Deadbat
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The Blades took another step towards promotion with an emphatic victory over Cardiff City in the lunchtime kick off at Bramall Lane. United were not convincing despite the scoreline and trailed in the game after conceding a clumsy penalty before having to fight back thought an individual goal from McAtee. Even after taking the lead thanks to the outstanding Jack Robinson, the visitors hit the woodwork and gave United a few scares before late goals from Ndiaye and Clark gave the scoreline a real gloss. United will see the three points as all important in a game that individually and collectively they were not quite at their best but the fact they won so well shows the quality they possess when it matters. Despite Luton continuing their recent impressive run to keep within 5 points, United know they take care of the next three home games (possibly may only need to win a couple of them) they will be back in the Premier League.
United had to make enforced changes with Davies, as expected in for Foderingham who of course was suspended. Ahmedhodzic was a late withdrawal with his wife going into labour and with Basham out injured, Baldock was pressed into a rare outing at right centre back. McAtee was back in for Norwood and Lowe back on the left side of defence. Cardiff were right in the thick of a relegation scrap and started with a relatively inexperienced Championship line up but had former Owls McGuiness and Wickham in their squad. Ex Blade Callum Robinson was out injured.
The contest began with United seeing a lot of the ball and moving it from side to side but the build up was maybe too pedestrian and McBurnie and Ndiaye were struggling to get into the game. City were by no means ‘parking the bus’ and looked lively on the break with Philoghene shooting wide and then Wintle having his effort saved rather unconvincingly by Davies. City kept the ball in the box after Doyle’s poor clearance and following the corner that was not cleared, Lowe’s high kick caught Simpson and it seemed a pretty easy award of a penalty for the clumsy challenge. The defender was given a yellow card for his indiscretion. Sory KABA took the kick and went down the middle and Cardiff had the shock lead.
United tried to respond and Lowe got wide but his cross was cleared but the home side were level soon after. MCATEE got on the ball and fainted to shoot, and former Owl McGuiness fell for the dummy and the City loanee came inside and calmly finished past Allsop, who got a hand to it but could not keep it out.
United looked to build on this and were trying to get McAtee involved as the stand out player. Cardiff though were threatening with runners down the middle and after Berge’s ball had sent Ndiaye clear who forced a save from the Cardiff keeper, the Norwegian midfielder then pulled his man back and was booked for his cynical foul.
Both teams had chances before the break as a ball over the top sent Ndiaye racing down the right channel and his shot was from Allsop. At the other end United’s sloppy defending continued though and a great chance was presented to Ralls, as Bogle and Davies completely made a mess of a routine ball leaving it to each other. Fortunately, Davies smothered the shot from point blank range.
The second half saw the Blades look to up the tempo and Doyle and Baldock set the scene with two strong tackles. A frustrating refereeing performance saw the game continue to be very stop start and the crowd were getting frustrated. However, both teams were equally culpable of inconsistent play with poor balls and short passes seeing possession turned over both ways.
United were trying to find gaps in the middle in front of the deep Cardiff defence and McAtee’s delightful control and turn saw him eventually get a free kick after half time sub O’Dowda had two attempts to pull him down. Doyle’s free kick was deflected wide and his corner also failed to beat the first man but as it came back to him, he hit a superb cross right into the corridor of uncertainty and several United players converged on it as Cardiff’s defence was completely static. It was ROBINSON who met it with a powerful diving header to crash the ball into the net and the turnaround was complete. Robinson had been the stand out in terms of commitment to winning the ball and his battles and this goal typified his performance.
Baldock was booked for a challenge in the box as United looked to turn the screw but could not fashion an opportunity despite some prolonged pressure and the Bluebirds did come out and have a spell of their own in which was a very open game.
Wickham came on for Etete for the visitors and they had a great chance to level not long after he came on. United failed to clear their danger and Rinomhota’s low shot was not held by Davies and the ball pinballed around the box before being laid off for Wickham who smashed a ferocious effort which cannoned off the angle of bar and post and away. It was a real let off for United whose performance despite leading was far from convincing against a struggling side who will have fancied getting something.
McAtee came off for Fleck and then Norwood and Clark for Doyle and Bogle as United looked to freshen things up for the final quarter of an hour. As the game continued to be stretched, the Blades got the vital next goal. Fleck’s ball down the channel put McGuiness under pressure and his back pass was short and NDIAYE read it and was able to cleverly toe it round the keeper and run past him the other way before gleefully smashing in at the Kop end. It had not been the best day for the Blades star man but this moment of quality effectively sealed the game.
It was his last contribution as he and McBurnie departed for Sharp and Jebbison. United now were in control and moving the ball around well but it was another series of errors that led to the fourth goal. A bad back pass put Allsop in trouble and he could not stop the corner. As the ball came in form Norwood, the keeper was grasping thin air as it came off a defender and hit Berge before sub CLARK applied the finishing touch from almost on the line.
United had plenty of the ball in the final stages and Sharp’s curling effort after good work from Berge saw Allsop push the ball away but the game was now up for a dispirited Cardiff side who had been well in the game for long spells until the late capitulation. The extra three minutes were played with United on the ball for most of it before the full time whistle signalled an important victory in the first of four consecutive home games.
United – I did not think we were great at all today and for long spells we were slow and laborious on the ball, made mistakes in key areas and were too open. I actually never thought we had full control of the game right until Ndiaye’s goal. We started ok and kept it but never really hurt them and the front two did not hold the ball up. Berge was having one of those games and with the two wing backs offering nothing we seemed to be relying on individual moments from McAtee or Ndiaye. Gradually they came into it and had some pace/runners behind us. However, the goal came from our inability to clear our lines. I thought Davies was indecisive a lot of the game and is a line keeper that the defence seem to have little confidence in it at all. The penalty though was stupid and a clear high kick that he did not need to do with the player not really going anywhere and having his back to goal. Summed up Lowe’s erratic decisions in the last few months.
After they scored, we did respond and McAtee scored a lovely goal – showing his real quality and then we had a few chances from Ndiaye but mostly were balls over the top. It was again too slow and the passing often short. I thought they had as many dangerous moments as us but again the defending is horrific as Davies and Bogle (much like Robbo and Wes in the week) leave it to each other and they should have scored. I was relieved to be in level after this miss and being behind.
We were better in the second half with tackles coming in from the likes of Robinson, Doyle and Baldock showing we wanted to show more fight and not let them have it easy. Think we realised the ref was for the most part giving little and seemed to not know what constituted a foul but United did not take advantage till after the break. We had a lot more of the ball but the goal was more of an old fashioned one with a great cross and diving header. The ball from Doyle was superb and the header as good too. I thought we would kick on but it was still scrappy and felt they found gaps and had too much time (we did too the other way) and they then had those chances and hit the bar. That easily could have gone in and was awful defending again not helped by the poor Davies (has to hold the first shot).
I had been crying out for changes in terms of solidifying the midfield and finally Fleck and Norwood came on and we also put Clark on and this gave us a more solid look. Maybe it was a coincidence or maybe Cardiff were taking more risks, but felt we were much better after these changes. Fleck did really well and his balls kept turning them round. Ndiaye had not been great but took his goal really well and that was that. After that their keeper proved as jittery as ours and his mistakes led to the fourth. We could have had more after this as the visitors heads completely dropped.
4-1 was really flattering. We did enough with chances and improvements after the break to win but it was not a hammering at all in terms of the performance of the two sides. They will feel it was a really unjust scoreline but they made mistakes and were not clinical. We were. The end of the game seemed really comfortable but it was not for a long time really. I felt oddly we might have been better and more in control v Wigan even though we only won 1-0 than today although Cardiff did attack more and caused us one or two worries with some of the midfield runners getting off the work from Kaba. I believe we had half a team that were not at the standards they would want and still won 4-1 and we can play much better and will do you hope in the coming games. Today was all about winning but Hecky will want better standards in terms of the basics, winning those battles to start the game, more secure in our passing and players making better decisions in all aspects of the play. We made some stupid mistakes again and a better team may have made us pay. Still, we won and now we go onto Bristol City. It is annoying Luton keep winning but if we keep picking up the wins, it will be done soon enough. Tuesday has a big feel about it as we know if we win there, Luton then will know even they win 3/4 (if we only pick up one more point) that would not be enough probably with goal difference. Effectively we win Tuesday and Luton probably have to win almost every game left. I expect them to beat Reading but then they have Boro and Blackburn whilst we play Preston and West Brom. The fact we have 3 more home games and know even 2 wins in those 3 probably will do it, is a nice feeling.
Hopefully we showed today with the changes off the bench (and we can get Anel and Bash available) we can finish the final 5 games with an authority. Today was a bitty showing but no one will care if we go up. We need the crowd to be with the side and hopefully we can come out and start with more authority. I feel Bristol City will not be that up for the game if we can score first. West Brom might be harder as they face Blackpool and Sunderland next two home games and could be right in the playoff mix before they play us. However, one of them or Preston might be a fair way off by the time they play us. Regardless of who we face and what Luton do, we have to fancy ourselves to get the wins now. We need to come out and put in two good displays either side of the semi-final. After that we have bonus games if we need them but it’s on the players to finish the job now.
United had to make enforced changes with Davies, as expected in for Foderingham who of course was suspended. Ahmedhodzic was a late withdrawal with his wife going into labour and with Basham out injured, Baldock was pressed into a rare outing at right centre back. McAtee was back in for Norwood and Lowe back on the left side of defence. Cardiff were right in the thick of a relegation scrap and started with a relatively inexperienced Championship line up but had former Owls McGuiness and Wickham in their squad. Ex Blade Callum Robinson was out injured.
The contest began with United seeing a lot of the ball and moving it from side to side but the build up was maybe too pedestrian and McBurnie and Ndiaye were struggling to get into the game. City were by no means ‘parking the bus’ and looked lively on the break with Philoghene shooting wide and then Wintle having his effort saved rather unconvincingly by Davies. City kept the ball in the box after Doyle’s poor clearance and following the corner that was not cleared, Lowe’s high kick caught Simpson and it seemed a pretty easy award of a penalty for the clumsy challenge. The defender was given a yellow card for his indiscretion. Sory KABA took the kick and went down the middle and Cardiff had the shock lead.
United tried to respond and Lowe got wide but his cross was cleared but the home side were level soon after. MCATEE got on the ball and fainted to shoot, and former Owl McGuiness fell for the dummy and the City loanee came inside and calmly finished past Allsop, who got a hand to it but could not keep it out.
United looked to build on this and were trying to get McAtee involved as the stand out player. Cardiff though were threatening with runners down the middle and after Berge’s ball had sent Ndiaye clear who forced a save from the Cardiff keeper, the Norwegian midfielder then pulled his man back and was booked for his cynical foul.
Both teams had chances before the break as a ball over the top sent Ndiaye racing down the right channel and his shot was from Allsop. At the other end United’s sloppy defending continued though and a great chance was presented to Ralls, as Bogle and Davies completely made a mess of a routine ball leaving it to each other. Fortunately, Davies smothered the shot from point blank range.
The second half saw the Blades look to up the tempo and Doyle and Baldock set the scene with two strong tackles. A frustrating refereeing performance saw the game continue to be very stop start and the crowd were getting frustrated. However, both teams were equally culpable of inconsistent play with poor balls and short passes seeing possession turned over both ways.
United were trying to find gaps in the middle in front of the deep Cardiff defence and McAtee’s delightful control and turn saw him eventually get a free kick after half time sub O’Dowda had two attempts to pull him down. Doyle’s free kick was deflected wide and his corner also failed to beat the first man but as it came back to him, he hit a superb cross right into the corridor of uncertainty and several United players converged on it as Cardiff’s defence was completely static. It was ROBINSON who met it with a powerful diving header to crash the ball into the net and the turnaround was complete. Robinson had been the stand out in terms of commitment to winning the ball and his battles and this goal typified his performance.
Baldock was booked for a challenge in the box as United looked to turn the screw but could not fashion an opportunity despite some prolonged pressure and the Bluebirds did come out and have a spell of their own in which was a very open game.
Wickham came on for Etete for the visitors and they had a great chance to level not long after he came on. United failed to clear their danger and Rinomhota’s low shot was not held by Davies and the ball pinballed around the box before being laid off for Wickham who smashed a ferocious effort which cannoned off the angle of bar and post and away. It was a real let off for United whose performance despite leading was far from convincing against a struggling side who will have fancied getting something.
McAtee came off for Fleck and then Norwood and Clark for Doyle and Bogle as United looked to freshen things up for the final quarter of an hour. As the game continued to be stretched, the Blades got the vital next goal. Fleck’s ball down the channel put McGuiness under pressure and his back pass was short and NDIAYE read it and was able to cleverly toe it round the keeper and run past him the other way before gleefully smashing in at the Kop end. It had not been the best day for the Blades star man but this moment of quality effectively sealed the game.
It was his last contribution as he and McBurnie departed for Sharp and Jebbison. United now were in control and moving the ball around well but it was another series of errors that led to the fourth goal. A bad back pass put Allsop in trouble and he could not stop the corner. As the ball came in form Norwood, the keeper was grasping thin air as it came off a defender and hit Berge before sub CLARK applied the finishing touch from almost on the line.
United had plenty of the ball in the final stages and Sharp’s curling effort after good work from Berge saw Allsop push the ball away but the game was now up for a dispirited Cardiff side who had been well in the game for long spells until the late capitulation. The extra three minutes were played with United on the ball for most of it before the full time whistle signalled an important victory in the first of four consecutive home games.
United – I did not think we were great at all today and for long spells we were slow and laborious on the ball, made mistakes in key areas and were too open. I actually never thought we had full control of the game right until Ndiaye’s goal. We started ok and kept it but never really hurt them and the front two did not hold the ball up. Berge was having one of those games and with the two wing backs offering nothing we seemed to be relying on individual moments from McAtee or Ndiaye. Gradually they came into it and had some pace/runners behind us. However, the goal came from our inability to clear our lines. I thought Davies was indecisive a lot of the game and is a line keeper that the defence seem to have little confidence in it at all. The penalty though was stupid and a clear high kick that he did not need to do with the player not really going anywhere and having his back to goal. Summed up Lowe’s erratic decisions in the last few months.
After they scored, we did respond and McAtee scored a lovely goal – showing his real quality and then we had a few chances from Ndiaye but mostly were balls over the top. It was again too slow and the passing often short. I thought they had as many dangerous moments as us but again the defending is horrific as Davies and Bogle (much like Robbo and Wes in the week) leave it to each other and they should have scored. I was relieved to be in level after this miss and being behind.
We were better in the second half with tackles coming in from the likes of Robinson, Doyle and Baldock showing we wanted to show more fight and not let them have it easy. Think we realised the ref was for the most part giving little and seemed to not know what constituted a foul but United did not take advantage till after the break. We had a lot more of the ball but the goal was more of an old fashioned one with a great cross and diving header. The ball from Doyle was superb and the header as good too. I thought we would kick on but it was still scrappy and felt they found gaps and had too much time (we did too the other way) and they then had those chances and hit the bar. That easily could have gone in and was awful defending again not helped by the poor Davies (has to hold the first shot).
I had been crying out for changes in terms of solidifying the midfield and finally Fleck and Norwood came on and we also put Clark on and this gave us a more solid look. Maybe it was a coincidence or maybe Cardiff were taking more risks, but felt we were much better after these changes. Fleck did really well and his balls kept turning them round. Ndiaye had not been great but took his goal really well and that was that. After that their keeper proved as jittery as ours and his mistakes led to the fourth. We could have had more after this as the visitors heads completely dropped.
4-1 was really flattering. We did enough with chances and improvements after the break to win but it was not a hammering at all in terms of the performance of the two sides. They will feel it was a really unjust scoreline but they made mistakes and were not clinical. We were. The end of the game seemed really comfortable but it was not for a long time really. I felt oddly we might have been better and more in control v Wigan even though we only won 1-0 than today although Cardiff did attack more and caused us one or two worries with some of the midfield runners getting off the work from Kaba. I believe we had half a team that were not at the standards they would want and still won 4-1 and we can play much better and will do you hope in the coming games. Today was all about winning but Hecky will want better standards in terms of the basics, winning those battles to start the game, more secure in our passing and players making better decisions in all aspects of the play. We made some stupid mistakes again and a better team may have made us pay. Still, we won and now we go onto Bristol City. It is annoying Luton keep winning but if we keep picking up the wins, it will be done soon enough. Tuesday has a big feel about it as we know if we win there, Luton then will know even they win 3/4 (if we only pick up one more point) that would not be enough probably with goal difference. Effectively we win Tuesday and Luton probably have to win almost every game left. I expect them to beat Reading but then they have Boro and Blackburn whilst we play Preston and West Brom. The fact we have 3 more home games and know even 2 wins in those 3 probably will do it, is a nice feeling.
Hopefully we showed today with the changes off the bench (and we can get Anel and Bash available) we can finish the final 5 games with an authority. Today was a bitty showing but no one will care if we go up. We need the crowd to be with the side and hopefully we can come out and start with more authority. I feel Bristol City will not be that up for the game if we can score first. West Brom might be harder as they face Blackpool and Sunderland next two home games and could be right in the playoff mix before they play us. However, one of them or Preston might be a fair way off by the time they play us. Regardless of who we face and what Luton do, we have to fancy ourselves to get the wins now. We need to come out and put in two good displays either side of the semi-final. After that we have bonus games if we need them but it’s on the players to finish the job now.
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