Deadbat
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It was another defeat for the Blades whose poor start to the season continued after they were beaten by Aston Villa on Monday evening. It is now 5 straight league defeats going back to the end of last season for Chris Wilder’s men. United actually gave a committed performance and kept a solid shape after losing John Egan to a red card on eleven minutes but lack of concentration on a set play again saw Konsa lose Stevens to score and United had no way back.
United sprang a few surprises by dropping Ollie Norwood in place of Sander Berge and also starting with McGoldrick and Oliver Burke up front with no place for McBurnie or Sharp. All thee of those left out were on the bench. There was no place for any of the new wing backs who had done well at Burnley with manager Wilder naming a more conservative defence with both Ampadu and Robinson named.
Villa gave debuts to big money signings Martinez, Watkins and Cash; with the latter two players who had been linked with the Blades in the summer but were boosted by skipper Jack Grealish committing his future to Villa for the foreseeable future after having signed a new contract.
United played their first league game in the new pink away strip as they returned to the scene of the first game after lockdown had ended in June with the controversy over the goal that never was.
Villa were on the attack early and Cash was all alone with Stevens nowhere near him and his deep cross was just too far for the stretching McGinn who had not been picked up either. On 3 minutes, another move was worked with Luiz’s dangerous cross headed just over his own bar from Basham leading to a corner. Hourihane took it but Mings could not get enough on it. It was nearly 5 minutes in before United actually had any possession and McGoldrick won a free kick but Lundstram did not beat the first man. A better cross from Lundstram nearly got McGoldrick in but Konsa got there first to clear. United made it to 6 minutes this week without conceding. Lundstram was then booked for a stupid challenge as he scythed down Grealish. He had not learnt his lesson from last week.
Disaster struck United on 11 minutes when Egan hauled back Watkins and was sent off. VAR looked at the award but went with the original decision citing him as last man which he clearly was and Ramsdale was not going to get the ball. It was a distance form goal but as soon as he grabbed his man he was in trouble. It was similar to the one where Christensen was sent off for Chelsea yesterday so at least the decisions have been consistent. United had nearly 80 minutes to play with ten men and as had happened at Newcastle, Egan had left his teammates with a mountain to climb.
United were struggling to get any kind of foothold in the game and more fouls from Baldock and Fleck saw Villa continue to threaten. They won a free kick which O’Connell flicked just past his own post. Villa were dominating the game and United now with a man disadvantage could not get going at all. Villa won another corner as Cash continued to cause problems down the right-hand side. The corner came in but the header by Luiz was straight at Ramsdale.
Villa continued to probe and have all of the ball as United could not get any kind of momentum at all. Baldock did draw a foul on his man to at least relieve some of the pressure in terms of Villa dominating the ball; even though they had not had many chances.
The game entered the half hour mark and Hourihane’s cross was cleared by O’Connell after Grealish had found an opening.
Villa did start to struggle to find openings though and United kept a solid shape. Ampadu came on for McGoldrick as United went back too a 5 at the back and just left Burke up front.
United had offered little as an attacking force but a good move saw neat play and Burke ran across the box and played in a delightful through ball and Basham was in on goal and was clipped as he got there ahead of Targett. The referee Scott pointed to the spot and after the VAR checks; the decision was confirmed. Targett was booked and not sent off due to the double jeopardy rule so the decision in this instance was definitely correct.
With no Norwood and Sharp, Lundstram took responsibility but his delivery was telegraphed and a great height for a keeper, Martinez sprang to his right to make the save. The disastrous start for the Blades had continued with the failure to convert this golden chance. There was no chance of it being retaken as the keeper had waited before making the save. Lundstram compounded his error with an appalling corner straight after.
Basham was now playing in a more midfield role as United changed things again with a 4-4-1 formation as United tried to ensure they were nice and compact. Basham was close to Grealish when he picked up the ball.
Villa moved it about on the left and it was knocked inside for Hourihane whose shot was blazed over when well placed. Grealish then won a corner in the next attack but United stood firm and were able to clear. United had defended well after the initial spell and were keeping a solid shape.
There was an extra four minutes of stoppage time to be played for the different stoppages. Villa continued to ask questions. A silly foul from Basham on McGinn led to a free kick right on half time. Grealish whipped it in but as Ramsdale stayed at home the ball evaded everyone.
The second half began with Konsu limping after he seemingly got injured as he came out but he carried on. Villa began with the ball and moved it about wide to create space and try and draw United from side to side.
Berge gave the ball away and Lundstram brought his man down leading to more possession for Villa for a period. Targett’s cross was held by Ramsdale though who took an inadvertent knock. Villa tried to find a chance through McGinn and Grealish but good work from Baldock saw United win the goal kick.
As the game approached the hour mark, Villa had struggled to fashion many chances but Watkins header was well over the bar. United had a bit of rest bite with Baldock in and then Berge had a chance but got the ball stuck under his foot when well-placed after running into the box. From the subsequent clearance, Villa broke up the other end and had another spell of play and continued to probe but United had held firm well so far. Basham conceded a corner before Davis came on for Hourihane.
For all the good work, poor defending undid United when the corner came across. Mings beat O’Connell to the ball who was blocked off again for the second week running and KONSA headed into the far corner of the goal with Ramsdale extremely slow to get down to the ball as it crept into the corner.
Osborn came on for Fleck as United tried to find new legs and impetus. The goal meant United had to come out and they made a chance when McBurnie came on for Basham.
Grealish had a shot wide after he ran into the last third. United tried to make headway with 20 minutes to play. United could not get much going and Grealish was pulling the strings and his ball led to Trezeguet clipping wide. United did not really look like coming back into the game with 15 minutes to go despite the changes to personnel and the formation.
Watkins came inside and curled an effort over the bar after nice, patient build up. The side most likely to get another goal were Villa as for all United’s hard work and organisation had been for nothing due to the poor goal they gave away.
A rare attack saw Burke do well and pull it back but it was cleared away from McBurnie and then Berge had a shot blocked. The next 10 minutes saw Villa have a lot of the ball and move it around but seemed content to just hold what they had. United could not really make any headway and it kind of petered out with a lot of tired legs. United forced a late corner but Berge hooked well over. The additional three minutes of stoppage time saw little happen apart from Grealish’s shot being blocked by Lundstram and United’s shocking away form going back into last season continued despite a determined effort from the ten men.
United – It has been a dreadful start really in terms of results and things just going wrong in every game! Maybe we cannot get a break but we have been our own undoing really. Today actually we saw better in terms of the collective after the red card but it was going to be so hard to keep any team out at this level for 80 minutes. We did some really good things in terms of organisation, work ethic and togetherness but even with that one moment of switching off and we have lost the game. Villa did not even look like scoring that much but you know that you make one error and it’s in the net. I thought our performance from the red card to the goal was really good but after they scored it was curtains sadly and for all the good defensive work, we undid it with a sloppy goal again. We never looked like scoring all night really but it was so difficult with us having ten men for so long and having to cover a lot of ground.
Going back to the start, we are not helping ourselves at all. A two goal start last week and then a red card this week. A lot will debate whether it was or wasn’t. I can see why it was given and the fact VAR had a look and still did not overturn suggested it was not obvious enough an error. It was consistent with the award yesterday from Chelsea so at least it was consistent but there will be a lot of red cards though this season if these are given. I can see a lot of frustration with Graham Scott but Egan just gets himself in a horrible position and sadly he gave the ref a choice. I have seen them as yellow and seen them as red. It was certainly not the howler many Blades fans are making out and many would have wanted it as red if it had been the other way. Technically by the rules it is the right decision as much as loads may protest. He fouled him and was last man.
After this we did well and settled down. We got the chance for the penalty but missed it and that was a real shame as it would have given us something to defend. I felt the defending from the red card to the hour mark was great. We kept a good shape and were solid and broke out when we could and were fine, I felt as we went to half time. I was pleased with howe we played
Second half this continued but, on the hour, we gave away the ball a few times, they forced us back and then of course got the corner and sloppy defending twice and it was in our net. After this it was over. We did not look like scoring and indeed Villa could have had more goals really. It was annoying as not even sure they were that great and looked quite clueless but once again a horrific set play goal to concede. Regardless of the ten men, if we keep making mistakes like the goals, we are conceding it’s going to be a struggle as we look quite impotent going the other way. I will say though for all the talk about strikers and our goal threat (yes, I know we did not score again or create much) we are not giving ourselves any chance if we keep making stupid errors or giving ourselves an uphill task to start games. This has happened both games.
We have now lost 5 straight defeats and only scored one goal and conceded nine. Indeed, this season we are the only Premier League team not to score a goal. Today I saw some positives with Burke and Ampadu doing well, some of the defensive solidity back despite a few key mistakes but again we never looked like scoring again but hard to be too critical on this front.
The form is really poor whichever way you look at it and we are stuck in a rut. People will say it is only two games but it’s going back to end last season. Oddly, I saw some good signs tonight in terms of the effort and covering and how organised we are. We at least got back to basics but know you make one mistake and you are done for as we have no flair, pace or creativity at the top of the field.
For all the talk of the strikers, we have no chance in games if we keep giving teams a start with goals/red cards. We have to be more solid and stop committing mistakes. If we do not do that and carry on like this; no doubt we will be near the bottom as the defence is our strongest part of the team but making stupid errors. Egan, O’Connell and Stevens all been guilty to start the season.
United sprang a few surprises by dropping Ollie Norwood in place of Sander Berge and also starting with McGoldrick and Oliver Burke up front with no place for McBurnie or Sharp. All thee of those left out were on the bench. There was no place for any of the new wing backs who had done well at Burnley with manager Wilder naming a more conservative defence with both Ampadu and Robinson named.
Villa gave debuts to big money signings Martinez, Watkins and Cash; with the latter two players who had been linked with the Blades in the summer but were boosted by skipper Jack Grealish committing his future to Villa for the foreseeable future after having signed a new contract.
United played their first league game in the new pink away strip as they returned to the scene of the first game after lockdown had ended in June with the controversy over the goal that never was.
Villa were on the attack early and Cash was all alone with Stevens nowhere near him and his deep cross was just too far for the stretching McGinn who had not been picked up either. On 3 minutes, another move was worked with Luiz’s dangerous cross headed just over his own bar from Basham leading to a corner. Hourihane took it but Mings could not get enough on it. It was nearly 5 minutes in before United actually had any possession and McGoldrick won a free kick but Lundstram did not beat the first man. A better cross from Lundstram nearly got McGoldrick in but Konsa got there first to clear. United made it to 6 minutes this week without conceding. Lundstram was then booked for a stupid challenge as he scythed down Grealish. He had not learnt his lesson from last week.
Disaster struck United on 11 minutes when Egan hauled back Watkins and was sent off. VAR looked at the award but went with the original decision citing him as last man which he clearly was and Ramsdale was not going to get the ball. It was a distance form goal but as soon as he grabbed his man he was in trouble. It was similar to the one where Christensen was sent off for Chelsea yesterday so at least the decisions have been consistent. United had nearly 80 minutes to play with ten men and as had happened at Newcastle, Egan had left his teammates with a mountain to climb.
United were struggling to get any kind of foothold in the game and more fouls from Baldock and Fleck saw Villa continue to threaten. They won a free kick which O’Connell flicked just past his own post. Villa were dominating the game and United now with a man disadvantage could not get going at all. Villa won another corner as Cash continued to cause problems down the right-hand side. The corner came in but the header by Luiz was straight at Ramsdale.
Villa continued to probe and have all of the ball as United could not get any kind of momentum at all. Baldock did draw a foul on his man to at least relieve some of the pressure in terms of Villa dominating the ball; even though they had not had many chances.
The game entered the half hour mark and Hourihane’s cross was cleared by O’Connell after Grealish had found an opening.
Villa did start to struggle to find openings though and United kept a solid shape. Ampadu came on for McGoldrick as United went back too a 5 at the back and just left Burke up front.
United had offered little as an attacking force but a good move saw neat play and Burke ran across the box and played in a delightful through ball and Basham was in on goal and was clipped as he got there ahead of Targett. The referee Scott pointed to the spot and after the VAR checks; the decision was confirmed. Targett was booked and not sent off due to the double jeopardy rule so the decision in this instance was definitely correct.
With no Norwood and Sharp, Lundstram took responsibility but his delivery was telegraphed and a great height for a keeper, Martinez sprang to his right to make the save. The disastrous start for the Blades had continued with the failure to convert this golden chance. There was no chance of it being retaken as the keeper had waited before making the save. Lundstram compounded his error with an appalling corner straight after.
Basham was now playing in a more midfield role as United changed things again with a 4-4-1 formation as United tried to ensure they were nice and compact. Basham was close to Grealish when he picked up the ball.
Villa moved it about on the left and it was knocked inside for Hourihane whose shot was blazed over when well placed. Grealish then won a corner in the next attack but United stood firm and were able to clear. United had defended well after the initial spell and were keeping a solid shape.
There was an extra four minutes of stoppage time to be played for the different stoppages. Villa continued to ask questions. A silly foul from Basham on McGinn led to a free kick right on half time. Grealish whipped it in but as Ramsdale stayed at home the ball evaded everyone.
The second half began with Konsu limping after he seemingly got injured as he came out but he carried on. Villa began with the ball and moved it about wide to create space and try and draw United from side to side.
Berge gave the ball away and Lundstram brought his man down leading to more possession for Villa for a period. Targett’s cross was held by Ramsdale though who took an inadvertent knock. Villa tried to find a chance through McGinn and Grealish but good work from Baldock saw United win the goal kick.
As the game approached the hour mark, Villa had struggled to fashion many chances but Watkins header was well over the bar. United had a bit of rest bite with Baldock in and then Berge had a chance but got the ball stuck under his foot when well-placed after running into the box. From the subsequent clearance, Villa broke up the other end and had another spell of play and continued to probe but United had held firm well so far. Basham conceded a corner before Davis came on for Hourihane.
For all the good work, poor defending undid United when the corner came across. Mings beat O’Connell to the ball who was blocked off again for the second week running and KONSA headed into the far corner of the goal with Ramsdale extremely slow to get down to the ball as it crept into the corner.
Osborn came on for Fleck as United tried to find new legs and impetus. The goal meant United had to come out and they made a chance when McBurnie came on for Basham.
Grealish had a shot wide after he ran into the last third. United tried to make headway with 20 minutes to play. United could not get much going and Grealish was pulling the strings and his ball led to Trezeguet clipping wide. United did not really look like coming back into the game with 15 minutes to go despite the changes to personnel and the formation.
Watkins came inside and curled an effort over the bar after nice, patient build up. The side most likely to get another goal were Villa as for all United’s hard work and organisation had been for nothing due to the poor goal they gave away.
A rare attack saw Burke do well and pull it back but it was cleared away from McBurnie and then Berge had a shot blocked. The next 10 minutes saw Villa have a lot of the ball and move it around but seemed content to just hold what they had. United could not really make any headway and it kind of petered out with a lot of tired legs. United forced a late corner but Berge hooked well over. The additional three minutes of stoppage time saw little happen apart from Grealish’s shot being blocked by Lundstram and United’s shocking away form going back into last season continued despite a determined effort from the ten men.
United – It has been a dreadful start really in terms of results and things just going wrong in every game! Maybe we cannot get a break but we have been our own undoing really. Today actually we saw better in terms of the collective after the red card but it was going to be so hard to keep any team out at this level for 80 minutes. We did some really good things in terms of organisation, work ethic and togetherness but even with that one moment of switching off and we have lost the game. Villa did not even look like scoring that much but you know that you make one error and it’s in the net. I thought our performance from the red card to the goal was really good but after they scored it was curtains sadly and for all the good defensive work, we undid it with a sloppy goal again. We never looked like scoring all night really but it was so difficult with us having ten men for so long and having to cover a lot of ground.
Going back to the start, we are not helping ourselves at all. A two goal start last week and then a red card this week. A lot will debate whether it was or wasn’t. I can see why it was given and the fact VAR had a look and still did not overturn suggested it was not obvious enough an error. It was consistent with the award yesterday from Chelsea so at least it was consistent but there will be a lot of red cards though this season if these are given. I can see a lot of frustration with Graham Scott but Egan just gets himself in a horrible position and sadly he gave the ref a choice. I have seen them as yellow and seen them as red. It was certainly not the howler many Blades fans are making out and many would have wanted it as red if it had been the other way. Technically by the rules it is the right decision as much as loads may protest. He fouled him and was last man.
After this we did well and settled down. We got the chance for the penalty but missed it and that was a real shame as it would have given us something to defend. I felt the defending from the red card to the hour mark was great. We kept a good shape and were solid and broke out when we could and were fine, I felt as we went to half time. I was pleased with howe we played
Second half this continued but, on the hour, we gave away the ball a few times, they forced us back and then of course got the corner and sloppy defending twice and it was in our net. After this it was over. We did not look like scoring and indeed Villa could have had more goals really. It was annoying as not even sure they were that great and looked quite clueless but once again a horrific set play goal to concede. Regardless of the ten men, if we keep making mistakes like the goals, we are conceding it’s going to be a struggle as we look quite impotent going the other way. I will say though for all the talk about strikers and our goal threat (yes, I know we did not score again or create much) we are not giving ourselves any chance if we keep making stupid errors or giving ourselves an uphill task to start games. This has happened both games.
We have now lost 5 straight defeats and only scored one goal and conceded nine. Indeed, this season we are the only Premier League team not to score a goal. Today I saw some positives with Burke and Ampadu doing well, some of the defensive solidity back despite a few key mistakes but again we never looked like scoring again but hard to be too critical on this front.
The form is really poor whichever way you look at it and we are stuck in a rut. People will say it is only two games but it’s going back to end last season. Oddly, I saw some good signs tonight in terms of the effort and covering and how organised we are. We at least got back to basics but know you make one mistake and you are done for as we have no flair, pace or creativity at the top of the field.
For all the talk of the strikers, we have no chance in games if we keep giving teams a start with goals/red cards. We have to be more solid and stop committing mistakes. If we do not do that and carry on like this; no doubt we will be near the bottom as the defence is our strongest part of the team but making stupid errors. Egan, O’Connell and Stevens all been guilty to start the season.
