Deadbat
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The United bandwagon keeps on rolling as the Blades won again seeing off a decent Charlton Athletic side at Bramall Lane. Despite a really poor start when Ricky Holmes scored direct from a free kick, the Blades bounced back thanks to Jack O’Connell’s flicked header and then upped their game to eventually nose in front thanks to Daniel Lafferty’s effort. After this there were a few nervy moments but United did just about enough to edge the contest. With Fleetwood dropping points, United extended their lead over the third placed spot despite late wins for Bolton and Bradford. The Blades are now in a tremendous position with only eight league games to play.
Manager Chris Wilder opted to bring back James Hanson and Mark Duffy with Jay O’Shea and Caloan Lavery the unfortunate ones to drop out despite both scoring in the week. The bench looked strong with the aforementioned duo being joined by the likes of Carruthers, Wright, Chapman and Done as outfield options. Charlton’s season has been very inconsistent but the side featured players who had performed much higher up the league and began with the experienced Lee Novak and Tony Watt up top. They also included former Blades nemesis Nathan Byrne, back from injury.
Despite the poor weather with swirling wind and rain, the pitch looked immaculate especially considering it was mid-March and a far cry from some of the difficult surfaces United have played on away from home in recent weeks. Charlton came storming out of the blocks and were roaring into the early tackles and pressed United back. Indecision at the back saw United fail to clear and Coutts hauled down Forster Caskey to give the visitors a free kick right on the edge of the box. From the set play HOLMES took it and put it over the ball and past Moore to stun the league leaders. United had been sluggish and this continued and moments later after Bauer won a header, Watt sent an overhead kick goalward via a deflection and it hit the bar and bounced away. The Blades had simply not started and the crowd tried to lift the home side.
In previous games, United had controlled midfield and won the 50-50 battle but the early stages had been all Charlton. They had another cross scrambled clear as the lethargic start continued from United. However, despite this they managed to get level from the first meaningful effort on goal. They won a free kick wide on the right and after it was not cleared properly Duffy sent over an inviting cross and O’CONNELL flicked it into the goal. United were relieved to be level after such a poor start. Charlton were really having a go though and came again with Holmes firing over. Lafferty then blasted over when well-placed as United started to get a foot hold in the game.
Coutts and Fleck had been quiet but slowly started to win the midfield battle and with Duffy buzzing around you sensed the home side were starting to take control. From one delivery Fleck seemed to get knocked to the floor but the referee waved away penalty appeals before Sharp and Lafferty combined but Hanson could not get on the end of it. Charlton continued to look a threat and Moore had to get down low to save a shot from Watt. Despite this effort, you felt the tide was starting to turn and some neat and tidy stuff the ball found Sharp and his cross was pin point but just evaded Hanson and Fleck and went out for a goal kick. It was agonisingly close. Sharp then crossed and Bauer sliced horribly wide past his own keeper, fortunate not to find his own net.
The United improvement continued as Ebanks Landell headed over from Coutts corner. United ended the half well on top after such a poor start and had looked the more likely to score again.
After the break, United continued as they had left off and were on the attack and it was not long before they were in front. Patient build up saw the ball from Fleck and Coutts saw the ball eventually transferred to Freeman down the right. The wing back got free and sent over an inviting cross that seemed perfect for LAFFERTY coming in at the back stick. His first header was brilliantly saved from Rudd but Lafferty reacted first to knock the ball home into the net to give United the lead.
Soon after Holmes had a good chance in a very open game as he got free but fired over and then Konsa really should have levelled after good work down the left saw the ball come over. United once again had not been secure defensively and failed to stop crosses or mark in the middle. At the other end, Sharp headed off target when well-placed and then Fleck had a shot blocked. Still despite this poor play at the back, United looked very good going forward and some nice interchange saw Freeman find Duffy whose cross was just cut out at the back post. Soon after Duffy came off for Carruthers. The energetic midfielder was quickly into the action linking with Coutts and Freeman but Sharp could not get his shot away.
Holmes had been dangerous all game and fired over again when in a really good position but Basham was even closer from a header from a corner not long after at the other end. It was end to end stuff with Charlton having a real go but United probably playing the crisper football this half. Forster Caskey forced Moore into a save down low before
Hanson had worked hard but had ran his course and Lavery came on for him whilst Crofts came on for Forster Caskey for the visitors.
Carruthers then made a good run but his shot went into the side netting before Sharp went past his man and got baulked but opted to stay on his feet. He then went down after a lesser challenge from the keeper Rudd. In retrospect, the first one could have been given but the keepers challenge was more accidental. Lafferty then forced Rudd into a low save from a shot at his near post.
United were keeping the ball well but Charlton had looked dangerous on the break and it was a game that was still in the balance. Basham and O’Connell both made timely blocks before Freeman saw out another attack. United started to sit deep and hang onto what they had but Charlton had not had any clear chances as the game entered its final stage.
O’Shea came on for Coutts and Dasilva and Botaka came on for the Addicks as the game entered the last 5 minutes.
Lavery had done well twice to keep the ball and on one run he found his fellow sub O’Shea who fired over as United looked to seal the game. Carruthers made another trademark lung bursting run to see off more time just before the referee decreed there would be three minutes of stoppage time to be played. Lafferty did well again to chase down a ball before Basham again did well to see of a possible attack. The final whistle came soon after as Charlton failed to find any real chance of note. It was another huge three points and whilst United have played better they will be delighted to have come back from a deficit to win the game and the crowd as one rose to salute the players in another step towards promotion and possibly the League One title.
United – Today we were not quite as consistent and fluid as we have been and played in fits and starts but we won. That was the all-important thing. 3 points at this stage is all that matter. We started awfully and conceded a bad goal messing around and failing to clear and they scored from a free kick. They could have scored another one or two and hit the bar. We looked very slow and languid but slowly we started to come into the game. I think we were shocked by how attacking Charlton were. They were more open than many teams have been including Scunthorpe and Bolton and really had a go at us and got men forward. We got level really against the run of play and then even after this they nearly scored again. We had been poor but awoke from our slumber eventually. We slowly got back into the game and started to wrestle midfield back and then created a few chances. Two or three great balls just evaded players in the box and we had a few chances from set play. We definitely ended the half stronger and it had been a half of two halves. It probably was a fair score for it to be 1-1.
After the break, we came out strong and seemed to change things around formation wide and had more of a diamond with Coutts at the tip and Fleck further forward. We got the goal and you sensed we could get more. They started to look stretched and tire and we had a few half chances to put things away but it remained 2-1 and they had a few decent chances they blazed over when well placed. It was probably too open in reflection but Carruthers gave us more legs in the centre and we started to get more control of things then we had. I felt we looked like getting another but they remained a threat. We then got some good blocks in and clearances and Lavery gave us another spark also to close the game with his chasing and running. Charlton did not have too many chances in the last 15 minutes actually and we defended well. In the end, we just about did enough to win I felt.
We were not as impressive with the ball as we have been and also without we at times sat off too much and Charlton got into some good areas particularly in the first 15-20 minutes and for a spell after we scored in the second half. They had quite a few chances for an away side but were wasteful. They did have a go really and it made for quite an open game. United’s passing was not as fluent and at times things did not always come off but we managed to see things out well and I felt we did a professional job towards the end and were more restrictive than we had been earlier in the game. The defence just did the basics (which they had not done earlier).
Overall it was not a vintage Blades performance in keeping with many we have seen but we still saw glimpses of good football. Some players have done better than that many games but in the end, we grinded it out and made sure we got over the line. It is another step closer and with only 8 games to go team below are running out of games. We now have a tough trip to Oldham who are fighting for survival and it is not a great pitch but hopefully we can get another positive result. A draw would not be a disaster but such is the momentum with the big away support we will have there (I cannot make it sadly) you expect Wilder to have them going hell for leather for another win. The reality is that 2 or 3 more wins and we are nearly there. I feel the run in is perfect with two sides at the Lane who will be nearly down and a couple with nothing to play for in Northampton and MK. Millwall and Bradford will be tough at the Lane as will the two away games at Oldham and Port Vale but we surely should have enough to get the points we need. Nothing can go wrong now! Or can it?!
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Manager Chris Wilder opted to bring back James Hanson and Mark Duffy with Jay O’Shea and Caloan Lavery the unfortunate ones to drop out despite both scoring in the week. The bench looked strong with the aforementioned duo being joined by the likes of Carruthers, Wright, Chapman and Done as outfield options. Charlton’s season has been very inconsistent but the side featured players who had performed much higher up the league and began with the experienced Lee Novak and Tony Watt up top. They also included former Blades nemesis Nathan Byrne, back from injury.
Despite the poor weather with swirling wind and rain, the pitch looked immaculate especially considering it was mid-March and a far cry from some of the difficult surfaces United have played on away from home in recent weeks. Charlton came storming out of the blocks and were roaring into the early tackles and pressed United back. Indecision at the back saw United fail to clear and Coutts hauled down Forster Caskey to give the visitors a free kick right on the edge of the box. From the set play HOLMES took it and put it over the ball and past Moore to stun the league leaders. United had been sluggish and this continued and moments later after Bauer won a header, Watt sent an overhead kick goalward via a deflection and it hit the bar and bounced away. The Blades had simply not started and the crowd tried to lift the home side.
In previous games, United had controlled midfield and won the 50-50 battle but the early stages had been all Charlton. They had another cross scrambled clear as the lethargic start continued from United. However, despite this they managed to get level from the first meaningful effort on goal. They won a free kick wide on the right and after it was not cleared properly Duffy sent over an inviting cross and O’CONNELL flicked it into the goal. United were relieved to be level after such a poor start. Charlton were really having a go though and came again with Holmes firing over. Lafferty then blasted over when well-placed as United started to get a foot hold in the game.
Coutts and Fleck had been quiet but slowly started to win the midfield battle and with Duffy buzzing around you sensed the home side were starting to take control. From one delivery Fleck seemed to get knocked to the floor but the referee waved away penalty appeals before Sharp and Lafferty combined but Hanson could not get on the end of it. Charlton continued to look a threat and Moore had to get down low to save a shot from Watt. Despite this effort, you felt the tide was starting to turn and some neat and tidy stuff the ball found Sharp and his cross was pin point but just evaded Hanson and Fleck and went out for a goal kick. It was agonisingly close. Sharp then crossed and Bauer sliced horribly wide past his own keeper, fortunate not to find his own net.
The United improvement continued as Ebanks Landell headed over from Coutts corner. United ended the half well on top after such a poor start and had looked the more likely to score again.
After the break, United continued as they had left off and were on the attack and it was not long before they were in front. Patient build up saw the ball from Fleck and Coutts saw the ball eventually transferred to Freeman down the right. The wing back got free and sent over an inviting cross that seemed perfect for LAFFERTY coming in at the back stick. His first header was brilliantly saved from Rudd but Lafferty reacted first to knock the ball home into the net to give United the lead.
Soon after Holmes had a good chance in a very open game as he got free but fired over and then Konsa really should have levelled after good work down the left saw the ball come over. United once again had not been secure defensively and failed to stop crosses or mark in the middle. At the other end, Sharp headed off target when well-placed and then Fleck had a shot blocked. Still despite this poor play at the back, United looked very good going forward and some nice interchange saw Freeman find Duffy whose cross was just cut out at the back post. Soon after Duffy came off for Carruthers. The energetic midfielder was quickly into the action linking with Coutts and Freeman but Sharp could not get his shot away.
Holmes had been dangerous all game and fired over again when in a really good position but Basham was even closer from a header from a corner not long after at the other end. It was end to end stuff with Charlton having a real go but United probably playing the crisper football this half. Forster Caskey forced Moore into a save down low before
Hanson had worked hard but had ran his course and Lavery came on for him whilst Crofts came on for Forster Caskey for the visitors.
Carruthers then made a good run but his shot went into the side netting before Sharp went past his man and got baulked but opted to stay on his feet. He then went down after a lesser challenge from the keeper Rudd. In retrospect, the first one could have been given but the keepers challenge was more accidental. Lafferty then forced Rudd into a low save from a shot at his near post.
United were keeping the ball well but Charlton had looked dangerous on the break and it was a game that was still in the balance. Basham and O’Connell both made timely blocks before Freeman saw out another attack. United started to sit deep and hang onto what they had but Charlton had not had any clear chances as the game entered its final stage.
O’Shea came on for Coutts and Dasilva and Botaka came on for the Addicks as the game entered the last 5 minutes.
Lavery had done well twice to keep the ball and on one run he found his fellow sub O’Shea who fired over as United looked to seal the game. Carruthers made another trademark lung bursting run to see off more time just before the referee decreed there would be three minutes of stoppage time to be played. Lafferty did well again to chase down a ball before Basham again did well to see of a possible attack. The final whistle came soon after as Charlton failed to find any real chance of note. It was another huge three points and whilst United have played better they will be delighted to have come back from a deficit to win the game and the crowd as one rose to salute the players in another step towards promotion and possibly the League One title.
United – Today we were not quite as consistent and fluid as we have been and played in fits and starts but we won. That was the all-important thing. 3 points at this stage is all that matter. We started awfully and conceded a bad goal messing around and failing to clear and they scored from a free kick. They could have scored another one or two and hit the bar. We looked very slow and languid but slowly we started to come into the game. I think we were shocked by how attacking Charlton were. They were more open than many teams have been including Scunthorpe and Bolton and really had a go at us and got men forward. We got level really against the run of play and then even after this they nearly scored again. We had been poor but awoke from our slumber eventually. We slowly got back into the game and started to wrestle midfield back and then created a few chances. Two or three great balls just evaded players in the box and we had a few chances from set play. We definitely ended the half stronger and it had been a half of two halves. It probably was a fair score for it to be 1-1.
After the break, we came out strong and seemed to change things around formation wide and had more of a diamond with Coutts at the tip and Fleck further forward. We got the goal and you sensed we could get more. They started to look stretched and tire and we had a few half chances to put things away but it remained 2-1 and they had a few decent chances they blazed over when well placed. It was probably too open in reflection but Carruthers gave us more legs in the centre and we started to get more control of things then we had. I felt we looked like getting another but they remained a threat. We then got some good blocks in and clearances and Lavery gave us another spark also to close the game with his chasing and running. Charlton did not have too many chances in the last 15 minutes actually and we defended well. In the end, we just about did enough to win I felt.
We were not as impressive with the ball as we have been and also without we at times sat off too much and Charlton got into some good areas particularly in the first 15-20 minutes and for a spell after we scored in the second half. They had quite a few chances for an away side but were wasteful. They did have a go really and it made for quite an open game. United’s passing was not as fluent and at times things did not always come off but we managed to see things out well and I felt we did a professional job towards the end and were more restrictive than we had been earlier in the game. The defence just did the basics (which they had not done earlier).
Overall it was not a vintage Blades performance in keeping with many we have seen but we still saw glimpses of good football. Some players have done better than that many games but in the end, we grinded it out and made sure we got over the line. It is another step closer and with only 8 games to go team below are running out of games. We now have a tough trip to Oldham who are fighting for survival and it is not a great pitch but hopefully we can get another positive result. A draw would not be a disaster but such is the momentum with the big away support we will have there (I cannot make it sadly) you expect Wilder to have them going hell for leather for another win. The reality is that 2 or 3 more wins and we are nearly there. I feel the run in is perfect with two sides at the Lane who will be nearly down and a couple with nothing to play for in Northampton and MK. Millwall and Bradford will be tough at the Lane as will the two away games at Oldham and Port Vale but we surely should have enough to get the points we need. Nothing can go wrong now! Or can it?!
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