William Henry Foulkes
Big Member
Nothing remarkable - just posted in case anyone's interested.
http://www.shropshirestar.com/sport.../shrewsbury-town-1-sheffield-united-2-report/
Kyle Vassell missed a ninth-minute penalty before Billy Sharp’s 20th goal of the season put Sheffield United ahead.
Abu Ogogo levelled on 54 but Town seemed slow to close down again when Sharp exchanged passes with Che Adams for the latter to drill the winner 12 minutes later.
Town’s 12th home league defeat left them still two points above the drop zone after Blackpool didn’t play and Fleetwood lost 1-0 at Millwall.
But it could heap the pressure on Micky Mellon’s side to get something from their game in hand at Walsall next Tuesday.
There were three changes for Town - but the big news was James Wesolowski making his first appearance since rupturing his cruciate ligament for the second time in September.
Wesolowski returned along with captain Nat Knight-Percival and Kyle Vassell, for Larnell Smith, Ian Black and Larnell Cole.
On-loan Sheffield United midfielder James Wallace was ineligible to play against his parent club which allowed Vassell as the odd loanee out on Saturday to return.
Town switched to a 3-4-1-2 formation with Sullay Kaikai in the hole behind Vassell and Saturday’s scorer Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro.
It was a lively start - and both sides could have scored in the opening minutes.
First Billy Sharp grazed the sidenetting after strike partner Che Adams put him in 15 yards out.
Then Town had the chance to go in front with a ninth-minute penalty after Kaikai’s left-wing cross was clearly handled by Jay McEveley.
But Vassell, who went into the game without a goal in his 12 games for Town, wasted the opportunity when he fired his spot kick too close to keeper George Long diving to his left, and the ball was hacked away as Vassell and Akpa Akpro tried to convert the rebound.
Sharp, sliding in, couldn’t quite get there after a cross was blocked and Adams fired the loose ball goalwards.
But the experienced striker soon made amends when he gave his side the to make Town pay for their earlier miss from the spot.
And it all looked too simple for the Blades as they cut through Salop when Ryan Flynn split the defence for Sharp to fire home an angled drive for his 20th of the season.
After a lively and competitive start, the goal seemed to deflate Town unnecessarily so as they conceded too much ground to the visitors.
Paul Coutts tried to take advantage in the 24th minute when he cut inside Wesolowski only to drag a scuffed effort well wide.
Shrewsbury tried to respond and a minute later Akpa Akpro’s angled snapshot was held at the second attempt by Long after pouncing on a loose ball when Vassell muscled his way into the box.
Akpa Akpro was enjoying a lively spell and surged forward, cutting in from the left and ignored Vassell and Kaikai only to see his shot blocked by McEveley.
Town threatened again on 29 when Knight-Percival’s header seemed to be deflected from Kaikai’s inswinging corner before Coutts on the post cleared comfortably.
But Mellon’s side seemed to suffer a loss of confidence as they allowed United to spray the ball around at leisure at times without getting close enough to them as the half fizzled out.
There was more evidence of that with some sloppy defending as Flynn was allowed to collect Matt Done’s short corner then tee up Dean Hammond for a drive headed away by Zak Whitbread.
Town started the second half with some welcome urgency after their lacklustre end to the first period.
They quickly won a corner and Knight-Percival, such a danger at set-pieces, saw a header then a shot blocked in a packed box from Kaikai’s inswinging corner.
There was a long delay after the linesman on the far side went off injured, with a kickabout involving both sides before United boss Nigel Adkins called his side together for an impromptu team talk on the edge of the pitch.
But whatever he said didn’t appear to have the desired affect as a resurgent Town levelled nine minutes after the break.
Akpa Akpro got some room on the right and crossed low, and Ogogo swept the ball home from a centre that was in danger of going behind him.
The equaliser inspired Shrewsbury and, buoyed on by a noisy home crowd, they upped the tempo and tore at the Blades, forcing three quick corners in a row.
Then Akpa Akpro, attacking the end of the ground where he has scored all four of his home goals this season, rose above two defenders at the far post to head Mat Sadler’s cross over.
Town were streaming forward and Kaikai teased the United defence before letting fly for a drive deflected just wide.
Mellon decided to freshen up his attack in the 65th minute when he brought on Andy Mangan for Vassell up front.
But after seemingly seizing control of the game, Town had it wrestled off them just as ruthlessly as the Blades regained the lead in clinical fashion within a minute.
Sharp and Adams exchanged a one-two in the box as Salop stood off and Adams drilled into the far corner from a tight angle with Jayson Leutwiler close to it.
Town immediately tried to hit back as Sadler cut it inside for Akpa Akpro, who lashed left-footed over the bar from an angle.
Then Jack Grimmer whipped in a cross and Mangan got a powerful contact on it only to glance a foot over from distance.
Town made a second change when Shaun Whalley came on for Jack Hendry on 78 as they switched to a 4-2-4 formation in a desperate bid to get a second equaliser.
There followed a good passing move from Town but a wasted chance as Akpa Akpro headed too close to Long from Kaikai’s cross.
But Town came forward again and Whalley’s falling shot was deflected wide.
Shrewsbury sensed the chance of a comeback after the fourth official indicated an extra seven minutes of time added on.
But they first had some defending to do as Leuwiler’s clearance hit Sharp on the back and cannoned dangerously goalwards before the keeper retrieved it.
Town were camped inside the United box and Kaikai won a free kick at the death but could only curl it into the wall.
Town (3-4-1-2): Leutwiler 7; Hendry 6 (Whalley 78, 6), Whitbread 7, Knight-Percival 7; Grimmer 6, Ogogo 7, Wesolowski 7, Sadler 7; Kaikai 7; Vassell 6 (Mangan 65, 6), AKPA AKPRO 8.
Subs: Black, Clark, Cole, Smith, Halstead (gk).
United (3-5-2): Long; Baptiste, Edgar, McEveley; Basham, Coutts, Hammond, Flynn (Cuvelier 85), Done; Adams (Woolford 90+8), Sharp.
Subs not used: Sammon, Calvert-Lewin, McGahey, Whiteman, Howard (gk).
Referee: David Webb (Tyne and Wear)
Attendance: 5,064 (513 Sheff U fans).
Read more at http://www.shropshirestar.com/sport...heffield-united-2-report/#to2phW7rluf63Hdt.99
http://www.shropshirestar.com/sport.../shrewsbury-town-1-sheffield-united-2-report/
Kyle Vassell missed a ninth-minute penalty before Billy Sharp’s 20th goal of the season put Sheffield United ahead.
Abu Ogogo levelled on 54 but Town seemed slow to close down again when Sharp exchanged passes with Che Adams for the latter to drill the winner 12 minutes later.
Town’s 12th home league defeat left them still two points above the drop zone after Blackpool didn’t play and Fleetwood lost 1-0 at Millwall.
But it could heap the pressure on Micky Mellon’s side to get something from their game in hand at Walsall next Tuesday.
There were three changes for Town - but the big news was James Wesolowski making his first appearance since rupturing his cruciate ligament for the second time in September.
Wesolowski returned along with captain Nat Knight-Percival and Kyle Vassell, for Larnell Smith, Ian Black and Larnell Cole.
On-loan Sheffield United midfielder James Wallace was ineligible to play against his parent club which allowed Vassell as the odd loanee out on Saturday to return.
Town switched to a 3-4-1-2 formation with Sullay Kaikai in the hole behind Vassell and Saturday’s scorer Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro.
It was a lively start - and both sides could have scored in the opening minutes.
First Billy Sharp grazed the sidenetting after strike partner Che Adams put him in 15 yards out.
Then Town had the chance to go in front with a ninth-minute penalty after Kaikai’s left-wing cross was clearly handled by Jay McEveley.
But Vassell, who went into the game without a goal in his 12 games for Town, wasted the opportunity when he fired his spot kick too close to keeper George Long diving to his left, and the ball was hacked away as Vassell and Akpa Akpro tried to convert the rebound.
Sharp, sliding in, couldn’t quite get there after a cross was blocked and Adams fired the loose ball goalwards.
But the experienced striker soon made amends when he gave his side the to make Town pay for their earlier miss from the spot.
And it all looked too simple for the Blades as they cut through Salop when Ryan Flynn split the defence for Sharp to fire home an angled drive for his 20th of the season.
After a lively and competitive start, the goal seemed to deflate Town unnecessarily so as they conceded too much ground to the visitors.
Paul Coutts tried to take advantage in the 24th minute when he cut inside Wesolowski only to drag a scuffed effort well wide.
Shrewsbury tried to respond and a minute later Akpa Akpro’s angled snapshot was held at the second attempt by Long after pouncing on a loose ball when Vassell muscled his way into the box.
Akpa Akpro was enjoying a lively spell and surged forward, cutting in from the left and ignored Vassell and Kaikai only to see his shot blocked by McEveley.
Town threatened again on 29 when Knight-Percival’s header seemed to be deflected from Kaikai’s inswinging corner before Coutts on the post cleared comfortably.
But Mellon’s side seemed to suffer a loss of confidence as they allowed United to spray the ball around at leisure at times without getting close enough to them as the half fizzled out.
There was more evidence of that with some sloppy defending as Flynn was allowed to collect Matt Done’s short corner then tee up Dean Hammond for a drive headed away by Zak Whitbread.
Town started the second half with some welcome urgency after their lacklustre end to the first period.
They quickly won a corner and Knight-Percival, such a danger at set-pieces, saw a header then a shot blocked in a packed box from Kaikai’s inswinging corner.
There was a long delay after the linesman on the far side went off injured, with a kickabout involving both sides before United boss Nigel Adkins called his side together for an impromptu team talk on the edge of the pitch.
But whatever he said didn’t appear to have the desired affect as a resurgent Town levelled nine minutes after the break.
Akpa Akpro got some room on the right and crossed low, and Ogogo swept the ball home from a centre that was in danger of going behind him.
The equaliser inspired Shrewsbury and, buoyed on by a noisy home crowd, they upped the tempo and tore at the Blades, forcing three quick corners in a row.
Then Akpa Akpro, attacking the end of the ground where he has scored all four of his home goals this season, rose above two defenders at the far post to head Mat Sadler’s cross over.
Town were streaming forward and Kaikai teased the United defence before letting fly for a drive deflected just wide.
Mellon decided to freshen up his attack in the 65th minute when he brought on Andy Mangan for Vassell up front.
But after seemingly seizing control of the game, Town had it wrestled off them just as ruthlessly as the Blades regained the lead in clinical fashion within a minute.
Sharp and Adams exchanged a one-two in the box as Salop stood off and Adams drilled into the far corner from a tight angle with Jayson Leutwiler close to it.
Town immediately tried to hit back as Sadler cut it inside for Akpa Akpro, who lashed left-footed over the bar from an angle.
Then Jack Grimmer whipped in a cross and Mangan got a powerful contact on it only to glance a foot over from distance.
Town made a second change when Shaun Whalley came on for Jack Hendry on 78 as they switched to a 4-2-4 formation in a desperate bid to get a second equaliser.
There followed a good passing move from Town but a wasted chance as Akpa Akpro headed too close to Long from Kaikai’s cross.
But Town came forward again and Whalley’s falling shot was deflected wide.
Shrewsbury sensed the chance of a comeback after the fourth official indicated an extra seven minutes of time added on.
But they first had some defending to do as Leuwiler’s clearance hit Sharp on the back and cannoned dangerously goalwards before the keeper retrieved it.
Town were camped inside the United box and Kaikai won a free kick at the death but could only curl it into the wall.
Town (3-4-1-2): Leutwiler 7; Hendry 6 (Whalley 78, 6), Whitbread 7, Knight-Percival 7; Grimmer 6, Ogogo 7, Wesolowski 7, Sadler 7; Kaikai 7; Vassell 6 (Mangan 65, 6), AKPA AKPRO 8.
Subs: Black, Clark, Cole, Smith, Halstead (gk).
United (3-5-2): Long; Baptiste, Edgar, McEveley; Basham, Coutts, Hammond, Flynn (Cuvelier 85), Done; Adams (Woolford 90+8), Sharp.
Subs not used: Sammon, Calvert-Lewin, McGahey, Whiteman, Howard (gk).
Referee: David Webb (Tyne and Wear)
Attendance: 5,064 (513 Sheff U fans).
Read more at http://www.shropshirestar.com/sport...heffield-united-2-report/#to2phW7rluf63Hdt.99
