United 1 Millwall 1 - report

[Deadbat]

The Blades play-off hopes took a blow as they were held by promotion rivals Millwall at Bramall Lane in an early kick off. In a game that saw chances at either end, United made the vital break through when Leon Clarke nodded home after good work from Lee Evans and Jack O’Connell. However, really poor defending straight after saw a hopeful punt toed home by veteran striker Steve Morison. After this both sides had chances with Jamal Blackman making two good saves and at the other end Jordan Archer making several vital saves. United will feel they did enough to win it but the visitors worked incredibly hard and kept their long unbeaten run going and kept them three points (really four with goal difference) with only three games to play.


Manager Wilder brought back Jamal Blackman and Richard Stearman for Simon Moore and Jake Wright. He kept faith with the Clarke and Brooks combo up top but had Sharp and Duffy in reserve. Millwall started with Morison and Sheffield born striker and Blade Lee Gregory up front.


The game began in front of a raucous atmosphere with a cagey opening and both teams cautious in their attacking intent and indeed a few passes were misplaced. United did have the first chance when Evans curled narrowly wide with Archer well beaten. Fleck had a low shot that was comfortable for the keeper soon after. Millwall then came out and won two corners in quick succession and poor marking nearly gave them a chance. Hutchinson headed goalwards and Blackman made the save at the second attempt.


United lacked the cohesion they had shown in previous games and it became a bit scrappy as nerves probably played a part. Morison and Gregory were competing for every ball and Millwall were working really hard pressing United’s players. Lundstram had a headed effort that lacked power and then Stevens tried to work an opening but his cross was cleared. Clarke then worked some space but drove across the box whilst at the other end Millwall had another set play that caused problems due to poor marking yet again.


Fleck created space and drove at the Millwall defence and found a chance to shoot but his effort with his right foot was saved from Archer down low who gathered. Cooper and Wallace both then had headed efforts for the visitors. A series of fouls saw Williams be the first man to be carded as referee Coote had seen enough with a number of cynical trips in close succession. From a corner, Stearman stayed up and turned a shot goalwards but Archer parried away. From the corner both Clarke and Basham tried to flick towards goal but it was cleared.


United had shaded the game in chances and possession but Archer had only made one save of note really other than some weak efforts and Evans shot wide.


Wilder wanted more from his side and so sacrificed Lundstram for Duffy and opted to go for it with Brooks and Duffy both playing together. Duffys’ first act was to inadvertently lay the ball on a plate to Gregory who took the ball wide of Blackman but shot wide from a narrow angle. United then had the best chance of the game as O’Connell’s whipped cross was headed goalwards by Baldock but from point blank range Archer somehow kept it out.


Sharp was brought on for Brooks but soon after Williams had a chance as good as Baldock’s as another corner came in that caused problems. His header seed destined for the corner but Blackman dived to make a super save. The game had definitely opened up and a breakaway for the visitors saw Stearman commit a bad foul on Morison and he was rightly booked. Evans then scooped a shot goal bound but Archer tipped over to his right. Not long after Stearman came off for Lafferty in a surprise move. Stevens seemed to go inside to centre back.


Duffy then went on a good solo run but dragged his shot well wide after drawing a series of defenders. United were now committing more men forward and it proved vital when they went ahead. Patient build up saw the ball moved around and then Evans sent over a deep cross than looked as if it had too much on it but O’Connell did not give up and headed intelligently across goal. CLARKE stooped to nod home from close range at the Kop end and spark jubilant scenes from the majority in Bramall Lane. Savile was booked for appealing for something on the goal but it seemed nothing untoward had occurred.


United’s fans were still celebrating when less than 90 seconds later they were rocked and the visitors were level. A hopeful long punt beat the offside trap and Stevens playing in an unfamiliar position lost his man and MORSION stole in and poked into the corner. It was the only place he could have put it to score. It was an awful goal to concede. Millwall players celebrated with their fans behind the goal and a flare was lit. It took a while to restart the game. United had just over 10 minutes now to try and find a winner in a game they had worked so hard to go in front but then threw it away instantly.


Marshall was booked when Morison and Gregory both kept persistently fouling but somehow escaped further censure. Appeals for a penalty came when Basham went over the top of a player to clear and many Blades may have had their hearts in their mouth as the Millwall coaching staff appealed but nothing was given.

The game entered the final 5 minutes and United were throwing men forward. Millwall had a chance when from another corner it came off a United player but Blackman saved superbly.


The game was end to end and United now attacked. Sharp then was denied by Archer after a great cross from Baldock and Clarke could not force home being blocked out on the rebound. Soon after Duffy jinked inside and hit a shot that seemed goal bound but stuck a defender and flicked over with Archer scrambling across his goal. Four minutes of stoppage time were played but Millwall won a series of free kicks to stop United having any real momentum. At the death Evans came inside a defender and into the box and went to ground. Some in the ground thought referee Coote had pointed to the spot but he penalised Evans for diving and gave a free kick the other way. The final whistle came moments later with Millwall much happier with the outcome than the home side. As it transpired the Blades know whilst they are not out of it; they are now running out of games.




United – We were ok and had most of the ball and the better chances. However, it was not the same fluent performance that we had seen in some of the recent home games and we did not cut Millwall apart. I felt we looked a bit slow and pedestrian at times and we took too long to do things. They got men behind the ball and denied us space. First half Evans had a shot wide and Stearman had one saved but they had efforts from corners and poor marking. We shaded it but they looked dangerous too. Second half was a similar story but they had some good chances too. Baldock and Evans were denied by good saves but Blackman also made two superb saves. We got in front and I felt that would see them have to come out and we could get another maybe but we never gave this a chance to materialise and they scored a Sunday League type goal. Big punt, nobody marking and a shinned shot into the corner. After this we had more chances with Duffy and then Sharp but they did too and had a really good appeal for a penalty. Overall, they will say they did enough for a draw but United undoubtedly looked the more aesthetically pleasing, had more of the ball and the better chances. Still as had been the case for a lot of recent games; we have simply not been ruthless enough at either end. That comes down to not quite having the quality you need to win games. It has happened too many times this season to be just bad luck or a coincidence. We simply do not finish teams off. It keeps happening and shows sadly why we will miss out in all reality. From corners we never look like scoring and we wasted so many with floated rubbish. At the other end they looked threatening. So all the pretty, tip tap football matters little if we cannot penetrate in the final third. We have shown that we do not know how to break through massed ranks and it becomes sideways and backwards. We did this a lot today and was not as incisive as recent games due to slow build up. We have too many players who do not trust their weak foot either. Still we did keep the ball a lot and still had enough chances to win despite above concerns.


A draw was not enough. We had to win. At 4.30pm many of the teams were drawing or losing and you felt we were still in with a chance but by full time we were down to 9th and with Brentford still to play also – albeit a hard game at Fulham. Now there are too many teams above us and games are running out. Millwall and Boro win 2 out of the last 3 and even if we win all 3 that is not enough. If they win 1, draw 1 and lose 1; we still need to win all 3 games. We have been unable to put together a run of wins and not put teams away. Now it is going to take something quite remarkable to get in there. It is a shame as we have played well in the last 5 or 6 games other than a poor start at Barnsley. Today we were not quite at our best though and I felt in a big, big game it was typical United and a bit lacklustre. We did alright and were not poor by any stretch but did we quite do enough? We did our best and not down to effort but a few too many did not quite raise their game. I felt Brooks, Fleck, Baldock and a few others were not at their best. I felt only Basham and Duffy actually showed some belief driving at defenders and trying to penetrate and not just play the simple easy ball and allow them to get men back. Too many did not quite take the initiative in a big game.


Millwall have come good at the end with an incredible run and won so many games in this run. We are not winning enough games. We have now won 2 in 8 and draw too many matches. As we started the run of huge games starting with Brentford away you felt from the give games we had that we maybe needed to win 3 or 4 and we have won 1 of these games. We have been the better side in most of the game and again today had more of the ball and more of the chances but today different to some of the others; not sure we quite did enough. I felt we lacked ideas and it was too slow the build up at times. As much of the ball as we had and we did control possession; Millwall looked as dangerous as us and their more direct approach. We need a different kind of approach and do not have a natural wide man or pace down the middle to change games. We have to address this in the summer if we want to push on.

 

[Deadbat]

Millwall – Will feel they did enough to get the point even though they had less chances and less of the ball. Will point to resolve getting back in the game and that Blackman made 2 fabulous saves too. Also, will feel they had a decent appeal for a penalty. They worked very hard and pressed United all game. Showed more determination that sides like Cardiff and also Middlesbrough. Still, what they lack in quality on the ball they make up for in organisation and sheer guts. They ran and chased everything and put bodies on the line. I felt the goal they scored was a bit fortunate. Morison got his toe on it but it was a hopeful punt and not sure even the ball was intended for him as it went forward. Felt a few loose balls dropped for them or key deflections fell for them. They had a bit of luck in both boxes. They did look very dangerous on set plays and corners. More so than general play where United dictated for long periods. It does not matter how you play though it is about getting results and they keep doing it. We do not seem to score scruffy goals like they do and almost have to make or take a perfect goal.


Not the best side to watch. They do play a lot of percentage stuff and like Cardiff rely on set plays such as long throws and corners a lot. They hit a lot of long stuff up the front two and Morison and Gregory do cause problems. They foul a lot and refs let them constantly jump into the centre backs. However, other players then get on the ball and they move onto the second balls. It is a lot of balls down the channels or round the defence too. They do not really pass it around much and want to get it forward as quick as they can. It would not work at a higher level but it has been successful for them and fair play to them. Like us have a vastly reduced budget than anyone else near the top so unbelievable achievement to get up to the top 6. They work hard, press and play as a team. Good organisation, work ethic and sheer effort can go a long way. They have some decent ball players too and are not just a kick and rush team even though do favour the direct ball in many facets of their game. They still have a very tough run in and if they get the results they need from the final 3 games then they deserve it. I am not sure against likes of Villa, Cardiff/Fulham they would have enough over 2 games but they will love being underdogs. This could be their best chance to get an incredible promotion as not sure they would have another run like the one they have had; next season.


Opposition Man of the Match: Jordan Archer made two great saves to deny Baldock and Sharp close range. He made a few others that maybe were more for the cameras (Stearman and Evans either side of half time) but on another day some of those go in. Morison an Gregory are dirty so and so’s and how both were not booked for persistent fouling (counted 8 for Morison and 7 for Gregory) is beyond me. However, they do not give defenders a moment and work so hard for the team and a good partnership. The big lads at the back are dangerous when they have corners and I like the right back Romeo who was a threat going forward.



Opposition Weak link: No-one was awful but I expected a bit more from the two lads in midfield Wallace and Saville. However, they do play a lot over the midfield and this means they do not see as much of the ball as they would like. I also expected more from the former Wednesday man Marshall but he too had a quiet game.


Blackman 7.5/10 – No chance on the goal as poor defending let the striker in. He had another moment where he scooped up the ball after not gathering first time and one cross he ought to have come for and a few times got caught in no man’s land (Morison chance). However, he made 2 stunning saves; one from a header and another from his own man as he tipped over. Vital saves indeed and showed it was the right move for him to be recalled.


Baldock 6.5/10 – Quieter game for him. Did not get forward as much as he has been doing and they knew he was a threat. I felt that they got really tight on him today and he had little space. They made him defend more than some teams have. When he got forward he did ok and second half showed more but his final ball again a bit lacking or he got crowded out. Missed a really good chance when he got in the box.


Stevens 6/10 – He actually had a good first half and we had more attacks down the left than the right and I felt he was a threat. He did lose his man a few times defensively and he was slow to get back at times. Second half bit mixed with some decent stuff but sloppy stuff too. He ended up centre back and then seemed to completely switch off as Morison dragged off him on his shoulder and scored. He knew he had switched off. Since Xmas he has done this too many times.


Basham 7/10 – Mixed game. Showed some real determination to get in front of his man and read the game well but then once again when he came forward he made some poor choices. He made a few vital interceptions as the game went on and it became more stretched but also tried to keep attacking.


O’Connell 7/10 – Had a real tussle with Morison and it was fairly even. They both won some headers and kept competing in a good honest scrap. He did kick it long a bit too much for me as they pressed us and he did not have the option to play it short all the time. Great play on the goal as he chased the ball down and intelligently headed across. A great assist. Headed a few other corners over when well placed. Felt the defence overall lost so many headers from defensive situations and that on another day could have been punished.


Stearman 7/10 – Steady performance and glad to see him back. He had a good battle with the two strikers. Took a booking for a bad foul when they broke but it was a decent one to take as they had men over. As with the others not sure we won enough aerially and again too many corners saw free headers or we lost. Sacrificed but it was an odd move we put a full back on and Stevens went inside. Would we have conceded – not sure but it was a poor goal with him off the pitch.


Fleck 7/10 – Did well in spells but for a big game I wanted a bit more from him. Had one shot saved and then another good effort after he weaved forward. Did not see enough of this after this effort and he played safe too much. Did keep the ball for the most part but not sure he or the other midfielders moved it on quick enough. It was all a bit safe.


Evans 7/10 – Got Man of the Match at the ground. Not sure he was quite that. He was ok doing some good stuff but also some sloppy stuff too. I am not sure anyone really stood out for us today. He was neat and tidy and had one shot wide and another well saved. Also made the goal. So, some good moment but also at times he was way too slow to do basic things and got caught a few times. His passing was ok but again a bit safe and at times we simply did not move it on quick enough allowing men to get back. Not sure at the end why he did not hit in and was a poor attempt to con the referee. A decent performance but not anything stand out.


Lundstram 5.5/10 – Had a poor start as he gave the ball away first minute and then repeated it a few minutes later. His passing was often short and put in a few hospital balls. He recovered and kept it nice and simple for a period and won a few interceptions but not sure in a big game he did enough and I felt it was a very pedestrian performance from him. Like I have said before they show potential some of our players but too many play well for one game and then poor for another; or do the same in a game. Lundstram is a classic example of this.


Brooks 6/10 – Expected more from him today. Showed a few neat touches and tried to come back to get on the ball as he had little service and we started to go long. He got fouled a few times and had a few runs but often they had men very tight to him. I wanted him to get on it more and drive into the box but it never really happened. I felt the front two for them worked harder than the front two for us at times which is a shame as we have some good quality up there. Stayed on for Duffy but not for that long and then was withdrawn. Need him to stand out more in big games. He played well in the week but out of the last 4 games he has played; he has had one good game and 3 very ordinary ones. He needs to do more.


Clarke 7/10 –Thought he was ok today at times but also a bit languid in other parts of the game. Spent too long trying to wrestle with the centre back. He had a few chances but took too long to get it down and drove one across the goal. He then got his goal; a poachers effort. After this he had another few half chances. Felt he did not get much service but again as I have said about the Millwall front two, you look at how hard they worked, chasing everything, holding it up, winning flick ons and never giving the defence a second. Could you say same about our strikers today?


Subs:


Duffy 7.5/10 – Our best outfield player for me and only played 45 minutes. Started badly as he gave it away and nearly put them in. However, he got on the ball, moved it about quicker and drove at defenders. Showed some lovely touches and most good things came from him. Has to start the final games for me. Dragged one shot wide but made a few opening with his close control and running. Had a late shot that deflected over when I thought it was goal bound. Even if we play him and Brooks. So what? We need to win games. To me he should have started today and it is criminal he has not been used in recent games when he is probably our most influential player.


Sharp – Not really an impact sub as he lacks pace but always that chance he could nick a goal of course. He did put a lot of effort in and a few times won some lost causes. He did have one big chance and did not convert. Sadly with some big opportunities (Brentford etc) he has been found wanting and not scored for a while albeit from the bench recently.


Lafferty – Not sure why he came on. They were not having lots of joy down our left and most of the threat came via set plays or punts forward and getting on the second ball. He had a few touches going forward and did ok in limited moments.



Manager: Wilder 7/10 – It was ok performance. Decent but not great. Even if we won, it was not as convincing as many other home games. We looked a bit sloppy and slow to move it. Still, we had enough chances and got in front. Then another stupid goal. Fair play to him for the brave moves of bringing on Duffy and Sharp. Did not understand the Lafferty change and having Stevens on the centre forward cost us at the end. We look like we will now miss out but what a go we have given it. I hope we do not just limply finish the season. Birmingham will be under massive pressure next week; assuming they lose at Wolves and so it will be an open game. This might help us. A win at least would take it to the final few weeks.


Officials – David Coote was better than the ref in the week but still not great. Stopped game too much to talk to people and did not let things flow. How he did not book both centre halves is beyond me? They work hard and do a great job but just jump into the defender all game. He booked a few for cynical trips and the worst foul was Stearman’s from us. They had a good call for a penalty – it was a daft over the back challenge from Basham and seen them given. He had no faith in his assistant referees and gave most things even when they were right near the incident.


Crowd – Will be criticised for this but from where I sit in the South Stand felt it was really quiet. Maybe it was the nerves or the importance of the game but first half Millwall fans made a lot of a din and our end was silent. It got better after the break and helped drive United forward. The noise then the goal went in was deafening but we could not build on this and this flattened the crowd straight away. You then felt the crowd doing their best and the noise levels lifted but United could not force the winner. Too many times at home, United have edged teams higher up but too many times we have chucked away goals and points. Sure, United will sell out at Birmingham and the games v Preston and Bristol City still could be important but you sense the top 6 (and Derby with a game in hand) look in pole position now. Hope United can take it to the last day but we have made it very hard with the recent results. Still, whatever happens it has been a great season.

 

[Deadbat]

Just watched back the goals - not sure what Blackman was doing out there - he seemed to come and then stop. The ball does not go in the corner. If he stays on his line, not sure he scores. Still a defensive error but he was not as blameless as I felt at the time.

 

[Wilderat Heart]

Frustrating how many points we've lost recently through lapses in concentration. For what it's worth i think we got lucky with the goal, from my view on the kop it was never a corner and then O'Connell seemed well offside. I could understand Millwall's complaints. I felt we were due a lucky break and a dodgy decision going our way so I wasn't complaining. I don't think the substitution helped us either. The crowd did feel flat but were not helped by a not very intense start by both teams. their keeper pulled off some terrific saves however. The problem with Billy is although he probably hasn't been effective enough lately to start, He is the only player we have who would have got on the end of that Clarke cross in the first half cos that's where he would have been.

 

[jt64]

Will agree with that, JOC looked off and the first thing I was doing before celebrating was looking towards the lino

 

[Addison]

Just don't understand why Duffy didn't start your comments sum up my feelings but don't expect him to start at Birmingham. Stearman was struggling with an injury so why didn't Jake Wright replace him, the natural replacement. Strange substitutions and team selection today on a day when we needed to go at them from the off.

 

[robbiez666]

Just watched back the goals - not sure what Blackman was doing out there - he seemed to come and then stop. The ball does not go in the corner. If he stays on his line, not sure he scores. Still a defensive error but he was not as blameless as I felt at the time.

It would have been great positioning had their striker controlled it first. Ours shouldn't have been a goal, there's was just a fluke.

 

[Darlington82]

Thanks for the report, tried watching on my phone whilst at the Berlin Olympic stadium, before watching hertha vs Koln. obviously supporting the team in red and not hertha. But with sods first law of physics 'any United stream will buffer at any key moment.'

To be fair when I booked I did not think this match would be so important and our season ended at Barnsley in my eyes anyway. Not getting a result against a bottom three in the run in and you do not deserve to go up.

Great season, but we have struggled with any team that closes us down and I fear that next year could be really difficult as we will not get the space we were given at the start of this year.

What happens upstairs will have more of a baring than anything else, as we need a decent investment to give chris a chance and stop him leaving.

On the German football, even in a 60% (49k) full ground the atmosphere was fantastic. Though apart from palace away on that last away match a few years ago and Cardiff, I have not seen so much beer drunk and they deliver it to you in the stand, how good is that.

 

[jt64]

Don't rely on German mobile Internet to even run livescores, let alone a stream

 

[Woodwardfan]

Credit Milwall they are hard to play against and have a very good keeper.

Agree with most of the report and the ratings apart from a bit less for Stevens. Unfortunately Lundstram deserved no more than rated above.

Maybe a mark less for Wilder too. We wasted too much time first half playing across the back and I feel Millwall were allowed to settle too easily into the game. The substitution of Lafferty for Stearman was bizarre when we had Wright on the bench. Stevens as a player just does not want responsibility these days and he can't hide in the Back 3 or was the plan 4 at the back then, didn't look like it and not needed either. Lafferty looked positively lively going forward which speaks volumes about the player he replaced out there.

Agree re Duffy and why not play him from the start with Brooks if we want to win games? Lundstarm and Evans tend to play in each other's space and get in each other's way. When Brooks drops deep, as he often does as he prefers to run with the ball from there, it leaves us with just the one striker upfield and Clarke is not young enough or mobile enough even though he's the best we've got. Why Holmes has not played more is a mystery.

Strange referee again. He seemed to operate on a permanent pause and announced decisions without emotion or expression, almost robot-like; the trouble was the robot saw fouls (apart from their centre backs pummelling Clarke and J O'C pummelling their forwards) but never counted them up, maybe not programmed for that. Same for both sides I suppose and I think refs in general rarely give those fouls these days for some strange reason and yet they penalise the forwards for the slightest nudge.

Appalling goal to give away and even worse timing. Big opportunity wasted by an iffy substitution.

 

[sitwell]

Clarke the same as Evans ?? Don't like Evans do you.

 

[pesch the mini genius]

Credit Milwall they are hard to play against and have a very good keeper.

Agree with most of the report and the ratings apart from a bit less for Stevens. Unfortunately Lundstram deserved no more than rated above.

Maybe a mark less for Wilder too. We wasted too much time first half playing across the back and I feel Millwall were allowed to settle too easily into the game. The substitution of Lafferty for Stearman was bizarre when we had Wright on the bench. Stevens as a player just does not want responsibility these days and he can't hide in the Back 3 or was the plan 4 at the back then, didn't look like it and not needed either. Lafferty looked positively lively going forward which speaks volumes about the player he replaced out there.

Agree re Duffy and why not play him from the start with Brooks if we want to win games? Lundstarm and Evans tend to play in each other's space and get in each other's way. When Brooks drops deep, as he often does as he prefers to run with the ball from there, it leaves us with just the one striker upfield and Clarke is not young enough or mobile enough even though he's the best we've got. Why Holmes has not played more is a mystery.

Strange referee again. He seemed to operate on a permanent pause and announced decisions without emotion or expression, almost robot-like; the trouble was the robot saw fouls (apart from their centre backs pummelling Clarke and J O'C pummelling their forwards) but never counted them up, maybe not programmed for that. Same for both sides I suppose and I think refs in general rarely give those fouls these days for some strange reason and yet they penalise the forwards for the slightest nudge.

Appalling goal to give away and even worse timing. Big opportunity wasted by an iffy substitution.

Agree completely, also feel lundstram and Evans are vying for the same place and should be one or the other

Also I felt Lafferty was quite positive and I really don't understand why he has not been given any game time when Stevens IMO has been poor for most of the 2nd half of the season