Deadbat
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The Blades moved up to third place in the Championship table after a comfortable 2-0 victory at the MKM Stadium against a poor, and still winless, Hull side. Goals from Gustavo Hamer and Sam McCallum, both from break outs from Hull corners, sealed the three points as United were full value for the win. City’s possession game saw them attempt to play out from the back but their overplaying put them in danger throughout the evening. Michael Cooper had a few routine saves with only a late header against the underside of the bar giving United their only real scare.
Chris Wilder named an unchanged starting eleven despite there being some fitness concerns of a few key men after international duty. Jesurun Rak Sayki kept his place despite the impressive early season form of Andre Brooks – who had missed the last game due to concussion protocols. Kieffer Moore and Anel Ahmedhodzic had contrasting international breaks mixed in with injuries, goals and controversy.
Hull, under new management, with Tim Walter coming in from Germany had a number of personnel changes with players such as Greaves, Carvalho, Seri, Estupinan, Philogene, Tufan and Sharp no longer at the MKM Stadium. Former Blade Regan Slater remained and was on the bench but it was a number of new signings that littered the starting line up with former Luton man Ryan Giles, ex Norwich midfielder Kamara and recently signed Coventry forward Kasey Palmer all starting.
The game began under the lights with United wearing their new cream and red shirt. In the first minute O’Hare tried to feed Hamer but overhit his pass. The first chance came when Rak Sayki cut inside but pulled his shot well wide. Arblaster gave the ball away and tried to recover his error but compounded it with a silly foul and early booking.
Hull were clearly intent on playing the ball out as manager Walter tried to implement his style on the Tigers but took a number of considerable risks in doing do. Twice Moore and Hamer nearly nicked the ball off a defender and the keeper.
The first attack of note for Hull came when they beat the press for the first time but Souttar got across to clear as the home side had numbers down the left. City continued to move it around patiently at the back and United were happy to wait for the error.
On 15 minutes the mistake did come but from a different source as Hull actually had a corner but as they played it back to Belloumi, the debutant took too long and O’Hare nicked it off his toes and broke. He slipped his pass down the side for the onrushing HAMER who came inside and drilled a clinical finish into the far corner. It was another moment of quality from United’s star man and the Blades led.
Hull tried to respond but Ahmedhodzic and Gilchrist mopped up before Hamer broke again down the left but Moore went far post and did not anticipate the cross. Gilchrist and Souttar both made mistakes for United with overhit and then short passes, that saw a corner conceded and then Cooper have to clear the second error.
United broke again and it was one ball over the top and Moore was in but like the previous game, he opted to chop back rather than drive in on goal and then tried to feed O’Hare but his cross was overhit in trying to find Moore in kind. A really good chance that went begging as Hull’s naïeve defending continued to cause issues.
Hamer was the second player in the book as he needlessly pulled Kamara back. The free kick was taken by Omur and his dipping effort was on target and Cooper has to push it over with his first save of the game. Hull won a series of corners but opted to play short ones in most instances continuing their passing theme. The tactics at the back continued to cause scares and Moore nearly got in again before a nice move involving Hamer and then Burrows saw the full back centre for Moore but the defender McLoughlin made the block.
Ball through from Moore found Rak Sakyi who tried a flicked finish but Giles got back to make the block. It was an open game for the next 5 minutes with gaps appearing all over the park and both sides having chances to create but poor play in the final third meant no clear chances resulted. Ahmedhodzic showed his class twice as he came out with the ball and then made another interception.
Kamara won a corner on one side; and Coyle on the other with enterprising runs and Souza appeared to be winded as the second one was being taken. City loanee Burns was carded for a dangerous tackle on Arblaster just before the half time whistle.
United will have been happy to lead but may feel they should have made more of other breaks but the final ball/decision had prevented any other clear chances. They will be happy with their defensive work as Hull had created very little despite enjoying lots of possession but often in their own third!
The second half saw Hull make two changes with Drameh and Millar for Giles and Kamara as they looked for impetus but the first chance came for Moore again. The big striker opted to go for goal from 40 yards with the keeper off his line but it was well wide with men over that were better options.
A ball over the top nearly found Bedia before Coyle’s untidy work saw him concede a corner at the other end. As the ball dropped Souza seized on it but his shot was well saved from Pandur. Cooper pouched a chipped cross before Hamer went down with a knock and had to be replaced. He departed along with O’Hare and Rak Sayki and on came Brewster, McCallum and Brooks. The former Norwich man was employed in a more advanced midfield position.
Cooper had to help over Belloumi cross as Hull tried to find a moment as United were lacking energy in the second half and Millar won a corner after a one two attempt. However, it was from this set play that United broke again to effectively all but seal the game on 66 minutes. Brewster helped it on and Moore was physically too strong to hold off Millar and feed Brooks whose clever flick set up McCALLUM who steered it superbly into the far corner. All three substitutions had been involved in the goal but again it was a superb finish.
Blades fan Slater came on Burns and Palmer replaced Belloumi. Hull did have a great opportunity on 72 minutes as Mehlem came onto the cross from Coyle and was inexplicable left unmarked but his header bounced off the bar, down and out. Millar put the rebound wide. It was Hull’s best chance of the game and one they should have converted.
Brooks was the next to go in the book for his tackle on Jones before a dangerous cross just evaded two Hull forwards as the home side tried to find the goal that would give them hope. Souza then broke well but his ball was intercepted and Hull won another corner. Gilchrist, had played well but tackle was really poor on Omur and the remonstrations from the home contingent was such that both manager Walter and sub Palmer were both carded.
Gilchrist had to go off with Seriki coming on but just before this Bedia could not quite divert a cross goalwards and put it wide. The game ticked into 5 minutes of additional time but it was the away side who came closest to the third goal as Seriki was well forward and it fell for Burrows but his shot was straight at Pandur. United saw the time out with Souza making two more late interceptions to deny Hull any sniff of a consolation.
The final whistle came with many home fans already departed into the Humberside night air. The Blades celebrated as a team but manager Wilder, with a nice touch, pushed Ahmedhodzic forward to take the acclaim as the Blades fans sang his name recognising his honesty over some of his off the field struggles.
United – A professional and solid win. I am not sure we were outstanding as Wilder said after the game. We scored two decent goals and had lots of other good breaks and pieces of play and with better composure and decisions could have scored more or created more. However, we did what he had to and Hull rarely got into our area or caused any real danger. They had a few long-range shots/crosses Cooper helped over but other than the header off the bar; they created little of anything really despite all the possession and corners they had (many of these they took short and lost- led to our goals). I did feel after a decent first half where we maybe could and should have been two up; we were a bit slow and passive, on and off the ball, after the break and I worried about another fade out in performance as they had a few moments where they got down the side and crosses came in. However, the subs actually gave us the energy and lift we needed and led to the second and killer goal.
After this Hull did have some moments and if the header goes in, who knows? The last 10 minutes or so we saw it out rather easily and they lost hope really. I think we were sloppy with the ball and at times too many crosses were allowed to come in and better teams may have got back into the game but we beat what we had to, in front of us. In the end, it was not a vintage performance but we mostly defended well and offered enough to suggest we always looked the more likely to score, throughout the game. The improvements of Souza and Ahmedhodzic this season were in evidence again and Hamer showed his class. We also saw the two full backs continue to improve and Souttar was rock solid again. The defensive side of the team in terms of shape, closing down space and preventing too many clear chances was excellent. Going forward, despite the talent, think we can be more ruthless and Moore needs to be better in his play if he wants to really ensure this system works and allows us to be more of a threat.
Overall, though it is another win and we have had a good start. Not sure we have played many (any?) side that will be in the top half by the end of the season and believe likes of Hull and Preston may be close to a relegation scrap but we can only beat what is in front of us. We now play two newly promoted sides in Derby/Pompey and hopefully there is a good chance to add a fair few points from these. Maybe we might even see a resolution in the takeover (one way or another) but it has gone on so long now, I will believe it when I see it!
Chris Wilder named an unchanged starting eleven despite there being some fitness concerns of a few key men after international duty. Jesurun Rak Sayki kept his place despite the impressive early season form of Andre Brooks – who had missed the last game due to concussion protocols. Kieffer Moore and Anel Ahmedhodzic had contrasting international breaks mixed in with injuries, goals and controversy.
Hull, under new management, with Tim Walter coming in from Germany had a number of personnel changes with players such as Greaves, Carvalho, Seri, Estupinan, Philogene, Tufan and Sharp no longer at the MKM Stadium. Former Blade Regan Slater remained and was on the bench but it was a number of new signings that littered the starting line up with former Luton man Ryan Giles, ex Norwich midfielder Kamara and recently signed Coventry forward Kasey Palmer all starting.
The game began under the lights with United wearing their new cream and red shirt. In the first minute O’Hare tried to feed Hamer but overhit his pass. The first chance came when Rak Sayki cut inside but pulled his shot well wide. Arblaster gave the ball away and tried to recover his error but compounded it with a silly foul and early booking.
Hull were clearly intent on playing the ball out as manager Walter tried to implement his style on the Tigers but took a number of considerable risks in doing do. Twice Moore and Hamer nearly nicked the ball off a defender and the keeper.
The first attack of note for Hull came when they beat the press for the first time but Souttar got across to clear as the home side had numbers down the left. City continued to move it around patiently at the back and United were happy to wait for the error.
On 15 minutes the mistake did come but from a different source as Hull actually had a corner but as they played it back to Belloumi, the debutant took too long and O’Hare nicked it off his toes and broke. He slipped his pass down the side for the onrushing HAMER who came inside and drilled a clinical finish into the far corner. It was another moment of quality from United’s star man and the Blades led.
Hull tried to respond but Ahmedhodzic and Gilchrist mopped up before Hamer broke again down the left but Moore went far post and did not anticipate the cross. Gilchrist and Souttar both made mistakes for United with overhit and then short passes, that saw a corner conceded and then Cooper have to clear the second error.
United broke again and it was one ball over the top and Moore was in but like the previous game, he opted to chop back rather than drive in on goal and then tried to feed O’Hare but his cross was overhit in trying to find Moore in kind. A really good chance that went begging as Hull’s naïeve defending continued to cause issues.
Hamer was the second player in the book as he needlessly pulled Kamara back. The free kick was taken by Omur and his dipping effort was on target and Cooper has to push it over with his first save of the game. Hull won a series of corners but opted to play short ones in most instances continuing their passing theme. The tactics at the back continued to cause scares and Moore nearly got in again before a nice move involving Hamer and then Burrows saw the full back centre for Moore but the defender McLoughlin made the block.
Ball through from Moore found Rak Sakyi who tried a flicked finish but Giles got back to make the block. It was an open game for the next 5 minutes with gaps appearing all over the park and both sides having chances to create but poor play in the final third meant no clear chances resulted. Ahmedhodzic showed his class twice as he came out with the ball and then made another interception.
Kamara won a corner on one side; and Coyle on the other with enterprising runs and Souza appeared to be winded as the second one was being taken. City loanee Burns was carded for a dangerous tackle on Arblaster just before the half time whistle.
United will have been happy to lead but may feel they should have made more of other breaks but the final ball/decision had prevented any other clear chances. They will be happy with their defensive work as Hull had created very little despite enjoying lots of possession but often in their own third!
The second half saw Hull make two changes with Drameh and Millar for Giles and Kamara as they looked for impetus but the first chance came for Moore again. The big striker opted to go for goal from 40 yards with the keeper off his line but it was well wide with men over that were better options.
A ball over the top nearly found Bedia before Coyle’s untidy work saw him concede a corner at the other end. As the ball dropped Souza seized on it but his shot was well saved from Pandur. Cooper pouched a chipped cross before Hamer went down with a knock and had to be replaced. He departed along with O’Hare and Rak Sayki and on came Brewster, McCallum and Brooks. The former Norwich man was employed in a more advanced midfield position.
Cooper had to help over Belloumi cross as Hull tried to find a moment as United were lacking energy in the second half and Millar won a corner after a one two attempt. However, it was from this set play that United broke again to effectively all but seal the game on 66 minutes. Brewster helped it on and Moore was physically too strong to hold off Millar and feed Brooks whose clever flick set up McCALLUM who steered it superbly into the far corner. All three substitutions had been involved in the goal but again it was a superb finish.
Blades fan Slater came on Burns and Palmer replaced Belloumi. Hull did have a great opportunity on 72 minutes as Mehlem came onto the cross from Coyle and was inexplicable left unmarked but his header bounced off the bar, down and out. Millar put the rebound wide. It was Hull’s best chance of the game and one they should have converted.
Brooks was the next to go in the book for his tackle on Jones before a dangerous cross just evaded two Hull forwards as the home side tried to find the goal that would give them hope. Souza then broke well but his ball was intercepted and Hull won another corner. Gilchrist, had played well but tackle was really poor on Omur and the remonstrations from the home contingent was such that both manager Walter and sub Palmer were both carded.
Gilchrist had to go off with Seriki coming on but just before this Bedia could not quite divert a cross goalwards and put it wide. The game ticked into 5 minutes of additional time but it was the away side who came closest to the third goal as Seriki was well forward and it fell for Burrows but his shot was straight at Pandur. United saw the time out with Souza making two more late interceptions to deny Hull any sniff of a consolation.
The final whistle came with many home fans already departed into the Humberside night air. The Blades celebrated as a team but manager Wilder, with a nice touch, pushed Ahmedhodzic forward to take the acclaim as the Blades fans sang his name recognising his honesty over some of his off the field struggles.
United – A professional and solid win. I am not sure we were outstanding as Wilder said after the game. We scored two decent goals and had lots of other good breaks and pieces of play and with better composure and decisions could have scored more or created more. However, we did what he had to and Hull rarely got into our area or caused any real danger. They had a few long-range shots/crosses Cooper helped over but other than the header off the bar; they created little of anything really despite all the possession and corners they had (many of these they took short and lost- led to our goals). I did feel after a decent first half where we maybe could and should have been two up; we were a bit slow and passive, on and off the ball, after the break and I worried about another fade out in performance as they had a few moments where they got down the side and crosses came in. However, the subs actually gave us the energy and lift we needed and led to the second and killer goal.
After this Hull did have some moments and if the header goes in, who knows? The last 10 minutes or so we saw it out rather easily and they lost hope really. I think we were sloppy with the ball and at times too many crosses were allowed to come in and better teams may have got back into the game but we beat what we had to, in front of us. In the end, it was not a vintage performance but we mostly defended well and offered enough to suggest we always looked the more likely to score, throughout the game. The improvements of Souza and Ahmedhodzic this season were in evidence again and Hamer showed his class. We also saw the two full backs continue to improve and Souttar was rock solid again. The defensive side of the team in terms of shape, closing down space and preventing too many clear chances was excellent. Going forward, despite the talent, think we can be more ruthless and Moore needs to be better in his play if he wants to really ensure this system works and allows us to be more of a threat.
Overall, though it is another win and we have had a good start. Not sure we have played many (any?) side that will be in the top half by the end of the season and believe likes of Hull and Preston may be close to a relegation scrap but we can only beat what is in front of us. We now play two newly promoted sides in Derby/Pompey and hopefully there is a good chance to add a fair few points from these. Maybe we might even see a resolution in the takeover (one way or another) but it has gone on so long now, I will believe it when I see it!
