Derby 0 United 1 - report/ratings

[Deadbat]

The Blades got back to winning ways as they won a tight game at Pride Park sending home side, Derby County, to a 7th straight defeat. New boys Tom Cannon and Ben Brereton Diaz combined for the visitors, just after the break and that was enough to settle a game lacking in quality throughout. United were still a long way from their best and it was a scrappy affair but with fellow promotion Burnley, dropping points, the three points were all that mattered in the end.



Chris Wilder started with two recent signings, Hamza Choudhury and Harry Clarke, and fielded two other recent captures, Tom Cannon and Ben Brereton Diaz. Derby had also been busy in the transfer market with Matt Clarke returning to the club joining recent addition, Lars Jorgen Salvesen. Both these players started and fellow Norwegian Sondre Langas was announced as signing but not in time to play this game.



The game started in cagey fashion with both teams struggling to get hold of the ball on a pitch that seemed unpredictable as the ball was bouncing around and rarely in possession for long. Derby tried to find an opening down the left but newcomer Clarke did well to get his foot in for the visitors. United’s first foray forward saw Cannon try a long range shot but was comfortable for Zetterstrom. Brewster was making some enterprising runs and he was the next to try a long-range effort that had more power, but still routine for the Derby stopper. The Rams tried to respond but were struggling to make much headway in a game mired in midfield for much of the opening stages.



Brereton Diaz seemed to be in but was penalised before his effort went over the bar after a good break before Derby had a spell of territory and Goudmijn finally worked Cooper but again it was not a difficult stop. Osborn, captaining the home side, was busy as always in the centre but both teams were really struggling to create anything inside either box. Salvesen had a header that was straight at the Blades keeper as the game remained relatively even. Clarke got down the right for United and his surging run saw him cleverly pull the ball back but Brewster was off target sending his shot wide of the near post. The half time whistle came with both teams knowing they would have to find a moment of quality to settle a tight game.



Harness came on for Nyambe for County at the break but it was only four minutes after the re-start when that bit of quality was found. Brewster and Burrows were involved in the build up and the ball was played over to Cannon on the left inside channel. He dropped his shoulder, turned, and cleverly took the ball forward before sending over a beautiful cross that was begging to be converted. BRERETON DIAZ obliged finishing from close range for his first goal since returning to the club.



Derby tried to find a response as the crowd started to show their frustration for the first time. Goudmijn headed over after a decent ball came in from the left and Derby finally got some crosses in but United were solid enough to repel anything that came in.



The first changes were made on the hour as Rak Sakyi and Campbell came on for O’Hare and Brereton Diaz. Cannon had space as United broke but went on his own and his shot ballooned over. Thompson replaced Ozoh in a game that was very stop start with little momentum being gained from either side. At this stage, with the lead, this would of course suit the Blades.



The first cards came when Harness was booked for a late foul and Souza joined him for brandishing the imaginary yellow card. Robinson had to block an Osborn drive and Derby won a couple of corners in succession but Cooper had not been tested in the second half.



Former Blade loanee Mendez Laing came on for Jackson and McCallum and Peck gave United some fresh legs, replacing Cannon and Brewster.



Barkhuizen was introduced for Goudmijn with ten minutes to play and the substitute had a shot bravely blocked from Clarke who showed his commitment to the cause. The corner came over and then was returned after the initial clearance. This led to Derby’s best chance as Forsyth headed back and Matt Clarke headed over when he really should have done better. The game ticked into the additional 5 minutes of stoppage time but United managed this out professionally and ticked off another win on the road in their quest for promotion. Derby’s fans gave their team and manager a very different reaction on full time, to that the packed Blades support gave for their side and Chris Wilder, who thumped his badge and twirled around in delight.





United – There are two trains of thought when reflecting on yesterday and sure these have been articulated by many fans (we heard it in the pub after the game). One, is that we won, kept a clean sheet and battled against a poor side. We did what we had to and saw it out. The three points is all that really mattered. We bedded in some new and returning players, have far more depth now and with Burnley dropping points, it was another game chalked off.



The second angle, is that it was another disjointed performance, where we barely had any touches in the opposition box, created very little and seemed to not really have a clear attacking identity with a lot of new players throw in and not really any cohesiveness. This line of thought, also suggests we will not get away with playing like we currently are (evidence of that very clear and recent, from the Hull defeat) and will struggle to hold onto the automatic promotion place we currently possess. There is also an envious glance at Leeds and their thumping win and feeling we are not quite where they are at, even if we essentially have the same points (taking away the deduction) and have actually won more games!



I probably am somewhere in the middle. I was delighted to get the win and any Blades win is a good one and makes it an excellent day. Football is about winning and we are doing that most weeks. We saw some moments from the new lads and Clarke and Choudhury offered us something different. I think we can play better too so that gives me hope. We have that defensive protection and more options at the top of the pitch too. We did not really get threatened too much in terms of defensively and sort of saw out the game. However, I am concerned that we seem to lack that clear plan of how to attack, create and score. The goal came from a sort of broken play rather than a planned move but was well made and taken. We rarely seem to get behind teams, either down the sides of the middle and lack pace to attack teams on the break. It takes a fair bit for us to score. If that game had finished 0-0 or 1-1, we could not have really complained. It was a tight game, like the Hull one and many before that and we just got the goal and saw it out.



I am not sure Burnley are any better than us (their 5-0 at Plymouth was not in keeping with their season and how they have set up) really so there is a bit of balance when we are comparing us to Leeds. I do worry that if we carry on playing like we are, the Hull game will happen too many more times for us to keep in the top two. Burnley have a favourable run of games coming up also and we have some tricky fixtures, Boro, Leeds and QPR all to play in the coming month. I hope we find more fluidity and added to that can sign another dominating centre half. Maybe the blueprint is to just do what we did at Derby and be solid and find the moment we need. It is kind of how we have been much of the season. It has worked to get us where we are and with so few games left, we win say 9-10 of 16 and draw one or two, we probably go up. Do I feel this looks a promotion side? Possibly not but then that Hecky team was quite similar but of course we had Ndiaye then (Hamer of course can be that difference maker) to find that quality. Burnley fans probably saying the same as us too.



Today, the game was a really poor one and lacked quality all over. Derby actually had more shots and touches inside the box (23-9) but stats are not always telling – as they never really looked like scoring apart from the late header. Truth is, neither did we but then we did score and of course that is all we needed and saw it out without too much concern. I thought the passing from both sides was absolutely shocking and it seemed like a game of hot potato as they kept throwing it around and neither side had any real control all game. The moments like wild Brewster slice wide and then the Derby player kicking it onto his own foot and out of play, kind of summed it up. As a neutral you would have probably turned off if you were watching on TV. Maybe Derby sucked us into a scrappy game but then we have had too many games like that recently, for it to be just about that.

 

[Deadbat]

Ratings:



Cooper 6/10 – Had very little to do. Not sure either keeper really made a proper save other than a few tame efforts straight at them. Think he saved a header and then saw a few go over but he was well protected today.



Clarke 6.5/10 – Gave us something different and he was solid enough defensively but got forward well too. Thought he threw his body on the line a few times too. Couple of decent runs and crosses too. Better size than Gilchrist and technically, albeit one game, looked better in possession. Wait to see against tougher opponents his defensive part of his game of course, but a promising start.



Burrows 5.5/10 – Thought he was off it again today and not been at his best recently, after that recent scoring run, albeit not helped by being moved around a fair bit. He did play the assist to the assist for the goal but saw little of him going forward and a few times he got caught out defensively or was not close enough to his man. Their most dangerous (not that they were!) attacks seemed to come down our left second half.



Ahmedhodzic 6.5/10 – Solid again and been consistent most of the season. He read the game well, as he often does and made a few interceptions and headers/blocks. Got penalised for a few tugs/pulls but overall he was fine.



Robinson 6.5/10 – As above. Defended well for the most part. A few poor balls out apart, he did his job and got a vital block in on an Osborn shot. He won his battles although we got lucky with a few headers going over when both players ought to have done better, particularly Clarke.



Choudhury 6.5/10 – First half thought he was sloppy and gave it away a few times and did not seem to know where to be most effective and left us with a gap between defence and midfield a few times when both he and Souza went at the same time. His passing was off too but he improved hugely after the break and maybe was our best player after the interval. Got his foot in, made some good tackles and used the ball well and covered a lot of ground.



Souza 6/10 – First start after a month out, he looked a bit leggy and his touch was a bit off. Will take time to get fully back up to speed of course. As the game went on, he started to become more involved and do the things he is good at. Still not sure how he and Choudhury will work longer term but we will see. Hopefully those two compensate for the defensive issues with Souttar’s absence and allow some of the creative players to do their stuff further forward. Right that we brought another player in though with Peck playing so much and Davies’ injury issues.



O’Hare 3/10 – He was playing so well either side of Xmas and thought he was working tirelessly on the press but the last 2 or 3 games, we have not seen the best of him. He may need a few games out, as like with Peck, he has played so many games and he too had a bad injury not long ago – so maybe needs a couple of weeks out and then to be brought back for the big final push? Today he was not involved and when he did have the ball was totally ineffective and careless with it too. Not helped that he was played out wide and thus became marginalised. I have thought he should be tried there with Hamer more central but we maybe saw why O’Hare has been left more central as he works so hard and does a lot of the defensive stuff/pressing. Does seem to miss playing with his running mate Hamer though.



Brereton Diaz 6/10 – In general play he was more of a 5/10 – he had one run where he came forward but they got back and then another half chance where he was penalised for a foul. Outside of that not sure we saw enough of him and we struggled to get our forwards into the game as the ball took too long to come forward. When he had it, he sort of got crowded out. The goal though, whilst a tap in, showed his anticipation and a big moment in the season you would hope. He is another that needs game to get better and sharper so you kind of have to keep playing him.



Cannon 6/10 – Like the above, thought he was relatively quiet and I do worry what his strengths are for someone who cost so much money? I hear he will get you a goal and is a finisher but if we are not providing or creating much (which we are not and have not really done all season) then I do think Moore and/or Campbell are better as offer hold up/running. I doubt he will leave him out much though having spent much so hopefully he can get better service but also feel he needs to do more to hold the ball up. However, despite these worries, he at least had a few shots today and then of course his quality turn and ball made the goal so he has contributed in a huge piece of play that won the game.



Brewster 6/10 – First half thought he was our liveliest player and despite playing in an odd, sort of number 10 role, just off Cannon, he at least got on the ball, made some runs and had a few shots. One long ranger at the keeper and one past the post were our best efforts first half. He worked quite hard too but after the break he became less involved and the only thing I remember is a horrid sliced shot and in the end he tired and was taken off.



Subs -



Rak Sayki 5/10 – One decent run where he got round his man and won a corner but frustrating outside of that. Need him to regain some of that early season form where he making teams double up on him.



Campbell 5/10 – Quiet really but at this stage we were just making sure we saw the game out and defending more than attacking.



McCallum – Won a few headers but also gave it away a few times when we needed to keep the ball at the late stage of the game.



Peck – Got around the pitch in his limited time on. Had one chance when the ball was played over the top but miscontrolled it.





Manager: Wilder 7/10 – A win and a clean sheet. The performance was not great but he is bedding in new players and two of them combined to get the winner. Whether we get away with playing like this against better sides remains to be seen but today was just about winning and we looked more solid after the defeat and conceding three last week. I do worry about the shape and how we are trying to attack and seems a bit all thrown together at the moment but we are still mostly winning and are top two. With so few games left, 16, there may be a fair few games like this and now we have more depth and quality, we can hopefully nick most of the tight games. He will just be pleased to have us right up there and in with a punching chance of automatic promotion, which is remarkable after the turnover of players, some of the turmoil off the pitch (boardroom/points deduction) and the low ebb we were at. He has got a togetherness in the group and a spirit which is something he is simply brilliant at forging.





Derby – Thought they looked a shocking side but we were not much better to be fair. We know we have some quality and can play better so for us suppose it was just about getting the goal and then seeing it out. First half was quite even but with few chances either way and just long-range efforts/weak looping headers. No one really came seriously close to scoring and both keepers were not really tested. They were wasteful in possession and looked lacking in confidence. They seemed to go back a lot and then ended up pumping it forward as the crowd became frustrated. The goal was poor as the defence completely switched off and allowed the run, cross and then no one went with BBD. After this, they huffed and puffed and did get some crosses in and had a few headers/shots blocked but Cooper did not have a meaningful save to make. They looked a bit clueless and the crowd started to turn. At the end, the reaction was that of a crowd that seemed to clearly want a managerial change. I like Paul Ware. Did a great job at Rotherham and also his interviews are always honest and quite funny. However, I do think he might be someone that does well to get teams up but then struggles at the higher level, albeit with limited resources, even at Derby but there are teams like Oxford above who are doing better. I would be more surprised if they did not sack him. They go to Norwich and his home town team might be his final game, if he survives till then. I fear for them and Plymouth (despite their surprise win against WBA) and think they may occupy two of the relegation spots. They have brought in a few Norwegian players, but overall, just lack quality and look a slow and predictable side that play quite a basic style. They are not getting hammered in games, but as with us, the other way, it is not a co-incidence when you are constantly on the wrong (right in our case) side of so many narrow defeats.



Opponent Man of the Match – I am not sure anyone stood out for being particularly good or terrible. Just a very average set of players and a very average set of performances! Osborn ran around a fair bit and got a nice clap from the Blades in the corner. Goudmijn at least had a few headed efforts. Mendez Laing at least carried it forward a few times when he came on.



Opponent Weak link – The lad Clarke missed a sitter and seemed on his heels for the goal. Whenever I have seen him, he always looks clumsy and slow but maybe I just see his bad games! Up top, they offered nothing at all.



Referee/Officials – A nothing game and easy one really to ref. Cannot recall too many awful decisions to be honest. Two bookings – both at the same time – Harness for a foul and Souza for dissent (well seemed to wave a card at him so stupid again). Outside of this, there was not really any bad fouls or big calls to make.





Crowd/Day Out – Blades fans backed the team well and helped see them over the line. Sat in the corner and was quite near the back so had a decent view of the game – heard some in the lower tier say it was harder to pick out the play and some did not even know we had scored! The concourse was really cramped and there is not enough toilets/bars to cater for a full away end. My first win there since Akinbiyi scored the winner a long time ago.



The ground is a fair old walk from the centre so we opted to go into town and then get a uber, which dropped us right by the players tunnel – cracking job. Also, good you can get a beer outside the ground – as not many away grounds do that – you have to go in first. Took ages to get in with again, as with the comment above, insufficient turnstiles.



Funny at the end seeing the vitriol of the home fans at their players and manager. They were not happy and a contrast to the ‘United’ scenes with our players/manager and fans at the end.



The rest of the day was really good. Went along with Blades Pod and his Dad, Roy, Travelling, Eggy and Webding. Ashamedly did the cheap option of Wetherspoons, with a number of Blades in there. Cracking few hours before, and after the game – we ended up in the Alexandra – which was a great real ale pub and bumped into a few of the 4 Blades in a Pub crew. Always great to go away and have a few beers, a good laugh and the win rounds it off, as you take your three points back in your back pocket.

 

[FMBlade1]

Thanks as always- though funny that it's probably the first time we've won a game but no player given at least a 7/10 rating!

 

[Hartley Hare]

Thanks DB.

Comprehensive and well written report.

HH

 

[Deadbat]

Thanks as always- though funny that it's probably the first time we've won a game but no player given at least a 7/10 rating!

Riley Roberts from the Pinch gave mostly 5's - a few 6's and one 7 (Robbo).

Not sure anyone was outstanding. O'Hare poor but the rest were just average. Defence was solid enough but struggle to even name a man of the match really?

 

[CaptainMorgans]

Riley Roberts from the Pinch gave mostly 5's - a few 6's and one 7 (Robbo).

Not sure anyone was outstanding. O'Hare poor but the rest were just average. Defence was solid enough but struggle to even name a man of the match really?

I thought Clarke and particularly Choudhury were worthy of a higher score, especially if you apply the debutant context.

Choudhury gave us a lot of energy in the middle of the park and broke it up on a number of occasions.
He also tried, with Clarke, to get forwards and support attacks (surprising).

Clarke looks a great physical specimen. You can see there's a lot of power in him when he's moving at full speed.
He covers the ground well, with and without the ball.. and he's happy to press in advanced areas.
Looked an instant upgrade in terms of how comfortable he was in that wide channel.

That aside, totally agree with your assessment.
I'm not sure how we're playing will be enough against the in form / better sides in the league. I don't see our style improving much with so little time remaining... but perhaps it won't matter?
Win 10-11 / 16 (and those games are there for us) and it should be enough provided Burnley don't transform post-window.

 

[Yellarbellyblade]

O’Hare missing his best mate do you think? Seems to be much livelier when he’s playing too, as do the rest of the team. We desperately need him to avoid another five yellows

 

[CaptainMorgans]

O’Hare missing his best mate do you think? Seems to be much livelier when he’s playing too, as do the rest of the team. We desperately need him to avoid another five yellows

Hamer comes straight back in.

The logical thing would be to give O'Hare a rest now and get JRS back up to speed.

For the Portsmouth game, JRS is someone that can unlock a "low block."

 

[Northernsoulblade]

Nice one deadbat

 

[Melbourne Blade]

Choudhury was like the older more talented kid who'd turn up for a kickabout in Graves Park. After he'd accepted it was a bunch of kids he'd really turn it on and show the difference. More to come I hope.

Cooper probably had more to do than you'd think and had it not been for him commanding crossers & set pieces we'd have easily conceded otherwise

 

[Dkc]

Thanks Deadbat, been waiting for this. Agree with most ratings but 3/10 for O Hare is very harsh. Agree he wasn't in the game much but wasn't playing in his best position. Also positive is another solid game for Robinson who was getting stick earlier in the season. A better performance will be needed on Saturday as Portsmouth have picked up some decent results and are better than the table suggests.

Leeds and Burnley both play midweek and will probably both pick up 3 points. If either of them drop points it will be a bonus but I can't see it.

 

[Rodley]

Feels light for me the CW score. Built a whole new (very young) team, then essentially patched it up again in January. That we continue to get results and remain in the top two is a fantastic achievement.

It will inevitably be disjointed given the nature of the above, that’s how the cookie crumbles.

 

[Northyorksblade]

Vini was insisting to the ref that he had been gesturing to one of our players and not brandishing an imaginary card. He does point a lot, so the yellow may have been unfair.

 

[bakeblade]

Ratings:



Cooper 6/10 – Had very little to do. Not sure either keeper really made a proper save other than a few tame efforts straight at them. Think he saved a header and then saw a few go over but he was well protected today.



Clarke 6.5/10 – Gave us something different and he was solid enough defensively but got forward well too. Thought he threw his body on the line a few times too. Couple of decent runs and crosses too. Better size than Gilchrist and technically, albeit one game, looked better in possession. Wait to see against tougher opponents his defensive part of his game of course, but a promising start.



Burrows 5.5/10 – Thought he was off it again today and not been at his best recently, after that recent scoring run, albeit not helped by being moved around a fair bit. He did play the assist to the assist for the goal but saw little of him going forward and a few times he got caught out defensively or was not close enough to his man. Their most dangerous (not that they were!) attacks seemed to come down our left second half.



Ahmedhodzic 6.5/10 – Solid again and been consistent most of the season. He read the game well, as he often does and made a few interceptions and headers/blocks. Got penalised for a few tugs/pulls but overall he was fine.



Robinson 6.5/10 – As above. Defended well for the most part. A few poor balls out apart, he did his job and got a vital block in on an Osborn shot. He won his battles although we got lucky with a few headers going over when both players ought to have done better, particularly Clarke.



Choudhury 6.5/10 – First half thought he was sloppy and gave it away a few times and did not seem to know where to be most effective and left us with a gap between defence and midfield a few times when both he and Souza went at the same time. His passing was off too but he improved hugely after the break and maybe was our best player after the interval. Got his foot in, made some good tackles and used the ball well and covered a lot of ground.



Souza 6/10 – First start after a month out, he looked a bit leggy and his touch was a bit off. Will take time to get fully back up to speed of course. As the game went on, he started to become more involved and do the things he is good at. Still not sure how he and Choudhury will work longer term but we will see. Hopefully those two compensate for the defensive issues with Souttar’s absence and allow some of the creative players to do their stuff further forward. Right that we brought another player in though with Peck playing so much and Davies’ injury issues.



O’Hare 3/10 – He was playing so well either side of Xmas and thought he was working tirelessly on the press but the last 2 or 3 games, we have not seen the best of him. He may need a few games out, as like with Peck, he has played so many games and he too had a bad injury not long ago – so maybe needs a couple of weeks out and then to be brought back for the big final push? Today he was not involved and when he did have the ball was totally ineffective and careless with it too. Not helped that he was played out wide and thus became marginalised. I have thought he should be tried there with Hamer more central but we maybe saw why O’Hare has been left more central as he works so hard and does a lot of the defensive stuff/pressing. Does seem to miss playing with his running mate Hamer though.



Brereton Diaz 6/10 – In general play he was more of a 5/10 – he had one run where he came forward but they got back and then another half chance where he was penalised for a foul. Outside of that not sure we saw enough of him and we struggled to get our forwards into the game as the ball took too long to come forward. When he had it, he sort of got crowded out. The goal though, whilst a tap in, showed his anticipation and a big moment in the season you would hope. He is another that needs game to get better and sharper so you kind of have to keep playing him.



Cannon 6/10 – Like the above, thought he was relatively quiet and I do worry what his strengths are for someone who cost so much money? I hear he will get you a goal and is a finisher but if we are not providing or creating much (which we are not and have not really done all season) then I do think Moore and/or Campbell are better as offer hold up/running. I doubt he will leave him out much though having spent much so hopefully he can get better service but also feel he needs to do more to hold the ball up. However, despite these worries, he at least had a few shots today and then of course his quality turn and ball made the goal so he has contributed in a huge piece of play that won the game.



Brewster 6/10 – First half thought he was our liveliest player and despite playing in an odd, sort of number 10 role, just off Cannon, he at least got on the ball, made some runs and had a few shots. One long ranger at the keeper and one past the post were our best efforts first half. He worked quite hard too but after the break he became less involved and the only thing I remember is a horrid sliced shot and in the end he tired and was taken off.



Subs -



Rak Sayki 5/10 – One decent run where he got round his man and won a corner but frustrating outside of that. Need him to regain some of that early season form where he making teams double up on him.



Campbell 5/10 – Quiet really but at this stage we were just making sure we saw the game out and defending more than attacking.



McCallum – Won a few headers but also gave it away a few times when we needed to keep the ball at the late stage of the game.



Peck – Got around the pitch in his limited time on. Had one chance when the ball was played over the top but miscontrolled it.





Manager: Wilder 7/10 – A win and a clean sheet. The performance was not great but he is bedding in new players and two of them combined to get the winner. Whether we get away with playing like this against better sides remains to be seen but today was just about winning and we looked more solid after the defeat and conceding three last week. I do worry about the shape and how we are trying to attack and seems a bit all thrown together at the moment but we are still mostly winning and are top two. With so few games left, 16, there may be a fair few games like this and now we have more depth and quality, we can hopefully nick most of the tight games. He will just be pleased to have us right up there and in with a punching chance of automatic promotion, which is remarkable after the turnover of players, some of the turmoil off the pitch (boardroom/points deduction) and the low ebb we were at. He has got a togetherness in the group and a spirit which is something he is simply brilliant at forging.





Derby – Thought they looked a shocking side but we were not much better to be fair. We know we have some quality and can play better so for us suppose it was just about getting the goal and then seeing it out. First half was quite even but with few chances either way and just long-range efforts/weak looping headers. No one really came seriously close to scoring and both keepers were not really tested. They were wasteful in possession and looked lacking in confidence. They seemed to go back a lot and then ended up pumping it forward as the crowd became frustrated. The goal was poor as the defence completely switched off and allowed the run, cross and then no one went with BBD. After this, they huffed and puffed and did get some crosses in and had a few headers/shots blocked but Cooper did not have a meaningful save to make. They looked a bit clueless and the crowd started to turn. At the end, the reaction was that of a crowd that seemed to clearly want a managerial change. I like Paul Ware. Did a great job at Rotherham and also his interviews are always honest and quite funny. However, I do think he might be someone that does well to get teams up but then struggles at the higher level, albeit with limited resources, even at Derby but there are teams like Oxford above who are doing better. I would be more surprised if they did not sack him. They go to Norwich and his home town team might be his final game, if he survives till then. I fear for them and Plymouth (despite their surprise win against WBA) and think they may occupy two of the relegation spots. They have brought in a few Norwegian players, but overall, just lack quality and look a slow and predictable side that play quite a basic style. They are not getting hammered in games, but as with us, the other way, it is not a co-incidence when you are constantly on the wrong (right in our case) side of so many narrow defeats.



Opponent Man of the Match – I am not sure anyone stood out for being particularly good or terrible. Just a very average set of players and a very average set of performances! Osborn ran around a fair bit and got a nice clap from the Blades in the corner. Goudmijn at least had a few headed efforts. Mendez Laing at least carried it forward a few times when he came on.



Opponent Weak link – The lad Clarke missed a sitter and seemed on his heels for the goal. Whenever I have seen him, he always looks clumsy and slow but maybe I just see his bad games! Up top, they offered nothing at all.



Referee/Officials – A nothing game and easy one really to ref. Cannot recall too many awful decisions to be honest. Two bookings – both at the same time – Harness for a foul and Souza for dissent (well seemed to wave a card at him so stupid again). Outside of this, there was not really any bad fouls or big calls to make.





Crowd/Day Out – Blades fans backed the team well and helped see them over the line. Sat in the corner and was quite near the back so had a decent view of the game – heard some in the lower tier say it was harder to pick out the play and some did not even know we had scored! The concourse was really cramped and there is not enough toilets/bars to cater for a full away end. My first win there since Akinbiyi scored the winner a long time ago.



The ground is a fair old walk from the centre so we opted to go into town and then get a uber, which dropped us right by the players tunnel – cracking job. Also, good you can get a beer outside the ground – as not many away grounds do that – you have to go in first. Took ages to get in with again, as with the comment above, insufficient turnstiles.



Funny at the end seeing the vitriol of the home fans at their players and manager. They were not happy and a contrast to the ‘United’ scenes with our players/manager and fans at the end.



The rest of the day was really good. Went along with Blades Pod and his Dad, Roy, Travelling, Eggy and Webding. Ashamedly did the cheap option of Wetherspoons, with a number of Blades in there. Cracking few hours before, and after the game – we ended up in the Alexandra – which was a great real ale pub and bumped into a few of the 4 Blades in a Pub crew. Always great to go away and have a few beers, a good laugh and the win rounds it off, as you take your three points back in your back pocket.

Good stuff as usual, to be picky I'd upgrade O’Hare to a 4 and downgrade Cannon to a 5.

 

[Addison]

Report is how I saw the game and scores reflect how bad a spectacle it was. A scruffy away win will always do but we couldn't complain if Derby had scored when they went long in the last 15 and exposed our aerial weakness at the back. A better team would have converted some of those headed chances.

Agree about Burrows but the strange formation didn't help. Don't understand the obsession with playing inverted wide players. Yes BBD scored by running in from the right but we looked totally disjointed in the 3 behind the lone forward. It didn't work and should have been BBD on his natural left side COH middle and Brewster wide right imo. We constantly fail to get round the back of a low block and Cannons excellent turn apart we did again yesterday.

COH looks lost without Hamer as does most of the team from an offensive point of view. He has been a big miss but shoe horning players out of position into a rigid system hasn't helped either. Choudhury and Clarke improved the ball winning which has been a problem. Defence looked reasonably solid on the floor although JLT had his Roger Nilsen moment towards the end when he did a diving header straight back to the edge of the area from which they nearly scored. We need that CB getting over the transfer line tomorrow.

Hopefully a weeks rest will blow the cobwebs away and with new players in and Hamer back we can go for it with 2 home games to come. Yesterday proved there are no easy games in the Championship and we will need to be much better in terms of passing, movement and quickness of thought when in possession to continue to put pressure on those around us.

 

[Houston_Blade]

Agreed with the ratings, no one stood out but no one was terrible. We ground out a 1 nil against a poor team and ended the game with them having more of the ball. As a lot have said though “a win’s a win” and we just need to go up for financial reasons so get up by any means and hope for a rethink over the summer about how we play.

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

Well done again Deadbat .

The only thing I would disagree with was your choice of Clarke as being their weakest link .

The missed chance apart , I thought he had an excellent game putting in some great interceptions , blocks and tackles .
The SUTV / Radio Sheffield commentary team thought the same and were at times waxing lyrical about his performance.

However , the lad who kicked the ball onto his own foot made at least three other blunders of almost similar magnitude and had an absolute stinker and for me was their worst player by a country mile .

I particularly liked your well balanced and well observed assessment of Choudray’s performance and if he can continue to replicate his second half performance rather than that of the first , we could be onto another winner .

Keep up the good work .

 

[Sportbilly /Detroit Blade]

First, oh errrrr

 

[themaninblack]

Report is how I saw the game and scores reflect how bad a spectacle it was. A scruffy away win will always do but we couldn't complain if Derby had scored when they went long in the last 15 and exposed our aerial weakness at the back. A better team would have converted some of those headed chances.

Agree about Burrows but the strange formation didn't help. Don't understand the obsession with playing inverted wide players. Yes BBD scored by running in from the right but we looked totally disjointed in the 3 behind the lone forward. It didn't work and should have been BBD on his natural left side COH middle and Brewster wide right imo. We constantly fail to get round the back of a low block and Cannons excellent turn apart we did again yesterday.

COH looks lost without Hamer as does most of the team from an offensive point of view. He has been a big miss but shoe horning players out of position into a rigid system hasn't helped either. Choudhury and Clarke improved the ball winning which has been a problem. Defence looked reasonably solid on the floor although JLT had his Roger Nilsen moment towards the end when he did a diving header straight back to the edge of the area from which they nearly scored. We need that CB getting over the transfer line tomorrow.

Hopefully a weeks rest will blow the cobwebs away and with new players in and Hamer back we can go for it with 2 home games to come. Yesterday proved there are no easy games in the Championship and we will need to be much better in terms of passing, movement and quickness of thought when in possession to continue to put pressure on those around us.

BBD is right footed so he was playing on his ‘natural’ wing yesterday, not inverted.

 

[Bladey_blade]

Good stuff as usual, to be picky I'd upgrade O’Hare to a 4 and downgrade Cannon to a 5.

5/10 sets up the winner.. Garbage

 

[Teddybear]

Choudhury was good given the negative press before, ohare deffo a 3, cannon clarke and diaz will get better CB and we will be in the mix for top two.

For me the only bit of quality in the game got three points, thats what we paid for , facilities were shocking at the ground utb

 

[bakeblade]

Thanks Deadbat, been waiting for this. Agree with most ratings but 3/10 for O Hare is very harsh. Agree he wasn't in the game much but wasn't playing in his best position. Also positive is another solid game for Robinson who was getting stick earlier in the season. A better performance will be needed on Saturday as Portsmouth have picked up some decent results and are better than the table suggests.

Leeds and Burnley both play midweek and will probably both pick up 3 points. If either of them drop points it will be a bonus but I can't see it.

5/10 sets up the winner.. Garbage

That's why he got a 5, otherwise it was a 4 performance

 

[Espania blade]

One thing for sure, DB is back to his best, great report and largely spot on, I thought Ossie was there best player, and couldn't fault Anel for us except for his usual shirt pulling antic's

 

[bakeblade]

Ratings:



Cooper 6/10 – Had very little to do. Not sure either keeper really made a proper save other than a few tame efforts straight at them. Think he saved a header and then saw a few go over but he was well protected today.



Clarke 6.5/10 – Gave us something different and he was solid enough defensively but got forward well too. Thought he threw his body on the line a few times too. Couple of decent runs and crosses too. Better size than Gilchrist and technically, albeit one game, looked better in possession. Wait to see against tougher opponents his defensive part of his game of course, but a promising start.



Burrows 5.5/10 – Thought he was off it again today and not been at his best recently, after that recent scoring run, albeit not helped by being moved around a fair bit. He did play the assist to the assist for the goal but saw little of him going forward and a few times he got caught out defensively or was not close enough to his man. Their most dangerous (not that they were!) attacks seemed to come down our left second half.



Ahmedhodzic 6.5/10 – Solid again and been consistent most of the season. He read the game well, as he often does and made a few interceptions and headers/blocks. Got penalised for a few tugs/pulls but overall he was fine.



Robinson 6.5/10 – As above. Defended well for the most part. A few poor balls out apart, he did his job and got a vital block in on an Osborn shot. He won his battles although we got lucky with a few headers going over when both players ought to have done better, particularly Clarke.



Choudhury 6.5/10 – First half thought he was sloppy and gave it away a few times and did not seem to know where to be most effective and left us with a gap between defence and midfield a few times when both he and Souza went at the same time. His passing was off too but he improved hugely after the break and maybe was our best player after the interval. Got his foot in, made some good tackles and used the ball well and covered a lot of ground.



Souza 6/10 – First start after a month out, he looked a bit leggy and his touch was a bit off. Will take time to get fully back up to speed of course. As the game went on, he started to become more involved and do the things he is good at. Still not sure how he and Choudhury will work longer term but we will see. Hopefully those two compensate for the defensive issues with Souttar’s absence and allow some of the creative players to do their stuff further forward. Right that we brought another player in though with Peck playing so much and Davies’ injury issues.



O’Hare 3/10 – He was playing so well either side of Xmas and thought he was working tirelessly on the press but the last 2 or 3 games, we have not seen the best of him. He may need a few games out, as like with Peck, he has played so many games and he too had a bad injury not long ago – so maybe needs a couple of weeks out and then to be brought back for the big final push? Today he was not involved and when he did have the ball was totally ineffective and careless with it too. Not helped that he was played out wide and thus became marginalised. I have thought he should be tried there with Hamer more central but we maybe saw why O’Hare has been left more central as he works so hard and does a lot of the defensive stuff/pressing. Does seem to miss playing with his running mate Hamer though.



Brereton Diaz 6/10 – In general play he was more of a 5/10 – he had one run where he came forward but they got back and then another half chance where he was penalised for a foul. Outside of that not sure we saw enough of him and we struggled to get our forwards into the game as the ball took too long to come forward. When he had it, he sort of got crowded out. The goal though, whilst a tap in, showed his anticipation and a big moment in the season you would hope. He is another that needs game to get better and sharper so you kind of have to keep playing him.



Cannon 6/10 – Like the above, thought he was relatively quiet and I do worry what his strengths are for someone who cost so much money? I hear he will get you a goal and is a finisher but if we are not providing or creating much (which we are not and have not really done all season) then I do think Moore and/or Campbell are better as offer hold up/running. I doubt he will leave him out much though having spent much so hopefully he can get better service but also feel he needs to do more to hold the ball up. However, despite these worries, he at least had a few shots today and then of course his quality turn and ball made the goal so he has contributed in a huge piece of play that won the game.



Brewster 6/10 – First half thought he was our liveliest player and despite playing in an odd, sort of number 10 role, just off Cannon, he at least got on the ball, made some runs and had a few shots. One long ranger at the keeper and one past the post were our best efforts first half. He worked quite hard too but after the break he became less involved and the only thing I remember is a horrid sliced shot and in the end he tired and was taken off.



Subs -



Rak Sayki 5/10 – One decent run where he got round his man and won a corner but frustrating outside of that. Need him to regain some of that early season form where he making teams double up on him.



Campbell 5/10 – Quiet really but at this stage we were just making sure we saw the game out and defending more than attacking.



McCallum – Won a few headers but also gave it away a few times when we needed to keep the ball at the late stage of the game.



Peck – Got around the pitch in his limited time on. Had one chance when the ball was played over the top but miscontrolled it.





Manager: Wilder 7/10 – A win and a clean sheet. The performance was not great but he is bedding in new players and two of them combined to get the winner. Whether we get away with playing like this against better sides remains to be seen but today was just about winning and we looked more solid after the defeat and conceding three last week. I do worry about the shape and how we are trying to attack and seems a bit all thrown together at the moment but we are still mostly winning and are top two. With so few games left, 16, there may be a fair few games like this and now we have more depth and quality, we can hopefully nick most of the tight games. He will just be pleased to have us right up there and in with a punching chance of automatic promotion, which is remarkable after the turnover of players, some of the turmoil off the pitch (boardroom/points deduction) and the low ebb we were at. He has got a togetherness in the group and a spirit which is something he is simply brilliant at forging.





Derby – Thought they looked a shocking side but we were not much better to be fair. We know we have some quality and can play better so for us suppose it was just about getting the goal and then seeing it out. First half was quite even but with few chances either way and just long-range efforts/weak looping headers. No one really came seriously close to scoring and both keepers were not really tested. They were wasteful in possession and looked lacking in confidence. They seemed to go back a lot and then ended up pumping it forward as the crowd became frustrated. The goal was poor as the defence completely switched off and allowed the run, cross and then no one went with BBD. After this, they huffed and puffed and did get some crosses in and had a few headers/shots blocked but Cooper did not have a meaningful save to make. They looked a bit clueless and the crowd started to turn. At the end, the reaction was that of a crowd that seemed to clearly want a managerial change. I like Paul Ware. Did a great job at Rotherham and also his interviews are always honest and quite funny. However, I do think he might be someone that does well to get teams up but then struggles at the higher level, albeit with limited resources, even at Derby but there are teams like Oxford above who are doing better. I would be more surprised if they did not sack him. They go to Norwich and his home town team might be his final game, if he survives till then. I fear for them and Plymouth (despite their surprise win against WBA) and think they may occupy two of the relegation spots. They have brought in a few Norwegian players, but overall, just lack quality and look a slow and predictable side that play quite a basic style. They are not getting hammered in games, but as with us, the other way, it is not a co-incidence when you are constantly on the wrong (right in our case) side of so many narrow defeats.



Opponent Man of the Match – I am not sure anyone stood out for being particularly good or terrible. Just a very average set of players and a very average set of performances! Osborn ran around a fair bit and got a nice clap from the Blades in the corner. Goudmijn at least had a few headed efforts. Mendez Laing at least carried it forward a few times when he came on.



Opponent Weak link – The lad Clarke missed a sitter and seemed on his heels for the goal. Whenever I have seen him, he always looks clumsy and slow but maybe I just see his bad games! Up top, they offered nothing at all.



Referee/Officials – A nothing game and easy one really to ref. Cannot recall too many awful decisions to be honest. Two bookings – both at the same time – Harness for a foul and Souza for dissent (well seemed to wave a card at him so stupid again). Outside of this, there was not really any bad fouls or big calls to make.





Crowd/Day Out – Blades fans backed the team well and helped see them over the line. Sat in the corner and was quite near the back so had a decent view of the game – heard some in the lower tier say it was harder to pick out the play and some did not even know we had scored! The concourse was really cramped and there is not enough toilets/bars to cater for a full away end. My first win there since Akinbiyi scored the winner a long time ago.



The ground is a fair old walk from the centre so we opted to go into town and then get a uber, which dropped us right by the players tunnel – cracking job. Also, good you can get a beer outside the ground – as not many away grounds do that – you have to go in first. Took ages to get in with again, as with the comment above, insufficient turnstiles.



Funny at the end seeing the vitriol of the home fans at their players and manager. They were not happy and a contrast to the ‘United’ scenes with our players/manager and fans at the end.



The rest of the day was really good. Went along with Blades Pod and his Dad, Roy, Travelling, Eggy and Webding. Ashamedly did the cheap option of Wetherspoons, with a number of Blades in there. Cracking few hours before, and after the game – we ended up in the Alexandra – which was a great real ale pub and bumped into a few of the 4 Blades in a Pub crew. Always great to go away and have a few beers, a good laugh and the win rounds it off, as you take your three points back in your back pocket.

I thought Matt Clarke had a really good debut for them and looks a good signing, although our forwards gave him a fairy easy game

 

[Frank the tank]

BBD is right footed so he was playing on his ‘natural’ wing yesterday, not inverted.

He's very two footed

 

[John Street West Terrace]

To say it wasn’t the greatest match to watch would be the understatement of the year so far with very little quality on display
If anyone was disputing what Hamer brings to the side then look at our last two games where we’ve had very little creativity whatsoever.
MOTM was Choudhury for me , looked very assured .
Anyway we needed a win to get back on track after week and we got it

 

[themaninblack]

He's very two footed

Agreed. He’s good with his left but he takes penalties with his right so that must be his dominant foot.

 

[Working Class Hero]

we barely had any touches in the opposition box, created very little and seemed to not really have a clear attacking identity with a lot of new players throw in and not really any cohesiveness.

These problems have been there all season, it's not just because of new players being thrown in.

Our front four have never seemed to click or hit form at the same time. We're always relying on one of them to have a good game while the other three are quiet.

For me this largely comes down to O'Hare being alarmingly lacking in any sort of creativity. That central position surely has to be the one to pull the strings, that's what the position is all about, but he never has at all. I like him, his work rate is brilliant and the press from the front is as good as I've seen. It's worth noting though that Gibbs-White and Ndiaye were just as good at that, but made things happen on the ball as well. It's not enough as a number 10 to just work hard and press I'm afraid.

The lack of any attacking input whatsoever from right back has also affected things when we're going forward, it's looked so unbalanced and made it so difficult for whoever plays on the right side of attack. Hopefully this has now been resolved.

If Clarke can contribute from here on in, and Hamer can play centrally instead of O'Hare thanks to the arrival of BBD, I think we see a lot of improvement in attack.

 

[Cappy]

I thought Matt Clarke had a really good debut for them and looks a good signing, although our forwards gave him a fairy easy game

Agree. I actually thought he was their best player

 

[John Street West Terrace]

Agree. I actually thought he was their best player

Agree , looked solid at the back for them & dangerous on set pieces