Deadbat
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The Blades finally broke their Bramall Lane duck, at the fifth time of asking, as they beat Watford by a single goal to move off the foot of the Championship table. As he had last month, Callum O’Hare was the hero with a poachers finish after a smart move in the second half, saw United also finally score a goal at the Kop End. It had been O’Hare who had last scored in that goal – going back to the Bristol City playoff game in May.
Wilder had to make do without stat man Gus Hamer due to a knee injury and brought in Louie Barry. Soumare also came in for Matos. Riedewald joined other returnees Brooks and Shackleton on the bench. Tom Davies also missed out with injury again. Watford, like the Blades, had brought back a former manager Javi Garcia as the Hornets’ managerial merry go round continued with no sign of abating.
The game began with both teams feeling each other out and some poor touches resulted throughout the pitch but McCallum had started with an energy and purpose. The wing back hit a long range shot that was not far over before Bramall Lane rose to their feet to acknowledge the anniversary of George Baldock’s passing. Louza had a similar effort over the bar at the other end for Watford.
It was a relatively even contest but United were starting to apply some pressure and had opportunities from set plays as McGuiness’ header was pushed away from Selvik. Cooper had to scramble down to save a low shot as Watford had their first effort on target. At the other end, Barry’s delivery caused problems again and Tanganga forced the keeper to parry at full stretch – although this effort may have been going wide of the post.
The away side moved down the left side and the cross came in too easily from Wiley and the big striker Kjerrumgaard got in front of Mee but steered it just wide of the far post. McCallum’s strong running continued to be a feature of any good play from United but Campbell was again somewhat isolated as United struggled to create anything in open play. Watford got down the left and a shot was pulled across goal. United won a free kick and a corner as the half came towards the end but could not profit from either. Referee Madley was trying to let the game flow which was something you do not always see but both sides became frustrated with some physical play not being penalised and led to players going down with head injuries and the game not stopping.
The second half began with Watford creating the best chance of the game. The ball was given away cheaply and the away side broke through the middle too easily and as the ball was transferred onto the left side, Wiley was free but made a total hash of the finish slicing wide. Brooks replaced Barry on 56 minutes after another largely ineffective showing from the Villa loan man.
United were trying to attack more down the right this half and Ogbene was seeing much more of the ball. Tanganga fired wide after the ball had bounced around the corner of the box. From the next attack where the ball was moved inside, the ball was adjudged to have been handled by Keben leading to a good opportunity from around 25 yards. McCallum took it and the keeper had to make the save. The goal was not long coming just before the hour mark though. O’Hare was involved backheeling to Tanganga and receiving the ball back to centre. Campbell met it and turned it goalwards but Selvik did well to turn it away but Brooks managed to react and send it back across and O’HARE was first to react to turn home from only a yard. Watford’s defenders appealed for offside but the goal scorer appeared to be behind the ball when Brooks had crossed the ball.
Watford had been readying a triple change even before the goal but now had to make it after conceding. Baah, Bola and Ince were introduced with Irankunda, Wiley and Kayembe the men departing. United looked to try and fashion another chance to finish the game and Brooks was looking lively down the left-hand side but his effort was blocked. The Blades then made three changes of their own with Burrows, Riedewald and Ings replacing McCallum, Soumare and Campbell.
United were now content to hold what they had and were starting to defend deeper but Watford had not created many chances this half after the Wiley miss and the Blades defence was holding firm. Peck and O’Hare were working hard to deny space and they were managing the game well with Ings tussling to help United stay up the field. However, as the game ticked towards the end, Watford created a fantastic opportunity as the cross came in and Louza was left completely unmarked. The midfielder maybe had too much time and was perhaps guilty of being too precise. His effort kissed the top of the bar and the chance. We moved into the 5 minutes of stoppage time but O’Hare was adjudged to have gone to ground too easily and Watford broke leading to a final chance to salvage something. They won a late corner and as the ball dropped Keben could only steer wide, when he should have done better.
United – Just a relief to get the victory. We could not afford to keep losing as we would becoming increasingly cut adrift in the relegation zone. I think we all wanted a good performance and some authority to our play alongside a win but in reality, it was just about the three points really. Today, the performance was not that dissimilar to some of the other games recently. A close game where only a single goal margin would decide things (either way). I think we gave a committed performance and there was effort there and all the stats (aside from possession) were clearly in our favour (touches in opposition box, shots, shots on target, XG). We deserved to win the game and 1-0 was about right.
It was not a great performance and as I say not too different to other games this season but we had more play in the opposition box – more kind of action and chaos even if lacking quality. In general play we created next to nothing outside of the goal – our main chances were the headers from corners (one long ranger apart) and Watford actually did seem to be more dangerous in terms of how they worked the ball for openings but Cooper did not actually have a meaningful save to make – one gather. They just missed big chances - the sliced effort wide and the Louza one. That is why the XG does not always tell the story – as they were the best 2 chances of the game in my opinion? However, despite this and the possession Watford had, I always felt United seemed to always look to create more pressure and have more ball in the Watford third. We at least built up some momentum and second half was much better. Brooks made a difference when he came on and O’Hare and Peck improved hugely after the break.
I am not seeing huge improvements game on game some are. We have been a better under Wilder no doubt but not by that much (Ipswich game aside) but at least are forcing some goalmouth action and the defence has been solid. I will counter and say the last two sides we have played – Hull and Watford – have been really poor and expect both to be near the bottom. Watford in particular today were awful and should have been put away easily. However, their fans have said that any decent side would have beaten us – so there is two ways of looking at it! It was a 1-0 game to us but could have gone the other way – in terms of who took their chance and who did not. I do think we had more of the ball in the opposition box even if we created little and at least were able to keep the ball in the third for a sustained period of time.
We scored a decent goal where we got to the ball first (on quite a few occasions in the build-up) and this meant we kept it alive. I also thought that we were trying to go forward quicker – in the second half – and taking less touches. It is all about narrow margins though and as with the Hull game where we could have drawn or won with chances (penalty/post), Watford missed theirs (sitter after the break and hit the bar) and we took ours – as the manager said. We will continue to have to try and nick close games as the reality is we do not create much at all and do not score many with Campbell still isolated and out of sorts. The flip side is the defence has looked more solid and the three centre backs were all largely solid again.
I am still not convinced what our style/plan it to progress up the field and how we try and play? However, you could say that last year. Our best player today was McCallum (who did well to be fair) which kind of sums up where we are at I suppose. Hamer has not been great this season but will be missed if out for any length of time. I think Wilder will realise which players are not up to it and I am not sure we will see much of Barry after today (he seems to have already seen enough of Matos, Bindon and Godfrey – although latter out for personal reasons it seems). There are a few that seem to show flashes but frustrating elements too – Soumare and Ogbene two that fit into that category from what I have seen.
Overall, it was huge to just win the game. You hope we can get on a run as the last time we won, we then lost two back-to-back and it is so important we follow it up and get something from the next two away games – two quite ordinary sides in my opinion – particularly Blackburn who I pegged to go down this season. It feels quite a pivotal game – we have only scored one goal away from home and we must improve this area.
Today, I think people went away and saw a committed performance and a win – the players clearly tried but it lacked much quality and was a really bad game of football with so many loose touches and passes. On that evidence both sides will be much nearer the bottom than top I am afraid.
Wilder had to make do without stat man Gus Hamer due to a knee injury and brought in Louie Barry. Soumare also came in for Matos. Riedewald joined other returnees Brooks and Shackleton on the bench. Tom Davies also missed out with injury again. Watford, like the Blades, had brought back a former manager Javi Garcia as the Hornets’ managerial merry go round continued with no sign of abating.
The game began with both teams feeling each other out and some poor touches resulted throughout the pitch but McCallum had started with an energy and purpose. The wing back hit a long range shot that was not far over before Bramall Lane rose to their feet to acknowledge the anniversary of George Baldock’s passing. Louza had a similar effort over the bar at the other end for Watford.
It was a relatively even contest but United were starting to apply some pressure and had opportunities from set plays as McGuiness’ header was pushed away from Selvik. Cooper had to scramble down to save a low shot as Watford had their first effort on target. At the other end, Barry’s delivery caused problems again and Tanganga forced the keeper to parry at full stretch – although this effort may have been going wide of the post.
The away side moved down the left side and the cross came in too easily from Wiley and the big striker Kjerrumgaard got in front of Mee but steered it just wide of the far post. McCallum’s strong running continued to be a feature of any good play from United but Campbell was again somewhat isolated as United struggled to create anything in open play. Watford got down the left and a shot was pulled across goal. United won a free kick and a corner as the half came towards the end but could not profit from either. Referee Madley was trying to let the game flow which was something you do not always see but both sides became frustrated with some physical play not being penalised and led to players going down with head injuries and the game not stopping.
The second half began with Watford creating the best chance of the game. The ball was given away cheaply and the away side broke through the middle too easily and as the ball was transferred onto the left side, Wiley was free but made a total hash of the finish slicing wide. Brooks replaced Barry on 56 minutes after another largely ineffective showing from the Villa loan man.
United were trying to attack more down the right this half and Ogbene was seeing much more of the ball. Tanganga fired wide after the ball had bounced around the corner of the box. From the next attack where the ball was moved inside, the ball was adjudged to have been handled by Keben leading to a good opportunity from around 25 yards. McCallum took it and the keeper had to make the save. The goal was not long coming just before the hour mark though. O’Hare was involved backheeling to Tanganga and receiving the ball back to centre. Campbell met it and turned it goalwards but Selvik did well to turn it away but Brooks managed to react and send it back across and O’HARE was first to react to turn home from only a yard. Watford’s defenders appealed for offside but the goal scorer appeared to be behind the ball when Brooks had crossed the ball.
Watford had been readying a triple change even before the goal but now had to make it after conceding. Baah, Bola and Ince were introduced with Irankunda, Wiley and Kayembe the men departing. United looked to try and fashion another chance to finish the game and Brooks was looking lively down the left-hand side but his effort was blocked. The Blades then made three changes of their own with Burrows, Riedewald and Ings replacing McCallum, Soumare and Campbell.
United were now content to hold what they had and were starting to defend deeper but Watford had not created many chances this half after the Wiley miss and the Blades defence was holding firm. Peck and O’Hare were working hard to deny space and they were managing the game well with Ings tussling to help United stay up the field. However, as the game ticked towards the end, Watford created a fantastic opportunity as the cross came in and Louza was left completely unmarked. The midfielder maybe had too much time and was perhaps guilty of being too precise. His effort kissed the top of the bar and the chance. We moved into the 5 minutes of stoppage time but O’Hare was adjudged to have gone to ground too easily and Watford broke leading to a final chance to salvage something. They won a late corner and as the ball dropped Keben could only steer wide, when he should have done better.
United – Just a relief to get the victory. We could not afford to keep losing as we would becoming increasingly cut adrift in the relegation zone. I think we all wanted a good performance and some authority to our play alongside a win but in reality, it was just about the three points really. Today, the performance was not that dissimilar to some of the other games recently. A close game where only a single goal margin would decide things (either way). I think we gave a committed performance and there was effort there and all the stats (aside from possession) were clearly in our favour (touches in opposition box, shots, shots on target, XG). We deserved to win the game and 1-0 was about right.
It was not a great performance and as I say not too different to other games this season but we had more play in the opposition box – more kind of action and chaos even if lacking quality. In general play we created next to nothing outside of the goal – our main chances were the headers from corners (one long ranger apart) and Watford actually did seem to be more dangerous in terms of how they worked the ball for openings but Cooper did not actually have a meaningful save to make – one gather. They just missed big chances - the sliced effort wide and the Louza one. That is why the XG does not always tell the story – as they were the best 2 chances of the game in my opinion? However, despite this and the possession Watford had, I always felt United seemed to always look to create more pressure and have more ball in the Watford third. We at least built up some momentum and second half was much better. Brooks made a difference when he came on and O’Hare and Peck improved hugely after the break.
I am not seeing huge improvements game on game some are. We have been a better under Wilder no doubt but not by that much (Ipswich game aside) but at least are forcing some goalmouth action and the defence has been solid. I will counter and say the last two sides we have played – Hull and Watford – have been really poor and expect both to be near the bottom. Watford in particular today were awful and should have been put away easily. However, their fans have said that any decent side would have beaten us – so there is two ways of looking at it! It was a 1-0 game to us but could have gone the other way – in terms of who took their chance and who did not. I do think we had more of the ball in the opposition box even if we created little and at least were able to keep the ball in the third for a sustained period of time.
We scored a decent goal where we got to the ball first (on quite a few occasions in the build-up) and this meant we kept it alive. I also thought that we were trying to go forward quicker – in the second half – and taking less touches. It is all about narrow margins though and as with the Hull game where we could have drawn or won with chances (penalty/post), Watford missed theirs (sitter after the break and hit the bar) and we took ours – as the manager said. We will continue to have to try and nick close games as the reality is we do not create much at all and do not score many with Campbell still isolated and out of sorts. The flip side is the defence has looked more solid and the three centre backs were all largely solid again.
I am still not convinced what our style/plan it to progress up the field and how we try and play? However, you could say that last year. Our best player today was McCallum (who did well to be fair) which kind of sums up where we are at I suppose. Hamer has not been great this season but will be missed if out for any length of time. I think Wilder will realise which players are not up to it and I am not sure we will see much of Barry after today (he seems to have already seen enough of Matos, Bindon and Godfrey – although latter out for personal reasons it seems). There are a few that seem to show flashes but frustrating elements too – Soumare and Ogbene two that fit into that category from what I have seen.
Overall, it was huge to just win the game. You hope we can get on a run as the last time we won, we then lost two back-to-back and it is so important we follow it up and get something from the next two away games – two quite ordinary sides in my opinion – particularly Blackburn who I pegged to go down this season. It feels quite a pivotal game – we have only scored one goal away from home and we must improve this area.
Today, I think people went away and saw a committed performance and a win – the players clearly tried but it lacked much quality and was a really bad game of football with so many loose touches and passes. On that evidence both sides will be much nearer the bottom than top I am afraid.
