Deadbat
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2009
- Messages
- 5,933
- Reaction score
- 31,292
The curtain came down on United’s Premier League season as in front of some returning fans at Bramall Lane, the Blades were able to reward those that returned with a victory over Burnley.
David McGoldrick gave the Blades the win with his strike after 23 minutes with a curling shot reminiscent of the one that had seen him get goal of the season (at Arsenal) and it was fitting he got the winner, the day he was named player of the season for the Blades.
Manager Heckingbottom made just one change with Baldock returning after injury to replace Jayden Bogle. Daniel Jebbison got his third first start and his first at the Lane alongside David McGoldrick. 17-year-old striker, William Osula was a new name on the bench for United.
Burnley who could finish anywhere between 15th and 17th place after the conclusion of today’s games, were again without England keeper Nick Pope, who misses a third successive game with a knee injury that will require minor surgery, the club has confirmed. Will Norris, who made his first league start for the Clarets in their midweek defeat by Liverpool, again deputised between the sticks. Ben Mee was replaced by Jimmy Dunne in Burnley's only change whilst the dangerous Chris Wood started as the loan striker behind a 5-man midfield. Burnley had lost 6 of their last 8 league games in a poor end to the season.
As the Greasy Chip Butty rang out, sang by real voices for the first time in 14 months, the game began with the Blades kicking towards the Bramall Lane end. After 2 minutes, there was a nice moment with a round of applause for Len Badger, the popular and long serving right back who passed away in the week.
The first shot saw Gudmundsson hit a daisy cutter that was easy for Ramsdale. McGoldrick fizzed over a cross at the other end and Robinson returned it but Baldock’s header was a long way over. Burnley nearly got in with a good ball from Tarkoswki saw Egan turned but he managed to get a foot in leading to a corner.
Fleck and Norwood both had given it away under little pressure and after the latter’s poor touch, McNeil was able to get on it and hit a shot that Ramsdale had to flick over. He repeated this from a deep corner. The next delivery from Burnley from the other side, led to a whole host of confusion as the ball ricocheted around and some half-hearted appeals for two penalties before the ball was finally cleared.
United got out for a period and Osborn and Jebbison linked with the former’s cross just evading any incoming players before soon after a decent move saw the ball come across from Stevens and Baldock sent it back but McGoldrick could not quite hook it goalward.
After United nearly got in at one end, Burnley broke and Baldock committed a late foul and was booked after the game stopped for his challenge on Baldock.
On 23 minutes, the Blades took the lead when United broke. Stevens found MCGOLDRICK came inside and with the Burnley defence pack pedalling curled the ball beyond Norris and into the net. The keeper was slow to react but it was a nice moment for the Blades fans in the ground to celebrate a goal.
After Ramsdale found Osborn, the midfielder then broke and with Jebbison blocked off, opted to try his luck. Norris was not convincing again as he parried this one.
The next period saw the game become scrappier with little goalmouth action and Robinson and Egan did well to clear two balls through.
McGoldrick then got onto Dunne’s mistake and drifted down the right and hit a shot that deflected over before from the resulting corner that was not cleared properly, Basham cushioned it down and jinked past a man before hitting a rasping drive that cannoned off the near post denying him that elusive first Premier League goal.
Fleck was then booked for chopping down McNeil cynically. The subsequent free kick saw Ramsdale unable to get much on it and Basham was collateral damage in the challenge and went down with a head injury. He came back on after lengthy treatment wearing a natty bandage, the like of which we have seen him wear before as he resembled a rapper from South LA rather than a utility man from Hebburn in the North East.
Jebbison was unable to keep the ball and McNeil came onto it and took a low shot straight at Ramsdale. There was 3 minutes of additional time, surprising, considering that Basham had been down for quite a period. United ended up on the attack after Jebbison forced Burnley to concede a corner but Basham mis controlled as the ball came out.
After the break Vydra came on for Brownhill and Burnley won an early corner with the sub involved down the left. Burnley seemed more determined and Ramsdale made a brave save from Wood but was offside as the stupid rule where the linesman has to wait, came into effect.
United then broke away and McGoldrick again was the man on the charge but maybe took too long with this particular attack, and it was blocked out for a corner. This came to nothing and Stevens stood on a Burnley man. Jebbison made up for an error to block out a Burnley player.
Osborn then had men over but took too long and in turn Stevens played it behind his man McGoldrick who could not gather. Basham was then in down the right but also took too long and a Burnley man got back.
Burnley won a corner at the other end with Vydra doing well but the delivery was headed over. Jebbison’s industry saw him come inside with lovely skill and found Fleck who did not take the shot on and the chance had gone with Robinson miskicking.
Burnley then knocked a high ball in and Ramsdale was unable to get there convincingly as Tarkoswki challenged and the ref allowed things to go but it did not lead to a chance fortunately for the Blades. Baldock was getting in some good areas down the right but there were not many chances coming for either side.
Robinson and McGoldrick played a one two and the cross came over from the goal scorer but Dunne did well as Jebbison tried to get across him and it led to a corner.
Norwood’s give away saw McNeil get away and he nutmegged Fleck but United got back to hold him up before a good spell of play from the away side saw McNeil cause more problems and win a corner.
Rodriguez was on for the dangerous McNeil as the game entered the final 20 minutes. Basham needed to double up on his head bandage.
Stevens got up the field and linked well with McGoldrick after more good work from the striker but the wing back’s cross was poor. Burnley won a corner after McGoldrick’s miskick. The cross came in and hit Osborn with his arm out and perhaps not in a natural position. United were maybe a bit lucky to get away with this after looking at the replays. With VAR these days it is hard to tell what they are going to give.
Brewster came on for Jebbison with just over 10 minutes to play. He was involved with a low cross and could not quite get on the end of Stevens cross soon after.
Jagielka came on for Osborn with just over 5 minutes to go and was given the captains armband in what was probably his final game as a Blades player and at the Lane.
McGoldrick did well to work space again after Fleck found him but Brewster’s shot lacked power. The sub then won a free kick when Dunne caught him very late leading to him being the first Burnley man booked. Gudmundsson was replaced by Barnes as the match entered the closing stages.
Brewster’s hard work won a corner in the final minute before McGoldrick got in on Stevens ball but was offside as he blazed wide on the stretch. The final chance came when Ramsdale could not gather a ball through after Wood flicked on and Rodriguez got there first and Robinson did brilliantly to get back and make the clearance as the leveller loomed. From the corner Norwood headed away and the final whistle went. The Blades fans who went applauded a winning side to end the season at least as thoughts turned to next season.
United – I was hoping ‘some’ fans in may inject some energy or life into proceedings and maybe we saw this at time with the tempo of the game. It certainly seemed quicker to begin with and the game was end to end – not with exciting attacks/incidents but both teams trying to attack rather than it being more in midfield. They began slightly better but we grew into it and started to have our own attacks. After one Ramsdale save, then we got the goal with a lovely individual strike from McGoldrick. The midfield started to come out more and we saw Basham and Stevens high up the field and the former hit the post and could have doubled the lead.
I thought first half we were the better side and had a few other moments with McGoldrick central to everything we did. There were some decent link ups actually even if we did not have tons of chances but a few players like Osborn was busy too. The other way McNeil showed a few flashes but they did not have many chances with a few moments from corners/free kicks where we did not clear first time actually the main concerns. They did not really have any concerted pressure and I felt we deserved to lead at the half- just in a game between two very ordinary sides.
They came out and looked more determined with Vydra on from the start of the second half. He caused a few problems but he had moments too with McGoldrick and Osborn getting into some nice pockets. We had a few good breaks but took too long to make decisions when we could have created things but had shots or efforts blocked. Burnley put a few high balls in but Burnley did not have any clear chances as the game ticked into the final quarter. United actually won the game quite easily and they did not really have any clear chances at all until the late scrambled chance.
Overall, though, I thought we deserved the win and looked the more likely and actually from the little football we played, we played more of it and McGoldrick was the difference in terms of goalscoring threats.
Nice to end on a win and at least we kept a rare clean sheet. It was certainly not a classic game and not one that will be remembered even in a few weeks!
Now thoughts turn to next season. Hopefully, there will be news on the manager coming soon and we can start to have a plan. Too many questions remain unanswered and the board need some decisive action soon. The longer it goes on the harder next season will be in terms of getting things moving and having a clear plan for style, tactics and personnel.
David McGoldrick gave the Blades the win with his strike after 23 minutes with a curling shot reminiscent of the one that had seen him get goal of the season (at Arsenal) and it was fitting he got the winner, the day he was named player of the season for the Blades.
Manager Heckingbottom made just one change with Baldock returning after injury to replace Jayden Bogle. Daniel Jebbison got his third first start and his first at the Lane alongside David McGoldrick. 17-year-old striker, William Osula was a new name on the bench for United.
Burnley who could finish anywhere between 15th and 17th place after the conclusion of today’s games, were again without England keeper Nick Pope, who misses a third successive game with a knee injury that will require minor surgery, the club has confirmed. Will Norris, who made his first league start for the Clarets in their midweek defeat by Liverpool, again deputised between the sticks. Ben Mee was replaced by Jimmy Dunne in Burnley's only change whilst the dangerous Chris Wood started as the loan striker behind a 5-man midfield. Burnley had lost 6 of their last 8 league games in a poor end to the season.
As the Greasy Chip Butty rang out, sang by real voices for the first time in 14 months, the game began with the Blades kicking towards the Bramall Lane end. After 2 minutes, there was a nice moment with a round of applause for Len Badger, the popular and long serving right back who passed away in the week.
The first shot saw Gudmundsson hit a daisy cutter that was easy for Ramsdale. McGoldrick fizzed over a cross at the other end and Robinson returned it but Baldock’s header was a long way over. Burnley nearly got in with a good ball from Tarkoswki saw Egan turned but he managed to get a foot in leading to a corner.
Fleck and Norwood both had given it away under little pressure and after the latter’s poor touch, McNeil was able to get on it and hit a shot that Ramsdale had to flick over. He repeated this from a deep corner. The next delivery from Burnley from the other side, led to a whole host of confusion as the ball ricocheted around and some half-hearted appeals for two penalties before the ball was finally cleared.
United got out for a period and Osborn and Jebbison linked with the former’s cross just evading any incoming players before soon after a decent move saw the ball come across from Stevens and Baldock sent it back but McGoldrick could not quite hook it goalward.
After United nearly got in at one end, Burnley broke and Baldock committed a late foul and was booked after the game stopped for his challenge on Baldock.
On 23 minutes, the Blades took the lead when United broke. Stevens found MCGOLDRICK came inside and with the Burnley defence pack pedalling curled the ball beyond Norris and into the net. The keeper was slow to react but it was a nice moment for the Blades fans in the ground to celebrate a goal.
After Ramsdale found Osborn, the midfielder then broke and with Jebbison blocked off, opted to try his luck. Norris was not convincing again as he parried this one.
The next period saw the game become scrappier with little goalmouth action and Robinson and Egan did well to clear two balls through.
McGoldrick then got onto Dunne’s mistake and drifted down the right and hit a shot that deflected over before from the resulting corner that was not cleared properly, Basham cushioned it down and jinked past a man before hitting a rasping drive that cannoned off the near post denying him that elusive first Premier League goal.
Fleck was then booked for chopping down McNeil cynically. The subsequent free kick saw Ramsdale unable to get much on it and Basham was collateral damage in the challenge and went down with a head injury. He came back on after lengthy treatment wearing a natty bandage, the like of which we have seen him wear before as he resembled a rapper from South LA rather than a utility man from Hebburn in the North East.
Jebbison was unable to keep the ball and McNeil came onto it and took a low shot straight at Ramsdale. There was 3 minutes of additional time, surprising, considering that Basham had been down for quite a period. United ended up on the attack after Jebbison forced Burnley to concede a corner but Basham mis controlled as the ball came out.
After the break Vydra came on for Brownhill and Burnley won an early corner with the sub involved down the left. Burnley seemed more determined and Ramsdale made a brave save from Wood but was offside as the stupid rule where the linesman has to wait, came into effect.
United then broke away and McGoldrick again was the man on the charge but maybe took too long with this particular attack, and it was blocked out for a corner. This came to nothing and Stevens stood on a Burnley man. Jebbison made up for an error to block out a Burnley player.
Osborn then had men over but took too long and in turn Stevens played it behind his man McGoldrick who could not gather. Basham was then in down the right but also took too long and a Burnley man got back.
Burnley won a corner at the other end with Vydra doing well but the delivery was headed over. Jebbison’s industry saw him come inside with lovely skill and found Fleck who did not take the shot on and the chance had gone with Robinson miskicking.
Burnley then knocked a high ball in and Ramsdale was unable to get there convincingly as Tarkoswki challenged and the ref allowed things to go but it did not lead to a chance fortunately for the Blades. Baldock was getting in some good areas down the right but there were not many chances coming for either side.
Robinson and McGoldrick played a one two and the cross came over from the goal scorer but Dunne did well as Jebbison tried to get across him and it led to a corner.
Norwood’s give away saw McNeil get away and he nutmegged Fleck but United got back to hold him up before a good spell of play from the away side saw McNeil cause more problems and win a corner.
Rodriguez was on for the dangerous McNeil as the game entered the final 20 minutes. Basham needed to double up on his head bandage.
Stevens got up the field and linked well with McGoldrick after more good work from the striker but the wing back’s cross was poor. Burnley won a corner after McGoldrick’s miskick. The cross came in and hit Osborn with his arm out and perhaps not in a natural position. United were maybe a bit lucky to get away with this after looking at the replays. With VAR these days it is hard to tell what they are going to give.
Brewster came on for Jebbison with just over 10 minutes to play. He was involved with a low cross and could not quite get on the end of Stevens cross soon after.
Jagielka came on for Osborn with just over 5 minutes to go and was given the captains armband in what was probably his final game as a Blades player and at the Lane.
McGoldrick did well to work space again after Fleck found him but Brewster’s shot lacked power. The sub then won a free kick when Dunne caught him very late leading to him being the first Burnley man booked. Gudmundsson was replaced by Barnes as the match entered the closing stages.
Brewster’s hard work won a corner in the final minute before McGoldrick got in on Stevens ball but was offside as he blazed wide on the stretch. The final chance came when Ramsdale could not gather a ball through after Wood flicked on and Rodriguez got there first and Robinson did brilliantly to get back and make the clearance as the leveller loomed. From the corner Norwood headed away and the final whistle went. The Blades fans who went applauded a winning side to end the season at least as thoughts turned to next season.
United – I was hoping ‘some’ fans in may inject some energy or life into proceedings and maybe we saw this at time with the tempo of the game. It certainly seemed quicker to begin with and the game was end to end – not with exciting attacks/incidents but both teams trying to attack rather than it being more in midfield. They began slightly better but we grew into it and started to have our own attacks. After one Ramsdale save, then we got the goal with a lovely individual strike from McGoldrick. The midfield started to come out more and we saw Basham and Stevens high up the field and the former hit the post and could have doubled the lead.
I thought first half we were the better side and had a few other moments with McGoldrick central to everything we did. There were some decent link ups actually even if we did not have tons of chances but a few players like Osborn was busy too. The other way McNeil showed a few flashes but they did not have many chances with a few moments from corners/free kicks where we did not clear first time actually the main concerns. They did not really have any concerted pressure and I felt we deserved to lead at the half- just in a game between two very ordinary sides.
They came out and looked more determined with Vydra on from the start of the second half. He caused a few problems but he had moments too with McGoldrick and Osborn getting into some nice pockets. We had a few good breaks but took too long to make decisions when we could have created things but had shots or efforts blocked. Burnley put a few high balls in but Burnley did not have any clear chances as the game ticked into the final quarter. United actually won the game quite easily and they did not really have any clear chances at all until the late scrambled chance.
Overall, though, I thought we deserved the win and looked the more likely and actually from the little football we played, we played more of it and McGoldrick was the difference in terms of goalscoring threats.
Nice to end on a win and at least we kept a rare clean sheet. It was certainly not a classic game and not one that will be remembered even in a few weeks!
Now thoughts turn to next season. Hopefully, there will be news on the manager coming soon and we can start to have a plan. Too many questions remain unanswered and the board need some decisive action soon. The longer it goes on the harder next season will be in terms of getting things moving and having a clear plan for style, tactics and personnel.