Deadbat
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Few people asked me why I have not written anything. Well I was not there so generally do not do match reports of games I have seen on TV and felt most will have seen it but I thought I would add a brief summary below and then thoughts on the two respective sides and player ratings.
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Sheffield United went to the top of the Championship with an excellent performance and victory at rivals Leeds in front of the SKY TV cameras on Friday night. In doing so United won at rivals Wednesday and Leeds in the same season for the first time in their history. United dominated the first half and deservedly led but were pegged back but a late winner from teenage protégé David Brooks saw the Blades hit the summit in front of a delirious away following at Elland Road.
Manager Wilder named an unchanged side whilst Leeds manager Christiansen also brought back many of the players from the impressive win at Ashton Gate, after he had changed things for the game at Leicester in the Carabao Cup in the week.
In front of a large crowd, United raced out of the blocks and were already zinging the ball about before they took the lead inside two minutes. From a throw in from the right, Clarke cleverly flicked the ball over his head into the path of Duffy who hit over a cross on the half volley. SHARP managed to get in between two defender and head down and in via Lonergan. It was a tremendous start for the Blades yet again. Soon after they were on the attack again. Duffy nearly fed Clarke and then Fleck played in Sharp who was crowded out. The midfield trio for United were dominating the ball and the wing backs were bombing forward. Leeds could not get out of their half and Duffy then knocked a clever ball across that Clarke diverted narrowly wide. Duffy then robbed Ayling and fed Baldock but his shot was saved by Lonergan. The attacks kept coming. Clarke robbed the dithering Pennington and he sent over a low cross which Sharp flicked goal wards but Lonergan made a superb point blank save too flick the ball behind.
Leeds could not muster any kind of attack and Coutts was springing another United attack soon after and Duffy again nearly fed Clarke. Baldock then shot over and it was relentless from the visitors. Stevens was adjudged to have fouled Saiz and Leeds finally had a chance but the free kick was punched clear by Blackman. United came again and Sharp nearly fed Stevens as United looked to go forward at every opportunity.
Leeds had not been in the game but they levelled out of the blue on the half hour. An innocuous lofted ball saw Carter Vickers get his head to it but the ball dropped centrally. Baldock did not react and nobody closed down PHILLIPS who hit a superb low shot past Blackman to give Leeds a leveller they scarcely deserved.
Stevens was booked not long after for persistent fouling. Undeterred, United came again and just before the break should have restored their lead. Fleck took a clever quick free and Sharp peeled away but with the goal at his mercy hit the ball straight at Lonergan and could not convert the rebound. It was a big chance. The half time whistle came soon after and United will have been bitterly disappointed not to be well in front.
The second half saw Leeds up the pressure and they started to win more of the loose balls. Saiz was causing problems with his running and Coutts was booked for unceremoniously dumping him to the deck. Leeds were now having more of the midfield and United were sloppy when they did have possession. Cooper had to go off after picking up a knock and Jansson came on but in the next attack Leeds nearly scored. Saiz drifted inside again and hit a great shot that swerved away from Blackman, bounced off the inside of the post, hit the back of Blackman and bounced away.
Saiz then induced a tackle from O’Connell and United had another man booked for a foul on the Leeds man. Leeds had a free kick in a dangerous area but an odd line up with Leeds having a secondary wall behind United’s defensive wall, saw them all run out to stop them being caught offside but Phillips effort was a woeful slice. The same man was lucky to stay on the pitch soon after as he caught Baldock with an awful high and late tackle. The referee deemed it a yellow when on reflection after the game he will realise it was a regulation red card. The United man was lucky to escape not being seriously hurt.
The frenetic pace continued and Alioski had a header saved at the near post after more good work from Saiz but United had started to get more of a foothold back into the game now. Hernandez came on for Alioski. Baldock was then booked for a foul of his own.
The visitors sensed that Leeds going forward more would see gaps opening up at the back and with this in mind, brought on Brooks for the tiring Sharp.
Instantly he drifted down the right and drew a foul from Viera. The free kick was cleared after a melee in the box. United started to have more of the ball again and a nice move saw Brooks find Fleck whose cross was perfect for Clarke but his shot lacked power and Lonergan saved comfortably. This opening drew added belief United could get a winner and so it proved.
Fleck and Duffy combined and a perfectly timed ball fed BROOKS on the angle. Taking the ball on the run, the substitutes finish was calm and precise giving Lonergan no chance. It was a well-made and superbly taken goal and Brooks ran away chased by his teammates to celebrate in front of the travelling contingent.
Clarke was booked for some reason after the goal and then Grot came on for Anita as Leeds now had two giants up top for the remaining ten minutes of the game.
Fleck was booked for a trip earning him a suspension and then soon after he got involved with Saiz who took exception to Duffy not leaving the field at the pace he wanted when Lundstram replaced him.
Brooks skipped away again and Viera cynically chopped him down and he too added to the referee’s book with yet another yellow card. Clarke headed wide from the free kick as United tried to make it safe.
Five minutes of additional time were to be played but Leeds were now resorting to pumped balls into the big men in the box. Brooks had a shot well over for United but now they were determined to keep a solid shape and ensure there were no openings at the other end. Grot won one header but this was easy for Blackman. O’Connell, Basham and Carter Vickers all won headers as United stayed firm. Hernandez tried to find an opening and Saiz nearly got in but two vital blocks stopped any possible chances. The final cross saw Coutts head clear and the final whistle came seconds after that. The United players and management celebrated wildly another huge win as chants of ‘We are top of the league, say we are top of the league’ engulfed the West Yorkshire air.
United – Another excellent first half where I was sat at home purring (maybe that was the cat). We knocked it about brilliantly. So fast and so purposeful. It was superb to watch. Everyone involved in the moves. Wing backs, centre backs and midfield and strikers chasing and linking. It was sublime at times. We scored another early goal as we got out of the traps superbly again and then threatened to run riot. Better finishing or poorer keeping (how I wished that hopeless keeper that had been in the net – played at Hillsborough – had been kept in the side!) and we would have had the game in the bag. Still even after we were pegged back with their first shot of the game, we came again and nearly got in front again. Overall, though I could not fault another first half where we won tackles, pressed, dominated individual battles and as a team completely imposed ourselves on Leeds. We played lovely little triangles, moved it around at pace and the football was impressive. Duffy at the heart of everything good but the two midfield lads also very good again. Clarke was such a nuisance and at times looked like he would get in every time he chased them down. Everything was good save for a bit of sloppy defending and a good strike.
Second half as with last week you felt it was inevitable they could not sustain the level of play and the tempo and so it proved. Leeds started to get into us more and they had a decent spell and even won midfield for a period. The lad Saiz started to do what Duffy had done for us and they nearly scored. We became a bit ragged and even Coutts and Fleck gave the ball away too much. We settled down and the game became more even. They had a headed chance but we started to gain control and when Brooks came on we became an attacking threat again. We won a few free kicks and corners as Brooks started to run at them and then Clarke missed a good chance. Still another lovely patient move led to the winner. After this our game management was excellent and the players all just kept their shape and composure. It was another great win and well deserved. We went top and stayed there today.
At the moment it is dreamland but listening to neutrals of other fans, you start to realise how good we are. We are winning and winning by playing really well and playing such delightful football. We knock it about at pace and get into good areas. We are determined when we do not have it and also are not a soft touch anymore and in some ways the 6 yellow bookings are a good sign for me. A few years ago, we barely used to make a tackle. Now we get in and sometimes do bring players down if they go past us. The passion and commitment matches the level of football. We look a really good side and at the moment confidence is so high. Everyone knows their job. You are struggling to find players who are weak link and even last night, all the team contributed, even the subs of course.
We go to QPR who are on a high but kind of glad they got a win out of the way but beat a good Wolves side. They will fancy their chances but at the moment we fear no one. I think Wilder may make more than the one enforced change (Fleck) and we might even see Donaldson, Brooks and Wright. Just a hunch. We have put so much in recently. We changed it at Forest and lost (despite a good showing though) so you never know. We have two more games before the next break so we need one big push of course. These breaks might be helping us as we did not have that in League One whilst the other teams are used to it. We can almost play these games in bunches and know we have a break coming up and then go again. For some players like Duffy and Clarke having these breaks may help as the intensity we play means Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday it is tough to keep the levels up but we are doing it!
There is a lot of talk over whether we can maintain it and are we a genuine promotion contender but I think Wilder will just look to get 50 points and then set another target internally. We are flying and hard not to get carried away but at the moment I am not even thinking about playoffs or god forbid even automatic I am just enjoying the ride and watching a really, really good United team playing so brilliantly. I am just kind of taking each game at a time but also looking forward to each game more and more as it is so enjoyable. I have watched Man Utd, Spurs, Chelsea, Bournemouth, Forest, Hull and no one has impressed me to watch as much as my own team this weekend! That says it all.
It is just great to watch and I think rather than thinking about too far ahead or what might happen, which is fun, we just need to lap it up. With our rivals struggling also, it has been a long time waiting for us success starved Blades and to see the table and see the performances, we just need to enjoy it. It might not last (hope it does) but for now it is magnificent!
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Sheffield United went to the top of the Championship with an excellent performance and victory at rivals Leeds in front of the SKY TV cameras on Friday night. In doing so United won at rivals Wednesday and Leeds in the same season for the first time in their history. United dominated the first half and deservedly led but were pegged back but a late winner from teenage protégé David Brooks saw the Blades hit the summit in front of a delirious away following at Elland Road.
Manager Wilder named an unchanged side whilst Leeds manager Christiansen also brought back many of the players from the impressive win at Ashton Gate, after he had changed things for the game at Leicester in the Carabao Cup in the week.
In front of a large crowd, United raced out of the blocks and were already zinging the ball about before they took the lead inside two minutes. From a throw in from the right, Clarke cleverly flicked the ball over his head into the path of Duffy who hit over a cross on the half volley. SHARP managed to get in between two defender and head down and in via Lonergan. It was a tremendous start for the Blades yet again. Soon after they were on the attack again. Duffy nearly fed Clarke and then Fleck played in Sharp who was crowded out. The midfield trio for United were dominating the ball and the wing backs were bombing forward. Leeds could not get out of their half and Duffy then knocked a clever ball across that Clarke diverted narrowly wide. Duffy then robbed Ayling and fed Baldock but his shot was saved by Lonergan. The attacks kept coming. Clarke robbed the dithering Pennington and he sent over a low cross which Sharp flicked goal wards but Lonergan made a superb point blank save too flick the ball behind.
Leeds could not muster any kind of attack and Coutts was springing another United attack soon after and Duffy again nearly fed Clarke. Baldock then shot over and it was relentless from the visitors. Stevens was adjudged to have fouled Saiz and Leeds finally had a chance but the free kick was punched clear by Blackman. United came again and Sharp nearly fed Stevens as United looked to go forward at every opportunity.
Leeds had not been in the game but they levelled out of the blue on the half hour. An innocuous lofted ball saw Carter Vickers get his head to it but the ball dropped centrally. Baldock did not react and nobody closed down PHILLIPS who hit a superb low shot past Blackman to give Leeds a leveller they scarcely deserved.
Stevens was booked not long after for persistent fouling. Undeterred, United came again and just before the break should have restored their lead. Fleck took a clever quick free and Sharp peeled away but with the goal at his mercy hit the ball straight at Lonergan and could not convert the rebound. It was a big chance. The half time whistle came soon after and United will have been bitterly disappointed not to be well in front.
The second half saw Leeds up the pressure and they started to win more of the loose balls. Saiz was causing problems with his running and Coutts was booked for unceremoniously dumping him to the deck. Leeds were now having more of the midfield and United were sloppy when they did have possession. Cooper had to go off after picking up a knock and Jansson came on but in the next attack Leeds nearly scored. Saiz drifted inside again and hit a great shot that swerved away from Blackman, bounced off the inside of the post, hit the back of Blackman and bounced away.
Saiz then induced a tackle from O’Connell and United had another man booked for a foul on the Leeds man. Leeds had a free kick in a dangerous area but an odd line up with Leeds having a secondary wall behind United’s defensive wall, saw them all run out to stop them being caught offside but Phillips effort was a woeful slice. The same man was lucky to stay on the pitch soon after as he caught Baldock with an awful high and late tackle. The referee deemed it a yellow when on reflection after the game he will realise it was a regulation red card. The United man was lucky to escape not being seriously hurt.
The frenetic pace continued and Alioski had a header saved at the near post after more good work from Saiz but United had started to get more of a foothold back into the game now. Hernandez came on for Alioski. Baldock was then booked for a foul of his own.
The visitors sensed that Leeds going forward more would see gaps opening up at the back and with this in mind, brought on Brooks for the tiring Sharp.
Instantly he drifted down the right and drew a foul from Viera. The free kick was cleared after a melee in the box. United started to have more of the ball again and a nice move saw Brooks find Fleck whose cross was perfect for Clarke but his shot lacked power and Lonergan saved comfortably. This opening drew added belief United could get a winner and so it proved.
Fleck and Duffy combined and a perfectly timed ball fed BROOKS on the angle. Taking the ball on the run, the substitutes finish was calm and precise giving Lonergan no chance. It was a well-made and superbly taken goal and Brooks ran away chased by his teammates to celebrate in front of the travelling contingent.
Clarke was booked for some reason after the goal and then Grot came on for Anita as Leeds now had two giants up top for the remaining ten minutes of the game.
Fleck was booked for a trip earning him a suspension and then soon after he got involved with Saiz who took exception to Duffy not leaving the field at the pace he wanted when Lundstram replaced him.
Brooks skipped away again and Viera cynically chopped him down and he too added to the referee’s book with yet another yellow card. Clarke headed wide from the free kick as United tried to make it safe.
Five minutes of additional time were to be played but Leeds were now resorting to pumped balls into the big men in the box. Brooks had a shot well over for United but now they were determined to keep a solid shape and ensure there were no openings at the other end. Grot won one header but this was easy for Blackman. O’Connell, Basham and Carter Vickers all won headers as United stayed firm. Hernandez tried to find an opening and Saiz nearly got in but two vital blocks stopped any possible chances. The final cross saw Coutts head clear and the final whistle came seconds after that. The United players and management celebrated wildly another huge win as chants of ‘We are top of the league, say we are top of the league’ engulfed the West Yorkshire air.
United – Another excellent first half where I was sat at home purring (maybe that was the cat). We knocked it about brilliantly. So fast and so purposeful. It was superb to watch. Everyone involved in the moves. Wing backs, centre backs and midfield and strikers chasing and linking. It was sublime at times. We scored another early goal as we got out of the traps superbly again and then threatened to run riot. Better finishing or poorer keeping (how I wished that hopeless keeper that had been in the net – played at Hillsborough – had been kept in the side!) and we would have had the game in the bag. Still even after we were pegged back with their first shot of the game, we came again and nearly got in front again. Overall, though I could not fault another first half where we won tackles, pressed, dominated individual battles and as a team completely imposed ourselves on Leeds. We played lovely little triangles, moved it around at pace and the football was impressive. Duffy at the heart of everything good but the two midfield lads also very good again. Clarke was such a nuisance and at times looked like he would get in every time he chased them down. Everything was good save for a bit of sloppy defending and a good strike.
Second half as with last week you felt it was inevitable they could not sustain the level of play and the tempo and so it proved. Leeds started to get into us more and they had a decent spell and even won midfield for a period. The lad Saiz started to do what Duffy had done for us and they nearly scored. We became a bit ragged and even Coutts and Fleck gave the ball away too much. We settled down and the game became more even. They had a headed chance but we started to gain control and when Brooks came on we became an attacking threat again. We won a few free kicks and corners as Brooks started to run at them and then Clarke missed a good chance. Still another lovely patient move led to the winner. After this our game management was excellent and the players all just kept their shape and composure. It was another great win and well deserved. We went top and stayed there today.
At the moment it is dreamland but listening to neutrals of other fans, you start to realise how good we are. We are winning and winning by playing really well and playing such delightful football. We knock it about at pace and get into good areas. We are determined when we do not have it and also are not a soft touch anymore and in some ways the 6 yellow bookings are a good sign for me. A few years ago, we barely used to make a tackle. Now we get in and sometimes do bring players down if they go past us. The passion and commitment matches the level of football. We look a really good side and at the moment confidence is so high. Everyone knows their job. You are struggling to find players who are weak link and even last night, all the team contributed, even the subs of course.
We go to QPR who are on a high but kind of glad they got a win out of the way but beat a good Wolves side. They will fancy their chances but at the moment we fear no one. I think Wilder may make more than the one enforced change (Fleck) and we might even see Donaldson, Brooks and Wright. Just a hunch. We have put so much in recently. We changed it at Forest and lost (despite a good showing though) so you never know. We have two more games before the next break so we need one big push of course. These breaks might be helping us as we did not have that in League One whilst the other teams are used to it. We can almost play these games in bunches and know we have a break coming up and then go again. For some players like Duffy and Clarke having these breaks may help as the intensity we play means Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday it is tough to keep the levels up but we are doing it!
There is a lot of talk over whether we can maintain it and are we a genuine promotion contender but I think Wilder will just look to get 50 points and then set another target internally. We are flying and hard not to get carried away but at the moment I am not even thinking about playoffs or god forbid even automatic I am just enjoying the ride and watching a really, really good United team playing so brilliantly. I am just kind of taking each game at a time but also looking forward to each game more and more as it is so enjoyable. I have watched Man Utd, Spurs, Chelsea, Bournemouth, Forest, Hull and no one has impressed me to watch as much as my own team this weekend! That says it all.
It is just great to watch and I think rather than thinking about too far ahead or what might happen, which is fun, we just need to lap it up. With our rivals struggling also, it has been a long time waiting for us success starved Blades and to see the table and see the performances, we just need to enjoy it. It might not last (hope it does) but for now it is magnificent!
Thanks as ever though.
