The Blades ended a week where they had three very winnable fixtures by losing at home to Millwall meaning they only acquired 4 points from a possible 9. It was another disappointing performance result from United where they gave away two sloppy goals and could not push on after getting level.
For one of the first times this season, it was an unchanged side as manager Adkins opted to keep the faith with the team that started v Fleetwood despite impressive cameos from Coutts and Baxter.
The game started at a quicker tempo than the midweek game and Millwall had set up with two up front. Millwall won a few early corner and Onyedinma shot wide and the first chance for the home side came as Sharp did well to win the ball and fed Adams who was in on the angle. His shot from just inside the box struck the outside of the post as it went wide. It was a good chance and maybe he should have done better.
Decent play from Campbell Ryce saw Adams then involved again before the cross came over and Basham had a goal bound shot blocked
Millwall had won a few more corners in a relatively even game and they took the lead from a predictable source from a United defensive point of view; a cross and headed goal.
Poor work from United saw the ball not cleared from the corner and Done dithered before Cumming sent over a wicked ball but O’BRIEN still was not challenged and sent in a bullet header that went in via the post. No challenge from either centre back who were arguing vociferously with each other after the goal.
United tried to respond but Done took too long and then Adams was too unselfish for once. Millwall then had another chance as Howard had to push away a Saville shot
Manager Adkins made a change as Baxter came on for the ineffective Done and Adams went wide left with Baxter playing off Sharp.
Millwall had the first chance of the second half when Wallace made a mistake and tried to steal the ball but this led to a break and Onyedinma shot at goal and Howard scooped it over.
Martin was finally booked for a trip on Campbell Ryce after he had committed a number of fouls on the winger.
Sammon came on for Campbell Ryce but was strangely employed on the wing again which seemed to nullify his skills.
The game was slipping away as Millwall continued to really slow things down and United could not break down a tough rearguard. Millwall had defended in numbers but had defended well.
United had not created many chances but Baxter had one but pulled his shot wide. However not long after he made no mistake. Good work from Sharp in the build up saw him find Freeman and he put in a great cross that saw BAXTER smash home an unstoppable finish on the half volley. It was well made and a great finish.
After this you felt United would go on and win and Millwall continued to time waste and slow the play down. However Untied did not seize the game and it was the visitors who scored the all important goal.
Great work from Ferguson saw him sprint down away from the hesitant Collins and he went past him and sent over a tremendous cross that went right across the box.
O’BRIEN sprinted to the ball and beat Wallace and McGahey to it and he struck it and it seemed to go in via Wallace and then the boot of Howard at close range. It was a real smash and grab raid but Millwall now only had 10 minutes to defend their latest lead.
Keeper Archer was finally booked but bizarrely as United tried to make a change. He had been asking for a booking all game for delays on the goal kicks but it was strange to do it at this point.
Flynn came on for Freeman and Collins went up as an emergency striker but the nearest United came was from a Collins header that went tamely wide. Despite all the time wasting there was only an additional four minutes of stoppage time and Millwall coped comfortably with anything United could throw at them.
United – The game I felt was more entertaining than the other night and United were better in some ways than that game but they were up against a far better side. We faced a team that had really worked out how to play us and we struggled to break them down. We did get it forward quicker than the other night but in midfield and the last third we made some dreadful decisions. Never looked like scoring for long spells as we actually either over played, delivered a poor final ball or were quite shot shy. Adams hit the post but then we did little else and they scored a good header. After this we huffed and puffed but again could not remember a chance really until Baxter shot wide and then scored a great goal.
After this as with Bury at home and also Colchester, you think go on and show some real spirit and win it. So what do we do? Toss away another stupid goal and lose it. Same old, same old. We keep picking the same dreadful defenders, have not addressed the soft midfield (even with Hammond – no better than what we had for me) and still are too easy to score against and beat. They did play two up but were playing on the break and just defended, soaked up our poor play and got out and scored two decent goals but absolutely horrible defending. We are conceding 2’s and 3’s at home and that is unacceptable. Why he had not addressed the defence is bewildering?
We did not deserve to lose and was a sucker punch but has happened 3 times at the Lane this season. Our defence is awful. What I will say is that overall despite us having more of the ball and maybe a lot more territory, Millwall actually had more shots (10 and 6 on target) to us (6 and only 1 on target). 1 shot on target – the goal all game. That is not good enough. Howard made 2 or 3 other saves. So sadly stats don’t back up my argument that we deserved at least a draw.
The overall play was too slow again and the tempo was lacking but for a home side you expect more than maybe 2 or 3 chances all game. I can’t remember their keeper having a save to make all game outside of the goal/hit post one. We played into their hands so often as we did not get runners behind or turn the big centre backs playing too much of the ball into strikers’ feet rather than getting them turned.
Overall, it was a game we could have won as easy as lost. Game of few chances but the facts remain. We did not and give away stupid goals. This keeps happening. We are soft as shite. Sorry but that is the reality. We lack that winning mentality and these players for me just don’t get it. We have to wait till we offload many sadly but I will also say that Adkins buys have been a shambles too. So he has to do better in that respect.
Some fans need to realise that this side is very, very unlikely to go up. We are a long way off a top two side and scraping a playoff place might be best we do again and we know what happens there. I heard some fans on forums saying that likes of Gillingham, Walsall, Bury won’t be above us. Someone guaranteed it? Well I tell you what a few of them will be. There will be at least 4 or 5 above us on current form and performances. How many have we now lost? 5 is it, or is 6? Lost three at home. A promotion side does not tend to lose more than 9 or 10 all season at best. Can anyone honestly see this side only losing another 4 or 5 all season? Some of the other sides may lack quality in some respects have some no nonsense defenders and are not the soft, weak bunch of losers that we are. It is a crap division but we are crap and the positions we will be in tonight of around 8th/9th sums up what a pigs ear we are making of it and I am sorry but what a poor job Adkins is doing. He has been lumbered with crap but no one is telling him to pick Collins, McGahey, Howard, Basham (in midfield) etc. I have been really disappointed with his start and his weekly clichés and sound bites are boring. He needs to start sorting it out and fast. I think he needs to be more ruthless with some of the players and stop messing around. Too many are and have been treading water. We are so average it is untrue. We need more hungry, young players like Adams or Done. Not has beens or ageing players that are coming down the leagues like Sammon, Hammond, Edgar, Woolford etc.
Today was really disappointing and a bit of a watermark for me. We had a poor draw at Oldham but got the win in the week and another win today and we would have been 3rd or 4th maybe with a winnable game at Crewe next week. Now we are back out of the playoffs and a long way off the top.
Teams like Wigan, Coventry and Peterborough are on the ascent and putting wins together. I do not see a side at United that looks like they know how to put together a win of results at all. They will continue to get in between results with some wins, a few draws and some defeats. The players are just in a comfort zone. Fans cannot be accused of whingeing and moaning. We are watching the side for the 5th side in League One and we look as far off promotion to me than at any point (save for that disastrous start under Weir) and have the same dire players mostly; joined by more dross, that are just ambling through garbage results with no one taking initiative or grabbing games by the scruff of the neck. Sadly it looks more and more like season six as with no chance of completely rebuilding a side 1-11 mid season, we are stuffed. I don’t think any fan hand on heart can say we look like a promotion side in anyway both in results and performances and the lack of improvement since Adkins took over has been startling. I really thought he would have changed things from the dreary stuff we saw under Clough but other than flashes from Sharp and Adams at times, it has been equally poor to watch and are lower than where we were under Clough.
Millwall – Big, strong, dirty, cynical but organised. In this sense they were the best side we have seen down at the Lane even if they did not really do enough to win the game. However, they played a very good tactical game. Also very good at the back with some big players who were no nonsense. We did not create much and they got two banks of four with little space between them and pressed and harried. United struggled to break a side down for the first time this season. They have always looked like scoring but today they did not really. Millwall conceded a lot of the possession but they just kept their shape and broke when they could with two up front. They won a lot of corners. First half was relatively even but they scored a decent goal with a good cross and header and then did the same with a break and goal. Showed good character to come back from the equaliser as they could have just tried to shut up shop.
They did defend and some of the timewasting was ridiculous but the referee did nothing about it till the end. They did broke when they could even if they did not create many chances. A perfect away performance in many ways. They limited a home side to few chances and scored two good goals. I would say on that performance in terms of the respective defences and physical presence (we have big players but they are weak) they look more likely a promotion side. They probably lack a bit of squad depth and maybe the consistency but will be around the playoffs. I would swap our centre backs for Beevers and Craig. They win headers, are solid and don’t try and overplay. The lad Onyedinma was decent too.
Harris seems to have turned it around after a poor start and as I say I think they will be around the top 6 at the end of the season. They may be better set up away and 1 defeat in 8 backs this up than home where they will have to attack more but if they can turn home form around will continue to rise.
Opponent man of the match : O’Brien. Scored a fine header and then raced forward to get into the box to score the winner. Can’t say fairer than that! He was decent in the game too as he picked off our slow midfielders at times easily. Also felt Morison the striker had a good game. A real handful as he won headers, chased lost causes and was a threat.
Opponent Weak link : The left back Martin was booked and could have had a yellow a lot earlier. He struggled at times and was the one weak link in a good defence.
SUFC Player Ratings – (these may seem low but cannot think of many players who had a good game)
Howard 7/10 – He had little to do but was fine today. No really chance for either goal as he was left badly exposed. He caught some crosses and saved two or three you would expect him to save but had more to do than his opposite number. His distribution was better today I felt too.
Freeman 6.5/10 – His poorest game for some time but he did create the goal with a lovely cross and still one of our better players. Did ok when going forward but at the back he dithered at times and made some poor mistakes when defending.
Wallace 6/10 – Had a really good first half and continued his fine form but second half he struggled. He nearly let them in twice when gambling for the ball and left us exposed as they broke and then on the goal had to get across far quicker when the cross came in. The centre halves were out of position and he has to react. First time I felt he looked out of his depth at times second half and the tricky winger caused him a few problems.
Collins 4.5/10 – An awful player who takes no responsibility for his mistakes. He rants and blames at others and does not do his own job. The first goal I was unsure if it was him or McGahey who lost his man for the header into the goal but he decided to rant and rave at his young partner for several minutes even after the kick off. Aside from this his awful sliced clearances and headers down rather than up (seems to head them up when attacking at corners a lot of the time – bizarre). He also continually asks for the defence to get back and means we defend so deep. On the winner he lost his man ran away from him down the channel and let him get a cross in easily. Noticed he did not try and blame anyone else as he ambled back to the middle with his head down. I am sorry but the fact we have players like him still being regulars is why we are and will be nowhere near the top two again.
McGahey 4.5/10 – As above in a lot of ways. He was slow, clumsy and had no idea what to do when he has the ball. He looks scared of receiving it (Collins kept giving it to him) and has absolutely no idea what to do when he had it (some was due to midfield not showing) and looks terrified. Seemed to be at fault for first as lost the man coming onto the ball. Defensively for a big bloke he is not dominating at all and Morison won a lot of headers. Very limited. I think we have to say the promise some saw when we signed him a few years ago is not going to materialise. He is just a very limited player – can cope with that to some extent but he does not dominate the ball aerially and so unsure what his strengths are. They had 2 real attacks of note in open play and scored both.
Hammond 5/10 – Got to say been really disappointed with him. All this pleading for him to sign and how he would change things. Well he hasn’t made a bit of difference. We are still soft in the middle, still lost it too much and still lack aggression, pace and mobility. He does always receive the ball and does want to get on it and goes square and comes off but when he has it lacks pace and real ability to play killer balls or run forward with it. He just lays it off again. Looks incredibly limited in what he brings to the table. Not the answer for me.
Basham 4/10 – Awful. Reminded me of his early games as a Blade. He lost the ball constantly, played aimless balls and short passes that sold players short. He did little right and most of his tackles came after he lost it. Him and Hammond do not work together. So slow and again no mobility. Little nippy and quick players who get stuck in have a field day against out soft and slow midfield. Has to go back to centre back for me and fast for one of two aforementioned poor players.
Campbell Ryce 7/10 – Frustrating performance but still one of our main threats. Got down the wing and did get some good balls in. He got a few good crosses over early and did ok in spells but faded after the break and could not either get past his man or get crosses in. He simply tries to do too much. A player for me that needs to be used as an impact off the bench but sadly as with us last season an ageing journeyman looks our main threat. Worrying.
Adams 7/10 – He overplayed and tried to do too much and things did not always come off but they were doubling up on him. He still looked our main threat and at least tried to carry it forward and also make things happen. Hit the post with our best chance (only chance) first half and maybe should have done better. He moved around a bit across the front line but I felt although at times he got crowded out and tried too many tricks, he had no service and no help from other forwards. If you ask Millwall who gave them most worries, it would have been him.
Sharp 5.5/10 – A poor game for the most part. He did well to win it and lay it off on the goal but looked sluggish and weak all game. Got outmuscled too easily and reverted to falling over or wrestling and looking for fouls that were not there. He did not offer a goal threat in any way really. Did lay off for Adams for the first half but overall he has to do more than that. Kept plugging away but just one of them days.
Done 4/10 – His worst game for SUFC. He never got into it and was slow going forward and coming back. Did not see usual work rate we have seen and I felt that for the goal he was slow to react to the initial danger. He just never got into it and the full back nullified him easily. Not surprised he went off but not sure being shoved out wide is his best position. Think up top he can cause more problems and worry the centre backs.
Subs
Baxter 7/10 – Made a difference. Got on the ball and tried to carry it forward. He has a lot of critics but we still look a better team with him playing than when he does not. The midfield created nothing when he did not play. Missed a decent chance with one shot but then scored an excellent finish to get us level. Played just off Sharp and this is where he can be most effective for me as he was when we went on the good run under Clough a few years ago
Sammon – Did nothing. Woeful touch. Played left wing again but he never won a header and never got on the ball really. He is no better than what we already had and stuck with him for a season. He is not exactly convincing to stay long term at all considering he is out of contract. Can see him ending up in Scotland at the end of the season. More his level.
Flynn - Came on and ended up sort of wing back as we tried to salvage something but it was too late for him to make an impact.
Manager
Adkins 5/10 – Not good enough again. He did make one good change with the Baxter introduction leading to the goal. However putting Sammon left wing was bizarre and we never got any change out of the centre backs all game and the front players were ineffective. I felt we lost the midfield for key spells and ultimately poor defending cost us. We just lacked tempo and that urgency but overall we are too soft and he has to address that. Most worryingly for me his signings have been really poor. Hammond not improved things and Sammon, Woolford, Edgar and even Sharp have not convinced at all. Latter may have scored a few but missed a lot too and his recent performances have been ineffectual. Sadly, we do not seem any better under Adkins than Clough in how we play or results. Indeed if Clough was manager now we would have called for his head. He gets time of course and rightly so and will want to change a lot of this squad but don’t see him getting this ragged bunch up at all. It is also concerning his signings so far have been as bad or worse than one we had! Overall start for Adkins has not been good enough and I have not been impressed sadly. Not seen anything to say that he has done particularly well. We do score more goals I suppose but he has not sorted the keeper, defence, we are still soft in the middle and still lose way too easily at home and look no closer to making the Lane a fortress. He keeps moaning about the defence but keeps picking likes of Howard and Collins and has not replaced them. He has no one to blame but himself.
Ref – Poor but it annoyed me so many fans were blaming him for the defeat or poor play. He let them get away with constant time wasting and some cynical play. He also seemed to lose control for spells. He got a few decisions wrong but both ways and at times it seemed like he guessed on a lot of fouls and decisions (like the one that was a corner when it came off the corner flag). He did not book anyone for an age and then booked the full back for a lesser foul than the one he committed first half on Cambell Ryce. He then booked the keeper as we were making a sub. Bizarre. He should have been booked a lot longer ago but that was odd. He was poor I will say that and at times you were not sure what he would do next but that was for both sides.
However I would say United have to do better to adapt. We will get bad refs and often do at this level but United have to do better and change how they play depending on how referees officiate. Today he was letting a lot go and was allowing physical play so we have to be stronger. Sick of watching Sharp and Adams rolling around on the floor looking for free kicks. There were a lot of frustrating things that happened but can’t recall any major decisions affecting the outcome despite fans blaming him for everything. United are at home and to be blaming the referee is a bit pathetic.
Crowd – Nearly 20,000 which was most impressive again helped by a following of maybe 1,200 away fans. They were the noisiest bunch down here for some time and completely out sung the United fans all game who were very quiet and only got excited when the goal went in. In terms of trouble saw the police wrestling with a few pre game but nothing major seemed to happen. Odd that the fans could walk past the away end as normal pre game but not after with the road blocks put up. A flare went off on the Kop which led to stewards gathering around the corner but for the most part it seemed most of the rivalry did not get out of hand. Unsure why the game had to kick off so early. We have played these before at 3pm so why change it now especially when the Rotherham v Wednesday game was moved a long time ago.
I felt the United fans were more positive than the week despite the defeat. Some frustration set in but overall they was less booing overall just more frustration at the slow build up, lack of chances and also the rank bad defending.
Why does Adkins keep putting Done and Sammon out wide it's baffling.
