Deadbat
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- Aug 6, 2009
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Sorry for late report – did not get back till late so done before work and over my lunch break so might not be usual standards! Not saying much!
Pod to come maybe in a few days – might be a double header with Preston due to work/family stuff
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Promotion was sealed for the Blades in a glorious night at Bramall Lane in front of a sold-out crowd under the lights. United sealed promotion with still three games to spare as they saw off play off chasers West Brom with a complete second half performance. The Blades never really got going in the first half and the Baggies shaded it in terms of play and chances with keeper Foderingham making a vital stop. However, it was a completely different story after the break as Heckingbottom’s men came out with a purpose, drive and determination to get the job done. Iliman Ndiaye laid a goal on a plate for the outstanding Sander Berge before Anel Ahmedhodzic’s volleyed finish from a George Baldock cross shot sealed matters. The final period of the game was played out to almost carnival scenes with a crackle and noise enveloping the S2 night air. The final whistle saw long and jubilant celebrations from both players and fans alike as United celebrated their return to the big time.
United made three changes from their admirable efforts in the FA Cup semi final against Manchester City, with Doyle and McAtee returning as expected and McBurnie back in. Fleck, Norwood and Jebbison were back on the bench. West Brom still were very much in the shake up for a top 6 place despite a home defeat to Sunderland at the weekend but opted not to start one-time United target John Swift who was on the bench.
The game started with both teams feeling each other out but it was the visitors who looked the more dangerous and some slick football saw them move it around and as a cross came over from Wallace, Grant headed down, but it bounced up and over with Baldock doing just enough. United struggled to get going and Lowe gave the ball away twice and nothing was sticking at the top of the field. Berge did have one shot, but it was well over the bar and also a header on the stretch from a deep cross.
The sloppy play meant the away side started to sense an opportunity to striker first and very nearly did when from a clever corner routine, the ball was pulled back and Grant’s shot was pushed away by Foderingham as the ball came through a crowd of bodies. He saved twice more on the rebound, but the assistant’s flag had already gone up as the Blades fans drew for breath.
United tried to find openings with Berge and Doyle moving it around nicely but West Brom were banking up in numbers defensively and denying space. They also were pressing well when the Blades tried to bring it out and it meant key men Ndiaye and McAtee were only seeing fleeting moments with the ball. Doyle sent in two poor crosses, and it was becoming a real toil for United to even get in the last third despite seeing a lot of the ball. Foderingham went down but it seemed this desire for treatment may have actually been a ploy that United have used before to ensure that the coaching staff could reshape and rejig things and indeed the keeper seemed fine when play restarted!
A poor tackle from Pieters after some lusty tackles in the build up saw him rightly booked as Doyle went down in a heap before Robinson had a tame effort as he came inside saved by Palmer. At the other end, an acrobatic effort by Gardner Hickman was equally as comfortable for Foderingham. Ndiaye then finally had a few moments where he got space and one good run from deep saw him go down but the claims for a penalty seemed ambitious. A feature of the first half had been several players falling to the ground, often under little challenges on a heavily watered pitch.
The second half began, and it was clear Heckingbottom had asked the players to respond individually and collectively, and they did so. The tempo was quicker and as the previous home game it was Baldock leading the way. He won two early tackles and then seized on a poor touch from Townsend and forced Plamer into a save as he fired across goal. United now were in control and Berge was at the heart of everything good. Lowe intercepted the ball well on the left side and Robinson/Egan were now playing front foot in term of winning the loose stuff and sending United going the other way. Robinson and Ahmedhodzic attempted overhead kicks that were off target from a corner.
There were appeals for a penalty as lovely interchange saw the ball moved around and McAtee went into the box and there seemed contact as he fell but maybe his theatrics did not impress referee Whitestone? Berge then got down the right and the ball did not quite sit but just before the hour mark, the deadlock was broken. Gardner Hickman’s back pass was short and Ndiaye read it and was able to drift past Ajayi and beautifully sit him down as he came back inside. With the keeper coming across to deny Ndiaye, the striker unselfishly squared it to set up a simply finish for BERGE who fired home in front of a jubilant Kop.
The fans responded and the songs were now coming out from all sides and United sensed they could put West Brom away. Baldock did well again and then Ndiaye almost found a pocket of space before patient stuff that saw United move it from left to right, saw the cross stood up from Berge and Furlong seemed to knock McBurnie off the ball as the striker fell to the ground. Once again nothing was given.
A great came soon after as the ball came over from the right from McAtee and Egan somehow headed down and wide with the expectant crowd sensing the clincher. It mattered not as after Sharp and Fleck came on for McBurnie and McAtee, the second goal came on 76 minutes. The ball was almost permanently in the West Brom final third, and they simply could not get out. After winning another corner, Doyle’s delivery was half cleared but Baldock hit a cross shot that AHMEDHODZIC did superbly well to cushion a volley high into the net. A quick glance to the assistant and he was onside and the noise inside the Lane went up another level. The players, including the substitutes celebrated down in the corner and it seemed that promotion was in the bag.
A number of changes ensued for both sides and Bogle and Basham saw action but United were comfortable and only one effort from Garnder Hickman was saved from Foderingham. Egan took a tactical booking on Swift, but West Brom seemed to have run out of ideas. There was five minutes of stoppage time played but nothing of note happened apart from more keep ball from United and one last wayward shot from West Brom that sailed into the upper tier.
The final whistle saw joyous scenes as the players celebrated in a huddle initially before moving around the ground to salute each area. The songs blared out and hardly anyone left the famous old ground. Hecky did his now traditional fist salute in front of the Kop before Ndiaye danced a merry jig as a light show started too. The players had a customary group photo in front of the ‘Promotion!’ banner and the champagne began to be sprayed around before the party continued both in the changing room for the players and on London Road for the fans!
United – Fantastic achievement to go up and do it with quite a bit to spare. Huge credit to Hecky, the coaching staff and players. We have had a few wobbles but recently the form in terms of results, not necessarily performances until the 2nd half tonight, has been solid and we have done what we needed to and remained consistent. Boro and to a lesser extent Luton have dropped some points and we have kept our foot down and professionally done the job. After the last international break there is only that one loss at Burnley, and we have won the rest. We had the four home games in a row, and you thought they were a lot that were winnable, and we have won them all so far!
I will do my season review and discuss the season as a whole at the end of the season in a few weeks so will focus more on tonight in this section but I do want to acknowledge how professional and calm we have remained. Even in the last few home games, like tonight, we have not been fantastic or fluent in the first half of games and had to remain patient and overcome some sticky spells. I felt West Brom, like Bristol City, were better than us first half and moved it around and had a few chances. The header over the bar and then the corner routine which was saved. They got through us much easier than we got through them and broke through our press too easy at times. Thought we gave it away a bit easily and got little up top even though Ndiaye and McAtee tried to probe and find openings. They really banked up and pressed but to be fair even though we created little, we remained patient and maybe a bit like City with us on Saturday, we just tired them out but moving it around and letting them chase us? Berge had one effort and Ndiaye had a half-hearted appeal for a penalty, but they definitely had the better of it and had two better chances. I was happy to go in at half time goalless as felt we could improve as we had in other home games and so it proved.
Second half we were superb and the best we have played for a long, long time – maybe since some of those big wins and dominant home performances to start the season against Blackburn and Reading. It reminded me of the Burnley second half performance in some ways as we just were completely ‘on it’. We won the ball high up and the whole team moved forward. The tempo was so much better and Baldock sort of led the charge, as he did last week. We were winning all the loose balls with Lowe suddenly a different player – Robinson was nipping in and getting there, and everyone seemed to show a new desire to get the job done. We turned it forward with pace but played some good football as well and moved it with purpose. The football was the best it had been for a long time and with Berge and Doyle dictating midfield and Ndiaye and McAtee getting it and going at defenders, you sensed a goal was coming. We had a few half chances and efforts, and the goal then came it was from a mistake as a loose pass was pounced on but a fantastic piece of calmness and set up from Ili and the great desire from Berge to finish. Sharp came on and worked hard and then the 2nd came as Baldock’s volley was not the best but kept it alive but what a finish from Anel! This is something now we have come to expect from him as he has shown what a good finisher is and scored a fair few goals (5 is it?). This, much like the O’Connell goal, was the moment where you knew it was pretty much done and we were up!
After this we did what we had to, and it became really easy and West Brom sort of gave up! Like that Ipswich game, both sets of players, officials and fans were then just clock watching and waiting for the game to be over. I am glad everyone stayed off the pitch and the players could celebrate with the fans. It was great to see everyone so jubilant and seemed to just be a carry on from Saturday and the weekend which despite the loss seemed like a big party too!
We can now enjoy the last few games in comfort and maybe see some different players. However, whilst we enjoy this week, thoughts will quickly turn to next season. The boardroom uncertainty of course continues with the questions now over what will happen – with the takeover, in terms of Dozy at least, being dead in the water. Interesting the Prince has re-surfaced, and he and his board were mostly all there last night, and he was saluting the fans and very much part of the celebrations. Again, I will discuss him and the board in more detail at the end of the season but I do find it a bit galling he has just turned up for the last few big games and suddenly it back interested – is he now not wanting to sell or still does but needs to just find a new investor – which may happen now we are up (after the complete mess of the last two we were linked with). There will be discussions on players and those out of contract, the loan lads and of course who we may be able to bring in. That is for another day.
Pod to come maybe in a few days – might be a double header with Preston due to work/family stuff
---
Promotion was sealed for the Blades in a glorious night at Bramall Lane in front of a sold-out crowd under the lights. United sealed promotion with still three games to spare as they saw off play off chasers West Brom with a complete second half performance. The Blades never really got going in the first half and the Baggies shaded it in terms of play and chances with keeper Foderingham making a vital stop. However, it was a completely different story after the break as Heckingbottom’s men came out with a purpose, drive and determination to get the job done. Iliman Ndiaye laid a goal on a plate for the outstanding Sander Berge before Anel Ahmedhodzic’s volleyed finish from a George Baldock cross shot sealed matters. The final period of the game was played out to almost carnival scenes with a crackle and noise enveloping the S2 night air. The final whistle saw long and jubilant celebrations from both players and fans alike as United celebrated their return to the big time.
United made three changes from their admirable efforts in the FA Cup semi final against Manchester City, with Doyle and McAtee returning as expected and McBurnie back in. Fleck, Norwood and Jebbison were back on the bench. West Brom still were very much in the shake up for a top 6 place despite a home defeat to Sunderland at the weekend but opted not to start one-time United target John Swift who was on the bench.
The game started with both teams feeling each other out but it was the visitors who looked the more dangerous and some slick football saw them move it around and as a cross came over from Wallace, Grant headed down, but it bounced up and over with Baldock doing just enough. United struggled to get going and Lowe gave the ball away twice and nothing was sticking at the top of the field. Berge did have one shot, but it was well over the bar and also a header on the stretch from a deep cross.
The sloppy play meant the away side started to sense an opportunity to striker first and very nearly did when from a clever corner routine, the ball was pulled back and Grant’s shot was pushed away by Foderingham as the ball came through a crowd of bodies. He saved twice more on the rebound, but the assistant’s flag had already gone up as the Blades fans drew for breath.
United tried to find openings with Berge and Doyle moving it around nicely but West Brom were banking up in numbers defensively and denying space. They also were pressing well when the Blades tried to bring it out and it meant key men Ndiaye and McAtee were only seeing fleeting moments with the ball. Doyle sent in two poor crosses, and it was becoming a real toil for United to even get in the last third despite seeing a lot of the ball. Foderingham went down but it seemed this desire for treatment may have actually been a ploy that United have used before to ensure that the coaching staff could reshape and rejig things and indeed the keeper seemed fine when play restarted!
A poor tackle from Pieters after some lusty tackles in the build up saw him rightly booked as Doyle went down in a heap before Robinson had a tame effort as he came inside saved by Palmer. At the other end, an acrobatic effort by Gardner Hickman was equally as comfortable for Foderingham. Ndiaye then finally had a few moments where he got space and one good run from deep saw him go down but the claims for a penalty seemed ambitious. A feature of the first half had been several players falling to the ground, often under little challenges on a heavily watered pitch.
The second half began, and it was clear Heckingbottom had asked the players to respond individually and collectively, and they did so. The tempo was quicker and as the previous home game it was Baldock leading the way. He won two early tackles and then seized on a poor touch from Townsend and forced Plamer into a save as he fired across goal. United now were in control and Berge was at the heart of everything good. Lowe intercepted the ball well on the left side and Robinson/Egan were now playing front foot in term of winning the loose stuff and sending United going the other way. Robinson and Ahmedhodzic attempted overhead kicks that were off target from a corner.
There were appeals for a penalty as lovely interchange saw the ball moved around and McAtee went into the box and there seemed contact as he fell but maybe his theatrics did not impress referee Whitestone? Berge then got down the right and the ball did not quite sit but just before the hour mark, the deadlock was broken. Gardner Hickman’s back pass was short and Ndiaye read it and was able to drift past Ajayi and beautifully sit him down as he came back inside. With the keeper coming across to deny Ndiaye, the striker unselfishly squared it to set up a simply finish for BERGE who fired home in front of a jubilant Kop.
The fans responded and the songs were now coming out from all sides and United sensed they could put West Brom away. Baldock did well again and then Ndiaye almost found a pocket of space before patient stuff that saw United move it from left to right, saw the cross stood up from Berge and Furlong seemed to knock McBurnie off the ball as the striker fell to the ground. Once again nothing was given.
A great came soon after as the ball came over from the right from McAtee and Egan somehow headed down and wide with the expectant crowd sensing the clincher. It mattered not as after Sharp and Fleck came on for McBurnie and McAtee, the second goal came on 76 minutes. The ball was almost permanently in the West Brom final third, and they simply could not get out. After winning another corner, Doyle’s delivery was half cleared but Baldock hit a cross shot that AHMEDHODZIC did superbly well to cushion a volley high into the net. A quick glance to the assistant and he was onside and the noise inside the Lane went up another level. The players, including the substitutes celebrated down in the corner and it seemed that promotion was in the bag.
A number of changes ensued for both sides and Bogle and Basham saw action but United were comfortable and only one effort from Garnder Hickman was saved from Foderingham. Egan took a tactical booking on Swift, but West Brom seemed to have run out of ideas. There was five minutes of stoppage time played but nothing of note happened apart from more keep ball from United and one last wayward shot from West Brom that sailed into the upper tier.
The final whistle saw joyous scenes as the players celebrated in a huddle initially before moving around the ground to salute each area. The songs blared out and hardly anyone left the famous old ground. Hecky did his now traditional fist salute in front of the Kop before Ndiaye danced a merry jig as a light show started too. The players had a customary group photo in front of the ‘Promotion!’ banner and the champagne began to be sprayed around before the party continued both in the changing room for the players and on London Road for the fans!
United – Fantastic achievement to go up and do it with quite a bit to spare. Huge credit to Hecky, the coaching staff and players. We have had a few wobbles but recently the form in terms of results, not necessarily performances until the 2nd half tonight, has been solid and we have done what we needed to and remained consistent. Boro and to a lesser extent Luton have dropped some points and we have kept our foot down and professionally done the job. After the last international break there is only that one loss at Burnley, and we have won the rest. We had the four home games in a row, and you thought they were a lot that were winnable, and we have won them all so far!
I will do my season review and discuss the season as a whole at the end of the season in a few weeks so will focus more on tonight in this section but I do want to acknowledge how professional and calm we have remained. Even in the last few home games, like tonight, we have not been fantastic or fluent in the first half of games and had to remain patient and overcome some sticky spells. I felt West Brom, like Bristol City, were better than us first half and moved it around and had a few chances. The header over the bar and then the corner routine which was saved. They got through us much easier than we got through them and broke through our press too easy at times. Thought we gave it away a bit easily and got little up top even though Ndiaye and McAtee tried to probe and find openings. They really banked up and pressed but to be fair even though we created little, we remained patient and maybe a bit like City with us on Saturday, we just tired them out but moving it around and letting them chase us? Berge had one effort and Ndiaye had a half-hearted appeal for a penalty, but they definitely had the better of it and had two better chances. I was happy to go in at half time goalless as felt we could improve as we had in other home games and so it proved.
Second half we were superb and the best we have played for a long, long time – maybe since some of those big wins and dominant home performances to start the season against Blackburn and Reading. It reminded me of the Burnley second half performance in some ways as we just were completely ‘on it’. We won the ball high up and the whole team moved forward. The tempo was so much better and Baldock sort of led the charge, as he did last week. We were winning all the loose balls with Lowe suddenly a different player – Robinson was nipping in and getting there, and everyone seemed to show a new desire to get the job done. We turned it forward with pace but played some good football as well and moved it with purpose. The football was the best it had been for a long time and with Berge and Doyle dictating midfield and Ndiaye and McAtee getting it and going at defenders, you sensed a goal was coming. We had a few half chances and efforts, and the goal then came it was from a mistake as a loose pass was pounced on but a fantastic piece of calmness and set up from Ili and the great desire from Berge to finish. Sharp came on and worked hard and then the 2nd came as Baldock’s volley was not the best but kept it alive but what a finish from Anel! This is something now we have come to expect from him as he has shown what a good finisher is and scored a fair few goals (5 is it?). This, much like the O’Connell goal, was the moment where you knew it was pretty much done and we were up!
After this we did what we had to, and it became really easy and West Brom sort of gave up! Like that Ipswich game, both sets of players, officials and fans were then just clock watching and waiting for the game to be over. I am glad everyone stayed off the pitch and the players could celebrate with the fans. It was great to see everyone so jubilant and seemed to just be a carry on from Saturday and the weekend which despite the loss seemed like a big party too!
We can now enjoy the last few games in comfort and maybe see some different players. However, whilst we enjoy this week, thoughts will quickly turn to next season. The boardroom uncertainty of course continues with the questions now over what will happen – with the takeover, in terms of Dozy at least, being dead in the water. Interesting the Prince has re-surfaced, and he and his board were mostly all there last night, and he was saluting the fans and very much part of the celebrations. Again, I will discuss him and the board in more detail at the end of the season but I do find it a bit galling he has just turned up for the last few big games and suddenly it back interested – is he now not wanting to sell or still does but needs to just find a new investor – which may happen now we are up (after the complete mess of the last two we were linked with). There will be discussions on players and those out of contract, the loan lads and of course who we may be able to bring in. That is for another day.
