Deadbat_DB
Vital Squad Member
It is now three defeats from four and two defeats from two at Bramall Lane as United went out on penalties in the league cup at the first stage to Hull City. It was an exciting game that saw the Blades behind for a long period after a well-made and taken goal from Jon Toral and easily could have been further goals behind but kept in the game and missed chances of their own. They got level thanks to a superb Billy Sharp volley and after this the home side had several clear opportunities but the woodwork, goalkeeper and clearances off the line denied them and sent the game to penalties. The excellent Oliver Norwood sent the first kick of the shoot out into the Kop and every other penalty was scored meaning Hull won through 5-4. It was a triumphant return for returning boss Nigel Adkins who departed to boos and loud chants telling him where to go as he walked off the pitch on full time.
United made a number of changes bringing in Simon Moore in goal, starting Ryan Leonard at centre back and also bringing back John Lundstram in midfield. There were full debuts for new signings Ben Woodburn and Oliver Norwood. Young players Norrington Davies and Parkhouse were on the bench. Hull had former Blade George Long on the bench for a Hull side that made 9 chances and had a far less experienced side out than the home side.
United began well with Norwood instrumental and showing his range of passing to impress his new fans. Freeman had one cross saved from Marshall before Stewart hit a dipping volley over at the other end. The game had been quite entertaining with both teams getting it down and trying to pass but United were often taking too long to move it on where as Hull were quicker in their approach. This led to the opening goal as TORAL played a ball to Dicko and then went on to receive the cross that saw him score easily at the far post. United’s defence had been ripped apart by one ball over the top, a strong forward run and an easy finish after the ball. It was reminiscent of the way Swansea had got through the Blades on opening day with pace and runners off the ball.
United tried to respond but Clarke took too long and Burke tackled him. Woodburn also was guilty of over playing before Hull really should have scored again on another breakaway. Irvine ran past two defenders and chipped over Moore but it fell just the wrong side of the post. It was a lucky escape but showed the ease with which United could be breached. Once again, United continued to have all the ball with Norwood continuing to impress but it was taking way too long to get into the final third. Duffy and Woodburn were struggling to make much of an impact.
However, one good move saw the ball played into Clarke on the angle and he attempted a chip but got it horribly wrong and it went at a right angle from his boot and across the goal. Soon after from a quick free kick Woodburn had a shot that was well saved. Duffy then took a quick free kick, Stevens cross and it seemed Clarke must score but somehow, he missed hitting the legs of Marshall from a few yards.
United had other half chances but the final ball was poor where as Dickon nearly got in right on half time for Hull.
Sharp came on for Duffy at the break and was involved instantly linking up with Woodburn and then Norwood. Lundstram shot over from the penalty spot when well placed. At the other end Toral shot narrowly wide with a great curling effort with Moore beaten to the wide. It was a very open game but Hull were causing problems on the break and one such move similar to the goal saw quick feet and interplay get Irvine in and as he shaped to shoot; Leonard seemed to clearly bring him down. The ball was eventually scrambled clear with Hull’s players and management staff aghast at the non award. It did seem an incredible decision.
Soon after Hull had another chance as the ball came across from the left and a flicked header from Keane hit the inside of the post and rolled across the line before being cleared. They won a corner and missed another great opportunity and a scramble saw the ball pin pall around before somehow being cleared. United had survived 3 big let offs in this spell and somehow remained in a game they had controlled for large parts in terms of ball retention but were conceding chances too easily at one end and not creating enough at the other end. Woodburn had a free kick opportunity but hit the wall after a foul right on the edge of the box.
United awoke and started to have a go themselves. Sharp had a chance blocked out and then Clarke fired over on the angle. Then Egan hit the underside of the bar with a chance that was as unfortunate for the home side as it was for the visitors when they hit the woodwork earlier. Basham and Fleck had entered the fray and United started to pin Hull back. Stevens had a cross shot that was ruled out for offside.
As the game entered the final quarter of an hour; the leveller came. Fleck hit a diagonal through ball and SHARP on the angle hit a great first-time volley that Marshall could not keep out despite getting a hand to it.
It was all United now and Clarke fired over after Basham pulled back and then Fleck fired over after the Blades broke away and Sharp had pulled the ball back amidst appeals for a penalty. Hull were now defending for their lives and United won a number of corners. In stoppage time; Basham somehow had an effort cleared off the line with the ref looking at his watch to signal no goal (was not even aware we had this technology at this level?) and then right on time Stevens had a shot that Marshall somehow tipped over. The game was to be decided by penalties with no extra time being used anymore for this competition. Clarke did something right and won the toss sending them to be taken to the empty Kop end rather than in front of the Hull fans and so it went like this….
United miss – Norwood: blazed horribly over
Hull score – Total. Chipped it on nonchalantly. Moore was on the floor already.
United score – Sharp. Blasted it top corner sending the keeper the wrong way
Hull score – Keane. Put it into the corner easily.
United score – Woodburn. Good penalty – sent the keeper the wrong way.
Hull score – Grosicki – this one was another one where Moore went way too early.
United score – O’Connell – confidently dispatched
Hull score – Milikovic – went in off the post. Thought he had missed at first but as precise as you can be.
United score – Basham. Sent the keeper the wrong way.
Hull score – Stewart. Rolled it in as Moore once again had already dived.
Hull win 5-4 on pens.
The celebrations were quite muted really. It did not seem that big of a deal to win for Hull. They barely rushed to the scorer or anything like that and United just kind of slumped off to signal another defeat. Winning is a habit though and Hull will be delighted to get their first one of the season where as United are still looking for theirs at home.
United made a number of changes bringing in Simon Moore in goal, starting Ryan Leonard at centre back and also bringing back John Lundstram in midfield. There were full debuts for new signings Ben Woodburn and Oliver Norwood. Young players Norrington Davies and Parkhouse were on the bench. Hull had former Blade George Long on the bench for a Hull side that made 9 chances and had a far less experienced side out than the home side.
United began well with Norwood instrumental and showing his range of passing to impress his new fans. Freeman had one cross saved from Marshall before Stewart hit a dipping volley over at the other end. The game had been quite entertaining with both teams getting it down and trying to pass but United were often taking too long to move it on where as Hull were quicker in their approach. This led to the opening goal as TORAL played a ball to Dicko and then went on to receive the cross that saw him score easily at the far post. United’s defence had been ripped apart by one ball over the top, a strong forward run and an easy finish after the ball. It was reminiscent of the way Swansea had got through the Blades on opening day with pace and runners off the ball.
United tried to respond but Clarke took too long and Burke tackled him. Woodburn also was guilty of over playing before Hull really should have scored again on another breakaway. Irvine ran past two defenders and chipped over Moore but it fell just the wrong side of the post. It was a lucky escape but showed the ease with which United could be breached. Once again, United continued to have all the ball with Norwood continuing to impress but it was taking way too long to get into the final third. Duffy and Woodburn were struggling to make much of an impact.
However, one good move saw the ball played into Clarke on the angle and he attempted a chip but got it horribly wrong and it went at a right angle from his boot and across the goal. Soon after from a quick free kick Woodburn had a shot that was well saved. Duffy then took a quick free kick, Stevens cross and it seemed Clarke must score but somehow, he missed hitting the legs of Marshall from a few yards.
United had other half chances but the final ball was poor where as Dickon nearly got in right on half time for Hull.
Sharp came on for Duffy at the break and was involved instantly linking up with Woodburn and then Norwood. Lundstram shot over from the penalty spot when well placed. At the other end Toral shot narrowly wide with a great curling effort with Moore beaten to the wide. It was a very open game but Hull were causing problems on the break and one such move similar to the goal saw quick feet and interplay get Irvine in and as he shaped to shoot; Leonard seemed to clearly bring him down. The ball was eventually scrambled clear with Hull’s players and management staff aghast at the non award. It did seem an incredible decision.
Soon after Hull had another chance as the ball came across from the left and a flicked header from Keane hit the inside of the post and rolled across the line before being cleared. They won a corner and missed another great opportunity and a scramble saw the ball pin pall around before somehow being cleared. United had survived 3 big let offs in this spell and somehow remained in a game they had controlled for large parts in terms of ball retention but were conceding chances too easily at one end and not creating enough at the other end. Woodburn had a free kick opportunity but hit the wall after a foul right on the edge of the box.
United awoke and started to have a go themselves. Sharp had a chance blocked out and then Clarke fired over on the angle. Then Egan hit the underside of the bar with a chance that was as unfortunate for the home side as it was for the visitors when they hit the woodwork earlier. Basham and Fleck had entered the fray and United started to pin Hull back. Stevens had a cross shot that was ruled out for offside.
As the game entered the final quarter of an hour; the leveller came. Fleck hit a diagonal through ball and SHARP on the angle hit a great first-time volley that Marshall could not keep out despite getting a hand to it.
It was all United now and Clarke fired over after Basham pulled back and then Fleck fired over after the Blades broke away and Sharp had pulled the ball back amidst appeals for a penalty. Hull were now defending for their lives and United won a number of corners. In stoppage time; Basham somehow had an effort cleared off the line with the ref looking at his watch to signal no goal (was not even aware we had this technology at this level?) and then right on time Stevens had a shot that Marshall somehow tipped over. The game was to be decided by penalties with no extra time being used anymore for this competition. Clarke did something right and won the toss sending them to be taken to the empty Kop end rather than in front of the Hull fans and so it went like this….
United miss – Norwood: blazed horribly over
Hull score – Total. Chipped it on nonchalantly. Moore was on the floor already.
United score – Sharp. Blasted it top corner sending the keeper the wrong way
Hull score – Keane. Put it into the corner easily.
United score – Woodburn. Good penalty – sent the keeper the wrong way.
Hull score – Grosicki – this one was another one where Moore went way too early.
United score – O’Connell – confidently dispatched
Hull score – Milikovic – went in off the post. Thought he had missed at first but as precise as you can be.
United score – Basham. Sent the keeper the wrong way.
Hull score – Stewart. Rolled it in as Moore once again had already dived.
Hull win 5-4 on pens.
The celebrations were quite muted really. It did not seem that big of a deal to win for Hull. They barely rushed to the scorer or anything like that and United just kind of slumped off to signal another defeat. Winning is a habit though and Hull will be delighted to get their first one of the season where as United are still looking for theirs at home.
