United – Really easy night. Not often you say that, even at Championship level but Oxford were poor and put to the sword. The Blades had other gears to go up through I felt but did what they had to do. They scored three decent goals and could have had a lot more really with the keeper making a series of good saves. Oxford huffed and puffed but United just were able to find gaps and utilise the quality of the likes of Hamer, O’Hare and Rak Sakyi. The young players Peck and Seriki were both key players in the win and we also rotated on more young players in Brooks and One late on. Seriki was superb and rivalled Hamer for man of the match. Campbell got enough goal and the defence, although Robinson and Souttar were a bit sloppy with their touches first half (much better as the game went on) were never really pressured. We had an easy night and good we could make 3 changes and still win at a canter. It is hard to know if United were very good or whether Oxford were just really bad. I think it was a bit of both. Oxford never pressed, sat off and had an odd defensive set up where they tried to play a high line at times but then some players forgot and it ended up a bit of a mess. Two goals came from such scenarios where a few defenders were looking for offside, but others were well behind them playing us on!
In terms of the goals, Hamer was involved in all of them with the assist to the assist on one, then the clever passes on the next two. He should have scored but the keeper saved three from him! He was excellent tonight and thought he looked a class above. I also thought O’Hare had his best game for us with his hard work added to some neat link play and a goal and he was busy all night. Peck had a solid game, nothing flash but looked more like a veteran than a young kid, and Souza was very good again. There were no real negatives. One and Brooks did not get in the game much but the game was kind of done and we were fine with just coasting to the win.
Thought it might be a tricky night and expected a few more could be out (rumours of injuries to Souza, Hamer and Rak Sakyi proved to be wrong) and in the end, we did change the defence but the rest of the side was strong and indeed far good for a slow, static Oxford side who probably were happy not to get enough big hammering, after they went 2-0 down. They had a bit of a go late on but the game was done by this point.
It is tight at the top with us, Burnley, Leeds, Sunderland and of course Boro on great form. Friday feels a big game, not season defining but one where can lay a marker against a stuttering Sunderland (who have drawn a number of their recent games) but it will be a full house probably and a good atmosphere and a different kind of night to tonight with a decent side with some good attacking talent. If we have big performances from our main men and keep the spine solid, then you hope we can get another three points and keep the good run going. We do not have a game for 9 days after this one, so it’s important we give it a real good go. The players will get another break in that sense. Be interesting if Moore is risked – maybe he might be put on the bench but I would not risk him as we have a lot of games before Xmas and more Saturday-midweek-Saturday runs to come.
As it stands though, we sit top of the league, on another impressive run and despite the lack of real squad depth, are getting some real tonics in terms of the performances from the young players and that all bodes well for the future.
Ratings:
Cooper 7/10 – Had little to do but then second half made one decent save where pushed over and then one excellent save diving full stretch to push it behind. His kicking and ball work with his feet is excellent and means we can comfortably move things on.
Seriki 8/10 – Given a chance and boy did he take it. Placheta was lively too, so he had to his defensive stuff and first half showed he could come across and help his team with clearances/tackles. He did not get beat at all, the whole game. As the contest developed, he started to come forward more and more and was a real threat. Some marauding runs and two or three good crosses. Linked well with others and was nice and composed and never panicked. Second half started to drive even more and so many of our attacks came from him carrying the ball. His touch and passing was good but the way he used it and just made the right decisions. I expect Gilchrist to come back, with a better Sunderland side to come, but Seriki had shown he can come in and on the evidence might be used more than just as a rotation player. A pleasant surprise this season and fair play to him coming back and taking his opportunity.
McCallum 6.5/10 – Nothing remarkable. Just did his job. A few decent crosses and he used the ball well. Sometimes he took too long to do things and defensively in the first half he switched off a bit but nothing too concerning. Did a job.
Robinson 6.5/10 – Thought first half he was poor and gave it away a fair bit or committed some stupid fouls. He also tackled himself at one point! Second half so much better as he was surer in everything he did with some nice touches and he moved it quicker. Won more of the 50-50 stuff too.
Souttar 6.5/10 – Started a bit sloppy with a few telegraphed passes and also his long balls were not working but gradually got to grips and won his battles and moved it on quicker. Involved in the first, heading it across. He was not really pressured at all and an easy game.
Souza 7.5/10 – Another game where he just oozed class, in terms of picking up the loose stuff, moving it on and threaded some lovely balls through too. He just dominated the midfield area and showed his strength and poise. His ball control and one touch stuff was a big part of some our better moves.
Peck 6.5/10 – Better game than Saturday and much more involved. He used it well and was always showing for it and helped us get up the field. Kept it simple but he was able to turn and allow us to move forwards rather than just always going back or sideways. Love his confidence. Had a few giveaways towards the end of the first half but then got back to retaining possession 2nd half. Solid game.
Rak Sayki 7/10 – Thought he was quiet for spells, as another team doubled up on him but gradually started to have more impact and a few runs and pieces of skill nearly unlocked the door towards the end of the opening half. He was much more involved second half and should have scored as he lashed one wide but then took his goal well. Saw the drop off when Brooks came on as harsh as that sounds.
O’Hare 7.5/10 – Might have been his best game for us. He did lots of good things on the ball, was always looking for it and wanted to make things happen. He was so busy and the ball was almost magnetised to him at times. His end product still lacking at times but his link with others and his energy levels was strong and a big factor in the performance tonight. He works across that line and stops defenders getting out. He got his first goal too which seems a long time in coming!
Hamer 8/10 –Seriki was fantastic but Hamer may just take the man of the match award. He showed some wonderful touches and passes tonight and did some things with the ball that no one else on the field could execute. Involved in all three goals and set the 2nd/3rd up with delightful passes. He somehow did not score with three chances all saved from the keeper – these all were more saves than misses. A joy to watch at times and a class act against a side that looked terrified of him whenever he got the ball.
Campbell 7.5/10 – Seems to be getting better and better. His fitness is improving with the more games he plays and just seems more involved in everything we do now. He linked well at times and set up the first and then scored the second. He neatly had another after the break. Led the line really well and was always a focal point. His performances mean we do not have to rush Moore back. He is on a really hot streak at the moment.
Subs -
Brooks 5/10 – Disappointing when he came on. He was given a fair bit of the ball but always kept coming inside and never once tried to run down the win or go at his man. Being out of the side seems to have hurt his confidence and he was taking the safe option. Needs to be more positive. We were 3-0 up so he had nothing to lose by running at his man.
One 5.5/10 – Struggled to get into it. One good run and cross apart, felt the game became a bit disjointed as we settled for what we had. A few times he got robbed when he was given the ball and they broke.
Norrington Davies 5.5/10 – Steady when he came on. Linked down the left and had a few runs and pieces of interchange.
Shacketon 5/10 – Like with many of the above, the game was done and he was just seeing the game out. Not sure he saw much of the ball and was quiet.
Davies – Nice to have him back. Tried to get on the ball but only had limited time.
Manager: Wilder 7.5/10 – Managed to rotate a few defenders (one forced) and also could bring a few off with the game done. Did not seem to pick up any injuries and it was a controlled and comprehensive win. After going 2-0 up, like that we came out and looked to put it away second half and did that with a dominant spell and by the hour, when it was 3-0, the game was done. Some may say we could and should have scored more but we did have a number of chances at three and the keeper just made a lot of saves. Wilder was right not to risk the likes of Hamer and Campbell with a big game and tougher opposition to come.
Oxford – Did superbly well to come up via the playoffs with a somewhat surprise win over Bolton. Excellent young manager who has worked around their world and Wilder actually worked with him and moved him into management. They lost their best player – Josh Murphy to Pompey but brought in a few experienced players like Will Vaulks and Matt Phillips. They also brought in Sibley from Derby and also Siriki Dembele from Birmingham but a glance at the squad felt it may be a struggle without that real depth or quality. Not sure they have that home advantage others have, playing a three-sided ground. However, they had some decent wins and carried on the momentum after promotion but things started to get tougher and before this match had won one game in eleven. They got pumped at home to Boro at the weekend and confidence seemed to be brittle.
Tonight, they started ok but as soon as the first went in, their heads dropped. It was a sloppy goal from a long throw (weirdly Vaulks never took any for them despite him having a long throw?) and even though they tried to stay in it, the second seemed to just end it. After this their were spells where they had to just hang on in and if the keeper does not make 6 or 7 saves, they could have been on the end of another Boro type score. They had a late flurry and tried to salvage a consolation but overall they were well beaten. They looked like a side that was a division off the Blades as the technique and power of the two respective sides, were at seemingly different levels. In the end, they were probably just happy to get out with only a 3-0 defeat. They looked a really poor side and one that you would expect will be in a relegation scrap. The division has some bad sides and with the likes of Plymouth, Hull and QPR struggling, they can at least have a fighting chance of staying up but on the evidence of tonight, I fear for them. They was not much fight and it was almost like they accepted the defeat but just did not want to get embarrassed.
Opponent Man of the Match – Scarlett toiled on his own and a few of the subs showed some bright spots but the keeper was the only real stand out and kept the score down with some great full length saves.
Opponent Weak link – Thought the centre backs were statuesque and Long/Brown were given little protection in front as we walked through them and the midfield left them badly exposed. However, the right back. Leigh was woeful. He did not do much right all night and JRS and Seriki eyes lit up every time they saw him. Did not help he kept passing it back to us!
Referee/Officials – Leigh Doughty. Seen him once this season against Swansea this year where it was all a bit stop start. He is the referee we had against Wrexham a few years ago but also reffed us in wins against Blackburn (3-0) and Luton (0-1) in the promotion season. Thought in an easy game, he still made it too stop start tonight. I get they were frustrated as he failed to card Souza or Hamer for fouls (not sure they were yellows) but then booked Goodrham. No more cards apart from late on for Seriki and this seemed harsh – just a barge – never a booking. My main gripe was his inability to stand in the right places, as the ball struck him three times I counted! He kept standing exactly where we were playing a sideways ball. He did it constantly and was really annoying me. Maybe he was cold and wanted to get in on the action.
Crowd – Crowd of only 25,574, lowest of the season as Oxford maybe brought 600-700 tops? Long way to come to see their teams well beaten but kept their sense of humour with Oles to a few passes near the end and singing, ‘We are going to score in a minute!’ They probably wondered why we did not sing but of course, such a flat game and one that seemed like a practice/reserve match such was the lack of intensity, meant the home fans were not going to sing much and it was quiet despite us winning at a canter.
