Deadbat
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Podcast links to come late. Report below…
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After another tumultuous week in the fortunes of Sheffield United, matters on the pitch were once again back in the foremost of fans thoughts as Paul Heckingbottom managed his first (permanent) game as Blades manager. Former Wednesday skipper Nigel Pearson brought Bristol City to the Lane, a team that has traditionally done well in Sheffield in recent years and were fresh off a good win in in the week at home to Stoke City. In a contest that saw snow fall for much of it, the home side were worthy winners largely controlling the game and created a plethora of good opportunities outside of the goals they scored. After several near misses from the Blades, City had the best chance of the first half but Foderingham saved well from Martin and then Brewster was able to smartly turn and score for his first league goal at the Lane. The second half saw City have a spell of play and they threw on extra strikers but, in a game, marred by another serious looking injury, this time to City’s Nathan Baker, the Blades sealed things late on. It was the old one two combination of McGoldrick and Sharp that combined for the second goal and a winning start for messrs Heckingbottom, McCall and Lester.
Heckingbottom’s first line up saw just one change as Conor Hourihane came in for John Fleck after the midfielder went off after the scary incident in the week. The Scotsman was warmly applauded as he took his seat in the South Stand before kick-off. Iliman Ndiaye was back on the bench where the substitute goalkeeper was Jake Eastwood. There was still no place in the match day squad for Baldock or McBurnie.
City started with Chris Martin and Blades nemesis Andreas Weimann leading the line with Nakhi Well on the bench. The early Sunday kick off and tricky weather meant the crowd was down somewhat from the normal numbers that sees the Lane attract by far the biggest gates at this level. Bristol City only brought maybe 500-600 fans as they huddled together in the Bramall Lane end hoping to be rewarded for an early start.
After a day where snow, sleet, rain and wind had engulfed the Steel City, it was a credit that the pitch looked in fantastic condition as the game began albeit it was still bitterly cold in S2.
The early tempo was good from the home team who instantly got it down wide and the mantra we heard pre game of winning it back and getting in crosses was to the fore. Lovely skill from Gibbs White saw him drift down the right and his cross seemed perfect for Brewster but somehow, he could not get a touch and it was cleared behind.
The early corner led to a half chance for Egan who could not turn it goalward and then Basham’s effort was off target. It was all United who continued to get the ball into the box quicker with McGoldrick, Stevens and Gibbs White all involved heavily in the play.
Stevens took too long to make his decision when well found by Davies down the left before another move down this side saw McGoldrick thread it through to Stevens who stood up a delightful cross that Bogle headed wide. Hourihane was also getting on the ball and himself and Norwood had dominated this area of the game as the Blades were camped in the Bristol City half for the opening 20-25 minutes.
City had not been in the game at all but broke out and had a better period with Basham having to recover his earlier error to get back and City won two corners and also tried to utilise Kalas’ long throw. From a corner from the right-hand side, United’s marking was poor and Martin was free to power a header in but Foderingham sprung to his right to firmly push the ball away. United had been the much better side but this was the first save from either keeper.
Referee Eltringham was making some strange decisions but clearly was ‘hot’ on players kicking the ball away and he cautioned both players. Gibbs White then showed lovely skill to drift away from two men but his ball was overplayed to Brewster and in his frustration to get back he ended up pulling his man back and was booked. Hourihane had a weak shot saved before McGoldrick had an effort blocked after United had started to take control again.
Cheers from the crowd came as the snow started to fall more heavily as the white ball was exchanged for a fluorescent yellow one. United managed to cross this one out soon after proving the poor final product was not down to the equipment they were using! Martin was then next to be booked for kicking it away as the referee had maybe made a rod for his own back at this point drawing laughter from the Bramall Lane crowd who were perhaps asking for more yellow cards more in jest than genuine demand for action! Elteringham who was becoming a bit of a comedy performer in some of his decision obliged!
United had definitely been much the better side and got the goal their efforts deserved on 40 minutes when McGoldrick beat the offside trap and then with the City defence nowhere, Hourihane played in Stevens who in turn walked across picking out BREWSTER who calmly turned and fired a driven shot that gave Bentley little chance. He was clearly delighted to follow his effort up at Blackburn earlier this month, with another Blades goal.
After this United had another opportunity, when more good work from Gibbs White after the initial burst from Bogle, saw the ball pulled back to Hourihane whose shot was blocked at point blank range. The half time whistle came not long after this.
The second half started with the weather deteriorating and the snow flurries increasing making it difficult for much fluidity for either side. Gibbs White overplayed it when well-placed and then Vyner had a shot blocked before a serious looking injury occurred. Basham won the header and Baker was in some distress but any contact with the United man seemed innocuous. However, as in the week, the medics were very quick to come on. The City man was down for over 10 minutes before he was stretchered away and clearly had needed oxygen and to be treated immediately on the pitch. All four sides of the Lane gave him an ovation as he departed with Rob Atkinson coming on in his place.
Gibbs White was enjoying a lot of time down the right and his cross narrowly evaded Brewster before Bogle and Basham nearly linked well for another opportunity. Wells came on for Benarous as City tried to find more attacking intent.
The stop start nature of the 2nd half continued when Brewster went to ground after an earlier tackle had gone unpunished. Sharp came on in his place.
City had a few moments with a cross bouncing around and then Bakinson had an effort saved from Foderingham as the game became really open. Gibbs White drifted inside after neat football but Bentley pushed his shot away before Semenyo came on for Bakinson and City now had a very attacking line up out as they tried to make their way up the field. Sharp was booked for kicking the ball away as the referee tried to show some consistency which was odd as he had let Bogle kick it away earlier with no card! Weimann was then booked for kicking Egan well after the ball had gone.
United were having lots of space down the right-hand side and Bogle, Gibbs White and then Sharp all linked but the final ball was cleared before Egan had two headed chances from Hourihane’s corners that both went wide. Sharp also had an effort from a Norwood cross as his scissor kick was tipped over from Bentley. United seemed intent on scoring a second and got it on 89 minutes. Norwood’s slide rule ball down the side put McGoldrick in and his cross was perfect for master marksman, SHARP to turn into the net past Bentley. The old strike combo embraced in front of the Kop and the management team punched the air as they knew this may have effectively sealed the game.
There was to be 13 minutes of additional time to be played after the earlier injury for the second consecutive game. Berge replaced Norwood after the goal and Bentley was able to play on after getting injured in the melee for the goal. Gibbs White fired wide after being played in and then tried to play it back to Bogle when he ought to have gone himself as United looked for more goals on the break. City won a few corners and Martin flicked one effort wide before Davies was booked after turning into trouble and Wells got away. A final effort from Wells was wide and United ended up back on the attack as time ticked down in the snow and a winning start for Heckingbottom.
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After another tumultuous week in the fortunes of Sheffield United, matters on the pitch were once again back in the foremost of fans thoughts as Paul Heckingbottom managed his first (permanent) game as Blades manager. Former Wednesday skipper Nigel Pearson brought Bristol City to the Lane, a team that has traditionally done well in Sheffield in recent years and were fresh off a good win in in the week at home to Stoke City. In a contest that saw snow fall for much of it, the home side were worthy winners largely controlling the game and created a plethora of good opportunities outside of the goals they scored. After several near misses from the Blades, City had the best chance of the first half but Foderingham saved well from Martin and then Brewster was able to smartly turn and score for his first league goal at the Lane. The second half saw City have a spell of play and they threw on extra strikers but, in a game, marred by another serious looking injury, this time to City’s Nathan Baker, the Blades sealed things late on. It was the old one two combination of McGoldrick and Sharp that combined for the second goal and a winning start for messrs Heckingbottom, McCall and Lester.
Heckingbottom’s first line up saw just one change as Conor Hourihane came in for John Fleck after the midfielder went off after the scary incident in the week. The Scotsman was warmly applauded as he took his seat in the South Stand before kick-off. Iliman Ndiaye was back on the bench where the substitute goalkeeper was Jake Eastwood. There was still no place in the match day squad for Baldock or McBurnie.
City started with Chris Martin and Blades nemesis Andreas Weimann leading the line with Nakhi Well on the bench. The early Sunday kick off and tricky weather meant the crowd was down somewhat from the normal numbers that sees the Lane attract by far the biggest gates at this level. Bristol City only brought maybe 500-600 fans as they huddled together in the Bramall Lane end hoping to be rewarded for an early start.
After a day where snow, sleet, rain and wind had engulfed the Steel City, it was a credit that the pitch looked in fantastic condition as the game began albeit it was still bitterly cold in S2.
The early tempo was good from the home team who instantly got it down wide and the mantra we heard pre game of winning it back and getting in crosses was to the fore. Lovely skill from Gibbs White saw him drift down the right and his cross seemed perfect for Brewster but somehow, he could not get a touch and it was cleared behind.
The early corner led to a half chance for Egan who could not turn it goalward and then Basham’s effort was off target. It was all United who continued to get the ball into the box quicker with McGoldrick, Stevens and Gibbs White all involved heavily in the play.
Stevens took too long to make his decision when well found by Davies down the left before another move down this side saw McGoldrick thread it through to Stevens who stood up a delightful cross that Bogle headed wide. Hourihane was also getting on the ball and himself and Norwood had dominated this area of the game as the Blades were camped in the Bristol City half for the opening 20-25 minutes.
City had not been in the game at all but broke out and had a better period with Basham having to recover his earlier error to get back and City won two corners and also tried to utilise Kalas’ long throw. From a corner from the right-hand side, United’s marking was poor and Martin was free to power a header in but Foderingham sprung to his right to firmly push the ball away. United had been the much better side but this was the first save from either keeper.
Referee Eltringham was making some strange decisions but clearly was ‘hot’ on players kicking the ball away and he cautioned both players. Gibbs White then showed lovely skill to drift away from two men but his ball was overplayed to Brewster and in his frustration to get back he ended up pulling his man back and was booked. Hourihane had a weak shot saved before McGoldrick had an effort blocked after United had started to take control again.
Cheers from the crowd came as the snow started to fall more heavily as the white ball was exchanged for a fluorescent yellow one. United managed to cross this one out soon after proving the poor final product was not down to the equipment they were using! Martin was then next to be booked for kicking it away as the referee had maybe made a rod for his own back at this point drawing laughter from the Bramall Lane crowd who were perhaps asking for more yellow cards more in jest than genuine demand for action! Elteringham who was becoming a bit of a comedy performer in some of his decision obliged!
United had definitely been much the better side and got the goal their efforts deserved on 40 minutes when McGoldrick beat the offside trap and then with the City defence nowhere, Hourihane played in Stevens who in turn walked across picking out BREWSTER who calmly turned and fired a driven shot that gave Bentley little chance. He was clearly delighted to follow his effort up at Blackburn earlier this month, with another Blades goal.
After this United had another opportunity, when more good work from Gibbs White after the initial burst from Bogle, saw the ball pulled back to Hourihane whose shot was blocked at point blank range. The half time whistle came not long after this.
The second half started with the weather deteriorating and the snow flurries increasing making it difficult for much fluidity for either side. Gibbs White overplayed it when well-placed and then Vyner had a shot blocked before a serious looking injury occurred. Basham won the header and Baker was in some distress but any contact with the United man seemed innocuous. However, as in the week, the medics were very quick to come on. The City man was down for over 10 minutes before he was stretchered away and clearly had needed oxygen and to be treated immediately on the pitch. All four sides of the Lane gave him an ovation as he departed with Rob Atkinson coming on in his place.
Gibbs White was enjoying a lot of time down the right and his cross narrowly evaded Brewster before Bogle and Basham nearly linked well for another opportunity. Wells came on for Benarous as City tried to find more attacking intent.
The stop start nature of the 2nd half continued when Brewster went to ground after an earlier tackle had gone unpunished. Sharp came on in his place.
City had a few moments with a cross bouncing around and then Bakinson had an effort saved from Foderingham as the game became really open. Gibbs White drifted inside after neat football but Bentley pushed his shot away before Semenyo came on for Bakinson and City now had a very attacking line up out as they tried to make their way up the field. Sharp was booked for kicking the ball away as the referee tried to show some consistency which was odd as he had let Bogle kick it away earlier with no card! Weimann was then booked for kicking Egan well after the ball had gone.
United were having lots of space down the right-hand side and Bogle, Gibbs White and then Sharp all linked but the final ball was cleared before Egan had two headed chances from Hourihane’s corners that both went wide. Sharp also had an effort from a Norwood cross as his scissor kick was tipped over from Bentley. United seemed intent on scoring a second and got it on 89 minutes. Norwood’s slide rule ball down the side put McGoldrick in and his cross was perfect for master marksman, SHARP to turn into the net past Bentley. The old strike combo embraced in front of the Kop and the management team punched the air as they knew this may have effectively sealed the game.
There was to be 13 minutes of additional time to be played after the earlier injury for the second consecutive game. Berge replaced Norwood after the goal and Bentley was able to play on after getting injured in the melee for the goal. Gibbs White fired wide after being played in and then tried to play it back to Bogle when he ought to have gone himself as United looked for more goals on the break. City won a few corners and Martin flicked one effort wide before Davies was booked after turning into trouble and Wells got away. A final effort from Wells was wide and United ended up back on the attack as time ticked down in the snow and a winning start for Heckingbottom.