Deadbat
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Podcast links and then report below….
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The Blades made it back-to-back wins after they professionally saw off struggling Peterborough at London Road in the Saturday night TV game in the Championship. United move up to 11th and with games in hand will still feel they have a chance of moving into the playoff places if they can continue their form under Paul Heckingbottom. Tonight, they dominated the game from almost start to finish and finally got the goals their domination and pressure deserved through Sharp and a Morton own goal. 2-0 probably flattered Peterborough although they did have a great chance in the first half when Foderingham saved from Johnson Clarke Harris in a rare break after United had controlled the first half. In the second half the home side barely mounted an attack let alone an effort on goal
Manager Heckingbottom opted to start an unchanged side from the win last week and certainly this consistency of selection has been a rarity this season for United. New keeper signing Adam Davies replaced Jake Eastwood on the bench. Peterborough made four changes after they had squandered a two-goal lead in the week at St Andrews. Jeando Fuchs made his debut after signing from Dundee United whilst Marriott and Clarke Harris led the line for the home team who could escape the bottom three with a victory.
The game started with the Blades instantly on the attack and won two corners inside the first minute and two excellent deliveries from Norwood and Hourihane caused all sort of problems. The second saw Robinson head back but Egan could not divert goalward.
Poko’s cross was held by Foderingham in the home side’s first attack but Brewster’s pace was evident from the off as got away from his man with quick feet that followed the burst but Sharp could not get on the cross and Ndiaye was blocked by Benda at close range.
United dominated the ball and a good move saw Sharp well placed but went the wrong way and the attack seemed to have lost momentum before Norwood flashed another super ball that just evaded the Blades skipper.
The Blades were in complete control of the game and dictating things and some incisive stuff from them saw them almost camped in the Posh half. Brewster was looking a real threat but Peterborough made two good blocks to deny him and Sharp.
Basham’s miscontrol gave United warning they may not have it all their own way but Norwood cleared up but the next passage was all Blades and Brewster then got down the right and put a dangerous ball in but Sharp was not able to react. Sadly, in the build-up Brewster seemed to pull up and it was a concern after his recent hamstring issues to see him holding the back of his leg. He could not continue and this was a real blow after his energetic start.
McGoldrick came on and his first piece of the action saw him come inside with nice skill but his attempted bender bent too far away from Benda in the Posh goal. United had been dominating but failed to get any effort son target until the 25th minute when Bogle was adjudged to have beaten the offside trap and with little support blasted a shot across goal which Benda did well to push away with strong palms.
After this United had another effort when Hourihane flashed a shot that deflected wide for a corner and McGoldrick could only head down into the ground.
Fuchs effort was a rare moment from the home side but Foderingham held it comfortably before Norwood blasted well over learning back.
Bogle had started to become more involved and a flurry of chances came United’s way and all came from the right wing back. He got down the right onto Sharp’s ball and had a shot blocked from Knight and the corner was headed wide from Egan.
Bogle then showed superb trickery to beat his defender and his left foot shot was spilt by Benda but Ndiaye could not make his mind up quick enough and the chance went. Bogle though was back in the action and he split two defenders on the next attack but drove his shot across wide.
United had to make their domination pay but continued to lack ruthlessness in key moments. Another great corner, this time from Norwood saw Egan completely unmarked but again got way too much on his header and it was a golden chance missed. United were nearly made to pay when the excellent Norwood lost his challenge this time and the delightful ball inside Basham saw Clarke Harris onside but as he tried to dink it past Fotheringham, the stopper put out an instinctive hand and it was a superb save. For all the Blades domination, possession and good moments, this was undoubtedly the best chance of the game for either side.
Basham was well forward on the next attack but after Hourihane lobbed it up for himself, his effort was a long way off target. This was the final effort of the first half came in a game that United had controlled but not had the moments of quality needed in the final third and indeed Posh had ended the half with the best chance of the game.
The second half started with United winning an early corner as they did to begin the game but it was cleared before Norwood was maybe fortunate not to be booked after the second of two fouls. The game had begun more even but on 54 minutes, United took the lead. It was played down the left and Hourihane clipped it to Norwood whose ball was not the best but Thompson made a mess of his touch and SHARP steered it into the corner expertly giving Benda no chance as it went right into the corner. In scoring he became the most prolific scorer in the Championship. A flare was cleared off the field as the Blades fans celebrated.
The game ticked over the hour mark and the Blades had dominated possession with 75% of the ball. From a Robinson corner, the ball was sandwiched between Ndiaye and a defender and as it fell for Norwood, the ferocious drive was flicked wide from Kent and behind for a corner as the home fans held their breath. The corner saw Marriot break but Ndiaye got back well to hold it up.
Thompson’s run forward was held up by Hourihane who was booked for his cynical foul but the free kick came to nothing as the home side struggled to build any kind of momentum. Morton and Ward came on for Marriot and Tomlinson.
Ndiaye seemed to overstretch on a run forward and he could not continue, being the second player to go off with a muscle injury seemingly. Fleck came on for him on 70 minutes.
McGoldrick’s nice touch saw him set himself up for a chance but his shot lacked power as the game seemed to be drifting away from Posh who had created nothing of note in the second half. United had a chance to seal it on 77 minutes as Norwood’s impressive game saw him press and win a tackle and play in Sharp but one on one, the striker took too long and his effort was too close to Benda who saved. McGoldrick’s follow up was tame as he gifted it straight to the keeper.
McBurnie came on for Sharp who gave the Peterborough fans a send off as he left the field and Randall came on for Grant in the final change for the Posh. On 80 minutes, the game was effectively sealed and it came form another superb Norwood corner. Basham met it at the back stick and his header came off the sub MORTON (OG) and deflected past the motionless Benda. Basham celebrated with Robinson, the nearest man to the scorer but it was clearly an own goal.
Robinson’s crunching tackle summed up United’s domination on and off the ball as Peterborough looked a well beaten side and could not mount even an attack of note. McGoldrick then got in a good position but could not find McBurnie on the break. The game tipped over 90 minutes and Norwood and Hourihane continued to play keep ball as the Blades did not come close to giving this away game away. It ended with McGoldrick on the attack but he opted to keep it before referee Whitestone blew for full time and ended a comfortable win for the celebrating 3,000 Blades fans in attendance behind Wes Foderingham’s goal.