Deadbat
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It was another stalemate in the Sheffield City Derby as both games ended in 0-0 draws. United made it four clean sheets in a row but were unable to break down a resolute Wednesday defence. It was more even game than the one at Bramall Lane but had few chances with Gary Madine’s header being saved in the first half and then Dean Henderson saving an equally good chance from Sam Hutchinson. United had a good shout for a penalty when Madine was clearly held by the otherwise excellent Michael Hector. In truth it was a poor game. United struggled to get their football going and whilst they looked more dangerous in general play, they gave away a number of silly fouls that stopped momentum and were wasteful from their own set plays after winning a number of corners. United will take the point and move on knowing they have two home games to come.
United made changes to the team with many of the previously injured back to full fitness and the normal back three back starting with Basham and O’Connell alongside Egan. Dowell and Madine getting the nod in the other two selection choices. There was no place for George Baldock. Wednesday made one change with Iorfa in for the injured Lazaar. Forestieri started just behind the in form Steven Fletcher.
In driving rain United kicked away from their 4,000 fans and Sharp won an early corner as United started the better. The first chance came on 6 minutes when neat play down the right saw Norwood whip over a delightful cross that Madine headed goal wards but Westwood made an instinctive save. The corner came over but O’Connell was penalised. Wednesday had their first half chance when Aarons crossed and Fletcher’s header hit Egan. Back came United though and won another corner and this time there seemed a good shout for a penalty when Hector grabbed Madine but the referee waved play on much to the anger of the United front man.
Norwood then tripped Forestieri who had hit the deck at least half a dozen times in the opening spell; replicating Madine for United with both players often looking for the free kick. Good work by Sharp led to Bannan bringing him down but Norwood’s free kick was cleared. United had shaded it but gave away a few free kicks to see the momentum stopped. Reach sliced horrible wide in a rare moment for the home side who had been more progressive than at Bramall Lane but were still undoubtedly sitting in.
Fletcher then injured himself going through Fleck but was deemed fit to carry on. A series of fouls both ways saw the game become stop start and rather scrappy. United were getting sucked into playing long balls and not getting it down and playing their trademark pass and move football. Wednesday also were looking for Fletcher on the high ball or Reach on the long diagonal. Dowell and Hutchinson clashed heads before 3 minutes of stoppage time were played. Norwood’s free kick was headed over from Egan just before the break.
Forestieri did not come back out after the break and Boyd came on. Boyd did put in a cross which Fletcher hooked spectacularly….miles over the bar. At the other end Basham’s enterprising run and clever pull back led to Norwood’s chipped cross that just evaded Sharp and then a series of fouls and stoppages resulted breaking up the game again. Dowell broke from a Wednesday corner but took too long and his final pass was intercepted by Reach. The corner saw O’Connell’s header blocked by Fletcher before Sharp nearly got onto a Lees back pass but Westwood was quick to react to clear. Aarons jinked past Freeman but his cross shot was tipped away from Henderson – it probably was going wide but he had to make sure. The best chance for the home side came when Aarons sent a ball over that seemed innocuous enough but Fleck left it and Hutchinson was in but his point-blank effort on the stretch was straight at Henderson who saved well and Stevens cleared the rebound. McGoldrick then came on for Madine as the game entered the final 20 minutes. The next period was again very scrappy and rarely was the ball in play for more than a minute before a free kick or a throw in. Cranie replaced Dowell as Basham moved into the middle. Neither side were keeping it very well although McGoldrick at least started to link play for United who started to push the home side back more. Norwood and the sub linked before Hector cleared at full stretch and then Westwood pushed away the corner.
Fox came on for Iorfa for Wednesday before Cranie went on an excellent run but his shot was blocked leading to another corner. This one was cleared again before a scramble ensued and Wednesday won a free kick. Egan won a header from another set play but Hector got his head on the second ball. Wednesday then threatened to break but United intercepted and had a chance of their own but were too slow to get away and the danger was cleared. Nuhiu came on for Fletcher as the game entered two minutes additional time. United looked the more likely at this stage but from another silly free kick given away, Aarons had a shot that went well over the bar. United advanced one final time but the referee’s whistle came before they could create anything more and it ended honours even.
United – Poorest we have played since that 2nd half at Swansea. We were not rubbish but subpar and it was a bitty game with lots of niggly fouls both ways. We seemed to knock it long too much and did not try and play through midfield. Wednesday pressed us, stopped the wing backs getting forward and I felt Dowell was quiet and not close enough to the front two. We played as three compartments and the link play was not there. We played a bit safe and I felt did not gamble enough. I agreed with the Madine selection but on reflection it did not work and McGoldrick instantly improved us when he came on as we had more of the link.
We had 59% possession and 10 corners to 2 but only had one effort of note on goal all game and did not work the keeper enough at all. We barely had a shot second half but lots of half chances or set plays ad little things that did not drop.
We started the game quite well. Like at the Lane if we get that first goal it is a different game and we could have had a penalty of course. The first 15 mins we were decent and then they came into it but then it was more even. I felt we shaded the second half but they had a better start after the break and had that big chance which was awful defending. After this I felt we controlled things; and slowly started to peg them back and McGoldrick made a difference. We started to get into little pockets and threaded little balls in. We won lots of corners but did not make the most of them. It was all a bit panicky and we needed to relax more. There was too much stuff into the corners or played long overall though and that is not us. We kind of got sucked into their kind of game as they played the long diagonal all game really to Fletcher or Reach. Neither side played through the middle much at all. It was a rotten game but we needed to up the tempo and get on it more and try and move them about. It was a bit slow but I think we did not gamble too many forwards until towards the end when Basham and Cranie pushed forward and we had a few half chances.
Overall, it’s a point. I would have taken it beforehand. We now have it out of the way. We need to now take care of business on Saturday. I think he will go back to McGoldrick and Duffy. Madine and Dowell did not really take their chances tonight but a few others were only average. The one positive is the defence has been really solid (other than the one mistake) and we don’t give silly goals away and have not conceded since Villa away.
Wednesday – Hard to say it/type it but credit to them. They never really looked lik scoring much again but they worked hard, pressed us, stopped the flanks and were solid. They played like an away side at home for long spells but they still look a different side to the sorry negative bunch we saw at the Lane. Still not sure they are a top 6 side really and have some holes in the side but are on a good run and sadly we missed our opportunity when they were at their lowest in terms of style/confidence earlier in the season. Today they were much better than at the Lane but still not great. They only had the one good chance and did not really threaten but defended well and pressed us high up and stopped the overlaps and they made us go long as we could not get the likes of Fleck and Dowell on the ball. Madine did not cause them too many problems and Sharp was not really in the game as was feeding off scraps.
They did not play much football I felt- a few moments I suppose - but a lot of long stuff also. They were also feeding off Fletcher’s knock downs as we tried to do with Madine. Some of their better players actually did not really play that well – like ours – I felt Bannan did not get on the ball and Reach was not really in the game but did the job defensively. Not sure any of their players were more than 6’s and 7’s if I had to rate them. Hector was the best of the lot but he just headed and blocked things really. No one showed much quality on the ball. They may get excited about the playoffs and say on that evidence they are as good as us but we know that derbies are different and over the course of the season so far we have proven to be far superior. I think they will probably finish about where they are – they have to go Derby on Saturday (who are desperate and due a win) and go to Norwich and Leeds back to back. Not sure they will get much from any of those three and that would mean they would have to run the board in most of the other 8 games which is very unlikely really. Be interesting summer as due to FFP they wont have much to spend and will lose half their squad (loans/out of contract). The likes of Fletcher, Bannan, Hutchinson, Lees are steady eddys but none of these are top 6 players sadly and Forestieri cannot stay fit. Reach is a decent player but is a bit wasted if they punt long diagonals to him. They also have a lot of ordinary players and still lack real quality to beat the better teams. Tonight they did a job but they did not really attack much or look like stretching us but defended well. They are more organised and a lot more solid but need to go a bit to be a top 6 side this season or even next.
Opponent man of the match – Fletcher was a handful. Forestieri fell over a lot but did not do much else. The two wing backs played ok and stopped our wide men getting forward but Hector was very good as he was at the Lane, winning lots of headers and blocks. He just got his body in the way. Westwood made one good save in the first half but like with Henderson’s it was straight at him. Aarons had a few tricks and runs but no real end product apart from the cross that should have been cleared really.
Weak link – Not sure there was anyone that was awful. I do feel Palmer is a poor player that could be get at but we did not take advantage. Similarly, Lees has the turning circle of an oil tanker but we had two slow players up against him. Nuhiu coming on at the end shows what they were relying on really for a late undeserved winner as they pumped it even longer.
United made changes to the team with many of the previously injured back to full fitness and the normal back three back starting with Basham and O’Connell alongside Egan. Dowell and Madine getting the nod in the other two selection choices. There was no place for George Baldock. Wednesday made one change with Iorfa in for the injured Lazaar. Forestieri started just behind the in form Steven Fletcher.
In driving rain United kicked away from their 4,000 fans and Sharp won an early corner as United started the better. The first chance came on 6 minutes when neat play down the right saw Norwood whip over a delightful cross that Madine headed goal wards but Westwood made an instinctive save. The corner came over but O’Connell was penalised. Wednesday had their first half chance when Aarons crossed and Fletcher’s header hit Egan. Back came United though and won another corner and this time there seemed a good shout for a penalty when Hector grabbed Madine but the referee waved play on much to the anger of the United front man.
Norwood then tripped Forestieri who had hit the deck at least half a dozen times in the opening spell; replicating Madine for United with both players often looking for the free kick. Good work by Sharp led to Bannan bringing him down but Norwood’s free kick was cleared. United had shaded it but gave away a few free kicks to see the momentum stopped. Reach sliced horrible wide in a rare moment for the home side who had been more progressive than at Bramall Lane but were still undoubtedly sitting in.
Fletcher then injured himself going through Fleck but was deemed fit to carry on. A series of fouls both ways saw the game become stop start and rather scrappy. United were getting sucked into playing long balls and not getting it down and playing their trademark pass and move football. Wednesday also were looking for Fletcher on the high ball or Reach on the long diagonal. Dowell and Hutchinson clashed heads before 3 minutes of stoppage time were played. Norwood’s free kick was headed over from Egan just before the break.
Forestieri did not come back out after the break and Boyd came on. Boyd did put in a cross which Fletcher hooked spectacularly….miles over the bar. At the other end Basham’s enterprising run and clever pull back led to Norwood’s chipped cross that just evaded Sharp and then a series of fouls and stoppages resulted breaking up the game again. Dowell broke from a Wednesday corner but took too long and his final pass was intercepted by Reach. The corner saw O’Connell’s header blocked by Fletcher before Sharp nearly got onto a Lees back pass but Westwood was quick to react to clear. Aarons jinked past Freeman but his cross shot was tipped away from Henderson – it probably was going wide but he had to make sure. The best chance for the home side came when Aarons sent a ball over that seemed innocuous enough but Fleck left it and Hutchinson was in but his point-blank effort on the stretch was straight at Henderson who saved well and Stevens cleared the rebound. McGoldrick then came on for Madine as the game entered the final 20 minutes. The next period was again very scrappy and rarely was the ball in play for more than a minute before a free kick or a throw in. Cranie replaced Dowell as Basham moved into the middle. Neither side were keeping it very well although McGoldrick at least started to link play for United who started to push the home side back more. Norwood and the sub linked before Hector cleared at full stretch and then Westwood pushed away the corner.
Fox came on for Iorfa for Wednesday before Cranie went on an excellent run but his shot was blocked leading to another corner. This one was cleared again before a scramble ensued and Wednesday won a free kick. Egan won a header from another set play but Hector got his head on the second ball. Wednesday then threatened to break but United intercepted and had a chance of their own but were too slow to get away and the danger was cleared. Nuhiu came on for Fletcher as the game entered two minutes additional time. United looked the more likely at this stage but from another silly free kick given away, Aarons had a shot that went well over the bar. United advanced one final time but the referee’s whistle came before they could create anything more and it ended honours even.
United – Poorest we have played since that 2nd half at Swansea. We were not rubbish but subpar and it was a bitty game with lots of niggly fouls both ways. We seemed to knock it long too much and did not try and play through midfield. Wednesday pressed us, stopped the wing backs getting forward and I felt Dowell was quiet and not close enough to the front two. We played as three compartments and the link play was not there. We played a bit safe and I felt did not gamble enough. I agreed with the Madine selection but on reflection it did not work and McGoldrick instantly improved us when he came on as we had more of the link.
We had 59% possession and 10 corners to 2 but only had one effort of note on goal all game and did not work the keeper enough at all. We barely had a shot second half but lots of half chances or set plays ad little things that did not drop.
We started the game quite well. Like at the Lane if we get that first goal it is a different game and we could have had a penalty of course. The first 15 mins we were decent and then they came into it but then it was more even. I felt we shaded the second half but they had a better start after the break and had that big chance which was awful defending. After this I felt we controlled things; and slowly started to peg them back and McGoldrick made a difference. We started to get into little pockets and threaded little balls in. We won lots of corners but did not make the most of them. It was all a bit panicky and we needed to relax more. There was too much stuff into the corners or played long overall though and that is not us. We kind of got sucked into their kind of game as they played the long diagonal all game really to Fletcher or Reach. Neither side played through the middle much at all. It was a rotten game but we needed to up the tempo and get on it more and try and move them about. It was a bit slow but I think we did not gamble too many forwards until towards the end when Basham and Cranie pushed forward and we had a few half chances.
Overall, it’s a point. I would have taken it beforehand. We now have it out of the way. We need to now take care of business on Saturday. I think he will go back to McGoldrick and Duffy. Madine and Dowell did not really take their chances tonight but a few others were only average. The one positive is the defence has been really solid (other than the one mistake) and we don’t give silly goals away and have not conceded since Villa away.
Wednesday – Hard to say it/type it but credit to them. They never really looked lik scoring much again but they worked hard, pressed us, stopped the flanks and were solid. They played like an away side at home for long spells but they still look a different side to the sorry negative bunch we saw at the Lane. Still not sure they are a top 6 side really and have some holes in the side but are on a good run and sadly we missed our opportunity when they were at their lowest in terms of style/confidence earlier in the season. Today they were much better than at the Lane but still not great. They only had the one good chance and did not really threaten but defended well and pressed us high up and stopped the overlaps and they made us go long as we could not get the likes of Fleck and Dowell on the ball. Madine did not cause them too many problems and Sharp was not really in the game as was feeding off scraps.
They did not play much football I felt- a few moments I suppose - but a lot of long stuff also. They were also feeding off Fletcher’s knock downs as we tried to do with Madine. Some of their better players actually did not really play that well – like ours – I felt Bannan did not get on the ball and Reach was not really in the game but did the job defensively. Not sure any of their players were more than 6’s and 7’s if I had to rate them. Hector was the best of the lot but he just headed and blocked things really. No one showed much quality on the ball. They may get excited about the playoffs and say on that evidence they are as good as us but we know that derbies are different and over the course of the season so far we have proven to be far superior. I think they will probably finish about where they are – they have to go Derby on Saturday (who are desperate and due a win) and go to Norwich and Leeds back to back. Not sure they will get much from any of those three and that would mean they would have to run the board in most of the other 8 games which is very unlikely really. Be interesting summer as due to FFP they wont have much to spend and will lose half their squad (loans/out of contract). The likes of Fletcher, Bannan, Hutchinson, Lees are steady eddys but none of these are top 6 players sadly and Forestieri cannot stay fit. Reach is a decent player but is a bit wasted if they punt long diagonals to him. They also have a lot of ordinary players and still lack real quality to beat the better teams. Tonight they did a job but they did not really attack much or look like stretching us but defended well. They are more organised and a lot more solid but need to go a bit to be a top 6 side this season or even next.
Opponent man of the match – Fletcher was a handful. Forestieri fell over a lot but did not do much else. The two wing backs played ok and stopped our wide men getting forward but Hector was very good as he was at the Lane, winning lots of headers and blocks. He just got his body in the way. Westwood made one good save in the first half but like with Henderson’s it was straight at him. Aarons had a few tricks and runs but no real end product apart from the cross that should have been cleared really.
Weak link – Not sure there was anyone that was awful. I do feel Palmer is a poor player that could be get at but we did not take advantage. Similarly, Lees has the turning circle of an oil tanker but we had two slow players up against him. Nuhiu coming on at the end shows what they were relying on really for a late undeserved winner as they pumped it even longer.
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