Deadbat
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The indelible image that was ingrained in my mind both after the game, last night and still this morning was the sight of a young boy maybe 6 or 7 clutching his Sheffield United teddy bear in full strip crying his eyes out. After Steve Simonsen had skied his penalty to give Huddersfield promotion we slumped out and the sight of the said boy was one that was hard to not be moved by. As his parents and other Blades consoled him, you were left with the same thoughts; ‘Why us? Why again? Are we the unluckiest football club in the World?’ Seriously. I saw quite a few other reactions that ranged from more tears from a variety of ages to anger but mostly disbelief and silence as we made that same disappointing walk down Wembley Way.
As I got on the tube and the crowds thinned I went into central London but there right in front of Eros at Piccadilly Circus I saw another couple of Blades sat head in hands. The sharp reality hit home again. It really is hard at times being a Sheffield United fan. To say this club puts us through the mill is an understatement but we still love them and will still go back for more and more. To most football fans if you had said we would lose on penalties with the whole of both teams taking them and our keeper blazing it over the bar to lose the game, they would have probably indicated it was closer to fantasy land. Sadly to most Blades and such a conclusion was not such a farfetched possibility and so it proved as United found a new way to lose a showpiece game and in doing so failed to score a goal yet again.
United’s incredibly poor playoff record continued and now they have an unenviable record in finals of played four, lost four without a goal even being scored! 390 minutes without a goal and with barely even many shots on target! It seems to matter little who the players are or what the circumstances, this football club simply fails to deliver in big game and when it matters. Some head spinning circumstances with our main striker imprisoned in the closing weeks of the season and us throwing away a seemingly insurmountable lead to our closest and hated rivals was hard to take. Today was just another kick in the teeth to the loyal fans that have backed them to the hilt once again this season but now must face up to another season in the third tier of English football and unquestionably the Blades are now comfortably the biggest club outside the top two divisions
United began without Kevin McDonald who failed to recover from a hamstring injury meaning the Blades started with stalwart Nick Montgomery in the centre of the park. Richard Cresswell was deemed fit and was preferred to semi final hero Chris Porter up front as the lone striker as United played the same formation they had against Stevenage. Huddersfield were without former Blade Ian Bennett, with Alex Smithies coming in to start in goal. The prolific Jordan Rhodes started up front with Lee Novak with Alan Lee on the bench.
The game began in searing heat with United kicking away from their own supporters, with many of these camped right amongst the glaring rays of the sunshine. Huddersfield began by forcing an early corner and Higginbotham scuffed wide. United had been slow to get going but forced a half chance as Cresswell chased down a long ball but his shot was blocked and then Williamson pulled his shot wide after Flynn had retrieved the ball. United then forced a corner after Quinn had made inroads but it came to nothing. The game had been relatively even and with Maguire and Collins keeping a close eye on the Terriers front two, it was a cagey affair. Huddersfield won another corner and Hunt’s flick header was not too far off target before good work from Maguire saw off Rhodes. Flynn’s cross was not taken by Smithies but the ball fell nicely for Town to clear where as Hill had a shot blocked. The game had been mostly mired in a midfield battle and the pace had been relatively slow with numerous breaks due to the humid conditions.
Hunt then had another chances but was off target and a series of niggly fouls slowed things down. The half time whistle was not long coming in a game that had failed to see a decent attempt on goal for either side. United will have been happy to keep it tight with Huddersfield probably having the more dangerous forwards on show and indeed maybe shaded it on both the territory and possession.
After the break Huddersfield came out with a renewed vigour and nearly scored after less than 2 minutes. The ball dropped to Ward who hit a cracking curling shot reminiscent of the one Hopkin had scored with at the same end but the ball this time cannoned off the bar with Simonsen well beaten. The ball was scrambled to safety. Huddersfield were now finding more space and United had to be at their most alert at the back to see off a few breaks. Maguire headed wide at the other end before Clarke was off target with a similar effort for Huddersfield. The first booking came when Higginbotham was cautioned for pulling back Lowton and son after the impressive Quinn almost forged a chance with a pullback but once again there were very few Blades in the box. Quinn then also came inside and had an effort but his shot was pulled badly wide. Huddersfield did make a change when Higginbotham was replaced by Roberts.
As the game entered the final 10 minutes the Terriers came on strong and had a series of chances to win the game. Firstly, Clarke’s header was excellently saved from Simonsen and then from the scramble that ensued Doyle kicked away on the line. From the next corner Clarke headed goal bound but Simonsen saved well low down to his left. Rhodes who had been superbly marshalled by Maguire finally got away but his header went just wide. United were hanging on somewhat and were struggling to keep the football.
Porter came on for the tiring Cresswell as the game entered the dying embers of normal time. Roberts theatrics failed to impress referee East and after two minutes of stoppage time the game was ended and would need a further 30 minutes.
Extra time
After the players (and supporters) took on much needed refreshments; the game restarted and once again it seemed Huddersfield looked the more likely of two very tired sides. United were defending well in numbers and saw off two more corners. United then broke out and had maybe their best spell with Porter having an effort blocked and then good link up play seeing Quinn nearly create a chance. However, the best chance of the game for United came when Quinn drifted inside dribbling past 3 players and hit a low shot that was saved by Smithies. The set up was excellent but Quinn will have been disappointed not to quite get the necessary purchase on the ball. Maguire was harshly booked for a foul on Rhodes. Lee came on for Ward and already used his ‘experience’ to win two fouls after innocuous challenges.
The second period began and O’Halloran replaced Flynn but once again United still employed only one up top deciding to put O’Halloran out wide left. The next chance came for Town as Lee was in on goal after Roberts through ball but Simonsen saved well again. Another great chance came when from a Clarke header the ball fell down near the line but Montgomery hooked clear when it seemed like a goal was inevitable as two Huddersfield players converged to try and force it home. Porter was held back but Williamson’s free kick was straight at Quinn. Arfield came on for Novak and Taylor for Montgomery as both managers now had an eye on penalties and were probably already looking at likely takers with such changes at such a late stage. The final whistle came and the final promotion place would be settled on spot kicks with some Blades fans unable to watch. Skipper Michael Doyle seemed to lose both tosses as Huddersfield had both the end and the choice of starting first.
As I got on the tube and the crowds thinned I went into central London but there right in front of Eros at Piccadilly Circus I saw another couple of Blades sat head in hands. The sharp reality hit home again. It really is hard at times being a Sheffield United fan. To say this club puts us through the mill is an understatement but we still love them and will still go back for more and more. To most football fans if you had said we would lose on penalties with the whole of both teams taking them and our keeper blazing it over the bar to lose the game, they would have probably indicated it was closer to fantasy land. Sadly to most Blades and such a conclusion was not such a farfetched possibility and so it proved as United found a new way to lose a showpiece game and in doing so failed to score a goal yet again.
United’s incredibly poor playoff record continued and now they have an unenviable record in finals of played four, lost four without a goal even being scored! 390 minutes without a goal and with barely even many shots on target! It seems to matter little who the players are or what the circumstances, this football club simply fails to deliver in big game and when it matters. Some head spinning circumstances with our main striker imprisoned in the closing weeks of the season and us throwing away a seemingly insurmountable lead to our closest and hated rivals was hard to take. Today was just another kick in the teeth to the loyal fans that have backed them to the hilt once again this season but now must face up to another season in the third tier of English football and unquestionably the Blades are now comfortably the biggest club outside the top two divisions
United began without Kevin McDonald who failed to recover from a hamstring injury meaning the Blades started with stalwart Nick Montgomery in the centre of the park. Richard Cresswell was deemed fit and was preferred to semi final hero Chris Porter up front as the lone striker as United played the same formation they had against Stevenage. Huddersfield were without former Blade Ian Bennett, with Alex Smithies coming in to start in goal. The prolific Jordan Rhodes started up front with Lee Novak with Alan Lee on the bench.
The game began in searing heat with United kicking away from their own supporters, with many of these camped right amongst the glaring rays of the sunshine. Huddersfield began by forcing an early corner and Higginbotham scuffed wide. United had been slow to get going but forced a half chance as Cresswell chased down a long ball but his shot was blocked and then Williamson pulled his shot wide after Flynn had retrieved the ball. United then forced a corner after Quinn had made inroads but it came to nothing. The game had been relatively even and with Maguire and Collins keeping a close eye on the Terriers front two, it was a cagey affair. Huddersfield won another corner and Hunt’s flick header was not too far off target before good work from Maguire saw off Rhodes. Flynn’s cross was not taken by Smithies but the ball fell nicely for Town to clear where as Hill had a shot blocked. The game had been mostly mired in a midfield battle and the pace had been relatively slow with numerous breaks due to the humid conditions.
Hunt then had another chances but was off target and a series of niggly fouls slowed things down. The half time whistle was not long coming in a game that had failed to see a decent attempt on goal for either side. United will have been happy to keep it tight with Huddersfield probably having the more dangerous forwards on show and indeed maybe shaded it on both the territory and possession.
After the break Huddersfield came out with a renewed vigour and nearly scored after less than 2 minutes. The ball dropped to Ward who hit a cracking curling shot reminiscent of the one Hopkin had scored with at the same end but the ball this time cannoned off the bar with Simonsen well beaten. The ball was scrambled to safety. Huddersfield were now finding more space and United had to be at their most alert at the back to see off a few breaks. Maguire headed wide at the other end before Clarke was off target with a similar effort for Huddersfield. The first booking came when Higginbotham was cautioned for pulling back Lowton and son after the impressive Quinn almost forged a chance with a pullback but once again there were very few Blades in the box. Quinn then also came inside and had an effort but his shot was pulled badly wide. Huddersfield did make a change when Higginbotham was replaced by Roberts.
As the game entered the final 10 minutes the Terriers came on strong and had a series of chances to win the game. Firstly, Clarke’s header was excellently saved from Simonsen and then from the scramble that ensued Doyle kicked away on the line. From the next corner Clarke headed goal bound but Simonsen saved well low down to his left. Rhodes who had been superbly marshalled by Maguire finally got away but his header went just wide. United were hanging on somewhat and were struggling to keep the football.
Porter came on for the tiring Cresswell as the game entered the dying embers of normal time. Roberts theatrics failed to impress referee East and after two minutes of stoppage time the game was ended and would need a further 30 minutes.
Extra time
After the players (and supporters) took on much needed refreshments; the game restarted and once again it seemed Huddersfield looked the more likely of two very tired sides. United were defending well in numbers and saw off two more corners. United then broke out and had maybe their best spell with Porter having an effort blocked and then good link up play seeing Quinn nearly create a chance. However, the best chance of the game for United came when Quinn drifted inside dribbling past 3 players and hit a low shot that was saved by Smithies. The set up was excellent but Quinn will have been disappointed not to quite get the necessary purchase on the ball. Maguire was harshly booked for a foul on Rhodes. Lee came on for Ward and already used his ‘experience’ to win two fouls after innocuous challenges.
The second period began and O’Halloran replaced Flynn but once again United still employed only one up top deciding to put O’Halloran out wide left. The next chance came for Town as Lee was in on goal after Roberts through ball but Simonsen saved well again. Another great chance came when from a Clarke header the ball fell down near the line but Montgomery hooked clear when it seemed like a goal was inevitable as two Huddersfield players converged to try and force it home. Porter was held back but Williamson’s free kick was straight at Quinn. Arfield came on for Novak and Taylor for Montgomery as both managers now had an eye on penalties and were probably already looking at likely takers with such changes at such a late stage. The final whistle came and the final promotion place would be settled on spot kicks with some Blades fans unable to watch. Skipper Michael Doyle seemed to lose both tosses as Huddersfield had both the end and the choice of starting first.
