Deadbat
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Sorry no report from Blackpool – embarrassingly I was at Hillsborough watching my mate’s Port Vale side (promised him I would go if they came up) in the away end so only saw the game afterwards and never got round to penning my reports in the busy holiday season….
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The Blades winning run ended in the capital but it was a huge point thanks to a late goal from John Egan who turned from villain to hero. With almost the last kick of the game Egan’s deflected effort went in to gain a crucial draw when United had been far from their best. Indeed, it was Egan that had deflected into his own net from Chair’s shot that gave Rangers the lead, one they held onto for the duration until the late drama.
United made three changes with Egan back in for Robinson, Doyle for McAtee and Baldock for Bogle. Lowe was missing with a strain and there was still no place in the squad for either McBurnie or Khadra. QPR picked a relatively attacking line up with Dykes flanked by Chair, Willock and Roberts in an attempt to arrest their recent slide.
United began well with some good football down the right and a dangerous cross just evaded anyone coming in before a chance arrived for Ndiaye but he took too long. The Blades continued their good start and Rangers were camped in for he first 5 minutes but gradually came out although Ndiaye showed a lovely bit of skill to come away from his man.
However, the first shot on goal led to a goal but it came from dreadful play from Egan. Back from a suspension, he did not have the best returns as he received a goal kick from Foderingham and then played a poor pass straight to Roberts who fed DYKE. The midfielder took a shot and it hit Egan and completely wrongfooted the United keeper and nestled into the net.
Rangers buoyed by this goal had another attack and Chair’s cross shot was not far over before on 19 minutes United created their first real chance as Ndiaye fed Sharp whose low left footed shot was saved by the legs of Dieng. Norwood fired over from the subsequent clearance.
United were not at their best and Rangers were pressing Norwood and the United defence and it was leading to cheap giveaways. Roberts put Clark on his backside as he came down the left-hand side and his cross was hit by Willock and Berge had to get a block. Stevens and Clark were struggling with the running down this side and with Willock and Chair to the fore, and Berge and Ndiaye not in the game in contrast.
Rangers won two corners but the Blades broke from one and Ndiaye ran half the pitch but was blocked out with no support but this was the spark for a better spell from United and good football saw Sharp and Ndiaye feed Berge whose pass should have been hit from Baldock but he chose to pass and it eventually fell to Stevens whose shot was arrowed wide.
Foderingham took a chance as he caught the ball right on the edge of the box. It seemed referee Smith guessed from his angle and booked the Blades keeper. The free kick was not properly cleared and Clark had to block Dickie’s effort before Chair was not closed down again and had another deflected shot. Rangers had been the better side and with Doyle and Norwood not controlling midfield, the Blades struggled to get any kind of fluency as the half time whistle went.
Clark was replaced by Robinson at half time who had a slight hamstring issue. Dykes’ effort deflected wide as QPR continued where they left off. Twice both keepers went down with Ahmedhodzic penalised for a foul on Dieng and then Dykes likewise for going in on Foderingham.
Dykes flick on saw Willock come inside but he fired his effort over before Dickie then nearly got in at the near post after good work from Roberts. Kakay then shot wide as United had struggled to muster much of a response after the break but then they were nearly level out of nothing. Norwood’s ball forward saw Sharp in the clear and as Dieng advanced, the lob was on and executed but the veteran got too much on it and it went onto the top of the net rather than dipping and landing in it.
Doyle’s poor night was evidenced by a give away and a daft foul and was soon hooked for McAtee and soon after Sharp and Ndiaye linked leading to Stevens having an effort deflected wide with his right foot. United had improved and Rangers seemed to be tiring. Ndiaye then broke after rolling his man and reminiscent of the McAtee goal at Blackpool, he set off on his way and ran the whole half beating his man with a step over before a heavy touch saw Dieng close him down and smother. It was a great run but lacked the finish.
Amos and Adomah replaced Roberts and Willock and Jebbison came on for Baldock for the Blades. The Blades were having much more of the ball and were moving it around better with McAtee making a real difference but had not really created much outside of the two chances from Sharp and McAtee and the game ticked into the last 10 minutes.
Jebbison did well to win a free kick and then won a corner before Bogle came on for Ahmedhodzic as United sought to try and find a bit of magic to get something from the came. Jebbison turned nearly but his shot was saved by Dieng and then Berge’s cross was taken by the excellent keeper who had played very well. The additional time was 5 minutes but Kakay went down during the start of this after he fouled Sharp and needed treatment meaning there would be another minute added on to this five. United kept pushing and several balls came in with Robinson’s long throws a feature of the desperate hunt for a leveller. Finally, a ball came over and Sharp returned it over leading to Stevens twice doing well and he turned it back on his second touch leading to EGAN hitting a low effort that flicked a defender and nestled into the corner. United celebrated like they had won with wild scenes on and off the field. The final whistle went almost immediately after the game restarted and the Blades had taken a point in a game, they had struggled to get control of and had been outworked from their opponents until the final late surge.
United – We began well for 5-10 minutes and you though if we get one here, we go on and win easily but we only had a few half chances or crosses going in and they grew into the game. Dykes was a handful (not as much as Warnock made out!) and Chair/Willock did more than Ndiaye and Berge for us getting into good areas. They had forced us back but the goal is ridiculous with Egan’s bad pass and then deflecting it in. A double error really. Not sure Wes should have played it him there as they were pressing but it’s still all on Egan. After this had a few moments from Ndiaye and Sharp had an effort saved and Stevens one wide but in general play they closed us down, worked harder and actually looked more dangerous as we were sloppy all over. Norwood was not in the game and Berge saw the game just pass him by. As for Doyle, well to say he looked rusty was an understatement. I think Hecky should have made more changes but Clark was the only one to go with an injury and I just hoped we would improve second half as we struggled to get in even at 1-0.
To be honest second half think we regressed for 15-20 minutes and not sure we really improved at all. They had a few more half chances but then Sharp misses a really good one but I felt we never really put any meaningful pressure on them at all and needed to change it. McAtee came on finally and made a difference and Ndiaye has the big chance but maybe took too long despite a great run. QPR had been good value but Jebbison gave us an outlet when he came on and they started to tire. We had loads of the ball and lots going in the box but not sure the keeper had too much to do after the Ndiaye miss and it was just percentage stuff or knock downs really and often we overplayed instead of getting it wide and crossing it. We took too long to turn them round but then as it looked lost, we get a good ball in and return it and we take a half chance with a bit of luck going our way after it had gone against us first half. It was a big goal and a huge point. We ended the game pressing and chasing but it took us too long to put them under pressure and just felt they sat back. For too long we were poor on the ball with passes short and no one taking responsibility. I was hugely disappointed with Doyle and Berge. They put pressure on Norwood and often had 3 men on Ndiaye but those two need to do much better. They sort of sauntered around and need to do much more. McAtee looks a much better option then both of them currently and made a difference again. Credit to us for keeping going and could be a big point come the end of the season but we have to play much better than that. We had way too many off the game. I might get criticised for this but not sure we have been brilliant since Burnley and that is in 6 straight wins, is it? We have just got the first goal in all those games and had something to defend. I think we have deserved to win every game but we have not blown teams away.
We have shown it in patches and some individual brilliance from players has got us goals but overall, we have not been totally convincing like we were earlier in the season. We have ground out results and tonight was no different. I think we need to get a settled team now and stop messing around. The run of games is more favourable in terms of less games in week/s. I’d rest nearly them all for the cup on Saturday giving the likes of Jebbison, Doyle, Bogle games and chance to get match fit. However, after this he needs to play Lowe (if fit), play McAtee and get MCBurnie back in. Up front it is a struggle as the main tactic is get it Ndiaye and hope he beats 2 or 3 men. I think we need a Dykes/Madine type player especially if McBurnie is never going to be fully fit as the evidence suggests. This signing is crucial for me if we want to hold onto our lead at the top as teams will realise, we have to play through them to score. The goal came tonight when we chucked men up but in general play we did not create much really. Not saying they did either of course. Overall, it is a big draw as all the results went against us and psychologically makes a huge difference with almost a fortnight to the next league game. We now have two weeks to rest (as I would not play many if any at all on Saturday) and try and come back with two big wins in the league at home and two games where we need to get back to the form we have shown before rather than gritting things out. Stoke and Hull are sides we need to go and really take on and go at.
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The Blades winning run ended in the capital but it was a huge point thanks to a late goal from John Egan who turned from villain to hero. With almost the last kick of the game Egan’s deflected effort went in to gain a crucial draw when United had been far from their best. Indeed, it was Egan that had deflected into his own net from Chair’s shot that gave Rangers the lead, one they held onto for the duration until the late drama.
United made three changes with Egan back in for Robinson, Doyle for McAtee and Baldock for Bogle. Lowe was missing with a strain and there was still no place in the squad for either McBurnie or Khadra. QPR picked a relatively attacking line up with Dykes flanked by Chair, Willock and Roberts in an attempt to arrest their recent slide.
United began well with some good football down the right and a dangerous cross just evaded anyone coming in before a chance arrived for Ndiaye but he took too long. The Blades continued their good start and Rangers were camped in for he first 5 minutes but gradually came out although Ndiaye showed a lovely bit of skill to come away from his man.
However, the first shot on goal led to a goal but it came from dreadful play from Egan. Back from a suspension, he did not have the best returns as he received a goal kick from Foderingham and then played a poor pass straight to Roberts who fed DYKE. The midfielder took a shot and it hit Egan and completely wrongfooted the United keeper and nestled into the net.
Rangers buoyed by this goal had another attack and Chair’s cross shot was not far over before on 19 minutes United created their first real chance as Ndiaye fed Sharp whose low left footed shot was saved by the legs of Dieng. Norwood fired over from the subsequent clearance.
United were not at their best and Rangers were pressing Norwood and the United defence and it was leading to cheap giveaways. Roberts put Clark on his backside as he came down the left-hand side and his cross was hit by Willock and Berge had to get a block. Stevens and Clark were struggling with the running down this side and with Willock and Chair to the fore, and Berge and Ndiaye not in the game in contrast.
Rangers won two corners but the Blades broke from one and Ndiaye ran half the pitch but was blocked out with no support but this was the spark for a better spell from United and good football saw Sharp and Ndiaye feed Berge whose pass should have been hit from Baldock but he chose to pass and it eventually fell to Stevens whose shot was arrowed wide.
Foderingham took a chance as he caught the ball right on the edge of the box. It seemed referee Smith guessed from his angle and booked the Blades keeper. The free kick was not properly cleared and Clark had to block Dickie’s effort before Chair was not closed down again and had another deflected shot. Rangers had been the better side and with Doyle and Norwood not controlling midfield, the Blades struggled to get any kind of fluency as the half time whistle went.
Clark was replaced by Robinson at half time who had a slight hamstring issue. Dykes’ effort deflected wide as QPR continued where they left off. Twice both keepers went down with Ahmedhodzic penalised for a foul on Dieng and then Dykes likewise for going in on Foderingham.
Dykes flick on saw Willock come inside but he fired his effort over before Dickie then nearly got in at the near post after good work from Roberts. Kakay then shot wide as United had struggled to muster much of a response after the break but then they were nearly level out of nothing. Norwood’s ball forward saw Sharp in the clear and as Dieng advanced, the lob was on and executed but the veteran got too much on it and it went onto the top of the net rather than dipping and landing in it.
Doyle’s poor night was evidenced by a give away and a daft foul and was soon hooked for McAtee and soon after Sharp and Ndiaye linked leading to Stevens having an effort deflected wide with his right foot. United had improved and Rangers seemed to be tiring. Ndiaye then broke after rolling his man and reminiscent of the McAtee goal at Blackpool, he set off on his way and ran the whole half beating his man with a step over before a heavy touch saw Dieng close him down and smother. It was a great run but lacked the finish.
Amos and Adomah replaced Roberts and Willock and Jebbison came on for Baldock for the Blades. The Blades were having much more of the ball and were moving it around better with McAtee making a real difference but had not really created much outside of the two chances from Sharp and McAtee and the game ticked into the last 10 minutes.
Jebbison did well to win a free kick and then won a corner before Bogle came on for Ahmedhodzic as United sought to try and find a bit of magic to get something from the came. Jebbison turned nearly but his shot was saved by Dieng and then Berge’s cross was taken by the excellent keeper who had played very well. The additional time was 5 minutes but Kakay went down during the start of this after he fouled Sharp and needed treatment meaning there would be another minute added on to this five. United kept pushing and several balls came in with Robinson’s long throws a feature of the desperate hunt for a leveller. Finally, a ball came over and Sharp returned it over leading to Stevens twice doing well and he turned it back on his second touch leading to EGAN hitting a low effort that flicked a defender and nestled into the corner. United celebrated like they had won with wild scenes on and off the field. The final whistle went almost immediately after the game restarted and the Blades had taken a point in a game, they had struggled to get control of and had been outworked from their opponents until the final late surge.
United – We began well for 5-10 minutes and you though if we get one here, we go on and win easily but we only had a few half chances or crosses going in and they grew into the game. Dykes was a handful (not as much as Warnock made out!) and Chair/Willock did more than Ndiaye and Berge for us getting into good areas. They had forced us back but the goal is ridiculous with Egan’s bad pass and then deflecting it in. A double error really. Not sure Wes should have played it him there as they were pressing but it’s still all on Egan. After this had a few moments from Ndiaye and Sharp had an effort saved and Stevens one wide but in general play they closed us down, worked harder and actually looked more dangerous as we were sloppy all over. Norwood was not in the game and Berge saw the game just pass him by. As for Doyle, well to say he looked rusty was an understatement. I think Hecky should have made more changes but Clark was the only one to go with an injury and I just hoped we would improve second half as we struggled to get in even at 1-0.
To be honest second half think we regressed for 15-20 minutes and not sure we really improved at all. They had a few more half chances but then Sharp misses a really good one but I felt we never really put any meaningful pressure on them at all and needed to change it. McAtee came on finally and made a difference and Ndiaye has the big chance but maybe took too long despite a great run. QPR had been good value but Jebbison gave us an outlet when he came on and they started to tire. We had loads of the ball and lots going in the box but not sure the keeper had too much to do after the Ndiaye miss and it was just percentage stuff or knock downs really and often we overplayed instead of getting it wide and crossing it. We took too long to turn them round but then as it looked lost, we get a good ball in and return it and we take a half chance with a bit of luck going our way after it had gone against us first half. It was a big goal and a huge point. We ended the game pressing and chasing but it took us too long to put them under pressure and just felt they sat back. For too long we were poor on the ball with passes short and no one taking responsibility. I was hugely disappointed with Doyle and Berge. They put pressure on Norwood and often had 3 men on Ndiaye but those two need to do much better. They sort of sauntered around and need to do much more. McAtee looks a much better option then both of them currently and made a difference again. Credit to us for keeping going and could be a big point come the end of the season but we have to play much better than that. We had way too many off the game. I might get criticised for this but not sure we have been brilliant since Burnley and that is in 6 straight wins, is it? We have just got the first goal in all those games and had something to defend. I think we have deserved to win every game but we have not blown teams away.
We have shown it in patches and some individual brilliance from players has got us goals but overall, we have not been totally convincing like we were earlier in the season. We have ground out results and tonight was no different. I think we need to get a settled team now and stop messing around. The run of games is more favourable in terms of less games in week/s. I’d rest nearly them all for the cup on Saturday giving the likes of Jebbison, Doyle, Bogle games and chance to get match fit. However, after this he needs to play Lowe (if fit), play McAtee and get MCBurnie back in. Up front it is a struggle as the main tactic is get it Ndiaye and hope he beats 2 or 3 men. I think we need a Dykes/Madine type player especially if McBurnie is never going to be fully fit as the evidence suggests. This signing is crucial for me if we want to hold onto our lead at the top as teams will realise, we have to play through them to score. The goal came tonight when we chucked men up but in general play we did not create much really. Not saying they did either of course. Overall, it is a big draw as all the results went against us and psychologically makes a huge difference with almost a fortnight to the next league game. We now have two weeks to rest (as I would not play many if any at all on Saturday) and try and come back with two big wins in the league at home and two games where we need to get back to the form we have shown before rather than gritting things out. Stoke and Hull are sides we need to go and really take on and go at.
