Deadbat
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Sheffield United’s season now rests on them winning away at the County Ground on Monday night after a late Swindon winner saw the Robins take the initiative at Bramall Lane on Thursday evening. United had started the better side and for fifteen minutes it was all the home side and they eventually went in front thanks to a Kieron Freeman striker. However, the Blades could not build on this and Swindon finished the half the better side and should have been level but Mark Howard’s penalty save denied them. The second half United were second best for long spells coughing up possession and having to defend for large periods but did break out for a spell after Matty Done came on. Still with stoppage time almost up the games outstanding player Nathan Byrne struck a speculative shot that somehow went past Mark Howard and United had lost yet another game at home.
The referee had a poor night and United could have had a couple of penalties themselves on other night in a game filled with officiating inconsistency. However, United’s failure to build on a positive start mixed with more poor management from Nigel Clough badly cost United. Granted the decisions went against them but for long spells United struggled against a quicker, more skilful Swindon side. United put forth effort but a slow, small and weak side were undone by better opponents for long spells.
Manager Clough was without Jose Baxter due to illness but brought back a number of players from the final game of the weekend. He went with the same back four that started against Chesterfield and opted to play Basham in midfield alongside Coutts and Holt with Murphy and Flynn supplanting Davies. Done was seen as fit enough for the bench. Swindon brought all their big guns back for the game and will have been well rested after many had not played for several weeks.
United began superbly tearing into Swindon. They won challenges all over the field, the tempo was high and they pressed the visitors back. Flynn and Murphy were influential and the latter had a good run and shot just wide. On 11 minutes a huge appeal for a spot kick after what seemed a rather blatant hand ball after Murphy’s cross was waved away.
Harris then had a cross shot that just evaded Davies when a touch and it would have gone in. It was all United who were quicker and sharper and on 20 minutes the goal that seemed imminent came.
Flynn kept plugging away and won the ball before finally pulling it back and FREEMAN hit a shot that seemed to go through Foderingham and into the net. It was a deserved lead for the Blades who had looked really sharp.
Soon after Hylton nearly got on Thompson’s cross soon after and slowly the visitors got a foothold in the game. They had a half chance but Smith could not get the ball when well placed but on the half hour they had a great chance to get level
Harris put a foot out and Byrne went down. It may have looked a little soft but there was contact and the aware of the spot kick was not a surprise. Still after the early indiscretion in the box the other way; United fans felt rather aggrieved.
GLADWIN stepped up after the protests and hit it firmly but Howard guessed right and saved superbly before jumping high to clutch the subsequent rebound. The Kop celebrated the crucial save.
At the other end Murphy went down but no spot kick was given that way. This one seemed less straight forward. Harris was booked for his second indiscretion and then Davies also was booked for kicking the ball away. The crowd were becomingly incredibly frustrated with the referee and some baffling decisions aside from some big calls that went against the home side.
Brayford picked up a knock as indecision in the defence led to Swindon nearly getting in before Howard scooped away with his legs. The captain limped on for a period but was not right as the half time whistle came.
As expected Brayford could not continue and Clough surprisingly opted to bring on Scougall and moving Basham back to midfield.
This change instantly saw Swindon start to take control and for the opening spell, Luongo and Kasim were now zipping it about and looking to take the game to the hosts. Smith nodded wide and a low cross then just missed Kasim at the far post. Soon after United at full stretch knocked the ball behind.
The corner was whipped over and as Harris and McEveley got under the ball, the experienced RICKETTS came in and headed firmly into the net. It was a similar goal to the one from Sunday against Chesterfield but then again it was similar to another 20 or so goals conceded this season. A basic cross and header that United could not defend.
Swindon came again and Ricketts shot wide. They were now controlling the game and United were sitting further and further back in a poor second half performance. They broke out for a spell and Davies shot well over before Flynn had a good run and shot at the keeper getting clobbered in the process but the referee again saw nothing wrong.
Done was introduced for the ineffective Holt and was straight in on the action chasing down loose balls and causing havoc with his strong running and pace. He then got in and was able to scramble home but the referee saw a foul in the build up. Done than was clear but the referee brought it back for an earlier foul. Another baffling decision. Davies then had a shot saved. United had woken up for the final 10 minutes or so and were now looking as likely for the winner.
Murphy had been quiet but after a decent move, the ball came in from the winger and Davies ought to have scored but his flicked header flashed past the post.
Stephens then ran 50 yards from the back before shooting into the side netting as the game ebbed and flowed.
Scougall seemed to pull his hamstring and slowly walked off to be replaced by Doyle as the game entered the additional 5 minutes of time. United won two corners and seemed to be pressing for a late chance but two awful deliveries saw the ball cleared away.
Swindon picked up the ball after this and transferred it forward to the right hand side. The impressive BYRNE came inside and unchallenged opted to have a go. From 25 yards his shot somehow bounced up and away from Howard and into the corner. It was a stunning moment in the game. Swindon’s players and fans celebrated wildly this crucial goal in the tie. The game kicked off but only for a further minutes and the final whistle came soon after.
United – Our end to the season in form, performances and results has been really poor and this continued tonight. In my mind we had the first 15 minutes easily but after this save for maybe a 10 minute spell towards the end when Done came on; I felt Swindon looked superior side. We were the home side and after such a good start allowed the visiting side to dictate for long periods. We had as many if not more chances but we were at home. I would expect that. The fact from minute 15 to say 75 they had complete control of possession and tempo was a real concern but no different to what we have seen much of the year. We had another go at the end but I still feel we did not do enough to win and they were better over the course of the 90 minutes and 2-1 was about right.
I am surprised some fans feel hard done by. We got a lead and were doing great and it seemed we had finally got a performance but then slowly but surely it unravelled. Swindon got stronger as the game went on and even after the penalty let off; we never responded. Second half we made a terrible change of personnel. Brayford injured of course but we needed either Doyle to stiffen up midfield or Alcock on and keeping Basham in midfield –either would have been preferential to the ineffectual Scougall who joined the similarly ineffectual Holt. We ended up with a 3 man midfield that offered zilch. Nothing. For half an hour Swindon dictated the game and were in complete control. Done came on and gave us some life and we had a few chances (Davies should have scored) but then the late winner was not a surprise. I honestly thought 1-2 was about fair over the course of the game. Sadly man for man and collectively I felt they shaded the game. Sure we had chances and maybe shaded clear chances to some degree but they also missed a spot kick. However in overall play and passing I felt they controlled the game. We looked at full stretch and a tired team.
They seemed fresh, fitter and quicker. We are woefully slow all over the field. The two goals were pathetic. Another set play (never been addressed by Clough) and then a shot where nobody closed him down and Howard somehow let the ball through his hands. It summed up our season.
I do hear some fans saying we were unlucky and had chances but other than the Davies one; I cannot recall too many clear chances and felt at times we were chasing shadows second half. Our midfield was non existent second half and Swindon dictated the game. We have small players who lack pace, strength and ability. They had players (in midfield at least) who were quick, nippy and mobile. They all moved off the ball. We were stationery and for an hour just lumped it with little interchange, movement or running from deep. We must have round 7-8 central midfielders in the club and outside of Basham and Doyle; the rest are weak, small, powder puff and lack pace. I am sick of watching such immobile, timid players in this key area.
I felt today summed up much of the season. We did better than we have for some weeks despite all the above and still were not good enough and still lost. Too much will be made of the referee and other factors, but the reality is we failed again when it mattered. Failed to build on a lead and allowed a visiting team to dictate for 60-65 minutes of a game with two small pockets of play at the beginning and towards the end; about our lot. We did not do enough to win the game and on reflection taking away from who you follow, if any side deserved to win it was Swindon. Clough was pleased with the performance which is really worrying when we let an away side dictate so much of the game.
Second leg we now hear the crap about we are better when behind, pressure is off and it suits our style. I am sorry but the reality is that we are losing now going to a place we got smashed already this season and Swindon will be completely confident of seeing us off. They over the season, tonight and over the two league games (we won at the Lane but they dominated first half and should have been 3-0 up at the Lane) they are a better side and sadly I expect them to finish the job. Hope I am wrong but will watch more in hope than expectation on Monday night. I will save the questions for the manager until after then but tonight reaffirmed that when it has come to the crunch he is not good enough. He has signed most of the players, he picks them and he has failed to address the lack of height/set play/centre back issue all year. He will not admit responsibility for the Butler/Collins debacle and even now makes excuses for his own incompetence.
Ultimately for all the talk of the officials, injuries, tactics etc, we are proving ultimately we are not good enough. The other side put the ball in the net twice. We did it once. That determines who wins. Sounds incredibly patronising but that determines success and failure. Tonight we thus failed again.
The referee had a poor night and United could have had a couple of penalties themselves on other night in a game filled with officiating inconsistency. However, United’s failure to build on a positive start mixed with more poor management from Nigel Clough badly cost United. Granted the decisions went against them but for long spells United struggled against a quicker, more skilful Swindon side. United put forth effort but a slow, small and weak side were undone by better opponents for long spells.
Manager Clough was without Jose Baxter due to illness but brought back a number of players from the final game of the weekend. He went with the same back four that started against Chesterfield and opted to play Basham in midfield alongside Coutts and Holt with Murphy and Flynn supplanting Davies. Done was seen as fit enough for the bench. Swindon brought all their big guns back for the game and will have been well rested after many had not played for several weeks.
United began superbly tearing into Swindon. They won challenges all over the field, the tempo was high and they pressed the visitors back. Flynn and Murphy were influential and the latter had a good run and shot just wide. On 11 minutes a huge appeal for a spot kick after what seemed a rather blatant hand ball after Murphy’s cross was waved away.
Harris then had a cross shot that just evaded Davies when a touch and it would have gone in. It was all United who were quicker and sharper and on 20 minutes the goal that seemed imminent came.
Flynn kept plugging away and won the ball before finally pulling it back and FREEMAN hit a shot that seemed to go through Foderingham and into the net. It was a deserved lead for the Blades who had looked really sharp.
Soon after Hylton nearly got on Thompson’s cross soon after and slowly the visitors got a foothold in the game. They had a half chance but Smith could not get the ball when well placed but on the half hour they had a great chance to get level
Harris put a foot out and Byrne went down. It may have looked a little soft but there was contact and the aware of the spot kick was not a surprise. Still after the early indiscretion in the box the other way; United fans felt rather aggrieved.
GLADWIN stepped up after the protests and hit it firmly but Howard guessed right and saved superbly before jumping high to clutch the subsequent rebound. The Kop celebrated the crucial save.
At the other end Murphy went down but no spot kick was given that way. This one seemed less straight forward. Harris was booked for his second indiscretion and then Davies also was booked for kicking the ball away. The crowd were becomingly incredibly frustrated with the referee and some baffling decisions aside from some big calls that went against the home side.
Brayford picked up a knock as indecision in the defence led to Swindon nearly getting in before Howard scooped away with his legs. The captain limped on for a period but was not right as the half time whistle came.
As expected Brayford could not continue and Clough surprisingly opted to bring on Scougall and moving Basham back to midfield.
This change instantly saw Swindon start to take control and for the opening spell, Luongo and Kasim were now zipping it about and looking to take the game to the hosts. Smith nodded wide and a low cross then just missed Kasim at the far post. Soon after United at full stretch knocked the ball behind.
The corner was whipped over and as Harris and McEveley got under the ball, the experienced RICKETTS came in and headed firmly into the net. It was a similar goal to the one from Sunday against Chesterfield but then again it was similar to another 20 or so goals conceded this season. A basic cross and header that United could not defend.
Swindon came again and Ricketts shot wide. They were now controlling the game and United were sitting further and further back in a poor second half performance. They broke out for a spell and Davies shot well over before Flynn had a good run and shot at the keeper getting clobbered in the process but the referee again saw nothing wrong.
Done was introduced for the ineffective Holt and was straight in on the action chasing down loose balls and causing havoc with his strong running and pace. He then got in and was able to scramble home but the referee saw a foul in the build up. Done than was clear but the referee brought it back for an earlier foul. Another baffling decision. Davies then had a shot saved. United had woken up for the final 10 minutes or so and were now looking as likely for the winner.
Murphy had been quiet but after a decent move, the ball came in from the winger and Davies ought to have scored but his flicked header flashed past the post.
Stephens then ran 50 yards from the back before shooting into the side netting as the game ebbed and flowed.
Scougall seemed to pull his hamstring and slowly walked off to be replaced by Doyle as the game entered the additional 5 minutes of time. United won two corners and seemed to be pressing for a late chance but two awful deliveries saw the ball cleared away.
Swindon picked up the ball after this and transferred it forward to the right hand side. The impressive BYRNE came inside and unchallenged opted to have a go. From 25 yards his shot somehow bounced up and away from Howard and into the corner. It was a stunning moment in the game. Swindon’s players and fans celebrated wildly this crucial goal in the tie. The game kicked off but only for a further minutes and the final whistle came soon after.
United – Our end to the season in form, performances and results has been really poor and this continued tonight. In my mind we had the first 15 minutes easily but after this save for maybe a 10 minute spell towards the end when Done came on; I felt Swindon looked superior side. We were the home side and after such a good start allowed the visiting side to dictate for long periods. We had as many if not more chances but we were at home. I would expect that. The fact from minute 15 to say 75 they had complete control of possession and tempo was a real concern but no different to what we have seen much of the year. We had another go at the end but I still feel we did not do enough to win and they were better over the course of the 90 minutes and 2-1 was about right.
I am surprised some fans feel hard done by. We got a lead and were doing great and it seemed we had finally got a performance but then slowly but surely it unravelled. Swindon got stronger as the game went on and even after the penalty let off; we never responded. Second half we made a terrible change of personnel. Brayford injured of course but we needed either Doyle to stiffen up midfield or Alcock on and keeping Basham in midfield –either would have been preferential to the ineffectual Scougall who joined the similarly ineffectual Holt. We ended up with a 3 man midfield that offered zilch. Nothing. For half an hour Swindon dictated the game and were in complete control. Done came on and gave us some life and we had a few chances (Davies should have scored) but then the late winner was not a surprise. I honestly thought 1-2 was about fair over the course of the game. Sadly man for man and collectively I felt they shaded the game. Sure we had chances and maybe shaded clear chances to some degree but they also missed a spot kick. However in overall play and passing I felt they controlled the game. We looked at full stretch and a tired team.
They seemed fresh, fitter and quicker. We are woefully slow all over the field. The two goals were pathetic. Another set play (never been addressed by Clough) and then a shot where nobody closed him down and Howard somehow let the ball through his hands. It summed up our season.
I do hear some fans saying we were unlucky and had chances but other than the Davies one; I cannot recall too many clear chances and felt at times we were chasing shadows second half. Our midfield was non existent second half and Swindon dictated the game. We have small players who lack pace, strength and ability. They had players (in midfield at least) who were quick, nippy and mobile. They all moved off the ball. We were stationery and for an hour just lumped it with little interchange, movement or running from deep. We must have round 7-8 central midfielders in the club and outside of Basham and Doyle; the rest are weak, small, powder puff and lack pace. I am sick of watching such immobile, timid players in this key area.
I felt today summed up much of the season. We did better than we have for some weeks despite all the above and still were not good enough and still lost. Too much will be made of the referee and other factors, but the reality is we failed again when it mattered. Failed to build on a lead and allowed a visiting team to dictate for 60-65 minutes of a game with two small pockets of play at the beginning and towards the end; about our lot. We did not do enough to win the game and on reflection taking away from who you follow, if any side deserved to win it was Swindon. Clough was pleased with the performance which is really worrying when we let an away side dictate so much of the game.
Second leg we now hear the crap about we are better when behind, pressure is off and it suits our style. I am sorry but the reality is that we are losing now going to a place we got smashed already this season and Swindon will be completely confident of seeing us off. They over the season, tonight and over the two league games (we won at the Lane but they dominated first half and should have been 3-0 up at the Lane) they are a better side and sadly I expect them to finish the job. Hope I am wrong but will watch more in hope than expectation on Monday night. I will save the questions for the manager until after then but tonight reaffirmed that when it has come to the crunch he is not good enough. He has signed most of the players, he picks them and he has failed to address the lack of height/set play/centre back issue all year. He will not admit responsibility for the Butler/Collins debacle and even now makes excuses for his own incompetence.
Ultimately for all the talk of the officials, injuries, tactics etc, we are proving ultimately we are not good enough. The other side put the ball in the net twice. We did it once. That determines who wins. Sounds incredibly patronising but that determines success and failure. Tonight we thus failed again.
