Deadbat
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Spoken word below and audio versions here also
Pre match Podcast -
Post match Podcast -
United remain unbeaten away from home after a superb comeback at Stamford Bridge. 2-0 down at the break after a Tammy Abraham double mainly due to defensive mistakes, the visitors could have gone under but came roaring back and thanks to Callum Robinson’s goal gave themselves a chance. They continued to have a go and got their reward when Kurt Zouma turned in Robinson’s cross under pressure from sub Lys Mousset. A tremendous point at one of the ‘big six’ and one that should give Wilder’s men confidence they can really compete at this level.
United made one change from the game that started against Leicester with Oli McBurnie coming in for David McGoldrick. There was also a place in the matchday squad for Mousset with Ravel Morrison not involved. Chelsea started with former Championship loanees that United were familiar with in Tammy Abraham, Fikayo Tomori and Mason Mount. Christian Pulisic also began the game.
The Blades kicked away from their 3,000 away following behind half of one of the goals, but had to concede possession and territory early on. Chelsea were moving the ball about and United twice had to be alert to deny Abraham getting in. Barkley and Mount were seeing a lot of the ball and Jorginho was controlling things in front of the defence. United could not really get up the field and were sloppy with the ball when they did have it. Barkley had a header wide and then Pulisic nearly got behind but Basham got his foot in. United won a corner in a rare break away but the corner did not beat the first man. Abraham then was played in by a long ball over the top from Tomori beating the offside trap but pulled his shot wide.
Freeman had a shot off target on another United counter but it was the home side controlling things even if they had not created too much. A goal came though just as it did last week due to another defensive howler. Barkley’s cleaver backheel but Pulisic in who ran at the Blades defence, switched the ball wide to Azpilicueta whose cross was met by Abraham who outjumped Egan. The ball seemed to be routine for Henderson but under pressure from Pulisic he could not gather the ball and it popped out and before anyone could react ABRAHAM fired down and through the keeper’s legs into the net. It was a really sloppy goal to concede but another goal for the on form young striker.
The next period saw Chelsea continue to dominate the ball and move United around with O’Connell and then Egan making errors that led to another spell of possession for the home team. Basham sliced a poor effort well wide but Chelsea came again with nice interchange leading to Kovacic getting in, jinking around O’Connell and firing just wide with Henderson beaten. Once again there had been no pressure on the ball in midfield and the defence were now getting pulled about.
After this United had their best and only real chance of the half. Good patient build up saw Norwood, Baldock and then Lundstram involved. He put a great ball over the right-hand channel towards Basham who pirouetted and put a great cross over that seemed perfect for Robinson but his stooping header went wide.
This miss was to be prove really costly as Chelsea doubled their lead just before the break. It was an innocuous ball from Jorginho but Egan and O’Connell got in each other’s way and neither dealt with it and between them headed it up into the air. ABRAHAM was on it and fired a shot into the corner. Henderson got a hand on it and would have been disappointed again in his part in the goal.
Mount then had a shot that deflected just wide as Basham blocked his effort as Chelsea now threatened to run riot in a game, they had not had lots of chances but profited from defensive errors. The home team had controlled the game in terms of possession, control and forcing United back who had once again looked panicky with the ball but did not put the opposition under enough pressure when they had it.
After the break, United needed a response and as per the previous week seemed to be trying to play higher up the field positionally. They got a foothold back into the game with a well worked goal too. Stevens throw to Freeman was returned to him and he ran at the Chelsea defence, nutmegged Azpilicueta and put a low cross over that ROBINSON side footed home, after opening his body up. His first United goal clearly meant a lot to him and it was game on.
Chelsea tried to respond but the game was much more of a contest with Norwood and Lundstram seeing more of the ball and the United defenders quicker onto it. However, they nearly conceded a third and were indebted to their keeper to keep them in it.
A cross from the left was not cleared properly by Egan and Azpilicueta’s looped the ball over Freeman cleverly and his cross was met by Abraham who seemed to have claimed his hat trick but Henderson made a great low save to push it away. Lundstram was alert to clear the loose ball with a waiting Emerson set to pounce. United broke out with McBurnie holding it up and then playing in Robinson with a clever ball but the striker dragged his shot well wide.
Barkley had a low shot saved by Henderson after a meandering run across the box from the former Everton midfielder. McBurnie was replaced by McGoldrick for United and Willan came on for Barkley around the hour mark.
O’Connell came forward well and put a cross in which Tomori had to clear with Robinson waiting as United were really having a go now. Stevens beat Azpilicueta again down the left and moved it inside for Norwood whose shot was powerful but straight at Arrizabalaga.
Mousset came on for Freeman and almost had an instant impact as he drove down the right and beat his man before laying off for Stevens whose deflected effort had to be saved.
A flurry of changes came with Chelsea bringing on youngster Gilmour and Batshuayi for Kovacic and Abraham. The latter got a standing ovation from most of Stamford Bridge after another two-goal salvo. United put Osborn on for Basham and had a flat back four now with Osborn on the left of midfield and had three strikers on the pitch as they sought a late leveller.
Chelsea had a chance when Mount nearly got on the end of Henderson’s punch out but shot wide. It was end to end now as United were committing a number of men forward. Mousset did well again and the ball came over Osborn fed Robinson whose shot was blocked leading to a corner.
United got their equaliser when Stevens and Norwood moved it up the field and the ball was played into the left-hand channel for Robinson. He checked back inside and sent over a delightful cross towards Mousset who looked to turn it home but the ball went in off ZOUMA (OG) giving the keeper no chance. The Blades fans behind the goal went absolutely potty. From two goals behind, they had come back to seemingly snatch an unlikely point.
There was to be four minutes of added time and Chelsea had a half-hearted appeal for a penalty and the referee did seem to be doing a VAR check but nothing came of it. United kept the ball well, winning a throw and then a foul to help take the sting out of anything. United’s defence won a final header and the final whistle came not long after.
United – What a great point. Last time we were at this level we never got anything at the big teams who were up there and never looked remotely closely. Firstly, due to Warnock’s negative approach but also due to the inferior players I feel we had then. I believe the Premier League is better now and so we have to be even better. Today, we showed we can live with these sorts of teams but as Wilder said we need to believe in ourselves more. Of course, we need to cut out some stupid mistakes but these mistakes I feel come from playing like we did do in the first half.
Cliché of course but really was a game of two halves. I heard a lot of people say at half time it had just been two mistakes and we missed a good chance of course but we did show them far too much respect. They had all the ball and so much time and a lot of the time balls played into the forwards were too easy. The strikers did not close down, the midfield did not press and the defence sat back. It was all too easy. They actually showed it on Match of the Day and how far we sat off good players like Kovacic, Emerson, Barkley, Pulisic, Mount etc. They had all the time in the world to run at us or pick the bass. When we had it, it became like a hot potato and we just gave it away. I thought McBurnie was a non-factor but Norwood was not on the ball at all and we just did not get up the field.
They did not have loads of opportunities and that was the frustrating thing but you did feel a goal may come if we carried on sitting off and not pressing the ball. The goals were stupid errors. Henderson needs to do better on the first and take the lot out to get that and needs to be stronger. He also should get a firmer hand on the second goal. The defenders on both were poor with no pressure on the ball out wide and then Abraham winning a header easily and reacting quicker than anyone to score for the first. The second saw two players go for it and neither dealt with it. I felt it was O’Connell’s ball as he was coming onto it and in his area but he bumped into Egan and nobody cleared it and again like we saw with Vardy last week, it is in the net.
At half time I was really disappointed and felt it was exactly the same as last time we were up here giving teams too much respect, poor errors and barely a threat the other way – although Robinson with our only real chance should score. If he does, then it is 1-1 probably at half time. I did feel 2-0 was about right regardless of the errors, on the actual play and control Chelsea had.
Second half was completely different. Sure, they had chances and quite a few on the break as we attacked but so did, we and after we scored a well taken goal – you felt either team could score the next goal. To use a Wilderism, it was a ‘proper contest.’ We got in their faces more and moved up the field but it was more than that, we played the ball around and the wing backs got higher up. Norwood and Lundstram got on the ball, Robinson came alive after his goal. We forced them back and they were struggling. As the game went on, you thought could we get a leveller as they had been pushed back and Mousset and McGoldrick were on. They did have a few chances and Henderson made a great save and a few shots went wide but they were getting stretched the other way. We kept going and got the goal. After this heard a few wags shout ‘Go for the win!’ but we kept it tight and sensible in stoppage time.
As I say, a great point and second half performance. First half we have to do better and not sit off. It is hard with teams having quality and will have lots of the ball – especially the top 6. If you put them under pressure too much and engage, they can pick you off, if you get too tight so you have to find a balance. However, we did not get near them at times and it was practice game stuff. The mistakes though were not under that much pressure, Henderson maybe but you cannot do that at the top level. Watched MOTD and saw Burnley and Brighton make small errors and you are punished ruthlessly against the top teams. Flipping it the other way, huge credit to the team. The team of last time in the Premier League would have lost 3 or 4-0. I have no doubt about that as much as everyone talked about our never say die attitude under Warnock. This rarely happened away and certainly not against the big sides.
Today, we could have gone under but after half time the team fought and pressed and showed real togetherness but also passed it well 2nd half and moved them about. The subs made a difference as we had outlets up top and you just thought, ‘Could we?’ The goal was greeted by jubilant scenes. To go to multi billionaire club like Chelsea, albeit not with quite the stars they have had (and a young team) but still an expensive team on hugely superior wages to ours and stand toe to toe and get a deserved draw in the end was tremendous.
Before the break it was a huge point but it was more than that, it was the psychological aspect of showing if we are not scared and do get amongst teams we can compete and do not seem to be overawed. Cut out the silly mistake and we can be ok at this level. We now have a big game against Southampton who have picked up as late and that will not be easy but we have to start the game better and take the game to them on our own patch. Still, two away draws and one win, one defeat is a really solid start and as good as or better than most expected. We have to be pleased with how the opening month has gone so big credit to Wilder and the team.
Pre match Podcast -
Post match Podcast -
United remain unbeaten away from home after a superb comeback at Stamford Bridge. 2-0 down at the break after a Tammy Abraham double mainly due to defensive mistakes, the visitors could have gone under but came roaring back and thanks to Callum Robinson’s goal gave themselves a chance. They continued to have a go and got their reward when Kurt Zouma turned in Robinson’s cross under pressure from sub Lys Mousset. A tremendous point at one of the ‘big six’ and one that should give Wilder’s men confidence they can really compete at this level.
United made one change from the game that started against Leicester with Oli McBurnie coming in for David McGoldrick. There was also a place in the matchday squad for Mousset with Ravel Morrison not involved. Chelsea started with former Championship loanees that United were familiar with in Tammy Abraham, Fikayo Tomori and Mason Mount. Christian Pulisic also began the game.
The Blades kicked away from their 3,000 away following behind half of one of the goals, but had to concede possession and territory early on. Chelsea were moving the ball about and United twice had to be alert to deny Abraham getting in. Barkley and Mount were seeing a lot of the ball and Jorginho was controlling things in front of the defence. United could not really get up the field and were sloppy with the ball when they did have it. Barkley had a header wide and then Pulisic nearly got behind but Basham got his foot in. United won a corner in a rare break away but the corner did not beat the first man. Abraham then was played in by a long ball over the top from Tomori beating the offside trap but pulled his shot wide.
Freeman had a shot off target on another United counter but it was the home side controlling things even if they had not created too much. A goal came though just as it did last week due to another defensive howler. Barkley’s cleaver backheel but Pulisic in who ran at the Blades defence, switched the ball wide to Azpilicueta whose cross was met by Abraham who outjumped Egan. The ball seemed to be routine for Henderson but under pressure from Pulisic he could not gather the ball and it popped out and before anyone could react ABRAHAM fired down and through the keeper’s legs into the net. It was a really sloppy goal to concede but another goal for the on form young striker.
The next period saw Chelsea continue to dominate the ball and move United around with O’Connell and then Egan making errors that led to another spell of possession for the home team. Basham sliced a poor effort well wide but Chelsea came again with nice interchange leading to Kovacic getting in, jinking around O’Connell and firing just wide with Henderson beaten. Once again there had been no pressure on the ball in midfield and the defence were now getting pulled about.
After this United had their best and only real chance of the half. Good patient build up saw Norwood, Baldock and then Lundstram involved. He put a great ball over the right-hand channel towards Basham who pirouetted and put a great cross over that seemed perfect for Robinson but his stooping header went wide.
This miss was to be prove really costly as Chelsea doubled their lead just before the break. It was an innocuous ball from Jorginho but Egan and O’Connell got in each other’s way and neither dealt with it and between them headed it up into the air. ABRAHAM was on it and fired a shot into the corner. Henderson got a hand on it and would have been disappointed again in his part in the goal.
Mount then had a shot that deflected just wide as Basham blocked his effort as Chelsea now threatened to run riot in a game, they had not had lots of chances but profited from defensive errors. The home team had controlled the game in terms of possession, control and forcing United back who had once again looked panicky with the ball but did not put the opposition under enough pressure when they had it.
After the break, United needed a response and as per the previous week seemed to be trying to play higher up the field positionally. They got a foothold back into the game with a well worked goal too. Stevens throw to Freeman was returned to him and he ran at the Chelsea defence, nutmegged Azpilicueta and put a low cross over that ROBINSON side footed home, after opening his body up. His first United goal clearly meant a lot to him and it was game on.
Chelsea tried to respond but the game was much more of a contest with Norwood and Lundstram seeing more of the ball and the United defenders quicker onto it. However, they nearly conceded a third and were indebted to their keeper to keep them in it.
A cross from the left was not cleared properly by Egan and Azpilicueta’s looped the ball over Freeman cleverly and his cross was met by Abraham who seemed to have claimed his hat trick but Henderson made a great low save to push it away. Lundstram was alert to clear the loose ball with a waiting Emerson set to pounce. United broke out with McBurnie holding it up and then playing in Robinson with a clever ball but the striker dragged his shot well wide.
Barkley had a low shot saved by Henderson after a meandering run across the box from the former Everton midfielder. McBurnie was replaced by McGoldrick for United and Willan came on for Barkley around the hour mark.
O’Connell came forward well and put a cross in which Tomori had to clear with Robinson waiting as United were really having a go now. Stevens beat Azpilicueta again down the left and moved it inside for Norwood whose shot was powerful but straight at Arrizabalaga.
Mousset came on for Freeman and almost had an instant impact as he drove down the right and beat his man before laying off for Stevens whose deflected effort had to be saved.
A flurry of changes came with Chelsea bringing on youngster Gilmour and Batshuayi for Kovacic and Abraham. The latter got a standing ovation from most of Stamford Bridge after another two-goal salvo. United put Osborn on for Basham and had a flat back four now with Osborn on the left of midfield and had three strikers on the pitch as they sought a late leveller.
Chelsea had a chance when Mount nearly got on the end of Henderson’s punch out but shot wide. It was end to end now as United were committing a number of men forward. Mousset did well again and the ball came over Osborn fed Robinson whose shot was blocked leading to a corner.
United got their equaliser when Stevens and Norwood moved it up the field and the ball was played into the left-hand channel for Robinson. He checked back inside and sent over a delightful cross towards Mousset who looked to turn it home but the ball went in off ZOUMA (OG) giving the keeper no chance. The Blades fans behind the goal went absolutely potty. From two goals behind, they had come back to seemingly snatch an unlikely point.
There was to be four minutes of added time and Chelsea had a half-hearted appeal for a penalty and the referee did seem to be doing a VAR check but nothing came of it. United kept the ball well, winning a throw and then a foul to help take the sting out of anything. United’s defence won a final header and the final whistle came not long after.
United – What a great point. Last time we were at this level we never got anything at the big teams who were up there and never looked remotely closely. Firstly, due to Warnock’s negative approach but also due to the inferior players I feel we had then. I believe the Premier League is better now and so we have to be even better. Today, we showed we can live with these sorts of teams but as Wilder said we need to believe in ourselves more. Of course, we need to cut out some stupid mistakes but these mistakes I feel come from playing like we did do in the first half.
Cliché of course but really was a game of two halves. I heard a lot of people say at half time it had just been two mistakes and we missed a good chance of course but we did show them far too much respect. They had all the ball and so much time and a lot of the time balls played into the forwards were too easy. The strikers did not close down, the midfield did not press and the defence sat back. It was all too easy. They actually showed it on Match of the Day and how far we sat off good players like Kovacic, Emerson, Barkley, Pulisic, Mount etc. They had all the time in the world to run at us or pick the bass. When we had it, it became like a hot potato and we just gave it away. I thought McBurnie was a non-factor but Norwood was not on the ball at all and we just did not get up the field.
They did not have loads of opportunities and that was the frustrating thing but you did feel a goal may come if we carried on sitting off and not pressing the ball. The goals were stupid errors. Henderson needs to do better on the first and take the lot out to get that and needs to be stronger. He also should get a firmer hand on the second goal. The defenders on both were poor with no pressure on the ball out wide and then Abraham winning a header easily and reacting quicker than anyone to score for the first. The second saw two players go for it and neither dealt with it. I felt it was O’Connell’s ball as he was coming onto it and in his area but he bumped into Egan and nobody cleared it and again like we saw with Vardy last week, it is in the net.
At half time I was really disappointed and felt it was exactly the same as last time we were up here giving teams too much respect, poor errors and barely a threat the other way – although Robinson with our only real chance should score. If he does, then it is 1-1 probably at half time. I did feel 2-0 was about right regardless of the errors, on the actual play and control Chelsea had.
Second half was completely different. Sure, they had chances and quite a few on the break as we attacked but so did, we and after we scored a well taken goal – you felt either team could score the next goal. To use a Wilderism, it was a ‘proper contest.’ We got in their faces more and moved up the field but it was more than that, we played the ball around and the wing backs got higher up. Norwood and Lundstram got on the ball, Robinson came alive after his goal. We forced them back and they were struggling. As the game went on, you thought could we get a leveller as they had been pushed back and Mousset and McGoldrick were on. They did have a few chances and Henderson made a great save and a few shots went wide but they were getting stretched the other way. We kept going and got the goal. After this heard a few wags shout ‘Go for the win!’ but we kept it tight and sensible in stoppage time.
As I say, a great point and second half performance. First half we have to do better and not sit off. It is hard with teams having quality and will have lots of the ball – especially the top 6. If you put them under pressure too much and engage, they can pick you off, if you get too tight so you have to find a balance. However, we did not get near them at times and it was practice game stuff. The mistakes though were not under that much pressure, Henderson maybe but you cannot do that at the top level. Watched MOTD and saw Burnley and Brighton make small errors and you are punished ruthlessly against the top teams. Flipping it the other way, huge credit to the team. The team of last time in the Premier League would have lost 3 or 4-0. I have no doubt about that as much as everyone talked about our never say die attitude under Warnock. This rarely happened away and certainly not against the big sides.
Today, we could have gone under but after half time the team fought and pressed and showed real togetherness but also passed it well 2nd half and moved them about. The subs made a difference as we had outlets up top and you just thought, ‘Could we?’ The goal was greeted by jubilant scenes. To go to multi billionaire club like Chelsea, albeit not with quite the stars they have had (and a young team) but still an expensive team on hugely superior wages to ours and stand toe to toe and get a deserved draw in the end was tremendous.
Before the break it was a huge point but it was more than that, it was the psychological aspect of showing if we are not scared and do get amongst teams we can compete and do not seem to be overawed. Cut out the silly mistake and we can be ok at this level. We now have a big game against Southampton who have picked up as late and that will not be easy but we have to start the game better and take the game to them on our own patch. Still, two away draws and one win, one defeat is a really solid start and as good as or better than most expected. We have to be pleased with how the opening month has gone so big credit to Wilder and the team.