Deadbat
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Bristol City’s miserable record at Bramall Lane continued as they were defeated by Sheffield United in a game that featured 5 goals, 2 sending’s off, a penalty, an horrendous own goal, a torrential down pour and a late winner for a home grown striker in front of the United Kop. The win keeps United’s faint chances of survival alive; at least for a few more days; but more than that it showed that the Blades do have some promising young players that they can build around for next season when the inevitability of relegation is finally confirmed. This was a game they somehow found themselves behind amidst appalling weather conditions but then were ahead after a flurry of goals and a red card for the visitors seemed in complete control. However, a further piece of poor defending saw City level and United were reduced to ten men. The game was now finely poised until an excellently taken late winner from youngster Jordan Slew past former England keeper David James.
Manager Micky Adams opted to go with youth retaining Maguire and Slew and also bringing in young Irishman David McAllister in the centre of midfield. Left back Mattock returned as did midfielder Williamson with Collins, Riise and Doyle the men to miss out. Quinn and Williamson began on the flanks with Lowton at right back and young Maguire partnering Lowry in the centre of defence. Mid table City had nothing to play for but pride and started with Maynard and Pitman up front with former Blade Jon Stead on the bench.
The game began amidst mixed weather conditions with bright sunshine that had been a feature of the previous few days now joined by showers. United were the first team to show with Slew cutting in and firing a shot that went high and wide. Soon after Quinn got in a good position but his effort was blocked. The home side had enjoyed most of the early running but the visitors won a corner with their first meaningful attack as Simonsen saved low down to push Maynard’s shot away. From this set play they went ahead in remarkable circumstances. The corner from Pitman seemed an easy catch for SIMONSEN but the keeper under no pressure whatsoever somehow managed to palm the ball up into the air towards his own goal and over the line despite Montgomery’s attempts to scoop the ball clear. The linesman flag confirmed the ball had crossed the line. It was a nightmare moment for the keeper whose poor season continued and left most of the ground aghast.
The rain continued to get worse and with the backdrop being hailstones and thunder, the Blades tried to come back from this hammer blow. McAllister had an effort blocked when well positioned and then Henderson should have done better with a far post header after good work from Slew and then Mattock in the build up. Mattock was booked for a silly late challenge on Adomah and the crowd were now beginning to get frustrated as the weather matched their mood. Williamson had a low daisy cutter that went just past James right hand post and then Lowton ought to have done better but his shot bobbled into James’ hands. Untied had been the better team and made most of the running but the ridiculous way they had conceded and poor play in the final third continued to be their undoing. However, they finally were able to get level and once again it was a strange goal. The ball was put into the box and as it bobbled around a clearance from the Bristol City defender struck WILLIAMSON and flew up and over James into the net. United had deserved to be level but it was a fortuitous goal to say the least. This signalled the start of a crazy 5 minutes which saw the Blades create a flurry of chances. It all started when Maynard dived recklessly into a challenge on Lowton that left the United man clutching his ankle. The red card that came from referee D’Urso was not a surprise and neither Maynard nor his teammates made much of an appeal or remonstration. After Lowton had received treatment and was deemed fit to continue; the Blades then took the lead. It came with an initial run and shot from Lowton that was blocked but the ball fell to MCALLISTER and he hit an absolute beauty low past James left hand into the bottom corner. The scorer slid into the puddles in front of the South Stand showing his glee at scoring on his first start for the club.
Soon after the same man came close to scoring again with an outrageous effort from fully 30 yards. His precise effort curled and arced towards the top corner but veteran James made a stunning save full stretch to tip the ball round the angle of bar and post. The sunshine had by now re-emerged once again mirroring the change around in the game in terms of the home team’s positive spell of football and McAllister had another effort that was saved by James. The midfielder was now in a rich vein of form and it seemed like the ball was magnetised to him for the closing stages of the half. A further two corners led to half chances with Slew blocked off and Henderson unable to convert. United were able to go into the break into the lead and with a man advantage they would have been confident to go on and win the game.
The second half began with Keith Millen making a triple substitution with former Blade Stead, Campbell Ryce and Skuse replacing Cisse, Adomah and Woolford. However, making the most of their numerical advantage; United continued in the ascendancy. They had a number of chances to test James but if anything were guilty of overplaying and City almost made them pay when they won a free kick which Pitman struck against Simonsen’s left hand post. After this let off United came back onto the attack and neat link up from the right saw a chance for Lowton but he was flagged offside. Quinn then weaved through but drove wide before Williamson’s low cross was missed by everybody. United seemed like they would kill the game off but more shocking defending led to an equaliser on the hour.
Skipper Montgomery’s wayward pass put Maguire into all sorts of problems and Stead was away and in on goal. The youngster tried to make a last ditch challenge but referee D’Urso ruled his tackle was from behind and a foul and pointed t the spot. To add insult to injury Maguire was given a straight red card and had to troop off on his full home debut. Pitman took the kick and just as he had at Ashton Gate beat Simonsen to leave the game back level at 2-2.
Kozluk came on for Williamson with Lowton moving to centre back drawing boos from the Bramall Lane crowd who clearly wanted United to go for it rather than shore things up at the back. The game as now a 10 v 10 game and was becomingly increasingly open with gaps all over the field. Mattock had a low shot pushed away by James and then Henderson drilled a low shot wide. However, City broke and were suddenly in on goal but Stead was denied by a solid save from Simonsen down to his left. United then came again with Kozluk heading across goal and agonisingly just past the post but not close enough to Henderson for him to convert. The big striker had been drawing the ire of the United crowd for his performance and their mood got worse when they chastised manager Adams once again when he replaced Quinn with Riise. However and the season seemingly slipping away a moment of magic by one of their own ultimately would win the game. A free kick played in was held up by Henderson and as the ball dropped, SLEW hit a tremendous shot past James and into the top corner of the net. The youngster ran to the Kop in jubilation before his teammates engulfed him in celebration. It was a special moment and a rare ray of light in an otherwise disastrous season.
Slew was taken off to a standing ovation as another youngster Philliskirk replaced him before United were able to see off the three minutes of stoppage time with no real anxious moments. The final whistle signalled United still had some hope; albeit slim but more importantly United’s fans had seen some promising young players that they could perhaps build around in years to come.
Bristol City – Thought they looked like they were on their holidays and for the most part were really poor. They were lucky to be winning, lucky to be still in the game in the second half, fortunate to be level and then after this it was anyone’s game. They did hit the post and Simonsen made a couple of saves but I reckon they maybe only had 3 or 4 shots all game. They stood off the ball for the most part and even before they went down to ten men they were second best. The tackle was an odd one as they had not even looked interested in tackling or challenging before this. It was a really poor challenge and came at a bad time after had just levelled. After this City seemed to collapse and we could have had 4 or 5 goals at the end of the first half. In the second half; the Blades were seemingly in control and City sat further and further back; until the penalty and red card. After this they actually came alive again and had as many chances as us in the last 20 minutes as the game became like a basketball game and was very open and almost end to end. They did not deserve anything from the game over the 90 minutes though and justice was probably just about done at the end with the late winner.
To be fair they had nothing to play for and they did not show great urgency nor desire to get forward or create chances (until the closing stages) but after Simonsen’s howler I thought they may have become more solid and defended resolutely but we got through them rather easily. James made quite a few decent saves but they were soft right down the middle and if the ball had dropped a bit better for us we could have had more goal. The equaliser was fortunate ironically enough but we had had so many half chances, balls in the box, it was inevitable something would drop for United. No one really stood out for Bristol City and regardless of the ten men; the triple substitution showed what Millen thought of his team’s performance. Either that or he was just wanting to rotate things and give everyone a chance in the run in with them having no chance of going up or down.
I have always liked the midfielder Elliott who does a nice job; in the Montgomery mould, but maybe a better user of the ball. Maynard has scored a lot of goals but his challenge was a shocker and we had seen little of him up to that point. Adamoh and Woolford are two natural wide threats but those two also did not get in the game and both were taken off. Their replacements Skuse and Stead were much more lively and the latter showed some of his strong running and willingness to chase across the front line as he helped them back in the game. It does seem Stead does the same wherever he goes though; starting off well, scoring goals and becoming a favourite before tailing off and usually losing his place and then inevitable being sold. It has happened 3 or 4 times now and it is probably more than a co-incidence or down to managers. It is odd as the lad has a lot of talent but seems to lack consistency. It is frustrating that a poor side such as City (although today they had nothing to play for so difficult to judge) are comfortable and we look doomed. You look at the two sides and we are as good if not better on paper but you compare the two keepers for example and you can argue points have been won and lost there and also strikers comparing Maynard to anything we have fielded.
Manager Micky Adams opted to go with youth retaining Maguire and Slew and also bringing in young Irishman David McAllister in the centre of midfield. Left back Mattock returned as did midfielder Williamson with Collins, Riise and Doyle the men to miss out. Quinn and Williamson began on the flanks with Lowton at right back and young Maguire partnering Lowry in the centre of defence. Mid table City had nothing to play for but pride and started with Maynard and Pitman up front with former Blade Jon Stead on the bench.
The game began amidst mixed weather conditions with bright sunshine that had been a feature of the previous few days now joined by showers. United were the first team to show with Slew cutting in and firing a shot that went high and wide. Soon after Quinn got in a good position but his effort was blocked. The home side had enjoyed most of the early running but the visitors won a corner with their first meaningful attack as Simonsen saved low down to push Maynard’s shot away. From this set play they went ahead in remarkable circumstances. The corner from Pitman seemed an easy catch for SIMONSEN but the keeper under no pressure whatsoever somehow managed to palm the ball up into the air towards his own goal and over the line despite Montgomery’s attempts to scoop the ball clear. The linesman flag confirmed the ball had crossed the line. It was a nightmare moment for the keeper whose poor season continued and left most of the ground aghast.
The rain continued to get worse and with the backdrop being hailstones and thunder, the Blades tried to come back from this hammer blow. McAllister had an effort blocked when well positioned and then Henderson should have done better with a far post header after good work from Slew and then Mattock in the build up. Mattock was booked for a silly late challenge on Adomah and the crowd were now beginning to get frustrated as the weather matched their mood. Williamson had a low daisy cutter that went just past James right hand post and then Lowton ought to have done better but his shot bobbled into James’ hands. Untied had been the better team and made most of the running but the ridiculous way they had conceded and poor play in the final third continued to be their undoing. However, they finally were able to get level and once again it was a strange goal. The ball was put into the box and as it bobbled around a clearance from the Bristol City defender struck WILLIAMSON and flew up and over James into the net. United had deserved to be level but it was a fortuitous goal to say the least. This signalled the start of a crazy 5 minutes which saw the Blades create a flurry of chances. It all started when Maynard dived recklessly into a challenge on Lowton that left the United man clutching his ankle. The red card that came from referee D’Urso was not a surprise and neither Maynard nor his teammates made much of an appeal or remonstration. After Lowton had received treatment and was deemed fit to continue; the Blades then took the lead. It came with an initial run and shot from Lowton that was blocked but the ball fell to MCALLISTER and he hit an absolute beauty low past James left hand into the bottom corner. The scorer slid into the puddles in front of the South Stand showing his glee at scoring on his first start for the club.
Soon after the same man came close to scoring again with an outrageous effort from fully 30 yards. His precise effort curled and arced towards the top corner but veteran James made a stunning save full stretch to tip the ball round the angle of bar and post. The sunshine had by now re-emerged once again mirroring the change around in the game in terms of the home team’s positive spell of football and McAllister had another effort that was saved by James. The midfielder was now in a rich vein of form and it seemed like the ball was magnetised to him for the closing stages of the half. A further two corners led to half chances with Slew blocked off and Henderson unable to convert. United were able to go into the break into the lead and with a man advantage they would have been confident to go on and win the game.
The second half began with Keith Millen making a triple substitution with former Blade Stead, Campbell Ryce and Skuse replacing Cisse, Adomah and Woolford. However, making the most of their numerical advantage; United continued in the ascendancy. They had a number of chances to test James but if anything were guilty of overplaying and City almost made them pay when they won a free kick which Pitman struck against Simonsen’s left hand post. After this let off United came back onto the attack and neat link up from the right saw a chance for Lowton but he was flagged offside. Quinn then weaved through but drove wide before Williamson’s low cross was missed by everybody. United seemed like they would kill the game off but more shocking defending led to an equaliser on the hour.
Skipper Montgomery’s wayward pass put Maguire into all sorts of problems and Stead was away and in on goal. The youngster tried to make a last ditch challenge but referee D’Urso ruled his tackle was from behind and a foul and pointed t the spot. To add insult to injury Maguire was given a straight red card and had to troop off on his full home debut. Pitman took the kick and just as he had at Ashton Gate beat Simonsen to leave the game back level at 2-2.
Kozluk came on for Williamson with Lowton moving to centre back drawing boos from the Bramall Lane crowd who clearly wanted United to go for it rather than shore things up at the back. The game as now a 10 v 10 game and was becomingly increasingly open with gaps all over the field. Mattock had a low shot pushed away by James and then Henderson drilled a low shot wide. However, City broke and were suddenly in on goal but Stead was denied by a solid save from Simonsen down to his left. United then came again with Kozluk heading across goal and agonisingly just past the post but not close enough to Henderson for him to convert. The big striker had been drawing the ire of the United crowd for his performance and their mood got worse when they chastised manager Adams once again when he replaced Quinn with Riise. However and the season seemingly slipping away a moment of magic by one of their own ultimately would win the game. A free kick played in was held up by Henderson and as the ball dropped, SLEW hit a tremendous shot past James and into the top corner of the net. The youngster ran to the Kop in jubilation before his teammates engulfed him in celebration. It was a special moment and a rare ray of light in an otherwise disastrous season.
Slew was taken off to a standing ovation as another youngster Philliskirk replaced him before United were able to see off the three minutes of stoppage time with no real anxious moments. The final whistle signalled United still had some hope; albeit slim but more importantly United’s fans had seen some promising young players that they could perhaps build around in years to come.
Bristol City – Thought they looked like they were on their holidays and for the most part were really poor. They were lucky to be winning, lucky to be still in the game in the second half, fortunate to be level and then after this it was anyone’s game. They did hit the post and Simonsen made a couple of saves but I reckon they maybe only had 3 or 4 shots all game. They stood off the ball for the most part and even before they went down to ten men they were second best. The tackle was an odd one as they had not even looked interested in tackling or challenging before this. It was a really poor challenge and came at a bad time after had just levelled. After this City seemed to collapse and we could have had 4 or 5 goals at the end of the first half. In the second half; the Blades were seemingly in control and City sat further and further back; until the penalty and red card. After this they actually came alive again and had as many chances as us in the last 20 minutes as the game became like a basketball game and was very open and almost end to end. They did not deserve anything from the game over the 90 minutes though and justice was probably just about done at the end with the late winner.
To be fair they had nothing to play for and they did not show great urgency nor desire to get forward or create chances (until the closing stages) but after Simonsen’s howler I thought they may have become more solid and defended resolutely but we got through them rather easily. James made quite a few decent saves but they were soft right down the middle and if the ball had dropped a bit better for us we could have had more goal. The equaliser was fortunate ironically enough but we had had so many half chances, balls in the box, it was inevitable something would drop for United. No one really stood out for Bristol City and regardless of the ten men; the triple substitution showed what Millen thought of his team’s performance. Either that or he was just wanting to rotate things and give everyone a chance in the run in with them having no chance of going up or down.
I have always liked the midfielder Elliott who does a nice job; in the Montgomery mould, but maybe a better user of the ball. Maynard has scored a lot of goals but his challenge was a shocker and we had seen little of him up to that point. Adamoh and Woolford are two natural wide threats but those two also did not get in the game and both were taken off. Their replacements Skuse and Stead were much more lively and the latter showed some of his strong running and willingness to chase across the front line as he helped them back in the game. It does seem Stead does the same wherever he goes though; starting off well, scoring goals and becoming a favourite before tailing off and usually losing his place and then inevitable being sold. It has happened 3 or 4 times now and it is probably more than a co-incidence or down to managers. It is odd as the lad has a lot of talent but seems to lack consistency. It is frustrating that a poor side such as City (although today they had nothing to play for so difficult to judge) are comfortable and we look doomed. You look at the two sides and we are as good if not better on paper but you compare the two keepers for example and you can argue points have been won and lost there and also strikers comparing Maynard to anything we have fielded.
