Deadbat
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After a dominant performance on Boxing Day; United came crashing back to earth as Bolton Wanderers won for the first time away from home in the Championship for 999 days. Former Owl Gary Madine got the only goal as Bolton surprised the home side with an attacking and confident performance for the first half hour. After a poor start and changes to personnel United improved and Leon Clarke missed a one on one. In the second half, United were the better side but only managed to create a couple of clear chances with George Baldock denied by Ben Alnwick and then somehow Clarke scooped over at the death. Bolton slowed the game down and did what they had to in a classic away performance. In truth, it was a sub standard performance by United against a poor side. Manager Chris Wilder on reflection was wrong to make changes to the side and paid the price as we were chasing the game.
Bolton began the game with a few meaty tackles and were in the ascendancy early with Madine winning two headers and Henry winning the loose ball to lead to a half chance for Le Fondre. United came out and had a half chance as Duffy took his time to jink past two men but his cross was half cleared and Fleck’s flicked volley looped high and wide. Still, the away side had began well and poor mistakes from O’Connell and then Lundstram gave the Wanderers possession. They won a series of free kicks and corners without seriously troubling United but had won the early skirmishes in midfield and Madine was proving a handful.
Indeed, the visitors took the lead after good initial build up down the left saw Robinson play a one two and without a challenge put over a delightful cross that cut out the whole United defence and with O’Connell stationery, MADINE met it and scored easily from close range. He celebrated predictably with glee in front of the Kop.
Robinson then nearly got in again before Le Fondre had an effort. Fleck was then booked for a late tackle before Wilder had seen enough and replaced Carter Vickers with Baldock; with Basham moving inside.
Baldock almost had an instant impact as he played in Clarke; got on the return but his shot lacked power and was palmed away in United’s first attempt at goal. Soon after they should have scored.
Duffy’s through ball was perfection and Clarke beat the offside trap but he maybe had too much time and his shot hit the legs of Alnwick and deflected behind for a corner. It was a great chance for United to level.
The second half began in stop start fashion with few real chances either way. United were having more of the ball but had created little. A Clarke looping header was the only real effort before Madine actually had the best chance of the half with a low shot that Moore saved after the defence had let him get in too easily. Fleck was becoming more influential and the wing backs overlapping well but Bolton kept a good shape and the home fans began to get frustrated.
O’Connell headed well wide when well placed from a corner and then Donaldson replaced the ineffective Sharp. United had a good chance when the impressive Baldock came inside and had his first shot blocked and then his second looked all the world a goal but Alnwick saved superbly down low to finger tip behind for a corner.
The final roll of the dice was Carruthers coming on for Stearman as United went to a flatter back 4 with Lundstram just in front and Fleck, Carruthers and Duffy supplanting the front two. Bolton also made a number of changes. Baldock fired wildly over before Donaldson had a good chance but skewed his effort badly wide.
The game continued to be stop start with the referee letting Alnwick take an age over goal kicks and wanting to speak to every player for no real reason after every foul!
There was 6 minutes of stoppage time to be played and United finally created some clear chances. A lovely ball from Basham played in Baldock whose centre looked perfect for Clarke to score but somehow, he scooped over on the stretch with the goal at his mercy. United kept coming and forced Bolton further back but a few shots were blocked and then Carruthers low shot went wide to signal a disappointing end to a superb 2017.
United – Felt we did not really deserve much from the game from the way he started it. Sure, Clarke misses two big chances and they did not create much other than the goal but for a home side against a bottom three side, we did not do enough to win. Maybe we deserved a point for overall possession and the chances we did miss (not many but big misses) but our performance individually and collectively was miles off what it needs to be. We faced a much more committed and skilled (in what they do) than Sunderland and tactically they got it spot on to begin.
We began sloppy, slow and too over confident. Bolton came out and were in our faces, were braver on the ball and took the match to us. They had a lot of set plays early and won numerous corners but did knock it about well. They scored a good goal and you felt it had been coming. After this we gradually grew into it and Clarke scores before the break and it is a different game. Second half Baldock helped change things and missed a chance but it got too 70 minutes so quickly with the stop start nature of the game, another weak ref and their tactics (to slow time and gradually stop everything they could). We sadly did not play at a high enough tempo; our final ball was poor and too many players made poor decisions in the key areas. We had way too many individuals off their game and cannot carry players (Carter Vickers, O’Connell/Lundstram – 1st half, Sharp) like we had to today; even against poorer teams.
Really disappointing the recent form and results but despite Wilder’s comments (normally always agree with him) I cannot agree that we dominated the game. I felt today was a major step back after such an excellent performance on Boxing Day. We simply did not do enough and credit to Bolton. It is going to be really tough for us to stay in the top 6 on current form and players that are becoming very inconsistent. We need key men to regain form and we need some added quality. There is a huge drop off when we rotate things and the lack of consistency from individuals recently has seen us fall away (that long with the Coutts injury of course).
The board have to give Wilder the funds to bring in 2 or 3 starting calibre players. Right down the spine for me; we need a centre back, central midfielder and centre forward. Pace and athleticism are key features but good players that improve us most important. We now face a run of really tough games and outside of the Wednesday Derby may not have a game at the Lane for quite some time (if either us or Villa progress in the FA Cup – Villa have a home tie v Peterborough) so important we strengthen. Derby away will be tough and they are absolutely flying. Anything we get there would be a bonus really; that is why the resting of two players who have done well recently was so odd when today was eminently more winnable I felt.
Bolton – Perfect away performance. They have been awful away with results and performances and so had to win ugly in a sense but it was not all like that and I will give them credit for a decent first half performance. They then defended well, made blocks, odd save and got a bit of luck with the sitter at the death. However, they were not outplayed at any point of the game and it was not really back to the walls stuff. They were in the game all afternoon and started much better than us.
The first 30 minutes they played some decent stuff, won all the battles and scored a good goal. They had a lot more of the ball and I felt did not just lump it. They won a fair few free kicks but that was from being quicker to the ball. Wilder did not give them much credit and came across a bit petty about their style. Why he felt need to bang on and one about their style was odd. So, what? You have to beat teams like that but we could not and are one of the few teams that have failed to break them down all season. That is on us. They gave themselves a base to then be a bit more cynical, slow things down and break things up. Yes, they did time waste but they were no worse than Norwich as an example. That is up to the referee to be a bit more with it and at times he let them do it but you can see why; they are at the bottom and desperate for points.
They are direct and are ugly to watch but today for the first part of the game they were not really like that. They played some decent stuff and scored a really good goal. They showed some quality build up, cross and finish. Three things we struggled with all game. It was not great defending but that was the only good cross all game from either side. They get it forward and feed off scraps but they did play some decent stuff and defended well.
I felt after they scored, they did become cynical and a little bit ugly but you could say we did the same for us at Bolton and we slowed the game down too. All away teams do it and they will say it was a perfect performance. We had chances but not loads. Wilder said they were really good chances but outside of the Clarke miss and the Baldock chance; not sure we had any golden chances really. They will be happy as an away team 2nd from bottom to limit our chances. We were not absolutely piling on the pressure and even late on they were defending fairly comfortably till that late flurry.
Opposition Man of the Match: The keeper played well with two good saves and is a major improvement on the hapless Howard who I note is not even on the bench (is he injured?) The two centre backs got their bodies in the way and the full backs stopped too many crosses coming in. Henry stopped Duffy being too influential and the lad Robinson was very good first half until Baldock got him going the other way. Morais put some decent balls in too. Overall, it was a workmanlike team performance and a surprisingly good one. United probably felt it was going to be a lot easier than it was and got a rude awakening first half. However, sadly the best player maybe on the pitch was the match winner. Maine was excellent for all his pantomime theatrics. He caused us all sorts of problems and bullied us. He gave a few fouls away and got booked but he ran his socks off, scored and won lots of the 50/50 balls often against two men. He gave the opposite performance of Sharp did for us.
Opposition Weak link: Not sure anyone was that bad really. Le Fondre did not really get in the game and the full back Robinson struggled with Baldock second half but nobody was really poor and their work rate was exceptional as they plugged gaps and restricted us to few chances.
Bolton began the game with a few meaty tackles and were in the ascendancy early with Madine winning two headers and Henry winning the loose ball to lead to a half chance for Le Fondre. United came out and had a half chance as Duffy took his time to jink past two men but his cross was half cleared and Fleck’s flicked volley looped high and wide. Still, the away side had began well and poor mistakes from O’Connell and then Lundstram gave the Wanderers possession. They won a series of free kicks and corners without seriously troubling United but had won the early skirmishes in midfield and Madine was proving a handful.
Indeed, the visitors took the lead after good initial build up down the left saw Robinson play a one two and without a challenge put over a delightful cross that cut out the whole United defence and with O’Connell stationery, MADINE met it and scored easily from close range. He celebrated predictably with glee in front of the Kop.
Robinson then nearly got in again before Le Fondre had an effort. Fleck was then booked for a late tackle before Wilder had seen enough and replaced Carter Vickers with Baldock; with Basham moving inside.
Baldock almost had an instant impact as he played in Clarke; got on the return but his shot lacked power and was palmed away in United’s first attempt at goal. Soon after they should have scored.
Duffy’s through ball was perfection and Clarke beat the offside trap but he maybe had too much time and his shot hit the legs of Alnwick and deflected behind for a corner. It was a great chance for United to level.
The second half began in stop start fashion with few real chances either way. United were having more of the ball but had created little. A Clarke looping header was the only real effort before Madine actually had the best chance of the half with a low shot that Moore saved after the defence had let him get in too easily. Fleck was becoming more influential and the wing backs overlapping well but Bolton kept a good shape and the home fans began to get frustrated.
O’Connell headed well wide when well placed from a corner and then Donaldson replaced the ineffective Sharp. United had a good chance when the impressive Baldock came inside and had his first shot blocked and then his second looked all the world a goal but Alnwick saved superbly down low to finger tip behind for a corner.
The final roll of the dice was Carruthers coming on for Stearman as United went to a flatter back 4 with Lundstram just in front and Fleck, Carruthers and Duffy supplanting the front two. Bolton also made a number of changes. Baldock fired wildly over before Donaldson had a good chance but skewed his effort badly wide.
The game continued to be stop start with the referee letting Alnwick take an age over goal kicks and wanting to speak to every player for no real reason after every foul!
There was 6 minutes of stoppage time to be played and United finally created some clear chances. A lovely ball from Basham played in Baldock whose centre looked perfect for Clarke to score but somehow, he scooped over on the stretch with the goal at his mercy. United kept coming and forced Bolton further back but a few shots were blocked and then Carruthers low shot went wide to signal a disappointing end to a superb 2017.
United – Felt we did not really deserve much from the game from the way he started it. Sure, Clarke misses two big chances and they did not create much other than the goal but for a home side against a bottom three side, we did not do enough to win. Maybe we deserved a point for overall possession and the chances we did miss (not many but big misses) but our performance individually and collectively was miles off what it needs to be. We faced a much more committed and skilled (in what they do) than Sunderland and tactically they got it spot on to begin.
We began sloppy, slow and too over confident. Bolton came out and were in our faces, were braver on the ball and took the match to us. They had a lot of set plays early and won numerous corners but did knock it about well. They scored a good goal and you felt it had been coming. After this we gradually grew into it and Clarke scores before the break and it is a different game. Second half Baldock helped change things and missed a chance but it got too 70 minutes so quickly with the stop start nature of the game, another weak ref and their tactics (to slow time and gradually stop everything they could). We sadly did not play at a high enough tempo; our final ball was poor and too many players made poor decisions in the key areas. We had way too many individuals off their game and cannot carry players (Carter Vickers, O’Connell/Lundstram – 1st half, Sharp) like we had to today; even against poorer teams.
Really disappointing the recent form and results but despite Wilder’s comments (normally always agree with him) I cannot agree that we dominated the game. I felt today was a major step back after such an excellent performance on Boxing Day. We simply did not do enough and credit to Bolton. It is going to be really tough for us to stay in the top 6 on current form and players that are becoming very inconsistent. We need key men to regain form and we need some added quality. There is a huge drop off when we rotate things and the lack of consistency from individuals recently has seen us fall away (that long with the Coutts injury of course).
The board have to give Wilder the funds to bring in 2 or 3 starting calibre players. Right down the spine for me; we need a centre back, central midfielder and centre forward. Pace and athleticism are key features but good players that improve us most important. We now face a run of really tough games and outside of the Wednesday Derby may not have a game at the Lane for quite some time (if either us or Villa progress in the FA Cup – Villa have a home tie v Peterborough) so important we strengthen. Derby away will be tough and they are absolutely flying. Anything we get there would be a bonus really; that is why the resting of two players who have done well recently was so odd when today was eminently more winnable I felt.
Bolton – Perfect away performance. They have been awful away with results and performances and so had to win ugly in a sense but it was not all like that and I will give them credit for a decent first half performance. They then defended well, made blocks, odd save and got a bit of luck with the sitter at the death. However, they were not outplayed at any point of the game and it was not really back to the walls stuff. They were in the game all afternoon and started much better than us.
The first 30 minutes they played some decent stuff, won all the battles and scored a good goal. They had a lot more of the ball and I felt did not just lump it. They won a fair few free kicks but that was from being quicker to the ball. Wilder did not give them much credit and came across a bit petty about their style. Why he felt need to bang on and one about their style was odd. So, what? You have to beat teams like that but we could not and are one of the few teams that have failed to break them down all season. That is on us. They gave themselves a base to then be a bit more cynical, slow things down and break things up. Yes, they did time waste but they were no worse than Norwich as an example. That is up to the referee to be a bit more with it and at times he let them do it but you can see why; they are at the bottom and desperate for points.
They are direct and are ugly to watch but today for the first part of the game they were not really like that. They played some decent stuff and scored a really good goal. They showed some quality build up, cross and finish. Three things we struggled with all game. It was not great defending but that was the only good cross all game from either side. They get it forward and feed off scraps but they did play some decent stuff and defended well.
I felt after they scored, they did become cynical and a little bit ugly but you could say we did the same for us at Bolton and we slowed the game down too. All away teams do it and they will say it was a perfect performance. We had chances but not loads. Wilder said they were really good chances but outside of the Clarke miss and the Baldock chance; not sure we had any golden chances really. They will be happy as an away team 2nd from bottom to limit our chances. We were not absolutely piling on the pressure and even late on they were defending fairly comfortably till that late flurry.
Opposition Man of the Match: The keeper played well with two good saves and is a major improvement on the hapless Howard who I note is not even on the bench (is he injured?) The two centre backs got their bodies in the way and the full backs stopped too many crosses coming in. Henry stopped Duffy being too influential and the lad Robinson was very good first half until Baldock got him going the other way. Morais put some decent balls in too. Overall, it was a workmanlike team performance and a surprisingly good one. United probably felt it was going to be a lot easier than it was and got a rude awakening first half. However, sadly the best player maybe on the pitch was the match winner. Maine was excellent for all his pantomime theatrics. He caused us all sorts of problems and bullied us. He gave a few fouls away and got booked but he ran his socks off, scored and won lots of the 50/50 balls often against two men. He gave the opposite performance of Sharp did for us.
Opposition Weak link: Not sure anyone was that bad really. Le Fondre did not really get in the game and the full back Robinson struggled with Baldock second half but nobody was really poor and their work rate was exceptional as they plugged gaps and restricted us to few chances.
