Deadbat
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United moved back to the top of the table after an exciting 2-2 draw at a windy and rainy Hawthorns on Sunday afternoon in the final Championship fixture of the weekend. As with their previous game on the road, the Blades never really got going from the off and the Baggies were in the ascendancy from the start and deservedly led via a header from Torbjorn Heggem after poor marking. The visitors turned it around though with two quick fire goals from Callum O’Hare and Tyrese Campbell after excellent work from Harrison Burrows. The Blades lost Campbell to an injury just after he could have made it three and West Brom got level as a looping shot from Tom Fellows deflected into the net. After this it was frenetic and both teams could have won it although the Baggies ended the game in the ascendancy and in the end, the Blades will be pleased with a point.
There was just one change with Seriki in for the suspended Souttar and Gilchrist moving inside. United were without both normal starting centre backs. Former Blade loanee Mason Holgate did not make the starting line up as West Brom started with both leading scorer Maja and Grant in a side that had struggled recently for goals and points.
Johnson went past Seriki and Grant won a corner. Furlong met it but his effort was blocked by Peck in the first significant moment of the game as United’s defence got blocked off. The home side were certainly the most energetic of the two sides and Robinson had to be alert to deny Fellows after United were slow the ball in the middle of the field. The Blades were really sluggish, which was reminiscent of their last game on the road at Coventry and were seeing very little of the ball. The Baggies got down the left again and the ball bounced around before being cleared as no one could get the vital touch as Robinson again did well.
United continued to cough up the little of the ball they had as West Brom were swarming all over the visitors and Johnson had an effort straight at Cooper. United finally mounted an attack on the quarter hour mark but Campbell could not get on the ball through from Hamer. Stiles then was set away down the left and Seriki was a long way out of position and his cross shot was not far off Grant. Fellow cross looped up and Cooper poached it as the pressure continued to be one way. Cooper then had to help a deflected cross over as the home side continued to dominate. It was not a surprise when the opening goal came as HEGGEM cam across Souza and headed into the bottom corner. It had been one way traffic and United looked completely asleep in all aspects of the game.
West Brom continued to control things and Grant had a shot from range that Cooper saved as the Blades lethargic showing continued with half an hour played and the away side not creating a single opportunity or attack of note. They did win a corner as Seriki and Rak Sayki finally got up the other end of the field.
Rak Sayki then was booked for simulation after he exchanged passed and came together with Molumby but there was no contact and was the right decision. Hamer then was played in by Campbell but his shot was blocked as he tried to find a response as United finally offered something of note. The response did come when Burrows was played in down the left and his ball was not cleared and ricocheted for O’HARE who was on the spot to turn it home.
It was two in quick succession as a lovely team goal saw the Blades incredibly turn it around. Hamer was involved in the build up and played it wide left for the advancing Burrows and his cross was perfect for CAMPBELL to turn home and the Blades were in the lead after a performance where they had not been in the game.
Peck then curled over after more good work from Hamer down the left as United now were looking a completely different side after not being in the game. Robinson could not clear as Molumby smashed the ball over on the rebound. Hamer was booked for a late challenge by the dug out on Furlong as the game moved into two additional minutes. There was no real incidents as United went in with the lead after being second best much of the game, similar to the most recent away game at Coventry.
The second half saw Seriki win a corner and as it came back inside Rak Sayki headed across goal when maybe he could have gone for goal. At the other end Gilchrist was booked for a clear foul as he denied Fellows as he came towards the D. It was poor defending and gave West Brom a great opportunity from the dead ball.
Mowatt took it and hit the wall and Robinson was able to clear. Hamer’s lovely nutmeg saw him play in Campbell and his shot was pushed round by Palmer as the ball looked to nestled into the far corner. United had a decent spell with Rak Sakyi getting into good areas and he and Campbell nearly linked but the striker seemed to pull up. He had been feeling his hamstring and he had to depart with One having to come on to replace him.
West Brom were level after Peck failed to control the ball great work from Johnston saw him nutmeg Seriki and play in FELLOWS who drive inside and his shot hit Robinson and looped up and over into the corner as Cooper struggled to get back in vain. United had control of the game for the first time so would have been disappointed to concede.
The game was not end to end. Rak Sayki was pulled back and grabbed the ball but incredibly was not given the decision before Peck was then pulled back as the game threatened to boil over with a few testy challenges both ways. At one end West Brom nearly got in through Johnston after he went past Seriki but United cleared and Rak Sayki ran down the right but his shot lacked power. The winger then gave the ball away and West Brom won a free kick after Peck’s careless foul. The ball came in and it dropped to Grant’s shot head Maja. It was poor marking. Johnston then nearly got in again as West Brom continued to cause problems down the flanks. West Brom were not looking the more likely as the game entered the final 15 minutes.
Rak Sayki was taken off for Brewster but it was the home side continued to press. Twice Johnston had opportunities and had one shot blocked and another over before after Brewster finally seemed to tackle himself, the Baggies won a corner. Furlong headed wide from a corner but O’Hare gave United a breather as Heggem brought him down. Burrows wasted the free kick and lofted it straight to Palmer.
The game became end to end as West Brom broke but then United came after it was adjudged that Grant had not been fouled but Brewster’s shot as the Blades broke was straight at Palmer. West Brom then won a corner as Fellows cross was chipped in and turned around by Seriki. This was his last action as he was replaced by Shackleton. O’Hare also went off for Norrington Davies. Maja and Johnson was replaced by Cole and Swift as the game entered the final 5 minutes.
Brewster coughed up possession and Peck had to bring his man down as West Brom broke. Swift then played in Grant and he drove at Shackleton but his cross was away from everyone. The game entered stoppage time with four minutes to be played. Souza’s soft foul gave West Brom a free kick in the last minute but Racic fired a long way over as the ball dropped and this was the final opportunity of the game. In the end, the Blades had been behind, but then led but will take the draw that continues their unbeaten run. With reinforcements to come in Ahmedhodzic, Souttar and Moore then the Blades will hopefully be stronger in the coming weeks but face another tough game, on the road at Millwall where they will need to start the game better than this one and hope their undoubted quality can come through.
There was just one change with Seriki in for the suspended Souttar and Gilchrist moving inside. United were without both normal starting centre backs. Former Blade loanee Mason Holgate did not make the starting line up as West Brom started with both leading scorer Maja and Grant in a side that had struggled recently for goals and points.
Johnson went past Seriki and Grant won a corner. Furlong met it but his effort was blocked by Peck in the first significant moment of the game as United’s defence got blocked off. The home side were certainly the most energetic of the two sides and Robinson had to be alert to deny Fellows after United were slow the ball in the middle of the field. The Blades were really sluggish, which was reminiscent of their last game on the road at Coventry and were seeing very little of the ball. The Baggies got down the left again and the ball bounced around before being cleared as no one could get the vital touch as Robinson again did well.
United continued to cough up the little of the ball they had as West Brom were swarming all over the visitors and Johnson had an effort straight at Cooper. United finally mounted an attack on the quarter hour mark but Campbell could not get on the ball through from Hamer. Stiles then was set away down the left and Seriki was a long way out of position and his cross shot was not far off Grant. Fellow cross looped up and Cooper poached it as the pressure continued to be one way. Cooper then had to help a deflected cross over as the home side continued to dominate. It was not a surprise when the opening goal came as HEGGEM cam across Souza and headed into the bottom corner. It had been one way traffic and United looked completely asleep in all aspects of the game.
West Brom continued to control things and Grant had a shot from range that Cooper saved as the Blades lethargic showing continued with half an hour played and the away side not creating a single opportunity or attack of note. They did win a corner as Seriki and Rak Sayki finally got up the other end of the field.
Rak Sayki then was booked for simulation after he exchanged passed and came together with Molumby but there was no contact and was the right decision. Hamer then was played in by Campbell but his shot was blocked as he tried to find a response as United finally offered something of note. The response did come when Burrows was played in down the left and his ball was not cleared and ricocheted for O’HARE who was on the spot to turn it home.
It was two in quick succession as a lovely team goal saw the Blades incredibly turn it around. Hamer was involved in the build up and played it wide left for the advancing Burrows and his cross was perfect for CAMPBELL to turn home and the Blades were in the lead after a performance where they had not been in the game.
Peck then curled over after more good work from Hamer down the left as United now were looking a completely different side after not being in the game. Robinson could not clear as Molumby smashed the ball over on the rebound. Hamer was booked for a late challenge by the dug out on Furlong as the game moved into two additional minutes. There was no real incidents as United went in with the lead after being second best much of the game, similar to the most recent away game at Coventry.
The second half saw Seriki win a corner and as it came back inside Rak Sayki headed across goal when maybe he could have gone for goal. At the other end Gilchrist was booked for a clear foul as he denied Fellows as he came towards the D. It was poor defending and gave West Brom a great opportunity from the dead ball.
Mowatt took it and hit the wall and Robinson was able to clear. Hamer’s lovely nutmeg saw him play in Campbell and his shot was pushed round by Palmer as the ball looked to nestled into the far corner. United had a decent spell with Rak Sakyi getting into good areas and he and Campbell nearly linked but the striker seemed to pull up. He had been feeling his hamstring and he had to depart with One having to come on to replace him.
West Brom were level after Peck failed to control the ball great work from Johnston saw him nutmeg Seriki and play in FELLOWS who drive inside and his shot hit Robinson and looped up and over into the corner as Cooper struggled to get back in vain. United had control of the game for the first time so would have been disappointed to concede.
The game was not end to end. Rak Sayki was pulled back and grabbed the ball but incredibly was not given the decision before Peck was then pulled back as the game threatened to boil over with a few testy challenges both ways. At one end West Brom nearly got in through Johnston after he went past Seriki but United cleared and Rak Sayki ran down the right but his shot lacked power. The winger then gave the ball away and West Brom won a free kick after Peck’s careless foul. The ball came in and it dropped to Grant’s shot head Maja. It was poor marking. Johnston then nearly got in again as West Brom continued to cause problems down the flanks. West Brom were not looking the more likely as the game entered the final 15 minutes.
Rak Sayki was taken off for Brewster but it was the home side continued to press. Twice Johnston had opportunities and had one shot blocked and another over before after Brewster finally seemed to tackle himself, the Baggies won a corner. Furlong headed wide from a corner but O’Hare gave United a breather as Heggem brought him down. Burrows wasted the free kick and lofted it straight to Palmer.
The game became end to end as West Brom broke but then United came after it was adjudged that Grant had not been fouled but Brewster’s shot as the Blades broke was straight at Palmer. West Brom then won a corner as Fellows cross was chipped in and turned around by Seriki. This was his last action as he was replaced by Shackleton. O’Hare also went off for Norrington Davies. Maja and Johnson was replaced by Cole and Swift as the game entered the final 5 minutes.
Brewster coughed up possession and Peck had to bring his man down as West Brom broke. Swift then played in Grant and he drove at Shackleton but his cross was away from everyone. The game entered stoppage time with four minutes to be played. Souza’s soft foul gave West Brom a free kick in the last minute but Racic fired a long way over as the ball dropped and this was the final opportunity of the game. In the end, the Blades had been behind, but then led but will take the draw that continues their unbeaten run. With reinforcements to come in Ahmedhodzic, Souttar and Moore then the Blades will hopefully be stronger in the coming weeks but face another tough game, on the road at Millwall where they will need to start the game better than this one and hope their undoubted quality can come through.
