Deadbat
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2009
- Messages
- 6,333
- Reaction score
- 35,793
Not doing a full match report as was not there and most saw it in some form.
Thought United were in control for long periods of the game. Certainly first half it was not out and out domination but a controlled away performance let down by some shocking final balls/crosses and weak finishing. We should have been at least a goal up at the break.
Second half we got the added tonic of the red card (stupid booking) but were too slow and played at a low tempo again. We should have put McNulty on but didn't. We were still in control but not having many clear chances. I felt we would never get a goal but the out of nothing Harris scores a cracker (he has had some great shots since he came and inevitable one shot would go in). We then should have had a pen when Scougall was body slammed to the floor but incredibly it was not given.
After this we then seemed to panic and started to sit back and they ought to have scored with a sitter that hit the post after poor defending from Murphy and Harris down the left. We then straight away took advantage of a howler and McNulty (finally on) took his goal well. After this we then panicked again and were fortunate on a few occasions not to concede.
It was an odd game. 11 v 11 we were much better and then for a period second half still had control but never looked like scoring really and the chances we had were comfortable for the keeper. After we did score we then seemed to sit back again, as we did last week. We were very lucky it was not 1-1 and then got the goal that kind of killed is despite some more uncomfortable moments.
So all in all it was a win and probably deserved but we made it hard work against a poor Bradford side (very dirty and very route one). We really should have won the game a lot more comfortably then we did and were fortunate to keep a clean sheet really (but after hitting woodwork 3 times last week maybe it was our turn for some good luck). We need to really make some improvements in terms of pace/tempo of our play from the start and work on our final ball. If we can add this to a better performance in terms of how we controlled midfield etc, then we should be better than most teams at this level even with the deficiencies described.
Player ratings
Howard 7/10 - Excellent save from a free kick. Watched two hit the post but had little other efforts to save.
Alcock 7/10 - Steady game. A few hesitant moments and he seemed to have ice skates on at times but nothing overly to worry about.
McCarthy 7/10 - Thought that was his best game for United. He was solid, defended sensibly and was able to get more on the front foot.
McEveley - Lost out to Hanson when he was on him quite a bit but got a fair few elbows including the one that saw him get injured.
McGahey 6/10 - Alright at times but then some real hesitancy mixed in with this and gave away two daft free kicks which could have cost us.
Doyle 6.5/10 - At times he was good breaking up the play and winning a lot of loose balls but then at times he was poor too giving it away under little pressure or just punting it to nowhere in particular. Still we did control midfield much of the game I felt.
Basham 7/10 - He has been much maligned but I felt he was very good today and first half in particular he was excellent surging forward showing strength and some good skill. He got ahead of the strikers (erm striker, erm no one) and was in some really good positions. Second half not quite as influential but should have been fed in by Campbell Ryce when again well placed. Encouraging t see him perform better.
Camobell Ryce 7/10 - Thought he was very good again in the way he got on the ball, attacked defenders, got at the defence and got to the byline but his service and final ball was sadly awful. He did keep going and remained one of our main outlets. He has been a surprisingly decent signing. He just needs to work on that final ball.
Murphy 7/10- Like Campbell Ryce he got forward well and first half got wide, dropped the shoulder and went at defenders and was in some good positions. He fluffed one good chance though. Second half he did not quite get on the ball as much and at times he was not direct enough and came inside too much. Very much a confidence player. Hopefully gradually it is coming back.
Scougall 5/10 - Sadly not sure what he is offering at the moment. He put a lot more effort in today. He was forever closing down players and going at the keeper but he did not get on the ball enough for me and needs to improve to keep his place.
Baxter 5/10 – Disappointing. Not a centre forward and it shows but he does need to try harder and make the ball stick more. For a so called technical player he gives it away a lot. He had 2 good chances but these were really weak finishes. Second half he was completely ineffectual and sh ould have been taken off.
Subs :
McNulty – Should have been on much earlier but when he did; he gets one chance and it is the net. He is a finisher/poacher type and deserves a run of games for me.
Thought United were in control for long periods of the game. Certainly first half it was not out and out domination but a controlled away performance let down by some shocking final balls/crosses and weak finishing. We should have been at least a goal up at the break.
Second half we got the added tonic of the red card (stupid booking) but were too slow and played at a low tempo again. We should have put McNulty on but didn't. We were still in control but not having many clear chances. I felt we would never get a goal but the out of nothing Harris scores a cracker (he has had some great shots since he came and inevitable one shot would go in). We then should have had a pen when Scougall was body slammed to the floor but incredibly it was not given.
After this we then seemed to panic and started to sit back and they ought to have scored with a sitter that hit the post after poor defending from Murphy and Harris down the left. We then straight away took advantage of a howler and McNulty (finally on) took his goal well. After this we then panicked again and were fortunate on a few occasions not to concede.
It was an odd game. 11 v 11 we were much better and then for a period second half still had control but never looked like scoring really and the chances we had were comfortable for the keeper. After we did score we then seemed to sit back again, as we did last week. We were very lucky it was not 1-1 and then got the goal that kind of killed is despite some more uncomfortable moments.
So all in all it was a win and probably deserved but we made it hard work against a poor Bradford side (very dirty and very route one). We really should have won the game a lot more comfortably then we did and were fortunate to keep a clean sheet really (but after hitting woodwork 3 times last week maybe it was our turn for some good luck). We need to really make some improvements in terms of pace/tempo of our play from the start and work on our final ball. If we can add this to a better performance in terms of how we controlled midfield etc, then we should be better than most teams at this level even with the deficiencies described.
Player ratings
Howard 7/10 - Excellent save from a free kick. Watched two hit the post but had little other efforts to save.
Alcock 7/10 - Steady game. A few hesitant moments and he seemed to have ice skates on at times but nothing overly to worry about.
McCarthy 7/10 - Thought that was his best game for United. He was solid, defended sensibly and was able to get more on the front foot.
McEveley - Lost out to Hanson when he was on him quite a bit but got a fair few elbows including the one that saw him get injured.
McGahey 6/10 - Alright at times but then some real hesitancy mixed in with this and gave away two daft free kicks which could have cost us.
Doyle 6.5/10 - At times he was good breaking up the play and winning a lot of loose balls but then at times he was poor too giving it away under little pressure or just punting it to nowhere in particular. Still we did control midfield much of the game I felt.
Basham 7/10 - He has been much maligned but I felt he was very good today and first half in particular he was excellent surging forward showing strength and some good skill. He got ahead of the strikers (erm striker, erm no one) and was in some really good positions. Second half not quite as influential but should have been fed in by Campbell Ryce when again well placed. Encouraging t see him perform better.
Camobell Ryce 7/10 - Thought he was very good again in the way he got on the ball, attacked defenders, got at the defence and got to the byline but his service and final ball was sadly awful. He did keep going and remained one of our main outlets. He has been a surprisingly decent signing. He just needs to work on that final ball.
Murphy 7/10- Like Campbell Ryce he got forward well and first half got wide, dropped the shoulder and went at defenders and was in some good positions. He fluffed one good chance though. Second half he did not quite get on the ball as much and at times he was not direct enough and came inside too much. Very much a confidence player. Hopefully gradually it is coming back.
Scougall 5/10 - Sadly not sure what he is offering at the moment. He put a lot more effort in today. He was forever closing down players and going at the keeper but he did not get on the ball enough for me and needs to improve to keep his place.
Baxter 5/10 – Disappointing. Not a centre forward and it shows but he does need to try harder and make the ball stick more. For a so called technical player he gives it away a lot. He had 2 good chances but these were really weak finishes. Second half he was completely ineffectual and sh ould have been taken off.
Subs :
McNulty – Should have been on much earlier but when he did; he gets one chance and it is the net. He is a finisher/poacher type and deserves a run of games for me.
