Deadbat
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2009
- Messages
- 6,296
- Reaction score
- 35,384
Podcast links below and report underneath….
---
It was a point apiece for the two beaten play off semi-final sides on Friday night under the lights at Kenilworth Road. Luton led thanks to Carlton Morris’ flicked header but United responded with Oli McBurnie’s strike in the second half breaking his goal jinx. The Blades suffered more injuries before and during the game and in the end will take a hard-fought point when once again away from home they were not at their best against a direct and physical Luton side. United struggled to be as fluent as they have been and Luton were able to do what they are good at but in the end the Blades who finished with Jordan Amissah in goal, were able to take a valuable point back up to S2.
Manager Heckingbottom made three changes rewarding the impact of Iliman Ndiaye who got the start ahead of Reda Khadra, supporting Oli McBurnie who kept his place despite his profligacy in front of goal in the previous game, with the manager rewarding his overall performance for the team. John Fleck was out with a fractured leg replaced by James McAtee. Also, in a surprise move Chris Basham got the start ahead of Anel Ahmedhodzic with the assumption that the impressive new signing was perhaps not fully fit but was on the bench?
Luton began with Carlton Morris rewarded for his performance last week from the bench at Swansea and he partnered Elijah Adebayo. Former Blade Luke Freeman started the game for the Hatters.
The game began with McAtee’s poor ball that led to a Luton break and then after another giveaway from the same man as the loanee slipped, the ball came in and Morris fired wide after he took it off Freeman’s toes. There was a period of tussling between a number of players with Norrington Davies and Morris going down and then Ndiaye also wrestling back possession.
McAtee’s errant start continued and he gave the ball away and Egan was perhaps fortunate neither official spotted a possible handball as he also slipped in running back. United had lots of possession with Ndiaye threatening but were struggling to create and Luton’s direct tactics offered a striking comparison in styles. Indeed, the goal came from a set play but was actually well executed as the throw from Bell was cleared right back into his path and with no one going to the ball, the cross came over and MORRIS was first to it and expertly flicked it into the corner with Basham and Egan statuesque and not attacking the danger, the ball!
United tried to react but Ndiaye was crowded out with men constantly around him and could not get his shot away. On 15 minutes Baldock was cautioned for a shoulder-to-shoulder challenge that seemed very harsh. The referee was very inconsistent with what he was accepting and not accepting and was infuriating many United players. Luton had drawn United into a physical game and stopped any kind of momentum at all.
Baldock got down the right when Ndiaye fed him but his ball pulled back saw McAtee’ shot lack power. From a corner from the left, the ball was played to Norwood and he hit a firm shot that hit his own man Berge when it looked likely it may have worried the Luton keeper. McAtee was involved constantly but sadly not in a positive way and was cautioned for a drag back.
The next period continued to be niggle and Norrington Davies battled with Morris, the time on the floor and the referee continued to struggle with what was deemed excessive letting a lot go and then pulling up minimal contact. Baldock got in a great position but his cross was overhit before McBurnie ended up in a rugby tackle with the defender as United broke.
Luton were actually having little of the ball but the long direct clearance was worrying the Blades although McBurnie pulled a shot wide after a ball over from the right. Lowe then shot well over and it was Luton who still looked the more dangerous with Freeman having a decent game against his former employer, having a firm shot at Foderingham.
Morris then did well out on the right and the cross from Bree saw Foderingham completely miss the ball but fortunately so did Adebayo and United survived. The same man then fired over after more build up down the right saw the defence fail to react.
Luton continued to deny United space and time and quickly turned the ball into areas which forced United back. Ndiaye and McBurnie were working hard but Berge and Norwood were getting pressed behind them and with little else of creativity, United had not forced Horvath into a single save as the half time whistle went.
McAtee was not surprisingly withdrawn after a poor game where he was cautioned and gave the ball away constantly. Doyle, his teammate at Man City, came on.
Ndiaye showed quick feet and skill to win a free kick and then a corner after he drifted inside down the right but the corner pinballed around and was cleared. Not long after United were level. Berge was offside in the build up after McBurnie headed down and then Ndiaye had a shot blocked leading to a corner. The ball came in and was not properly cleared after Norwood sent a cross over and then Doyle was able to head it on before Egan helped it further on its way. The ball landed at the far post to MCBURNIE who hit a tremendous controlled volley into the far corner of the net. He celebrated wildly with the United fans behind the goal and was booked for his efforts but clearly meant a lot to him after 43 goals without a goal.
Soon after the goal Foderingham needed attention and seemed to be either unwell or concussed and was clearly struggling but United opted to carry on with him remaining on the field. After this Luton had a good spell as United could not build on the momentum of the start of the second half. Berge was struggling to be an influence and United could not keep the ball. Two dangerous crosses came in and United had to be on alert.
Basham and Baldock combined and the former sent a decent cross over that was cleared and then Doyle combined with Norrington Davies down the other side to win a corner. However United could not build any momentum and Luton continued to nip in and win the loose ball. Campbell was industrious and seemed to be a key man and he helped set up a chance for Morris that Foderingham had to turn behind although it may have been drifting side.
Nidaye had not been as influential but did well to wrestle possession and find Baldock who in turn played it back to Norwood who whizzed one over before at the other end Adebayo headed off target with the aerial ball still causing United problems. Jerome came on for Morris in a like for like change.
It was a game that seemed like it could go either way but United’s cause was not helped when Foderingham clearly could not continue and he had to be helped off in some distress and Amissah came on for his league debut.
Doyle had a shot that dipped into the keepers’ hands at the other end but Luton were looking the more likely in terms of forcing the play and won a corner before Amissah took his first high ball confidently. Luton continued to probe and Berry came on for Freeman, and Ahmedhodzic and Brewster replaced Norrington Davies and Ndiaye. United were not able to keep any kind of controlled possession with Berge and Norwood quite passive and little from the wing backs in terms of attacking threat as they were forced back. Norrington Davies was the next man to go down for treatment and then Egan, McBurnie and Baldock all were limping in surreal scenes as the walking wounded situation for the Blades continued!
Luton had a chance when the ball dropped for Bell but the ball was blocked before Basham made a great tackle to deny Berry who looked to dribble in towards goals. Doyle and Brewster combined for a corner at the other end and the striker than had a run and shot but it lacked power as the game drifted into 7 minutes of stoppage time.
Luton continued to force the game perhaps more as the home side and United were content to clear their lines but one chance arose when the ball was played down the side and Jerome got in but Amissah did well to push behind. The corner was cleared and United in the end saw it out to pick up a vital point after more disruption and injuries did not help but in another away performance where they were not at their best and had to dig deep to get anything.
United – Another away performance where we were nowhere near as good as at home in terms of approach, chance creation and individual performances but we gutted out a point with a number of injuries and the goalkeeping issue at the end too. I thought we had a lot of the ball first half but did little in the final third and they looked more dangerous than us even if they were from balls over the top or aerial stuff. Ndiaye showed flashes and McBurnie worked hard but we created little in terms of clear chances and struggled to keep it for long periods with short passes or give aways. They kind of won the 50-50’s and loose stuff. I am not saying they created loads but they did cause us more problems with the direct play down the sides and the aerial stuff/crosses. The goal was very sloppy and a basic Championship goal but we did not stop crosses coming in all night making it hard v a physical side. I thought we did not help Ndiaye who always caused issued but that Berge, McAtee and the wing backs offered very little despite the front two working hard. Norwood was ok but he was pressed a lot and they swarmed around us when we had it. They worked really hard and broke up the game helped by a poor referee who was maddeningly inconsistent all game.
We began the 2nd half well and got the goal and you thought come on, get it down, play through them and use our ability but it never happened. We kind of sat back and invited them on and too many were not brave enough on the ball or played it safe. We sort of tossed it away and played their kind of game. The time frittered away and then we had the Wes issue and you think we might have to just get a point and get out of here with lack of attacking options on the bench too. I did think several players could do a lot more though and will need to if we improve away. We got bullied a bit at times, as I say not helped by a crap ref. Luton are a very basic side, good at what they do but good sides would play around them and turn them round with incisive football and players who can run at them but it never really happened after the goal and that disappointed me.
Hecky can argue about the away performances not being that bad but they are night and day to what we have been like at the Lane and have been for quite some time really. If we want to be around the top two or even top six places, we need to address this. At home we are powerful, play good football and go at teams but we seem to almost lack confidence away. I get teams will have more of the ball at home than at the Lane and it will not be the same completely but Luton are a side that barely have the ball so to kind of sit back and not control things was worrying? Maybe I am doing Luton a disservice and as I say we had more disruption but individually we need to be more consistent as today only 3 or 4 can say they can be happy with the performances really with a lot of ordinary to poor ones where they did not affect the game enough. It is a point but we need to set out standards high and did not really follow up the last two good ones with anything that deserved to win the game and if anything, Luton edged it (certainly in terms of chances) and looked more likely. We need to ensure we have players at it from the start and cannot carry players (McAtee and Berge spring to mind) in games where teams are so competitive and physical and swarm around you. We need to assert ourselves more.
The plus is we drew at a side that made the top 6 and stuck in there overcoming more injuries and disruption. It is worrying (we talk about it in the pod) the number out of action – I make it 11 – 12 if Wes does not make it next game with players dropping every week. Maybe Fleck, Anel and Khadra did it during a game last week but you worry that we are losing a player or two almost every week and is a major concern with this department of the club and is not all down to bad luck. Some are of course impact injuries but we do seem to be getting more muscle injuries than ever before?
Yet again seems we cannot get a settled team even this stage of the season with Fleck and Ahmedhodzic out with injuries today and no Khadra. Bash and McAtee came in but we did see a drop off. We now have 11 players out who are listed as senior players which is ridiculous and we need to get some back soon. We went from having a strong-ish squad last week to 3 or 4 more dropping out and we suddenly have mostly kids and lack of options to come on and change things.
I won’t get too carried away by the performance, the same as I will not get too carried away by the wins last week – I felt a few were getting a bit too excited which was understandable after two good home wins but against sides that will be mid table at best. I think we always need to wait 10-12 games before we have a better feel for where we are at and that remains. It is still a good start at the Lane and a poor one away from home but at least we have got two draws. If we win most home games, we only need to upturn the away form marginally to remain around the top 6 and we have kind of done that but we need to improve how we play at both ends away from the Lane. As I say maybe Luton are better than I am giving them credit for but they seemed very direct and just a battling side and we should have quality to create more than we did (keeper did not have another save apart from the goal) with a few wide and they looked more threatening. Thought we lost two many 50-50’s tonight and that Luton worked a bit harder than us for large portions. They lacked quality to score more goals too of course. In the end it’s an ok result considering the circumstances and a better result than the performance I feel.
Reading beat us last year and have some dangerous attacking threats so we need to ensure we are back on it at the Lane and can avenge that awful display from last season and then we go to Hull where I hope we can show more adventure and positive play away from home.
---
It was a point apiece for the two beaten play off semi-final sides on Friday night under the lights at Kenilworth Road. Luton led thanks to Carlton Morris’ flicked header but United responded with Oli McBurnie’s strike in the second half breaking his goal jinx. The Blades suffered more injuries before and during the game and in the end will take a hard-fought point when once again away from home they were not at their best against a direct and physical Luton side. United struggled to be as fluent as they have been and Luton were able to do what they are good at but in the end the Blades who finished with Jordan Amissah in goal, were able to take a valuable point back up to S2.
Manager Heckingbottom made three changes rewarding the impact of Iliman Ndiaye who got the start ahead of Reda Khadra, supporting Oli McBurnie who kept his place despite his profligacy in front of goal in the previous game, with the manager rewarding his overall performance for the team. John Fleck was out with a fractured leg replaced by James McAtee. Also, in a surprise move Chris Basham got the start ahead of Anel Ahmedhodzic with the assumption that the impressive new signing was perhaps not fully fit but was on the bench?
Luton began with Carlton Morris rewarded for his performance last week from the bench at Swansea and he partnered Elijah Adebayo. Former Blade Luke Freeman started the game for the Hatters.
The game began with McAtee’s poor ball that led to a Luton break and then after another giveaway from the same man as the loanee slipped, the ball came in and Morris fired wide after he took it off Freeman’s toes. There was a period of tussling between a number of players with Norrington Davies and Morris going down and then Ndiaye also wrestling back possession.
McAtee’s errant start continued and he gave the ball away and Egan was perhaps fortunate neither official spotted a possible handball as he also slipped in running back. United had lots of possession with Ndiaye threatening but were struggling to create and Luton’s direct tactics offered a striking comparison in styles. Indeed, the goal came from a set play but was actually well executed as the throw from Bell was cleared right back into his path and with no one going to the ball, the cross came over and MORRIS was first to it and expertly flicked it into the corner with Basham and Egan statuesque and not attacking the danger, the ball!
United tried to react but Ndiaye was crowded out with men constantly around him and could not get his shot away. On 15 minutes Baldock was cautioned for a shoulder-to-shoulder challenge that seemed very harsh. The referee was very inconsistent with what he was accepting and not accepting and was infuriating many United players. Luton had drawn United into a physical game and stopped any kind of momentum at all.
Baldock got down the right when Ndiaye fed him but his ball pulled back saw McAtee’ shot lack power. From a corner from the left, the ball was played to Norwood and he hit a firm shot that hit his own man Berge when it looked likely it may have worried the Luton keeper. McAtee was involved constantly but sadly not in a positive way and was cautioned for a drag back.
The next period continued to be niggle and Norrington Davies battled with Morris, the time on the floor and the referee continued to struggle with what was deemed excessive letting a lot go and then pulling up minimal contact. Baldock got in a great position but his cross was overhit before McBurnie ended up in a rugby tackle with the defender as United broke.
Luton were actually having little of the ball but the long direct clearance was worrying the Blades although McBurnie pulled a shot wide after a ball over from the right. Lowe then shot well over and it was Luton who still looked the more dangerous with Freeman having a decent game against his former employer, having a firm shot at Foderingham.
Morris then did well out on the right and the cross from Bree saw Foderingham completely miss the ball but fortunately so did Adebayo and United survived. The same man then fired over after more build up down the right saw the defence fail to react.
Luton continued to deny United space and time and quickly turned the ball into areas which forced United back. Ndiaye and McBurnie were working hard but Berge and Norwood were getting pressed behind them and with little else of creativity, United had not forced Horvath into a single save as the half time whistle went.
McAtee was not surprisingly withdrawn after a poor game where he was cautioned and gave the ball away constantly. Doyle, his teammate at Man City, came on.
Ndiaye showed quick feet and skill to win a free kick and then a corner after he drifted inside down the right but the corner pinballed around and was cleared. Not long after United were level. Berge was offside in the build up after McBurnie headed down and then Ndiaye had a shot blocked leading to a corner. The ball came in and was not properly cleared after Norwood sent a cross over and then Doyle was able to head it on before Egan helped it further on its way. The ball landed at the far post to MCBURNIE who hit a tremendous controlled volley into the far corner of the net. He celebrated wildly with the United fans behind the goal and was booked for his efforts but clearly meant a lot to him after 43 goals without a goal.
Soon after the goal Foderingham needed attention and seemed to be either unwell or concussed and was clearly struggling but United opted to carry on with him remaining on the field. After this Luton had a good spell as United could not build on the momentum of the start of the second half. Berge was struggling to be an influence and United could not keep the ball. Two dangerous crosses came in and United had to be on alert.
Basham and Baldock combined and the former sent a decent cross over that was cleared and then Doyle combined with Norrington Davies down the other side to win a corner. However United could not build any momentum and Luton continued to nip in and win the loose ball. Campbell was industrious and seemed to be a key man and he helped set up a chance for Morris that Foderingham had to turn behind although it may have been drifting side.
Nidaye had not been as influential but did well to wrestle possession and find Baldock who in turn played it back to Norwood who whizzed one over before at the other end Adebayo headed off target with the aerial ball still causing United problems. Jerome came on for Morris in a like for like change.
It was a game that seemed like it could go either way but United’s cause was not helped when Foderingham clearly could not continue and he had to be helped off in some distress and Amissah came on for his league debut.
Doyle had a shot that dipped into the keepers’ hands at the other end but Luton were looking the more likely in terms of forcing the play and won a corner before Amissah took his first high ball confidently. Luton continued to probe and Berry came on for Freeman, and Ahmedhodzic and Brewster replaced Norrington Davies and Ndiaye. United were not able to keep any kind of controlled possession with Berge and Norwood quite passive and little from the wing backs in terms of attacking threat as they were forced back. Norrington Davies was the next man to go down for treatment and then Egan, McBurnie and Baldock all were limping in surreal scenes as the walking wounded situation for the Blades continued!
Luton had a chance when the ball dropped for Bell but the ball was blocked before Basham made a great tackle to deny Berry who looked to dribble in towards goals. Doyle and Brewster combined for a corner at the other end and the striker than had a run and shot but it lacked power as the game drifted into 7 minutes of stoppage time.
Luton continued to force the game perhaps more as the home side and United were content to clear their lines but one chance arose when the ball was played down the side and Jerome got in but Amissah did well to push behind. The corner was cleared and United in the end saw it out to pick up a vital point after more disruption and injuries did not help but in another away performance where they were not at their best and had to dig deep to get anything.
United – Another away performance where we were nowhere near as good as at home in terms of approach, chance creation and individual performances but we gutted out a point with a number of injuries and the goalkeeping issue at the end too. I thought we had a lot of the ball first half but did little in the final third and they looked more dangerous than us even if they were from balls over the top or aerial stuff. Ndiaye showed flashes and McBurnie worked hard but we created little in terms of clear chances and struggled to keep it for long periods with short passes or give aways. They kind of won the 50-50’s and loose stuff. I am not saying they created loads but they did cause us more problems with the direct play down the sides and the aerial stuff/crosses. The goal was very sloppy and a basic Championship goal but we did not stop crosses coming in all night making it hard v a physical side. I thought we did not help Ndiaye who always caused issued but that Berge, McAtee and the wing backs offered very little despite the front two working hard. Norwood was ok but he was pressed a lot and they swarmed around us when we had it. They worked really hard and broke up the game helped by a poor referee who was maddeningly inconsistent all game.
We began the 2nd half well and got the goal and you thought come on, get it down, play through them and use our ability but it never happened. We kind of sat back and invited them on and too many were not brave enough on the ball or played it safe. We sort of tossed it away and played their kind of game. The time frittered away and then we had the Wes issue and you think we might have to just get a point and get out of here with lack of attacking options on the bench too. I did think several players could do a lot more though and will need to if we improve away. We got bullied a bit at times, as I say not helped by a crap ref. Luton are a very basic side, good at what they do but good sides would play around them and turn them round with incisive football and players who can run at them but it never really happened after the goal and that disappointed me.
Hecky can argue about the away performances not being that bad but they are night and day to what we have been like at the Lane and have been for quite some time really. If we want to be around the top two or even top six places, we need to address this. At home we are powerful, play good football and go at teams but we seem to almost lack confidence away. I get teams will have more of the ball at home than at the Lane and it will not be the same completely but Luton are a side that barely have the ball so to kind of sit back and not control things was worrying? Maybe I am doing Luton a disservice and as I say we had more disruption but individually we need to be more consistent as today only 3 or 4 can say they can be happy with the performances really with a lot of ordinary to poor ones where they did not affect the game enough. It is a point but we need to set out standards high and did not really follow up the last two good ones with anything that deserved to win the game and if anything, Luton edged it (certainly in terms of chances) and looked more likely. We need to ensure we have players at it from the start and cannot carry players (McAtee and Berge spring to mind) in games where teams are so competitive and physical and swarm around you. We need to assert ourselves more.
The plus is we drew at a side that made the top 6 and stuck in there overcoming more injuries and disruption. It is worrying (we talk about it in the pod) the number out of action – I make it 11 – 12 if Wes does not make it next game with players dropping every week. Maybe Fleck, Anel and Khadra did it during a game last week but you worry that we are losing a player or two almost every week and is a major concern with this department of the club and is not all down to bad luck. Some are of course impact injuries but we do seem to be getting more muscle injuries than ever before?
Yet again seems we cannot get a settled team even this stage of the season with Fleck and Ahmedhodzic out with injuries today and no Khadra. Bash and McAtee came in but we did see a drop off. We now have 11 players out who are listed as senior players which is ridiculous and we need to get some back soon. We went from having a strong-ish squad last week to 3 or 4 more dropping out and we suddenly have mostly kids and lack of options to come on and change things.
I won’t get too carried away by the performance, the same as I will not get too carried away by the wins last week – I felt a few were getting a bit too excited which was understandable after two good home wins but against sides that will be mid table at best. I think we always need to wait 10-12 games before we have a better feel for where we are at and that remains. It is still a good start at the Lane and a poor one away from home but at least we have got two draws. If we win most home games, we only need to upturn the away form marginally to remain around the top 6 and we have kind of done that but we need to improve how we play at both ends away from the Lane. As I say maybe Luton are better than I am giving them credit for but they seemed very direct and just a battling side and we should have quality to create more than we did (keeper did not have another save apart from the goal) with a few wide and they looked more threatening. Thought we lost two many 50-50’s tonight and that Luton worked a bit harder than us for large portions. They lacked quality to score more goals too of course. In the end it’s an ok result considering the circumstances and a better result than the performance I feel.
Reading beat us last year and have some dangerous attacking threats so we need to ensure we are back on it at the Lane and can avenge that awful display from last season and then we go to Hull where I hope we can show more adventure and positive play away from home.
