Deadbat_DB
Vital Squad Member
United had to settle for a draw in their quest for European football as they could not quite do enough to see off Brighton and Hove Albion at a wet and windy Bramall Lane. Enda Stevens first half howitzer put the Blades ahead but a quick-fire riposte from one-time United target, Neal Maupay levelled matters. The second half saw United dominate but they could not quite force the decisive moment to win the game despite McBurnie missing two good chances.
Manager Wilder named an unchanged side as United looked to build on the last two victories in another game played in front of tricky weather conditions at a sold-out Bramall Lane. The home side were fast out of the blocks and some slick football saw Stevens and O’Connell advance to win early territory. Sharp fired off target after good build up and Brighton were having to defend with numbers to stop an energetic Blades opening. McBurnie could not react quick enough after good work from Baldock down the right. United won two early corners and Fleck was heavily involved, celebrating his new contract and drew two early fouls with Bissouma booked for a very late tackle. The same man had the first effort on goal but it was easily repelled by Henderson.
United continued to probe with Stevens and then Fleck looking to drive beyond the defence and the Blades won two corners that were both cleared. A break saw McBurnie cynically upended by Propper before Sharp’s cross was cleared. The Brighton midfielder was booked when the ball went dead. United had been by far the better side and the opener came after a short corner on the right-hand side. Burn could only partially clear and STEVENS hit a driven shot high into the net and beyond Ryan. It was a superb strike and gave the Blades a deserved lead.
Sadly, the lead was short-lived and only four minutes later, the away side were level. Mooy’s free kick was headed back from Webster and MAUPAY reacted quickest to nod home from point blank range.
United were back on the offensive winning two corners and then Fleck nearly found an opening again. United continued to try and probe and were moving the ball at pace and with fluidity but had not created too many clear-cut openings. The half time whistle sent soon after another decent United attack had been thwarted.
The second half saw a blow as Stevens had tweaked a calf and Osborn came on to play left wing back. United continued to dominate the ball but were unable to find a chance and Brighton actually had an opening when Dunk fired off target after a corner dropped to him.
United continued to force the issue though and a corner saw O’Connell and McBurnie denied in a scramble and then soon after Fleck fired wide after neat build-up. United continued to mount the pressure and were dominating the ball but Maupay hit a flashing volley just over from the angle.
Norwood’s cross saw Osborn return the ball and Ryan smothered before McGoldrick and Lundstram came on for Sharp and Berge as the Blades looked to find the vital moment of quality. Brighton were now time wasting at every opportunity and Ryan was taking an age over goal kicks. The visiting team had an appeal for a penalty for an Osborn hand ball but McBurnie then had a great chance but missed the ball after good work down the left from O’Connell and Osborn. There was a moment of concern when Dunk went down after a Lundstram tackle but the review for a red card found in the Blades player’s favour.
United were now piling on the pressure and Ryan had to deny McBurnie after lovely work from McGoldrick down the left. Baldock and Basham combined and the ball was cleared and it was now one-way traffic. The Blades threw men forward and Brighton made a number of blocks as the game entered a very generous three minutes stoppage time. Despite United continuing to attack time beat them and the delight of the Brighton players at the end in gaining the draw said it all about the momentum of the game.
United – Thought we played well and actually were better on and off the ball in this game than Bournemouth and West Ham. Defensively we were sound other than the one switch off and we moved through the field well and some lovely stuff saw us control the ball. We dominated possession and won more corners and really should have had more chances for all the control of the game we had. That is the only issue really. We did not really test the keeper enough. McBurnie missed a couple of good chances and we had some scrambles and the ball did not quite drop but we maybe did not do enough at the top end. We started the game well; we had all the ball and were moving it about and at pace. We got the goal through a great striker and after this you sensed we would go on and win easily but then they scored almost straight away. A sloppy goal conceded when a routine set play was headed back and we lost two headers as Maupay got in and scored. We kept attacking though and despite Stevens coming off, it looked like there was only winner really. They may say they had a half-hearted appeal for a spot kick on the Osborn one which seemed close to him and the Lundstram tackle but overall it was all United second half really. We had so much of the ball, lots of corners but could not quite do enough but McBurnie ought to take one of the chances he had. I thought that most of the team were really good and we defended well, won the loose balls and controlled the ball. Fleck and Norwood were excellent. I was a bit disappointed with Berge who seemed way behind the pace and tempo and positionally seems to be struggling with that area he is playing. I also thought McBurnie and Sharp tried hard but slowed things right down and we lacked real quality in that area.
We never really looked like scoring despite all the good play and often it was scrambles or knock downs rather than good play. Brighton were very defensive and milked the clock playing for a draw clearly. They got it but it was a very negative approach really. United did enough in territory and control to win but did not create enough. So, you can look at it both ways. I was pleased with the performance and thought everyone did their best but we just lacked that bit of extra quality to go on and win the game 2 or 3-1 really.
I will take that display though the final 11 games as I feel we will win a lot more than we lose/draw. It was a good performance and the away team were delighted to take something back from a game they were dominated against for long periods. Still, we take the point. We are on 40 points and now have the cup and then Norwich at home to come. It shows how far we have come when we are a bit disappointed to just take a point. Brighton have double our wage bill and are scrapping around to stay up. We are up near the 5/6 and a bit down not to win. We should not be. We are a good side and are continuing to play well and control games against teams who have been at this level a lot longer than us. We need to focus on the positives. Yes, Berge needs to improve. Yes, we need to improve our final bits in the last third and our strikers need to be more ruthless but overall the football is good. We are energetic, we are continuing to win battles and we are looking like a side that really belongs in the upper reaches of the top league.
Manager Wilder named an unchanged side as United looked to build on the last two victories in another game played in front of tricky weather conditions at a sold-out Bramall Lane. The home side were fast out of the blocks and some slick football saw Stevens and O’Connell advance to win early territory. Sharp fired off target after good build up and Brighton were having to defend with numbers to stop an energetic Blades opening. McBurnie could not react quick enough after good work from Baldock down the right. United won two early corners and Fleck was heavily involved, celebrating his new contract and drew two early fouls with Bissouma booked for a very late tackle. The same man had the first effort on goal but it was easily repelled by Henderson.
United continued to probe with Stevens and then Fleck looking to drive beyond the defence and the Blades won two corners that were both cleared. A break saw McBurnie cynically upended by Propper before Sharp’s cross was cleared. The Brighton midfielder was booked when the ball went dead. United had been by far the better side and the opener came after a short corner on the right-hand side. Burn could only partially clear and STEVENS hit a driven shot high into the net and beyond Ryan. It was a superb strike and gave the Blades a deserved lead.
Sadly, the lead was short-lived and only four minutes later, the away side were level. Mooy’s free kick was headed back from Webster and MAUPAY reacted quickest to nod home from point blank range.
United were back on the offensive winning two corners and then Fleck nearly found an opening again. United continued to try and probe and were moving the ball at pace and with fluidity but had not created too many clear-cut openings. The half time whistle sent soon after another decent United attack had been thwarted.
The second half saw a blow as Stevens had tweaked a calf and Osborn came on to play left wing back. United continued to dominate the ball but were unable to find a chance and Brighton actually had an opening when Dunk fired off target after a corner dropped to him.
United continued to force the issue though and a corner saw O’Connell and McBurnie denied in a scramble and then soon after Fleck fired wide after neat build-up. United continued to mount the pressure and were dominating the ball but Maupay hit a flashing volley just over from the angle.
Norwood’s cross saw Osborn return the ball and Ryan smothered before McGoldrick and Lundstram came on for Sharp and Berge as the Blades looked to find the vital moment of quality. Brighton were now time wasting at every opportunity and Ryan was taking an age over goal kicks. The visiting team had an appeal for a penalty for an Osborn hand ball but McBurnie then had a great chance but missed the ball after good work down the left from O’Connell and Osborn. There was a moment of concern when Dunk went down after a Lundstram tackle but the review for a red card found in the Blades player’s favour.
United were now piling on the pressure and Ryan had to deny McBurnie after lovely work from McGoldrick down the left. Baldock and Basham combined and the ball was cleared and it was now one-way traffic. The Blades threw men forward and Brighton made a number of blocks as the game entered a very generous three minutes stoppage time. Despite United continuing to attack time beat them and the delight of the Brighton players at the end in gaining the draw said it all about the momentum of the game.
United – Thought we played well and actually were better on and off the ball in this game than Bournemouth and West Ham. Defensively we were sound other than the one switch off and we moved through the field well and some lovely stuff saw us control the ball. We dominated possession and won more corners and really should have had more chances for all the control of the game we had. That is the only issue really. We did not really test the keeper enough. McBurnie missed a couple of good chances and we had some scrambles and the ball did not quite drop but we maybe did not do enough at the top end. We started the game well; we had all the ball and were moving it about and at pace. We got the goal through a great striker and after this you sensed we would go on and win easily but then they scored almost straight away. A sloppy goal conceded when a routine set play was headed back and we lost two headers as Maupay got in and scored. We kept attacking though and despite Stevens coming off, it looked like there was only winner really. They may say they had a half-hearted appeal for a spot kick on the Osborn one which seemed close to him and the Lundstram tackle but overall it was all United second half really. We had so much of the ball, lots of corners but could not quite do enough but McBurnie ought to take one of the chances he had. I thought that most of the team were really good and we defended well, won the loose balls and controlled the ball. Fleck and Norwood were excellent. I was a bit disappointed with Berge who seemed way behind the pace and tempo and positionally seems to be struggling with that area he is playing. I also thought McBurnie and Sharp tried hard but slowed things right down and we lacked real quality in that area.
We never really looked like scoring despite all the good play and often it was scrambles or knock downs rather than good play. Brighton were very defensive and milked the clock playing for a draw clearly. They got it but it was a very negative approach really. United did enough in territory and control to win but did not create enough. So, you can look at it both ways. I was pleased with the performance and thought everyone did their best but we just lacked that bit of extra quality to go on and win the game 2 or 3-1 really.
I will take that display though the final 11 games as I feel we will win a lot more than we lose/draw. It was a good performance and the away team were delighted to take something back from a game they were dominated against for long periods. Still, we take the point. We are on 40 points and now have the cup and then Norwich at home to come. It shows how far we have come when we are a bit disappointed to just take a point. Brighton have double our wage bill and are scrapping around to stay up. We are up near the 5/6 and a bit down not to win. We should not be. We are a good side and are continuing to play well and control games against teams who have been at this level a lot longer than us. We need to focus on the positives. Yes, Berge needs to improve. Yes, we need to improve our final bits in the last third and our strikers need to be more ruthless but overall the football is good. We are energetic, we are continuing to win battles and we are looking like a side that really belongs in the upper reaches of the top league.