Deadbat
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2009
- Messages
- 6,327
- Reaction score
- 35,712
It was ten in a row as the Blades continued their incredible run as they saw off lowly Carlisle by a single goal at a more subdued Bramall Lane. Only three days after the exhilarating win over Charlton; United won again but this time it was more of a grind it out type performance. The goal was well taken from the impish Jose Baxter who took a low ball, cleverly made space and curled home in off the post.
After this United failed to kill the game off and began to sat back as fatigue set in and Carlisle had a few potential moments to come back into the game but Mark Howard was mostly untroubled and United did enough to get over the finish line. It was not a classic performance but yet another win and another clean sheet.
Manager Clough opted to name a virtually unchanged line up with just one change as Brayford who had played though the pain barrier on Sunday dropped out replaced by Davies. Paynter came in for Davies on the bench.
United began right on the offensive as Murphy sprinted down the left and away from Pearson and cut in before having a shot that Pickford saved with his legs. It was a let off for the visitors who soon were back on the defensive as Flynn fed Scougall whose shot was saved.
For Carlisle Amoo had a shot saved relatively easily by Howard before United went back on the attack with Baxter on the end of some neat football and fired wide. Further clever triangles almost saw Coady get in but he was blocked out.
It was not vintage United but they still looked the more likely. Scougall was in on goal and advanced one on one but his shot lacked direction and was straight at the keeper who palmed away. It was a good chance. Soon after Flynn shot wide after more decent link up in the lead up.
After decent build up Murphy played into Coady who in turn fired the ball into BAXTER who did well to kill it and move it inside with a clever touch and then curled an exquisite effort into the far corner away from the keeper and in off the post.
The remainder of the half saw Carlisle gradually come back into it but did not create any real clear chances with a cross shot from Amoo helped away from Howard and one half chance for Miller but the half had seen United deservedly go into the break in front.
The second half began with Davies bringing down Byrne but then Murphy showed his pace as he burst away but his shot was saved by Pickford. Flynn had a run before his ball was cleared.
Carlisle slowly inched back into the game and were having more and more of the ball without doing much with United keeping the solid banks that have served them so well in the run.
Porter and McGinn came on to give United fresh legs for the tiring Baxter and Scougall as United tried to get a foothold again but Miller’s overhead kick was not far off target.
A dangerous cross evaded everyone as Carlisle finally were able to get into the last third and give their supporters some hope. Symington had a shot deflected wide and then from a corner Davies chested clear from the goal line and completed his clearance as the header came in from Amoo that beat Howard for the first time. This five minute spell was the best that the visitors showed as the home fans tried to rouse United though a sticky spell.
The experienced Novo was thrown on as Carlisle tried to find a goal they needed but despite having much of the ball and some half chances they still were struggling to test Howard.
Freeman came on for his debut for Flynn and played on the right as the game entered five minutes additional time. Carlisle pumped some high balls forward but could not trouble the United goal again and the referee’s final whistle not before more baffling decisions; came to signal yet another United win as the phenomenal run goes on and on.
United – Not great but enough for the win. It was sloppy for long spells but a scruffy 1-0 win will do as it keeps the run going. We played some good stuff early on with Baxter and Scougall involved in some of the better attacks. We scored a good goal and could have had a few more (Murphy and Scougall chances) and whilst it was not as crisp and smooth as it has been in terms of possessions stuff we still had enough play to prove we were much better.
We played some neat and tidy triangles and got behind with Murphy looking a threat down the left. We could have had a few more but only got the one and then it became more of a war of attrition. Maybe if we got the second it would have been more or they would have gone but it never came and then we had a few iffy spells.
As the game went on we looked tired and became sloppy and started giving the ball away or playing loose/short passes. We had a spell where we could not keep it and sat back. They could have got one after one 5 minute spell where the ball pinged across the box and we cleared one off the line. We kind of regrouped and then saw out the last 10 minutes ok without too much alarm but it was exactly that; we just saw it out and did not do enough to kill the game. Much of it could have been down to fatigue and to keep up the level of performances and energy we have is impossible.
It was just pleasing we kept another clean sheet (Howard not much to do) and kept the run going. I am sure we will be better and hopefully more like we have when we have had a bit of a break but it is ridiculous that we have had so many games and keep winning so we cannot always expect the same level of performances. Even though the performance was not level it has, we maybe still did enough on chances and quality in final third to edge it. The goal was a piece of magic and for all the play they had and territory I cannot recall anything from them in a riposte.
Carlisle – They were not one of the worst sides we have seen down here. They had a bit of a go and had some decent spells without having many clear chances really. I recall the one off the line from a header, a deflected shot wide and a few balls across the box in both halves. They had a period at the end of the first half and then had a good phase in the second half. They had a lot of the ball for periods but again they struggled to create much. If the ball had dropped better or the quality in the final third had been more accurate they may have got a point but whilst they may argue that case; I cannot recall that many efforts on goal even though they had enough of the game and probably waited too long to have a go. A tired United team could have been ran at but they seemed to wait till the second half to push more men on.
The manager/assistant seemed as frustrated with the officials as our managerial team as they had some baffling decisions the same way we did. The side was ok but lacked real fire power. The lad Miller won a few headers and the fair haired player Byrne showed some neat touches but they lacked penetration and pace. Chimbonda got the bird from the crowd after he feigned injury and it was amusing when he accidentally knocked it out by mistake when chasing it down under no pressure. They have signed a few loan players who made their debuts tonight and have a few injuries to key players but did not get blown away as ordinary as they were and stayed in the game. I do think a firing and fresh United would have put them away first half and actually in reality we could have been out of sight before the flurry they had towards the end. It was odd to see Nacho Novo come on (to join Chimbonda). I did not know he was even around as it seemed years ago he was prolific for Rangers.
They seem like the sort of side that may pick up enough wins particularly at home to maybe just survive and the fact there is so many poor sides such as Tranmere, Shrewsbury, Notts County, Stevenage etc may mean they are ok but they are right in it. They tried to throw caution to the wind in the final stages and it was not lack of effort but they just lacked that bit of quality although one or two balls on another night may have fell right and they might have got that point. Equally United take their chances first half and the game could be done I suppose.
After this United failed to kill the game off and began to sat back as fatigue set in and Carlisle had a few potential moments to come back into the game but Mark Howard was mostly untroubled and United did enough to get over the finish line. It was not a classic performance but yet another win and another clean sheet.
Manager Clough opted to name a virtually unchanged line up with just one change as Brayford who had played though the pain barrier on Sunday dropped out replaced by Davies. Paynter came in for Davies on the bench.
United began right on the offensive as Murphy sprinted down the left and away from Pearson and cut in before having a shot that Pickford saved with his legs. It was a let off for the visitors who soon were back on the defensive as Flynn fed Scougall whose shot was saved.
For Carlisle Amoo had a shot saved relatively easily by Howard before United went back on the attack with Baxter on the end of some neat football and fired wide. Further clever triangles almost saw Coady get in but he was blocked out.
It was not vintage United but they still looked the more likely. Scougall was in on goal and advanced one on one but his shot lacked direction and was straight at the keeper who palmed away. It was a good chance. Soon after Flynn shot wide after more decent link up in the lead up.
After decent build up Murphy played into Coady who in turn fired the ball into BAXTER who did well to kill it and move it inside with a clever touch and then curled an exquisite effort into the far corner away from the keeper and in off the post.
The remainder of the half saw Carlisle gradually come back into it but did not create any real clear chances with a cross shot from Amoo helped away from Howard and one half chance for Miller but the half had seen United deservedly go into the break in front.
The second half began with Davies bringing down Byrne but then Murphy showed his pace as he burst away but his shot was saved by Pickford. Flynn had a run before his ball was cleared.
Carlisle slowly inched back into the game and were having more and more of the ball without doing much with United keeping the solid banks that have served them so well in the run.
Porter and McGinn came on to give United fresh legs for the tiring Baxter and Scougall as United tried to get a foothold again but Miller’s overhead kick was not far off target.
A dangerous cross evaded everyone as Carlisle finally were able to get into the last third and give their supporters some hope. Symington had a shot deflected wide and then from a corner Davies chested clear from the goal line and completed his clearance as the header came in from Amoo that beat Howard for the first time. This five minute spell was the best that the visitors showed as the home fans tried to rouse United though a sticky spell.
The experienced Novo was thrown on as Carlisle tried to find a goal they needed but despite having much of the ball and some half chances they still were struggling to test Howard.
Freeman came on for his debut for Flynn and played on the right as the game entered five minutes additional time. Carlisle pumped some high balls forward but could not trouble the United goal again and the referee’s final whistle not before more baffling decisions; came to signal yet another United win as the phenomenal run goes on and on.
United – Not great but enough for the win. It was sloppy for long spells but a scruffy 1-0 win will do as it keeps the run going. We played some good stuff early on with Baxter and Scougall involved in some of the better attacks. We scored a good goal and could have had a few more (Murphy and Scougall chances) and whilst it was not as crisp and smooth as it has been in terms of possessions stuff we still had enough play to prove we were much better.
We played some neat and tidy triangles and got behind with Murphy looking a threat down the left. We could have had a few more but only got the one and then it became more of a war of attrition. Maybe if we got the second it would have been more or they would have gone but it never came and then we had a few iffy spells.
As the game went on we looked tired and became sloppy and started giving the ball away or playing loose/short passes. We had a spell where we could not keep it and sat back. They could have got one after one 5 minute spell where the ball pinged across the box and we cleared one off the line. We kind of regrouped and then saw out the last 10 minutes ok without too much alarm but it was exactly that; we just saw it out and did not do enough to kill the game. Much of it could have been down to fatigue and to keep up the level of performances and energy we have is impossible.
It was just pleasing we kept another clean sheet (Howard not much to do) and kept the run going. I am sure we will be better and hopefully more like we have when we have had a bit of a break but it is ridiculous that we have had so many games and keep winning so we cannot always expect the same level of performances. Even though the performance was not level it has, we maybe still did enough on chances and quality in final third to edge it. The goal was a piece of magic and for all the play they had and territory I cannot recall anything from them in a riposte.
Carlisle – They were not one of the worst sides we have seen down here. They had a bit of a go and had some decent spells without having many clear chances really. I recall the one off the line from a header, a deflected shot wide and a few balls across the box in both halves. They had a period at the end of the first half and then had a good phase in the second half. They had a lot of the ball for periods but again they struggled to create much. If the ball had dropped better or the quality in the final third had been more accurate they may have got a point but whilst they may argue that case; I cannot recall that many efforts on goal even though they had enough of the game and probably waited too long to have a go. A tired United team could have been ran at but they seemed to wait till the second half to push more men on.
The manager/assistant seemed as frustrated with the officials as our managerial team as they had some baffling decisions the same way we did. The side was ok but lacked real fire power. The lad Miller won a few headers and the fair haired player Byrne showed some neat touches but they lacked penetration and pace. Chimbonda got the bird from the crowd after he feigned injury and it was amusing when he accidentally knocked it out by mistake when chasing it down under no pressure. They have signed a few loan players who made their debuts tonight and have a few injuries to key players but did not get blown away as ordinary as they were and stayed in the game. I do think a firing and fresh United would have put them away first half and actually in reality we could have been out of sight before the flurry they had towards the end. It was odd to see Nacho Novo come on (to join Chimbonda). I did not know he was even around as it seemed years ago he was prolific for Rangers.
They seem like the sort of side that may pick up enough wins particularly at home to maybe just survive and the fact there is so many poor sides such as Tranmere, Shrewsbury, Notts County, Stevenage etc may mean they are ok but they are right in it. They tried to throw caution to the wind in the final stages and it was not lack of effort but they just lacked that bit of quality although one or two balls on another night may have fell right and they might have got that point. Equally United take their chances first half and the game could be done I suppose.
