Deadbat
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The Blades unbeaten run continued as it is now 9 without a loss as they went into South London and spoiled Neil Harris’s final home game as Millwall manager. United were again not at their best on the road but after seeing their woodwork hit twice, saw Rhian Brewster score his first goal for two seasons after good work from Robinson and Hamer. The Blades were then able to defend comfortably second half to see out the game and pick up a vital three points.
There were two changes as back came Harry Souttar and Rhian Brewster with no place for Femi Seriki, Tyrese Campbell or Anel Ahmedhodzic. Millwall started with Mihailo Ivanovic up front supported by Watmore, Azeez and Esse. They had striking options on the bench in Longstaff and Bradshaw.
Millwall settled the better of the two sides as it was another cautious and rather defensive opening from the Blades. The Lions moved it forward quickly and won a few early throws and forced United back. However, the Blades had the first chance of the game when Hamer fed Burrows and his deflected effort looped wide. From the corner, Hamer went down with some contact but Donoghue shook his head and the ball fell back to the midfielder who smashed over the bar.
Play switched to the other end and Bryan’s shot deflected over this time with Gilchrist making the block. Tanganga was left unmarked but headed over in more sloppy defending from a set play from United, not learning their lesson from recent away games.
United did play some neat football which saw Hamer and Brewster involved and Burrows then played in a great cross which evaded everyone but Gilchrist managed to knock it back and Hamer fired it back across the goal from where it came as no one could on the end of it.
Gilchrist and Rak Sayki had both been guilty of poor touches as Millwall regained possession twice and Esse fired the ball across the goal. Souttar and Gilchrist then both had to get back to clear before O’Hare overplayed and this led to Tanganga robbing him of possession and cutting in to shoot at the near post. Cooper may have got a slight touch but it bounced off the post and away in the closest either side had come.
Soon after Millwall hit the other post as the ball was not cleared again and Watmore ran in and exchanged passed with Esse. The ball dropped and Saville swivelled to hit a dipping shot that bounced off the woodwork and away. Ivanovic made a hash of the rebound and smashed well off target.
The chances continued as Ivanovic then cut in and Cooper had to save with his legs and United were again left all at sea at the back. Millwall had shaded the play and had three decent chances but on 41 minutes, against the run of play, United took the lead.
After trying to play their way around the field and patiently set up, Robinson tried to take a leaf out of Millwall’s book and went long. His diagonal ball was not dealt with by Bryan who got in a horrible position and Hamer took a touch and drove towards goal dissecting the defender in the process. His cross laid it on a plate for the waiting BREWSTER who tapped home giving him his first goal for 2 seasons! He saluted the sky in a celebration that seemed as much relief as joy as the assister jumped on his back in congratulation of the long overdue moment.
The final stages of the half were played without incident as the Blades, perhaps fortunately, went into the break with a narrow lead.
A foul on half way from Brewster saw a ball pumped forward and a corner was won but Souza won the header as he was fouled. On 53 minutes, Souza had to go off after picking up a knock and Davies came on to replace him. Soon after Rak Sakyi’s night was over as Moore came on and Brewster went to the right-hand side. There was a decent chance for Millwall as De Norre fed Esse and his cross was met by Ivanovic but he scooped it over.
United had a chance when Hamer fed Burrows whose shot was deflected and Moore let it go for Brewster to step on it but hammered it over under pressure. Azeez was replaced by Longstaff as Millwall went with a more orthodox front two. Brewster came off soon after for McCallum but the game had turned scrappy and there were little chances of note and was mired in midfield.
United won a corner as good work from O’Hare forced the error and after Souttar missed the header, it came back to the taker Burrows but he drilled wide.
A lovely ball from Hamer played in Burrows whose low cross was away from Moore as United looked to get the killer second goal before Watmore and De Norre departed with Wintle and Emakhu coming on. Robinson was the first player in the book after he hauled Longstaff down after his own error. Shackleton was the next to enter the fray as the stop start nature of the game continued with Hamer coming off.
Esse went on a marauding run and as Gilchrist and Davies converged, the winger went to the deck but there appeared minimal contact and Donoghue waved away his appeals. Longstaff won a corner after his persistence paid off but United cleared. There was another corner soon after as the pushing and grappling continued with Robinson and Tanganga drawing the eye of the referee. The latter sliced over as the ball came over and the game moved into 5 minutes of additional time.
Millwall were trying to throw bodies forward and Robinson made a crucial block as Longstaff breasted down and the United defender won the free kick. A silly late challenge from Gilchrist led to a late free kick with keeper Jensen up but the header fell easily for Cooper and that was it, the final whistle came and the Blades returned to the top of the league.
There were two changes as back came Harry Souttar and Rhian Brewster with no place for Femi Seriki, Tyrese Campbell or Anel Ahmedhodzic. Millwall started with Mihailo Ivanovic up front supported by Watmore, Azeez and Esse. They had striking options on the bench in Longstaff and Bradshaw.
Millwall settled the better of the two sides as it was another cautious and rather defensive opening from the Blades. The Lions moved it forward quickly and won a few early throws and forced United back. However, the Blades had the first chance of the game when Hamer fed Burrows and his deflected effort looped wide. From the corner, Hamer went down with some contact but Donoghue shook his head and the ball fell back to the midfielder who smashed over the bar.
Play switched to the other end and Bryan’s shot deflected over this time with Gilchrist making the block. Tanganga was left unmarked but headed over in more sloppy defending from a set play from United, not learning their lesson from recent away games.
United did play some neat football which saw Hamer and Brewster involved and Burrows then played in a great cross which evaded everyone but Gilchrist managed to knock it back and Hamer fired it back across the goal from where it came as no one could on the end of it.
Gilchrist and Rak Sayki had both been guilty of poor touches as Millwall regained possession twice and Esse fired the ball across the goal. Souttar and Gilchrist then both had to get back to clear before O’Hare overplayed and this led to Tanganga robbing him of possession and cutting in to shoot at the near post. Cooper may have got a slight touch but it bounced off the post and away in the closest either side had come.
Soon after Millwall hit the other post as the ball was not cleared again and Watmore ran in and exchanged passed with Esse. The ball dropped and Saville swivelled to hit a dipping shot that bounced off the woodwork and away. Ivanovic made a hash of the rebound and smashed well off target.
The chances continued as Ivanovic then cut in and Cooper had to save with his legs and United were again left all at sea at the back. Millwall had shaded the play and had three decent chances but on 41 minutes, against the run of play, United took the lead.
After trying to play their way around the field and patiently set up, Robinson tried to take a leaf out of Millwall’s book and went long. His diagonal ball was not dealt with by Bryan who got in a horrible position and Hamer took a touch and drove towards goal dissecting the defender in the process. His cross laid it on a plate for the waiting BREWSTER who tapped home giving him his first goal for 2 seasons! He saluted the sky in a celebration that seemed as much relief as joy as the assister jumped on his back in congratulation of the long overdue moment.
The final stages of the half were played without incident as the Blades, perhaps fortunately, went into the break with a narrow lead.
A foul on half way from Brewster saw a ball pumped forward and a corner was won but Souza won the header as he was fouled. On 53 minutes, Souza had to go off after picking up a knock and Davies came on to replace him. Soon after Rak Sakyi’s night was over as Moore came on and Brewster went to the right-hand side. There was a decent chance for Millwall as De Norre fed Esse and his cross was met by Ivanovic but he scooped it over.
United had a chance when Hamer fed Burrows whose shot was deflected and Moore let it go for Brewster to step on it but hammered it over under pressure. Azeez was replaced by Longstaff as Millwall went with a more orthodox front two. Brewster came off soon after for McCallum but the game had turned scrappy and there were little chances of note and was mired in midfield.
United won a corner as good work from O’Hare forced the error and after Souttar missed the header, it came back to the taker Burrows but he drilled wide.
A lovely ball from Hamer played in Burrows whose low cross was away from Moore as United looked to get the killer second goal before Watmore and De Norre departed with Wintle and Emakhu coming on. Robinson was the first player in the book after he hauled Longstaff down after his own error. Shackleton was the next to enter the fray as the stop start nature of the game continued with Hamer coming off.
Esse went on a marauding run and as Gilchrist and Davies converged, the winger went to the deck but there appeared minimal contact and Donoghue waved away his appeals. Longstaff won a corner after his persistence paid off but United cleared. There was another corner soon after as the pushing and grappling continued with Robinson and Tanganga drawing the eye of the referee. The latter sliced over as the ball came over and the game moved into 5 minutes of additional time.
Millwall were trying to throw bodies forward and Robinson made a crucial block as Longstaff breasted down and the United defender won the free kick. A silly late challenge from Gilchrist led to a late free kick with keeper Jensen up but the header fell easily for Cooper and that was it, the final whistle came and the Blades returned to the top of the league.