Good evening ladies and gentlemen. I'm coming to you live from a pub in Derby, while I wait 1.5 hours for a bloody train back up north so I thought I'd let you know how my night went.
I couldn't get a ticket in the away end. They sold out way before I could have a chance, so for the first time in my life, I went in with the home fans at a Blades away day. It turned out pretty good. Some observations:
The Pirelli Stadium is a cracking little ground! I had some Worthington's White Shield (bloody great beer) before the game and at half time in the bar. They play a live feed of the game in there, so you don't miss owt if you wanna sneak off for one during the game. Great touch.
I was on the terraces opposite the seated stand. I forgot how fun terracing can be. You can move around the stand, lean on the posts, switch ends at half time. Great stuff, very close to the action and worth not having a seat IMO. 20 quid a ticket, too. You can't say fairer than that.
The Burton fans are a quiet, reflective bunch. They hardly sang all game, even when they scored the buzz was subdued. They really rate Duffy, and were talking him up all game. This changed when he went down in the box during the 2nd half. They saw this as cheating and booed him for the rest of the game. They also liked Brooks - The lads around me found it funny to hear the Brooks Will Tear You Apart song. All in all, they are a grounded, decent bunch of fans, and I felt they reacted to a 3-1 home loss with a lot of maturity. Lots of informed chat in the stands about the game.
A Blades away end is LOUD! I could hear you loud and proud all game, lads. You did so well, and you could tell the players fed off it. I wish I could've been in there with you all. It was really hard to not go mad whenever we scored, especially that cracking Clarke header. I was mouthing the chants as they were being sung. You all looked fucking great whenever we scored. What a brilliant away support we have. It must be so intimidating for home support to see that turn up. You were the 12th man tonight. Lord bless each and every one of you.
Burton were sitting far too deep. They invited pressure and lost a lot of possession in midfield, and gave us acres of space and time in the final third. We lapped that up, and played some fantastic, aggressive, attractive football. We created tons of chances, and they had no idea how to handle our forward players. The small pitch really helped us. Our tight, angled passing game was hard to defend against in such a tight space. We swamped them, and Burton's game had Clough all over it - Defensive, minimal creativity, weak in the middle of the park and only good for one goal - Does that sound familiar, chaps? Mid-table Championship is clearly his level.
I thought Sharp played exceptionally in the 1st half, winning and scoring a penalty, then getting through on Duffy's assist for the second goal. That probably edges him for man of the match. But the thing I'm happiest about is Clarke bagging a goal. Yet again he worked his socks off, and he deserved to score. Brilliant to see him get 2 games in a row where he's hit the target. Lad's on 5 goals in 2 games, white hot! It was the best goal of the night too, a team effort with a poacher's finish. Great to see him boost his confidence like that.
As I walked back to the station, happy Blades singing and laughing on their way home, I smelled the malty beer aroma from the breweries, and even at this time of night, saw the steam coming out the chimneys. Burton's still an industrial town, but a lovely little place to go for a day out at the football. I certainly wouldn't mind coming back again. Maybe we'll draw them in the FA Cup during our Premier League title run in a few years.
3-1 to The Blades in The Kyle McFadzean Clasico. Sheffield United are once again top of the league. I can't believe all this is happening to our club. I honestly think we're gonna do a back to back promotion. I believe, and nights like tonight strengthen that. We're living through the golden era, my friends. Enjoy every last little bit. I hope you all have a delightful weekend. Up the bloody Blades.
I couldn't get a ticket in the away end. They sold out way before I could have a chance, so for the first time in my life, I went in with the home fans at a Blades away day. It turned out pretty good. Some observations:
The Pirelli Stadium is a cracking little ground! I had some Worthington's White Shield (bloody great beer) before the game and at half time in the bar. They play a live feed of the game in there, so you don't miss owt if you wanna sneak off for one during the game. Great touch.
I was on the terraces opposite the seated stand. I forgot how fun terracing can be. You can move around the stand, lean on the posts, switch ends at half time. Great stuff, very close to the action and worth not having a seat IMO. 20 quid a ticket, too. You can't say fairer than that.
The Burton fans are a quiet, reflective bunch. They hardly sang all game, even when they scored the buzz was subdued. They really rate Duffy, and were talking him up all game. This changed when he went down in the box during the 2nd half. They saw this as cheating and booed him for the rest of the game. They also liked Brooks - The lads around me found it funny to hear the Brooks Will Tear You Apart song. All in all, they are a grounded, decent bunch of fans, and I felt they reacted to a 3-1 home loss with a lot of maturity. Lots of informed chat in the stands about the game.
A Blades away end is LOUD! I could hear you loud and proud all game, lads. You did so well, and you could tell the players fed off it. I wish I could've been in there with you all. It was really hard to not go mad whenever we scored, especially that cracking Clarke header. I was mouthing the chants as they were being sung. You all looked fucking great whenever we scored. What a brilliant away support we have. It must be so intimidating for home support to see that turn up. You were the 12th man tonight. Lord bless each and every one of you.
Burton were sitting far too deep. They invited pressure and lost a lot of possession in midfield, and gave us acres of space and time in the final third. We lapped that up, and played some fantastic, aggressive, attractive football. We created tons of chances, and they had no idea how to handle our forward players. The small pitch really helped us. Our tight, angled passing game was hard to defend against in such a tight space. We swamped them, and Burton's game had Clough all over it - Defensive, minimal creativity, weak in the middle of the park and only good for one goal - Does that sound familiar, chaps? Mid-table Championship is clearly his level.
I thought Sharp played exceptionally in the 1st half, winning and scoring a penalty, then getting through on Duffy's assist for the second goal. That probably edges him for man of the match. But the thing I'm happiest about is Clarke bagging a goal. Yet again he worked his socks off, and he deserved to score. Brilliant to see him get 2 games in a row where he's hit the target. Lad's on 5 goals in 2 games, white hot! It was the best goal of the night too, a team effort with a poacher's finish. Great to see him boost his confidence like that.
As I walked back to the station, happy Blades singing and laughing on their way home, I smelled the malty beer aroma from the breweries, and even at this time of night, saw the steam coming out the chimneys. Burton's still an industrial town, but a lovely little place to go for a day out at the football. I certainly wouldn't mind coming back again. Maybe we'll draw them in the FA Cup during our Premier League title run in a few years.
3-1 to The Blades in The Kyle McFadzean Clasico. Sheffield United are once again top of the league. I can't believe all this is happening to our club. I honestly think we're gonna do a back to back promotion. I believe, and nights like tonight strengthen that. We're living through the golden era, my friends. Enjoy every last little bit. I hope you all have a delightful weekend. Up the bloody Blades.
