Deadbat
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The Blades progressed into the 2nd round of the FA Cup with a relatively comfortable passage against a poor Crewe side at Bramall Lane. United suffered two major scares as a Mark Howard double save and a shot crashed against the inside of the post in the first half but in between this Ryan Flynn had bundled home to give United the lead. In the second half United controlled matters and even though they lacked a final product still created enough opportunities to put the game to bed long before Flynn scored his second and the clinching goal.
Manager Clough had made more changes from Doncaster with Ryan Flynn and Louis Reed coming in for Jose Baxter and the suspended/cup tied Paddy McCarthy. United began with Jamie Murphy up top but it was a flexible formation which saw Campbell Ryce and also Scougall as the most advanced forward in the opening stages. The first period of the game saw United have a great deal of possession but were often struggled to penetrate Crewe without that ‘out and out’ forward. However they had control of the game and they won a number of early corners.
Murphy had one smart turn inside and shot that was well saved after earlier having a shot saved after neat work down the left from Harris. United were well on top but then on the break a chance for Crewe saw them break with Cooper forcing a save and then Callum Saunders (Dean’ son) failing to convert the rebound as Howard saved again. It was smart work from the keeper but the Crewe man on the second chance should have scored amidst claims for offside.
United came again and Murphy had another low shot saved and was proving to be the danger man for the Blades. However it
was the other wing men that combined to United the lead.
Capmbell Ryce drilled in a dangerous low cross and Flynn bundled the ball in, maybe inadvertently, after the ball pinballed around. Attempts to clear the ball were made in vain and the ball was well over the line before it was punted clear. It was a scruffy goal but the first time a decent cross had been made.
United were ahead and continued to control possession but despite this the visitors had another chance from a direct route. Another straight ball led to real danger and United were thankful for good fortune as Inman drove his low shot against the inside of the post and back out across the line. It was a scare and United tried to regain control in the lead up the break as
Murphy again was a threat down the left and the middle.
After the break United were able to control matters from the start and saw a lot of the ball with Reed influential. Still they failed to create too many chances until Basham had a long ranger saved and then the same man was adjudged offside when he converted Flynn’s low cross.
Crewe had offered little as an attacking threat with only one low shot well saved by Howard in contrast to United having wave after wave of possession and attacks. Too often poor final balls and over hit passes let to chances going awry but one good move saw neat play before Scougall’s header was well saved by Garratt. However, it was a more direct source that saw United seal the game.
Basham, as he had on numerous occasions, sprang forward and played a lovely through ball which pierced the defence and saw FLYNN through and in on goal. He took a touch and held off his man before coolly converting past the keeper.
Soon after Scougall was in but this time the keeper saved after a nice ball from Murphy played him in.
The final stages saw De Girolamo and also Whiteman (his debut) get a run out but the verdict was never in doubt as United professionally completed their passage through to round two.
United – Did enough to win. Worry that they got through us with two straight balls down the middle and needed Howard and then good luck to preserve the clean sheet but other than those moments cannot remember Crewe doing much. We controlled much of the game and had most of the possession. We still looked powder puff up top with no one running onto through balls (till Flynn finally did) and for all the neat and tidy football I still felt for the most part we looked a bit clueless in the last third. The crossing was still poor and at times we overplayed or were too slow to get the ball into the right areas. It was annoying that we took so many short corners (fair enough had little height) but then proceeded to try and knock the ball in after taking the short corner - often this failed.
We kept the ball well and showed good patience and did move Crewe about quite a bit but they were a poor side and I felt with a bit quicker speed of passing and decisions we could have got through and created more chances and scored more goals. We still urgently need that focal point up top and tonight whoever was most forward man (often the disappointing Campbell Ryce) did not really cut the mustard.
I felt off the ball we did really well other than not pressing twice which led to two chances. We worked hard and pressed high up the pitch and often they just tossed the ball away or lost it as we pressured them. I felt we controlled midfield and at the back came on to them quick and won any balls forward.
It was a solid, workmanlike performance that saw a deserved win despite the couple of scares. We controlled the game most of the night and possession and control of key areas saw United worthy winners. Hopefully we can finally get that centre forward we crave in as we embark on 4 straight home games. If we can get a win against our bogey home side Oldham then it sets us up for the games against two fellow high flyers MK and Notts County. It is important we try and go on another unbeaten run and can make Bramall Lane a bit of a fortress as we embark on a run of games at the Lane.
Crewe – Thought they were poor at Crewe in the League (did not go in the Cup) and they were again tonight. They look weak and vulnerable to pace at the back and I felt they looked mostly (other than a few breaks mentioned) lacking up top. Midfield they never really had control of and were always chasing United players and trying to stem the tide – if United had shown more of a threat in the final third it could have been even more convincing. They look a poor side and one that looks a relegation side to me having seen them twice. I do like the lad Grant in midfield and wonder if other teams at this level higher up may make a bid for him in January. He is a strong player but a tidy players who had a nice passing range. United could do a lot worse.
Howard 7.5/10- He made two splendid saves on one attack as he repelled the first shot and then saved the follow up (looked offside). Saw another come back off the post and well held another shot but oddly despite these 3 or 4 decent attempts had little to do in the rest of the game.
Alcock 7/10 – Solid enough. His passing was mixed as was his clearances but overall he did his defensive job even though
attacking wise he did not contribute much. A better performance than he has shown in some of recent games and more solid.
Harris 7/10 – As above. He did an ok job defensively and whilst he maybe got forward a lot more than Alcock, his decisions when he got there was mixed with some wild shots and a less than certain final ball. Still I liked the way he did try and attack and support more attacking players.
McEveley 6/10 – I like him but tonight he was off a bit. He did ok for the most part but had a rough spell second half where his passing and touch was totally off and I think even he would admit it was not his best game due to some sloppy pieces of play.
Basham 8/10 – Really solid all game. Did not lose a header and came onto the ball well looking more determined than most. Won a few great tackles and interceptions and even came out of defence quite a bit. He made a few decent runs; had a good shot and made the second with a lovely through ball. Centre half definitely his best position.
Reed 7/10 – First half he was steady but a few misplaced or under hit passed but second half he was much better and showed some lovely touches and was more offensive in terms of his attacking play, making more forward passes. Against a tough opponent in Grant he gradually wore him down with hard work and pressing. Did a good job for the team tonight.
Doyle 7/10 – He had a few errant passes at times and some sloppy bits of play but his pressing and tackling was excellent and helped us control midfield most of the game. Even sure him pressing down defenders right up to the 90th minutes. Solid game that allowed others in front to run and be more creative.
Murphy 7/10 – Very good first half. Even when he was doubled up he still was dangerous and had 3 good shots on goal including one similar to the Doncaster goal that the keeper turned round. He was coming inside and going outside and they did not know what to do. A lovely dummy saw him beat his man once and showed some good skills and touches all round. Second half I felt he faded quite a bit and had two air shots and a few miscontrols/passes and went off near the end.
Campbell Ryce 5/10 – Thought he was our poorest striker even though he made the first goal. Too often his final ball/cross was poor and he was caught offside so many times. Played a lot of the game as main centre forward or certainly more advanced but too often poor touch, delaying passes or not being ready meant he was ineffective most of the night and was clearly frustrating Clough who eventually took him off.
Scougall 7/10 – Flitted in and out of the game which summed up his season but he did put a lot of effort in tonight I felt and was very industrious. Had one good header saved and then should have scored with a one on one. Did press well and puts a lot of effort in but I do feel for long spells you do not see him and he gets outmuscled and brushed off. Needs to be more effective throughout games rather than for small spells as when he break forward can be a real threat.
Flynn 7/10 – 7 may seem harsh for someone who scored 2 goals but other than those and one decent run and cross that led Basham’s goal being disallowed; he was not really in the game! He actually was ineffective and not involved a lot of the night which is frustrating as he showed when he gets there he can finish (always feel he had been a good finisher). Still he will get the headlines tonight and actually put the ball in the net which was more than anyone else tonight.
Subs-
Baxter – Came on for Campbell Ryce. Moved between midfield and attack but the game kind of petered out and he was not massively involved save for a few pieces of link play.
De Girolamo – He came on up top and played centre forward. Had a few new touches and helped us keep the ball but did not get any real chances as by this stage we were just seeing out the game.
Whiteman – Not seen him before at Academy/u21 level. Seems a decent build and good to see him get his bow in central midfield for the final few minutes.
Manager rating : Clough 7/10 – Played a strong team and it was job well done. We won and kept a clean sheet (some fortune) and were deserved winners in the end. Hopefully he can have some continuity for Saturday with only maybe one change although for me it is imperative we still get that striker (at least one in)
Officials – A nothing game. He tried to keep his cards away but then had to book a couple of the Crewe players for some cynical pull backs in the second half. There were no really bad tackles all night though. The linesman on the South Stand seemed determined to be the star and was obsessed with getting his flag up. Some seemed a little hasty but often many were due to poor play (from both sides).
Crowd – Poor crowd but can’t blame many not turning up. Cold November evening and less than exciting opposition for a 1st round cup replay and also England v Scotland on the TV. Crewe brought maybe a few hundred hardy souls. They still have not scored v United in 3 games and still have to come back to the Lane in the league.
Manager Clough had made more changes from Doncaster with Ryan Flynn and Louis Reed coming in for Jose Baxter and the suspended/cup tied Paddy McCarthy. United began with Jamie Murphy up top but it was a flexible formation which saw Campbell Ryce and also Scougall as the most advanced forward in the opening stages. The first period of the game saw United have a great deal of possession but were often struggled to penetrate Crewe without that ‘out and out’ forward. However they had control of the game and they won a number of early corners.
Murphy had one smart turn inside and shot that was well saved after earlier having a shot saved after neat work down the left from Harris. United were well on top but then on the break a chance for Crewe saw them break with Cooper forcing a save and then Callum Saunders (Dean’ son) failing to convert the rebound as Howard saved again. It was smart work from the keeper but the Crewe man on the second chance should have scored amidst claims for offside.
United came again and Murphy had another low shot saved and was proving to be the danger man for the Blades. However it
was the other wing men that combined to United the lead.
Capmbell Ryce drilled in a dangerous low cross and Flynn bundled the ball in, maybe inadvertently, after the ball pinballed around. Attempts to clear the ball were made in vain and the ball was well over the line before it was punted clear. It was a scruffy goal but the first time a decent cross had been made.
United were ahead and continued to control possession but despite this the visitors had another chance from a direct route. Another straight ball led to real danger and United were thankful for good fortune as Inman drove his low shot against the inside of the post and back out across the line. It was a scare and United tried to regain control in the lead up the break as
Murphy again was a threat down the left and the middle.
After the break United were able to control matters from the start and saw a lot of the ball with Reed influential. Still they failed to create too many chances until Basham had a long ranger saved and then the same man was adjudged offside when he converted Flynn’s low cross.
Crewe had offered little as an attacking threat with only one low shot well saved by Howard in contrast to United having wave after wave of possession and attacks. Too often poor final balls and over hit passes let to chances going awry but one good move saw neat play before Scougall’s header was well saved by Garratt. However, it was a more direct source that saw United seal the game.
Basham, as he had on numerous occasions, sprang forward and played a lovely through ball which pierced the defence and saw FLYNN through and in on goal. He took a touch and held off his man before coolly converting past the keeper.
Soon after Scougall was in but this time the keeper saved after a nice ball from Murphy played him in.
The final stages saw De Girolamo and also Whiteman (his debut) get a run out but the verdict was never in doubt as United professionally completed their passage through to round two.
United – Did enough to win. Worry that they got through us with two straight balls down the middle and needed Howard and then good luck to preserve the clean sheet but other than those moments cannot remember Crewe doing much. We controlled much of the game and had most of the possession. We still looked powder puff up top with no one running onto through balls (till Flynn finally did) and for all the neat and tidy football I still felt for the most part we looked a bit clueless in the last third. The crossing was still poor and at times we overplayed or were too slow to get the ball into the right areas. It was annoying that we took so many short corners (fair enough had little height) but then proceeded to try and knock the ball in after taking the short corner - often this failed.
We kept the ball well and showed good patience and did move Crewe about quite a bit but they were a poor side and I felt with a bit quicker speed of passing and decisions we could have got through and created more chances and scored more goals. We still urgently need that focal point up top and tonight whoever was most forward man (often the disappointing Campbell Ryce) did not really cut the mustard.
I felt off the ball we did really well other than not pressing twice which led to two chances. We worked hard and pressed high up the pitch and often they just tossed the ball away or lost it as we pressured them. I felt we controlled midfield and at the back came on to them quick and won any balls forward.
It was a solid, workmanlike performance that saw a deserved win despite the couple of scares. We controlled the game most of the night and possession and control of key areas saw United worthy winners. Hopefully we can finally get that centre forward we crave in as we embark on 4 straight home games. If we can get a win against our bogey home side Oldham then it sets us up for the games against two fellow high flyers MK and Notts County. It is important we try and go on another unbeaten run and can make Bramall Lane a bit of a fortress as we embark on a run of games at the Lane.
Crewe – Thought they were poor at Crewe in the League (did not go in the Cup) and they were again tonight. They look weak and vulnerable to pace at the back and I felt they looked mostly (other than a few breaks mentioned) lacking up top. Midfield they never really had control of and were always chasing United players and trying to stem the tide – if United had shown more of a threat in the final third it could have been even more convincing. They look a poor side and one that looks a relegation side to me having seen them twice. I do like the lad Grant in midfield and wonder if other teams at this level higher up may make a bid for him in January. He is a strong player but a tidy players who had a nice passing range. United could do a lot worse.
Howard 7.5/10- He made two splendid saves on one attack as he repelled the first shot and then saved the follow up (looked offside). Saw another come back off the post and well held another shot but oddly despite these 3 or 4 decent attempts had little to do in the rest of the game.
Alcock 7/10 – Solid enough. His passing was mixed as was his clearances but overall he did his defensive job even though
attacking wise he did not contribute much. A better performance than he has shown in some of recent games and more solid.
Harris 7/10 – As above. He did an ok job defensively and whilst he maybe got forward a lot more than Alcock, his decisions when he got there was mixed with some wild shots and a less than certain final ball. Still I liked the way he did try and attack and support more attacking players.
McEveley 6/10 – I like him but tonight he was off a bit. He did ok for the most part but had a rough spell second half where his passing and touch was totally off and I think even he would admit it was not his best game due to some sloppy pieces of play.
Basham 8/10 – Really solid all game. Did not lose a header and came onto the ball well looking more determined than most. Won a few great tackles and interceptions and even came out of defence quite a bit. He made a few decent runs; had a good shot and made the second with a lovely through ball. Centre half definitely his best position.
Reed 7/10 – First half he was steady but a few misplaced or under hit passed but second half he was much better and showed some lovely touches and was more offensive in terms of his attacking play, making more forward passes. Against a tough opponent in Grant he gradually wore him down with hard work and pressing. Did a good job for the team tonight.
Doyle 7/10 – He had a few errant passes at times and some sloppy bits of play but his pressing and tackling was excellent and helped us control midfield most of the game. Even sure him pressing down defenders right up to the 90th minutes. Solid game that allowed others in front to run and be more creative.
Murphy 7/10 – Very good first half. Even when he was doubled up he still was dangerous and had 3 good shots on goal including one similar to the Doncaster goal that the keeper turned round. He was coming inside and going outside and they did not know what to do. A lovely dummy saw him beat his man once and showed some good skills and touches all round. Second half I felt he faded quite a bit and had two air shots and a few miscontrols/passes and went off near the end.
Campbell Ryce 5/10 – Thought he was our poorest striker even though he made the first goal. Too often his final ball/cross was poor and he was caught offside so many times. Played a lot of the game as main centre forward or certainly more advanced but too often poor touch, delaying passes or not being ready meant he was ineffective most of the night and was clearly frustrating Clough who eventually took him off.
Scougall 7/10 – Flitted in and out of the game which summed up his season but he did put a lot of effort in tonight I felt and was very industrious. Had one good header saved and then should have scored with a one on one. Did press well and puts a lot of effort in but I do feel for long spells you do not see him and he gets outmuscled and brushed off. Needs to be more effective throughout games rather than for small spells as when he break forward can be a real threat.
Flynn 7/10 – 7 may seem harsh for someone who scored 2 goals but other than those and one decent run and cross that led Basham’s goal being disallowed; he was not really in the game! He actually was ineffective and not involved a lot of the night which is frustrating as he showed when he gets there he can finish (always feel he had been a good finisher). Still he will get the headlines tonight and actually put the ball in the net which was more than anyone else tonight.
Subs-
Baxter – Came on for Campbell Ryce. Moved between midfield and attack but the game kind of petered out and he was not massively involved save for a few pieces of link play.
De Girolamo – He came on up top and played centre forward. Had a few new touches and helped us keep the ball but did not get any real chances as by this stage we were just seeing out the game.
Whiteman – Not seen him before at Academy/u21 level. Seems a decent build and good to see him get his bow in central midfield for the final few minutes.
Manager rating : Clough 7/10 – Played a strong team and it was job well done. We won and kept a clean sheet (some fortune) and were deserved winners in the end. Hopefully he can have some continuity for Saturday with only maybe one change although for me it is imperative we still get that striker (at least one in)
Officials – A nothing game. He tried to keep his cards away but then had to book a couple of the Crewe players for some cynical pull backs in the second half. There were no really bad tackles all night though. The linesman on the South Stand seemed determined to be the star and was obsessed with getting his flag up. Some seemed a little hasty but often many were due to poor play (from both sides).
Crowd – Poor crowd but can’t blame many not turning up. Cold November evening and less than exciting opposition for a 1st round cup replay and also England v Scotland on the TV. Crewe brought maybe a few hundred hardy souls. They still have not scored v United in 3 games and still have to come back to the Lane in the league.
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I enjoyed it actually thought it was a good game.
