Deadbat
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https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podca...21-brighton-away/id1508158343?i=1000502996079
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Finally, a positive result of sorts for the Blades as they get a point on the road and avoid a ninth straight defeat after a 1-1 draw at Brighton and Hove Albion. United were up against it again after a red card was given to John Lundstram just before half time. Ironically, the Blades were probably better with 10 men than 11 and at least showed some togetherness and resilience. They even got a goal thanks to sub and debutant in the Premier League, Jayden Bogle. Sadly, they could not hang on and Danny Wellbeck’s late goal levelled matters and the home side could have won it at the death after hitting the bar with nearly the last kick. Before the equaliser Connolly and Burke had missed sitters for both sides.
This time last year United won 1-0 at the Amex Stadium and were firmly in the European places amidst a fantastic season. Fast forward twelve months and it could not be any more different.
The Blades made two changes with no place for injured Sander Berge and Oliver Burke moving down to the bench. In from the cold this week came John Lundstram with Rhian Brewster getting a start up front. In the new rules where clubs could field nine substitutes, United had three strikers and also named Jayden Bogle in a Premier League squad for the match day. Oli McBurnie was still not deemed fit enough to feature. Brighton had former Blades target Neal Maupay leading the line and former Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana also got a start. Wantaway keeper Mat Ryan again did not start with Spaniard Robert Sanchez preferred between the sticks.
Brighton began the game with all the possession and Trossard nearly got in on the angle but Egan made a good block. Fleck, McGoldrick and Basham all gave it away cheaply as United could not get on the ball at all as Maupay and Trossard both went down with knocks. The game was being played exclusively in the United half and Brighton were slowly starting to find gaps. Two straight balls dissected the Blades midfield and led to a corner. The delivery came in and Dunk headed over. Worryingly it was a free header though from a team who have not scored any goals from set plays this season against a team that has conceded the most chances from such a phase of play.
Lundstram won a free kick and tried an ambitious long range shot but it barely even reached the goal and then at the other end Basham made a mistake and Maupay was nearly in. Two stupid fouls by Baldock saw Brighton have two free kick opportunities. United cleared these but then another half chance saw Lallana in but his shot went wide. Brighton then had another chance when Connolly was in on the angle after a quick turnover but Ramsdale saved easily.
Robinson was brushed aside physically too easily by Trossard and as the ball came in Maupay had a great chance but miskicked badly although it nearly went in off Basham but Ramsdale saved at close range.
Brighton were dominating the ball but had only had fashioned a few chances. United had been passive on and off the ball and seemed happy to sit back. Brewster had hardly been in the game. Brighton then had another good chance. Stevens conceded a corner and from the delivery Dunk headed down and after United dithered, Maupay turned and fired goalwards but Ampadu blocked really well.
On the half hour mark, the disappointing Fleck came off and did not seem to ne injured as Wilder tried to find something from the away side who had been second best albeit of two poor teams in a dreadful game. Burke came on and McGoldrick seemed to drop deep and instantly the sub got in and was away using his pace and Dunk chopped him down. The ball ran onto McGoldrick but maybe the defender had stopped meaning any criticism of no advantage was a little harsh. The free kick was taken by McGoldrick and stopped by a team mate and then the Irish striker curled a great effort that Sanchez did superbly to tip behind. United had been poor but this was the closest effort to a goal.
On 38 minutes, the game changed when Lundstram dived in on Veltman. He got some of the ball but was late and out of control somewhat. Years ago, it would not have ben considered for a red card but these days you feared the worst and the Brighton’s players reactions said it all. After the initial yellow, referee Bankes was asked to consult his monitor pitch side and you knew what the result would be. As expected, the yellow as changed to red and maybe the end of Lundstram’s Blades career with him able to potentially move on in January (certainly able to sign a pre-Bosman contract).
Basham headed behind for a corner but United managed to see this out and indeed the final minutes of the half as the game became scrappy up the break.
Veltman came off and Jahanbaksh was on and Brighton sensed the game was there with the man advantage.
Brighton had a few chances with men on the overload but they were unable to seriously trouble Ramsdale with a few efforts blocked for a corner. On 53 minutes Bogle came on for Brewster and seemed to play wide right with United have a 4-4-1 with McGoldrick on the left and Basham and Ampadu in the middle and Burke up top.
On 56 minutes, United had a chance when a great tackle from Basham saw McGoldrick put a lovely ball through and Burke was in on the angle. He pulled it back and Stevens hit a rasping shot just wide. This paved the way for the game to open up. At the other end a clever through ball saw Maupay in but Ramsdale was quick off his line and managed to smother the first effort before he flicked it away from Connolly on the follow up.
Just after the hour mark, the Blades took a shock lead. Once again Burke was central to the attack with his strong running and he fed McGoldrick whose pull back was met by BOGLE running in and on his debut the sub hit it firmly with his left foot and it deflected in off Webster. There was a quick check for two offsides but March was playing United on twice and the goal was given.
Brighton tried to respond and Webster had a header flicked over by Ramsdale before McGoldrick was withdrawn for Osborn who went into a wide left midfield role. United were keeping a nice and compact shape and Brighton’s fans inside the stadium were getting frustrated. Brighton did win a few corners but these looped over from two successive headers. Welbeck came on for Maupay and then Zequiri for White in the final changes for the home side.
Bogle did well to break with Burke again but the offside flag went up when Baldock tried to get on the substitute’s pass. Brighton tried to find gaps and moved it about but Ramsdale saved another Webster header and March then had a short corner routine where his shot was deflected wide.
The game ticked over into the final 10 minutes and United were ticking off each minute as Brighton seemed to be running out of ideas but they had a golden chance on 82 minutes when the cross came over and the faultless Ramsdale made his first error. He completely missed the cross but Connolly headed over with the goal at his mercy.
After this let off United should have sealed the game when they had a great chance at the other end. Burke won the initial header and Osborn played him back in but the striker took a too heavy touch and on the angle blazed badly over. He had to hit the target. Both teams had missed guilt edged chances.
You feared Brighton may make United pay and so it proved. Osborn was booked for a cynical foul and the free kick came off Basham’s head inadvertently and fell perfectly for WELLBECK who took a touch and smashed home right in front of goal giving Ramsdale no chance.
Now Brighton sensed they could win it although the Blades did win a late corner as the game entered four minutes of additional time but Brighton broke and after Basham’s wild lunge earned him a yellow card, the home team had a final chance. The free kick was not cleared and bounced up off Egan and Jahanbaskhsh headed against the bar from only a few yards. Wellbeck follow up was cleared from Baldock off the line. Somehow the Blades survived. They had gone from having three points, to one and nearly none in a matter of moments!
United cleared the corner and could at least celebrate a point and stopping the rot after a run of eight losses and finally got something on the board away. They are still a long way adrift at the bottom and of getting out of the relegation places but at least it is a more positive feeling and a committed performance, meaning there has been two shoots of life inside a week.
United – Hard to analyse this as I felt we were crap for half an hour. It was really similar to the Southampton game where we never engaged/tackled/pressed and sat back. We did not even try and go forward and when we had it gave it away or tossed it long. They were having all the ball but unlike Southampton, they had little quality with it and were not that much better than us. They had a few efforts but nothing clear cut. You just worried playing as we were, like last week, the home side would get a moment or chance and score. It was like we were waiting for them to score.
To be fair to Wilder he changed it and put some pace and running on and took off the awful Fleck and Burke made a difference and we nearly scored from the free kick he won. We seemed to be getting better and impacting the game in some way and then the red card. I have seen a lot say it was not a red card but it was sadly. I don’t like the rules and feel tackling is almost outlawed but it is a red card. He goes in quite out of control and he is off the floor somewhat when he connects. Yes, he wins the ball but he is dangerous and those who say what is he meant to do with his foot? Well not kick the opponent. As soon as he did it you knew he was in trouble. I was surprised he did not red card him straight away but maybe knew he could overturn. I expected nothing else on the review. I know people say it looks worse slowed down but I actually think it looked worse in real speed with the impact and his out of control way of tackling. Stupid. I am all for commitment but that was just rash and made it even more uphill. We sat in up the half time and then after the break we got better.
He made changes to the formation and personnel and Burke, Bogle gave us energy and new life. We actually defended quite well and had a few moments on the break even before we scored. It was a good goal albeit a bit lucky and we had something to hold. I felt we did it quite well. They had a few half chances but nothing clear and the defence was solid. We had a nice shape and you felt we may see it out but then they had a sitter missed and you thought it definitely is our day. Burke goes through and ….the moment he misses that you knew. The goal was sloppy and fell nice but then our goal was fortunate. After this you just hope we don’t lose again. They hit the bar and have one cleared off the line. How that did not go in I do not know? Another few minutes I think we have lost.
In the end we did well to get a point, even if the goal was late on. Not sure we did enough to come close to winning and if anyone deserved to win maybe it was them but I will say for commitment, organisation and the quality of chance we had (as good as anything they had until the end) we merited a draw I felt. We were better with 10 than 11 and the odd line up and way we played almost made sure we had to focus, keep our shape and when we had it be more careful and purposeful with it. Burke missed the chance but was excellent and the defence did ok with a better showing from Ramsdale too. It’s a shame we did not hang on but it’s a better result and performance away than we have seen and some things to build on. Burke and Bogle should start next game you would think in some capacity – Wilder talks about grabbing the shirt. Those both did even if Bogle may have to play maybe midfield perhaps? Not sure we can keep having non performances from the likes of Fleck, Brewster and then Lundstram of course who won’t play.
The midfield is all a bit of a mess. Norwood miles off, Fleck awful, Lundstram suspended and off soon and Berge out for three months with a serious injury – ripping tendon away from the bone and basically done until April and we will probably be down by then. Not sure we will ever see him in a red and white shirt again. We can state a case with Ampadu not being our player – we will need three new midfielder – four if we change shape. We have lots of strikers but not consistent or scoring and no partnership emerging. The defence on paper looks ok but is shipping goals every week. So there are still lots of big questions and we seem to have gone from a settled side where we are adding odd pieces every window to holes all over it. Whether the Prince sanctions more outlay in January I do not know. I think I would just wait till the summer. Teams will want premium in January and not sure we will pay silly money as Wilder has said and another loan might be the best we can do. Worrying we may finish the season with two loan midfielders and then they just move on. As I say I’d rather wait. However the fact is we don’t have anyone so may not have an option!
He cannot play a three against Everton as they will pick holes through it so he may finally have to change the formation due to personnel and match ups. If he goes with three then that would be suicidal. Hope the way we played albeit with 10 gives him food for thought and we try something different now.
We still have not won but to not lose a game after the season we have had feels so much better after week after week of losing. Everton are flying but you never know. If we can show some of the things we have the last few games and show a goal threat (we have looked more dangerous) than maybe we might not be far off actually winning a game! I was gutted for Wilder as wanted him to have the pressure taken off but at least he has got something and means it is a different feeling.
