Deadbat
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2017/18 SUFC SCHOOL REPORT
As I have traditionally done at the end of the last few seasons; it is that time again when I write a review of the campaign and also compile a school report for the different sections of the club. I will look at how they have fared and what are the prospects for next season for each respective department of the club.
Some of this I wrote a few weeks ago so apologise for any omissions or developments that may have been missed in this
I will begin with the review and a breakdown of the board and manager/s.
Over the next few weeks I will add to this with breakdowns of the players/squad at the club and do the same. Will look at contract situation (may be wrong with some of these so again come in if I have got any wrong) and what might happen to each are of the team.
Feel free to add comments/disagree/debate.....after each post I make.
I have graded the board, the manager, players and the fans; in a traditional school report style of A+ to F- (every player who started at least one game- think I may have graded a few others too). Should really mark the new GCSE style numbering 1-9 but that would get really confusing! Maybe in future years I will just give a mark out of 10 for the season (an average)– might be much easier! I will also say that some grades may not be as high as people may think but we finished 11th and have to take out who over or under achieved but mark them as what I have seen against other Championship players. Some may have played as well as last season (Duffy/Fleck) but may have a slightly lower mark. Last season we finished 1st so obvious we would have a lot of high marks and I think I had quite a few A’s and B’s. this year there will be a fair few B’s but maybe not many if any A’s.
However, I have had to grade players based on the games they did play so some players who played a lot more may still get a lower grade despite disproportionate number of games in comparison.
Of course, whilst I have seen all the home games; I have seen 8 away games live and another 8-10 on a feed; so, have missed a few away games and that needs factoring into my analysis.
If I have missed anyone then please say. Feel free to weigh in with critique, opinions and even in some cases agreements!
Season review
So, after the wonderful season of 2016-17; most United fans had found their mojo again. We were finally back in the Championship and had a manager who was an inspiration to all. Many were not sure quite how we would go. We had to borrow a Wilder phrase ‘smashed’ League One. 100 points and 100 goals. It had been all too easy and now we faced big spending sides like Wolves, Villa, Fulham and gulp Wednesday. Many felt we did not need to bring in more quality and it is debatable whether that happened over the summer. We re-signed Ched Evans, brought in wing backs Enda Stevens and George Baldock and signed a young lad from Hartlepool Nathan Thomas. We also signed experienced centre back Richard Stearman. Simon Moore got injured on the eve of the season ad we brought in Chelsea keeper Jamal Blackman on loan. One of the more interesting sub plots was the decision to keep David Brooks rather than let him go to Chesterfield as originally planned. He lit up pre-season with goals against Chesterfield and also Stoke – a game United played really well in. It seemed Wilder unable to get his targets of Leonard, Holmes and Lenighan was happy to give him opportunities.
Out of the door went Matt Done, Stefan Scougall, Marc McNulty and Jay O’Shea and loanees Harry Chapman and Ethan Ebanks Landell were not re-signed. Youngsters Ben Whiteman, Louis Reed and George Long were loaned out for season long loans; two going to local sides. Chris Hussey and James Wilson also went on loan to Swindon and Walsall respectively.
It seemed that Wilder placed his trust in the spine of the side that had done so well the previous year with O’Connell, Basham, Freeman, Fleck, Duffy, Coutts, Clarke and Sharp all expected to be regulars. Moore’s injury gave a chance to Blackman but it said it all that only him, Stearman and Stevens were newcomers on opening day. John Lundstram signed on the eve of the season but began the season in the bench. Many of the predictions for how United would do ranged quite spectacularly – some had them mid table maybe even pushing higher but many had them just below mid table or even nearer the bottom. Very few thought we would go down but pointed to the lack of quality signings and the much-improved sides/talent we would face. Some were disappointed that the ownership ‘team’ had not really built on the previous season and these questions would come often throughout the season.
August
The opening day of the season saw the traditional red-hot sunshine and established Championship side Brentford were in town. A decent game saw United strike first through Billy Sharp in quite an even game but Brentford cut the Blades open at times and missed quite a few chances. Still the Blades had more than competed and it was a great opening day win. Manager Wilder had surprised by starting Samir Carruthers in the no 10 role behind Sharp and Clarke and he did well. After a League Cup win that saw Thomas score his first goal and Brayford start alongside youngsters Eastwood, Bennett and Brooks; United came back down to earth. A poor game up at Middlesbrough saw United concede a sloppy goal and then not really do enough against a home side that were not much better. Still a late leveller came from Jack O’Connell but a linesman’s flag, wrongly, chalked it off. A few days later United were well beaten at Neil Warnock’s Cardiff as the pace and power of the division really hit home. Back at the Lane and United were able to put in a very good performance and see of local rivals Barnsley with Sharp scoring again. Leon Clarke and McDonald of Barnsley were both sent off for a clash in the first half. United really should have won by more than the single goal as they easily beat the Reds. Mark Duffy was back in the side and starred. A crushing defeat to Premier League Leicester in the cup was followed by another great team performance as United beat big spending Derby 3-1 at the Lane. Sharp scored two goals with his second being right at the death as Scott Carson was forward for a corner for the visitors. United ended the month in a decent position and had won all their home games but lost both away games. They sat above the middle of the league and seemed to have adjusted fairly well and quickly at this level.
Just before the month ended we had transfer deadline business; a few weeks previously in had come Cameron Carter Vickers on loan from Spurs but had not started a game yet. John Brayford finally left as he went back to Burton after a summer where it seemed inevitable he would finally move on. United sought a number of targets and continuous talk centered on Southend’s Ryan Leonard but the players that came in were experienced striker Clayton Donaldson for a nominal free from Birmingham. Also signing was Motherwell defender Ben Heneghan; thought to be one for the future.
Quina and Sinclair of West Ham and Watford respectively fell through as an interesting documentary showed the events of the final day with Wilder’s reputation further growing as a result of his transparency and straight way of going about his business.
September
United went to Sunderland and with Clarke missing and Lavery also injured; Donaldson got the start and he scored a brace on a dream debut with Brooks impressing from the bench. The 2-1 win was built on with a narrow win at the Macron in the week as rivals from the previous season, Bolton were beaten. Carter Vickers also scored on his full debut. United were flying now and they had certainly had an excellent start to the season with the defence looking solid, the midfield excelling with Coutts, Fleck and Duffy to the fore and options up the top with the incoming Donaldson, promising Brooks and the old guard of Clarke and Sharp. Sadly many of the strikers were not available for the game at home the following Saturday against Norwich and Ched Evans got his first start back in his second spell. United controlled the game but were undone by a sucker punch and then witnessed the Canaries time waste and spoil for the entire second half as the Blades suffered their first home defeat. The build up to the next game was intense with the big anticipated Steel City derby at Hillsborough. United got Clarke back in the line up and surprised by starting Brooks alongside him and Basham in midfield to stiffen this area up. Wednesday had not had the best start but even with some injuries themselves still packed a side full of expensive talent. United’s start was astonishing. Brooks running at defenders to get a free kick and then Fleck smashed in a tremendous curling effort. Soon after Clarke ran through and beat the offside trap and slotted home. He wheeled away in front of the Wednesday Kop. United threatened to run riot and were all over their so called superior opponents. A lifeline came from Gary Hooper as he poked home but United still had chances in the second half to finish it with Clarke and Brooks both missing. The latter had showed incredible skill to out fox home defender in one move. His performance was eye opening. However, failure to take the chances saw the Owls level through Joao and suddenly the home fans were bouncing….for less than a minute. United attacked and sub Duffy sent home defender Van Aken for the pies, twisting and turning and smashing past Westwood. An unbelievable goal. After this Brooks fed Clarke and the striker clipped home. It was party time for the Blades fans. United saw out the game with a rendition of ‘Happy Birthday, Chris Wilder’ from the away end and the celebrations at full time will live long in the memory.
Fresh from the momentum of this win, United saw of league leaders Wolves 2-0. Clarke with two more goals and United were buoyant. At Forest, the Blades tore the home side apart at times with Duffy running the game and Lundstram scoring his first goal for the club but again poor finishing and some sloppy defending somehow saw us lose the game 2-1 with a header at the death from Carter Vickers hitting the post. Still September finished and United were right in the top 6 and well placed after a very good start to the season.
October
Two home games against established Championship sides Ipswich and Reading saw both sides well beaten. A Basham header accounting for Town before a more accomplished performance against Reading saw goals from Coutts, a stunning shot and Sharp after a great team move. It finished 2-1 but ought to have been much more. Some of the football United played was a joy to watch. On the Friday evening United had the chance to go top of the league and took it. An early goal from Sharp was cancelled out but wonder boy Brooks scored a fine goal after more good work from Duffy. ‘United, United top of the league’ sang the Blades fans. Both Wednesday and Leeds had been beaten on the road. A poor performance in London and a freak goal saw QPR beat the Blades 1-0 but they finished the month well placed in second.
November
The following Saturday, another great team performance saw Hull soundly beaten 4-1 with Leon Clarke giving one of the best individual performances of recent year at the Lane with four goals. Hull could not handle him at all. United then went on the road and went back to the top of the league as they beat Burton 3-1. Clarke scored again as did Sharp with a brace but the big talking point was the blow of losing talisman Coutts to a really nasty broken leg. This moment would have a significant impact on United the rest of the season. The following week a topsy turvy game saw Fulham edge a 9-goal thriller. Clarke scored another hat trick but some poor defending and slick attacking from the visitors was something we had not seen. Carter Vickers for the home side had a mare but Sessegnon for Fulham was too much for the Blades to cope with. At home the following Saturday on Sky, United needed Clarke to gain a point against a poor Birmingham side. It had been a poor week with the Coutts injury and two poor home results but United had to remain in good spirits going into the Christmas period.
December
A really flat performance at Millwall saw United go down despite a wonderful Brooks effort. The following week a much better showing should have been three points but United hit the woodwork four times and somehow lost at the last to a resurgent Bristol City side. The poor form continued as Preston beat United in another really lethargic showing. Still, a game at Villa Park showed United’s resolve as they fought back from two early goals with Donaldson back in the line up at the double. Boxing Day saw a bumper 30,000+ crowd and the Mackems were soundly beaten with Lundstram scoring in the first half and then first Blades goals for Stearman and Baldock. The patchy form continued to end the month as a workmanlike Bolton side snatched an unlikely win but United now were lacking the cohesion and consistency of earlier in the season.
January
A very good performance at Pride Park should have seen United beat Derby again but they had to be happy with a point with Clarke scoring a lovely header. A second strong side largely then won at Ipswich in the cup before the second Steel City derby came around. It was a poor game and a defensive Wednesday did enough to deservedly get a 0-0 against a strangely subdued United side that featured newcomers Lee Evans from the start and Ryan Leonard (finally signed) and Man Utd loanee James Wilson on the bench. Also signing that week was Ricky Holmes, another long time Wilder target. United got back to winning ways with a win at Norwich with Wilson and then Donaldson netting. They then saw off Preston in the FA Cup with a late Sharp penalty. Villa came to the Lane for another Sky game, who seemed to love United’s style of football and again United were the far better side but a late Snodgrass wonder goal (a staple of United’s defeats this season it seemed) gave Villa a really fortunate win. United had now dipped out of the playoff positions and the early season energy was not there with Wilder trying to blood newcomers and it all not quite working.
February
United were back on TV; at Wolves but got a real mauling; maybe their first of the season as the home team destroyed the Blades. Simon Moore’s sending off summed up a miserable evening. Leeds came to the Lane and United did enough to win this game with Sharp scoring another brace and a vital winning penalty. QPR then were beaten by the same score line with Stearman and Lundstram scoring. In between these games United gave a decent account at Leicester (playing some fringe players) but just losing out to a Vardy goal to go out of the cup. United seemed to be on TV every week and went to the KC Stadium but served up their worst performance of the season and deservedly lost. Wilder publicly slammed the side post game and said the season was finished. It was a bold move from the manager but got the reaction as United then beat Reading 3-1 at the Madeski with Sharp scoring another two and Duffy a peach. United were indebted to a penalty save from Simon Moore with the score still at 2-1 though.
March
Fulham had caused United real problems at the Lane and this continued at Craven Cottage as they saw off a United side that got overwhelmed. For the first time this season you wondered whether United had simply run out of gas. A better performance at Ipswich should have yielded three points but a Wilson shot hit the post and United had to settle for just one in the end. A scrappy performance at home to Burton followed but United did enough to win it with Stevens netting his first United goal and Brooks scoring a neat second from the bench; after a long bout out with glandular fever. Another less than convincing performance at home to Forest on a difficult pitch after overnight snow, saw United only manage a 0-0 draw and thankful to Jamal Blackman for a string of saves. United then went to Brentford after the international break and Blackman was sent off for a clash with Ryan Woods of the home side. Basham had given United the lead but Brentford levelled. However, United missed a host of good chances with Donaldson in particular guilty of not giving them the three points an excellent performance deserved.
April
Neil Warnock’s Cardiff came to town and results had seen United could go back in the top 6. A superb performance saw the Blades cut the Bluebirds to shreds at times but only one goal came (Clarke with his first for 3 months) and several chances went begging. Pilkington’s late goal was a hard pill to swallow in a game United completely dominated and they missed the chance to go back into the playoff places. United then went to Barnsley but an awful start saw us behind. We came back to lead and looked well set to win with Clarke scoring again but poor defending saw them get level. We then threw it away completely at the death. That may have been the crushing blow but we beat Middlesbrough with a really good performance; especially first half with two superb strikes from Lee Evans. However, in the big crunch game against Millwall we took the lead with Clarke getting another but it was short lived and despite more chances, could not force the crucial win that was needed. The following week we went to Birmingham and with Clarke missing; did not turn up and deservedly lost. That seemed it and it was confirmed a week later when any slip hopes of the playoffs finally disappeared as United meekly lost at home to Preston; another game they were the better side but gave away a poor goal. Wilder spoke passionately about the board room situation post game and the first real suggestions he may not hang around started to surface.
May
The final game was a dead rubber as we went to Ashton Gate and played Bristol City. We played really well actually and in relaxed mood went 3-0 with some great goals from Clarke, Sharp and the returning Freeman. A late comeback ensued but we held on and ended with a win.
As I have traditionally done at the end of the last few seasons; it is that time again when I write a review of the campaign and also compile a school report for the different sections of the club. I will look at how they have fared and what are the prospects for next season for each respective department of the club.
Some of this I wrote a few weeks ago so apologise for any omissions or developments that may have been missed in this
I will begin with the review and a breakdown of the board and manager/s.
Over the next few weeks I will add to this with breakdowns of the players/squad at the club and do the same. Will look at contract situation (may be wrong with some of these so again come in if I have got any wrong) and what might happen to each are of the team.
Feel free to add comments/disagree/debate.....after each post I make.
I have graded the board, the manager, players and the fans; in a traditional school report style of A+ to F- (every player who started at least one game- think I may have graded a few others too). Should really mark the new GCSE style numbering 1-9 but that would get really confusing! Maybe in future years I will just give a mark out of 10 for the season (an average)– might be much easier! I will also say that some grades may not be as high as people may think but we finished 11th and have to take out who over or under achieved but mark them as what I have seen against other Championship players. Some may have played as well as last season (Duffy/Fleck) but may have a slightly lower mark. Last season we finished 1st so obvious we would have a lot of high marks and I think I had quite a few A’s and B’s. this year there will be a fair few B’s but maybe not many if any A’s.
However, I have had to grade players based on the games they did play so some players who played a lot more may still get a lower grade despite disproportionate number of games in comparison.
Of course, whilst I have seen all the home games; I have seen 8 away games live and another 8-10 on a feed; so, have missed a few away games and that needs factoring into my analysis.
If I have missed anyone then please say. Feel free to weigh in with critique, opinions and even in some cases agreements!
Season review
So, after the wonderful season of 2016-17; most United fans had found their mojo again. We were finally back in the Championship and had a manager who was an inspiration to all. Many were not sure quite how we would go. We had to borrow a Wilder phrase ‘smashed’ League One. 100 points and 100 goals. It had been all too easy and now we faced big spending sides like Wolves, Villa, Fulham and gulp Wednesday. Many felt we did not need to bring in more quality and it is debatable whether that happened over the summer. We re-signed Ched Evans, brought in wing backs Enda Stevens and George Baldock and signed a young lad from Hartlepool Nathan Thomas. We also signed experienced centre back Richard Stearman. Simon Moore got injured on the eve of the season ad we brought in Chelsea keeper Jamal Blackman on loan. One of the more interesting sub plots was the decision to keep David Brooks rather than let him go to Chesterfield as originally planned. He lit up pre-season with goals against Chesterfield and also Stoke – a game United played really well in. It seemed Wilder unable to get his targets of Leonard, Holmes and Lenighan was happy to give him opportunities.
Out of the door went Matt Done, Stefan Scougall, Marc McNulty and Jay O’Shea and loanees Harry Chapman and Ethan Ebanks Landell were not re-signed. Youngsters Ben Whiteman, Louis Reed and George Long were loaned out for season long loans; two going to local sides. Chris Hussey and James Wilson also went on loan to Swindon and Walsall respectively.
It seemed that Wilder placed his trust in the spine of the side that had done so well the previous year with O’Connell, Basham, Freeman, Fleck, Duffy, Coutts, Clarke and Sharp all expected to be regulars. Moore’s injury gave a chance to Blackman but it said it all that only him, Stearman and Stevens were newcomers on opening day. John Lundstram signed on the eve of the season but began the season in the bench. Many of the predictions for how United would do ranged quite spectacularly – some had them mid table maybe even pushing higher but many had them just below mid table or even nearer the bottom. Very few thought we would go down but pointed to the lack of quality signings and the much-improved sides/talent we would face. Some were disappointed that the ownership ‘team’ had not really built on the previous season and these questions would come often throughout the season.
August
The opening day of the season saw the traditional red-hot sunshine and established Championship side Brentford were in town. A decent game saw United strike first through Billy Sharp in quite an even game but Brentford cut the Blades open at times and missed quite a few chances. Still the Blades had more than competed and it was a great opening day win. Manager Wilder had surprised by starting Samir Carruthers in the no 10 role behind Sharp and Clarke and he did well. After a League Cup win that saw Thomas score his first goal and Brayford start alongside youngsters Eastwood, Bennett and Brooks; United came back down to earth. A poor game up at Middlesbrough saw United concede a sloppy goal and then not really do enough against a home side that were not much better. Still a late leveller came from Jack O’Connell but a linesman’s flag, wrongly, chalked it off. A few days later United were well beaten at Neil Warnock’s Cardiff as the pace and power of the division really hit home. Back at the Lane and United were able to put in a very good performance and see of local rivals Barnsley with Sharp scoring again. Leon Clarke and McDonald of Barnsley were both sent off for a clash in the first half. United really should have won by more than the single goal as they easily beat the Reds. Mark Duffy was back in the side and starred. A crushing defeat to Premier League Leicester in the cup was followed by another great team performance as United beat big spending Derby 3-1 at the Lane. Sharp scored two goals with his second being right at the death as Scott Carson was forward for a corner for the visitors. United ended the month in a decent position and had won all their home games but lost both away games. They sat above the middle of the league and seemed to have adjusted fairly well and quickly at this level.
Just before the month ended we had transfer deadline business; a few weeks previously in had come Cameron Carter Vickers on loan from Spurs but had not started a game yet. John Brayford finally left as he went back to Burton after a summer where it seemed inevitable he would finally move on. United sought a number of targets and continuous talk centered on Southend’s Ryan Leonard but the players that came in were experienced striker Clayton Donaldson for a nominal free from Birmingham. Also signing was Motherwell defender Ben Heneghan; thought to be one for the future.
Quina and Sinclair of West Ham and Watford respectively fell through as an interesting documentary showed the events of the final day with Wilder’s reputation further growing as a result of his transparency and straight way of going about his business.
September
United went to Sunderland and with Clarke missing and Lavery also injured; Donaldson got the start and he scored a brace on a dream debut with Brooks impressing from the bench. The 2-1 win was built on with a narrow win at the Macron in the week as rivals from the previous season, Bolton were beaten. Carter Vickers also scored on his full debut. United were flying now and they had certainly had an excellent start to the season with the defence looking solid, the midfield excelling with Coutts, Fleck and Duffy to the fore and options up the top with the incoming Donaldson, promising Brooks and the old guard of Clarke and Sharp. Sadly many of the strikers were not available for the game at home the following Saturday against Norwich and Ched Evans got his first start back in his second spell. United controlled the game but were undone by a sucker punch and then witnessed the Canaries time waste and spoil for the entire second half as the Blades suffered their first home defeat. The build up to the next game was intense with the big anticipated Steel City derby at Hillsborough. United got Clarke back in the line up and surprised by starting Brooks alongside him and Basham in midfield to stiffen this area up. Wednesday had not had the best start but even with some injuries themselves still packed a side full of expensive talent. United’s start was astonishing. Brooks running at defenders to get a free kick and then Fleck smashed in a tremendous curling effort. Soon after Clarke ran through and beat the offside trap and slotted home. He wheeled away in front of the Wednesday Kop. United threatened to run riot and were all over their so called superior opponents. A lifeline came from Gary Hooper as he poked home but United still had chances in the second half to finish it with Clarke and Brooks both missing. The latter had showed incredible skill to out fox home defender in one move. His performance was eye opening. However, failure to take the chances saw the Owls level through Joao and suddenly the home fans were bouncing….for less than a minute. United attacked and sub Duffy sent home defender Van Aken for the pies, twisting and turning and smashing past Westwood. An unbelievable goal. After this Brooks fed Clarke and the striker clipped home. It was party time for the Blades fans. United saw out the game with a rendition of ‘Happy Birthday, Chris Wilder’ from the away end and the celebrations at full time will live long in the memory.
Fresh from the momentum of this win, United saw of league leaders Wolves 2-0. Clarke with two more goals and United were buoyant. At Forest, the Blades tore the home side apart at times with Duffy running the game and Lundstram scoring his first goal for the club but again poor finishing and some sloppy defending somehow saw us lose the game 2-1 with a header at the death from Carter Vickers hitting the post. Still September finished and United were right in the top 6 and well placed after a very good start to the season.
October
Two home games against established Championship sides Ipswich and Reading saw both sides well beaten. A Basham header accounting for Town before a more accomplished performance against Reading saw goals from Coutts, a stunning shot and Sharp after a great team move. It finished 2-1 but ought to have been much more. Some of the football United played was a joy to watch. On the Friday evening United had the chance to go top of the league and took it. An early goal from Sharp was cancelled out but wonder boy Brooks scored a fine goal after more good work from Duffy. ‘United, United top of the league’ sang the Blades fans. Both Wednesday and Leeds had been beaten on the road. A poor performance in London and a freak goal saw QPR beat the Blades 1-0 but they finished the month well placed in second.
November
The following Saturday, another great team performance saw Hull soundly beaten 4-1 with Leon Clarke giving one of the best individual performances of recent year at the Lane with four goals. Hull could not handle him at all. United then went on the road and went back to the top of the league as they beat Burton 3-1. Clarke scored again as did Sharp with a brace but the big talking point was the blow of losing talisman Coutts to a really nasty broken leg. This moment would have a significant impact on United the rest of the season. The following week a topsy turvy game saw Fulham edge a 9-goal thriller. Clarke scored another hat trick but some poor defending and slick attacking from the visitors was something we had not seen. Carter Vickers for the home side had a mare but Sessegnon for Fulham was too much for the Blades to cope with. At home the following Saturday on Sky, United needed Clarke to gain a point against a poor Birmingham side. It had been a poor week with the Coutts injury and two poor home results but United had to remain in good spirits going into the Christmas period.
December
A really flat performance at Millwall saw United go down despite a wonderful Brooks effort. The following week a much better showing should have been three points but United hit the woodwork four times and somehow lost at the last to a resurgent Bristol City side. The poor form continued as Preston beat United in another really lethargic showing. Still, a game at Villa Park showed United’s resolve as they fought back from two early goals with Donaldson back in the line up at the double. Boxing Day saw a bumper 30,000+ crowd and the Mackems were soundly beaten with Lundstram scoring in the first half and then first Blades goals for Stearman and Baldock. The patchy form continued to end the month as a workmanlike Bolton side snatched an unlikely win but United now were lacking the cohesion and consistency of earlier in the season.
January
A very good performance at Pride Park should have seen United beat Derby again but they had to be happy with a point with Clarke scoring a lovely header. A second strong side largely then won at Ipswich in the cup before the second Steel City derby came around. It was a poor game and a defensive Wednesday did enough to deservedly get a 0-0 against a strangely subdued United side that featured newcomers Lee Evans from the start and Ryan Leonard (finally signed) and Man Utd loanee James Wilson on the bench. Also signing that week was Ricky Holmes, another long time Wilder target. United got back to winning ways with a win at Norwich with Wilson and then Donaldson netting. They then saw off Preston in the FA Cup with a late Sharp penalty. Villa came to the Lane for another Sky game, who seemed to love United’s style of football and again United were the far better side but a late Snodgrass wonder goal (a staple of United’s defeats this season it seemed) gave Villa a really fortunate win. United had now dipped out of the playoff positions and the early season energy was not there with Wilder trying to blood newcomers and it all not quite working.
February
United were back on TV; at Wolves but got a real mauling; maybe their first of the season as the home team destroyed the Blades. Simon Moore’s sending off summed up a miserable evening. Leeds came to the Lane and United did enough to win this game with Sharp scoring another brace and a vital winning penalty. QPR then were beaten by the same score line with Stearman and Lundstram scoring. In between these games United gave a decent account at Leicester (playing some fringe players) but just losing out to a Vardy goal to go out of the cup. United seemed to be on TV every week and went to the KC Stadium but served up their worst performance of the season and deservedly lost. Wilder publicly slammed the side post game and said the season was finished. It was a bold move from the manager but got the reaction as United then beat Reading 3-1 at the Madeski with Sharp scoring another two and Duffy a peach. United were indebted to a penalty save from Simon Moore with the score still at 2-1 though.
March
Fulham had caused United real problems at the Lane and this continued at Craven Cottage as they saw off a United side that got overwhelmed. For the first time this season you wondered whether United had simply run out of gas. A better performance at Ipswich should have yielded three points but a Wilson shot hit the post and United had to settle for just one in the end. A scrappy performance at home to Burton followed but United did enough to win it with Stevens netting his first United goal and Brooks scoring a neat second from the bench; after a long bout out with glandular fever. Another less than convincing performance at home to Forest on a difficult pitch after overnight snow, saw United only manage a 0-0 draw and thankful to Jamal Blackman for a string of saves. United then went to Brentford after the international break and Blackman was sent off for a clash with Ryan Woods of the home side. Basham had given United the lead but Brentford levelled. However, United missed a host of good chances with Donaldson in particular guilty of not giving them the three points an excellent performance deserved.
April
Neil Warnock’s Cardiff came to town and results had seen United could go back in the top 6. A superb performance saw the Blades cut the Bluebirds to shreds at times but only one goal came (Clarke with his first for 3 months) and several chances went begging. Pilkington’s late goal was a hard pill to swallow in a game United completely dominated and they missed the chance to go back into the playoff places. United then went to Barnsley but an awful start saw us behind. We came back to lead and looked well set to win with Clarke scoring again but poor defending saw them get level. We then threw it away completely at the death. That may have been the crushing blow but we beat Middlesbrough with a really good performance; especially first half with two superb strikes from Lee Evans. However, in the big crunch game against Millwall we took the lead with Clarke getting another but it was short lived and despite more chances, could not force the crucial win that was needed. The following week we went to Birmingham and with Clarke missing; did not turn up and deservedly lost. That seemed it and it was confirmed a week later when any slip hopes of the playoffs finally disappeared as United meekly lost at home to Preston; another game they were the better side but gave away a poor goal. Wilder spoke passionately about the board room situation post game and the first real suggestions he may not hang around started to surface.
May
The final game was a dead rubber as we went to Ashton Gate and played Bristol City. We played really well actually and in relaxed mood went 3-0 with some great goals from Clarke, Sharp and the returning Freeman. A late comeback ensued but we held on and ended with a win.
