Deadbat
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It is back-to-back wins for Chris Wilder’s Blades after a come from behind victory at Ewood Park on Tuesday evening. After their victory over Watford on Saturday, United would have wanted to follow this up but the first half saw a largely passive performance where neither side showed much quality. Ohashi finished a move off just before the break and it was the home side that led but the Blades were able to respond after the break. Soumare forced an own goal for the leveller and then a triple change saw United able to find the quality to go on and win the game. Burrows expert finish after good work from Campbell and O’Hare put them into the lead and then at the death Brooks and Burrows combined to find Campbell for the clincher. It was hugely important for United to follow up the win at the weekend and they were able to show some resolve and fight, to turn the game around. The performance once again had concerns but to score three goals in one half is a big step up from what had gone before, albeit against a desperately poor opponent once again.
With three games in less than a week, Wilder opted to rotate his forward options with Cannon and Ings starting for Barry and Campbell. United were still without Tom Davies and Gus Hamer. Rovers made one change with De Neve in for only his second league start but their side much like United’s was much changed from their final games of the last campaign. Peck and Cooper were the only two United survivors from the playoff final against Sunderland. Whilst Blackburn only fielded three players that began the 1-1 draw at Bramall Lane- Toth, Tronstad and Ohashi. This probably shows why both sides have struggled to earn many points from their respective campaigns.
Rain had abated before the kick off and United started with Ings trying to barrel his way through but despite the lack of a challenge, he could only hook behind the far post. Ogbene’s cross drifted over. Blackburn had offered little in the early proceedings but Miller hurled a long throw in that McGuiness cleared and the home team won a corner soon after but Cooper caught Wharton’s header.
De Neve got down the left but his cross evaded Alebiosu before soon after Cooper took a ball dangerously close to the box. Peck made a good tackle to stop another attack as Rovers were now in the ascendancy. Henriksson then sliced over the bar after a cheap giveaway.
Blackburn then moved the ball around and were continuing to put dangerous crosses in. McCalughlin’s arrowed ball evaded everyone. Ogbene won a corner at the other end in United’s first attack for some time but soon after Soumare gave it away and Henriksson’s ball from the left was begging to be converted by Ohashi but he completely miskicked it.
A ball from the back nearly put Ohashi in as Mee was caught ball watching. The game was not seeing much goalmouth action as both teams were unable to keep the ball for any kind of prolonged time. Ogbene sent a ball over, as he continued to be the main United threat, but the ball was cleared before Soumare was penalised for a challenge.
Gudjohnsen had been a real threat for Rovers coming off the front line into pockets of space and was close to finding an opportunity before United finally were able to create something. Ings and Ogbene made it with neat interplay and fed O’Hare but his shot was saved at close range from Toth. From the corner, Tanganga went even closer to scoring as he did well to hook the ball towards the top corner but Toth reached up to turn the ball away.
Despite these two moments, Blackburn broke twice and should have made more of it. De Neve was completely clear but with two men over, he made a real mess of the ball and it was straight at Cooper. Rovers had another break soon after but United managed to hold it up temporarily but were not so fortunate on the next attack.
Gudjohnsen once again was the architect as he did well down the right and put over a delightful cross that found an unmarked De Nere. The winger scuffed his shot but it fell for OHASHI who also was left completely on his own and he finished past Cooper. It was a poor goal to concede with two crosses coming in from either side and no pressure on the ball or marking.
After this United could not muster a response at all and there continued to be big gaps between the midfield and attack meaning it was hard for Ings and Cannon to get involved. The latter’s contribution once again had been disappointing but Rovers crosses and balls in had been superior to United in a tight game.
Blackburn won an early corner and were more aggressive in the tackles early on. A ball across evaded Ohashi as Rovers began the second half on the offensive. However, out of nowhere the Blades were level. It came from a corner. McCallum’s sent the ball over and Tanganga headed the ball across. Soumare put HENRIKSSON under pressure and he could only divert it past his own keeper. The Senegalese midfielder wheeled away in delight and United were back in it.
Soumare then had another effort but sliced over before Ogbene had a go but his shot lacked power as United now looked to take the game over. Cannon made a decent run and was found by O’Hare but the striker’s shot lacked power. As the game transferred to the other end, Peck saw the ball out but Garnder Hickman knocked him into the advertising boards and then became involved in a tussle. The United players quickly came onto the scene and a melee ensued. After the players were separated both Gardner Hickman and Peck were booked; although Peck seemed unfortunate to see yellow!
On the hour mark, Campbell, Brooks and Burrows came on for Ings, Cannon and McCallum. Henriksson turned and hit a shot but it was well off target. Rovers made their own changes with Hedges and Morishita on for Gudjohnsen and Henriksson. However, it was the Blades that got the all important second goal in the 70th minute. Campbell did well to hold the ball up and was being dragged down but the ball dropped for O’Hare as the referee played advantage. O’Hare’s ball was weighted perfectly for BURROWS who came onto the ball and drilled it into the corner past the despairing dive of Toth.
Soumare came on for Riedewald and got a standing ovation from the away end for his efforts before Ohashi was replaced by Kargbo and Montgomery took the place of Gardner Hickman for Rovers.
The next 5 minutes saw the game became quite scrappy which probably suited United as the home side were struggling to fashion any kind of response. Gueye came on for McLaughlin as Blackburn tried to go even more direct. Tanganga gave away a cheap free kick and from the ball coming back from the right, Kargbo pulled an effort wide acrobatically.
There was 6 minutes of stoppage time that began with Morishita flashed an effort wide of Cooper’s near post. Shackleton replaced O’Hare as United tried to manage the game but they did even better than that in the 92nd minute – Campbell did well to hold it up initially before Brooks chipped a delightful ball down the line finding Burrows. The cross from the substitute was perfect for the waiting CAMPBELL who opened his body up to expertly glance the finish home.
Rovers race was done now and many of the fans were heading for the exits as the home side were heading for another home game without a victory – they have gone all season without a win at Ewood Park. The final whistle was punctuated with boos from the home fans that remained, whilst in contrast United’s players and management celebrated their second win in a week and finally were out of the relegation places.
United – Big win and a confidence building comeback where we saw some players who have not started the season well, find some form. There were lots of positives in the second half and credit to the team for finding a way back and then going on to win it. I must confess I was not happy at all at the break. We were behind but it really annoyed me that such a poor Rovers side were finding gaps and better composure/crosses and they may have had a few goals. We did not really do much attacking wise at all until the O’Hare shot and the Tanganga hooked effort. Outside of those two efforts, in quick succession, we barely laid a glove on them and did not seem to have a clue how to create. I thought Cannon was completely static but not sure that Ings was much better but both were not given much service either. I just felt we looked disjointed, did not seem to know how to move up the field and struggled to know how to create anything in open play. We just were relying on corners to maybe hope for a knock down/or header to drop. The other way we seemed to struggle to pick up men and they had a lot of openings down the sides. The goal came when we failed to stop a cross (two crosses) and that has been a feature even under Wilder (Hull/Southampton/Charlton goals) and it’s an easy unmarked finish.
The goal came out of nothing really as not sure we were pressing – they had started better in the second half but Tanganga won the header well and Soumare put his defender under pressure and we were level. The changes then saw us up it even more and Campbell and Burrows – two much maligned players for their performances so far this season – finally stepped up. Campbell was excellent at times in terms of holding it up and running behind. O’Hare also had an excellent second half and his play led to the second with a lovely ball and Burrows took it cooly. Blackburn did not really threaten and seemed to run out of steam and even before the third, we managed it pretty comfortably and not sure Cooper had a single save to make second half. The third was a superb goal with Brooks and Burrows playing two perfect balls and Campbell finishing in a fashion that we saw last season on many occasions. It felt good to win away, score three goals and fight back in a game where we looked fairly abject first half.
Blackburn, like Watford, were a poor side and think they will struggle this season and could go down – they have been completely mismanaged off the pitch. However, we still had to beat them and after being so off the pace first half, credit to the players for turning it round. I can assume they had a bit of a stern talking to at half time and did respond.
After such a miserable season and so many defeats, I am delighted to win two in a week. It was a great result and builds on Saturday. I am not getting carried away. I am not sure we were brilliant and it took way too long for us to get going and Blackburn were in the ascendancy long before they scored The formation did not work with Ings behind Cannon and O’Hare on the left. It seemed to give us little chance of scoring but I would say we were slow to the ball and when we had it were sloppy. Also defensively, we made mistakes and did not mark or stop crosses but the second half was much better and saw us do many things offensively that we have not seen all season – creating things, scoring goals and looking far more fluent. We seemed to get amongst them more and Peck/Soumare were pressing more and O’Hare was able to get into those areas where he could be dangerous (more central) playing off Campbell who gave us an outlet we had not had previously before. There is still a lot of work to be done but the return to form of a couple of key men was really encouraging. Preston, despite their defeat tonight will be more of a challenge as have more threats up top (Smith, Jebbison etc) and Hecky will want to get one over his old boss but we have to try and keep this mini run going. Talk of playoffs is crazy. We need to just slowly move up the league and keep chipping away but at least we have seen some signs of life this week.
With three games in less than a week, Wilder opted to rotate his forward options with Cannon and Ings starting for Barry and Campbell. United were still without Tom Davies and Gus Hamer. Rovers made one change with De Neve in for only his second league start but their side much like United’s was much changed from their final games of the last campaign. Peck and Cooper were the only two United survivors from the playoff final against Sunderland. Whilst Blackburn only fielded three players that began the 1-1 draw at Bramall Lane- Toth, Tronstad and Ohashi. This probably shows why both sides have struggled to earn many points from their respective campaigns.
Rain had abated before the kick off and United started with Ings trying to barrel his way through but despite the lack of a challenge, he could only hook behind the far post. Ogbene’s cross drifted over. Blackburn had offered little in the early proceedings but Miller hurled a long throw in that McGuiness cleared and the home team won a corner soon after but Cooper caught Wharton’s header.
De Neve got down the left but his cross evaded Alebiosu before soon after Cooper took a ball dangerously close to the box. Peck made a good tackle to stop another attack as Rovers were now in the ascendancy. Henriksson then sliced over the bar after a cheap giveaway.
Blackburn then moved the ball around and were continuing to put dangerous crosses in. McCalughlin’s arrowed ball evaded everyone. Ogbene won a corner at the other end in United’s first attack for some time but soon after Soumare gave it away and Henriksson’s ball from the left was begging to be converted by Ohashi but he completely miskicked it.
A ball from the back nearly put Ohashi in as Mee was caught ball watching. The game was not seeing much goalmouth action as both teams were unable to keep the ball for any kind of prolonged time. Ogbene sent a ball over, as he continued to be the main United threat, but the ball was cleared before Soumare was penalised for a challenge.
Gudjohnsen had been a real threat for Rovers coming off the front line into pockets of space and was close to finding an opportunity before United finally were able to create something. Ings and Ogbene made it with neat interplay and fed O’Hare but his shot was saved at close range from Toth. From the corner, Tanganga went even closer to scoring as he did well to hook the ball towards the top corner but Toth reached up to turn the ball away.
Despite these two moments, Blackburn broke twice and should have made more of it. De Neve was completely clear but with two men over, he made a real mess of the ball and it was straight at Cooper. Rovers had another break soon after but United managed to hold it up temporarily but were not so fortunate on the next attack.
Gudjohnsen once again was the architect as he did well down the right and put over a delightful cross that found an unmarked De Nere. The winger scuffed his shot but it fell for OHASHI who also was left completely on his own and he finished past Cooper. It was a poor goal to concede with two crosses coming in from either side and no pressure on the ball or marking.
After this United could not muster a response at all and there continued to be big gaps between the midfield and attack meaning it was hard for Ings and Cannon to get involved. The latter’s contribution once again had been disappointing but Rovers crosses and balls in had been superior to United in a tight game.
Blackburn won an early corner and were more aggressive in the tackles early on. A ball across evaded Ohashi as Rovers began the second half on the offensive. However, out of nowhere the Blades were level. It came from a corner. McCallum’s sent the ball over and Tanganga headed the ball across. Soumare put HENRIKSSON under pressure and he could only divert it past his own keeper. The Senegalese midfielder wheeled away in delight and United were back in it.
Soumare then had another effort but sliced over before Ogbene had a go but his shot lacked power as United now looked to take the game over. Cannon made a decent run and was found by O’Hare but the striker’s shot lacked power. As the game transferred to the other end, Peck saw the ball out but Garnder Hickman knocked him into the advertising boards and then became involved in a tussle. The United players quickly came onto the scene and a melee ensued. After the players were separated both Gardner Hickman and Peck were booked; although Peck seemed unfortunate to see yellow!
On the hour mark, Campbell, Brooks and Burrows came on for Ings, Cannon and McCallum. Henriksson turned and hit a shot but it was well off target. Rovers made their own changes with Hedges and Morishita on for Gudjohnsen and Henriksson. However, it was the Blades that got the all important second goal in the 70th minute. Campbell did well to hold the ball up and was being dragged down but the ball dropped for O’Hare as the referee played advantage. O’Hare’s ball was weighted perfectly for BURROWS who came onto the ball and drilled it into the corner past the despairing dive of Toth.
Soumare came on for Riedewald and got a standing ovation from the away end for his efforts before Ohashi was replaced by Kargbo and Montgomery took the place of Gardner Hickman for Rovers.
The next 5 minutes saw the game became quite scrappy which probably suited United as the home side were struggling to fashion any kind of response. Gueye came on for McLaughlin as Blackburn tried to go even more direct. Tanganga gave away a cheap free kick and from the ball coming back from the right, Kargbo pulled an effort wide acrobatically.
There was 6 minutes of stoppage time that began with Morishita flashed an effort wide of Cooper’s near post. Shackleton replaced O’Hare as United tried to manage the game but they did even better than that in the 92nd minute – Campbell did well to hold it up initially before Brooks chipped a delightful ball down the line finding Burrows. The cross from the substitute was perfect for the waiting CAMPBELL who opened his body up to expertly glance the finish home.
Rovers race was done now and many of the fans were heading for the exits as the home side were heading for another home game without a victory – they have gone all season without a win at Ewood Park. The final whistle was punctuated with boos from the home fans that remained, whilst in contrast United’s players and management celebrated their second win in a week and finally were out of the relegation places.
United – Big win and a confidence building comeback where we saw some players who have not started the season well, find some form. There were lots of positives in the second half and credit to the team for finding a way back and then going on to win it. I must confess I was not happy at all at the break. We were behind but it really annoyed me that such a poor Rovers side were finding gaps and better composure/crosses and they may have had a few goals. We did not really do much attacking wise at all until the O’Hare shot and the Tanganga hooked effort. Outside of those two efforts, in quick succession, we barely laid a glove on them and did not seem to have a clue how to create. I thought Cannon was completely static but not sure that Ings was much better but both were not given much service either. I just felt we looked disjointed, did not seem to know how to move up the field and struggled to know how to create anything in open play. We just were relying on corners to maybe hope for a knock down/or header to drop. The other way we seemed to struggle to pick up men and they had a lot of openings down the sides. The goal came when we failed to stop a cross (two crosses) and that has been a feature even under Wilder (Hull/Southampton/Charlton goals) and it’s an easy unmarked finish.
The goal came out of nothing really as not sure we were pressing – they had started better in the second half but Tanganga won the header well and Soumare put his defender under pressure and we were level. The changes then saw us up it even more and Campbell and Burrows – two much maligned players for their performances so far this season – finally stepped up. Campbell was excellent at times in terms of holding it up and running behind. O’Hare also had an excellent second half and his play led to the second with a lovely ball and Burrows took it cooly. Blackburn did not really threaten and seemed to run out of steam and even before the third, we managed it pretty comfortably and not sure Cooper had a single save to make second half. The third was a superb goal with Brooks and Burrows playing two perfect balls and Campbell finishing in a fashion that we saw last season on many occasions. It felt good to win away, score three goals and fight back in a game where we looked fairly abject first half.
Blackburn, like Watford, were a poor side and think they will struggle this season and could go down – they have been completely mismanaged off the pitch. However, we still had to beat them and after being so off the pace first half, credit to the players for turning it round. I can assume they had a bit of a stern talking to at half time and did respond.
After such a miserable season and so many defeats, I am delighted to win two in a week. It was a great result and builds on Saturday. I am not getting carried away. I am not sure we were brilliant and it took way too long for us to get going and Blackburn were in the ascendancy long before they scored The formation did not work with Ings behind Cannon and O’Hare on the left. It seemed to give us little chance of scoring but I would say we were slow to the ball and when we had it were sloppy. Also defensively, we made mistakes and did not mark or stop crosses but the second half was much better and saw us do many things offensively that we have not seen all season – creating things, scoring goals and looking far more fluent. We seemed to get amongst them more and Peck/Soumare were pressing more and O’Hare was able to get into those areas where he could be dangerous (more central) playing off Campbell who gave us an outlet we had not had previously before. There is still a lot of work to be done but the return to form of a couple of key men was really encouraging. Preston, despite their defeat tonight will be more of a challenge as have more threats up top (Smith, Jebbison etc) and Hecky will want to get one over his old boss but we have to try and keep this mini run going. Talk of playoffs is crazy. We need to just slowly move up the league and keep chipping away but at least we have seen some signs of life this week.
