Deadbat
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With supporters in attendance at St James Park, Newcastle were able to send their home fans away happy with a comfortable victory over the relegated Blades. After such an improved performance at the weekend, hopes were high that United could build on this as hopes turned to the new managerial appointment and next season. Sadly, the performance the visitors served up was reminiscent of much of the dross that they have displayed for most of the campaign. The Blades were timid on and off the ball with all the flair and creativity on display, coming from the home side.
Joe Willock scored just before half time with a headed finish after good work Saint Maximim and Murphy in the lead up. Newcastle had dominated the game and opportunities. In the second half, Newcastle had further chances before United at least were able to have more possession but other than a McGoldrick effort off the top of the bar, never really looked like mounting a comeback in a drab contest.
The Blades made one change from the side that won at Goodison Park with Jayden Bogle in for injured George Baldock. Goal scoring hero of the weekend, Jebbison, started again with Boyes and Seriki adding to the youthful nature of the substitutes bench.
The home side were unchanged with Arsenal loanee Joe Willock looking to score in 5 consecutive games and seemed to be matching up the Blades in a 3-5-2 formation with Ritchie and Murphy in the wing back positions.
Newcastle started on the front foot and won a corner before Almiron had the first shot on target with an effort at Ramsdale that was comfortable.
Saint Maximin went on a meandering run skipping away from Basham and Stevens before United held him up. The Blades had struggled to put much together so far and a wayward McGoldrick pass saw Newcastle back on the attack but Egan was able to clear.
Despite the home side looking the livelier side buoyed by the returning fans, a great chance came for the Blades when Jebbison, Osborn and Stevens worked space in a great move and McGoldrick was in but his deliberate side foot finish went the wrong side of the post. He should have at least hit the target and probably should have scored.
Another good move saw great interchange with Osborn at the heart of things and Bogle’s cross was overhit. Another ball came in and McGoldrick fired over when well placed. It had been a good response from the Blades with a number of good pieces of play and openings.
Newcastle came back and after two Norwood give aways under no pressure, the home side got up the field and had men over as Joelinton had his effort blocked as the Blades defence pack pedalled.
The next phase of the game saw little action in either goalmouth but Newcastle settled down after the Blades decent spell and Norwood cynically chopped down Willock giving Newcastle a free kick 30 yards out. The effort was blocked from the Blades wall.
The best effort of the game came just before the half hour as Newcastle worked an opening and Ritchie was allowed to send over a cross unchallenged. Shelvey met the header with no one tracking his run. The save from Ramsdale was fantastic as he sprang to his right to keep it out. He seemed to strain himself in making the save but carried on after treatment. Newcastle won two corners in quick succession and Fernandez won a header that Ramsdale made the save but was still not totally comfortable seemingly in some pain.
Saint Maximim got forward and made a surging run as he got away from Basham and the Stevens who chopped him down right on the edge of the box leading to an inevitable yellow card. Ritchie took it but it was a long way off target.
Egan was the next to try and stop a Newcastle player by illegal means as Joelinton was grabbed but Dummet’s header was wide. Egan then seemed to pull Almiron down but the referee felt the Newcastle man went down too easily.
Joelinton had to have some treatment but Newcastle were back on the attack with Willock showing his skill to get away from Fleck and then the same man having a curled effort blocked after Saint Maximim worked space again.
Murphy sent over a cross and Joelinton got away from Egan who wrongly tried to play him onside. The offside trap did work a moment later when the ball through sent Saint Maximim though and he slid Willock in whose shot low down was superbly saved from Ramsdale again. Robinson completed the clearance.
Newcastle continued to probe and had more opportunities with United’s players not seeming to want to tackle or engage at all. There was so much space all around the midfield and final third and there were gaps all over with pace and power of the Newcastle players causing problems. The half ticked into 5 minutes of stoppage time but it seemed inevitable the home side would get a goal their dominance deserved.
United could not get out and Robinson’s clearance was awful leading to Saint Maximim getting on the ball and wriggling away before a lovely slide rule ball to Murphy. No United player was close to him and the cross came in unopposed. WILLOCK met it with barely a token challenge from Bogle and headed home past Ramsdale giving him no chance. Half time came not long after and the home side definitely deserved the late goal for their attacking play and penetration. The Blades had done little of note outside of the first 5-10 minutes when they had a few good chances but had regressed badly and been completely second best.
Dwight Gayle replaced Joelinton who had been struggling first half. Saint Maximim superb skills teased Stevens and Fleck before his no look pullback found Almiron whose shot was well off target. Norwood was wasteful again with a cross to no one in particular. United tried to keep it but ended up just passing it backwards and out before Saint Maximim blazed over as no one got close to him at all again.
Some decent play from United saw McGoldrick and Basham combine and they won a free kick right on the edge of the box after Shelvey tripped Basham. McGoldrick hit it but it was a long way wide with his effort.
Saint Maximim continued to terrify the Blades and he got away from Egan with pace and strength and Ramsdale had to save United again as the cross shot came over.
Basham’s sloppy play nearly saw the home side in again but Fleck intercepted before Norwood then gave it away and Newcastle broke again but for once Saint Maximim made a poor choice. United could not get going and Jebbison was looking increasingly isolated in the game. Newcastle continued to ask the questions with Gayle nearly getting in on another chance where there was big spaces in the Blades backline.
United’s players were not taking any responsibility at all and no one was trying to penetrate or play a forward ball. It was safe and easy for Newcastle who waited patiently for the turnover and then were onto the attack.
Brewster came on for Osborn on 66 minutes as the Blades tried to find something as McGoldrick dropped deeper. He managed to get a shot away that was deflected wide. Egan’s headed effort was the first time the Blades had make the keeper work and this was a simple catch. The Blades were relieved to see the back of Saint Maximim who hurt when he slipped. Sean Longstaff came on to replace the dangerman.
Newcastle then broke again and were away down the left but as the ball came in from Willock, it was cleared at full stretch with players converging in to convert. Bogle at least got United out for a period and won a free kick but Newcastle were back on the attack quickly. Willock ran away from Basham and opted to take a shot but it was straight at Ramsdale.
United then had their best effort of the game as McGoldrick made it with a jinking run and tried a long range shot that beat Dubravka but it glanced off the top of the bar and over. It was a really good effort.
After this United had a good spell of possession, they managed to somehow go backwards after several minutes of sideways and backwards pass with no crosses or penetration at all. United seemed pretty clueless how to create anything of note but at least had a spell of possession.
Carroll came on for Willock as he was unable to continue as a few players went down injured. Dubravka had to have a spell of treatment but like Ramsdale was able to carry on. United tried to find space down the right but Bogle’s final ball was poor and Basham could not find any space. Egan went up front for a period and Newcastle nearly broke with United having so many men forward.
The game went into 5 minutes of stoppage time and McGoldrick tried to move forward for a chance but the striker probably went the wrong way but the ball was played back to Norwood but his woeful finish summed up his diabolical showing and United’s lack of intent.
Dubravka needed more treatment before United brought on Femi Seriki for Bogle for a glimpse of Premier League life but there was little incident of note other than Ramsdale trying to dribble around Gayle. A late free kick for United after McGoldrick’s run was whipped over but a foul was given before the ball looped up onto the top of the bar. The final whistle came after more treatment for a Newcastle man in an awful contest.
United – After such a huge improvement Sunday, we sadly could not build on it at all. We started ok tonight and had 10 minutes of ok play and some decent moves and one good chance when McGoldrick had to do better. After this it went downhill. They took over and Saint Maximim and Willock were running at us and were too fast and strong. We looked so weak and did not tackle (just fouled or hacked at players) and looked a sorry state as they seemed to be Maximum able to cut us open. Saint Maximim was just too good for us and we could not keep up with him by fair means. What was concerning was as well as the space in midfield and the runners that were never stopped, they also won countless headed balls coming into the box. We could not get close to them or decided to just sit off. We were like we have been so many times this season and were almost inviting pressure by sitting so deep. We could not get up the pitch and no one moved into space when we had it. We were stationery both on and off the ball. I thought Fleck and Norwood were pathetic and so weak in all aspects of the play. We did not seem to want to get close to them but the times we had the ball no one took responsibility. I felt sorry for Jebbison who could not get in the game but was miles off the rest of the team as they could not support him and him and McGoldrick had to come deeper as the midfield would not link or run with the ball.
Ramsdale kept us in it with some superb saves but they were always going to score with more sloppy defending or inability to stop the crosses/headers coming to the fore. After they did score, I felt second half we might try and have a go but it never happened. Newcastle were not as dominant but still had chances and ran at us with the same powerful and quick front players Saint Maximim and Willock just too skilled and quick for our players. We simply could not keep up. McGoldrick had one decent effort but we had no sustained pressure and not sure we tested the keeper at all really (one Egan header). They had their momentum disrupted with a few injuries and the game sort of just drifted out. We looked really committed and tried hard in all aspects of the game but tonight I felt the players looked so half arsed in everything we did. We were sloppy in the basics (control and passing) and defensively we were vulnerable all game.
Second half there was some improvements in we actually got up the field and at least had more of the ball but there was little penetration at all. McGoldrick tried to make things happen but not sure we really looked like scoring outside of this. There was never any conviction to anything we did. They actually sat back but we still never had a concerted spell of pressure at all. I think we could have played all week and still not scored. Individually and collectively, we were great I felt Sunday but tonight it was more like that we have seen all season. I did feel more positive even after one game but tonight reminded us we have so many questions. The midfield is ponderous with no creativity or goal threat and cannot tackle, press or run. The defence gets run through, cannot stop crosses and then does not compete when they come in. Up front we do not have a reliable goal threat or anything close to the likes of Willock or Saint Maximim. The only real positive once again was Ramsdale.
We have had more talk of Jokanovic this week and rumours it may be heading nearer but still no definitive news and it seems we will finish the season without a manager and the players then will go away and thus the first time they will meet him will be the first day of pre season training. There is so much to do for whoever comes in and we have so many players who are just miles off it with confidence, form and fitness. It is going to be a lot of work to do in a short time for us to hit the ground running. Alas, we have one game left to finish this dreadful season in which we are now assured to finish dead last. I won’t be there Sunday. Fair play to those going. A combination of the cost, my wife’s health, it being a sanitised atmosphere and the fact it is a complete and utter dead rubber means it is not for me. Tonight, I was back to being bored by a lifeless, timid United side against a side that were not great but at least had players that excited or showed skill. Just hope the team can give the fans something to enjoy before the summer as it will be 3 months before we see them again – hopefully the bulk of us will be back in August but that still remains to be seen.
With supporters in attendance at St James Park, Newcastle were able to send their home fans away happy with a comfortable victory over the relegated Blades. After such an improved performance at the weekend, hopes were high that United could build on this as hopes turned to the new managerial appointment and next season. Sadly, the performance the visitors served up was reminiscent of much of the dross that they have displayed for most of the campaign. The Blades were timid on and off the ball with all the flair and creativity on display, coming from the home side.
Joe Willock scored just before half time with a headed finish after good work Saint Maximim and Murphy in the lead up. Newcastle had dominated the game and opportunities. In the second half, Newcastle had further chances before United at least were able to have more possession but other than a McGoldrick effort off the top of the bar, never really looked like mounting a comeback in a drab contest.
The Blades made one change from the side that won at Goodison Park with Jayden Bogle in for injured George Baldock. Goal scoring hero of the weekend, Jebbison, started again with Boyes and Seriki adding to the youthful nature of the substitutes bench.
The home side were unchanged with Arsenal loanee Joe Willock looking to score in 5 consecutive games and seemed to be matching up the Blades in a 3-5-2 formation with Ritchie and Murphy in the wing back positions.
Newcastle started on the front foot and won a corner before Almiron had the first shot on target with an effort at Ramsdale that was comfortable.
Saint Maximin went on a meandering run skipping away from Basham and Stevens before United held him up. The Blades had struggled to put much together so far and a wayward McGoldrick pass saw Newcastle back on the attack but Egan was able to clear.
Despite the home side looking the livelier side buoyed by the returning fans, a great chance came for the Blades when Jebbison, Osborn and Stevens worked space in a great move and McGoldrick was in but his deliberate side foot finish went the wrong side of the post. He should have at least hit the target and probably should have scored.
Another good move saw great interchange with Osborn at the heart of things and Bogle’s cross was overhit. Another ball came in and McGoldrick fired over when well placed. It had been a good response from the Blades with a number of good pieces of play and openings.
Newcastle came back and after two Norwood give aways under no pressure, the home side got up the field and had men over as Joelinton had his effort blocked as the Blades defence pack pedalled.
The next phase of the game saw little action in either goalmouth but Newcastle settled down after the Blades decent spell and Norwood cynically chopped down Willock giving Newcastle a free kick 30 yards out. The effort was blocked from the Blades wall.
The best effort of the game came just before the half hour as Newcastle worked an opening and Ritchie was allowed to send over a cross unchallenged. Shelvey met the header with no one tracking his run. The save from Ramsdale was fantastic as he sprang to his right to keep it out. He seemed to strain himself in making the save but carried on after treatment. Newcastle won two corners in quick succession and Fernandez won a header that Ramsdale made the save but was still not totally comfortable seemingly in some pain.
Saint Maximim got forward and made a surging run as he got away from Basham and the Stevens who chopped him down right on the edge of the box leading to an inevitable yellow card. Ritchie took it but it was a long way off target.
Egan was the next to try and stop a Newcastle player by illegal means as Joelinton was grabbed but Dummet’s header was wide. Egan then seemed to pull Almiron down but the referee felt the Newcastle man went down too easily.
Joelinton had to have some treatment but Newcastle were back on the attack with Willock showing his skill to get away from Fleck and then the same man having a curled effort blocked after Saint Maximim worked space again.
Murphy sent over a cross and Joelinton got away from Egan who wrongly tried to play him onside. The offside trap did work a moment later when the ball through sent Saint Maximim though and he slid Willock in whose shot low down was superbly saved from Ramsdale again. Robinson completed the clearance.
Newcastle continued to probe and had more opportunities with United’s players not seeming to want to tackle or engage at all. There was so much space all around the midfield and final third and there were gaps all over with pace and power of the Newcastle players causing problems. The half ticked into 5 minutes of stoppage time but it seemed inevitable the home side would get a goal their dominance deserved.
United could not get out and Robinson’s clearance was awful leading to Saint Maximim getting on the ball and wriggling away before a lovely slide rule ball to Murphy. No United player was close to him and the cross came in unopposed. WILLOCK met it with barely a token challenge from Bogle and headed home past Ramsdale giving him no chance. Half time came not long after and the home side definitely deserved the late goal for their attacking play and penetration. The Blades had done little of note outside of the first 5-10 minutes when they had a few good chances but had regressed badly and been completely second best.
Dwight Gayle replaced Joelinton who had been struggling first half. Saint Maximim superb skills teased Stevens and Fleck before his no look pullback found Almiron whose shot was well off target. Norwood was wasteful again with a cross to no one in particular. United tried to keep it but ended up just passing it backwards and out before Saint Maximim blazed over as no one got close to him at all again.
Some decent play from United saw McGoldrick and Basham combine and they won a free kick right on the edge of the box after Shelvey tripped Basham. McGoldrick hit it but it was a long way wide with his effort.
Saint Maximim continued to terrify the Blades and he got away from Egan with pace and strength and Ramsdale had to save United again as the cross shot came over.
Basham’s sloppy play nearly saw the home side in again but Fleck intercepted before Norwood then gave it away and Newcastle broke again but for once Saint Maximim made a poor choice. United could not get going and Jebbison was looking increasingly isolated in the game. Newcastle continued to ask the questions with Gayle nearly getting in on another chance where there was big spaces in the Blades backline.
United’s players were not taking any responsibility at all and no one was trying to penetrate or play a forward ball. It was safe and easy for Newcastle who waited patiently for the turnover and then were onto the attack.
Brewster came on for Osborn on 66 minutes as the Blades tried to find something as McGoldrick dropped deeper. He managed to get a shot away that was deflected wide. Egan’s headed effort was the first time the Blades had make the keeper work and this was a simple catch. The Blades were relieved to see the back of Saint Maximim who hurt when he slipped. Sean Longstaff came on to replace the dangerman.
Newcastle then broke again and were away down the left but as the ball came in from Willock, it was cleared at full stretch with players converging in to convert. Bogle at least got United out for a period and won a free kick but Newcastle were back on the attack quickly. Willock ran away from Basham and opted to take a shot but it was straight at Ramsdale.
United then had their best effort of the game as McGoldrick made it with a jinking run and tried a long range shot that beat Dubravka but it glanced off the top of the bar and over. It was a really good effort.
After this United had a good spell of possession, they managed to somehow go backwards after several minutes of sideways and backwards pass with no crosses or penetration at all. United seemed pretty clueless how to create anything of note but at least had a spell of possession.
Carroll came on for Willock as he was unable to continue as a few players went down injured. Dubravka had to have a spell of treatment but like Ramsdale was able to carry on. United tried to find space down the right but Bogle’s final ball was poor and Basham could not find any space. Egan went up front for a period and Newcastle nearly broke with United having so many men forward.
The game went into 5 minutes of stoppage time and McGoldrick tried to move forward for a chance but the striker probably went the wrong way but the ball was played back to Norwood but his woeful finish summed up his diabolical showing and United’s lack of intent.
Dubravka needed more treatment before United brought on Femi Seriki for Bogle for a glimpse of Premier League life but there was little incident of note other than Ramsdale trying to dribble around Gayle. A late free kick for United after McGoldrick’s run was whipped over but a foul was given before the ball looped up onto the top of the bar. The final whistle came after more treatment for a Newcastle man in an awful contest.
United – After such a huge improvement Sunday, we sadly could not build on it at all. We started ok tonight and had 10 minutes of ok play and some decent moves and one good chance when McGoldrick had to do better. After this it went downhill. They took over and Saint Maximim and Willock were running at us and were too fast and strong. We looked so weak and did not tackle (just fouled or hacked at players) and looked a sorry state as they seemed to be Maximum able to cut us open. Saint Maximim was just too good for us and we could not keep up with him by fair means. What was concerning was as well as the space in midfield and the runners that were never stopped, they also won countless headed balls coming into the box. We could not get close to them or decided to just sit off. We were like we have been so many times this season and were almost inviting pressure by sitting so deep. We could not get up the pitch and no one moved into space when we had it. We were stationery both on and off the ball. I thought Fleck and Norwood were pathetic and so weak in all aspects of the play. We did not seem to want to get close to them but the times we had the ball no one took responsibility. I felt sorry for Jebbison who could not get in the game but was miles off the rest of the team as they could not support him and him and McGoldrick had to come deeper as the midfield would not link or run with the ball.
Ramsdale kept us in it with some superb saves but they were always going to score with more sloppy defending or inability to stop the crosses/headers coming to the fore. After they did score, I felt second half we might try and have a go but it never happened. Newcastle were not as dominant but still had chances and ran at us with the same powerful and quick front players Saint Maximim and Willock just too skilled and quick for our players. We simply could not keep up. McGoldrick had one decent effort but we had no sustained pressure and not sure we tested the keeper at all really (one Egan header). They had their momentum disrupted with a few injuries and the game sort of just drifted out. We looked really committed and tried hard in all aspects of the game but tonight I felt the players looked so half arsed in everything we did. We were sloppy in the basics (control and passing) and defensively we were vulnerable all game.
Second half there was some improvements in we actually got up the field and at least had more of the ball but there was little penetration at all. McGoldrick tried to make things happen but not sure we really looked like scoring outside of this. There was never any conviction to anything we did. They actually sat back but we still never had a concerted spell of pressure at all. I think we could have played all week and still not scored. Individually and collectively, we were great I felt Sunday but tonight it was more like that we have seen all season. I did feel more positive even after one game but tonight reminded us we have so many questions. The midfield is ponderous with no creativity or goal threat and cannot tackle, press or run. The defence gets run through, cannot stop crosses and then does not compete when they come in. Up front we do not have a reliable goal threat or anything close to the likes of Willock or Saint Maximim. The only real positive once again was Ramsdale.
We have had more talk of Jokanovic this week and rumours it may be heading nearer but still no definitive news and it seems we will finish the season without a manager and the players then will go away and thus the first time they will meet him will be the first day of pre season training. There is so much to do for whoever comes in and we have so many players who are just miles off it with confidence, form and fitness. It is going to be a lot of work to do in a short time for us to hit the ground running. Alas, we have one game left to finish this dreadful season in which we are now assured to finish dead last. I won’t be there Sunday. Fair play to those going. A combination of the cost, my wife’s health, it being a sanitised atmosphere and the fact it is a complete and utter dead rubber means it is not for me. Tonight, I was back to being bored by a lifeless, timid United side against a side that were not great but at least had players that excited or showed skill. Just hope the team can give the fans something to enjoy before the summer as it will be 3 months before we see them again – hopefully the bulk of us will be back in August but that still remains to be seen.