Deadbat
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Pod and match report…Enjoyed this one!!!
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Sheffield United’s incredible season continued into dream land type territory as the Blades absolutely annihilated 3rd placed Chelsea side 3-0 at Bramall Lane. After a difficult start to the restart United have responded well with wins against high flying Wolves and Spurs at the Lane with a draw at in form Burnley sandwiched in between. However, in form Chelsea would offer a tougher test you may think but it was not the case. United completely outplayed Frank Lampard’s side and now have gone all season undefeated against sides from the capital and beat every team from London at the Lane. Tonight’s performance made you incredibly proud to be a Blades fan. The United team’s attitude, skill, organisation and togetherness was a joy to behold. By the end the visitors were well beaten. Make no mistake though, this was not just about application and desire but also ability and some lovely football/attacks when it mattered saw United score three goals. They could have had more. Chelsea had a lot of the ball but did not really hurt United and Dean Henderson maybe only had a couple of saves to make all game. David McGoldrick was the hero but this was a team of heroes and now United up to 6th can dream of European qualification legitimately with just three games to play.
McGoldrick was back fit and replaced Sharp but there was no place for Fleck in the matchday squad still. Kante was missing for Chelsea but they had the dangerous Willian, Abraham and Pulisic up top and a team packed full of talent.
The Blades began will with Stevens and O’Connell linking up and they won an early corner that came to nothing before Barkley came forward but his low shot did not trouble Henderson. Baldock then got booked for a wild tackle on Pulisic. It was action packed in the early going with much more in the way of attacking football than the previous game against Wolves and quite open. United won another set play but Norwood took a short one and it was cleared.
The best chance for United came on 8 minutes when the ball dropped for Osborn who blazed over when well placed. Chelsea almost got in at the other end when James whipped over a dangerous cross and Pulisic headed over with Baldock caught sleeping a little.
From 10-15 minutes Chelsea moved it about well but did not really create anything even though they had lots of possession and United kept a nice, solid shape. It was all in front of United and they were not able to penetrate the Blades solid defence. McBurnie and McGoldrick had held the ball up well and United had looked a threat when they did move it forward.
On 17 minutes the opening goal came and it was a big moment for David MCGOLDRICK as finally after 42 shots and 1615 minutes he finally got a Premier League goal this season. It came after good work from Stevens, McBurnie and then Berge to keep it alive and the ball went over to Baldock who sent over a deep cross and McBurnie met and hit goalward and via one and maybe two deflections, Kepa managed to keep it out but it ran loose and McGoldrick smashed over. The obligatory check for an offside confirmed that it had finally happened and a goal for the popular front man.
United managed to keep things nice and tight as Chelsea moved it about but again did not really hurt the Blades although Stevens made a crunching tackle to keep the visitors at arm length. The next spell saw Chelsea continue to probe but without much penetration at all and the game got beyond the drinks break with little happening in terms of concern for United.
On 32 minutes, the Blades doubled the lead and what a goal it was. Stevens played a one two with Osborn, and the wing back on the move whipped over a great cross and MCBURNIE met it on the full to head down and beyond a motionless Kepa and it was 2-0! #
Chelsea looked shellshocked and were struggling to get anything going. Pulisic found a chink with some neat footwork but Basham once again got across and then Egan headed clear. United’s thou shalt not pass attitude carried on.
The first real effort Chelsea had was when James hit a low shot and Henderson pushed out but fortunately it did not fall for any of the visiting players and United cleared.
At the other end great work from McBurnie won a free kick to help United see things out. The additional two minutes passed without incident. If there had been fans in the stadium, they would surely have given a standing ovation to send the Blades players in for a well-earned break at half time!
The second half started with Lampard inevitable making changes to the side with Rudiger and Alonso on for Christensen and Mount as Chelsea now tried to match United up formation wise but it seemed a case of too little, too late maybe – strange as Lampard has seen this formation and pattern and often struggled with it before.
Chelsea tried to find a foot hold in the game but the first real chance came when McBurnie did well and fed Basham with another ling busting run who played in Osborn but the ball ricocheted off a Chelsea man and behind for a corner. Neat footwork from Berge found O’Connell who cleverly came inside beating his man but his cross was cleared at the second attempt.
Chelsea were having a lot o the ball but not really looking like creating much. Egan again won the key header and then Osborn and Norwood swept up in consecutive attacks. A fortunate corner off Abraham gave Chelsea a chance but it was cleared away although Berge then brought down his man and Chelsea had a chance.
The free kick was smashed into Basham in the wall who came off a bit groggy and afterwards needed treatment. Norwood coolly headed back as the game entered the hour mark. Lundstram and Mousset came on for McBurnie and Berge as the Blades tried to find some fresh legs. Egan made another great interception stopping Pulisic getting in after they had threatened down the right briefly.
Giroud also came on for Pulisic soon after for the visitors who were trying to find anything from the game but they had struggled to create anything. They now had two up top. Giroud had an early chance but fired wide from the cross before Jagielka came on for the clearly struggling Basham.
United still had a threat on the break even though they were defending and coping really comfortably. A corner was won and then Osborn’s cross fell for Mousset but was blocked. A rare chance came at the other end when Azpilicueta had a shot that O’Connell threw himself in front of and deflected wide for a corner.
Chelsea made more changes with Hudson Odoi on for James as they chucked more men forward but it was not looking like they would really score as they continued to have a lot of the ball but look clueless how to break down this super organised Blades backline.
The game was surely put to bed on 77 minutes as McGoldrick won the initial ball and sprinted away, feeding Mousset who sent a cross over and Rudiger made a complete hash of the clearance and there he was again MCGOLDRICK on the spot to smash home. 3-0 United and surely it was game over with the Blades absolutely rampant!
A final Chelsea change (seemed like they made about 10 subs!) when Loftus Cheek replaced the disappointing Barkley came soon after and Giroud had a headed effort but was straight at Henderson.
On 82 minutes, it could have been four for the home side. McGoldrick did fantastically again to win the ball and then fed Mousset who was in on goal and held off a challenge and seemed set to score but his lofted finish with Kepa on the floor went just the wrong side of the post. It was a golden chance and to be honest better than anything Chelsea had created all game (even outside of the three Blades goals).
Henderson took a high ball and took the sting out of things as the game entered the final five minutes. Another headed chance from Abraham this time but again Henderson saved comfortably before after losing the header on that chance, Jagielka made a great block from the same player.
The game entered three additional minutes but it was United who nearly made it four again, with lovely football seeing Baldock driving forward and then feeding Osborn who unselfishly pushed on to Stevens but he fired over when it was a really good opportunity.
The final whistle came after another predictable Chelsea attack petered out and United’s continued to march back up the table. A sensational performance and thoroughly deserved win for this group that continues to surprise and amaze both United fans and even more so, the national watching audience and media
United – I am literally running out of superlatives to describe our team and manager. I will try though! I was sat at full time and a little bit emotional. I know I am negative and quite pessimistic but United fans generally can often be like that. I was quite critical of us after the restart when we looked hopeless but still acknowledged what we had done all season and wanted to keep perspective but suddenly I look stupid as do many others. Wilder got us back going again, we slowly got back into form and now after 4 great results (even the Burnley one looking at their form) and we are bang at it again and suddenly the dream season (which it has been anyway) is back on and we sit in 6th having absolutely destroyed Chelsea - only a week or so since we did the same to Spurs!
People will look at possession (76% for Chelsea – biggest margin of defeat for a team with so much possession since 2003-04) but they did very little with it. Like Spurs and Wolves, we kept a solid shape and defended well but it was not like we were under the cosh really at all. It was composed and calm. We moved across, filled gaps, made interception and got blocks in when we could but when we had it, we used it well and looked a threat. I would say that we had several other good chances outside the three goals (Osborn, Mousset, Stevens). Not sure Henderson had much to do all game really and most was quite at it or routine.
We started the game well as we have done and were on the front foot early on and moved it around. The game was more open than the Wolves on and we moved it around well but then they did too. They had a half chance with the header at the back post and it was quite a good game really but we got the opening goal. The first two goals summed us up for me. The first was about willingness to get the ball and never give up and we did this quite a few times with McBurnie, Osborn and then Berge winning 50-50’s and then finally a great cross from Baldock and the shot fell to McGoldrick. So pleased he scored – he sometimes wondered if it would ever come but the beaming smile and his flexing celebration was surely repeated all round Sheffield!
After this they had a fair bit of the ball but not sure they did anything really with it at all and then we got the second with a great team goal; the wing back getting in with lovely football and the headed finish. Everyone will pick apart the Chelsea defending but how about some credit for Enda being on the move, the weight of pass from Benny and then the cross and header. McBurnie has struggled to find power at times and took the purchase off balls but this was a superb header.
We got to half time no trouble really – they had the one long range shot from James but never got behind us really.
Second half, they had a lot of the ball again but other than a few half chances never really got behind us. The shape and organisation from the whole team was excellent and we also played when we could. The third goal came and suddenly it was fantasy stuff and we could have had even more. It was superb and even though they pumped a few balls into the box for Giroud, they simply ran out of ideas and by the end as Lampard admitted were beaten in every sense.
This performance was not just about effort and intensity and determination (they were factors) but also about some clever football and playing when we could. It was a superb display and had everything you would want in a Sheffield United team. We have been used to our better teams having effort and application and the Bassett/Warnock eras featured this type of plucky against the odds attitude. Tonight, and this season has seen us take things on to a whole new level. Yes, we have a shape and organisation I have never seen before and a defence that is unsurpassed in my years watching the Blades but we now have a team that can play and show skill and score some fantastic goals. The question has to be asked if this team can compare or even better that early 70’s team – it is that good. Sure, we don’t have a Currie or Woodward but the actual team and what it has shown is maybe better but let those older than me debate. For me and those under the age of 50; it is simply the best Sheffield United team we have ever seen. It is a shame that we cannot be there but even with that annoyance, you can still stand back and applaud even if we are not there/celebrating at the pubs as we would have loved to.
We still have three games to go and hope we can carry it on but whether we do or don’t I just want to sit back and enjoy the moment tonight, this weekend and for a few days. I have never been as proud to be a Blade and genuinely was a bit emotional on full time tonight. The chant, ‘We love United we do!’ never has been so apt. Absolutely immense and simply sensational Blades. Chris Wilder, I cannot say enough about you. You have given fans things we never thought we would see and might never see again. It has been just the best time ever to be a fan the last 3-4 years and whether we are there or not, we just need to soak it up and enjoy it.
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Sheffield United’s incredible season continued into dream land type territory as the Blades absolutely annihilated 3rd placed Chelsea side 3-0 at Bramall Lane. After a difficult start to the restart United have responded well with wins against high flying Wolves and Spurs at the Lane with a draw at in form Burnley sandwiched in between. However, in form Chelsea would offer a tougher test you may think but it was not the case. United completely outplayed Frank Lampard’s side and now have gone all season undefeated against sides from the capital and beat every team from London at the Lane. Tonight’s performance made you incredibly proud to be a Blades fan. The United team’s attitude, skill, organisation and togetherness was a joy to behold. By the end the visitors were well beaten. Make no mistake though, this was not just about application and desire but also ability and some lovely football/attacks when it mattered saw United score three goals. They could have had more. Chelsea had a lot of the ball but did not really hurt United and Dean Henderson maybe only had a couple of saves to make all game. David McGoldrick was the hero but this was a team of heroes and now United up to 6th can dream of European qualification legitimately with just three games to play.
McGoldrick was back fit and replaced Sharp but there was no place for Fleck in the matchday squad still. Kante was missing for Chelsea but they had the dangerous Willian, Abraham and Pulisic up top and a team packed full of talent.
The Blades began will with Stevens and O’Connell linking up and they won an early corner that came to nothing before Barkley came forward but his low shot did not trouble Henderson. Baldock then got booked for a wild tackle on Pulisic. It was action packed in the early going with much more in the way of attacking football than the previous game against Wolves and quite open. United won another set play but Norwood took a short one and it was cleared.
The best chance for United came on 8 minutes when the ball dropped for Osborn who blazed over when well placed. Chelsea almost got in at the other end when James whipped over a dangerous cross and Pulisic headed over with Baldock caught sleeping a little.
From 10-15 minutes Chelsea moved it about well but did not really create anything even though they had lots of possession and United kept a nice, solid shape. It was all in front of United and they were not able to penetrate the Blades solid defence. McBurnie and McGoldrick had held the ball up well and United had looked a threat when they did move it forward.
On 17 minutes the opening goal came and it was a big moment for David MCGOLDRICK as finally after 42 shots and 1615 minutes he finally got a Premier League goal this season. It came after good work from Stevens, McBurnie and then Berge to keep it alive and the ball went over to Baldock who sent over a deep cross and McBurnie met and hit goalward and via one and maybe two deflections, Kepa managed to keep it out but it ran loose and McGoldrick smashed over. The obligatory check for an offside confirmed that it had finally happened and a goal for the popular front man.
United managed to keep things nice and tight as Chelsea moved it about but again did not really hurt the Blades although Stevens made a crunching tackle to keep the visitors at arm length. The next spell saw Chelsea continue to probe but without much penetration at all and the game got beyond the drinks break with little happening in terms of concern for United.
On 32 minutes, the Blades doubled the lead and what a goal it was. Stevens played a one two with Osborn, and the wing back on the move whipped over a great cross and MCBURNIE met it on the full to head down and beyond a motionless Kepa and it was 2-0! #
Chelsea looked shellshocked and were struggling to get anything going. Pulisic found a chink with some neat footwork but Basham once again got across and then Egan headed clear. United’s thou shalt not pass attitude carried on.
The first real effort Chelsea had was when James hit a low shot and Henderson pushed out but fortunately it did not fall for any of the visiting players and United cleared.
At the other end great work from McBurnie won a free kick to help United see things out. The additional two minutes passed without incident. If there had been fans in the stadium, they would surely have given a standing ovation to send the Blades players in for a well-earned break at half time!
The second half started with Lampard inevitable making changes to the side with Rudiger and Alonso on for Christensen and Mount as Chelsea now tried to match United up formation wise but it seemed a case of too little, too late maybe – strange as Lampard has seen this formation and pattern and often struggled with it before.
Chelsea tried to find a foot hold in the game but the first real chance came when McBurnie did well and fed Basham with another ling busting run who played in Osborn but the ball ricocheted off a Chelsea man and behind for a corner. Neat footwork from Berge found O’Connell who cleverly came inside beating his man but his cross was cleared at the second attempt.
Chelsea were having a lot o the ball but not really looking like creating much. Egan again won the key header and then Osborn and Norwood swept up in consecutive attacks. A fortunate corner off Abraham gave Chelsea a chance but it was cleared away although Berge then brought down his man and Chelsea had a chance.
The free kick was smashed into Basham in the wall who came off a bit groggy and afterwards needed treatment. Norwood coolly headed back as the game entered the hour mark. Lundstram and Mousset came on for McBurnie and Berge as the Blades tried to find some fresh legs. Egan made another great interception stopping Pulisic getting in after they had threatened down the right briefly.
Giroud also came on for Pulisic soon after for the visitors who were trying to find anything from the game but they had struggled to create anything. They now had two up top. Giroud had an early chance but fired wide from the cross before Jagielka came on for the clearly struggling Basham.
United still had a threat on the break even though they were defending and coping really comfortably. A corner was won and then Osborn’s cross fell for Mousset but was blocked. A rare chance came at the other end when Azpilicueta had a shot that O’Connell threw himself in front of and deflected wide for a corner.
Chelsea made more changes with Hudson Odoi on for James as they chucked more men forward but it was not looking like they would really score as they continued to have a lot of the ball but look clueless how to break down this super organised Blades backline.
The game was surely put to bed on 77 minutes as McGoldrick won the initial ball and sprinted away, feeding Mousset who sent a cross over and Rudiger made a complete hash of the clearance and there he was again MCGOLDRICK on the spot to smash home. 3-0 United and surely it was game over with the Blades absolutely rampant!
A final Chelsea change (seemed like they made about 10 subs!) when Loftus Cheek replaced the disappointing Barkley came soon after and Giroud had a headed effort but was straight at Henderson.
On 82 minutes, it could have been four for the home side. McGoldrick did fantastically again to win the ball and then fed Mousset who was in on goal and held off a challenge and seemed set to score but his lofted finish with Kepa on the floor went just the wrong side of the post. It was a golden chance and to be honest better than anything Chelsea had created all game (even outside of the three Blades goals).
Henderson took a high ball and took the sting out of things as the game entered the final five minutes. Another headed chance from Abraham this time but again Henderson saved comfortably before after losing the header on that chance, Jagielka made a great block from the same player.
The game entered three additional minutes but it was United who nearly made it four again, with lovely football seeing Baldock driving forward and then feeding Osborn who unselfishly pushed on to Stevens but he fired over when it was a really good opportunity.
The final whistle came after another predictable Chelsea attack petered out and United’s continued to march back up the table. A sensational performance and thoroughly deserved win for this group that continues to surprise and amaze both United fans and even more so, the national watching audience and media
United – I am literally running out of superlatives to describe our team and manager. I will try though! I was sat at full time and a little bit emotional. I know I am negative and quite pessimistic but United fans generally can often be like that. I was quite critical of us after the restart when we looked hopeless but still acknowledged what we had done all season and wanted to keep perspective but suddenly I look stupid as do many others. Wilder got us back going again, we slowly got back into form and now after 4 great results (even the Burnley one looking at their form) and we are bang at it again and suddenly the dream season (which it has been anyway) is back on and we sit in 6th having absolutely destroyed Chelsea - only a week or so since we did the same to Spurs!
People will look at possession (76% for Chelsea – biggest margin of defeat for a team with so much possession since 2003-04) but they did very little with it. Like Spurs and Wolves, we kept a solid shape and defended well but it was not like we were under the cosh really at all. It was composed and calm. We moved across, filled gaps, made interception and got blocks in when we could but when we had it, we used it well and looked a threat. I would say that we had several other good chances outside the three goals (Osborn, Mousset, Stevens). Not sure Henderson had much to do all game really and most was quite at it or routine.
We started the game well as we have done and were on the front foot early on and moved it around. The game was more open than the Wolves on and we moved it around well but then they did too. They had a half chance with the header at the back post and it was quite a good game really but we got the opening goal. The first two goals summed us up for me. The first was about willingness to get the ball and never give up and we did this quite a few times with McBurnie, Osborn and then Berge winning 50-50’s and then finally a great cross from Baldock and the shot fell to McGoldrick. So pleased he scored – he sometimes wondered if it would ever come but the beaming smile and his flexing celebration was surely repeated all round Sheffield!
After this they had a fair bit of the ball but not sure they did anything really with it at all and then we got the second with a great team goal; the wing back getting in with lovely football and the headed finish. Everyone will pick apart the Chelsea defending but how about some credit for Enda being on the move, the weight of pass from Benny and then the cross and header. McBurnie has struggled to find power at times and took the purchase off balls but this was a superb header.
We got to half time no trouble really – they had the one long range shot from James but never got behind us really.
Second half, they had a lot of the ball again but other than a few half chances never really got behind us. The shape and organisation from the whole team was excellent and we also played when we could. The third goal came and suddenly it was fantasy stuff and we could have had even more. It was superb and even though they pumped a few balls into the box for Giroud, they simply ran out of ideas and by the end as Lampard admitted were beaten in every sense.
This performance was not just about effort and intensity and determination (they were factors) but also about some clever football and playing when we could. It was a superb display and had everything you would want in a Sheffield United team. We have been used to our better teams having effort and application and the Bassett/Warnock eras featured this type of plucky against the odds attitude. Tonight, and this season has seen us take things on to a whole new level. Yes, we have a shape and organisation I have never seen before and a defence that is unsurpassed in my years watching the Blades but we now have a team that can play and show skill and score some fantastic goals. The question has to be asked if this team can compare or even better that early 70’s team – it is that good. Sure, we don’t have a Currie or Woodward but the actual team and what it has shown is maybe better but let those older than me debate. For me and those under the age of 50; it is simply the best Sheffield United team we have ever seen. It is a shame that we cannot be there but even with that annoyance, you can still stand back and applaud even if we are not there/celebrating at the pubs as we would have loved to.
We still have three games to go and hope we can carry it on but whether we do or don’t I just want to sit back and enjoy the moment tonight, this weekend and for a few days. I have never been as proud to be a Blade and genuinely was a bit emotional on full time tonight. The chant, ‘We love United we do!’ never has been so apt. Absolutely immense and simply sensational Blades. Chris Wilder, I cannot say enough about you. You have given fans things we never thought we would see and might never see again. It has been just the best time ever to be a fan the last 3-4 years and whether we are there or not, we just need to soak it up and enjoy it.
.. Great report as ever
