Deadbat
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United’s recent improvements and renaissance came to an end as they were beaten at home by Chelsea on Sunday evening at Bramall Lane. With the chance to go off the bottom with a positive result, the Blades were not quite able to keep up with a talented Chelsea side who completed the league double over United, after failing to beat them last season in either game.
The Blades started well and missed a good chance from Oliver Burke and thought they had a penalty but an offside flag denied them and then slowly Chelsea took over with Mason Mount scoring a well worked goal before half time. A fortunate own goal by Antonio Rudinger gave the Blades a lifeline but a howler at the other end by Kean Bryan saw Ramsdale bring down Werner who had caused problems all night. Jorginho rolled in the penalty and Chelsea eased to the victory after this. United have now lost 18 games this season and 9 out of 12 at Bramall Lane and remain at the bottom of the league after a weekend where teams above the relegation zone picked up more points. It seems that the Blades hopes of survival are running out as despite the win in midweek, United are further away from safety than when the week started.
United made four changes from the week with two enforced. George Baldock was unfit and Ethan Ampadu ineligible against his parent club but also out went the front two from the week McGoldrick and Sharp. Wilder brought in Oliver Burke and Oli McBurnie to start in attack. United opted to only name 6 of the permitted 9 subs preferring not to use any youngster and still no places for the likes of Rodwell and Robinson. New Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel made changes also despite an impressive start to his reign with his new side not having conceded a goal in three games. Christiansen, Chilwell and Giroud came in for Silva, Alonso and Hudson Odoi.
Inside 10 seconds McBurnie made his presence felt with a crunching challenge but then the same man played in Burke and he was in on the angle for a really good chance but went near side and it was a few years wide.
At the other end Lowe was at full stretch and conceded a corner letting his man go and then soon after this Chelsea had a great chance as Werner was in after neat football beat the offside trap and as Ramsdale advanced the striker went round him but Basham got back to make a great clearance.
It had been one good chance each for either side. Lundstram went on a lung bursting run but did not have the legs to get away from Mount. On 8 minutes Fleck went on a nice run after jinking past his man and Christansen pulled him back but the free kick was too easy and Giroud headed away. It had been a decent start from United and they thought they had a penalty on 11 minutes when the ball over from Bryan saw Basham come inside his man and Chilwell seemed to bring him down. It took a while for referee Friend to give it but he did. Unfortunately for the Blades Basham had strayed just offside and the VAR checks ruled the penalty out.
Chelsea then started to come into the game and had a spell of possession and started to push United back. They started to move through the lines and were now finding openings. Basham then lost his man and Bryan did well to get back and got his foot in.
Werner then came at Basham again and it led to him chopping his man down for a yellow card and from the free kick poor marking saw Azpilicueta clear as Chelsea had two on one but his header was tame.
Burke then found a bit of space on the angle but his curled effort was a long way wide and over.
Werner continued to drift into good areas and him and Mount continued to link well as Chelsea were now dominating the ball and probing. However, decent control from Burke saw United get up the field and then Bogle ran through three men but took too long when he maybe should have got a shot away and despite United keeping the ball for the first time for a while, they were crowded out.
Rudinger then shot wide before Norwood gave it away twice. United had been good with the ball but a spell on the half hour summed up the struggles for the last 15-20 minutes. Fleck gave it away this time and then Egan cleared it off Bryan before Bogle did well at the back post.
Chelsea then got round on the angle as Bogle this time lost his man and as it came back Bryan took one of the team with the brave block but it was just offside in the initial move. Lowe then did well to wrestle the ball away from Mount but United were now struggling to have any of the ball and Chelsea were finding gaps between the lines.
The Blades needed to get to half time and Lundstram did well at the other end but Fleck’s cross was too close to Mendy before Chelsea got away and more good work down the right saw Chilwell win a corner. Fleck then lost out in midfield too easily to Jorginho before Chelsea won another corner. It was one way traffic and you felt a goal coming and so it proved.
Giroud held it up well and it saw the ball fall to Kovacic who found Chilwell. In turn he switched it to Werner who ran off Basham and his pull back was perfect to MOUNT who was completely unmarked on the penalty spot. His finish was crisp and well away from Ramsdale for a deserved lead.
After this Chelsea continued to knock it around with purpose and the Blades were glad to get in at half time just 1-0 behind. They had started the game well but for much of it after this initial burst with the Burke chance and the penalty incident, had been second best.
The second half saw the Blades kick towards the Kop; albeit empty. The game was scrappy and United at least got them further up the field and suddenly were fortuitously level. McBurnie knocked it on but Burke mis controlled it and RUDINGER inexplicably knocked it past Mendy and into his own net. It was a dreadful mistake and came out of nothing.
Still United were not level for long and it was a give away at the other end only four minutes later. There again seemed little danger but a horrific piece of defensive work saw a penalty for the visitors with VAR involved.
It was a dreadful pass back from Bryan and Werner was in and went past Ramsdale and the keeper seemed to catch him full flight as he went round him. Referee Friend did not give it initially but it seemed clear cut and after the ball went out, the referee was told to look at it and it did not take him long to give it. Ramsdale was fortunate not to escape further punishment being the last man.
JORGINHO knocked it in easily sending the keeper the wrong way and the lead was quickly restored.
McBurnie tried to get in at the other end but as he ran through he went down under a challenge but this time the contact seemed minimal and the officials were happy there was no wrong doing.
James then cut inside and fired just over as Chelsea looked to finish the game. Chilwell and Giroud went off for Alonso and Hudson Odoi for Chelsea whilst McGoldrick came on for Burke on the hour mark.
Chelsea were now back in dominant mood and the Blades back line could not get forward like they did on the week. More good football with the Blades nowhere near their men saw a cross come in and Bogle did well to clear away from sub Alonso for a corner. The delivery saw Rudinger flick wide. It was all Chelsea and United had not looked like getting back into the game.
Sharp came on for Bryan with 23 minutes to go as United went to a back four and McGoldrick win a corner but Chelsea broke from this and showed the danger on the counter with Hudson Odoi.
Chelsea were moving it about with ease and the Blades simply could not get any head way at all as the visitors were comfortable and most off the game was played in the United half. Mount and Jorginho pinged it about and Kovacic was able to just sit in front. It was a fairly uneventful contest and it seemed to be drifting to an easy win for them.
McGoldrick had a shot but it trickled through to the keeper whilst at the other end Werner nearly got in again after good play. Mount continued to just play the ball between the United midfield with space appearing all over. James had a shot deflected over for a corner with Ramsdale backpedalling.
Fleck at least had one run forward going around two players before his cross was blocked by Rudinger. Werner came off to be replaced by Kante, showing the wealth of class and experience that the visiting side had. Sharp worked hard down the right and found space but his cross was just away from McBurnie.
The game entered the final 10 minutes but Chelsea were seeing the game out rather too comfortably. When the Blades had it, they could barely put two or three passes together and Chelsea just moved it around. Brewster came on for Norwood but the game seemed to be drifting away. Chelsea had not been put under any real pressure and Lundstram’s dithering and poor cross led to more frustration from Wilder on the side-line whose side had not created anything of note as the game entered five minutes of additional time. However, Lowe won a free kick and as the ball dropped from Fleck’s delivery Brewster had a shot blocked from Rominger. Chelsea saw time out quite easily but Sharp then did well to win a throw and as the ball came into the box, the striker tried an acrobatic overhead kick that Mendy pushed away. McBurnie was offside in the follow up. This was the only real save of note he made all game and came with almost the last kick. The final whistle went soon after.
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United’s recent improvements and renaissance came to an end as they were beaten at home by Chelsea on Sunday evening at Bramall Lane. With the chance to go off the bottom with a positive result, the Blades were not quite able to keep up with a talented Chelsea side who completed the league double over United, after failing to beat them last season in either game.
The Blades started well and missed a good chance from Oliver Burke and thought they had a penalty but an offside flag denied them and then slowly Chelsea took over with Mason Mount scoring a well worked goal before half time. A fortunate own goal by Antonio Rudinger gave the Blades a lifeline but a howler at the other end by Kean Bryan saw Ramsdale bring down Werner who had caused problems all night. Jorginho rolled in the penalty and Chelsea eased to the victory after this. United have now lost 18 games this season and 9 out of 12 at Bramall Lane and remain at the bottom of the league after a weekend where teams above the relegation zone picked up more points. It seems that the Blades hopes of survival are running out as despite the win in midweek, United are further away from safety than when the week started.
United made four changes from the week with two enforced. George Baldock was unfit and Ethan Ampadu ineligible against his parent club but also out went the front two from the week McGoldrick and Sharp. Wilder brought in Oliver Burke and Oli McBurnie to start in attack. United opted to only name 6 of the permitted 9 subs preferring not to use any youngster and still no places for the likes of Rodwell and Robinson. New Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel made changes also despite an impressive start to his reign with his new side not having conceded a goal in three games. Christiansen, Chilwell and Giroud came in for Silva, Alonso and Hudson Odoi.
Inside 10 seconds McBurnie made his presence felt with a crunching challenge but then the same man played in Burke and he was in on the angle for a really good chance but went near side and it was a few years wide.
At the other end Lowe was at full stretch and conceded a corner letting his man go and then soon after this Chelsea had a great chance as Werner was in after neat football beat the offside trap and as Ramsdale advanced the striker went round him but Basham got back to make a great clearance.
It had been one good chance each for either side. Lundstram went on a lung bursting run but did not have the legs to get away from Mount. On 8 minutes Fleck went on a nice run after jinking past his man and Christansen pulled him back but the free kick was too easy and Giroud headed away. It had been a decent start from United and they thought they had a penalty on 11 minutes when the ball over from Bryan saw Basham come inside his man and Chilwell seemed to bring him down. It took a while for referee Friend to give it but he did. Unfortunately for the Blades Basham had strayed just offside and the VAR checks ruled the penalty out.
Chelsea then started to come into the game and had a spell of possession and started to push United back. They started to move through the lines and were now finding openings. Basham then lost his man and Bryan did well to get back and got his foot in.
Werner then came at Basham again and it led to him chopping his man down for a yellow card and from the free kick poor marking saw Azpilicueta clear as Chelsea had two on one but his header was tame.
Burke then found a bit of space on the angle but his curled effort was a long way wide and over.
Werner continued to drift into good areas and him and Mount continued to link well as Chelsea were now dominating the ball and probing. However, decent control from Burke saw United get up the field and then Bogle ran through three men but took too long when he maybe should have got a shot away and despite United keeping the ball for the first time for a while, they were crowded out.
Rudinger then shot wide before Norwood gave it away twice. United had been good with the ball but a spell on the half hour summed up the struggles for the last 15-20 minutes. Fleck gave it away this time and then Egan cleared it off Bryan before Bogle did well at the back post.
Chelsea then got round on the angle as Bogle this time lost his man and as it came back Bryan took one of the team with the brave block but it was just offside in the initial move. Lowe then did well to wrestle the ball away from Mount but United were now struggling to have any of the ball and Chelsea were finding gaps between the lines.
The Blades needed to get to half time and Lundstram did well at the other end but Fleck’s cross was too close to Mendy before Chelsea got away and more good work down the right saw Chilwell win a corner. Fleck then lost out in midfield too easily to Jorginho before Chelsea won another corner. It was one way traffic and you felt a goal coming and so it proved.
Giroud held it up well and it saw the ball fall to Kovacic who found Chilwell. In turn he switched it to Werner who ran off Basham and his pull back was perfect to MOUNT who was completely unmarked on the penalty spot. His finish was crisp and well away from Ramsdale for a deserved lead.
After this Chelsea continued to knock it around with purpose and the Blades were glad to get in at half time just 1-0 behind. They had started the game well but for much of it after this initial burst with the Burke chance and the penalty incident, had been second best.
The second half saw the Blades kick towards the Kop; albeit empty. The game was scrappy and United at least got them further up the field and suddenly were fortuitously level. McBurnie knocked it on but Burke mis controlled it and RUDINGER inexplicably knocked it past Mendy and into his own net. It was a dreadful mistake and came out of nothing.
Still United were not level for long and it was a give away at the other end only four minutes later. There again seemed little danger but a horrific piece of defensive work saw a penalty for the visitors with VAR involved.
It was a dreadful pass back from Bryan and Werner was in and went past Ramsdale and the keeper seemed to catch him full flight as he went round him. Referee Friend did not give it initially but it seemed clear cut and after the ball went out, the referee was told to look at it and it did not take him long to give it. Ramsdale was fortunate not to escape further punishment being the last man.
JORGINHO knocked it in easily sending the keeper the wrong way and the lead was quickly restored.
McBurnie tried to get in at the other end but as he ran through he went down under a challenge but this time the contact seemed minimal and the officials were happy there was no wrong doing.
James then cut inside and fired just over as Chelsea looked to finish the game. Chilwell and Giroud went off for Alonso and Hudson Odoi for Chelsea whilst McGoldrick came on for Burke on the hour mark.
Chelsea were now back in dominant mood and the Blades back line could not get forward like they did on the week. More good football with the Blades nowhere near their men saw a cross come in and Bogle did well to clear away from sub Alonso for a corner. The delivery saw Rudinger flick wide. It was all Chelsea and United had not looked like getting back into the game.
Sharp came on for Bryan with 23 minutes to go as United went to a back four and McGoldrick win a corner but Chelsea broke from this and showed the danger on the counter with Hudson Odoi.
Chelsea were moving it about with ease and the Blades simply could not get any head way at all as the visitors were comfortable and most off the game was played in the United half. Mount and Jorginho pinged it about and Kovacic was able to just sit in front. It was a fairly uneventful contest and it seemed to be drifting to an easy win for them.
McGoldrick had a shot but it trickled through to the keeper whilst at the other end Werner nearly got in again after good play. Mount continued to just play the ball between the United midfield with space appearing all over. James had a shot deflected over for a corner with Ramsdale backpedalling.
Fleck at least had one run forward going around two players before his cross was blocked by Rudinger. Werner came off to be replaced by Kante, showing the wealth of class and experience that the visiting side had. Sharp worked hard down the right and found space but his cross was just away from McBurnie.
The game entered the final 10 minutes but Chelsea were seeing the game out rather too comfortably. When the Blades had it, they could barely put two or three passes together and Chelsea just moved it around. Brewster came on for Norwood but the game seemed to be drifting away. Chelsea had not been put under any real pressure and Lundstram’s dithering and poor cross led to more frustration from Wilder on the side-line whose side had not created anything of note as the game entered five minutes of additional time. However, Lowe won a free kick and as the ball dropped from Fleck’s delivery Brewster had a shot blocked from Rominger. Chelsea saw time out quite easily but Sharp then did well to win a throw and as the ball came into the box, the striker tried an acrobatic overhead kick that Mendy pushed away. McBurnie was offside in the follow up. This was the only real save of note he made all game and came with almost the last kick. The final whistle went soon after.