On March 28th, United beat Coventry 3-1 in an extremely one-sided contest and moved 24 points ahead of the Sky Blues and went back to the top of the Championship table with only 7 games to play. Sadly, United only picked up another 7 points from a possible 21 and blew automatic promotion. After a tumultuous summer for the Blades, brought on by their own nonsensical decisions, United now somehow sit 22 points behind City, after the league leaders dispatched United at the CBS Arena on Tuesday evening. A remarkable 46 points turnaround in 21 games have seen both sides fortunes move in different directions. Tonight, it was City on the right end of a 3-1 scoreline as they came back from a one goal deficit at the half to completely turn the game around. This time, the big mistake came from substitute goalkeeper Adam Davies whose failure to get anywhere near a cross and it saw Bobby Thomas complete the turnaround.
It was two changes from the defeat to Derby with Riedewald and Cannon in for Soumare and Brooks. Seriki was back on the bench.
High scoring Coventry looked to bounce back from their first defeat of the season at Wrexham and started with the dangerous Wright flanked by Thomas Asante and Sakamoto. They had numerous offensive options on the bench with Simms and Mason Clark in reserve showing why they have scored so many goals this season.
The Blades began this contest better than the previous two and had a chance in the first minute as Tanganga flicked on McCallum’s long throw but it was put behind by a home defender leading to a corner. As the ball came over, it caromed off McGuiness, maybe inadvertently and Rushworth made a spectacular save. The referee somehow saw an offence that no one else did and Coventry won a free kick. A ball then came across from O’Hare as United continued their fast start.
The Sky Blues has not made any forays into the Blades half but their first move saw O’Hare draw jeers from his former supporters as he took out Sakamoto. McGuinness’ poor header was seized upon from Eccles whose shot was hit hard and low through bodies. Cooper made the save but fumbled it out of play leading to a corner. From this delivery, it dropped for Kitching whose shot was blocked by McCallum. The same player was guilty of a totally unnecessary foul when he took out Sakamoto. The former Coventry man compounded his error by not retreating and was cautioned.
Torp hit the free kick and this was spilt by Cooper who remained unconvincing. Cannon and Peck combined well leading to a chance for Campbell but it was saved by Rushworth. Another silly free kick, conceded this time from Riedewald gave another opportunity for City but Tanganga cleared. Coventry were now dominating the ball after United had began well and Sakamoto was looking dangerous down the right. His run saw him blocked out and the ball dropped but was cleared by the visitors.
A long throw saw Kitching beat McGuiness to the first header and Mee lost Wright at the far post but the striker could not turn the ball home.
United finally had the ball for a period and patient possession football led to them winning a corner. Peck took it and it was a flat, low one and Mee managed to expertly flick on and MCCALLUM did superbly to steer home despite being under pressure. The Blades had the shock lead on the road at the league leaders and it was the former Coventry man who made the breakthrough.
Da Silva was booked for protesting an award of a goal kick before Cooper went down for treatment as he was struggling with his back. Cannon did well to get down the side and pull the ball back but Ogbene could not get across as United were looking threatening. O’Hare’s flicked header from Mee’s cross was comfortable for Rushworth but the Blades were looking an attacking threat.
Coventry had struggled to respond but Da Silva was not tracked and his low shot after a one two was dragged not far wide. Thomas then clumsily caught O’Hare and was lucky not to be booked such was the force and height of his challenge. Sakamoto was not as fortunate as he scythed down McCallum and given a yellow card. The play was allowed to go on before the referee went back but Cannon could not get on the cross from Peck. Mee’s ball into the box was blocked but fell for O’Hare who hit it ferociously but a defender diverted it behind. McCallum then did well to get back and stop the break in a game that was moving from end to end.
Peck then had a great opportunity to make it two after starting the move and exchanging passes with Ogbene but the midfielder’s shot was blocked by Thomas. Peck’s long wait for a goal carries on.
McGuinness error in but McCallum recovered well at the far post before United won another corner which Mee flicked on at the near post and nearly led to another chance. The final chance came for the home side and their best chance they created as Thomas Assante was given too much time and his cross found the unmarked Wright but his header was straight to Cooper. It was a chance he should have converted. United saw out the final moments to go in with a surprise lead.
Mason Clark was on for Eccles for the home side but Cooper’s back issues meant he had to be replaced by Davies at the half, for the visitors. Coventry came out in the ascendancy looking to put the new goalkeeper under pressure and launched several long throws with appeals for a handball on Tanganga after it came off his own man. From another long throw, the ball dropped as Tanganga and McCallum both went for the same ball with Thomas – the ball dropped and SAKAMOTO dropped on it before O’Hare and steered it into the corner.
Coventry were now swarming all over United and balls coming into the box as the visitors were now resorting to just clearing their lines. McGuiness error led to a chance for Mason Clark being in but he fired the ball over. Peck then had to make the block as the pressure was incessant on the United goal. Mee cut out Grimes cross leading to another corner. The corner came in and Davies got nowhere near the ball with a hopeless flailing dive and THOMAS got above the keeper and Mee to head the ball home. It was an awful goal to concede and yet another dreadful error from a Blades player that cost them a goal.
O’Hare fired over before United made a double change as Ings and Davies came on for Cannon and Riedewald. Davies did make a save from Mason Clark as he drove down the side. Torp’s free kick hit the stanchion, as Davies watched on helplessly. Coventry were camped into the Blades half who could not get out. McGuiness and Ogbene came on for Seriki and Brooks. United had not really threatened but Brooks and Seriki combined and Peck’s shot deflected wide as the midfielder somehow hit an opponent again. Brooks got down the side but his cross was sent behind the goal. United were finally having a go – Davies and Brooks had chances but the chance of a shot went away as the Blades took too long.
O’Hare and Ings exchanged passes but the ball deflected over as the former Coventry man tried to get in on goal and United did win two corners. However, as the game ticked into four minutes of stoppage time, United could not really test Rushworth and the final piece of action saw the Sky Blues seal the game at the death. Mee and Davies made a mess of the trying to get the ball forward and the home side broke. Wright managed to streak away and as Davies stayed at home, Wright beat the offside trap with Mee playing him onside. He cooly rolled the ball across and THOMAS ASSANTE tapped home to lead to jubilant scenes for the home players, coaching staff, and fans. They remain clear at the top of the league whilst the Blades desperate start to the season shows no sign of abating.
Coventry – Not surprised me they have done well. It’s kind of painful to see a team that we beat and beat well only last Easter, be so far ahead of us. They have the same manager and largely the same team (with a few additions) and now look a far better side with pace, power, goals and an attitude to get after teams. They take games to teams and play front foot football. We are the complete antithesis of this. I do believe that the continuity of course helped but we also lose key players – they added to a good squad with even more quality. I had them in the playoffs but they have been even better than I thought – helped by the three relegated teams being nowhere near where I thought they would be. They have more strength in depth this time. I do think they will have a drop off at some point but the division looks so weak in comparison to last year, that I see them now as the best team and would not be shocked if they got automatic promotion. Lampard, despite a lot of criticism, did well at this level with Derby before (helped by a good squad and some fantastic loans) and has done really well since he took over. I think they would have improved anyway under Robins last year and sacking him after everything he did, was harsh but Lampard got them flying up the league and also got them close to the playoff final (were better than Sunderland over 2 legs – mad that Sunderland were the poorer side over 3 playoff games but went up and are now flying in the top flight!).
They have a nice balance of experience and younger players but have a relatively solid defence (still think they can be got at in the middle of the defence as we showed last season at the Lane) and improved with the addition of Grimes in the centre. They also have got the best out of Thomas Assante to compliment Simms and Wright. They have pace and power and can be quite direct but have creative and skilled performers like Grimes and Rudoni. They remind me a bit of the side that went up under Wilder – a lot of players hitting their peak at the right time and a good chemistry helped by a belief from the crowd – there is a real togetherness and now they have more of a settled set up off the field in terms of the ownership and stadium – seem set to finally get back to the top flight. As I say, it might not be plain sailing in the same way as Burnley and Leeds had it but the lack of real competition and the fantastic start they have had, means they can afford the odd poor result/game. After today they had scored 39 and only conceded 13 for +26– in comparison to us 11 scored and 26 conceded for which is -15. That is a 41-goal swing. That is crazy but shows how much better they have been than us in all aspects of the game.
Tonight, not sure they were brilliant and at times thought they looked very average but they fought back and made changes to turn it around. Mason Clark caused us real problems and we struggled with the movement of the front players all game. I felt they just upped the intensity for 20 minutes after the break and played higher up the field and with quicker, more physical players, they imposed themselves and did what they had to do. In the end they were hanging on a bit but we did not seriously threaten and score a clincher. They deserved to win on chances and on overall possession/touches in the box and control of the game when it mattered. At half time they were probably wondering if it was another defeat but they really reacted and as Preston did in the last away game for United, they just upped it and they ran faster, won tackles and drove at our players. They got balls in the box and we fell apart. In the end, it was a deserved victory for them even if they were not superb. They did what they had to do.
Opponent Man of the Match – Thomas got it on Sky and scored the winner and was dominant against our slow strikers who do not move but thought Grimes played well second half and Mason Clark made a huge difference. Thomas Assante was decent throughout and always lively.
Opponent Weak link – Thought that Kitching was not up to the level of his partner but Eccles was poor first half as Peck did well to control midfield but they improved hugely after he went off.
Referee / Officials – James Lingington. Not reffed us much. Oxford away last season which was non-descript and then going further back the win v Sunderland and the defeat v QPR in Hecky’s promotion season. Think he sent off Neil for Sunderland but also should have given us a penalty for a foul on Berge late in that QPR defeat. Today he was largely ok. We got a few stupid bookings and deserved. I did think that Thomas should have been carded. They had 3 to our 2 and thought we were quite cynical at times but then they stuck the boot in too as the game went on. Not sure there were many really bad decisions to be honest. He was fine.
The only players showing anything for me are O'Hare & McCallum, a mention too for Brooks and Seriki who both have been frozen out for weeks for the rubbish loan players. Things have got to change and fast, League One is calling.
, yet played well by all accounts - bloody hell
