United 0 Villa 1 - report

[Deadbat]

The Blades suffered a big blow in their play off hopes when they went down to an in form visiting Aston Villa side at Bramall Lane. After dominating the first half and having numerous chances, united failed to make their advantage count and after the break lacked the fluidity of the first half as Villa had more of the game. The game seemed to be petering out to a goalless draw before a late piece of magic by Robert Snodgrass saw the Villains snatch a fortunate win.


Manager Wilder went back to the side that started at Norwich in the last league game. Evans, Leonard and Wilson made home debuts with Donaldson and Holmes on the bench. United started well with some neat football involving Baldock and then Evans involved early to win two early corners. From one O’Connell crashed a header against the bar. Clarke then had a shot saved from Johnstone after good work from Stevens and Fleck led to the chance. United were well on top and continued to force Villa back.


Baldock then had a shot at Johnstone that he flicked over before Fleck played in Wilson who was just blocked out. Villa had offered little the other way before a rare chance saw a flicked header well wide. United came back on the attack with Baldock again involved and then Stevens on the other flank nearly playing in Wilson. United won a series of corners again and kept the pace up. A decent move saw Clarke head back and Wilson sent an overhead kick narrowly wide with an acrobatic attempt. The same man was harshly booked rather incredibly after Hogan had escaped censure on 6 separate occasions. The first half came to an end with United on top and unfortunate not to lead.


The second half saw Villa start better and force United back more. Basham was booked for a clumsy foul and then Grealish cut inside and shot just wide. The game was much more even now and United were not controlling midfield like they had. However, Baldock nearly got in after a neat move but his shot was tipped over. Donaldson and Lundstram came on for Wilson and Leonard with just over 20 minutes to play.


Villa won a few free kicks but Stearman and O’Connell defended well whilst at the other end Terry was keeping a close eye on Clarke who had struggled to make an impact. Holmes came on for Evans as Wilder looked for a final surge. Fleck drew a low save from the keeper before Villa went up the other end and Stearman had to clear twice under pressure.


The game entered the final minute when SNODGRASS cut inside on the right channel and with Stevens backing off sent a lovely curling drive into the corner giving Moore no chance and sending the Villa fans wild. It was a cruel blow for United who had had more of the ball and the chances but not shown this level of quality to win the game. Four minutes of stoppage time were played and a final corner with Moore up saw a header flicked over by the keeper but the final whistle came soon after. Like with the game against Bristol City, where United had created more chances and arguable deserved to win, a late goal had left the Blades with nothing and another key defeat against a playoff rival.







United – Can look at it two ways. We lost the game and were very unfortunate or simply we did not do enough to win and failed to score for the third successive game at the Lane and had the third straight home game where after playing so well first half (and failing to score) we ran out of gas and ideas and the opposition manager completely nullified what we were doing to the extent we barely created a chance.


We played really well first half and had chances to be in front. We hit the bar; the keeper made saves and did a lot of good things. We moved it at pace and lots of players were involved. Evans played well and the wing backs got forward when they could. We really should have scored but went in goalless. Villa came out 2nd half and stepped out 10 yards. They got in on us more and won more loose balls and started to control midfield. The first 10 minutes they played well and we neve really wrestled control back.


We had a spell second half but for a home side did we do enough to score? That is 3 games where we have not scored in the league and even though the keeper played well tonight; how many were amazing saves or glaring misses? In short, we did not do enough. It looked all the world a 0-0 but then you pay silly money (even a loan) for a player and he does that. We do not have anyone like that and that is where there is a big drop off from likes of Holmes and Leonard to say Greenish and Snodgrass.


Our players try hard but are not at the level of some of the top players to influence games at the top of the pitch. That is the harsh reality. One moment of magic won the game. For all the control we had for long periods we did not have this bit of quality. There will always be a Wolves, a Villa or a Derby. We are not at that spending level sadly. Maybe we won’t ever be and maybe we may be a mid-table ‘doing our best’ type of side for a while. Wilder will come on and say he does not like saying how well we have done and that we are nearly there but as much as he says that; that is where we will be at until we really can compete financially with the sides above. Of course, it is not all about money but tonight was a classic example as was the previous two home games. We have that bit of proper quality and we win all 3 games. We have taken a point from three now and 2 were against ordinary sides.


Evans did well whilst Wilson and Leonard need to do much more but why Duffy did not play any part was mind boggling when we did not look like breaking them down 2nd half. It was made for him to come on. It is ok saying keep it solid but him having the ball more will make them sit back. We had 3 huge games and have lost the first and now with many others around us having much more winnable games we could be around 9th or 10th after Saturday (Wolves will be tough). Has Wilder tried to change too much? Tonight, would suggest some were not quite ready but then we won at Norwich. If we score first half it all changes but sadly we did not and then we look a bit clueless again. It is hard when the players give everything and no one is saying they are not doing their best but sadly we did not quite do enough again despite efforts and some decent play. I am not sure the team can do much more than they are doing and that in a way is more worrying. Sure, a few individuals can step up a bit but we are doing all we can in terms of moving the ball, pressing, one touch, pass and move and still have failed to score for three straight home games. We might need to tweak things a bit tactically at homes as teams seem to have sussed us out somewhat.


Villa- Thought first half they were never in the game and could have been behind long before the half but we missed chances, the keeper made saves and they got in level. Second half they improved and Bruce had them further up the field. They never took us apart all game and I felt other than a few half chances we still had control of the game but they did start to win the midfield more and you always feared a bit of quality might decide it. Felt a bit smash and grab but do did Bristol and a few others down here so these teams must be doing something right. We simply have to score when on top. Villa have a team that cost millions and a wage bill maybe 6 or 7 times ours. Still, that is what we are up against and we have to match sides like this. Sure, they will be right up around the top 2 and if they do not get 2nd (I think they will go up with Wolves) they will of course be in the playoffs. Frightening to think what likes of Terry is on but teams like that that speculate often get the rewards. We are a bit off spending the kind of money/wages they do and having players that cost millions on the bench but that is how the Championship is. The plucky United approach is ok but we have to start being able to compete at this level with sides like this in terms of spending power or will struggle to maintain the great start we have had back at this level.


Still the reaction of Bruce and Villa coaching staff at end when they scored told a story. They knew they had been fortunate to get a win really after being under the cosh for long periods but if you do not put the ball in the net that is what happens.


Opposition Man of the Match: The keeper Johnstone made some good saves. Not great saves but some good ones and ones that he had to make and maybe was the stand out player in this sense. I felt Terry and Chester did well and imposed themselves on the front two. Snodgrass looked dangerous at times and then scored the winner that made the difference. I thought the lad Bjarnson was quietly effective amongst all the ‘stars’.



Opposition Weak link: I never noticed some of their main men. I felt we kept Adomah quiet and I barely noticed Grealish. Hogan just fouled all night and Hourihane was ineffective too. They have spent a fortune and a lot of players looked no better than ours technically. Hutton was his usual knob-ish self; feigning injuries but then kicking people when it suited him. How has he had a career at top level for so long is beyond me? An awful shit house player.

 

[Deadbat]

Moore 7/10 – Little chance on the goal. Saved a few routine ones and did most things he had to fine. His kicking was poor and too many times boots it high into the air but gets no distance.


Baldock 7/10 – Thought like Saturday he raced up and down the flank, tried to get up to support the forward and defended well when he could. He has been really good recently and I feel has done a lot of good things with little real help or support. He at times can leave his man a bit too much space but overall looks to be one of our better players.


Stevens 6/10 – Sure some may mark him lower but I thought he did much better tonight than he has. He got forward, had efforts on goal, put some better balls in and looked better defensively. His performance will be marked down and rightly for showing Snodgrass inside for the winner and that is the harsh reality. Up to that point he had played him well but it was a poor mistake to let him get space. He is another that at this level has to be closer to his man and cut out the errors


Basham 5/10 – Defensively he did ok at times but he made some woeful decisions on and off the ball that saw him get booked for miskicking and bringing his man down; then he lost the ball and kicked another two out of play. Technically at times he looks really poor and a step below what we need at this level and needs to shape up as if he does not as with a few others, we will look to upgrade. Always does his best but quality wise he looks sadly lacking at times and effort alone at this level is not enough.


O’Connell 7/10 – Thought he was decent tonight. Great header that hit the bar and also used ball when he could. Made some good blocks and tackles and moved it on when he could. Read game well and was generally fine. A few sloppy moments but he was sound enough.


Stearman 7/10 – Again like he has been recent games was fine and one of our better players. Did not give many chances to them, came onto the ball and used it well. He has been very good recently and unfortunate that we have lost some games when he has been one of the stand out players.


Fleck 6/10 - Not his best game. Showed it in fits and starts. I thought first half he got on it and was influential as we dictated. He then faded badly as game went on and started to pull out of tackles (fear of booking?) and we lost this area. He gave it away quite a bit and felt he did not have the influence you would want for a key man.


Leonard 5/10 – Might get criticised for this but I barely noticed him all game. He was never on the ball and defensively did not get back either. Played as furthest of three at times but he did not influence game attacking wise or break things up. Huffed and puffed but looked a bit out of his depth. He looked exhausted by the hour mark and can see why he came off as some of quality Villa players had in the middle started to run away from him. Needs to sharpen up at this level. Needs more time but not that impressed tonight.


Evans 7.5/10 – Maybe our best midfielder. Got involved all game. He got on it, played it short and long, got into tackles, looked mobile and took set plays. Very busy. Not everything came off but he looked a player that wanted to make his shirt his own and did not hide. He looks much more mobile than Lundstram and can move around the pitch. Played as deepest of three and saw a lot of the ball. As I say not everything came off but he kept trying and kept coming onto it. Would not have taken him off as he was our best player in that area.


Wilson 6/10 – Up and down. One decent overhead kick and a few other flicks and tricks but too often he gave it away or was behind his man. He needs to work harder and I felt he was jogging about too much. He needs to really work harder. I just felt the Villa defence had too easy a game against our front two. He looks quite quick but is not lightening and I felt even when played in he was too slow to react to the ball down the channel. Both forwards need to do much more. They did ok first half but contributed little after the break.


Clarke 6/10 – I will say it and get criticised: He has been poor and largely disinterested since his new contract. 4 or 5 games where games have just gone by and he has not influence matters really. He had a few touches and moments but not getting in front of his man like he used to do and chasing things down. Looks like the old, lazy Clarke I remembered sadly. Just dropped odd in effort and contribution and rarely looks like scoring at the moment. Granted service has not been great but he has to get in front of his man or link with others. Needs to do much more.


Subs:


Donaldson – Never really got in the game. He tried to get on scraps but was even more ineffective than Wilson as the ball never stuck to the front two.


Lundstram – Thought he was really poor when he came on. Slow and languid, he gave it away 2 or 3 times and only one decent switch ball I can recall after his introduction. Looks way off the pace at this level and coming into a game compounds this. Big drop off after he came on.


Holmes – Came on but again did not influence much. Had one run where he lost it and sort of won it back and won a corner but he seemed a bit lost and did not seem to know where he was playing. We lost midfield final stages of game and the changes did not work.


Manager: Wilder 5/10 – Picked team that won at Norwich and we started the game well and were roaring into challenges and on the front foot but did not get the goal and at times still were too slow to move it on. Still first half was good despite the goal. 2nd half Bruce moved them 10 yard up the field, they pressed more, got amongst us and we looked a bit clueless for long periods. I felt they worked us out and they won the midfield and started to control things. The subs though did not work. All 3 made no real impression and we regressed. Duffy should have come on and not sure why Evans was taken off. This seemed to unsettle us and the game became even scrappier and they had more of the ball. The last 2 home games he has made some really poor calls. Indeed, that is 3 home games where we have got worse as games have gone on and changes personnel and tactics wise have not helped. Teams are sitting higher up the field at home, compressing midfield and we look a bit clueless. He has to find something different as the same stubborn approach is clearly not working.


Officials – Thought it was another appalling officiating performance. He let 8 fouls go from the Villa number 9 and then booked Wilson for his second offence (both nothing fouls). He seemed unable to see blatant fouls and was often caught in the headlights (both ways) as things went on and he simply did not react. It was a game that should have been easy to referee but he let things go all game and then started giving some ridiculous decisions. I felt he gave very little for United and most 50/50’s went to Villa and I rarely say that – I try can call it fair. After the break he continued to frustrate by being rally fussy over where free kicks were taken but missing obvious shoves or fouls. Just a really inconsistent performance all game and one that frustrates fans.


Crowd – Decent crowd but felt the home fans were incredibly quite tonight. Team played really well first half but I felt like the home fans did not give them the extra lift they deserved. After the break the fans became edgy and Villa sensed this and the noise turned around. I do feel for a 27,000 ish crowd we should have more noise and it is seems rather flat – like the crowd are waiting for things to happen. You could argue second half we did not do enough to get the fans involved but I do feel games at the Lane do not have the intimidation factor of say 10-12 years ago when the place was rocking. It is quite tepid at the moment sadly and the Villa fans (only 2,500) made a lot more noise than us.

 

[NZ Blade in Nelson]

Thanks for the report DB, they really are a lifesaver for someone in NZ. I do think that you have been far too negative on a number of players. Basham and Fleck played well for me, Lunny when he came on looked ok too. I get your disappointment, but we deserved to win that game. I am still enjoying watching us play. Remember what has gone before............

 

[Davie Blade]

Great report Deadbat . Spot on for me.
Pretty much how I saw the game.

Not going to get on Leonards case after two games but I thought he was very poor.
It won't surprise me one bit if he is a waste of money, maybe the sofa stats I posted ages ago which suggested he was Carruthers mark2. Not every L1 player is going to make the step up. I saw nothing, so far, to suggest there's a player there. Hope things change for him.

The non inclusion of Duffy was just bizarre, and Widler waited way too long to change this in the second half.

 

[Pittsburg Blade]

Great report as usual DB but I agree with NZ that you’re being a bit harsh on the team.
I think we’ve strengthened considerably in the last two windows.
I no longer have panic attacks when we’re defending for example.
Villa has a multi-million quid squad packed with quality and they really struggled to cope with us.
It was a truly International quality strike that won the game, but that was all they did really. For the most part they were hanging on.
We’re just lacking a 15 million quid striker that can conjure a goal from nothing.
I fully expect us to go beat Wolves now.

 

[Grappler]

Wilson needs to run more, and run faster. When a team pass back to the keeper, you have to charge at the keeper like Leon does, not jog towards them, and you have to be committed in the headers, not a half hearted jump. The overhead kick was great and he got stuck in a few times, but he has to work harder than that, Billy would have.

 

[Ukkonen]

Cheers as always DB, totally agree wiith you on Leonard and Clarke, disappointing.

 

[aotearoablade]

Thanks for the report DB, they really are a lifesaver for someone in NZ. I do think that you have been far too negative on a number of players. Basham and Fleck played well for me, Lunny when he came on looked ok too. I get your disappointment, but we deserved to win that game. I am still enjoying watching us play. Remember what has gone before............

 

[aotearoablade]

Can you watch the game in NZ...if so how?

 

[S64 Blade]

Pretty fair analysis overall.

I think one key area we need to work on is our side. Both Baldock and Stevens are nowhere near as effective as Freeman and Lafferty were last year (I know it was League One!). We go down the flanks too slow and when we do, are reluctant to cross or hit their full back with pace. This leads to us getting boxed in and in a lot of cases, losing possession.

As a side, I thought the atmosphere was really good in the first half. One of the best of the season.

 

[PaulHalfway]

Atmosphere was a bit flat, G&H block very quiet tonight, which was surprising for a big game and good away support. We seem to always need a goal to get the atmosphere going. Good summary of the game and as you say if we could spend 10 million on a high quality creative midfield player who can curl one in or deliver a final ball we would win more games. But the reality is a number of teams in this division are operating in a different financial platform to us, so cant be to critical. Only Wolves next with their multi million pound team, bring it on.....

 

[FleaPitBlade]

It's that last little bit, isn't it?

We do lots of things very very well. Pass the ball through the park, overload in good areas but it's that cross that finds the man, the unsavvable finish, the beating of their last line of defence in either pass or running to open up a glorious chance.

It's hard to be critical as it is what it is; we've gone from a half decade of being League One nearly men to being very disappointed at not being able to break down what is - in all but name - a premiership team. I've no time for John Terry but the Bloke didn't get his Champions League medals in a Kinder Egg - despite all our possession around their 18 yard box, him and his defensive comrades held us at arms length for the most part. I sensed a sucker punch was coming and wasn't surprised when it did.

I left last night angry and frustrated at a lot of things but we're moving in the right direction generally.

 

[Deadbat]

For me we simply do not put enough balls into the box either from wide or central. We play too much in areas that do not hurt teams and allow teams to get back. We recycle the ball too much and this just buys team time. We need to move it quicker and get it into the front two's feet with bodies close by. At times we have to almost play the perfect ball to get in. Sometimes a ball into an area and knock downs or a mistake can easily lead to a goal. We do not score hardly any scruffy goals.

We are moving in the right direction but to make that next step up I am not sure we can do so by buying League One players. We need some real quality.

 

[Grecian2000]

Last two home games we've started like a train and faded badly when it hasn't resulted in us going in front.
Last night I thought they "managed" the game better than us. Took the sting out after being under the cosh for the first 25. Started to fall down, get in the refs ear, niggly fouls, generally slow it down. From being an open contest (and potentially the best game of the season) it ended up being anything but. Credit them for that.

I can see the logic in resting Duffy, but he is the key now Coutts isn't. He does things the others don't and can unlock the defence on either flank for the wing backs, overlapping CB's, to be in a position to deliver (not always well admittedly).
A disappointing result but not many better teams in the division and not an absolute disaster as some are suggesting.

PS: Ref was an absolute bell-end.

 

[Scooter_mcgavin]

Think you've been harsh on Clarke, did a hell of a lot of running and pressing. Far more so than Wilson.

Held ball up well in the first half, a few neat and clever flicks. The issue I have with him, is that he seems to get dragged out wide and gets involved in this wing tikka takka that we seem obsessed with doing. As such it's taken him out of the danger area.

Second half not so well, but to be honest, the whole team were pretty poor in the second half and we rarely attacked save for a few corners.

 

[Baaaaaaa Blades]

Great , accurate report as always
just need to be more clinical and tighter at the back
thought the same about the crowd, weird atmopshere , not what i expected on a night game against a big team who brought a good following - who seemed to be allowed to celebrate on the pitch for as long as they wanted when they scored ... thought they could have run back to their half and started playing the stewards/police were that bothered ! was funny when the brummy arsehole fell arse over tit over the advertising board
simple things for simple minds like me !

 

[LSF]

Think you've been harsh on Clarke, did a hell of a lot of running and pressing. Far more so than Wilson.

Held ball up well in the first half, a few neat and clever flicks. The issue I have with him, is that he seems to get dragged out wide and gets involved in this wing tikka takka that we seem obsessed with doing. As such it's taken him out of the danger area.

Second half not so well, but to be honest, the whole team were pretty poor in the second half and we rarely attacked save for a few corners.

Agree Scooter, DB talking bollocks re Clarke.

 

[Blade59]

Thought your report is a little harsh but can kind of see where you are coming from. For all the the millions invested in their team I thought we more than matched them and in a tight game if anybody deserved to nick it 1-0 it was us. A sign of how far we have come is we now expect to be win these games. However as you say we have to make it pay when we are on top of teams or you get punished by one moment of quality. The biggest disappointment was the goal because brilliant finish as it was he did not have to work hard to cut inside. We almost invited him to do it. I agree that Duffy should have come on. Also agree with the comments on the new players but it is very early days.

 

[Pinchy]

Great report Deadbat

Not going to get on Leonards case after two games...

...well, actually I’ll say that but then I’ll go on to do exactly that in disguise.

 

[Pinchy]

Agree Scooter, DB talking bollocks re Clarke.

You can’t say that! You’ll be saying Doris Day wasn’t a virgin next...

 

[Paulus]

Pretty much exactly as I saw it although I would give Fleck a 7 and Stevens a 5 - The subs made us weaker and we lost control and direction with the changes - I could see Villa scoring right through the last 20 minutes

 

[HermitageBlade]

Harsh on Clarke that, him and Evans were the best players in the first half and caused all kinds of problems. Second half he dropped off a bit but I think that was more to do with them getting their act together. Clarke is still out best striker by a mile and i think that is possibly the problem.

 

[Davie Blade]

...well, actually I’ll say that but then I’ll go on to do exactly that in disguise.

Comprehension fail of the phrases 'so far' or 'hope things change for him' ?

 

[Woodwardfan]

Brilliant first half performance. Made Villa look poor. See Villa fans reactions on Roy's thread. Not seen highlights yet but shouldn't Jack have put that one away? Would have totally changed the game, could have been a first half rout.

MOM their keeper - tells the story.

Referee so biased against us. Sadly we need to go to ground enough, can't recall him giving a foul without a theatrical dive involved. Hutton and Snodgrass were disgraceful with blatant dives, particularly the crude full back who milked the naivety of the referee all night. Villa have some very unsavoury characters that's for sure, not dangerous just cheats.

Credit Bruce he sorted them out at half time and it was a different game I agree Deadbat. All game though they played with one up as compared to our two and that comes at a cost to us in midfield and also they play 4 at the back and over-populate the defensive third and the penalty area which makes it hard for our strikers all game; it also makes it harder for our midfielders to play telling balls forward into the final third. Thought Villa were very strong defending crosses into their area but I though our corners were much better this week.

I have to agree Wilder's substitutions were baffling. OK Leonard was ineffective and maybe tired but Evans wasn't. Bringing on Lundstram into advanced midfield is unfair on him, play him deep surely. As for their goal, after Evans had gone off that whole area where Snodgrass cut inside was a void and had been for long enough. I'm 100% certain Evans would have been something of a barrier for him had he still been on the pitch.

As I say I haven't seen the highlights yet but how high did the shot enter the net? I've said before that modern keepers stand too far off their goal-lines and make it easy for long range dipping shots over their heads. I remember Alan Hodgkinson make save after save on his goal-line, often right in the top corners, and he was relatively short for a keeper. I said for the Wednesday last minute effort that we were lucky Moore was injured and stuck on his line, otherwise Reach's shot would have sailed over his head on the six yard line and Derby day would have been a disaster.

Stearman is now settled and it took time, Lundstram took time as do many new signings. I really do think it's far too early to judge the new team mates playing together for only the second time. Three of the new signings are making big steps up to a game against the form team of the Championship. Give them time to settle, gel with each other and come with a strong run in due course. Most oppositions in the Championship would have buckled in the first half last night and Villa couldn't believe they went in level. Looking at the team and the bench last night I saw serious athletes and strength all over. Even the minute Holmes had a biting tackle in him last night.

Wilder was absolutely right to strengthen the squad as we were good before but not good enough. Give the manager time to bring it all together. Also be prepared for Holmes to be preferred to Duffy, it's inevitable although unpopular, just like Clarke has taken over from Sharp. The squad may not gel until it's too late for this season but just think how strong we'll be for next season with all players settled by then.

By the way, this talk of expensive and higher quality players than ours being needed to score goals like that one is a touch of an exaggeration. Snodgrass will score goals that good about 10 times in his whole career and maybe not one more at such a stage in a big game. Obviously some quality players have plenty in their locker and will make extra contributions but that goal was very special in the context of the game. He's scored 5 goals this season and scored none last season. I love to watch him actually and predicted he would be the key last night but let's not imagine he does it every week. It's still a team game and team beats individual every in the long run.

 

[sitwell]

Not going to get on Leonards case after two games but I thought he was very poor.
It won't surprise me one bit if he is a waste of money, maybe the sofa stats I posted ages ago which suggested he was Carruthers mark2. Not every L1 player is going to make the step up. I saw nothing, so far, to suggest there's a player there.

If you were on his case ?....... He was no different to Fleck last night.

 

[Grecian2000]

Referee so biased against us. Sadly we need to go to ground enough, can't recall him giving a foul without a theatrical dive involved. Hutton and Snodgrass were disgraceful with blatant dives, particularly the crude full back who milked the naivety of the referee all night.

I think there's a bit of a contradiction, in affect, between the first two sentences.
Personally I don't think he was biased, just inept (or naïve as you put it). It's a sign of incompetence if you only give a free kick if a player flings themselves on the deck. The fact we don't go to ground like some teams means we aren't going to get our share of the decisions from a ref like that. I think his failure to book No9 despite giving several free kicks against him for the same type of foul was gross negligence.

I also think O'Connell was guilty of a huge miss when he hit the bar, that could/would have changed the whole complexion.

 

[Woodwardfan]

I think there's a bit of a contradiction, in affect, between the first two sentences.
Personally I don't think he was biased, just inept (or naïve as you put it). It's a sign of incompetence if you only give a free kick if a player flings themselves on the deck. The fact we don't go to ground like some teams means we aren't going to get our share of the decisions from a ref like that. I think his failure to book No9 despite giving several free kicks against him for the same type of foul was gross negligence.

I also think O'Connell was guilty of a huge miss when he hit the bar, that could/would have changed the whole complexion.

It's hard to judge referees when we are biased ourselves. I watched at the game and my son watched on Sky at home, mind you we have both influenced each other in the way we see games!! We both thought he was keen to help Villa along throughout. It's not unusual for a referee to favour the bigger club and the better known players.

Our striker was booked after one offence, maybe 2. The 'gross negligence' over their No.9 is a case in point.

The dives by Hutton and Snodgrass insulted the sport. The Snodgrass one wasn't given but he was unpunished. The Hutton ones were worse and didn't one of our players get booked for one of them - the two ankles together sprawl on the touchline about 2 seconds before he got near our player ? Disgusting. Bring in VAR and suspend the cheats retrospectively I say. Fine their managers too IMO.

 

[Deadbat]

O'Connell has missed some absolute sitters this year. 8 or 9 clear headed chances. He scored a fair few last year as did Ebanks Landell and Freeman. We have only got a few goals from Stearman, Baldock and one from Carter Vickers. With few goals frombmidfield it puts big pressure in the strikers every week.

 

[Woodwardfan]

O'Connell has missed some absolute sitters this year. 8 or 9 clear headed chances. He scored a fair few last year as did Ebanks Landell and Freeman. We have only got a few goals from Stearman, Baldock and one from Carter Vickers. With few goals frombmidfield it puts big pressure in the strikers every week.

I don't mind you replying to me occasionally Deadbat.

 

[gavtheblade]

Thought Wilson was decent.I like him.
Maybe it's time to hand the captaincy over to stears or jack.
Clarke seams to be doing things that he shouldn't have too-he was far too deep I thought last night or too wide.
Just my opinion.
Think he's gone of the boil since he and sharp no longer seem to get a game together.