Deadbat
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The saying, ‘an excellent advert for the division’ could certainly be apt when describing the entertaining 3-3 draw at Spotland as table toppers United were pegged back twice. In truth despite never having trailed, United were holding on for a draw towards the end as an excellent Dale side pushed them to the limit.
Manager Wilder had named an unchanged side after two impressive performances at Bramall Lane against fellow promotion chasers. In contrast Keith Hill had to ring the changes due to injuries and suspension but included former Blades Steven Davies, Nathaniel Mendez Laing and Harrison McGahey, who played in an unfamiliar right back slot.
The pitch did not look the best after the recent downpours with sand used in certain areas and other areas lacking much grass despite it being a newly laid surface! Several ground staff were attending to it pre-game and as the game kicked off; it already started to cut up badly. The early stages saw several bobbles as the ball was moved around by United and they started to realise it would be difficult to play their fluent passing football.
Moore caught an early cross and soon after United won a free kick that would lead to the opening goal. Keeper Wilson bizarrely decided to pick up a clear back pass from Lund and the award of an indirect free kick was regulation. From the angle around 12 yards out; Coutts touched it and despite a massed wall, DUFFY’s effort was perfection as he curled it into the far corner giving Wilson no chance.
After some quiet recent games Duffy was clearly in the mood and two superb pieces of skill took him away from his man. He then was caught by a very late tackle leading to Cannon rightly getting booked. Duffy had to receive treatment off the pitch. From the free kick from Fleck the ball was not cleared properly and it fell to LAFFERTY who was over 30 yards out. It seemed a long shot (literally) for him to score but he caught it beautifully and it flew into the top corner. He ran to celebrate with the 3,000+ Blades fans who were in dreamland after only 11 minutes.
Despite the two goals Rochdale kept at it and were knocking it about well and getting down the flanks with Mendez Laing in particular causing problems. They won a corner that led to McGahey heading over when he ought to have done better. Soon after another break down the right saw Lund get space and his cross was perfect for DAVIES to breast into the net. It was poor defending that they failed to stop the cross and then did not mark in the centre.
Hanson and Sharp had struggled so far with the former having to resort to fouling on a number of occasions. Despite United leading Dale had impressed and were breaking with pace when they cleared the ball and were causing problems with former Blades Mendez Laing and McGahey linking really well down the United left hand side of defence. Similarly, United were getting joy down the Rochdale left with Freeman and Duffy continuing to combine. Duffy and Sharp linked from one such opportunity that led to Freeman getting away but his cross was blocked before Coutts had an effort saved. Rochdale came again with Allen linking well with Henderson but the ball was cleared.
Lafferty had another effort blocked after more good work from Duffy down the flank before the half time whistle came to end an action packed first half.
United made a change with Carruthers replacing O’Connell and seemed to be playing just in front of Lafferty with United switching to flat back four at this stage. However, they were pegged back further and the game was level with the first meaningful attack of the second half. It was Mendez Laing again who had given Lafferty a really difficult game defensively and he used his pace and power to get away from him and sent over a dangerous cross. Moore’s touch away did not totally clear the danger and seemed to push it onto the angle of bar and post. It was returned from Cannon and LUND nipped in unmarked to smash the ball home. After this Rochdale had a further good spell and now could sense they could be the team who could go and win it. United opted to change things again and Ebanks Landell replaced the disappointing Hanson and the Blades went back to a 5-3-2 with Duffy playing the closes to Sharp.
After this United seemed to regain some control and had a good spell with Basham influential now pushed up into central midfield. Carruthers had a decent run and then Fleck and Lafferty combined. The Blades won two corners in quick succession and from the second the ball was not cleared properly and Basham nipped in. After his alert interception he drove at his man and got in the box and sent over an inviting cross that Ebanks Landell nearly got on the end of but the ball was not cleared and SHARP smashed it across the keeper and in despite the attempts of the defender on the line. Cue more wild celebrations from the away following with Basham leading the celebrations after his inspirational assist.
United then had a good spell and Ebanks Landell almost turned in a Coutts cross and then Carruthers was crowded out. Despite the lead you never felt totally comfortable and another goal from wide came for the home side. This time it was down the left side as Freeman did not get close enough to his man, Noble Lazarus the sub got down the wing and pulled over an inviting cross that Wright and Basham both failed to cut out. MENDEZ LAING came onto it and after dummying the shot, steadied himself and drilled home. It was a well taken goal but another poor one from a defensive point of view.
After this Rochdale came again and nearly scored with a Noble Lazarus cross headed down by Henderson but Moore made a stunning save somehow getting down to scoop the ball out. It became very much end to end now although the home side were having more of the ball and they nearly got in after a Wright foul but Ebanks Landell made a superb tackle after the advantage. At the other end Lafferty had a shot after a short free kick that the keeper nearly made a mess of. Three minutes of stoppage time were played but no further chances resulted to end the game with a fair result on reflection.
United – Odd one as if I had not gone I would have been gutted citing the give-away of a 2-0 and then a 3-2 but being there I felt different. I was really content with a draw at the end. It was annoying to throw those leads away but we never felt totally comfortable all game (even at 2-0). If anyone was going to win it was going to be them and Moore made a superb save to protect a point. Rochdale were more than decent and deserve credit but for United they let their standards drop in many areas.
It was nowhere near the level of recent performances. I felt quite a few players did not have the energy nor were they quite at it in terms of touch and passing. Duffy and Basham were two that did play well. I felt the defence was ragged at times and that the two full backs defensive weaknesses were badly exposed. They constantly broke on us and got down the flanks, particularly our left and sent cross after cross over. When these came in the marking was not that great either and I felt whatever combination we had at the back we never looked secure. In midfield Coutts was ok but Fleck had his poorest game for some time. Sharp and Hanson were really poor up top and other than the Sharp goal I cannot remember much they did right. Hanson had a shocker and was rightly subbed.
The pitch was awful so not sure why we kept trying to pass it as we kept trying to play it back and little tippy tappy stuff did not always work on a bit of a quagmire. I do not like going direct but we had to do more of that today. We did play some nice stuff when in their last third which was fine but doing it in our third was dangerous. The passing was up and down and I felt we did not press and harry as much as we have. They had too much time on the ball and there were huge gaps down the flanks. Rochdale like some other teams who have done well realised when we press or get men up; they can turn it over and break on us quickly. They actually had more chances than us today and looked more dangerous when they did attack.
We scored two great goals but they were back in quite quickly and then after that they looked like they may score again and so it proved. We started poorly after the break and the change of formation did not work. I was concerned they would go on and win at that point but United came again and had another spell of control culminating in a goal after super work from Basham. You sensed we may get another and continued to have control but then another daft give away (Duffy originally) saw them break again and score as we failed yet again to stop delivery from wide or mark in the middle. They then had the impetus again and looked the more likely winners. So it was a good point and especially considering the results elsewhere.
Wilder was very honest over the result and performance and cited everything I saw in terms of failure to stop the cross and not pressing or stopping the ball enough. He said he had to change the formation two or three times and other than a 15 minute spell second half we never had any semblance of control. Even at 2-0 it was not like we were destroying them. He also discussed them playing the pitch better than us which was right.
I think some players did look tired near the end and the heavy pitch did not help. I think a few may get rested/rotated for Tuesday and we may have picked up a few knocks (O’Connell, Hanson and Duffy?). We need to go again. It was pleasing that despite the disappointment of not winning we were always trying to win the three points and kept trying to get forward. It is another game gone and another where the point gap to third remains sizeable. Fleetwood and Millwall are on fire but both may be due a wobble you would hope. Bradford have started to come again whilst Scunny and Bolton continue to struggle in recent times. Would not surprise me if Scunny kept dropping.
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Rochdale – Fair play to them. They had a real go and broke with pace and got some super crosses in. They finished well and were really forward thinking. They exposed our weaknesses both individually and collectively, being able to get into space and get the ball down wide. I felt they were very good and since Fleetwood the best side I have seen play us. They went 2-0 down but had been ok even at that stage and you felt they may get back in it. At 2-2 I feared they would go on and win and then even after we had a decent spell, when it went 3-3 I worried they would nick it. They had some decent players too in Allen, Mendez Laing to name a few but they were a really committed side who knocked it about well too. On that showing, especially considering they were missing a few, surprised they are not higher up the league. They looked far better than Scunny and Bolton for instance. I suppose they were not great at the back and you can see why they have let a lot of goals in but do go forward and I think on that evidence they will have some more high scoring games to end the season.
Opponent man of the match : They had several impressive performers. All three of the former Blades played well and much better than they ever had done for us! Davies was a handful and McGahey (put some timber on!) played well and was steady (also got forward well) in an odd right back position. The lad Allen in midfield was excellent showing some neat touches and I felt the big lad Keane had Hanson in his pocket. However, Mendez Laing was a constant threat assisting and scoring. He looked fast and strong and seems to have lost some weight since he was at the Lane. Gave United’s defence a torrid time with his strong running. He was probably the outstanding player on the pitch.
Opponent Weak link : I felt the keeper looked poor all game and very jittery but the lad at left back (not sure who it was – Rafferty?) was really poor and Duffy gave him all sorts of problems.
Manager Wilder had named an unchanged side after two impressive performances at Bramall Lane against fellow promotion chasers. In contrast Keith Hill had to ring the changes due to injuries and suspension but included former Blades Steven Davies, Nathaniel Mendez Laing and Harrison McGahey, who played in an unfamiliar right back slot.
The pitch did not look the best after the recent downpours with sand used in certain areas and other areas lacking much grass despite it being a newly laid surface! Several ground staff were attending to it pre-game and as the game kicked off; it already started to cut up badly. The early stages saw several bobbles as the ball was moved around by United and they started to realise it would be difficult to play their fluent passing football.
Moore caught an early cross and soon after United won a free kick that would lead to the opening goal. Keeper Wilson bizarrely decided to pick up a clear back pass from Lund and the award of an indirect free kick was regulation. From the angle around 12 yards out; Coutts touched it and despite a massed wall, DUFFY’s effort was perfection as he curled it into the far corner giving Wilson no chance.
After some quiet recent games Duffy was clearly in the mood and two superb pieces of skill took him away from his man. He then was caught by a very late tackle leading to Cannon rightly getting booked. Duffy had to receive treatment off the pitch. From the free kick from Fleck the ball was not cleared properly and it fell to LAFFERTY who was over 30 yards out. It seemed a long shot (literally) for him to score but he caught it beautifully and it flew into the top corner. He ran to celebrate with the 3,000+ Blades fans who were in dreamland after only 11 minutes.
Despite the two goals Rochdale kept at it and were knocking it about well and getting down the flanks with Mendez Laing in particular causing problems. They won a corner that led to McGahey heading over when he ought to have done better. Soon after another break down the right saw Lund get space and his cross was perfect for DAVIES to breast into the net. It was poor defending that they failed to stop the cross and then did not mark in the centre.
Hanson and Sharp had struggled so far with the former having to resort to fouling on a number of occasions. Despite United leading Dale had impressed and were breaking with pace when they cleared the ball and were causing problems with former Blades Mendez Laing and McGahey linking really well down the United left hand side of defence. Similarly, United were getting joy down the Rochdale left with Freeman and Duffy continuing to combine. Duffy and Sharp linked from one such opportunity that led to Freeman getting away but his cross was blocked before Coutts had an effort saved. Rochdale came again with Allen linking well with Henderson but the ball was cleared.
Lafferty had another effort blocked after more good work from Duffy down the flank before the half time whistle came to end an action packed first half.
United made a change with Carruthers replacing O’Connell and seemed to be playing just in front of Lafferty with United switching to flat back four at this stage. However, they were pegged back further and the game was level with the first meaningful attack of the second half. It was Mendez Laing again who had given Lafferty a really difficult game defensively and he used his pace and power to get away from him and sent over a dangerous cross. Moore’s touch away did not totally clear the danger and seemed to push it onto the angle of bar and post. It was returned from Cannon and LUND nipped in unmarked to smash the ball home. After this Rochdale had a further good spell and now could sense they could be the team who could go and win it. United opted to change things again and Ebanks Landell replaced the disappointing Hanson and the Blades went back to a 5-3-2 with Duffy playing the closes to Sharp.
After this United seemed to regain some control and had a good spell with Basham influential now pushed up into central midfield. Carruthers had a decent run and then Fleck and Lafferty combined. The Blades won two corners in quick succession and from the second the ball was not cleared properly and Basham nipped in. After his alert interception he drove at his man and got in the box and sent over an inviting cross that Ebanks Landell nearly got on the end of but the ball was not cleared and SHARP smashed it across the keeper and in despite the attempts of the defender on the line. Cue more wild celebrations from the away following with Basham leading the celebrations after his inspirational assist.
United then had a good spell and Ebanks Landell almost turned in a Coutts cross and then Carruthers was crowded out. Despite the lead you never felt totally comfortable and another goal from wide came for the home side. This time it was down the left side as Freeman did not get close enough to his man, Noble Lazarus the sub got down the wing and pulled over an inviting cross that Wright and Basham both failed to cut out. MENDEZ LAING came onto it and after dummying the shot, steadied himself and drilled home. It was a well taken goal but another poor one from a defensive point of view.
After this Rochdale came again and nearly scored with a Noble Lazarus cross headed down by Henderson but Moore made a stunning save somehow getting down to scoop the ball out. It became very much end to end now although the home side were having more of the ball and they nearly got in after a Wright foul but Ebanks Landell made a superb tackle after the advantage. At the other end Lafferty had a shot after a short free kick that the keeper nearly made a mess of. Three minutes of stoppage time were played but no further chances resulted to end the game with a fair result on reflection.
United – Odd one as if I had not gone I would have been gutted citing the give-away of a 2-0 and then a 3-2 but being there I felt different. I was really content with a draw at the end. It was annoying to throw those leads away but we never felt totally comfortable all game (even at 2-0). If anyone was going to win it was going to be them and Moore made a superb save to protect a point. Rochdale were more than decent and deserve credit but for United they let their standards drop in many areas.
It was nowhere near the level of recent performances. I felt quite a few players did not have the energy nor were they quite at it in terms of touch and passing. Duffy and Basham were two that did play well. I felt the defence was ragged at times and that the two full backs defensive weaknesses were badly exposed. They constantly broke on us and got down the flanks, particularly our left and sent cross after cross over. When these came in the marking was not that great either and I felt whatever combination we had at the back we never looked secure. In midfield Coutts was ok but Fleck had his poorest game for some time. Sharp and Hanson were really poor up top and other than the Sharp goal I cannot remember much they did right. Hanson had a shocker and was rightly subbed.
The pitch was awful so not sure why we kept trying to pass it as we kept trying to play it back and little tippy tappy stuff did not always work on a bit of a quagmire. I do not like going direct but we had to do more of that today. We did play some nice stuff when in their last third which was fine but doing it in our third was dangerous. The passing was up and down and I felt we did not press and harry as much as we have. They had too much time on the ball and there were huge gaps down the flanks. Rochdale like some other teams who have done well realised when we press or get men up; they can turn it over and break on us quickly. They actually had more chances than us today and looked more dangerous when they did attack.
We scored two great goals but they were back in quite quickly and then after that they looked like they may score again and so it proved. We started poorly after the break and the change of formation did not work. I was concerned they would go on and win at that point but United came again and had another spell of control culminating in a goal after super work from Basham. You sensed we may get another and continued to have control but then another daft give away (Duffy originally) saw them break again and score as we failed yet again to stop delivery from wide or mark in the middle. They then had the impetus again and looked the more likely winners. So it was a good point and especially considering the results elsewhere.
Wilder was very honest over the result and performance and cited everything I saw in terms of failure to stop the cross and not pressing or stopping the ball enough. He said he had to change the formation two or three times and other than a 15 minute spell second half we never had any semblance of control. Even at 2-0 it was not like we were destroying them. He also discussed them playing the pitch better than us which was right.
I think some players did look tired near the end and the heavy pitch did not help. I think a few may get rested/rotated for Tuesday and we may have picked up a few knocks (O’Connell, Hanson and Duffy?). We need to go again. It was pleasing that despite the disappointment of not winning we were always trying to win the three points and kept trying to get forward. It is another game gone and another where the point gap to third remains sizeable. Fleetwood and Millwall are on fire but both may be due a wobble you would hope. Bradford have started to come again whilst Scunny and Bolton continue to struggle in recent times. Would not surprise me if Scunny kept dropping.
–
Rochdale – Fair play to them. They had a real go and broke with pace and got some super crosses in. They finished well and were really forward thinking. They exposed our weaknesses both individually and collectively, being able to get into space and get the ball down wide. I felt they were very good and since Fleetwood the best side I have seen play us. They went 2-0 down but had been ok even at that stage and you felt they may get back in it. At 2-2 I feared they would go on and win and then even after we had a decent spell, when it went 3-3 I worried they would nick it. They had some decent players too in Allen, Mendez Laing to name a few but they were a really committed side who knocked it about well too. On that showing, especially considering they were missing a few, surprised they are not higher up the league. They looked far better than Scunny and Bolton for instance. I suppose they were not great at the back and you can see why they have let a lot of goals in but do go forward and I think on that evidence they will have some more high scoring games to end the season.
Opponent man of the match : They had several impressive performers. All three of the former Blades played well and much better than they ever had done for us! Davies was a handful and McGahey (put some timber on!) played well and was steady (also got forward well) in an odd right back position. The lad Allen in midfield was excellent showing some neat touches and I felt the big lad Keane had Hanson in his pocket. However, Mendez Laing was a constant threat assisting and scoring. He looked fast and strong and seems to have lost some weight since he was at the Lane. Gave United’s defence a torrid time with his strong running. He was probably the outstanding player on the pitch.
Opponent Weak link : I felt the keeper looked poor all game and very jittery but the lad at left back (not sure who it was – Rafferty?) was really poor and Duffy gave him all sorts of problems.