Deadbat
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The Blades failed to make it five victories on the bounce and had to settle for a point against lowly Norwich at Bramall Lane. A game lacking in quality throughout saw both teams routinely give possession away and the Canaries did have spells in the game where they created opportunities. Danny Ings missed two great opportunities to score before he did finally net after good work from Seriki and Chong. However, despite not looking under any pressure, poor defending from Tanganga and Soumare saw the Blades concede a leveller. After this both sides could have won it and in the end the final chance went the way of the visitors but Forson missed a one on one after he had the freedom of Bramall Lane, with Michael Cooper making the late save to preserve a point. The final stages of the game saw United look ragged and the number of changes meant it was always going to be difficult to find the same level of consistency and cohesion that they have in previous games.
Wilder had been forced into a wholesale reshuffle. There were 8 changes with a combination of illness, injury and rotation with 3 games inside a week yet again. There was no place in the match day squad for McGuiness, Peck, Riedewald and McCallum. There was a completely new midfield with Chong, Arblaster, Soumare and O'Hare; new front two with Cannon and Ings starting. Bindon also started. There were places on the bench for Matos, Zatterstrom, Curtis and One; joining Hamer, Brooks, Campbell and Bamford. Norwich also had injuries and suspensions at the back and were forced into shuffling their own pack but the dangerous Josh Sargent started up front. Former Blade Anis Slimane was on the bench for the Canaries.
The game began with United starting brightly and Seriki’s good work down the right saw the ball pulled back for Cannon but it was blocked by a defender. At the other end Wright had an effort not far wide and Norwich then started to have a spell in the game as the issues that plagued United to start the season in midfield saw them played through on more than one occasion. After Seriki failed to clear, the ball came across from the byline and Schwartau was denied by Cooper and then Ings on the line did well to clear the overhead kick from Sargent. United continued to lack the crispness of previous games, not surprising considering the number of changes, but Chong was looking lively down the right-hand side.
Medic was booked for bringing down Seriki and Burrows free kick was tipped over before Seriki was cautioned for bringing his man down after losing possession. However, when he was upended again in a more advanced position, somehow referee Smith decided to keep his card away this time. The inconsistency of the referee had frustrated much of the home crowd for a number of odd decisions.
United should have taken the lead when Burrows corner was missed completely by the keeper but Ings somehow headed over with the goal at his mercy. Just before half time Ings then volleyed horrible off target after more good work from Chong down the right. Sargent picked up a knock and had to come off – with Forson coming on – it seemed like he was concussed meaning Norwich could use an additional substitute if required.
The second half saw McLean replaced by Marcondes with another injury blow for the beleaguered Canaries. United came out of the traps quickly and Burrows sent a great low cross over that just evaded Cannon and Chong at the back post. Seriki was brought down by Springett leading to another yellow card. Burrows sent over another dangerous ball, from the dead ball but Ings diverted header went wide. It was another great opportunity for the former England man. However, it was not long after when he finally got his first United goal. Seriki’s ball down the line was inch perfect for Chong and the winger skilfully found space as he beat his man before sending over an inch perfect cross and INGS could not miss this one from only a few yards!
Arblaster came off just before the hour, as did Chong, who had seemingly picked up a knock – with Hamer and Brooks coming on. Mundle Smith and Chrisene replaced Springett and Schwartau for the visitors. On 65 minutes out of nowhere, Norwich – who had created little in the 2nd half – were level. Hamer had tried a flick as United attacked but City broke and as the ball came over and Tanganga made a hash of clearing the ball. Makama pounced and sent it goalwards and SOUMARE (OG) could only bundle it into his own net. It was a messy goal to concede but gave the visitors new life.
United were now struggling to find any momentum and two careless passes from the hapless Soumare summed up his night. However, Burrows seemed to be pulled down near the Kop as he looked to go past his man but Smith waved it away. Matos and Bamford replaced O’Hare and Cannon – with Hamer moving down the left-hand side. The game now was incredibly scrappy. Brooks looked threat down the right and got past his man twice before winning a corner and having another cross blocked. However, City were looking as likely as the ball came over and United struggled to smuggle it clear. Slimane came on for Wright – returning to Bramall Lane and then Jurasek was introduced for Makama with less than 10 minutes to go -the 6th sub for City!
Hamer had a powerful shot turned round by Kovacevic and Bamford headed over as the Blades tried to find a late winner. The game ticked into 6 minutes of stoppage time and United were doing more of the attacking now but Campbell hooked over and Soumare was then cautioned for a cynical pull back. The Blades looked to return it into the box, Seriki slipped and Forson was suddenly in the clear but with a lot of time to think about it, he rather scuffed his shot and Cooper turned it round the post to deny City a winner.
United – It’s hard to be too critical really. The performance was a messy one but with 8 changes and so many key men out injured/ill/rotated around – it was always going to be hard for us to replicate the excellent form of the winning run. We had the heart of our midfield taken out and changed our whole front 6. We also were missing Mee and McGuinness. So, it was a patched-up team and those that come in on the whole showed why they have not been playing really. I felt Chong did ok but overall too many were off their game and it was really scrappy. We never had control of the game against a poor Norwich side. Still for all the concerns over lack of retention of the ball and our openness in midfield and indeed across the field, we still had enough chances to win the game really. Ings missed 2 or 3 really good one and we had a few other good moments where we made the wrong choice. Still, they also had one off the line and Cooper made a few good saves and then a brilliant one to deny them the best chance of the whole second half right at the end. In the end, a point was about right.
Despite the patched-up team – it seemed we may do enough and after the break had 2 or 3 good chances even before the goal. We seemed like we had upped it and put the pressure on and they started to wilt. I felt the leveller came out of nothing really and until they scored, not sure they really threatened up the goal. It was such an avoidable goal – Tanganga has to clear before and then Soumare makes an absolute mess of it. We also had the ball at the other end and Hamer tries a daft flick.
After this it was became a bit of a mess really and they had more of the ball. We ended up with Soumare and Matos in midfield and they were abysmal with poor touches, not closing them down and not protecting the defence. I was disappointed Hamer did not get on the ball and Campbell barely touched it. Until we had a late few moments – mostly through positivity of Brooks, I thought we became ragged and disjointed and the last chance for them summed up the way we played for much of the night – it was all a bit s**t or bust and Seriki’s error should have ended up with them winning the game.
In the end, a draw was a relief weirdly when we are playing a team 2nd bottom but that is how the game kind of went. We easily could have lost it – but we could have won it too for long spells. Our XH was much higher than them but they had more possession and Cooper made more saves. So, a draw was the right result. Neither team really did enough or showed enough quality to win a poor game.
It does show that there are a number who are not at the level of those that they replaced – however some of the senior players, Ings, O’Hare, Burrows, Tanganga and those that came on (Hamer/Campbell) did not really do enough either. I felt that our shape was a bit of a mess and that it was too big of an ask for Arblaster to come in – when Soumare was so bad too. Hopefully we can get a few back – but sounds like Peck may be out for a few weeks whilst the others were a sick bug. The midfield worries me as those that came in looked way out of their depth (Arblaster still coming back of course so not really aimed at him) and we did not get much out of Ings and Cannon – even though Ings scored. Just one of those games – with so many changes – you take he point and move on. As I say, hope a few are back for Friday but today has shown we do need reinforcements and a number will be moved out as they are not up to the level we need. Positives were the return of Arblaster, Chong and Brooks. West Brom are struggling so hopefully we can start well and keep the unbeaten run going but we now have 3 of next 4 away so might be a bit trickier- with the fitness issues also over a number of players.
Wilder had been forced into a wholesale reshuffle. There were 8 changes with a combination of illness, injury and rotation with 3 games inside a week yet again. There was no place in the match day squad for McGuiness, Peck, Riedewald and McCallum. There was a completely new midfield with Chong, Arblaster, Soumare and O'Hare; new front two with Cannon and Ings starting. Bindon also started. There were places on the bench for Matos, Zatterstrom, Curtis and One; joining Hamer, Brooks, Campbell and Bamford. Norwich also had injuries and suspensions at the back and were forced into shuffling their own pack but the dangerous Josh Sargent started up front. Former Blade Anis Slimane was on the bench for the Canaries.
The game began with United starting brightly and Seriki’s good work down the right saw the ball pulled back for Cannon but it was blocked by a defender. At the other end Wright had an effort not far wide and Norwich then started to have a spell in the game as the issues that plagued United to start the season in midfield saw them played through on more than one occasion. After Seriki failed to clear, the ball came across from the byline and Schwartau was denied by Cooper and then Ings on the line did well to clear the overhead kick from Sargent. United continued to lack the crispness of previous games, not surprising considering the number of changes, but Chong was looking lively down the right-hand side.
Medic was booked for bringing down Seriki and Burrows free kick was tipped over before Seriki was cautioned for bringing his man down after losing possession. However, when he was upended again in a more advanced position, somehow referee Smith decided to keep his card away this time. The inconsistency of the referee had frustrated much of the home crowd for a number of odd decisions.
United should have taken the lead when Burrows corner was missed completely by the keeper but Ings somehow headed over with the goal at his mercy. Just before half time Ings then volleyed horrible off target after more good work from Chong down the right. Sargent picked up a knock and had to come off – with Forson coming on – it seemed like he was concussed meaning Norwich could use an additional substitute if required.
The second half saw McLean replaced by Marcondes with another injury blow for the beleaguered Canaries. United came out of the traps quickly and Burrows sent a great low cross over that just evaded Cannon and Chong at the back post. Seriki was brought down by Springett leading to another yellow card. Burrows sent over another dangerous ball, from the dead ball but Ings diverted header went wide. It was another great opportunity for the former England man. However, it was not long after when he finally got his first United goal. Seriki’s ball down the line was inch perfect for Chong and the winger skilfully found space as he beat his man before sending over an inch perfect cross and INGS could not miss this one from only a few yards!
Arblaster came off just before the hour, as did Chong, who had seemingly picked up a knock – with Hamer and Brooks coming on. Mundle Smith and Chrisene replaced Springett and Schwartau for the visitors. On 65 minutes out of nowhere, Norwich – who had created little in the 2nd half – were level. Hamer had tried a flick as United attacked but City broke and as the ball came over and Tanganga made a hash of clearing the ball. Makama pounced and sent it goalwards and SOUMARE (OG) could only bundle it into his own net. It was a messy goal to concede but gave the visitors new life.
United were now struggling to find any momentum and two careless passes from the hapless Soumare summed up his night. However, Burrows seemed to be pulled down near the Kop as he looked to go past his man but Smith waved it away. Matos and Bamford replaced O’Hare and Cannon – with Hamer moving down the left-hand side. The game now was incredibly scrappy. Brooks looked threat down the right and got past his man twice before winning a corner and having another cross blocked. However, City were looking as likely as the ball came over and United struggled to smuggle it clear. Slimane came on for Wright – returning to Bramall Lane and then Jurasek was introduced for Makama with less than 10 minutes to go -the 6th sub for City!
Hamer had a powerful shot turned round by Kovacevic and Bamford headed over as the Blades tried to find a late winner. The game ticked into 6 minutes of stoppage time and United were doing more of the attacking now but Campbell hooked over and Soumare was then cautioned for a cynical pull back. The Blades looked to return it into the box, Seriki slipped and Forson was suddenly in the clear but with a lot of time to think about it, he rather scuffed his shot and Cooper turned it round the post to deny City a winner.
United – It’s hard to be too critical really. The performance was a messy one but with 8 changes and so many key men out injured/ill/rotated around – it was always going to be hard for us to replicate the excellent form of the winning run. We had the heart of our midfield taken out and changed our whole front 6. We also were missing Mee and McGuinness. So, it was a patched-up team and those that come in on the whole showed why they have not been playing really. I felt Chong did ok but overall too many were off their game and it was really scrappy. We never had control of the game against a poor Norwich side. Still for all the concerns over lack of retention of the ball and our openness in midfield and indeed across the field, we still had enough chances to win the game really. Ings missed 2 or 3 really good one and we had a few other good moments where we made the wrong choice. Still, they also had one off the line and Cooper made a few good saves and then a brilliant one to deny them the best chance of the whole second half right at the end. In the end, a point was about right.
Despite the patched-up team – it seemed we may do enough and after the break had 2 or 3 good chances even before the goal. We seemed like we had upped it and put the pressure on and they started to wilt. I felt the leveller came out of nothing really and until they scored, not sure they really threatened up the goal. It was such an avoidable goal – Tanganga has to clear before and then Soumare makes an absolute mess of it. We also had the ball at the other end and Hamer tries a daft flick.
After this it was became a bit of a mess really and they had more of the ball. We ended up with Soumare and Matos in midfield and they were abysmal with poor touches, not closing them down and not protecting the defence. I was disappointed Hamer did not get on the ball and Campbell barely touched it. Until we had a late few moments – mostly through positivity of Brooks, I thought we became ragged and disjointed and the last chance for them summed up the way we played for much of the night – it was all a bit s**t or bust and Seriki’s error should have ended up with them winning the game.
In the end, a draw was a relief weirdly when we are playing a team 2nd bottom but that is how the game kind of went. We easily could have lost it – but we could have won it too for long spells. Our XH was much higher than them but they had more possession and Cooper made more saves. So, a draw was the right result. Neither team really did enough or showed enough quality to win a poor game.
It does show that there are a number who are not at the level of those that they replaced – however some of the senior players, Ings, O’Hare, Burrows, Tanganga and those that came on (Hamer/Campbell) did not really do enough either. I felt that our shape was a bit of a mess and that it was too big of an ask for Arblaster to come in – when Soumare was so bad too. Hopefully we can get a few back – but sounds like Peck may be out for a few weeks whilst the others were a sick bug. The midfield worries me as those that came in looked way out of their depth (Arblaster still coming back of course so not really aimed at him) and we did not get much out of Ings and Cannon – even though Ings scored. Just one of those games – with so many changes – you take he point and move on. As I say, hope a few are back for Friday but today has shown we do need reinforcements and a number will be moved out as they are not up to the level we need. Positives were the return of Arblaster, Chong and Brooks. West Brom are struggling so hopefully we can start well and keep the unbeaten run going but we now have 3 of next 4 away so might be a bit trickier- with the fitness issues also over a number of players.
