Deadbat
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Podcast links and then report below….
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/id1508158343?i=1000548687010
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United got back to winning ways after a resounding and commanding 2nd half saw goals from Brewster and Robinson see off Luton 2-0. After a quiet first half, United stepped on the gas and in the end, could have won by a lot more than they did. In the end, unlike Tuesday, the Blades negotiated a two-goal lead and yet again a man advantage, after Reece Burke was sent off, relatively easily.
After the disappointment of the throwaway at Deepdale, United made one change as Rhys Norrington Davies replaced the injured Enda Stevens. There were a few returning faces in the bench with Baldock, Fleck and McBurnie appearing alongside McGoldrick and Berge, in a stronger set of alternatives seemingly.
The game started with Luton in a natty deckchair style shirt attacking the Kop and they utilised their own long throw experience with Kioso hurling a few into Foderingham's box.
United were slow to get going but did come out with the ball after Norwood tackle. On the 7th minute, the first effort for either side came when the Blades moved it down the right and Bogle angled a ball in but it was not really a shot or a cross and comfortable for Shea. Robinson showed his long throw off early too but two attempts were cleared.
United then had a chance on the left side in open play to get a ball in but Norrington Davies hit the first man. United's front two were slow to react and seeing little of the ball.
Brewster was behind his man twice but did then get on it after the best bit of football United had produced but his shot was weak and straight at the Luton goalkeeper. However, on 17 minutes he had a enter effort as he turned sharply and hit a fierce shot that flashed just wide with the keeper more concerned this time.
Ndiaye was often the outlet in a game that had lacked cohesion or fluidity and he had a few moments where he carried the ball including one that saw him try and find Sharp but the skipper could not control it.
There had been a number of times where after free kicks won for United, Luton were kicking the ball away constantly but were not penalised. The game became stop start due to this and the fact both teams were giving the ball away under little pressure constantly.
Norwood had been good on and off the ball, getting stuck in to win loose stuff and trying to move it forward when he could but his lack of pace was evidenced on run.
Hourihane by contrast saw his passing being over hit constantly from set and open play.
The next passage saw a really poor spell of play from both teams with little occurring of note between the 20–30-minute mark and both teams continued to be careless with the ball.
Norrington Davies shoved his man over the hoardings petulantly as the ball was eased out as Luton started to come into things after United had shaded a game of few chances.
Hourihane ‘noshed’ a challenge and lost the ball and this led to the first chance for Luton on the half hour. A cross came in from right and Jerome guided it towards the near post but Foderingham made a low save. It was the most dangerous effort on target all game bit still a routine save.
The Blades strikers were day dreaming on half way and this saw Luton steal in. Robinson similarly was slow to react and this led to a corner. United cleared it and broke with pace finally.
Good work from Basham and Ndiaye led to a chance but Norrington Davies' cross hit the first man again. Egan then just booted it out under no pressure and the crowd started to get a bit frustrated.
Hourihane lost the ball again leading to a silly free kick being given away 30byards from goal and as the dangerous delivery was whipped in, it was headed home unchallenged from Bradley with Foderingham rooted to the spot but the offside flag spared United blushes.
United had been quiet as an attacking force but Sharp did well initially down the right but took too many touches and his cross was poor, leading to a corner. After the corner dropped to the edge of the box, Bogle's effort was a wild miskick but Ndiaye worked space and had a shot blocked for a corner as United had a spell of pressure but Brewster could not get any power on a header as the ball looped around.
The final few minutes of the half saw United struggle to get any momentum but Luton were equally lacking in ideas as the half came to an end.
It was not long after half time, that the deadlock was broken. The cross came in but Bogle hit an angled shot that he might but it fell for BREWSTER who controlled and smashed it home under Shea with the power too much for the keeper to react. It was his first goal at the Kop end.
Only 3 minutes later and the lead was doubled. Norwood whipped over a free kick and ROBINSON unmarked headed home for his first United goal. Luton were stunned after coping relatively easily with United in the first half.
Luton were getting frustrated and after not being awarded a free kick on halfway surrounded the referee. Adebayo came on for Jerome but United continued to attack and from a corner Ndiaye's quick feet led to a chance on the angle for Brewster who hit a volley at Shea. Brewster then went down in the box but the referee pointed for a goal kick rather than a penalty.
Bogle won a corner after United broke when Luton played on with their own man down but coughed up possession. The ball was cleared but Ndiaye's shot was blocked but sat up for Brewster whose skewed volley went over the angle of bar and post with Luton looking desperately at the assistant for a flag that did not come.
Bell was replaced by Clarke on the hour as the Hatters made their second change.
The ball over the top from Norwood saw Brewster through and as in the week, the defender Burke got wrong side and hauled him down with a cynical foul. It was an easy decision to give the foul and the red card with Brewster showing his movement and pace that can get defenders running towards their own goal.
Osho came on for Muskwe as the visitors had to make their final change in reshaping with ten men.
United were faced with the prospect of facing ten men again and leading 2-0 again and will hope this contest finished with a more favourable outcome. The Blades won another corner but as it dropped on the edge of the box, Norrington Davies blazed over with his unfamiliar right foot. Hourihane then smashed over as the shots continued to reign in on the Luton goal.
Bogle got down the right but his pull back was cleared before Brewster gave way to a mixture of cheers and boos for his contribution and the change which seemed odd on the surface unless his minutes are being managed after his hamstring injury. Berge came on with Ndiaye going further forward.
Bogle was well forward again and after his looping cross Norrington Davies tried an outrageous flick but it did not replicate Joshua Sargent's goal for Norwich last night.
The game tucked into the final 20 minutes and United seemed in complete control of the game and the possession, a far cry from the panic-stricken efforts of Tuesday evening.
However, a Norwood foul saw Lansbury knock a free kick in but it wasteful and straight down the throat of Foderingham. He then had to field an ambitious chipped effort but United were still looking the more likely to score again.
Ndiaye's clever step over worked space but his shot lacked power and was comfortable for Shea.
Some fans in the 27,780 opted to put on phone torches leading to a chant of 'That is embarrassing!' from the Luton fans.
The game entered the final 10 minutes and Ndiaye's strength and skill was shown again. Basham's cross was not cleared properly and Norrington Davies hit a shot that deflected over before the same man snuffed out a break at the other end leading to a chance for Sharp but he pulled his shot into the side netting.
Ndiaye's industrious game came to an end when he was replaced by McGoldrick. Berge got in a good area but Norrington Davies made a complete hash of his effort slicing over.
The Luton keeper had struggled all game with his kicking and yet another appalling kick out gave United the ball back. McBurnie then replaced Sharp with 5 minutes to play as Luton's ten men looked a dispirited bunch.
McBurnie's mis kick from a cross from the left was the next effort wasted in a game with better care could have won by considerably more. Berge and then Bogle nearly forced another chance as the ball got stuck in a melee before a corner saw Robinson head back across but it did not fall. It was wave after wave of attack but the next chance saw Berge get in but the ball was hacked clear.
There was three minutes of stoppage time to be played but Luton had been well beaten long before this. Bogle's neat skill saw him produce a cross that had too much on it. The final whistle came soon after in what after a drab first half had ended up being a comfortable win after a powerful second half where every player stepped up considerably.
United – As comfortable a win as will have all season. After a nothing first half we were excellent second half, scored two goals, reduced them to ten men through good play and then really could have scored 6 or 7 goals. 2-0 flattered them hugely really and the game was done pretty much after the red card really but even before that we had been in complete control to begin the second half. After a drab first half where only really Ndiaye, Norwood and Bogle for flashes looked like creating, I was concerned we just looked lacking in energy and out of idea. It was too slow and safe. We got it wide but the final ball was poor and the strikers not moving enough. They did little to threaten us apart from the offside goal and Jerome’s shot at the near post but we had offered just as little save a Bogle shot and then maybe the Brewster driven shots at the keeper and then a better one just wide. We needed a spark but we got it second half early and the goal settled us down. Make no mistake we dominated long before the red card.
The whole team, collectively and individually stepped up massively. We had so many attacks and the stats say it all, 65% possession advantage and 25 shots to 4 (although not many of our 25 were on target – 7!) and 8 corners to 1. We completely dominated and the second half both 11 v 11 and 11 v 10, it was one way stuff with United camped in their half and only bad finishing or lack of clinical play in the final pass or moment stopping it being a 5 or 6-0 it really should have been. Our build up was excellent but our lack of composure was not and we barely tested the keeper despite getting deep into their box both centrally and out wide so much. Still, we scored two quick fire goals, had other chances and then got them down to 10 men. After this we cantered to the win. We moved it around and did everything we did not in the week and the result was never in doubt.
So many players really stepped up after the break and good to see better options off the bench too. It was a good afternoon’s work after two bad games on the road that left fans wondering if our season might peter out. We are still a long way off the top 6 but also, we do have games in hand. We need to make sure we get on a good run and keep slowly moving up. I’d like another midfielder (dirty so and so) and also a solid and commanding centre back if we could, as well as a back up keeper of course but whether the board give us funds or it more around getting players out (seen a few depart including Slater today too).
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/id1508158343?i=1000548687010
---
United got back to winning ways after a resounding and commanding 2nd half saw goals from Brewster and Robinson see off Luton 2-0. After a quiet first half, United stepped on the gas and in the end, could have won by a lot more than they did. In the end, unlike Tuesday, the Blades negotiated a two-goal lead and yet again a man advantage, after Reece Burke was sent off, relatively easily.
After the disappointment of the throwaway at Deepdale, United made one change as Rhys Norrington Davies replaced the injured Enda Stevens. There were a few returning faces in the bench with Baldock, Fleck and McBurnie appearing alongside McGoldrick and Berge, in a stronger set of alternatives seemingly.
The game started with Luton in a natty deckchair style shirt attacking the Kop and they utilised their own long throw experience with Kioso hurling a few into Foderingham's box.
United were slow to get going but did come out with the ball after Norwood tackle. On the 7th minute, the first effort for either side came when the Blades moved it down the right and Bogle angled a ball in but it was not really a shot or a cross and comfortable for Shea. Robinson showed his long throw off early too but two attempts were cleared.
United then had a chance on the left side in open play to get a ball in but Norrington Davies hit the first man. United's front two were slow to react and seeing little of the ball.
Brewster was behind his man twice but did then get on it after the best bit of football United had produced but his shot was weak and straight at the Luton goalkeeper. However, on 17 minutes he had a enter effort as he turned sharply and hit a fierce shot that flashed just wide with the keeper more concerned this time.
Ndiaye was often the outlet in a game that had lacked cohesion or fluidity and he had a few moments where he carried the ball including one that saw him try and find Sharp but the skipper could not control it.
There had been a number of times where after free kicks won for United, Luton were kicking the ball away constantly but were not penalised. The game became stop start due to this and the fact both teams were giving the ball away under little pressure constantly.
Norwood had been good on and off the ball, getting stuck in to win loose stuff and trying to move it forward when he could but his lack of pace was evidenced on run.
Hourihane by contrast saw his passing being over hit constantly from set and open play.
The next passage saw a really poor spell of play from both teams with little occurring of note between the 20–30-minute mark and both teams continued to be careless with the ball.
Norrington Davies shoved his man over the hoardings petulantly as the ball was eased out as Luton started to come into things after United had shaded a game of few chances.
Hourihane ‘noshed’ a challenge and lost the ball and this led to the first chance for Luton on the half hour. A cross came in from right and Jerome guided it towards the near post but Foderingham made a low save. It was the most dangerous effort on target all game bit still a routine save.
The Blades strikers were day dreaming on half way and this saw Luton steal in. Robinson similarly was slow to react and this led to a corner. United cleared it and broke with pace finally.
Good work from Basham and Ndiaye led to a chance but Norrington Davies' cross hit the first man again. Egan then just booted it out under no pressure and the crowd started to get a bit frustrated.
Hourihane lost the ball again leading to a silly free kick being given away 30byards from goal and as the dangerous delivery was whipped in, it was headed home unchallenged from Bradley with Foderingham rooted to the spot but the offside flag spared United blushes.
United had been quiet as an attacking force but Sharp did well initially down the right but took too many touches and his cross was poor, leading to a corner. After the corner dropped to the edge of the box, Bogle's effort was a wild miskick but Ndiaye worked space and had a shot blocked for a corner as United had a spell of pressure but Brewster could not get any power on a header as the ball looped around.
The final few minutes of the half saw United struggle to get any momentum but Luton were equally lacking in ideas as the half came to an end.
It was not long after half time, that the deadlock was broken. The cross came in but Bogle hit an angled shot that he might but it fell for BREWSTER who controlled and smashed it home under Shea with the power too much for the keeper to react. It was his first goal at the Kop end.
Only 3 minutes later and the lead was doubled. Norwood whipped over a free kick and ROBINSON unmarked headed home for his first United goal. Luton were stunned after coping relatively easily with United in the first half.
Luton were getting frustrated and after not being awarded a free kick on halfway surrounded the referee. Adebayo came on for Jerome but United continued to attack and from a corner Ndiaye's quick feet led to a chance on the angle for Brewster who hit a volley at Shea. Brewster then went down in the box but the referee pointed for a goal kick rather than a penalty.
Bogle won a corner after United broke when Luton played on with their own man down but coughed up possession. The ball was cleared but Ndiaye's shot was blocked but sat up for Brewster whose skewed volley went over the angle of bar and post with Luton looking desperately at the assistant for a flag that did not come.
Bell was replaced by Clarke on the hour as the Hatters made their second change.
The ball over the top from Norwood saw Brewster through and as in the week, the defender Burke got wrong side and hauled him down with a cynical foul. It was an easy decision to give the foul and the red card with Brewster showing his movement and pace that can get defenders running towards their own goal.
Osho came on for Muskwe as the visitors had to make their final change in reshaping with ten men.
United were faced with the prospect of facing ten men again and leading 2-0 again and will hope this contest finished with a more favourable outcome. The Blades won another corner but as it dropped on the edge of the box, Norrington Davies blazed over with his unfamiliar right foot. Hourihane then smashed over as the shots continued to reign in on the Luton goal.
Bogle got down the right but his pull back was cleared before Brewster gave way to a mixture of cheers and boos for his contribution and the change which seemed odd on the surface unless his minutes are being managed after his hamstring injury. Berge came on with Ndiaye going further forward.
Bogle was well forward again and after his looping cross Norrington Davies tried an outrageous flick but it did not replicate Joshua Sargent's goal for Norwich last night.
The game tucked into the final 20 minutes and United seemed in complete control of the game and the possession, a far cry from the panic-stricken efforts of Tuesday evening.
However, a Norwood foul saw Lansbury knock a free kick in but it wasteful and straight down the throat of Foderingham. He then had to field an ambitious chipped effort but United were still looking the more likely to score again.
Ndiaye's clever step over worked space but his shot lacked power and was comfortable for Shea.
Some fans in the 27,780 opted to put on phone torches leading to a chant of 'That is embarrassing!' from the Luton fans.
The game entered the final 10 minutes and Ndiaye's strength and skill was shown again. Basham's cross was not cleared properly and Norrington Davies hit a shot that deflected over before the same man snuffed out a break at the other end leading to a chance for Sharp but he pulled his shot into the side netting.
Ndiaye's industrious game came to an end when he was replaced by McGoldrick. Berge got in a good area but Norrington Davies made a complete hash of his effort slicing over.
The Luton keeper had struggled all game with his kicking and yet another appalling kick out gave United the ball back. McBurnie then replaced Sharp with 5 minutes to play as Luton's ten men looked a dispirited bunch.
McBurnie's mis kick from a cross from the left was the next effort wasted in a game with better care could have won by considerably more. Berge and then Bogle nearly forced another chance as the ball got stuck in a melee before a corner saw Robinson head back across but it did not fall. It was wave after wave of attack but the next chance saw Berge get in but the ball was hacked clear.
There was three minutes of stoppage time to be played but Luton had been well beaten long before this. Bogle's neat skill saw him produce a cross that had too much on it. The final whistle came soon after in what after a drab first half had ended up being a comfortable win after a powerful second half where every player stepped up considerably.
United – As comfortable a win as will have all season. After a nothing first half we were excellent second half, scored two goals, reduced them to ten men through good play and then really could have scored 6 or 7 goals. 2-0 flattered them hugely really and the game was done pretty much after the red card really but even before that we had been in complete control to begin the second half. After a drab first half where only really Ndiaye, Norwood and Bogle for flashes looked like creating, I was concerned we just looked lacking in energy and out of idea. It was too slow and safe. We got it wide but the final ball was poor and the strikers not moving enough. They did little to threaten us apart from the offside goal and Jerome’s shot at the near post but we had offered just as little save a Bogle shot and then maybe the Brewster driven shots at the keeper and then a better one just wide. We needed a spark but we got it second half early and the goal settled us down. Make no mistake we dominated long before the red card.
The whole team, collectively and individually stepped up massively. We had so many attacks and the stats say it all, 65% possession advantage and 25 shots to 4 (although not many of our 25 were on target – 7!) and 8 corners to 1. We completely dominated and the second half both 11 v 11 and 11 v 10, it was one way stuff with United camped in their half and only bad finishing or lack of clinical play in the final pass or moment stopping it being a 5 or 6-0 it really should have been. Our build up was excellent but our lack of composure was not and we barely tested the keeper despite getting deep into their box both centrally and out wide so much. Still, we scored two quick fire goals, had other chances and then got them down to 10 men. After this we cantered to the win. We moved it around and did everything we did not in the week and the result was never in doubt.
So many players really stepped up after the break and good to see better options off the bench too. It was a good afternoon’s work after two bad games on the road that left fans wondering if our season might peter out. We are still a long way off the top 6 but also, we do have games in hand. We need to make sure we get on a good run and keep slowly moving up. I’d like another midfielder (dirty so and so) and also a solid and commanding centre back if we could, as well as a back up keeper of course but whether the board give us funds or it more around getting players out (seen a few depart including Slater today too).
