Deadbat
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- Joined
- Aug 6, 2009
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Sorry for the late report (day late I know!) – Work/life stuff got in the way!
Pod links
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/id1508158343?i=1000535348841
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After the tremendous free flowing and scoring performance from Saturday, it was more a typical grind it out Championship game against Preston North End. The Blades led twice but could not see out the game against another physical, direct side and more poor defending at the death cost them as United once again conceded in the final minute of stoppage time, just as they had done against Huddersfield at the Lane. United’s inability to deal with direct long balls/throws into the box continues to haunt them and unless they become better at this aspect of their defensive game, then they will continue to give away sloppy goals and not be able to put a run of results together. The Blades probably played the better football and at times still showed some promise attacking wise but it was not as threatening as the weekend and too many loose touches and inability to make balls theirs meant they could not have full control of the game. In the end despite Berge’s last strike, United gave away a stupid late free kick and could not defend a ball into the box. It was most definitely a case of two points thrown away.
Manager Jokanovic made 2 changes from the wide at the weekend with Olsen in for Foderingham for his league debut and Freeman for Osborn who was ill. Sander Berge was back on the bench. Preston started with former Blade Ben Whiteman but Ched Evans was not involved for the visitors.
The game began with rain swirling around the S2 area and started in quite scrappy fashion with neither side really asserting any clear dominance but United were always look to be progressive with a patient passing game from the back. It was from one such move where the Blades took the lead. Freeman worked some space and sent a cross over that Ndiaye could not quite turn goalward but the ball fell perfectly for GIBBS WHITE who reacted quickly to slide in and sent it into the far corner giving Iversen little chance.
The Blades could have doubled their lead soon after when Norrington Davies sent over an inviting cross but Sharp mistimed his leap and the header drifted well wide. Emil Ris Jakobsen went in very late and seemed high on Norwood and on another day may have seen red rather than a yellow card. Preston had not really been in it but they had a few balls over the top that had beaten the offside trap according to a hesitant assistant referee but one such ball was clearly onside. Norrington Davies failed to react to JOHNSON who nipped in and his first touch was superb but it was anyone’s guess what Olsen was doing so far out and in a horrible position. After the Preston midfielder’s touch, he then had the simple task of tapping it into an empty net to stun the Blades crowd.
United tried to respond with a Norwood shot over the bar but the game now became much more even and Maguire nearly got in and the same man then took a shot that Olsen had to save. Preston were starting to win the loose stuff and United were nowhere near the fluency of Saturday. Ndiaye did forge an opening with some neat skill but Sharp could not quite get on the end of it. Freeman had a great chance to restore the lead after a lovely move involving Ndiaye, Norwood and Baldock but the former QPR man side footed well over the bar.
Norwood was then given a yellow card for a poor foul on Earl with the North End fans this time calling for an early bath. The half time whistle came not long after. United had failed to build on a good start and Preston had been very competitive and workmanlike but also showed a threat in behind the United defence with runners from deep.
The second half and United came out the aggressor. Sharp had an effort blocked and then Ndiaye headed wide as the Blades looked to really up the tempo. Ndiaye showed some more quick footwork but could not get his shot away. At the other end Robinson continued his stuttering form and was beaten for pace and skill by Emil Ris Jakobsen but fortunately it went across the goal.
The next phase of the game saw little in the way of action and Preston started to take the sting out of the game with some slow play in terms of retaking free kicks/set plays and the physio coming on more than once. Gibbs White had a free kick lofted over a foul on Ndiaye 30 yards from goal but United were not penetrating a well organised back line.
Berge came on for Freeman as the Blades tried to find something going forward but Preston then were nearly in as Emil Ris Jakobsen again got away but was cynically chopped down by Norrington Davies for a yellow card. Brewster came on for Ndiaye after he went down with cramp again and could not continue. Potts came on for Maguire for the visitors.
Two chances came in quick succession when Fleck picked up the ball and as Preston tried to play for offside, the Scottish midfielder burst through and suddenly only had the keeper to beat but perhaps tried to be too clever and his chipped finish was saved by Iversen. The action then went to the other end and a through ball dissected Egan and Robinson leading to a one on one for Emil Ris Jakobsen but Olsen made a great save flicking it over the bar.
Hourihane came on for Norwood and United tried to remain patient with some switches of play but chances were now proving elusive despite the Blades controlling possession almost exclusively by this stage.
As the game ticked into the final 10 minutes, Berge won a corner with a driving and then with the next attack, the Blades got what they thought would be the winner on 84 minutes. Gibbs White and Fleck were involved and as the ball came across Sharp’s shot was blocked but fell into the path of BERGE who drilled it low under Iversen and into the net. The Norwegian slid on his knees in front of the jubilant Kop.
The Blades had opportunities to maybe score again but towards the end of stoppage time opted to take it into the corner but Hourihane lost it and Preston broke and hit the ball forward. As the game ticked over to the 95th minute and, Sharp fouled his man on half way; a silly foul and Preston had a final chance to put it into the box. The ball should have been cleared but Robinson mistimed his jump and flicked it on and Storey was able to send it back into the six-yard box.
JACOBSEN was able to control and lash it home to spark wild joy with even the keeper coming up to celebrate. There was barely chance for United to mount another attack and the home side had been denied points at the death again with more sloppy defending.
Pod links
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/id1508158343?i=1000535348841
---
After the tremendous free flowing and scoring performance from Saturday, it was more a typical grind it out Championship game against Preston North End. The Blades led twice but could not see out the game against another physical, direct side and more poor defending at the death cost them as United once again conceded in the final minute of stoppage time, just as they had done against Huddersfield at the Lane. United’s inability to deal with direct long balls/throws into the box continues to haunt them and unless they become better at this aspect of their defensive game, then they will continue to give away sloppy goals and not be able to put a run of results together. The Blades probably played the better football and at times still showed some promise attacking wise but it was not as threatening as the weekend and too many loose touches and inability to make balls theirs meant they could not have full control of the game. In the end despite Berge’s last strike, United gave away a stupid late free kick and could not defend a ball into the box. It was most definitely a case of two points thrown away.
Manager Jokanovic made 2 changes from the wide at the weekend with Olsen in for Foderingham for his league debut and Freeman for Osborn who was ill. Sander Berge was back on the bench. Preston started with former Blade Ben Whiteman but Ched Evans was not involved for the visitors.
The game began with rain swirling around the S2 area and started in quite scrappy fashion with neither side really asserting any clear dominance but United were always look to be progressive with a patient passing game from the back. It was from one such move where the Blades took the lead. Freeman worked some space and sent a cross over that Ndiaye could not quite turn goalward but the ball fell perfectly for GIBBS WHITE who reacted quickly to slide in and sent it into the far corner giving Iversen little chance.
The Blades could have doubled their lead soon after when Norrington Davies sent over an inviting cross but Sharp mistimed his leap and the header drifted well wide. Emil Ris Jakobsen went in very late and seemed high on Norwood and on another day may have seen red rather than a yellow card. Preston had not really been in it but they had a few balls over the top that had beaten the offside trap according to a hesitant assistant referee but one such ball was clearly onside. Norrington Davies failed to react to JOHNSON who nipped in and his first touch was superb but it was anyone’s guess what Olsen was doing so far out and in a horrible position. After the Preston midfielder’s touch, he then had the simple task of tapping it into an empty net to stun the Blades crowd.
United tried to respond with a Norwood shot over the bar but the game now became much more even and Maguire nearly got in and the same man then took a shot that Olsen had to save. Preston were starting to win the loose stuff and United were nowhere near the fluency of Saturday. Ndiaye did forge an opening with some neat skill but Sharp could not quite get on the end of it. Freeman had a great chance to restore the lead after a lovely move involving Ndiaye, Norwood and Baldock but the former QPR man side footed well over the bar.
Norwood was then given a yellow card for a poor foul on Earl with the North End fans this time calling for an early bath. The half time whistle came not long after. United had failed to build on a good start and Preston had been very competitive and workmanlike but also showed a threat in behind the United defence with runners from deep.
The second half and United came out the aggressor. Sharp had an effort blocked and then Ndiaye headed wide as the Blades looked to really up the tempo. Ndiaye showed some more quick footwork but could not get his shot away. At the other end Robinson continued his stuttering form and was beaten for pace and skill by Emil Ris Jakobsen but fortunately it went across the goal.
The next phase of the game saw little in the way of action and Preston started to take the sting out of the game with some slow play in terms of retaking free kicks/set plays and the physio coming on more than once. Gibbs White had a free kick lofted over a foul on Ndiaye 30 yards from goal but United were not penetrating a well organised back line.
Berge came on for Freeman as the Blades tried to find something going forward but Preston then were nearly in as Emil Ris Jakobsen again got away but was cynically chopped down by Norrington Davies for a yellow card. Brewster came on for Ndiaye after he went down with cramp again and could not continue. Potts came on for Maguire for the visitors.
Two chances came in quick succession when Fleck picked up the ball and as Preston tried to play for offside, the Scottish midfielder burst through and suddenly only had the keeper to beat but perhaps tried to be too clever and his chipped finish was saved by Iversen. The action then went to the other end and a through ball dissected Egan and Robinson leading to a one on one for Emil Ris Jakobsen but Olsen made a great save flicking it over the bar.
Hourihane came on for Norwood and United tried to remain patient with some switches of play but chances were now proving elusive despite the Blades controlling possession almost exclusively by this stage.
As the game ticked into the final 10 minutes, Berge won a corner with a driving and then with the next attack, the Blades got what they thought would be the winner on 84 minutes. Gibbs White and Fleck were involved and as the ball came across Sharp’s shot was blocked but fell into the path of BERGE who drilled it low under Iversen and into the net. The Norwegian slid on his knees in front of the jubilant Kop.
The Blades had opportunities to maybe score again but towards the end of stoppage time opted to take it into the corner but Hourihane lost it and Preston broke and hit the ball forward. As the game ticked over to the 95th minute and, Sharp fouled his man on half way; a silly foul and Preston had a final chance to put it into the box. The ball should have been cleared but Robinson mistimed his jump and flicked it on and Storey was able to send it back into the six-yard box.
JACOBSEN was able to control and lash it home to spark wild joy with even the keeper coming up to celebrate. There was barely chance for United to mount another attack and the home side had been denied points at the death again with more sloppy defending.