Deadbat
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The Blades continued their unbeaten run and gradual improvements with a vital win over fellow League One strugglers Tranmere at Bramall Lane. United gave a much more impressive performance than 3 days previously when Oldham were the opposition. An early goal from Jamie Murphy saw United in front and then after surviving a scare when Harry Maguire cleared off the line from Ryan Lowe; went on to score two excellent team goals with Jose Baxter and Ryan Flynn the scorers. A late Ash Taylor strike gave Rovers a consolation but the end result was never in doubt.
United made two enforced changes with the injured Shaun Miller and Aidy White being replaced by Flynn and Murphy. Baxter played in a more central role supplanting Chris Porter. Florent Cuvelier and Terry Kennedy were amongst the substitutes. Rovers fielded experienced midfield duo Andy Robinson and Jason Koumas with the dangerous former Wednesday striker Ryan Lowe up front.
United began in the ascendancy as the game began in bright sunshine albeit bitterly cold. Murphy was involved early on and seemed determined to get at his full back. From one attacking move United won a free kick but Maguire’s header was saved. United’s positive start was rewarded when from a Baxter corner, won by Flynn, Collins nodded down and MURPHY with his back to goal held it up against a defender tight to him, juggled with it and then turned and fired home from the edge of the 6 yard box. It was a clever finish but poor defending to allow the knock down and the chance for the player to turn and score so easily.
Flynn fired just wide after a spell of pressure as United dominated the game in every department. Murphy’s confidence after the goal was clear and he was involved in another move that led to Porter holding it up and allowing McGinn a chance but he fired over badly.
Rovers had not been in the game but after Lowe got away from Collins, Long made the mistake of coming off his line and this saw the strikers chance even clearer as the keeper was out of the equation as Lower went past him. He cut in and seemed certain to score but Maguire made a tremendous block to deny the equaliser.
United were back on the attack and Murphy’s cross was kicked clumsily against the bar by a Tranmere defender with some appeals from United players that it had crossed the line but with no goal line technology there could be no way of telling. It did not help that the assistant referee was nowhere near in line with the goal line!
The game had become more even now and Tranmere’s improvements saw them create another chance as Holmes hit a shot wide after McMahon had been booked and then Lowe was in again but his shot had power but lacked direction and Long parried away unconvincingly.
United re-asserted some level of control before the break and Murphy and Flynn were both heavily involved. The latter was played in but his heavy first touch saw the chance cleared. McGinn then had a shot blocked before Baxter may have done better with a header wide from McMahon’s delivery. Hill then had a driven cross sliced over leading to another corner.
Just before the break Holmes had to go off after sustaining a knock and was replaced by Power. Power fared no better as he too brought down Murphy continuing the theme of much of the first half. Baxter also needed treatment but he was deemed fit to continue and came on before the half time whistle.
The second half saw Long’s errant pass out nearly returned into an empty net but Robinson rushed when he had time and shot well wide. However Doyle won a series of tackles and United started to get control once again and just before the hour the vital second goal came.
McGinn’s ball put Porter through down the right and the striker advanced before putting in a lovely inviting cross for the waiting BAXTER who finished with aplomb. His slid into the corner in jubilation at the Kop end to celebrate his second goal in three days.
Manager Moore had seen enough and changed things with a double substitution and on came Akpa Akpro and Kirby for Atkinson and Robinson. However the flow of the game continued with the pressure continuing. Doyle had a shot saved by Fon Williams and then another chance saw McMahon and Flynn combine but the ball was hacked clear.
Maguire was booked for a poor challenge but McGinn was as much to blame for the errant pass but the free kick was blocked and it was not long before another goal came.
Murphy was released by Baxter’s clever ball and the winger went through and drove at the defence before intelligently pulling it back. FLYNN came across his defender and was able to cooly side foot home and give United a three goal advantage. It was another well made and finished team move.
Baxter was replaced by Coady to a standing ovation, with the Liverpool loanee employed slightly further back but still in a more attacking role than normally used. United continued to move the ball well and find increasing gaps in the Tranmere rearguard.
Lappin came on for McGinn and went straight into the same midfield position. Porter’s hard work perhaps deserved a goal and he had a curling left foot effort that looked goal bound before Williams’ brilliant save. Lappin then fired wide as the Blades looked for more goals.
Cuvelier replaced Flynn but his first act was to commit an unnecessary foul and from it Maguire could not clear and the ball dropped nicely to defender TAYLOR to lash home. It was a sloppy goal to give away but in all likelihood was probably too late to change the final verdict.
United had a brief spell where they looked nervous and substitute Kirby hit a flashing volley that grazed the bar. If that had gone in then the final minutes would have been tense. United were able to see things out spending much of the additional 5 minutes in either corner of the goal they were attacking. The final whistle came and United could celebrate leap frogging their opponents and moving further away from the relegation area.
United – It was a game we thoroughly deserved to win. We had 19 shots and 11 on target to 9 and 2 from them and had more corners (9 to 3), more possession and generally were the much better side. We scored early which helped and after what seems like a run of poor starts to games, we did start better and even after we scored, we then could have had 2 or 3 more and played well. However we had a sticky spell in the first half when Long’s rush of blood should have seen Tranmere level when Lowe missed with the goal at his mercy but Maguire did block well. Another Long error saw Robinson have a chance but he miscued. After this we then took control and scored two excellent team goals with the much maligned Porter involved in the second and then a clever move leading to Murphy assisting to fellow wing man Flynn. I thought we would go on and get more and had more chances to do this but the keeper made some good saves and we had a few chances go awry. We played some really good stuff second half; maybe the best all season and really relaxed. A sloppy goal took the edge of things a bit and then we had to just see the game out which we did.
In an attacking sense that was good as we have been this season. We made a number of chances, we penetrated far quicker than we have all season and put in a number of really good balls across the box. Tranmere were poor at the back and contributed to some of the chances we had but that is not giving United enough credit with some lovely flowing moves and using the wide men well. We got balls in and but for some better finishing we could have had 8 or 9 goals today.
At the other end sadly we were not convincing and Tranmere could lay claim to the fact they could have had at least 2 or 3 goals too. Long made one uncertain palmed save but then nearly gave them 2 goals with poor decisions such as coming racing out of his goal unnecessarily which should have seen them level and then a bad kick that also could have led to a goal. At times we made some mistakes and were less than certain with Long and probably Collins showing moments of indecisiveness. In front of them McGinn did not help with some dreadful passes (although he contributed to our second) and was poor for much of the game. That is the negatives out of the way.
Onto the positives and today there were many. Doyle was excellent and broke things up all game and completely controlled midfield aswell as not allowing the dangerous Koumas any time on the ball.
The front players were remarkably better than Boxing Day. They showed hunger, movement, good control and passed it well between themselves. There was interchange and more than that they moved into different areas and were not stagnant. Finally they moved across the front line or came deep and were able to allow other players to move into their areas. It meant Tranmere struggled to hold us second half and we also played some surprisingly good one touch stuff at times.
Flynn came in and did a really good job working up and down whilst Murphy played like he did at Cambridge. He got at his man and drove to the byline. He scored a good goal and made things. He has to hit those standards more consistently. Baxter had a quiet first half but improved after the break and was involved in many of our good moves. Finally Porter had a decent game today. Still made some poor decisions but overall he was much better, competing for the ball all game, winning headers, holding it up and generally linking with other players. He made the second with a lovely ball. Still think we need another striker really and maybe two as this is an area we are particularly weak for me. The wide men have to play like that every week. Sadly they have yet to prove they can do that every week.
Today was good though and so much better than Boxing Day. Despite defensive frailties and we easily could have been level on a few times we could also say Tranmere were lucky not to have been further behind with the chances we had. If we can keep creating as many chances as we did today, we will win a lot more games. Not sure we will play a defence as poor as Tranmere though in future weeks!
We are slowly moving in the right direction but with a few winning at the bottom we are still only a couple of defeats from being back in the bottom four so cannot relax. However if we keep the results going and go another 3 or 4 undefeated then we could be around mid table. Walsall will be tough. I would take a draw to be honest but we have some tough home games coming up against some of the higher teams so will have to keep getting results on the road too as I am not sure our home form is good enough to keep us away from trouble on its own.
With January looming it is interesting (and a little concerning) that Clough says he is interested in 5 or 6 players from his former club. Not sure there are that many Derby reserves that will drastically improve us and if Champ/Prem reserves like Lappin and White are the types he wants then do not feel they are any better than we already have. I would rather we sign one quality striker somehow and maybe another central midfield players with some height and presence. Not convinced any of McGinn, Coady etc are really good enough or should I say consistent enough. Ditto for the wide men. Hopefully as the management team alluded to we can move 5 or 6 and bring at least 2 or 3 in but they have to be better than what we have not more of the same.
United made two enforced changes with the injured Shaun Miller and Aidy White being replaced by Flynn and Murphy. Baxter played in a more central role supplanting Chris Porter. Florent Cuvelier and Terry Kennedy were amongst the substitutes. Rovers fielded experienced midfield duo Andy Robinson and Jason Koumas with the dangerous former Wednesday striker Ryan Lowe up front.
United began in the ascendancy as the game began in bright sunshine albeit bitterly cold. Murphy was involved early on and seemed determined to get at his full back. From one attacking move United won a free kick but Maguire’s header was saved. United’s positive start was rewarded when from a Baxter corner, won by Flynn, Collins nodded down and MURPHY with his back to goal held it up against a defender tight to him, juggled with it and then turned and fired home from the edge of the 6 yard box. It was a clever finish but poor defending to allow the knock down and the chance for the player to turn and score so easily.
Flynn fired just wide after a spell of pressure as United dominated the game in every department. Murphy’s confidence after the goal was clear and he was involved in another move that led to Porter holding it up and allowing McGinn a chance but he fired over badly.
Rovers had not been in the game but after Lowe got away from Collins, Long made the mistake of coming off his line and this saw the strikers chance even clearer as the keeper was out of the equation as Lower went past him. He cut in and seemed certain to score but Maguire made a tremendous block to deny the equaliser.
United were back on the attack and Murphy’s cross was kicked clumsily against the bar by a Tranmere defender with some appeals from United players that it had crossed the line but with no goal line technology there could be no way of telling. It did not help that the assistant referee was nowhere near in line with the goal line!
The game had become more even now and Tranmere’s improvements saw them create another chance as Holmes hit a shot wide after McMahon had been booked and then Lowe was in again but his shot had power but lacked direction and Long parried away unconvincingly.
United re-asserted some level of control before the break and Murphy and Flynn were both heavily involved. The latter was played in but his heavy first touch saw the chance cleared. McGinn then had a shot blocked before Baxter may have done better with a header wide from McMahon’s delivery. Hill then had a driven cross sliced over leading to another corner.
Just before the break Holmes had to go off after sustaining a knock and was replaced by Power. Power fared no better as he too brought down Murphy continuing the theme of much of the first half. Baxter also needed treatment but he was deemed fit to continue and came on before the half time whistle.
The second half saw Long’s errant pass out nearly returned into an empty net but Robinson rushed when he had time and shot well wide. However Doyle won a series of tackles and United started to get control once again and just before the hour the vital second goal came.
McGinn’s ball put Porter through down the right and the striker advanced before putting in a lovely inviting cross for the waiting BAXTER who finished with aplomb. His slid into the corner in jubilation at the Kop end to celebrate his second goal in three days.
Manager Moore had seen enough and changed things with a double substitution and on came Akpa Akpro and Kirby for Atkinson and Robinson. However the flow of the game continued with the pressure continuing. Doyle had a shot saved by Fon Williams and then another chance saw McMahon and Flynn combine but the ball was hacked clear.
Maguire was booked for a poor challenge but McGinn was as much to blame for the errant pass but the free kick was blocked and it was not long before another goal came.
Murphy was released by Baxter’s clever ball and the winger went through and drove at the defence before intelligently pulling it back. FLYNN came across his defender and was able to cooly side foot home and give United a three goal advantage. It was another well made and finished team move.
Baxter was replaced by Coady to a standing ovation, with the Liverpool loanee employed slightly further back but still in a more attacking role than normally used. United continued to move the ball well and find increasing gaps in the Tranmere rearguard.
Lappin came on for McGinn and went straight into the same midfield position. Porter’s hard work perhaps deserved a goal and he had a curling left foot effort that looked goal bound before Williams’ brilliant save. Lappin then fired wide as the Blades looked for more goals.
Cuvelier replaced Flynn but his first act was to commit an unnecessary foul and from it Maguire could not clear and the ball dropped nicely to defender TAYLOR to lash home. It was a sloppy goal to give away but in all likelihood was probably too late to change the final verdict.
United had a brief spell where they looked nervous and substitute Kirby hit a flashing volley that grazed the bar. If that had gone in then the final minutes would have been tense. United were able to see things out spending much of the additional 5 minutes in either corner of the goal they were attacking. The final whistle came and United could celebrate leap frogging their opponents and moving further away from the relegation area.
United – It was a game we thoroughly deserved to win. We had 19 shots and 11 on target to 9 and 2 from them and had more corners (9 to 3), more possession and generally were the much better side. We scored early which helped and after what seems like a run of poor starts to games, we did start better and even after we scored, we then could have had 2 or 3 more and played well. However we had a sticky spell in the first half when Long’s rush of blood should have seen Tranmere level when Lowe missed with the goal at his mercy but Maguire did block well. Another Long error saw Robinson have a chance but he miscued. After this we then took control and scored two excellent team goals with the much maligned Porter involved in the second and then a clever move leading to Murphy assisting to fellow wing man Flynn. I thought we would go on and get more and had more chances to do this but the keeper made some good saves and we had a few chances go awry. We played some really good stuff second half; maybe the best all season and really relaxed. A sloppy goal took the edge of things a bit and then we had to just see the game out which we did.
In an attacking sense that was good as we have been this season. We made a number of chances, we penetrated far quicker than we have all season and put in a number of really good balls across the box. Tranmere were poor at the back and contributed to some of the chances we had but that is not giving United enough credit with some lovely flowing moves and using the wide men well. We got balls in and but for some better finishing we could have had 8 or 9 goals today.
At the other end sadly we were not convincing and Tranmere could lay claim to the fact they could have had at least 2 or 3 goals too. Long made one uncertain palmed save but then nearly gave them 2 goals with poor decisions such as coming racing out of his goal unnecessarily which should have seen them level and then a bad kick that also could have led to a goal. At times we made some mistakes and were less than certain with Long and probably Collins showing moments of indecisiveness. In front of them McGinn did not help with some dreadful passes (although he contributed to our second) and was poor for much of the game. That is the negatives out of the way.
Onto the positives and today there were many. Doyle was excellent and broke things up all game and completely controlled midfield aswell as not allowing the dangerous Koumas any time on the ball.
The front players were remarkably better than Boxing Day. They showed hunger, movement, good control and passed it well between themselves. There was interchange and more than that they moved into different areas and were not stagnant. Finally they moved across the front line or came deep and were able to allow other players to move into their areas. It meant Tranmere struggled to hold us second half and we also played some surprisingly good one touch stuff at times.
Flynn came in and did a really good job working up and down whilst Murphy played like he did at Cambridge. He got at his man and drove to the byline. He scored a good goal and made things. He has to hit those standards more consistently. Baxter had a quiet first half but improved after the break and was involved in many of our good moves. Finally Porter had a decent game today. Still made some poor decisions but overall he was much better, competing for the ball all game, winning headers, holding it up and generally linking with other players. He made the second with a lovely ball. Still think we need another striker really and maybe two as this is an area we are particularly weak for me. The wide men have to play like that every week. Sadly they have yet to prove they can do that every week.
Today was good though and so much better than Boxing Day. Despite defensive frailties and we easily could have been level on a few times we could also say Tranmere were lucky not to have been further behind with the chances we had. If we can keep creating as many chances as we did today, we will win a lot more games. Not sure we will play a defence as poor as Tranmere though in future weeks!
We are slowly moving in the right direction but with a few winning at the bottom we are still only a couple of defeats from being back in the bottom four so cannot relax. However if we keep the results going and go another 3 or 4 undefeated then we could be around mid table. Walsall will be tough. I would take a draw to be honest but we have some tough home games coming up against some of the higher teams so will have to keep getting results on the road too as I am not sure our home form is good enough to keep us away from trouble on its own.
With January looming it is interesting (and a little concerning) that Clough says he is interested in 5 or 6 players from his former club. Not sure there are that many Derby reserves that will drastically improve us and if Champ/Prem reserves like Lappin and White are the types he wants then do not feel they are any better than we already have. I would rather we sign one quality striker somehow and maybe another central midfield players with some height and presence. Not convinced any of McGinn, Coady etc are really good enough or should I say consistent enough. Ditto for the wide men. Hopefully as the management team alluded to we can move 5 or 6 and bring at least 2 or 3 in but they have to be better than what we have not more of the same.
