooohs and ahhhs of the crowd had barely finished when Lundstram sent over an inviting cross that saw FLECK well advanced in the danger zone and his left foot finish gave Heaton no chance at the Kop end.
Villa tried to respond and had their first real meaningful attack of the game when the ineffective Wesley got in on the angle but his shot went into the side netting. Soon after they had a very good chance when El Ghazi sent over a dangerous cross and Grealish got above Baldock to nod narrowly wide. Villa finally had come to life after such a negative approach.
United were still going forward though and more lovely link play from McGoldrick saw Lundstram then burst forward, another player who upped his game after the break, and Baldock nearly got in. Indeed, the right-wing back was a key contributor in most attacks with his driving and purposeful runs.
McBurnie came on for Moussset and then Hause was booked for a high boot on McGoldrick and the free kick from Norwood saw McGoldrick head across goal and the ball was cleared away from Egan from Hause. Villa had another decent chance when the ball broke after a deflection and Grealish did well to fire across goal but O’Connell cleared away.
Targett then got booked for a really late lunge on Norwood to even up the booking count for both sides. On 73 minutes, the second goal came for United. Another decent piece of build up saw Basham drive forward and then Baldock involved. The ball deflected into the path of McGoldrick who hooked it over his head into the path of FLECK, as the midfielder saw himself well advanced and in on goal, and he buried it clinically with his right foot this time. Once again, the crowd rose to acclaim another great goal and a rare double for the Scottish midfielder.
Villa did have a golden chance to get back in the game on 76 minutes when Egan handled in the box. We had to wait for another VAR check that seemed to take an age once again. You sensed the number of appeals and how it looked in real time, that it might be overturned from the original non award and so it proved to the dismay of the home supporters. After the long delay, Grealish took the kick and hit it hard and down the middle but it crashed off the bar. The rebound was half cleared but Henderson took the subsequent incoming cross high in the night sky. After the next stoppage the home fans had another nervous wait for any encroachment or goalkeeper movement but nothing was given to huge cheers from most of the Lane!
Besic came on for Norwood as the game entered the final ten minutes but the miss had taken the wind out of any potential Villa comeback and United had a number of chances to add to the lead.
McBurnie featured in a number of moves with his hold up and clever link play and he sent two crosses just away from United’s incoming players. Baldock continued to show limitless energy down the right and continued to combine with Basham.
McGoldrick got away and was in in goal but his low shot was saved by Heaton at close range as it almost went through the keepers’ legs and in. Fleck then ran thought and was in on goal but as Villa got men back, he dithered and with McGoldrick to the right, chose the pass to the left and eventually the attack petered out. McGoldrick then was in again from Stevens break and cross but got his feet mixed up and it went wide – the flag may have gone up anyway if he had scored. The striker was replaced by Osborn soon after as the game entered five minutes of stoppage time. Lundstram’s clever flick to kill more time and MacBurnie with more industrious work helped see much of this additional time out before a late Villa corner came to nothing and the final whistle came soon after to huge roars from the 30,000+ crowd. The final home game before Xmas saw a vital three points in another great afternoon for United.
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United – Fantastic win and so important. Came out of the Lane thinking how proud I am of this manager, team and club yet again. It was huge to get back to back wins and against teams that we expect to be around us at the bottom (certainly at the start of the season!) and now puts a big gap between us and the bottom three. Before the Norwich game it was tight and still is but now it looks so much healthier. We are now looking more at the top end of the table than the bottom.
It was a game of two halves as first half we shaded it and had much more possession and attacks but did not quite do enough to create anything of note. We had some decent moves but other than a Stevens shot over cannot remember anything else for either side even remotely close. We moved it too slow and they got men behind the ball and were very defensive. We were a bit pedestrian and safe. Villa were awful and other than a few breaks (one where Fleck got booked) did not really attack much at all. They actually gave it away but we were too slow to break or attack. They would have been happy at the break but never looked like breaking us down or doing anything attacking wise but kept us to a few attacks and no chances.
After the break it was completely different. We upped everything. The tempo of our play, we loaded men forward, got them on those two or three v one/two situations and forced them right back. The wing backs got forward as did Basham and Lundstram and Fleck got on the ball. We started to find little pockets and chances then came. We got the goal through a great move with Bash’s delightful flick, Lunny’s ball and Fleck’s composed finish and then went for more but they did have a few chances on the break – two half chances and one really good one for Grealish with the header. This did not come from great play from them really or them suddenly forcing us back – the game as a bit end to end but that is how we play even when winning and sitting back does not work. We kept going for the second and got it with another lovely assist from Didz and finish from Fleck. McGoldrick missed a few more good chances but then the penalty came and flash backs to villa away probably went through everyone’s minds. The miss was huge and effectively sealed the win.
Interesting that United have not had a penalty scored against them since almost two years now – Matej Vydra for Derby on 1st January 2018. Opponents have missed three – Millwall last year, Reading the year before and then today. Mind you seem ages since we scored one – Norwood v Brentford last season!
After the penalty we saw things out well and if anyone looked like scoring again it was us. It was an excellent second half performance. People may point to the penalty and Villa having a few chances but we had lots of openings and opportunities and we were by far the better side on and off the ball. We swarmed all over them and had attack after attack at times. Dean Smith said we fully deserved to win and he was right. 2-0 was about a fair reflection – maybe 3-1 possibly on chances/play. The only thing missing was maybe a third for Fleck and the goal for McGoldrick that seems like it will never come no matter how well he plays! It was another bloody brilliant afternoon at the Lane where a team that has cost so much more than ours were once again taken to the cleaners by this hard working and so underrated (footballing wise) team. Hearing on Roys views from that on paper Villa have better players etc is more garbage and yet again it’s another team having an off day against us. I don’t actually get mad about it anymore and quite like still being a bit under the radar. However, most knowledgeable football people know how good we are and to hear Jermaine Jenas and Darren Fletcher (BT Sport commentator) say how great we are (side Jenas enjoys watching the most!) is music to our ears though!
United once again rose to the challenge and took the game to their opponents to get the win. We have a few challenges with rotating players and now Fleck is suspended but we have to go to Brighton with confidence. I am not even looking ahead to the two games at City and Liverpool – we have to focus on the next two which if we came out with 4-6 points could see us in a position where it would taken a monumental collapse to not be in the top flight again next season.
Report below…..
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The Blades made it back to back wins for the first time since coming back into the Premier League after they beat fellow promoted side Aston Villa 2-0 at Bramall Lane. After a quiet and lacklustre first half and maybe the poorest game at least seen since the start of the season, United came out a different side and really took the game to an unadventurous Villa side. Goals from John Fleck that were assisted superbly by two pieces of skill from Chris Basham and David McGoldrick put United well in charge, but there were chances at both ends in a much more entertaining 45 minutes than the first. Another VAR went against United as a penalty was given to Villa to give them a lifeline with 15 minutes left but the Villain (in more ways than one) of the opposition side, Jack Grealish smashed his kick against the bar. After this the Blades cantered to victory and celebrated moving up to 5th place, at least temporarily until tomorrow when others play.
The team was unchanged from the win at Norwich with just one change on the bench with Ben Osborn in for the unwell Callum Robinson. Villa were without England centre back Tyrone Mings and midfielder Connor Hourihane but boasted an array of expensive and international talent punctuated by arguably their best two players John McGinn and the enigmatic Jack Grealish.
The first half began in cagey fashion and United tried to move the ball about but it was clear Villa, like Newcastle in the last game at the Lane, were set up quite defensively with men behind the ball. United attacked down the left with Stevens and O’Connell advanced but Hause cleared twice from the crosses into the box. United won a corner that came to nothing before Norwood was cautioned for his third foul and the referee clearly signalling the card was due to accumulation of misdemeanours. Stevens cross was finally taken at the second attempt by Heaton. Good work by Mousset nearly led to an opening before McGinn advanced forward but overplayed his pass in a rare Villa break.
The main feature of the game was Grealish throwing himself theatrically to the deck looking for free kicks but it seemed to be an epidemic amongst Villa players as Guilbert went flying to the floor for a foul by Fleck. The yellow card came out meaning a suspension for the United midfielder. The same player than embarrassingly held his face after an innocuous challenge by Egan where the defender barely touched him.
A VAR check for a penalty after the ball struck the chest of Hause never looked convincing at all. Soon after the first effort towards goal saw Stevens half volley go well over the bar. The final stages of the half continued to be scrappy as United had most of the ball but were maybe too slow to move it and stretch Villa. The half time whistle came after another patient United move came to nothing in the final stages.
After the break, the Blades came out flying and noticeable were playing further up the field in terms of each department. Also, the midfield were now getting on the ball and winning all the loose stuff and in turn then driving the team forward with quicker, more incisive and thoughtful passing that led to a more penetrative approach.
McGoldrick nearly got on the end of a Norwood cross and then Baldock and Basham combined for a half chance that just evaded Mousset. However, the opening goal came on 50 minutes and it was delightful in it’s build up and finish. The ball came over to the right and Basham with his back to goal saw the run of Lundstram and cleverly backheeled into his path. The ooohs and ahhhs of the crowd had barely finished when Lundstram sent over an inviting cross that saw FLECK well advanced in the danger zone and his left foot finish gave Heaton no chance at the Kop end.
Villa tried to respond and had their first real meaningful attack of the game when the ineffective Wesley got in on the angle but his shot went into the side netting. Soon after they had a very good chance when El Ghazi sent over a dangerous cross and Grealish got above Baldock to nod narrowly wide. Villa finally had come to life after such a negative approach.
United were still going forward though and more lovely link play from McGoldrick saw Lundstram then burst forward, another player who upped his game after the break, and Baldock nearly got in. Indeed, the right-wing back was a key contributor in most attacks with his driving and purposeful runs.
McBurnie came on for Moussset and then Hause was booked for a high boot on McGoldrick and the free kick from Norwood saw McGoldrick head across goal and the ball was cleared away from Egan from Hause. Villa had another decent chance when the ball broke after a deflection and Grealish did well to fire across goal but O’Connell cleared away.
Targett then got booked for a really late lunge on Norwood to even up the booking count for both sides. On 73 minutes, the second goal came for United. Another decent piece of build up saw Basham drive forward and then Baldock involved. The ball deflected into the path of McGoldrick who hooked it over his head into the path of FLECK, as the midfielder saw himself well advanced and in on goal, and he buried it clinically with his right foot this time. Once again, the crowd rose to acclaim another great goal and a rare double for the Scottish midfielder.
Villa did have a golden chance to get back in the game on 76 minutes when Egan handled in the box. We had to wait for another VAR check that seemed to take an age once again. You sensed the number of appeals and how it looked in real time, that it might be overturned from the original non award and so it proved to the dismay of the home supporters. After the long delay, Grealish took the kick and hit it hard and down the middle but it crashed off the bar. The rebound was half cleared but Henderson took the subsequent incoming cross high in the night sky. After the next stoppage the home fans had another nervous wait for any encroachment or goalkeeper movement but nothing was given to huge cheers from most of the Lane!
Besic came on for Norwood as the game entered the final ten minutes but the miss had taken the wind out of any potential Villa comeback and United had a number of chances to add to the lead.
McBurnie featured in a number of moves with his hold up and clever link play and he sent two crosses just away from United’s incoming players. Baldock continued to show limitless energy down the right and continued to combine with Basham.
McGoldrick got away and was in in goal but his low shot was saved by Heaton at close range as it almost went through the keepers’ legs and in. Fleck then ran thought and was in on goal but as Villa got men back, he dithered and with McGoldrick to the right, chose the pass to the left and eventually the attack petered out. McGoldrick then was in again from Stevens break and cross but got his feet mixed up and it went wide – the flag may have gone up anyway if he had scored. The striker was replaced by Osborn soon after as the game entered five minutes of stoppage time. Lundstram’s clever flick to kill more time and MacBurnie with more industrious work helped see much of this additional time out before a late Villa corner came to nothing and the final whistle came soon after to huge roars from the 30,000+ crowd. The final home game before Xmas saw a vital three points in another great afternoon for United.
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United – Fantastic win and so important. Came out of the Lane thinking how proud I am of this manager, team and club yet again. It was huge to get back to back wins and against teams that we expect to be around us at the bottom (certainly at the start of the season!) and now puts a big gap between us and the bottom three. Before the Norwich game it was tight and still is but now it looks so much healthier. We are now looking more at the top end of the table than the bottom.
It was a game of two halves as first half we shaded it and had much more possession and attacks but did not quite do enough to create anything of note. We had some decent moves but other than a Stevens shot over cannot remember anything else for either side even remotely close. We moved it too slow and they got men behind the ball and were very defensive. We were a bit pedestrian and safe. Villa were awful and other than a few breaks (one where Fleck got booked) did not really attack much at all. They actually gave it away but we were too slow to break or attack. They would have been happy at the break but never looked like breaking us down or doing anything attacking wise but kept us to a few attacks and no chances.
After the break it was completely different. We upped everything. The tempo of our play, we loaded men forward, got them on those two or three v one/two situations and forced them right back. The wing backs got forward as did Basham and Lundstram and Fleck got on the ball. We started to find little pockets and chances then came. We got the goal through a great move with Bash’s delightful flick, Lunny’s ball and Fleck’s composed finish and then went for more but they did have a few chances on the break – two half chances and one really good one for Grealish with the header. This did not come from great play from them really or them suddenly forcing us back – the game as a bit end to end but that is how we play even when winning and sitting back does not work. We kept going for the second and got it with another lovely assist from Didz and finish from Fleck. McGoldrick missed a few more good chances but then the penalty came and flash backs to villa away probably went through everyone’s minds. The miss was huge and effectively sealed the win.
Interesting that United have not had a penalty scored against them since almost two years now – Matej Vydra for Derby on 1st January 2018. Opponents have missed three – Millwall last year, Reading the year before and then today. Mind you seem ages since we scored one – Norwood v Brentford last season!
After the penalty we saw things out well and if anyone looked like scoring again it was us. It was an excellent second half performance. People may point to the penalty and Villa having a few chances but we had lots of openings and opportunities and we were by far the better side on and off the ball. We swarmed all over them and had attack after attack at times. Dean Smith said we fully deserved to win and he was right. 2-0 was about a fair reflection – maybe 3-1 possibly on chances/play. The only thing missing was maybe a third for Fleck and the goal for McGoldrick that seems like it will never come no matter how well he plays! It was another bloody brilliant afternoon at the Lane where a team that has cost so much more than ours were once again taken to the cleaners by this hard working and so underrated (footballing wise) team. Hearing on Roys views from that on paper Villa have better players etc is more garbage and yet again it’s another team having an off day against us. I don’t actually get mad about it anymore and quite like still being a bit under the radar. However, most knowledgeable football people know how good we are and to hear Jermaine Jenas and Darren Fletcher (BT Sport commentator) say how great we are (side Jenas enjoys watching the most!) is music to our ears though!
United once again rose to the challenge and took the game to their opponents to get the win. We have a few challenges with rotating players and now Fleck is suspended but we have to go to Brighton with confidence. I am not even looking ahead to the two games at City and Liverpool – we have to focus on the next two which if we came out with 4-6 points could see us in a position where it would taken a monumental collapse to not be in the top flight again next season.
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