Deadbat
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Match report (with pod links on the various formats shown below too)
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/id1508158343
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After the delight of the game against Spurs, United had to fight back to gain a point from Turf Moor. After a good first half performance where they had more of the ball and the chances, poor marking saw them concede a sloppy goal just before half time with McBurnie who had missed a good chance early on, falling asleep on the set play and Tarkowski took advantage with a smart finish. United struggled to have the same level of fluidity second half but got the leveller their overall performance deserved when Egan smashed home beautifully after Sharp’s flick from Osborn’s cross. It was an odd one to discuss, as United played the better stuff and looked the better side for long spells, particularly first half but Burnley missed two sitters outside the goals. For all the good play United showed, Henderson was the much busier keeper and so in this sense, a draw was about right.
United named an unchanged side with O’Connell fit enough to take his place on the bench. Burnley also had Chris Wood back in reserve and were looking to add to 10 clean sheets. They started with Rodriguez and Vydra up front.
In swirling wind, United began well with McGoldrick’s clever flick leading to McBurnie getting in on goal but his effort lacked power and was saved by Pope. The fast start by the Blades continued when Mcburnie flicked on for Berge to score from a long throw but there was an obvious foul in the build-up. On 5 minutes, more good build up with patient play right to left led to Baldock playing a ball to Osborn and then onto Stevens but his cross was blocked for a corner. Norwood got his delivery badly wrong and from the follow up hit it miles behind.
On 8 minutes, McBurnie flick nearly put McGoldrick on but the keeper came out and read it. Soon after Robinson made a mistake and Burnley after not being in the game were on. Rodriguez played in Vydra and he was in through on goal but slipped it the wrong side of the post. It was a golden chance.
United got back on the attack, McBurnie ran through two men and pulled it back and Berge’s shot was blocked for a corner. There were appeals for a penalty for a handball as the player swiped and missed and it went up and hit the player but was waved away after a check. This time the handball did not go for United.
It was all United the first quarter of an hour playing good, enterprising football and Stevens and Osborn combined with a lovely ball in from the latter but Egan just could not get there as the ball went through both him and Pope. The keeper would not have got there if the centre half had reacted a bit quicker.
McGoldrick held the ball up well and fed Stevens whose shot deflected out of a corner as the pressured continued from the visitors. The fifth corner was as bad as the other four and came to nothing with Norwood very wasteful.
The drinks break came and after this Burnley had a better spell and at least got on the ball more but again United won another corner and a better delivery saw Egan head off target when well placed. Norwood’s hesitation saw Vydra nearly get in and it was a much more even game now. A shot from Bardsley was patted out from Henderson who was fortunate it did not fall to a Burnley man as was in a central position of the goal when it came out.
United had a chance when Robinson put a dangerous cross over and McBurnie flicked over and most of the good play and chances came from the away side but just as you think that we had given a really good first half, some poor play and we were behind.
Berge gave away another cheap free kick after he had done this on a few other occasions and the delivery from McNeil was excellent. United had a high line but missed the first header and Burnley flicked on and TARKOWSKI was on the end with McBurnie asleep, playing him onside and not reacting. The finish was low and crisp and Henderson was breached yet again as a normally strong defence gave away another incredibly soft goal – which has been a feature since the restart. The check for offside was routine as he was clearly onside.
Burnley now were feeling confident and Long fed Taylor and United had to clear and then Robinson played against his own man and Burnley had another chance to get in but Baldock cleared. The half time whistle came soon after and despite being the better side, the Blades went in one goal down.
The second half saw United out early. McGoldrick’s shot was deflected and Baldock hit a cross but McBurnie could not get in as United’s strikers were on their heels somewhat to react to this chance. Burnley nearly got in as Peters was well advanced before on 53 minutes O’Connell and Sharp came on for Robinson and Norwood in two positive looking changes.
O’Connell’s first involvement saw him head it via his hand back to Henderson whilst under pressure but like in the first half nothing was given and not even a check this time. United’s crossing had been particularly poor and another shocking delivery saw Burnley break away. On the hour United had a half chance from a corner but it was blocked away and as the ball ricocheted about Burnley cleared.
United tried to get well forward but on the hour, Burnley nearly broke and had a 3 on 2 and only a poor ball saw United escape and they managed to block and clear.
The next 5 minutes saw a spell of scrappy play and United struggled to get any real impetus in a disappointing second half so far as a spectacle. Another two shocking crosses from Baldock and Berge saw Burnley easily clear. The drinks break came but the game was going exactly how Burnley wanted it to go and indeed the next chance saw Egan’s poor headed intercepted by Rodriguez whose shot was wide of the target. Wood came on for Vydra for his firs outing since the restart.
Mousset came on for McBurnie who had been disappointing and poor in the big moments. United won a free kick with Sharp pulled down but another wasteful delivery from the Blades saw Burnley clear easily. Berge then wasted another ball and Burnley were coping with United all too easily as the game entered the final 15 minutes.
Burnley nearly got in on the break but the ball just ran out before Rodwell came on for Basham as United now ended up with a very unfamiliar looking like up and went to a more orthodox back line.
A long range shot from Rodriguez saw Henderson push out and McNeil put it wide with an absolute sitter. It should have been 2-0 and game over. United had not got going at all 2nd half and indeed Burnley had the better chances in this half and had looked more dangerous.
The game moved into the final 10 minutes and United had not had an effort on goal second half up to this stag but finally a chance came and goal. They won a corner and finally a decent ball from Osborn was flicked on by Sharp and EGAN at the far post hit a sweet finish into the top corner. The Blades had deserved to be level over the game but actually had not looked like scoring in the second half until this moment.
Sharp gave a foul away and Burnley had a spell of play with a corner but O’Connell was strong and cleared well. Burnley had reacted well to the goal though and stepped things up and their strength from set plays/ corners was obviously a concern. United had a decent spell on 85 minutes with good work from Sharp but could not fashion a chance and Burnley then went on the attack as the game became end to end in the final minutes. A long ball led to Mousset winning a free kick as he got the right side of his man and was pulled down. The free kick was taken short and Berge hit a shot from the angle that was powerful but Pope did well to parry down and clutch. United now looked the more likely and Stevens was well forward and won a corner but it was cleared.
The game entered stoppage time an Burnley won a free kick on half way for a foul from Mousset. The free kick was cleared but then Burnley had a chance as Pieters hit a shot that may have been going wide but Henderson could not take chances. From the corner, United cleared and Mousset won a throw deep in Burnley territory. Burnley launched a final ball forward but it came to nothing and the full time whistle came soon after to leave it honours even
United – It was an odd one to dissect as United were the better team overall in the game but Burnley missed the best two chances of the game despite creating very little. Burnley relied on set plays and a lot of direct stuff whilst the Blades played better football overall and had control of the game until they conceded. It was hard to take to be 1-0 down after we had been much better but then they had the best chance outside of the goal. We had chances McBurnie with the big one, Berge blocked and then Egan headed over and had a handball appeal as well (more on that later). We looked solid at the back, played it neat and tidy and moved it forward well. It looked like we carried on from the week but actually controlled more of the ball too in this one which we have not done since the restart and reminded me of some of the away games earlier in the season where we did that (Spurs, Brighton, Watford, Wolves). We just did not quite do enough in the final third and the last bit – the cross/final pass was really poor. For all the play, not sure Pope had much to do outside of the opening save. We had so many corners and crosses wasted. Norwood particularly profligate. You felt though that if the game went on, we would go on and get a chance and win it as we had been quite dominant.
Then just before half time we switched odd badly and a cheap free kick we gave away (Berge), a decent delivery better than any of ours and we lose a header and then McBurnie does not react – he could have either stepped out, put his body into him or at least got goal side. He did none of these things and it was a nice finish. I knew it was not offside.
The second half performance was inferior to the first and we became scrappy. We had a half chance early on with a bit of deflection but did not get an effort in and then after this the game became a bit of a nothing which suited Burnley to the ground as they are so solid defensively and have kept lots of clean sheets. We made changes up top and also changed the formation- we had 3 strikers on although Didzy dropped deep. We had O’Connell and Rodwell playing (both not played and probably rusty) and you sensed we looked a bit tired. They had a great chance to make it 2-0 after another poor piece of keeping from Henderson but shot wide when he should have scored. You felt we could at least benefit from this but the next period saw lots of poor crosses- Stevens, Baldock, Osborn and Berge kept playing the same ball from diagonal and it was easy. Sharp to me was not the right sub and Mousset should have come on earlier as caused them problems at the Lane and we needed pace as the balls from deep were not causing them any problems. Ironically, we score from a cross from deep. It was not the best cross and another floated one but Sharp who did not do much right when he came on, flicked on and Egan buried it with a majestic finish. We finally got a goal from a centre back and what a finish.
After this it could have gone either way, the had a few efforts/attacks and so did we. I felt Mousset over the top could cause them problems and so it proved. I actually think if we had put him on earlier, we would have won and felt after we scored; I know they had a few set plays and the one shot, but we looked more likely.
In the end, coming back from one down is not a disaster. We get a point and that is decent away from home and it was again a better performance than any of the other three away games (2 against inferior sides than Burnley) but you worry that it was one we needed to win if you are being ultra-critical and wanting us to get that top 7/8 places – especially as we have two really tough home games coming up next week. Still I feel much better than I did a week ago – we have put in two (three if you count Arsenal) performances and just look more the side we have been. We ended up with an odd line up but it was needs must and with three key men missing; we had to try different things. Sharp was not great but set up the goal. Not sure too many were outstanding today – we had a lot of decent showings rather than good but I do think we shaded the game despite them having the two big chances and for football and control we looked a better outfit – as we clearly did at the Lane.
I feel a lot better than a week ago. O’Connell is back – Osborn and Robinson have done well – and Berge has improved. Hope we can get Fleck and Lundstram back for the run in and have a real go but the next 2 home games will dictate if we have anything to play for or if the final 3 games are about us finishing top half rather than top 7/8.
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/id1508158343
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After the delight of the game against Spurs, United had to fight back to gain a point from Turf Moor. After a good first half performance where they had more of the ball and the chances, poor marking saw them concede a sloppy goal just before half time with McBurnie who had missed a good chance early on, falling asleep on the set play and Tarkowski took advantage with a smart finish. United struggled to have the same level of fluidity second half but got the leveller their overall performance deserved when Egan smashed home beautifully after Sharp’s flick from Osborn’s cross. It was an odd one to discuss, as United played the better stuff and looked the better side for long spells, particularly first half but Burnley missed two sitters outside the goals. For all the good play United showed, Henderson was the much busier keeper and so in this sense, a draw was about right.
United named an unchanged side with O’Connell fit enough to take his place on the bench. Burnley also had Chris Wood back in reserve and were looking to add to 10 clean sheets. They started with Rodriguez and Vydra up front.
In swirling wind, United began well with McGoldrick’s clever flick leading to McBurnie getting in on goal but his effort lacked power and was saved by Pope. The fast start by the Blades continued when Mcburnie flicked on for Berge to score from a long throw but there was an obvious foul in the build-up. On 5 minutes, more good build up with patient play right to left led to Baldock playing a ball to Osborn and then onto Stevens but his cross was blocked for a corner. Norwood got his delivery badly wrong and from the follow up hit it miles behind.
On 8 minutes, McBurnie flick nearly put McGoldrick on but the keeper came out and read it. Soon after Robinson made a mistake and Burnley after not being in the game were on. Rodriguez played in Vydra and he was in through on goal but slipped it the wrong side of the post. It was a golden chance.
United got back on the attack, McBurnie ran through two men and pulled it back and Berge’s shot was blocked for a corner. There were appeals for a penalty for a handball as the player swiped and missed and it went up and hit the player but was waved away after a check. This time the handball did not go for United.
It was all United the first quarter of an hour playing good, enterprising football and Stevens and Osborn combined with a lovely ball in from the latter but Egan just could not get there as the ball went through both him and Pope. The keeper would not have got there if the centre half had reacted a bit quicker.
McGoldrick held the ball up well and fed Stevens whose shot deflected out of a corner as the pressured continued from the visitors. The fifth corner was as bad as the other four and came to nothing with Norwood very wasteful.
The drinks break came and after this Burnley had a better spell and at least got on the ball more but again United won another corner and a better delivery saw Egan head off target when well placed. Norwood’s hesitation saw Vydra nearly get in and it was a much more even game now. A shot from Bardsley was patted out from Henderson who was fortunate it did not fall to a Burnley man as was in a central position of the goal when it came out.
United had a chance when Robinson put a dangerous cross over and McBurnie flicked over and most of the good play and chances came from the away side but just as you think that we had given a really good first half, some poor play and we were behind.
Berge gave away another cheap free kick after he had done this on a few other occasions and the delivery from McNeil was excellent. United had a high line but missed the first header and Burnley flicked on and TARKOWSKI was on the end with McBurnie asleep, playing him onside and not reacting. The finish was low and crisp and Henderson was breached yet again as a normally strong defence gave away another incredibly soft goal – which has been a feature since the restart. The check for offside was routine as he was clearly onside.
Burnley now were feeling confident and Long fed Taylor and United had to clear and then Robinson played against his own man and Burnley had another chance to get in but Baldock cleared. The half time whistle came soon after and despite being the better side, the Blades went in one goal down.
The second half saw United out early. McGoldrick’s shot was deflected and Baldock hit a cross but McBurnie could not get in as United’s strikers were on their heels somewhat to react to this chance. Burnley nearly got in as Peters was well advanced before on 53 minutes O’Connell and Sharp came on for Robinson and Norwood in two positive looking changes.
O’Connell’s first involvement saw him head it via his hand back to Henderson whilst under pressure but like in the first half nothing was given and not even a check this time. United’s crossing had been particularly poor and another shocking delivery saw Burnley break away. On the hour United had a half chance from a corner but it was blocked away and as the ball ricocheted about Burnley cleared.
United tried to get well forward but on the hour, Burnley nearly broke and had a 3 on 2 and only a poor ball saw United escape and they managed to block and clear.
The next 5 minutes saw a spell of scrappy play and United struggled to get any real impetus in a disappointing second half so far as a spectacle. Another two shocking crosses from Baldock and Berge saw Burnley easily clear. The drinks break came but the game was going exactly how Burnley wanted it to go and indeed the next chance saw Egan’s poor headed intercepted by Rodriguez whose shot was wide of the target. Wood came on for Vydra for his firs outing since the restart.
Mousset came on for McBurnie who had been disappointing and poor in the big moments. United won a free kick with Sharp pulled down but another wasteful delivery from the Blades saw Burnley clear easily. Berge then wasted another ball and Burnley were coping with United all too easily as the game entered the final 15 minutes.
Burnley nearly got in on the break but the ball just ran out before Rodwell came on for Basham as United now ended up with a very unfamiliar looking like up and went to a more orthodox back line.
A long range shot from Rodriguez saw Henderson push out and McNeil put it wide with an absolute sitter. It should have been 2-0 and game over. United had not got going at all 2nd half and indeed Burnley had the better chances in this half and had looked more dangerous.
The game moved into the final 10 minutes and United had not had an effort on goal second half up to this stag but finally a chance came and goal. They won a corner and finally a decent ball from Osborn was flicked on by Sharp and EGAN at the far post hit a sweet finish into the top corner. The Blades had deserved to be level over the game but actually had not looked like scoring in the second half until this moment.
Sharp gave a foul away and Burnley had a spell of play with a corner but O’Connell was strong and cleared well. Burnley had reacted well to the goal though and stepped things up and their strength from set plays/ corners was obviously a concern. United had a decent spell on 85 minutes with good work from Sharp but could not fashion a chance and Burnley then went on the attack as the game became end to end in the final minutes. A long ball led to Mousset winning a free kick as he got the right side of his man and was pulled down. The free kick was taken short and Berge hit a shot from the angle that was powerful but Pope did well to parry down and clutch. United now looked the more likely and Stevens was well forward and won a corner but it was cleared.
The game entered stoppage time an Burnley won a free kick on half way for a foul from Mousset. The free kick was cleared but then Burnley had a chance as Pieters hit a shot that may have been going wide but Henderson could not take chances. From the corner, United cleared and Mousset won a throw deep in Burnley territory. Burnley launched a final ball forward but it came to nothing and the full time whistle came soon after to leave it honours even
United – It was an odd one to dissect as United were the better team overall in the game but Burnley missed the best two chances of the game despite creating very little. Burnley relied on set plays and a lot of direct stuff whilst the Blades played better football overall and had control of the game until they conceded. It was hard to take to be 1-0 down after we had been much better but then they had the best chance outside of the goal. We had chances McBurnie with the big one, Berge blocked and then Egan headed over and had a handball appeal as well (more on that later). We looked solid at the back, played it neat and tidy and moved it forward well. It looked like we carried on from the week but actually controlled more of the ball too in this one which we have not done since the restart and reminded me of some of the away games earlier in the season where we did that (Spurs, Brighton, Watford, Wolves). We just did not quite do enough in the final third and the last bit – the cross/final pass was really poor. For all the play, not sure Pope had much to do outside of the opening save. We had so many corners and crosses wasted. Norwood particularly profligate. You felt though that if the game went on, we would go on and get a chance and win it as we had been quite dominant.
Then just before half time we switched odd badly and a cheap free kick we gave away (Berge), a decent delivery better than any of ours and we lose a header and then McBurnie does not react – he could have either stepped out, put his body into him or at least got goal side. He did none of these things and it was a nice finish. I knew it was not offside.
The second half performance was inferior to the first and we became scrappy. We had a half chance early on with a bit of deflection but did not get an effort in and then after this the game became a bit of a nothing which suited Burnley to the ground as they are so solid defensively and have kept lots of clean sheets. We made changes up top and also changed the formation- we had 3 strikers on although Didzy dropped deep. We had O’Connell and Rodwell playing (both not played and probably rusty) and you sensed we looked a bit tired. They had a great chance to make it 2-0 after another poor piece of keeping from Henderson but shot wide when he should have scored. You felt we could at least benefit from this but the next period saw lots of poor crosses- Stevens, Baldock, Osborn and Berge kept playing the same ball from diagonal and it was easy. Sharp to me was not the right sub and Mousset should have come on earlier as caused them problems at the Lane and we needed pace as the balls from deep were not causing them any problems. Ironically, we score from a cross from deep. It was not the best cross and another floated one but Sharp who did not do much right when he came on, flicked on and Egan buried it with a majestic finish. We finally got a goal from a centre back and what a finish.
After this it could have gone either way, the had a few efforts/attacks and so did we. I felt Mousset over the top could cause them problems and so it proved. I actually think if we had put him on earlier, we would have won and felt after we scored; I know they had a few set plays and the one shot, but we looked more likely.
In the end, coming back from one down is not a disaster. We get a point and that is decent away from home and it was again a better performance than any of the other three away games (2 against inferior sides than Burnley) but you worry that it was one we needed to win if you are being ultra-critical and wanting us to get that top 7/8 places – especially as we have two really tough home games coming up next week. Still I feel much better than I did a week ago – we have put in two (three if you count Arsenal) performances and just look more the side we have been. We ended up with an odd line up but it was needs must and with three key men missing; we had to try different things. Sharp was not great but set up the goal. Not sure too many were outstanding today – we had a lot of decent showings rather than good but I do think we shaded the game despite them having the two big chances and for football and control we looked a better outfit – as we clearly did at the Lane.
I feel a lot better than a week ago. O’Connell is back – Osborn and Robinson have done well – and Berge has improved. Hope we can get Fleck and Lundstram back for the run in and have a real go but the next 2 home games will dictate if we have anything to play for or if the final 3 games are about us finishing top half rather than top 7/8.
