Bristol City vs Sheffield United

V.
Championship Week 43 - Monday 18th April 2022 - 17:30 - Ashton Gate
Please keep all discussion related to the match within this thread.​

Matchday Stats/Player Ratings - https://www.s24su.com/forum/match-day/match/bristol-city-vs-sheffield-united.594/

Officials:

Referee: Keith Stroud
Assistant Referee: Ian Cooper
Assistant Referee: Matthew Jones
Fourth Official: Paul Howard

Coverage:

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Need a VPN? - https://www.s24su.com/forum/threads/vpn-usage.87094/

Live TV Coverage:




SUTV Live - https://live.sufc.co.uk/

 

[Alex Cheeseright]

This is going to be unpopular but tough....the players don't want to go up to the Premier League. The desire the team showed three years ago is not there. Sorry to those that still see the positives and I'm negative.

 

[Nagima]

The positives of being on the ball more due to dominating possession were completely squandered by the lack of urgency of players to get into the box. Basham did well except for the mistake that made their goal. Our midfielders need to gamble and make those runs into the box rather than saunter around the place.

 

[DeanLearner'sCat]

Some pretty daft overreactions here. We did fine, especially considering our lack of forward options, and should've won. The only problems they caused were down to us being suicidally open at the back. I realise we were trying to win the game, but at any level if you're leaving yourselves 2 on 2 repeatedly, you've asking for trouble.

 

[1973Blade]

I really wish Brewster hadn't got his injury. He was just coming good and he would have got us the goals to get in the playoffs.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

Good performance considering no strikers. Injuries really have kicked us in the bollocks.

The young Danish lad looks to have far more about him than Jebbison for me. Wonder if that was a injury or Hecky agreeing

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

We make very hard work of it,and try/do gift goals to the opposition.

 

[themaninblack]

I seem to be out of step with most of you. I wasn’t there, only watched it on the telly, but I thought it was a good game and the lads played well. Pity we didn’t have a finisher on the pitch but we got a point away from home after being behind; we deserved 3 points but at least we didn’t lose.

 

[SUFCinks]

We played some nice football at times but as the game carried on our play slowed down and got more predictable. I think overall it was a decent performance and we created a lot more than recent games which is good to see but whilst we crafted some beautiful chances we may have been guilty of overworking at times. I would take this performance over watching the old crap where we smashed aimless long balls into the channels for anyone within 30m to chase.

 

[CPB]

Goodness how frustrating.

Felt we were much the better side but in terms of chances maybe just shading it as we let them have some good chances too.

With a Billy in that squad we win.

Don't think N'Diaye off was the right choice at times he him and MGW linked up so well. N'Diaye I think showed us what we've missed from him over the past few months.

If sharp is fit soon I'd be tempted to play MGW just behind N'Diaye and Sharp.

 

[Working Class Hero]

Some pretty daft overreactions here. We did fine, especially considering our lack of forward options, and should've won. The only problems they caused were down to us being suicidally open at the back. I realise we were trying to win the game, but at any level if you're leaving yourselves 2 on 2 repeatedly, you've asking for trouble.

Played well and got a point away from home, which is normally perfectly fine and not worthy of the reaction. But there is a feeling of desperation at the moment. We're struggling for wins and have a massive injury list, so need to capitalise in these games or everyone senses that it's years in the wilderness. It really could be that important.

 

[FallowfieldBlade]

Baldock and stevens yet again…get them out of this club

I thought stevens was excellent

 

[Blacksea]

Continually caught out at the back 2v 2 or 3 v 3 in the second half after they run through our midfield like a knife through butter,mistakes galore and the usual give away free kicks.

 

[Mumbo]

So he’s picked a half fit Basham his words btw for urimovic who has been fantastic

And he’s picked JLT for B Davies who is a far far better footballer

Hecky doesn’t know his best line up does he lets be honest

We've played well this half with a prolific striker or two in the side we're up by more than enough in that half.

Some good 1 touch passing, getting in to positions well and Bristol barely look a threat but clearly infront of goal we have no one that can put away those chances. Ndiaye and MGW should each have a goal, they seemed to kind of snatch at the attempt and wasn't so composed - perhaps something they'll gain with experience. Even Enda nearly had one there just before the break.

Everything feels positive but its almost like there's a barrier on their box that stops us in our tracks at times.

Good first half keep going, keep a level head and the goals should come.

Awful result against an utterly shite Bristol City side and another chance to gain on teams around us goes missing. One point from that and Reading is criminal. Someone tell me I’m wrong.

Wrong.
Good point still 6th.
Played well.
No striker.

 

[FallowfieldBlade]

Half decent performance but yet again Norwood can’t control a game when the pressure is on

As soon as we lost the ball it was straight through on goal

 

[Duffy21Blade]

It's a about opinions but I'm astounded anyone thinks this.

The same Norwood whose been caught in possession 10 times, miscontrolled half a dozen straightforward passes, given it to teammates under pressure more times than I care to count, and seems to have been taught how to cross by George Baldock?

I'm hoping I've been watching the wrong channel.

That's your view, I only saw one dangerous pass to Fleck at the end. Berge and Fleck didn't exactly have great performances either. I counted Fleck losing possession far more than Norwood today.

 

[Big Hitter]

Norwood looked like he was treading treacle trying to get back when they scored, Berge was lazy -no urgency to his play, gave ball away too many times, Well done Wes , Robbo, Gibbs-White ( never stopped trying ), Fleck getting slower and slower, Others - also rans.

 

[ReeceofBDTBL]

Bristol aren’t good at all but think we’re being a bit harsh on our team when we’ve lost all our strikers and we’re playing away from gone against a team playing counter attacking football.

 

[skyjam]

Could end up being a valuable point. The stress goes on.

Fuck me fred what tha drinking

 

[Big Hitter]

I seem to be out of step with most of you. I wasn’t there, only watched it on the telly, but I thought it was a good game and the lads played well. Pity we didn’t have a finisher on the pitch but we got a point away from home after being behind; we deserved 3 points but at least we didn’t lose.

Thats stating the obvious mate.

 

[Duffy21Blade]

We don't have an midfielder who can play as an anchor. Norwood has had to adapt his game in recent weeks to try and fill that role because nobody else has.

Fleck's not been the same player for over 2 years, Berge has been better going forwards (but wasn't great today), and Hourihane has largely been anonymous.

 

[Jan Age]

Baldock is a good RB but not a god RWB

Steven’s is a good LB but not a good LWB

Since we stopped overloading the CBS this has become obvious.

Norwood slows the game too much ….

Injuries are hitting hard now .. they young lads are 2/3 years away.

 

[JackSUFC]

Wrong.
Good point still 6th.
Played well.
No striker.

Two big points dropped against one of the worst teams in the division.
Second half performance was poor.
Fed up of no striker excuse. Missed two sitters in the first half and then created absolutely nothing after the equaliser.

 

[Ukkonen]

The young Danish lad looks to have far more about him than Jebbison for me.

Got into some good spaces, looked a little bit nervous but was good overall. Shame he didnt start, our play urgently needed a striker, maybe next time.

 

[TheCurseOfOnuora]

I thought Berge was one of the key issues today. So slow!

 

[Berkshire Blade]

Got into some good spaces, looked a little bit nervous but was good overall. Shame he didnt start, our play urgently needed a striker, maybe next time.

Not sure he's ready yet but I see potential in him for sure. Granted I didn't see anything much in DCL so maybe I am talking shit

 

[adamawdhali]

I thought Berge was one of the key issues today. So slow!

Why doesn’t he ever just put his head down and drive. No one can touch him when he’s on a run without fouling him but he rarely wants to do it

 

[robbiez666]

Our lack of a recognised striker beat us in the end. Could easily have been 2-up first half. We got caught a few times second half. Injuries and fatigue getting to us. We also need to be cuter. It's not good complaining about being outmuscled. Refs have been told to let that go a bit. Need to use it to our advantage. A point isn't the worse result at this stage.

Foderingham - 6 - Not a great deal to do. Dithered and almost got caught with the ball at his feet. Otherwise, ok.
Stevens - 6.5 - Involved a lot more tonight. Both going forward and defensively. It was his shot that caused the goal and got forward well first half. Seemed to tire as it went on but dealt with a high ball well.
Robinson - 7 - Good return. Put in some very good challenges. Got caught on the cross but he was our best defender.
Egan - 5.5 - I thought he was a bit iffy again. Seems to get caught out of position way too much. Struggled with their attackers.
Bash - 5 - Good to see him back. Got forward well first half but a daft booking and then a terrible error for their goal. I thought he looked indecisive in defence and pulled out of position.
Baldock - 5.5 - Another fairly poor game. Got forward well first half but final ball not good enough. Another pointlessly stupid booking and now out injured.
Fleck - 6.5 - Good solid game. Put a bit of energy into our attacks and snapped into tackles.
Norwood - 6 - Played some good balls but got caught dawdling on the ball and was wasteful as well.
Berge - 6 - Mixed. Looked good going forward but his final ball was often poor. Seems to get stuck with what to do and end up playing safe. Actually tracked back and made a challenge but it looked a bit slow motion.
MGW - 7 - Really lively first half and at the heart of everything good. Should have done better with the chance. I thought as the game went on he got more and more frustrated and drifted more and more to get the ball. Works much better with Ndiaye as they seem on the same wavelength. Once again he needs to sometimes just retain possession.
Ndiaye - 6 - Should have done better with his chance but linked up well first half. Lot of skill and ideas but need to play a bit more for the team. He seemed to fade out second half.

Subs:

Osula - 5.5 - Looked lively and got himself involved. Not quite on the same wavelength but seems to fit into the way we play more than Jebbison
Osborn - 5 - Struggled on his wrong foot and I thought attacks down that side were slowed down as he cut back on his left
Hourihane - Only had one touch

Hecky - 6 - Difficult one. He set us up to attack and attack we did. We were much the better team first half but they came back into it and it could easily have been 3-3 in the end. We're down to bare bones. I'm not sure how much you could fault him tonight. Bringing on Osula when Ndiaye was struggling was the right call. The other two substitutions were enforced.

Bristol City - They were terrible first half but got better. They were really dangerous on the counter, even with desperate dan Martin upfront. There was a lot of battling and they outmuscled us. They clearly have some dangerous players but I'm not surprised they're towards the bottom. They win the award for the worst keeper I've seen this season and also the worst keepers kit.

 

[skyjam]

I thought stevens was excellent

fuck off

 

[yorkshirecoast]

We played some good football, particularly first half, but we overdo the passing. We need players to run with the ball and get more shots in.

Terrible schoolboy error by Basham for their goal - he should have just headed the ball out but tried to be too clever.

 

[100% part time blade]

This is going to be unpopular but tough....the players don't want to go up to the Premier League. The desire the team showed three years ago is not there. Sorry to those that still see the positives and I'm negative.

I think there’s some truth in this. 3 years ago almost everyone in the side had never played in the premier league and desperately wanted to get there. Now? Most of them have had a couple of seasons in the Prem, had success, earned good money. Of course they want promotion, but I think psychologically the collective level of desire isn’t the same.
That said, I don’t think attitude was the main problem today. We created chances, had good passages of play, scored a good goal, controlled most of the game. Injuries are still the biggest issue. Look at the options from the bench: an 18 year old kid, and playing someone clearly out of position. Hecky should be turning around deciding between Didzy, Brewster, Sharp to replace Ndiaye - and doing a straight swap of Bogle for the injured Baldock. Those options would make a massive difference to the last 30 minutes of that game.