Deadbat
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Sorry for late report- went out to Peddler at Kelham Island last night…..
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United’s excellent recent run continued with a third win in a week and with it they went to the top of the Championship table just before the international break. On contrast former boss Nigel Adkins’ Hull side have slumped to the bottom of the table. It was a tight game with few chances and Dean Henderson actually was the busier keeper but David McGoldrick scored his third in a week and another coolly taken penalty after a fairly routine award for a foul on Jack O’Connell in the box. After this United saw things, out without too much alarm and ended a superb week. Paul Coutts also got another half an hour under his belt as he continues his comeback.
Chris Wilder kept the same team again and the only change saw Baldock on the bench for Lundstram. Rival manager Adkins was feeling the pressure after a poor start but still could afford to leave on the bench like Polish international Grosicki, talented youngster Bowen and 3.5 million striker Dicko.
The game started with little in the way of penalty box action as United saw a lot of the ball. Hull set up very defensively and when the home side got possession; they got all eleven behind the ball. They were time wasting from almost the off and twice players went to the deck with ‘injuries.’ They did have one long range effort well over from Henriksen but this was a rare break as United piled on the pressure. Duffy was instrumental in most things the Blades did and his probing saw a chance come over from the left but Stevens did not connect when well placed. Soon after a neat move saw Duffy and Sharp combine and his cross was scooped over from McGoldrick. Duffy then came inside and had a low shot that he pulled wide at the near post. United were having all of the ball but Hull were packing bodies in front of them so it was hard to find space for an opening. Stevens and Freeman were playing like old fashioned wingers in an attempt to create chances.
Campbell had to go off with a knock and was replaced by Dicko on the half hour but the pressure remained on the visitors. More nice football saw Duffy then play in Stevens, who had drifted to the right-hand side, after a lovely bit of one touch football in the build-up but the defender’s shot was comfortable for Marshall. Duffy then hit a shot over just before half time. It was a frustrating half as for all the good play, at times it had been a bit slow and Hull’s negative approach meant it was difficult to unpick the defence with so many players back.
The second half saw Hull start better with Dicko turning and hitting a shot on the angle that Henderson turned away. This was the first real effort of note from the visitors. Fleck then fired over from a well worked corner routine before good build up and a deep cross saw Freeman intelligently nod down but Sharp fired over.
Coutts came on for Duffy but his first action was to give it away and Hull almost scored. The cross came in and Henriksen met it on the full with a powerful header but Henderson made a really good save pushing the ball away. This proved a crucial moment as soon after United were in front with around 20 minutes to play.
It came from the spot after a moment of madness by defender Elphick. The referee warned him before the kick to take his hands-off O’Connell but inexplicably he had him in a bear hug and then pulled him down as the ball came across. The lack of appeal from him told a different story to the one Adkins tried to cobble together post game.
MCGOLDRICK took it after scoring last week rather than Sharp. He sent the keeper the wrong way and celebrated in front of the Kop. With news coming in than Forest were winning at Middlesbrough; United fans were sensing they could get to the top of the Championship table.
After the goal United did a better job of keeping the ball but were defending quite deep. Henderson had to be alert to keep out a low shot as he was not sure if it would go wide at his near post. Hull won a few corners but were not creating too many clear chances. McGoldrick was booked for a clumsy tackle on the touchline in his attempts to press but United were now in a solid shape and Hull looked a bit lost for ideas. Clarke and Johnson came on for Sharp and McGoldrick. United were defending a touch too deep but Hull were rather reliant on the long throw and pumped ball into the box and Egan continued his dominant form by heading it away on a number of occasions. Four minutes of stoppage time were deemed to be played but Johnson helped run the ball down twice and then a nice bit of possession stuff with Coutts, Norwood and Fleck central to the ball retention saw more time used up. Hull did not really threaten at all in the additional time and the full-time whistle came and with it signalled United’s position at the apex of the league.
United – It was our poorest performance of the week and the sloppiest we have been since Birmingham at home. Fortunately, Hull were not as good as the Blues as an opponent and other than a couple of chances second half; we were still the better side in my opinion. First half we had so much of the ball as they just sat back and defended in numbers. We were too slow to move it on and I felt did not create much considering how much we had of it. A few half chances but nothing clear cut really; maybe Stevens miskick the best chance. You could see the players did not quite have the zip of recent games and maybe the schedule took its toll. Still, I felt we had enough to get the win. Second half we started poorly again – been a concern in recent games despite the overall performance and results. They had a few chances and Henderson made 2 good saves. It became much more even and a bit more open as they had a go. Our passing became sloppy and we were not really creating too much but you sensed it was 1-0 or 0-1 an did not feel either side would come back from the other scoring just because of the sort of game it was. We fortunately got our noses in front and after this we saw it out professionally. It was a gritty more than accomplished performance but a huge three points as even though we were not our best; we did just enough to get the win.
We will play better than that and probably not win or draw some games. That is just the way it goes. Still despite the performance level not quite being up there; we still saw some real plusses. The defence was solid with Henderson and Egan stand outs and another clean sheet – second in a week. The midfield showed quality at times on the ball and helped us control things in there for large parts. Coutts got some more time too. Overall, we have to be delighted. We are top of the league – two key men from last season Clarke and even Fleck not quite found the form of last season.
We have nice little break now and then a tough few games coming up. We have played some of the poorer team in the last spell of fixtures in terms of where they are in the league and will play a few teams higher up the table now so be a tougher test. I actually think that might help though that teams may come out more and mean we get more space at the other end of the field. We actually might be better away from home too; due to the way we play and home teams having to come onto us more also. Today was hard with so little space and the players looking a bit heavy legged but it was a crucial win and is so nice to look at that league table.
It might not last and we might not finish top 6 but it is important to just enjoy the moment sometimes. I never thought we would be up there this year and we may not last the pace again but they have pleasantly surprised me how well they have begun this season. The new signings have been excellent too and really made a difference. Huge well done to Wilder, Knill, Mitchell etc. It is testament to their management, coaching and scouting; that there are probably a dozen sides at least who have spent more money and have higher wage bills but we sit above all of them this morning!
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United’s excellent recent run continued with a third win in a week and with it they went to the top of the Championship table just before the international break. On contrast former boss Nigel Adkins’ Hull side have slumped to the bottom of the table. It was a tight game with few chances and Dean Henderson actually was the busier keeper but David McGoldrick scored his third in a week and another coolly taken penalty after a fairly routine award for a foul on Jack O’Connell in the box. After this United saw things, out without too much alarm and ended a superb week. Paul Coutts also got another half an hour under his belt as he continues his comeback.
Chris Wilder kept the same team again and the only change saw Baldock on the bench for Lundstram. Rival manager Adkins was feeling the pressure after a poor start but still could afford to leave on the bench like Polish international Grosicki, talented youngster Bowen and 3.5 million striker Dicko.
The game started with little in the way of penalty box action as United saw a lot of the ball. Hull set up very defensively and when the home side got possession; they got all eleven behind the ball. They were time wasting from almost the off and twice players went to the deck with ‘injuries.’ They did have one long range effort well over from Henriksen but this was a rare break as United piled on the pressure. Duffy was instrumental in most things the Blades did and his probing saw a chance come over from the left but Stevens did not connect when well placed. Soon after a neat move saw Duffy and Sharp combine and his cross was scooped over from McGoldrick. Duffy then came inside and had a low shot that he pulled wide at the near post. United were having all of the ball but Hull were packing bodies in front of them so it was hard to find space for an opening. Stevens and Freeman were playing like old fashioned wingers in an attempt to create chances.
Campbell had to go off with a knock and was replaced by Dicko on the half hour but the pressure remained on the visitors. More nice football saw Duffy then play in Stevens, who had drifted to the right-hand side, after a lovely bit of one touch football in the build-up but the defender’s shot was comfortable for Marshall. Duffy then hit a shot over just before half time. It was a frustrating half as for all the good play, at times it had been a bit slow and Hull’s negative approach meant it was difficult to unpick the defence with so many players back.
The second half saw Hull start better with Dicko turning and hitting a shot on the angle that Henderson turned away. This was the first real effort of note from the visitors. Fleck then fired over from a well worked corner routine before good build up and a deep cross saw Freeman intelligently nod down but Sharp fired over.
Coutts came on for Duffy but his first action was to give it away and Hull almost scored. The cross came in and Henriksen met it on the full with a powerful header but Henderson made a really good save pushing the ball away. This proved a crucial moment as soon after United were in front with around 20 minutes to play.
It came from the spot after a moment of madness by defender Elphick. The referee warned him before the kick to take his hands-off O’Connell but inexplicably he had him in a bear hug and then pulled him down as the ball came across. The lack of appeal from him told a different story to the one Adkins tried to cobble together post game.
MCGOLDRICK took it after scoring last week rather than Sharp. He sent the keeper the wrong way and celebrated in front of the Kop. With news coming in than Forest were winning at Middlesbrough; United fans were sensing they could get to the top of the Championship table.
After the goal United did a better job of keeping the ball but were defending quite deep. Henderson had to be alert to keep out a low shot as he was not sure if it would go wide at his near post. Hull won a few corners but were not creating too many clear chances. McGoldrick was booked for a clumsy tackle on the touchline in his attempts to press but United were now in a solid shape and Hull looked a bit lost for ideas. Clarke and Johnson came on for Sharp and McGoldrick. United were defending a touch too deep but Hull were rather reliant on the long throw and pumped ball into the box and Egan continued his dominant form by heading it away on a number of occasions. Four minutes of stoppage time were deemed to be played but Johnson helped run the ball down twice and then a nice bit of possession stuff with Coutts, Norwood and Fleck central to the ball retention saw more time used up. Hull did not really threaten at all in the additional time and the full-time whistle came and with it signalled United’s position at the apex of the league.
United – It was our poorest performance of the week and the sloppiest we have been since Birmingham at home. Fortunately, Hull were not as good as the Blues as an opponent and other than a couple of chances second half; we were still the better side in my opinion. First half we had so much of the ball as they just sat back and defended in numbers. We were too slow to move it on and I felt did not create much considering how much we had of it. A few half chances but nothing clear cut really; maybe Stevens miskick the best chance. You could see the players did not quite have the zip of recent games and maybe the schedule took its toll. Still, I felt we had enough to get the win. Second half we started poorly again – been a concern in recent games despite the overall performance and results. They had a few chances and Henderson made 2 good saves. It became much more even and a bit more open as they had a go. Our passing became sloppy and we were not really creating too much but you sensed it was 1-0 or 0-1 an did not feel either side would come back from the other scoring just because of the sort of game it was. We fortunately got our noses in front and after this we saw it out professionally. It was a gritty more than accomplished performance but a huge three points as even though we were not our best; we did just enough to get the win.
We will play better than that and probably not win or draw some games. That is just the way it goes. Still despite the performance level not quite being up there; we still saw some real plusses. The defence was solid with Henderson and Egan stand outs and another clean sheet – second in a week. The midfield showed quality at times on the ball and helped us control things in there for large parts. Coutts got some more time too. Overall, we have to be delighted. We are top of the league – two key men from last season Clarke and even Fleck not quite found the form of last season.
We have nice little break now and then a tough few games coming up. We have played some of the poorer team in the last spell of fixtures in terms of where they are in the league and will play a few teams higher up the table now so be a tougher test. I actually think that might help though that teams may come out more and mean we get more space at the other end of the field. We actually might be better away from home too; due to the way we play and home teams having to come onto us more also. Today was hard with so little space and the players looking a bit heavy legged but it was a crucial win and is so nice to look at that league table.
It might not last and we might not finish top 6 but it is important to just enjoy the moment sometimes. I never thought we would be up there this year and we may not last the pace again but they have pleasantly surprised me how well they have begun this season. The new signings have been excellent too and really made a difference. Huge well done to Wilder, Knill, Mitchell etc. It is testament to their management, coaching and scouting; that there are probably a dozen sides at least who have spent more money and have higher wage bills but we sit above all of them this morning!
