Deadbat_DB
Vital Squad Member
Podcast links and then report below….
---
It was a point for the Blades as they failed to build on an improved first half performance and had to recover from a sloppy goal from the home side just after half time. The impressive Gibbs White scored the equaliser but despite huffing and puffing, the home side looked as likely to win the game. The Blades had lots of possession and missed key chances in the first half but in the end they could only take a point in another round of fixtures where a number of teams could not take advantage of others dropping points. With Huddersfield, Forest and Luton all winning, the gap opened up means that it seems that there are 6 teams probably playing for the final play off spot. United at the moment are lacking the performances and results but remain the occupant of the position for now but know they need to improve for the final three games.
Manager Heckingbottom made 5 changes with Robinson, Basham, Fleck, Berge and Ndiaye all starting with McBurnie the next striker unavailable due to injury and United started effectively without a recognised centre forward.
Massengo was in for Bristol City who looked to build on the win at Stoke and had more experienced options up the top than the Blades.
City began well after some careless touches from United but gradually United started to get on the ball and on 6 minutes Norwood dragged his shot wide. Berge then played in Gibbs White but his first touch was poor. United continued to dictate and on 9 minutes had a great chance as lovely play from Ndiaye to Fleck, with Gibbs White stepping over the ball, the return came back to him and he was in but could only hit the legs of Bentley as he advanced one on one. The cross came in from Basham and was blocked as United already had shown more intent than Friday.
The home side won a corner but it was cleared before Ndiaye nicked the ball away from Scott. Berge drifted across the centre of the field and hit a shot that drifted wide but United had been in the ascendancy. Gibbs White then lost the ball and Basham pulled his man down for a yellow card. This led to a corner for the home side but Martin looped over with their first real effort.
United were having lots of ball with Ndiaye and Gibbs White bright, albeit well away from goal and then when we did get in an advanced area Fleck came back killing all the momentum. More patient build up came after this but Berge’s cross was wayward with no one in the box. Gibbs White was whacked by Klose and took the free kick but as it looped off the wall, Bentley raced out to prevent the corner but made a mess of it but Norwood took too long and the ball was eventually cleared.
Ndiaye and Gibbs White linked well with some neat stuff and then Norwood lofted a lovely ball over the top and Baldock got there before the hesitant keeper and his lob looped up but was cleared.
More decent stuff saw Baldock’s flick and they had men in the box for once but it was away from Basham. Gibbs White was at the heart of everything United did and his flick nearly got the Blades in again.
Egan was booked for a cynical late foul on Semenyo as he was beaten to the ball but United ended the half well with a ball over the top saw Berge get in as Bentley raced off his line again and the Norwegian got to it and rounded him but opted to lob a cross over rather than go for goal. The ball was recycled and after Stevens cleverly played in Ndiaye, the youngster beat the offside trap and was clear but blazed over in a finish completely unlike the one he took with aplomb on Friday. It was the best chance of the half and a terrible miss, especially not to work the keeper. He was still holding his head a few moments later as the half time whistle went but this was after another chance when Fleck played in Stevens who dragged his shot wide.
United had been much better than the previous game and dictated the game but missed two good chances and for all the possession had only worked an erratic Bentley once from 8 efforts at goal. The home side had offered little but it was concerning with their more recognised strikers that this may change after the break.
The second half saw Da Silva picked up an early knock and had to go off replaced by Benarous. United created a chance when Stevens sent over a deep cross that Robinson met but headed straight at Bentley. The keeper threw it out and United were all over the place and City had 3 on 3. Basham was beaten to the ball by Semenyo and he was in on the angle and it was a simple ball rolled across for MARTIN to convert with their first effort on goal. It was a cruel blow for the visitors who had dominated but poor finishing was now compounded by horrific defending.
Stevens sent over a cross that Berge could not get there as United tried to respond but City should have put the game away as Egan went too far forward and the ball over the top found Weimann whose cross was put over the bar from Semeydo. Soon after City were in again but Martin hit the keeper when the home team had men well over. United’s organisation and shape had completely gone to pieces. It now seemed like the home side were the side who scented blood with the United defence not keeping any kind of line.
However out of nothing United were level. The ball came across and as the ball was half cleared, Stevens hit a shot that was angled at Bentley who pushed it out but GIBBS WHITE acrobatically hooked home and United were level after a messy start to the half.
United then had a run of chances as City started to panic. The ball came across from Stevens and Berge could not quite divert it goalward. The ball pinballed across but would not quite sit. Norwood seemed to win the ball but was penalised as City looked to break after they had been holding on for that last period.
Baldock was booked for kicking the ball out of Bentley’s hands – another avoidable yellow card.
The game was even at this stage but probably too open for United with the City pace up front with Semenyo and Weimann. United needed to get some control of midfield and settle down.
Semenyo pulled up and had to come off for Wells but Stevens gave away another ridiculous free kick and Foderingham had to save Martin’s header as he beat Robinson to it. United continued to give away free kicks with cynical pull backs or tackles rightly penalised. The Blades did have a chance when neat play almost saw Stevens in but Atkinson made a good tackle.
Osula came on for Ndiaye with 15 minutes to go. Baldock then seemed to pull up and Osborn went in at right back as the injuries continued to mount for the Blades. The next spell saw the game quite scrappy as United could not get hold of the ball and the long ball up continued to cause the visitors problems. Fleck brought his man down as Norwood made the mistake and was booked after Wells has been allowed to take the advantage on but shot wide with a good chance.
Stevens could only knock it out another long ball forward and then Berge’s foul saw the ball come in but as United failed to deal with the high ball, Atkinson fired over. Whilst City tried to go down the side and over the top, United tried to move it around still and Gibbs White played in Osula who tried to find Osborn but it was just cleared as the game entered 6 minutes additional time.
This time saw both teams trying to go for it and United seemed leggy in midfield but also still tried to keep playing the ball forward and Osula was looking lively. He turned inside and had a shot at the keeper before United won a late free kick but Stevens ball was eventually cleared. Hourihane came on at the death and he too had a chance to cross but the ball once again was rather telegraphed and the full-time whistle came soon after. For United, a good first half was not followed up and, in the end, they probably would be happy to take a point despite the possession they had and the first half opportunities, City actually could have finished the game off after they scored.
---
It was a point for the Blades as they failed to build on an improved first half performance and had to recover from a sloppy goal from the home side just after half time. The impressive Gibbs White scored the equaliser but despite huffing and puffing, the home side looked as likely to win the game. The Blades had lots of possession and missed key chances in the first half but in the end they could only take a point in another round of fixtures where a number of teams could not take advantage of others dropping points. With Huddersfield, Forest and Luton all winning, the gap opened up means that it seems that there are 6 teams probably playing for the final play off spot. United at the moment are lacking the performances and results but remain the occupant of the position for now but know they need to improve for the final three games.
Manager Heckingbottom made 5 changes with Robinson, Basham, Fleck, Berge and Ndiaye all starting with McBurnie the next striker unavailable due to injury and United started effectively without a recognised centre forward.
Massengo was in for Bristol City who looked to build on the win at Stoke and had more experienced options up the top than the Blades.
City began well after some careless touches from United but gradually United started to get on the ball and on 6 minutes Norwood dragged his shot wide. Berge then played in Gibbs White but his first touch was poor. United continued to dictate and on 9 minutes had a great chance as lovely play from Ndiaye to Fleck, with Gibbs White stepping over the ball, the return came back to him and he was in but could only hit the legs of Bentley as he advanced one on one. The cross came in from Basham and was blocked as United already had shown more intent than Friday.
The home side won a corner but it was cleared before Ndiaye nicked the ball away from Scott. Berge drifted across the centre of the field and hit a shot that drifted wide but United had been in the ascendancy. Gibbs White then lost the ball and Basham pulled his man down for a yellow card. This led to a corner for the home side but Martin looped over with their first real effort.
United were having lots of ball with Ndiaye and Gibbs White bright, albeit well away from goal and then when we did get in an advanced area Fleck came back killing all the momentum. More patient build up came after this but Berge’s cross was wayward with no one in the box. Gibbs White was whacked by Klose and took the free kick but as it looped off the wall, Bentley raced out to prevent the corner but made a mess of it but Norwood took too long and the ball was eventually cleared.
Ndiaye and Gibbs White linked well with some neat stuff and then Norwood lofted a lovely ball over the top and Baldock got there before the hesitant keeper and his lob looped up but was cleared.
More decent stuff saw Baldock’s flick and they had men in the box for once but it was away from Basham. Gibbs White was at the heart of everything United did and his flick nearly got the Blades in again.
Egan was booked for a cynical late foul on Semenyo as he was beaten to the ball but United ended the half well with a ball over the top saw Berge get in as Bentley raced off his line again and the Norwegian got to it and rounded him but opted to lob a cross over rather than go for goal. The ball was recycled and after Stevens cleverly played in Ndiaye, the youngster beat the offside trap and was clear but blazed over in a finish completely unlike the one he took with aplomb on Friday. It was the best chance of the half and a terrible miss, especially not to work the keeper. He was still holding his head a few moments later as the half time whistle went but this was after another chance when Fleck played in Stevens who dragged his shot wide.
United had been much better than the previous game and dictated the game but missed two good chances and for all the possession had only worked an erratic Bentley once from 8 efforts at goal. The home side had offered little but it was concerning with their more recognised strikers that this may change after the break.
The second half saw Da Silva picked up an early knock and had to go off replaced by Benarous. United created a chance when Stevens sent over a deep cross that Robinson met but headed straight at Bentley. The keeper threw it out and United were all over the place and City had 3 on 3. Basham was beaten to the ball by Semenyo and he was in on the angle and it was a simple ball rolled across for MARTIN to convert with their first effort on goal. It was a cruel blow for the visitors who had dominated but poor finishing was now compounded by horrific defending.
Stevens sent over a cross that Berge could not get there as United tried to respond but City should have put the game away as Egan went too far forward and the ball over the top found Weimann whose cross was put over the bar from Semeydo. Soon after City were in again but Martin hit the keeper when the home team had men well over. United’s organisation and shape had completely gone to pieces. It now seemed like the home side were the side who scented blood with the United defence not keeping any kind of line.
However out of nothing United were level. The ball came across and as the ball was half cleared, Stevens hit a shot that was angled at Bentley who pushed it out but GIBBS WHITE acrobatically hooked home and United were level after a messy start to the half.
United then had a run of chances as City started to panic. The ball came across from Stevens and Berge could not quite divert it goalward. The ball pinballed across but would not quite sit. Norwood seemed to win the ball but was penalised as City looked to break after they had been holding on for that last period.
Baldock was booked for kicking the ball out of Bentley’s hands – another avoidable yellow card.
The game was even at this stage but probably too open for United with the City pace up front with Semenyo and Weimann. United needed to get some control of midfield and settle down.
Semenyo pulled up and had to come off for Wells but Stevens gave away another ridiculous free kick and Foderingham had to save Martin’s header as he beat Robinson to it. United continued to give away free kicks with cynical pull backs or tackles rightly penalised. The Blades did have a chance when neat play almost saw Stevens in but Atkinson made a good tackle.
Osula came on for Ndiaye with 15 minutes to go. Baldock then seemed to pull up and Osborn went in at right back as the injuries continued to mount for the Blades. The next spell saw the game quite scrappy as United could not get hold of the ball and the long ball up continued to cause the visitors problems. Fleck brought his man down as Norwood made the mistake and was booked after Wells has been allowed to take the advantage on but shot wide with a good chance.
Stevens could only knock it out another long ball forward and then Berge’s foul saw the ball come in but as United failed to deal with the high ball, Atkinson fired over. Whilst City tried to go down the side and over the top, United tried to move it around still and Gibbs White played in Osula who tried to find Osborn but it was just cleared as the game entered 6 minutes additional time.
This time saw both teams trying to go for it and United seemed leggy in midfield but also still tried to keep playing the ball forward and Osula was looking lively. He turned inside and had a shot at the keeper before United won a late free kick but Stevens ball was eventually cleared. Hourihane came on at the death and he too had a chance to cross but the ball once again was rather telegraphed and the full-time whistle came soon after. For United, a good first half was not followed up and, in the end, they probably would be happy to take a point despite the possession they had and the first half opportunities, City actually could have finished the game off after they scored.
