Deadbat
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The Blades go into the hat for the next round after they disposed of Millwall quite easily at the Den in the 3rd round of the Emirates FA Cup. Both teams did rotate some elements of their starting line-up but it was the visitors who showed their quality as they controlled the game from start to finish. Goals from Jebbison and Bogle gave them a two-goal cushion and the Lions never really threatened to come back. Shots wide of the post from Bradshaw and Voglsammer were as close as they got but never had an effort on target all game. In contrast United had several other opportunities outside of their goals with Bogle, Sharp and Stevens all denied from making it even more comfortable. It was a professional display from United and they were excellent value for the win.
United did make changes with Davies, Basham, Bogle, Robinson, McAtee and Jebbison in for the Blades. They did rest the likes of Foderingham, Baldock, Ahmedhodzic, Berge and Sharp. Millwall also rested a couple of key men with Cooper and Flemming on the bench but also featured some of their main men with the in-form Bradshaw starting up front.
The Blades began well with Ndiaye having an effort over the bar from range and then a good move saw it played across and Jebbison hit an effort deflected wide after Ndiaye’s lay off. From the corner Robinson stooped but could not direct his header and it drifted wide.
Ndiaye’s drag back drew the oooos and ahhhhs from the crowd as United had completely dominated the opening stages and were controlling the ball and tempo. The Blades sent over a ball from the left which was cleared and from the returning long throw, the ball dropped well for Doyle but his effort was a wild slice over the bar. United continued to move it around well but Millwall finally awoke from their slumber and sent the first ball into the Blades last third but Doyle read it well.
Ndiaye’s work rate and skills had been a feature and he was scythed down from McNamara, ironically after the Senegalese international’s first touch seemed to have took it away from him. The Millwall defender was booked for his clumsy challenge.
United were winning most of the loose stuff and Jebbison made an excellent tackle to see United breaking and after McAtee’s weaving run, it fell for Stevens but his cross was not close to a teammate but Millwall still had to clear for a corner. As the ball came over, Robinson tried a spectacular overhead kick but it did not sit. It evoked memories of the late Gianluca Vialli who sadly passed away this week, who had a penchant for these sorts of efforts.
It seemed like the Blades were the only side looking like scoring and so it proved when the opener came. McAtee and Doyle linked well after another Millwall giveaway and Doyle fed JEBBISON down the inside right channel and the striker advanced before coolly converting to give them a deserved lead.
Millwall had offered little and their response was only a free kick after a silly Stevens foul but Basham headed over after the flick on had caused some initial danger at the near post. The next spell did become more open with both teams having attacks taking advantage of more space on and off the ball. Millwall at least were now offering some kind of attacking thrust but had not had an effort of note.
The Blades made it 2-0 when Ndiaye’s combination of work rate and skill created it. He was able to back heel it away from Wallace and then left him for dead down the right side before running along the goal line. The cross was perfect for BOGLE who hit an effort that hit Saville and looped in past Bialkowski. It confirmed the domination and control United had enjoyed.
The game settled for a period with little action of note as Basham twice cleared and Egan then made an interception as Millwall tried to get back into a game they had never been in. Just before half time they created a chance, their first one, as the diagonal ball came in and United dithered before Bradshaw and Davies converged. Bradshaw seemed favourite to score but his effort went narrowly wide with Davies perhaps getting at touch with his feet, confirmed by the award of a corner. This came to nothing, as did the additional one minute of extra time and it had been a thoroughly professional performance so far as despite changes, the Blades were able to win most individual battles and collectively were the far superior side at the break.
Millwall made a change with Flemming on for leading scorer Bradshaw and he had an effort early on but his shot was well off target. Jebbison showed good skill at the other end to evade his man down the right as he and Ndiaye continued to cause problems. A good move saw McNamara sent over a dangerous low cross but Davies grasped the ball. Almost a replica of this move on the other side saw Bennett get a ball in but again the keepers handling was exemplary.
United had a spell of possession to regain control and won a corner which saw a clever routine as Doyle played in Ndiaye whose backheel returned it to the taker and he tried to whip in a shot that the keeper did well to push away. Jebbison then headed off target from the other side as he got in front of his man.
Millwall made a triple change as Cooper, Burey and Esse came on for Hutchinson, Bennett and Honeyman.
Ndiaye and Bogle linked well and it was played in for Ndiaye but his shot was blocked. Jebbision had certainly put himself about and he tussled with Cooper before the award went to the Millwall defender.
The rain was lashing across the Den and conditions were becoming quite difficult but United seemed to be untroubled. Jebbison and Ndiaye had done well but were replaced by fresh legs with Sharp and Berge coming on and the latter playing off front as United just wanted to finish the job.
Berge was involved straight away as he played in Sharp and his cross was not dealt with and Bogle had a chance to make it three but could not quite finish the chance as it was cleared. Bogle was then booked for a foul on Burey.
Millwall had not really looked like scoring with not an effort on goal all game but they did have a superb opportunity when Robinson and Egan failed to deal with a ball that ricocheted around and Voglsammer really should have scored. His effort was woeful and screwed badly wide.
United then had a chance themselves to make it safe as Stevens excellent ball put Sharp in and he rounded Bialkowski but failed to see Cooper get back and the sub cleared the effort off the line. Norwood smashed the corner over the bar before Evans came on for McNamara in the final home change. Stevens then got beat by Esse who was looking lively and Robinson was the next to stop him by illegal means.
The Blades had another fantastic chance when Berge powered down the right and his cross was dummied by McAtee but away from Sharp so Stevens came onto it and hit a powerful shot that was blocked but as it came back to him, he seemed to get bundled over from behind but the referee played on.
Stevens came off not long after for Baldock before as the weather continued to deteriorate, Bogle showed his quick feet but his cross evaded Sharp. Basham had been faultless but the treacherous conditions meant it got stuck under his foot and Burey got away from him but well placed his shot was pulled badly wide. The game ticked into stoppage time and Heckingbottom gave time on the grass for Coulibaly and Brooks as Doyle and McAtee departed. United saw time out easily and it was a comfortable passage into the next round as United had been worthy winners with Davies not having a save to make all game and in truth United could have won by more goals.
United did make changes with Davies, Basham, Bogle, Robinson, McAtee and Jebbison in for the Blades. They did rest the likes of Foderingham, Baldock, Ahmedhodzic, Berge and Sharp. Millwall also rested a couple of key men with Cooper and Flemming on the bench but also featured some of their main men with the in-form Bradshaw starting up front.
The Blades began well with Ndiaye having an effort over the bar from range and then a good move saw it played across and Jebbison hit an effort deflected wide after Ndiaye’s lay off. From the corner Robinson stooped but could not direct his header and it drifted wide.
Ndiaye’s drag back drew the oooos and ahhhhs from the crowd as United had completely dominated the opening stages and were controlling the ball and tempo. The Blades sent over a ball from the left which was cleared and from the returning long throw, the ball dropped well for Doyle but his effort was a wild slice over the bar. United continued to move it around well but Millwall finally awoke from their slumber and sent the first ball into the Blades last third but Doyle read it well.
Ndiaye’s work rate and skills had been a feature and he was scythed down from McNamara, ironically after the Senegalese international’s first touch seemed to have took it away from him. The Millwall defender was booked for his clumsy challenge.
United were winning most of the loose stuff and Jebbison made an excellent tackle to see United breaking and after McAtee’s weaving run, it fell for Stevens but his cross was not close to a teammate but Millwall still had to clear for a corner. As the ball came over, Robinson tried a spectacular overhead kick but it did not sit. It evoked memories of the late Gianluca Vialli who sadly passed away this week, who had a penchant for these sorts of efforts.
It seemed like the Blades were the only side looking like scoring and so it proved when the opener came. McAtee and Doyle linked well after another Millwall giveaway and Doyle fed JEBBISON down the inside right channel and the striker advanced before coolly converting to give them a deserved lead.
Millwall had offered little and their response was only a free kick after a silly Stevens foul but Basham headed over after the flick on had caused some initial danger at the near post. The next spell did become more open with both teams having attacks taking advantage of more space on and off the ball. Millwall at least were now offering some kind of attacking thrust but had not had an effort of note.
The Blades made it 2-0 when Ndiaye’s combination of work rate and skill created it. He was able to back heel it away from Wallace and then left him for dead down the right side before running along the goal line. The cross was perfect for BOGLE who hit an effort that hit Saville and looped in past Bialkowski. It confirmed the domination and control United had enjoyed.
The game settled for a period with little action of note as Basham twice cleared and Egan then made an interception as Millwall tried to get back into a game they had never been in. Just before half time they created a chance, their first one, as the diagonal ball came in and United dithered before Bradshaw and Davies converged. Bradshaw seemed favourite to score but his effort went narrowly wide with Davies perhaps getting at touch with his feet, confirmed by the award of a corner. This came to nothing, as did the additional one minute of extra time and it had been a thoroughly professional performance so far as despite changes, the Blades were able to win most individual battles and collectively were the far superior side at the break.
Millwall made a change with Flemming on for leading scorer Bradshaw and he had an effort early on but his shot was well off target. Jebbison showed good skill at the other end to evade his man down the right as he and Ndiaye continued to cause problems. A good move saw McNamara sent over a dangerous low cross but Davies grasped the ball. Almost a replica of this move on the other side saw Bennett get a ball in but again the keepers handling was exemplary.
United had a spell of possession to regain control and won a corner which saw a clever routine as Doyle played in Ndiaye whose backheel returned it to the taker and he tried to whip in a shot that the keeper did well to push away. Jebbison then headed off target from the other side as he got in front of his man.
Millwall made a triple change as Cooper, Burey and Esse came on for Hutchinson, Bennett and Honeyman.
Ndiaye and Bogle linked well and it was played in for Ndiaye but his shot was blocked. Jebbision had certainly put himself about and he tussled with Cooper before the award went to the Millwall defender.
The rain was lashing across the Den and conditions were becoming quite difficult but United seemed to be untroubled. Jebbison and Ndiaye had done well but were replaced by fresh legs with Sharp and Berge coming on and the latter playing off front as United just wanted to finish the job.
Berge was involved straight away as he played in Sharp and his cross was not dealt with and Bogle had a chance to make it three but could not quite finish the chance as it was cleared. Bogle was then booked for a foul on Burey.
Millwall had not really looked like scoring with not an effort on goal all game but they did have a superb opportunity when Robinson and Egan failed to deal with a ball that ricocheted around and Voglsammer really should have scored. His effort was woeful and screwed badly wide.
United then had a chance themselves to make it safe as Stevens excellent ball put Sharp in and he rounded Bialkowski but failed to see Cooper get back and the sub cleared the effort off the line. Norwood smashed the corner over the bar before Evans came on for McNamara in the final home change. Stevens then got beat by Esse who was looking lively and Robinson was the next to stop him by illegal means.
The Blades had another fantastic chance when Berge powered down the right and his cross was dummied by McAtee but away from Sharp so Stevens came onto it and hit a powerful shot that was blocked but as it came back to him, he seemed to get bundled over from behind but the referee played on.
Stevens came off not long after for Baldock before as the weather continued to deteriorate, Bogle showed his quick feet but his cross evaded Sharp. Basham had been faultless but the treacherous conditions meant it got stuck under his foot and Burey got away from him but well placed his shot was pulled badly wide. The game ticked into stoppage time and Heckingbottom gave time on the grass for Coulibaly and Brooks as Doyle and McAtee departed. United saw time out easily and it was a comfortable passage into the next round as United had been worthy winners with Davies not having a save to make all game and in truth United could have won by more goals.
