Deadbat
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The Blades were defeated for the first time in 6 games as they missed out on extending their good run after losing at the Hawthorns on Friday evening. United were well in the game first half and had the better chances with Hamer testing Wildsmith and Campbell and Bamford having opportunities but the visitors never came out after the break and the home side upped the tempo and quality. Goals from Heggebo and Grant gave the Baggies a thoroughly deserved victory and in truth they could have won by more. It was the complete antithesis of the victory against Stoke just under a week ago, as an opponent won all the individual battles after the break and United simply could not respond and in the end were well beaten. After the 5 wins on the bounce, the Blades have served up two extremely unconvincing performances. Granted there has been illness and injuries but all teams must deal with this in the Championship, where the games come thick and fast. United showed once again a weak underbelly as they went under after the break – continuing to be look so vulnerable after the half time break. The talk of the playoffs now surely will be shelved as United are far closer to a relegation fight and must try and move towards a position of comfort before any thoughts of anything higher can be entertained.
United made several changes again as McGuiness, Riedewald, Hamer, Brooks, Campbell and Bamford came in. There was still no place for Sydie Peck but McCallum was back on the bench joining Arblaster and Chong.
The game began with both teams feeling each other and neither side getting the ascendancy but Cooper had to be alert to take a cross from the right. On 6 minutes the Blades had a great early opportunity, as Soumare did well to win the ball and Campbell found Hamer. The midfielder was in the clear but his fierce effort lacked direction and was pushed away by Wildsmith. For Hamer this was a good chance and he perhaps should have done better. Soon after Hame and Burrows combined to win a corner and Brooks kept it high up the field – with the Blades the better side in the early going.
Wildsmith’s clearance with his feet lacked height and Hamer headed it back from where it came but it did not have the legs to find the unguarded net. West Brom had offered little as an attacking force but Styles had a header at the back post saved comfortably by Cooper. The Baggies did have a chance as Grant stood up Seriki and sent the ball over and Johnston hit it fiercely and it hit the back of Burrows – who knew little about it. From the corner Diakite headed the ball over as Cooper got caught under the ball.
West Brom were now back into the game and it was much more of an even contest but from a break United should have done better again. Hamer played the ball through and Campbell was in the clear but he took too long to make a decision with Bamford over and Phillips got back to deny the strike.
Diakite took too long and his dithering saw Soumare win the ball again, in a much-improved performance from the midfielder, but Campbell rather fired it at Bamford, who still had time to do more than try an nonchalant flick which was straight at Wildsmith.
Cooper slipped as the ball came forward and had to kick it out from an almost seated position, as he examined the turf beneath him that caused the fall. Johnston had an angled effort at Cooper after some patient build up from the home side before Campbell showed his ability to run behind at the other end but as it dropped, Soumare took too long and then blazed over from a wide position.
Brooks sloppily conceded possession on half way and it led to the Baggies winning two corners in quick succession and the second saw a header blocked but just before half time the best chance for the home side came. The ball was lofted forward and it dropped for Heggebo but the striker hit it well over the bar from a really good position. The half time whistle came not long after this.
The home side came out of the blocks flying after the break and United’s poor starts to second halves of games continued to be their Achilles heel. United have the worst record of any side in the division – by some distance and this continued as they conceded on the 49th minutes. The ball was played clear into the middle and Hamer could not win the tackle and Burrows could not react. It was played down the right-hand side and Campbell sent over the cross that saw HEGGEBO completely unmarked and he swept home easily.
Rather than see a reaction from the visitors, the opposite happened and West Brom continued to swarm all over the Blades. United were not winning first or second balls and Grant nearly got in again. Johnston sent another ball over and then Price had a shot deflected away.
It was a dominant performance from West Brom now who had really upped the tempo. Arblaster and Chong replaced Soumare and Brooks but had not been on the pitch long when United conceded yet again. It was not a shock really when the second goal came on the hour. Hamer’s blind flick did not come off and the ball was moved up the field. GRANT and McGuiness converged on the ball and the defender went to the deck looking for a foul but nothing was given and the forward smashed the ball home off the underside of the bar.
On 65 minutes Diakite should have made it three as the ball came over before soon after Price was in but his shot went wide. It was remarkable how a game that United had been arguably the better side in the first half, now had become completely one sided. Player lauded a week ago, Brooks and Seriki, looked a shadow of those performances and Hamer was guilty of cheaply giving possession away. The midfield for the Blades could not seize on any loose stuff and West Brom were the only side looking like scoring again.
O’Hare and Cannon came on for Riedewald and Campbell on 70 minutes but it continued to be one way traffic. West Brom broke again and Heggebo got away from Tanganga – with the ball across and McGuinnes guilty of ball watching yet again. O’Hare had an appeal for a spot kick as he seemed to have his legs taken away but again the referee played on. United had been poor but two big decisions had gone against them. Bamford came off for Ings but United had not tested Wildsmith at all and Johnston sent another ball across that was close to being finished by Heggebo again but Tanganga got a flick to deny the third goal.
Ings had half a chance but was blocked out before Chong and Hamer sent balls in that were cleared but as the game entered the final few minutes, it was too little, too late. The outstanding Johnston came off for Iling Junior before the game entered 5 minutes of stoppage time. United had men in the box but took too long to make decisions and Arblaster had an effort well off target as it came across from Burrows. The final whistle came and United’s unbeaten run was over and in truth they were well beaten after a desperately disappointing 2nd half performance.
United – First half we were fine. Had a few chances and expect Hamer, Bamford or Campbell to take three decent opportunities – at least one maybe? West Brom had one good chance right before the break but overall we were the better side I thought and the midfield won the battle and we looked a threat. We were not hugely troubled at the back. I felt if the game went on in the same way, we would probably win or at least get a draw. However, the 2nd half we were awful. As bad as any half this season. We did not win any headers, tackles, loose balls and simply wilted. It was like the Preston game and a few others. We concede so many goals 45-60 and did again tonight. West Brom upped the tempo, played higher up the field and we had no answer. The midfield did not win a single tackle and then the defence was sat so deep that we invited pressure. There was no out ball up top and the front 4 offered no movement or get out. I thought individually and collectively we were pathetic after the break. Players were jogging rather than running and then when balls dropped, we never got to it. The first goal summed it up. Loose touches and then lose two 50-50’s and then way off the man out wide and then when it comes in, centre backs static. This continued and they could have had more before the 2nd. McGuiness could have been clipped but there is an argument he trips over his own feet too. He does go down quite easily and we have seen this before with him. Some refs do give this but he needed to be stronger even before the coming together. After this goal, the game was done. They could and should have had more. We made lots of changes but it made no difference. Chong offered more than Brooks and O’Hare at least got involved but it was only the last 5 minutes we even attacked really. Up to about 85 minutes, other than the O’Hare appeal which could have been given –did we have an attack? It was poor. Wilder will blame schedules and tough weeks – and may have a point but they had lots of energy and all Champ teams have these sorts of turnarounds between games. Sadly, we saw the same issues with lack of running stamina and the weak mentality which saw us lose so many games in the first few months. Some of the same issues came back to the fore with teams running through the middle, crosses coming in unopposed and lack of marking in the middle. West Brom could have scored 2 or 3 more. It was so one-sided 2nd half and we looked like we had nothing to give which is a worry when they seemed so energetic. Overall, a big wake up call and calms down the playoff talk. They were only a few points above us but over the course of this game looked a better side and with more dangerous forwards. The nature of the Championship is you can beat a team one week well and then lose the next week in the same fashion. This is why it will be really hard for us to get near the top 6. We probably have a week like this one for much of the season and that sort of form will see us about mid table or just below. We did have a good run of wins but over the course of the season, players have lacked the consistency for us to really go on a big run we would need over the next 25 games. It is too late sadly I feel. I just hope we do not get sucked back into a scrap as we are still close to those bottom places. The likes of Seriki and Brooks showed why they have probably not been regulars as they were as bad tonight, as they were good last week. Hamer a major disappointment – he has had a really poor season and his value is probably diminishing week by week with him being out of contact of course too. McGuiness did well last week but proved this was a one off as mostly he has looked like he has tonight and Tanganga was quite erratic too. Burrows and Cooper continue to look shadows of the player’s they were of last season. I also thought we got nothing really from the forwards tonight and when they had decent chances they fluffed them. We missed Peck and to me I’d have O’Hare in (even over Hamer) but Wilder continues to tinker with things. I worry that he has brought Arblaster back too soon -looked miles off it again to me.
It happens, you can have bad performances and maybe things just took a toil and we had no energy but you have to be better than that and make no excuses if you are serious about moving up the league and thinking about any playoff performance. The second half performance really should not be excused when opponents just wanted it more and showed far more quality when it mattered. We tossed the ball away constantly and never showed any real belief to get anything after we went behind. We have some tough games over the Xmas break and have 2/3 away so we need to bounce back quickly as you do not want 1 loss to turn into 2 and then 3 and then we are really back in a relegation scrap. It is frustrating that after such a great few weeks we have served up two nothing sort of performances and in the end but for Cooper in the week, could have ended up with zero points.
United made several changes again as McGuiness, Riedewald, Hamer, Brooks, Campbell and Bamford came in. There was still no place for Sydie Peck but McCallum was back on the bench joining Arblaster and Chong.
The game began with both teams feeling each other and neither side getting the ascendancy but Cooper had to be alert to take a cross from the right. On 6 minutes the Blades had a great early opportunity, as Soumare did well to win the ball and Campbell found Hamer. The midfielder was in the clear but his fierce effort lacked direction and was pushed away by Wildsmith. For Hamer this was a good chance and he perhaps should have done better. Soon after Hame and Burrows combined to win a corner and Brooks kept it high up the field – with the Blades the better side in the early going.
Wildsmith’s clearance with his feet lacked height and Hamer headed it back from where it came but it did not have the legs to find the unguarded net. West Brom had offered little as an attacking force but Styles had a header at the back post saved comfortably by Cooper. The Baggies did have a chance as Grant stood up Seriki and sent the ball over and Johnston hit it fiercely and it hit the back of Burrows – who knew little about it. From the corner Diakite headed the ball over as Cooper got caught under the ball.
West Brom were now back into the game and it was much more of an even contest but from a break United should have done better again. Hamer played the ball through and Campbell was in the clear but he took too long to make a decision with Bamford over and Phillips got back to deny the strike.
Diakite took too long and his dithering saw Soumare win the ball again, in a much-improved performance from the midfielder, but Campbell rather fired it at Bamford, who still had time to do more than try an nonchalant flick which was straight at Wildsmith.
Cooper slipped as the ball came forward and had to kick it out from an almost seated position, as he examined the turf beneath him that caused the fall. Johnston had an angled effort at Cooper after some patient build up from the home side before Campbell showed his ability to run behind at the other end but as it dropped, Soumare took too long and then blazed over from a wide position.
Brooks sloppily conceded possession on half way and it led to the Baggies winning two corners in quick succession and the second saw a header blocked but just before half time the best chance for the home side came. The ball was lofted forward and it dropped for Heggebo but the striker hit it well over the bar from a really good position. The half time whistle came not long after this.
The home side came out of the blocks flying after the break and United’s poor starts to second halves of games continued to be their Achilles heel. United have the worst record of any side in the division – by some distance and this continued as they conceded on the 49th minutes. The ball was played clear into the middle and Hamer could not win the tackle and Burrows could not react. It was played down the right-hand side and Campbell sent over the cross that saw HEGGEBO completely unmarked and he swept home easily.
Rather than see a reaction from the visitors, the opposite happened and West Brom continued to swarm all over the Blades. United were not winning first or second balls and Grant nearly got in again. Johnston sent another ball over and then Price had a shot deflected away.
It was a dominant performance from West Brom now who had really upped the tempo. Arblaster and Chong replaced Soumare and Brooks but had not been on the pitch long when United conceded yet again. It was not a shock really when the second goal came on the hour. Hamer’s blind flick did not come off and the ball was moved up the field. GRANT and McGuiness converged on the ball and the defender went to the deck looking for a foul but nothing was given and the forward smashed the ball home off the underside of the bar.
On 65 minutes Diakite should have made it three as the ball came over before soon after Price was in but his shot went wide. It was remarkable how a game that United had been arguably the better side in the first half, now had become completely one sided. Player lauded a week ago, Brooks and Seriki, looked a shadow of those performances and Hamer was guilty of cheaply giving possession away. The midfield for the Blades could not seize on any loose stuff and West Brom were the only side looking like scoring again.
O’Hare and Cannon came on for Riedewald and Campbell on 70 minutes but it continued to be one way traffic. West Brom broke again and Heggebo got away from Tanganga – with the ball across and McGuinnes guilty of ball watching yet again. O’Hare had an appeal for a spot kick as he seemed to have his legs taken away but again the referee played on. United had been poor but two big decisions had gone against them. Bamford came off for Ings but United had not tested Wildsmith at all and Johnston sent another ball across that was close to being finished by Heggebo again but Tanganga got a flick to deny the third goal.
Ings had half a chance but was blocked out before Chong and Hamer sent balls in that were cleared but as the game entered the final few minutes, it was too little, too late. The outstanding Johnston came off for Iling Junior before the game entered 5 minutes of stoppage time. United had men in the box but took too long to make decisions and Arblaster had an effort well off target as it came across from Burrows. The final whistle came and United’s unbeaten run was over and in truth they were well beaten after a desperately disappointing 2nd half performance.
United – First half we were fine. Had a few chances and expect Hamer, Bamford or Campbell to take three decent opportunities – at least one maybe? West Brom had one good chance right before the break but overall we were the better side I thought and the midfield won the battle and we looked a threat. We were not hugely troubled at the back. I felt if the game went on in the same way, we would probably win or at least get a draw. However, the 2nd half we were awful. As bad as any half this season. We did not win any headers, tackles, loose balls and simply wilted. It was like the Preston game and a few others. We concede so many goals 45-60 and did again tonight. West Brom upped the tempo, played higher up the field and we had no answer. The midfield did not win a single tackle and then the defence was sat so deep that we invited pressure. There was no out ball up top and the front 4 offered no movement or get out. I thought individually and collectively we were pathetic after the break. Players were jogging rather than running and then when balls dropped, we never got to it. The first goal summed it up. Loose touches and then lose two 50-50’s and then way off the man out wide and then when it comes in, centre backs static. This continued and they could have had more before the 2nd. McGuiness could have been clipped but there is an argument he trips over his own feet too. He does go down quite easily and we have seen this before with him. Some refs do give this but he needed to be stronger even before the coming together. After this goal, the game was done. They could and should have had more. We made lots of changes but it made no difference. Chong offered more than Brooks and O’Hare at least got involved but it was only the last 5 minutes we even attacked really. Up to about 85 minutes, other than the O’Hare appeal which could have been given –did we have an attack? It was poor. Wilder will blame schedules and tough weeks – and may have a point but they had lots of energy and all Champ teams have these sorts of turnarounds between games. Sadly, we saw the same issues with lack of running stamina and the weak mentality which saw us lose so many games in the first few months. Some of the same issues came back to the fore with teams running through the middle, crosses coming in unopposed and lack of marking in the middle. West Brom could have scored 2 or 3 more. It was so one-sided 2nd half and we looked like we had nothing to give which is a worry when they seemed so energetic. Overall, a big wake up call and calms down the playoff talk. They were only a few points above us but over the course of this game looked a better side and with more dangerous forwards. The nature of the Championship is you can beat a team one week well and then lose the next week in the same fashion. This is why it will be really hard for us to get near the top 6. We probably have a week like this one for much of the season and that sort of form will see us about mid table or just below. We did have a good run of wins but over the course of the season, players have lacked the consistency for us to really go on a big run we would need over the next 25 games. It is too late sadly I feel. I just hope we do not get sucked back into a scrap as we are still close to those bottom places. The likes of Seriki and Brooks showed why they have probably not been regulars as they were as bad tonight, as they were good last week. Hamer a major disappointment – he has had a really poor season and his value is probably diminishing week by week with him being out of contact of course too. McGuiness did well last week but proved this was a one off as mostly he has looked like he has tonight and Tanganga was quite erratic too. Burrows and Cooper continue to look shadows of the player’s they were of last season. I also thought we got nothing really from the forwards tonight and when they had decent chances they fluffed them. We missed Peck and to me I’d have O’Hare in (even over Hamer) but Wilder continues to tinker with things. I worry that he has brought Arblaster back too soon -looked miles off it again to me.
It happens, you can have bad performances and maybe things just took a toil and we had no energy but you have to be better than that and make no excuses if you are serious about moving up the league and thinking about any playoff performance. The second half performance really should not be excused when opponents just wanted it more and showed far more quality when it mattered. We tossed the ball away constantly and never showed any real belief to get anything after we went behind. We have some tough games over the Xmas break and have 2/3 away so we need to bounce back quickly as you do not want 1 loss to turn into 2 and then 3 and then we are really back in a relegation scrap. It is frustrating that after such a great few weeks we have served up two nothing sort of performances and in the end but for Cooper in the week, could have ended up with zero points.
