Deadbat
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After the euphoria of the first win since Chris Wilder came back to the club, the stark reality of the task at hand bumped firmly back into perspective after the latest away defeat at Chelsea. The home side had not been in great form, but the ease in which they despatched the Blades showed up the gulf between those in the bottom three and the rest of the league. The Blues still pack a squad costing billions of pounds and despite toiling for much of the first half without success, they accelerated through the gears after half time and won with ease. United were well beaten long before the full time whistle came.
Wilder made two changes with McBurnie and Lowe in for Osula and the suspended Robinson. Chelsea were missing a number of key men but still had a squad filled with big money signings, both starting, and on the bench.
The Blades kicked away from their noisy sold out away following then in the capital but the visitors conceded an early corner right in front of those fans. The ball was cleared and for much of the opening stages, Chelsea dominated the ball but United proved resolute and were well organised, making good blocks ad denying space. Mydryk was looking to get on the ball at every opportunity but he was wasteful on two occasions. Lowe had to get a foot in to concede another corner as Sterling looked to use his pace. Gallagher had the first effort on goal but Foderingham clutched the shot that was straight at him.
The Blades had offered little as an attacking threat but Archer won a corner after a run down the left. The home side were back on the attack and Mydryk led Bogle a merry dance leaving him in his wake but Lowe got across to make the interception as the ball came in. Bogle was then well forward but his cross missed everyone but United won another corner that they wasted when going short. Chelsea continued to move the ball about bit had created little although Foderingham had to be alert to come off his line to deny Jackson. The striker shot well wide soon after before Mydryk was even further off target with a wild, sliced effort. At the other end Archer had United’s best effort with a run and shot deflected wide.
McAtee was booked for kicking the ball away but there was a stoppage for Souza when an errant arm seemed to catch the midfielder from Caicedo. VAR looked at it but did not deem it worthy of any further action. United continued to sit in and Chelsea were controlling the match but not really troubling United too much and one final ball was cleared from Trusty just before the half time whistle.
The second half saw Chelsea come out and play the ball forward quicker and players looked to get it on the half turn and drive at the Blades defence. Trusty denied Palmer with a crucial block but on 54 minutes, the ex City man took his chance. It came from Gallagher just driving through the United rear guard. No challenge came in and as players went across it created space for Sterling who ran in unopposed and centered for PALMER to turn home with no challenge made throughout the attack. Despite being completely on top, the goal was a clear relief to the home fans after such torrid recent form. Checks for an offside were quickly cleared from Stockley Park.
Brooks was replace by Osula but Chelsea came again and it was not long before they doubled their lead and effectively sealed the game on the hour mark. There had been appeals for a penalty in the build up as Gallagher made the running again and Sterling went down. Foderingham could not gather the loose ball and Palmer kept it in and squared it to JACKSON who had the simple tap in with the United defence completely switching off on top of the poor goalkeeping.
Chelsea were now in confident mood and nearly got in again as the ball came across before Hamer was booked soon after. United had really struggled this half and were completely penned in. Chelsea were now finding big gaps with Lowe and Bogle struggling, not helped by McAtee and Hamer’s inability to retain possession the few times the away side needed a breather. Norwood replaced McBurnie but Jackson nearly had another but United conceded a corner. A rare break saw McAtee get down the side but he ran it out before Osula converted. Hamer then had a free kick that saw Petrovic make his first save of the game. Lowe was cautioned for a foul on substitute Enzo before fellow sub Broja somehow missed a sitter after more good work from Palmer. Slimane came on for Hamer but the game was drifting now and Chelsea were cantering to a comfortable victory.
A crude foul gave Chelsea a free kick just outside the box but Foderingham parried the first effort and then did well to deny Jackson on the rebound. Slimane did well in a rare late break but his cross was cleared and then in stoppage time, Archer had a decent solo run but blazed wide and United could not even get a consolation as the full time whistle came only minutes later
Wilder made two changes with McBurnie and Lowe in for Osula and the suspended Robinson. Chelsea were missing a number of key men but still had a squad filled with big money signings, both starting, and on the bench.
The Blades kicked away from their noisy sold out away following then in the capital but the visitors conceded an early corner right in front of those fans. The ball was cleared and for much of the opening stages, Chelsea dominated the ball but United proved resolute and were well organised, making good blocks ad denying space. Mydryk was looking to get on the ball at every opportunity but he was wasteful on two occasions. Lowe had to get a foot in to concede another corner as Sterling looked to use his pace. Gallagher had the first effort on goal but Foderingham clutched the shot that was straight at him.
The Blades had offered little as an attacking threat but Archer won a corner after a run down the left. The home side were back on the attack and Mydryk led Bogle a merry dance leaving him in his wake but Lowe got across to make the interception as the ball came in. Bogle was then well forward but his cross missed everyone but United won another corner that they wasted when going short. Chelsea continued to move the ball about bit had created little although Foderingham had to be alert to come off his line to deny Jackson. The striker shot well wide soon after before Mydryk was even further off target with a wild, sliced effort. At the other end Archer had United’s best effort with a run and shot deflected wide.
McAtee was booked for kicking the ball away but there was a stoppage for Souza when an errant arm seemed to catch the midfielder from Caicedo. VAR looked at it but did not deem it worthy of any further action. United continued to sit in and Chelsea were controlling the match but not really troubling United too much and one final ball was cleared from Trusty just before the half time whistle.
The second half saw Chelsea come out and play the ball forward quicker and players looked to get it on the half turn and drive at the Blades defence. Trusty denied Palmer with a crucial block but on 54 minutes, the ex City man took his chance. It came from Gallagher just driving through the United rear guard. No challenge came in and as players went across it created space for Sterling who ran in unopposed and centered for PALMER to turn home with no challenge made throughout the attack. Despite being completely on top, the goal was a clear relief to the home fans after such torrid recent form. Checks for an offside were quickly cleared from Stockley Park.
Brooks was replace by Osula but Chelsea came again and it was not long before they doubled their lead and effectively sealed the game on the hour mark. There had been appeals for a penalty in the build up as Gallagher made the running again and Sterling went down. Foderingham could not gather the loose ball and Palmer kept it in and squared it to JACKSON who had the simple tap in with the United defence completely switching off on top of the poor goalkeeping.
Chelsea were now in confident mood and nearly got in again as the ball came across before Hamer was booked soon after. United had really struggled this half and were completely penned in. Chelsea were now finding big gaps with Lowe and Bogle struggling, not helped by McAtee and Hamer’s inability to retain possession the few times the away side needed a breather. Norwood replaced McBurnie but Jackson nearly had another but United conceded a corner. A rare break saw McAtee get down the side but he ran it out before Osula converted. Hamer then had a free kick that saw Petrovic make his first save of the game. Lowe was cautioned for a foul on substitute Enzo before fellow sub Broja somehow missed a sitter after more good work from Palmer. Slimane came on for Hamer but the game was drifting now and Chelsea were cantering to a comfortable victory.
A crude foul gave Chelsea a free kick just outside the box but Foderingham parried the first effort and then did well to deny Jackson on the rebound. Slimane did well in a rare late break but his cross was cleared and then in stoppage time, Archer had a decent solo run but blazed wide and United could not even get a consolation as the full time whistle came only minutes later