Deadbat
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It was a point on the South Coast for the Blades at Bournemouth as United bounced back from the embarrassing evening at the Lane on Monday night and moved off the bottom of the Premier League table! However, after leading 2-0 with just over a quarter an hour to play, it ultimately ended up being a disappointing end to the afternoon after what seemed like an unlikely victory would result. Goals from Gus Hamer and Jack Robinson, against the run of play, looked set to give United a remarkable victory but two Bournemouth substitutions, Ouattara and Unal, gave the Cherries a point. The second goal came in stoppage time continuing United’s abject record to close out games with so many goals being conceded late on. The Blades at least showed much more resolve and fight and did carry a threat up the field but once again conceded possession cheaply and ended up penned in their own third for long stages of the game.
Manager Wilder made four changes from the latest humbling with Ahmedhozic, Souza, Norwood and McAtee coming out of the team. In came Baldock, Osborn, Brereton Diaz and for his first Premier League start, youngster Arblaster. Bournemouth had steadily moved away from the bottom and were now comfortable in mid table. They would be once again looking to danger man Solanke but had a number of dangerous offensive options to worry the visitors.
The game started with a chance at either end as Christie had a shot straight at Grbic but at the other end, Brereton Diaz had an even better opportunity as he drove in on the angle but his shot lacked power and Neto saved his effort.
Robinson then blocked a long-range effort but Grbic was less decisive in his second involvement in the game as Solanke appeared to outjump him and the Croatian tried to take the ball shoulder height and it bounced off the striker and out for a goal kick. Bournemouth then got down the left and pulled the ball back but Tavernier had a complete air shot at the ball.
Kerkez then was booked for an over zealous tackle on Davies before the home side then broke after a Robinson long throw and Osborn hauled down Kluivert whose pace got him away from the United player. More ill discipline came soon after as the home side had a great chance to lead on 14 minutes.
It came from a clever set play routine where the ball was played back to Solanke but Davies in his haste to deny a possible chance went through the back of the striker. The replayed showed he did get some of the ball but he went through the man to make it and left his feet. It was another clumsy and ridiculous challenge considering United’s current predicament. After VAR saw no reason to overrule, Solanke took the penalty but it was a disastrous attempt from the Cherries leading scorer as his feet gave way and he kicked it from one foot to the other and miles over the bar! It was a real let off for the Blades.
Brereton Diaz was taken down by Smith soon after leading to another yellow card but Hamer wasted the free kick. Bournemouth took another clever dead ball and it fell for Semenyo but he fired over. Lovely football saw the ball then moved across the field and it was Semenyo having the effort again but Grbic helped it over the bar.
The home side were now in total control and moving it around crisply as United’s competitive start now seemed a long time ago as the ball was remaining largely in the visiting half. Grbic then made a decent save from Semenyo’s powerful shot as his one-man crusade to get the opening goal continued.
However, despite the control and threat they were enjoying, the first goal went to the visitors! It started as they picked the ball up in their own half and Hamer took it on and played in McBurnie. The striker came across field and played it back to Hamer despite being challenged. The midfielder played it on to Bogle who hit a fierce angled drive that Neto could only push out and HAMER came in and smashed the ball high into the net.
Bournemouth tried to instantly respond and Christie’s run and step over, found him space but his drive went into the side netting. Hamer was the first United player to be booked for a lazy and unnecessary pull back and after getting in front, the last thing Wilder would have wanted is for the Blades to keep giving the ball away but this was happening with frequency.
Christie’s cross was dangerous and Semenyo’s header was saved well again by Grbic and the keeper had to be alert to come off his line to deny the home team as the ball hit his chest rather than his hand. It had been an impressive game, his best yet, for the stopper who had made several key saves to preserve the lead.
Christie fired over as the pressure continued but McBurnie and Brereton Diaz were doing well to hold the ball up and one such move saw them link well and it led to a throw. Robinson’s delivery was flicked on by Davies and Neto had to help it over and United won two successive corners on the back of this.
Just before half time McBurnie had a great chance but his header lacked power and there was still time for Tavernier to pull back and Kerkoz fired a shot that Grbic did well to parry again.
Both teams made changes at the break with Davies off for Souza and Outtara replaced Kerkez. The second half began scrappily and United would have been happy with that – McBurnie was holding the ball up well but was also being fouled a number of times – with no decisions going in his favour.
Christie fired another over the bar and then Trusty did well to deny Solanke and allow the ball to go out before Arblaster tried to release Brereton Diaz but Neto came out in the same way that Grbic did towards the end of the first half. It was a much more even second half and McBurnie and Brereton Diaz’s hold up was keeping United up the field and allowing the defence a breather. McBurnie had a curled effort over the bar before two successive theatrical falls from the home team were rightly waved away.
After being baulked, tripped, and held, McBurnie was then booked for an errant arm on an opponent- which seemed incredibly harsh. There were more changes as Kluivert and Tavernier departed to be replaced by Sinisterra and Unal. Arblaster had been growing into the game and his driving run saw him fire goalwars and Neto had to push behind leading to a corner.
From this delivery, Neto made a mess of it and punched the ball against his own man Solanke and it bounced across for ROBINSON to hook the ball goalwards. It glanced off the post and across the line and as Neto looked to scoop out, the reaction from the Blades players suggested it had clearly crossed the line and sure enough, a check of Anthony Taylor’s watch revealed it was a goal and United were two up!
The reaction from the home side was instant as the ball came in and was not cleared and then was helped back across and as Robinson looked to clear it bounced off Solanke and he fired home. Fortunately for the Blades, the ridiculous hand ball rule meant that despite the ball being fired at the striker from such close proximity, it was ruled out after a lengthy check for both a handball and an offside!
McBurnie and Bogle came off for Ahmedhodzic and McAtee as the game entered the final 20 minutes. United were now struggling to keep the ball or even get out of their own half and Sinisterra was proving a real threat and Baldock was struggling with his pace and direct running. The substitute whizzed an effort in that glanced Trusty’s head and went over before Brereton Diaz at least got United out for a period but his cross was wayward. Grbic was booked for timewasting but the home team were now really increasing the pressure and the arrears were reduced on 74 minutes.
McAtee gave it away cheaply and the ball was moved forward and eventually out for a corner. The delivery was good but no one went with Ouattara and he headed home completely unmarked. Grbic maybe should have also come out as the ball was headed in from only a few yards but the marking was really poor.
Billing and Scott came on for Smith and Christie and the home side sensed that the turnaround would be completed due to the wave after wave of pressure that was coming in. Another corner was not dealt with and it bounced off a defender and into Grbic’s hands as the keeper remained on his line again. It was one way traffic and United were really hanging on now. Brereton Diaz had ran his race and he and Arblaster, were replaced by Osula and Norwood.
Ouattara nearly got a head on another chance as Grbic came and then went back, as the keeper’s second half was not as impressive as his first half. The Blades were completely pinned back and Osula finally bought some time before Norwood was booked for timewasting. Billing had an effort straight at Grbic as the game moved towards the end of regulation time. There were to be 8 minutes of additional time, not a surprise as United had really slowed things down in an attempt to see out the game but the visitors could not hang on. The equaliser came when the ball came in from Scott’s corner and the ball was cleared off the line from Norwood, but it was played to the back post and Osborn lost his man and UNAL diverted the ball into the corner. It was a crushing blow but with still time left, United’s fans would be wondering if they would go from three points, to one point to nothing – as this has happened before this season.
Sinisterra’s dribbling skills had been a feature of the comeback and his run and shot was narrowly wide before Billing had a shot over the bar. It was defence v attack and it was only a matter if Bournemouth could complete the turnaround as they were knocking on the door. Ahemedhodzic and Robinson got tackles in and the ball was cleared down the field to Osula and the final whistle went and United had at least got a point to stop the rot. The Blades were off the bottom too which had not happened for a long, long time!
Manager Wilder made four changes from the latest humbling with Ahmedhozic, Souza, Norwood and McAtee coming out of the team. In came Baldock, Osborn, Brereton Diaz and for his first Premier League start, youngster Arblaster. Bournemouth had steadily moved away from the bottom and were now comfortable in mid table. They would be once again looking to danger man Solanke but had a number of dangerous offensive options to worry the visitors.
The game started with a chance at either end as Christie had a shot straight at Grbic but at the other end, Brereton Diaz had an even better opportunity as he drove in on the angle but his shot lacked power and Neto saved his effort.
Robinson then blocked a long-range effort but Grbic was less decisive in his second involvement in the game as Solanke appeared to outjump him and the Croatian tried to take the ball shoulder height and it bounced off the striker and out for a goal kick. Bournemouth then got down the left and pulled the ball back but Tavernier had a complete air shot at the ball.
Kerkez then was booked for an over zealous tackle on Davies before the home side then broke after a Robinson long throw and Osborn hauled down Kluivert whose pace got him away from the United player. More ill discipline came soon after as the home side had a great chance to lead on 14 minutes.
It came from a clever set play routine where the ball was played back to Solanke but Davies in his haste to deny a possible chance went through the back of the striker. The replayed showed he did get some of the ball but he went through the man to make it and left his feet. It was another clumsy and ridiculous challenge considering United’s current predicament. After VAR saw no reason to overrule, Solanke took the penalty but it was a disastrous attempt from the Cherries leading scorer as his feet gave way and he kicked it from one foot to the other and miles over the bar! It was a real let off for the Blades.
Brereton Diaz was taken down by Smith soon after leading to another yellow card but Hamer wasted the free kick. Bournemouth took another clever dead ball and it fell for Semenyo but he fired over. Lovely football saw the ball then moved across the field and it was Semenyo having the effort again but Grbic helped it over the bar.
The home side were now in total control and moving it around crisply as United’s competitive start now seemed a long time ago as the ball was remaining largely in the visiting half. Grbic then made a decent save from Semenyo’s powerful shot as his one-man crusade to get the opening goal continued.
However, despite the control and threat they were enjoying, the first goal went to the visitors! It started as they picked the ball up in their own half and Hamer took it on and played in McBurnie. The striker came across field and played it back to Hamer despite being challenged. The midfielder played it on to Bogle who hit a fierce angled drive that Neto could only push out and HAMER came in and smashed the ball high into the net.
Bournemouth tried to instantly respond and Christie’s run and step over, found him space but his drive went into the side netting. Hamer was the first United player to be booked for a lazy and unnecessary pull back and after getting in front, the last thing Wilder would have wanted is for the Blades to keep giving the ball away but this was happening with frequency.
Christie’s cross was dangerous and Semenyo’s header was saved well again by Grbic and the keeper had to be alert to come off his line to deny the home team as the ball hit his chest rather than his hand. It had been an impressive game, his best yet, for the stopper who had made several key saves to preserve the lead.
Christie fired over as the pressure continued but McBurnie and Brereton Diaz were doing well to hold the ball up and one such move saw them link well and it led to a throw. Robinson’s delivery was flicked on by Davies and Neto had to help it over and United won two successive corners on the back of this.
Just before half time McBurnie had a great chance but his header lacked power and there was still time for Tavernier to pull back and Kerkoz fired a shot that Grbic did well to parry again.
Both teams made changes at the break with Davies off for Souza and Outtara replaced Kerkez. The second half began scrappily and United would have been happy with that – McBurnie was holding the ball up well but was also being fouled a number of times – with no decisions going in his favour.
Christie fired another over the bar and then Trusty did well to deny Solanke and allow the ball to go out before Arblaster tried to release Brereton Diaz but Neto came out in the same way that Grbic did towards the end of the first half. It was a much more even second half and McBurnie and Brereton Diaz’s hold up was keeping United up the field and allowing the defence a breather. McBurnie had a curled effort over the bar before two successive theatrical falls from the home team were rightly waved away.
After being baulked, tripped, and held, McBurnie was then booked for an errant arm on an opponent- which seemed incredibly harsh. There were more changes as Kluivert and Tavernier departed to be replaced by Sinisterra and Unal. Arblaster had been growing into the game and his driving run saw him fire goalwars and Neto had to push behind leading to a corner.
From this delivery, Neto made a mess of it and punched the ball against his own man Solanke and it bounced across for ROBINSON to hook the ball goalwards. It glanced off the post and across the line and as Neto looked to scoop out, the reaction from the Blades players suggested it had clearly crossed the line and sure enough, a check of Anthony Taylor’s watch revealed it was a goal and United were two up!
The reaction from the home side was instant as the ball came in and was not cleared and then was helped back across and as Robinson looked to clear it bounced off Solanke and he fired home. Fortunately for the Blades, the ridiculous hand ball rule meant that despite the ball being fired at the striker from such close proximity, it was ruled out after a lengthy check for both a handball and an offside!
McBurnie and Bogle came off for Ahmedhodzic and McAtee as the game entered the final 20 minutes. United were now struggling to keep the ball or even get out of their own half and Sinisterra was proving a real threat and Baldock was struggling with his pace and direct running. The substitute whizzed an effort in that glanced Trusty’s head and went over before Brereton Diaz at least got United out for a period but his cross was wayward. Grbic was booked for timewasting but the home team were now really increasing the pressure and the arrears were reduced on 74 minutes.
McAtee gave it away cheaply and the ball was moved forward and eventually out for a corner. The delivery was good but no one went with Ouattara and he headed home completely unmarked. Grbic maybe should have also come out as the ball was headed in from only a few yards but the marking was really poor.
Billing and Scott came on for Smith and Christie and the home side sensed that the turnaround would be completed due to the wave after wave of pressure that was coming in. Another corner was not dealt with and it bounced off a defender and into Grbic’s hands as the keeper remained on his line again. It was one way traffic and United were really hanging on now. Brereton Diaz had ran his race and he and Arblaster, were replaced by Osula and Norwood.
Ouattara nearly got a head on another chance as Grbic came and then went back, as the keeper’s second half was not as impressive as his first half. The Blades were completely pinned back and Osula finally bought some time before Norwood was booked for timewasting. Billing had an effort straight at Grbic as the game moved towards the end of regulation time. There were to be 8 minutes of additional time, not a surprise as United had really slowed things down in an attempt to see out the game but the visitors could not hang on. The equaliser came when the ball came in from Scott’s corner and the ball was cleared off the line from Norwood, but it was played to the back post and Osborn lost his man and UNAL diverted the ball into the corner. It was a crushing blow but with still time left, United’s fans would be wondering if they would go from three points, to one point to nothing – as this has happened before this season.
Sinisterra’s dribbling skills had been a feature of the comeback and his run and shot was narrowly wide before Billing had a shot over the bar. It was defence v attack and it was only a matter if Bournemouth could complete the turnaround as they were knocking on the door. Ahemedhodzic and Robinson got tackles in and the ball was cleared down the field to Osula and the final whistle went and United had at least got a point to stop the rot. The Blades were off the bottom too which had not happened for a long, long time!
