United 2 Brighton 5 - report

[Deadbat_DB]

The Blades FA Cup journey ended on Saturday afternoon as an excellent Brighton side scored 5 goals on the road to move into the 5th round. After trailing by two goals, United fought back to level at the half but the Seagulls took control second half with the excellent Joao Pedro scoring a hat trick. It was a difficult afternoon for new goalkeeper Ivo Grbic but he was given little protection as a porous defence once again shipped a hatful. United did have chances the other way and there was a conscious effort to get men forward and try and have a go but the away side were simply too good with intricate, quick passing, fast and strong players on a different level.



Chris Wilder has improved the United side and they are at least ‘in games’ for periods but the reality is that individually and collectively they are just completely overmatched at this level against players who are quicker in thought and execution. In key areas, the Blades make poor decisions and opponents are more ruthless and clinical.



Wilder opted to give new keeper Grbic his debut only days after arriving into the county and brought back veterans Osborn and Norwood into midfield. Cameron Archer also returned and Norrington Davies started at left back as he continued his return from injury. Slimane and Larouci were back from disappointing African Nations Cup campaigns as their countries had exited with neither player making much impact. United lined up with what appeared to be a 4-3-3 with Osula started wide on the left and Archer down the middle.



Brighton started with Pedro and Evan Ferguson at the top of the field and their bench strength was evident with veterans Dunk, Milner, Lallana and Welbeck all waiting in reserve if needed.



Bramall Lane only seemed just over half full as Brighton kicked away from their sold out away but it was the home team who started well and twice nearly profited from the visitors overplaying as they tried to play it out from the back. United won an early corner and Brereton Diaz looked to make inroads down the left. However, despite an encouraging start, Brighton were soon able to beat the press and get into good areas. They thought they had taken the lead when Hinshelwood was given too much space to centre and Ferguson powered his header home but the offside flag was put up after the frustrating delay – for the original ball out wide. Norwood picked up a booking for an early foul as referee Gill wanted to make his presence felt.



Brighton had started to control the game and United were struggling to deal with the sharp passing and movement as they found gaps and from one such move, they took the lead. However, this was due to some brilliant individual play. BUONANOTTE received the ball and went past both Osborn and Norwood too easily before unleashing a superb striker that flew into the goal. New keeper Grbic got fingers on it but the power was too much and within a quarter of an hour he was already retrieving the ball from his own net.



United had a chance to level not long after as Osborn’s ball was perfectly weighted for Osula but the young striker could not sort his feet out and the chance went before Hamer’s shot was blocked in the ensuant phase of play. United did get into some good areas but were often not able to make the right choices or mis controlled at key moments whilst at the other end, the touch was more assured and careful leading to clearer opportunities. Further frustrations were arising from the crowd as Buonanotte and Gilmour both were given free kicks for minimal contract. The second goal came with some more incisive football and as the ball was played into PEDRO, he flicked it round the corner deceiving Ahmedhodzic and Bogle and the latter clipped his heels. The striker went down and it may have seemed soft but was a clear penalty and the referee sure enough pointed to the spot. The Brazilian took it and rolled it home sending Grbic the wrong way and doubled the Albion lead.



The next spell saw Brighton play keep ball for a period and despite Osula trying to work hard at the top of the field, the Blades were relying on the direct ball for any chance to get up the field. Brighton often played the ball out from the back but two or three quick passes down the middle that beat the press saw them in the United third. It was much harder for the Blades to get up the pitch but the direct route paid dividends when Bogle’s through ball had Osula away as the flag stayed down. The young striker sprinted down the right and his cross was intended for Brereton Diaz but keeper Verbruggen got a hand to it but only pushed it to HAMER and the midfielder smashed home. There was a long check from VAR for offside but eventually after what seemed an eternity the goal was allowed to stand.



There was to be an additional 8 minutes, much of it due to this delay on the goal and United used this extra time to complete the turnaround. It was the best football the Blades played of the half as they moved it around patiently with Archer, Hamer and then Bogle involved and the latter sent over an inviting cross which OSULA nodded home. Once again there was a long check for offside before the confirmation of the goal which continued an excellent FA Cup run for the Danish striker. It completed a remarkable turnaround in which after starting well, United had struggled for much of the half with the quality of Brighton but now were level going into the break.



The hard work to get back into the game was undone early into the second half as Brighton were able to work the ball around and after Hamer failed to clear, the error was compounded when United failed to make a tackle. The ball was sent over and Bogle inexplicable jumped with his hand aloft and the ball clearly struck it and once again seemed an easy decision. Bogle had enjoyed some good moments but had given away two penalties! PEDRO scored with aplomb again as Grbic was sent the wrong way, again.



United had a superb chance to level, in a really open game as Archer broke and moved it onto Brereton Diaz whose clever ball found the onrushing Bogle but he could not make amends for his mistakes and his shot deflected wide. The Blades continued to battle hard but the way Brighton moved out of tight areas to get up the field at pace was impressive.



Larouci came on for Norrington Davies before a triple sub saw Brooks, McAtee and McBurnie come on for Osborn, Brereton Diaz and Osula. Brighton also made changes with Welbeck replacing Ferguson and Dunk for dos Santos.



The game was effectively ended as a contest when more neat football saw the ball played inside for PEDRO and as Norwood and Ahmedhodzic stood off, he moved forward and drilled a shot past Grbic who was beaten again from range. It was a hat trick for the Brazilian striker who had been the best player on the field by some distance.



Lamptey and Lallana entered in a double change for the away side for Hinshelwood and Buonanotte before Souza came on for Hamer in United’s final change. Trusty headed wide from a Norwood corner and United tried to at least find a final flurry but Brighton continued to look dangerous when they broke. This was shown in stoppage time as Brooks header flicked into the path of WELBECK who got away from Larouci too easily and hit a shot from the angle that Grbic somehow could not keep out and it squirted into the corner. It ended a miserable afternoon for the home side who were denied a consolation when McAtee’s excellent long-range shot hit the underside of the bar.

 

[Deadbat_DB]

United – Today really saw the reality of where we are at against sides at this level. I thought we did quite well in some aspects of the game, attacking wise at least and did have a go and did not sit back and just wait to get beat. We had a fair few chances, corners and moments and did score two goals and had other chances. Weirdly we had as many chances, more corners and did have some moments where we caused them problems. However, in vital moments and key areas of the pitch we proved our limitations and actually in general play for much of the contest they looked superior. The technique, touch and passing they showed was on a different level to us. We simply could not live with the sharp movement and clever interplay. They get it in their last third and after a sloppy start, they were so confident they could get out and do it to ensure they had men over once they beat the press. All their players pretty much seemed so much better on the ball, even defenders and the keeper! That is the difference. It takes us an eternity to get up the field or we have to go long and feed off scraps. Brighton moved it with three or four crisps passes, picked us off and were suddenly in the final third. They were on a different level and the speed of thought (like a snooker playing thinking of the next shot 3 or 4 down the line, they did this with the passing and how they got to certain areas).



As I say I think United did about as well as they could do in certain aspects. We worked hard in areas of the field and tried to support when we got up the field but we let ourselves down by poor touches/decisions and then ultimately lack the quality at both areas of the pitch. The midfield of Norwood and Osborn is nowhere near good enough and this was in evidence much of the game. They created little (other than the one Osborn ball) and offered no protection for a hapless defence and goalkeeper on debut- even if some of the goals gave him no chance – he did not save anything! We struggle with the movement and passing as teams go down the middle and find gaps (the midfield and defence cannot cope with this passing and interplay). In contrast we seem obsessed with going down the wings and seem almost allergic to trying to take it on the turn in the middle and go down the centre where you often have as much space and of course are then closer to the goal being in the central areas. It is like we are conditioned to go wide.



We started the game quite well and were energetic and caused some errors from the Brighton defence. However, after the first 5 minutes, they started to take over and their good football was clear as we started to chase shadows. The first goal is superb but nobody closed him down at all. The second is great skill as we are completely static and like last week, another stupid challenge. You sensed that was it but credit to United and the mentality. I am not sure a few months ago under Heckingbottom we would have fought back and may have gone under but scored two goals – the second was a good one and well made. I felt Osula worked hard and Brereton Diaz did ok again with Hamer showing bits and pieces too.



All the good work was thrown away by poor defending – could have cleared several times before the Bogle error (he does some stupid things and does not seem the cleverest of footballers) and they have the lead again. After this we did have another good chance but Bogle missed and then I am not sure we had many real chances till after the next Pedro goal where once again we stood off. We looked tired by the end and they could have had even more really if they had been more clinical when in good areas but looked a cut above us. They finished it with a 5th goal and that might have flattered them a touch but they were far better than us most of the game despite us having moments.



It is concerning that as good as Brighton were, they probably were not even in top gear and were missing a few quality players too. In contract, United did about as well as they could do and still got hammered. That shows where we are at and as much as Wilder has improved us and we saw flashes today we still got another going over and conceded 5 goals yet again (fourth time this season) and continue to ship goals and chances too easily. We are crying out for some leadership -granted no Robinson but not sure he offers the domination aerially and presence wise we need. We seem to need a big, imposing centre back as when the balls come in or forward teams win crosses or first balls too easily. That coupled with awful marking and lack of concentration sees teams score goals too easily. I thought the two centre backs struggled massively with the movement and skill of the Brighton players although the lack of protection from the midfield who were exposed badly was to the fore again.

 

[Deadbat_DB]

Ratings:



Grbic 3/10 – It was a disappointing start for the keeper as he conceded 5 goals on debut (Aiden Davison only keeper I can recall doing that – came on at Man City for Simon Tracey in a 6-0 defeat in 1999-00 I think?) and whilst had little chance with most, he made an error on the five and looked quite static on shots, not making a single save all game! He did look ok with his feet in general play other than one kick to them but did not have the booming long kick I would hope (only just got to half way on some from his hands/dead balls) yet we cannot assess him with his hands as he has not used them (well did drop his first touch). Not the easiest of starts and must wonder what he has come into. The first did not go right into the top corner and gets a hand on it but not sure he can be blamed. Then there are two penalties (he does commit very early on both) and then the fourth he seemed a bit leaded footed but maybe that is harsh? The fifth is poor. It is one game but not the most auspicious of starts. A lot will go over the top and say after one game he is awful, which is ridiculous as he was left badly exposed – however it was not the best of starts we can agree on that!





Bogle 4/10 – Weird one to mark as in general play he was quite decent and had a few good runs, got stuck in, used it well at times and one of our better attacking threats. Set up the second and involved in the first. Also had the chance at 2-2 when he maybe should do better. He is probably more a 6/10 BUT…he made some mistakes defensively too where they got beyond him and of course he conceded two stupid penalties too. Both means his mark goes down dramatically. The first is sloppy and then the second no idea what he is doing? He does have a penchant for giving away stupid fouls and penalties. He has improved under Wilder but his tendency to do daft things continues.



Norrington Davies 4.5/10 – Not loads of mistakes on the ball but rarely had the ball and thought he was too far off his man at times. He seemed to struggle with the pace of the game at times which was understandable. As I say, nothing awful but just not quite close enough to the winger and at times he was not switched on. Going forward did not really see anything of him as he barely got over halfway.



Ahmedhodzic 4.5/10 – Another patchy game. He did ok when on Ferguson but when Pedro switched or he had to deal with runners struggled. We look physically weak and our defence simply did not impose themselves on the Brighton forwards at all. They looked like getting through when they had it. He did ok when on the ball and we saw some runs forward and he used it quite well when he had it but ultimately defensively he is showing his limitations where players at this level just seem too strong/quick for him. The Pedro penalty he lost him, as well as Bogle.



Trusty 3.5/10 – I remain unconvinced by him. So far he has at best looked very average but today showed his limitations badly. He struggles with movement/pace and also when the balls comes in I rarely see him get up and win headers or impose. He is not that quick or strong (at least at this level) and he switches off and loses his man at key times. Another where it seems the level is just too much for him. We essentially signed him from a team in the bottom half of the Championship (granted did well there) and it is showing – if you took away he was from Arsenal, I think a lot of fans would be questioning this signing. At the end of the day the centre half needs to impose and clear balls/make tackles and stop the strikers having free shots/runs. Not sure he does any of that? On the ball he is woeful, he sliced and miscued countless balls when he was under little pressure and comparing him to the Brighton centre backs was a worry as they seemed so composed in contract.



Norwood 3/10 – Our worst player for me. He stood motionless much of the game, pointing at opponents and failed to pick his men up time after time. Many of their chances/good play came from them simply passing it or running through the middle of the field too easily. The first goal his challenges is barely an apology and he repeated this time after time. On the ball he took too long to do things and played passes out wide or behind that slowed things down. His set plays were poor too (one good one to Trusty). Got booked for a poor tackle early on. He has been a fantastic player for us but today showed he is just not up the speed of thought, movement, and physicality of the players he is up against.



Osborn 3.5/10 – Played one great ball to Osula and then did a nice bit of skill down the left second half but outside of this, he looked well out of his depth. Slow, weak, and limited on the ball. He was left for dead so many times as players just swatted him away. Just nowhere near this level and remarkable he is even playing. He would not get in most Championship sides in my opinion. He is a nice lad but should never have been given a new contract. It was hard to watch him and Norwood just get picked off and ran through so easily.



Hamer 5.5/10 – Another game where we saw some good things mixed with some poor things. He got into good areas and scored one and nearly had another and was always looking to be on the end of things showing his attacking instincts. Tried to pass it forward too and was involved in the second. However, he is another that shies away from tackles and offers no protection for defence. As a midfielder he has to do much more the other way and opponents come away and get into our third too easily. The third goal his clearance was awful – he had miskicked one first half too. He clearly has some talent but drifts in and out of games and still needs to do more. Today he was one of our better players but still nowhere near the level of Brighton’s midfield. That sums it up.



Archer 4.5/10 – Disappointing again. He has showed flashes this season but I expected much more from him and another signing that is very much in the ‘meh’ category. A lot will be made of the position he was in but I thought he had started down the middle with Osula wide and did have a fair bit of the pitch centrally. He was guilty of not getting his head up when he had it. Was involved in a few decent moves with passes that helped then lead to chances (2nd goal and then the Bogle chance). His body language at times seems poor to me and he does not always work hard enough. Needs to do much more. Too much is being made of positions of players but good footballers who want to make a difference stand out no matter what. I keep hearing he is a finisher but we are not going to create tons of chances and need our strikers to hold the ball up/do the link play. He does not offer much in that regard so seems a pointless signing? I do think in a few weeks, we need to be taking him out. He is not going to be here next season so we need to start planning with those that are here – that is what makes the BBD signing even more bizarre – as decent as he has been – he is not going to be coming here permanently either?



Osula 6/10 – Worked really hard and at least tried to hold it and bring others into play. He made some decent runs down the sides and eventually one led to the first goal. He took his header well too. He does at times not always look up or panic when he gets into good areas. The chance at 0-1, he has to show more composure and we have seen this before we he sort of gets his feet tangled up. He continued to put good effort in. Granted some of his decision making is not the best but I love his enthusiasm and can see why Wilder likes him.



Brereton Diaz 6/10 – Another decent showing where he kept it simple, looked to get on it and came inside with some driving runs. Had a few shots blocked and his runs led to space for others. He has definitely given us something else that we did not have. Looked tired again and had to come off around the hour mark.

 

[Deadbat_DB]

Subs –



Larouci 4/10 – Couple of runs down the left and good link play early but then struggled towards the end as we they had breaks down this side. He was badly at fault, along with Grbic, for the fifth goal as Welbeck got away too easily from him.



McAtee 5/10 – A few neat touches and he did get down the left and at least move us up the field even if he got crowded out. Lost it a few times when he could have moved it on and took too long to get one shot away. Great effort when he hit the bar right at the end.



Brooks 4.5/10 – Struggled to get into the game. One decent touch after he lost the original ball but they were just too good in midfield. We were chasing shadows for spells. His errant header led to the fifth goal.



McBurnie 4/10 – Not really in the game and looked woefully unfit – is he still carrying an injury? He got involved with van Hecke, catching him – he did playact after though and then seemed like he wanted to have a running battle with him rather than impacting the game. Seems like he is now a sub/bit part player with others being preferred or he is not fit? Maybe like Foderingham, Wilder is waiting to see if he signs a new contact – assuming we have offered him one – before giving him starts?



Souza – Did not have long but improved the middle of the pitch by at least putting in some tackles and having some presence. He is not amazing but has improved since Wilder came in and offers much more than those that started the game.





Manager: Wilder 4/10 – We had a go and there were good moments in an exciting game. It’s hard to criticise and say we were too open because we tried to defend/keep it tight under Heckingbottom and got hammered! At least we are having attacks and scoring goals but still are shipping goals. We are conceding tons of goals and to let in five goals on four occasions – when only half way through the season – shows we are just not at the level of these teams. A lot has been made of Foderingham and now a lot will be made of the defence – but it’s as a team we are not good enough. The keeper has made mistakes, but so has the defence and the midfield does not stop the ball coming into our third or shots coming in. The strikers do not keep the ball at the top of the pitch either. Overall, we are just a long way off teams like Brighton individually and collectively. At least we are making games more of a contest and are having a go but ultimately we are realising that the manager can improve us but we are still getting hammered or losing routinely to the better teams.



The side that he picked did not work with Osborn and Norwood in midfield. We got overrun and out footballed in this key area and this put pressure on the defence and a keeper on debut. Not sure picking Grbic was the right move. It seems like he wanted to make a point to Foderingham more than the right thing for the team as now we have a keeper whose confidence will be dented and puts him under pressure instantly. No idea where Davies is these days? It seems Wilder wants rid of all the keepers out of contract from his words but we have lots of others playing who also might not be resigned? Seems there has been a fall out reading between the lines. He does seem to keep switching the formation and shape but it matters little if we lack footballers who can keep the ball or who can stop teams running through us, we will keep losing most games.



Brighton – They started sloppily and lost the ball a few times but kept sticking to their principles, passing it out from the back, trying to beat the press and then moving through the thirds at pace. The way they passed it three or four times and were in was a stark difference to us who took an age to get it in similar areas. They were not great at the back and did concede chances and coughed up a lead very quickly with poor marking and trying to play the offside trap. However, in general play they were far superior and not even sure they were at top speed. The whole team looked so comfortable on the ball and the way they manoeuvred it round was impressive. Every player is happy to receive it and then will turn out of tight areas and move it forward. They are positive and do not worry about making errors. They scored some good individual goals and Pedro was superb and too strong, quick, and skilled but it was just all over the field they seemed better. As I say I think they can play better too which is worrying for the league game! Just on a different level as a team and a club to us which is hard to type.





Opponent Man of the Match –Pedro. Scored a hat trick with a great shot and two cool penalties – one he made with superb individual skill. He was always involved in the game and came off the front and we could not pick him up. Gross and Gilmour were excellent in midfield but the lad Buonanotte, although frustrating as he dived a lot, was a real livewire too. As I say even the defenders look good on the ball.



Opponent Weak link – Ferguson had one disallowed but was quiet apart from that. Van Hecke struggled a bit with Osula and tried to feign injury after he clashed with McBurnie. Suppose the keeper made the mistake on the goal so might take this award.



Referee/Officials – Sukhvir Gill is a rarity in that he is a British South Asian referee. His Dad was a ref back in the 80’s/90’s. Wilder was quite critical after the game feeling he is another referee that has been promoted up the leagues and we were being used as test case but this was the FA Cup so it is not always going to be just Premier League referees unless he was being tested for the higher level as Wilder implied? He did not impress. Not helped by two ridiculously long VAR checks and inconsistent use of flagging (sometimes they waited and other times they raised it quicker?), he struggled and he made some baffling decisions. Early on he booked Norwood and also later booked Hamer but let similar things go the other way. The main criticism was him falling for several ridiculous bits of playacting from Brighton. I thought Pedro, Gilmour, van Hecke and particularly Buonanotte were throwing themselves to ground from minimal contact and he bought most of them or were trying to get United players booked. Yet, when players for us went down he played on! He was way behind play at times and I also thought he seemed to want to get too involved in things. He was very fussy and the sure sign of him having a bad day is when you notice him too much. He made some baffling decisions all day and wanted to stand out I felt. It was like it was his big day! Was there any big decisions he got wrong – probably not but that does not mean he had a good game. We lost fair and square and at times fans seem to direct their ire at the official and can be a bit desperate – which I felt was the case at times today – but I still will reflect and say he was poor.



Matchday/Crowd/Coverage – Only 18,000 in the ground and the Kop was quite sparse. Brighton fans travelled in decent numbers and will have enjoyed their day. I thought it was flat despite lots of goals and most of the frustration seemed to be at the officials which again seemed a bit desperate – as poor as they were. By the end many had drifted off long before full time after another heavy defeat. The season is now slipping away and as they said on Match of the Day, unless we put together 3 or 4 results in a row now, then we are going to be down this time in a month.

 

[Peak Rover]

Agree with that in fact I thought I may have written it.

 

[Dave Burgess]

Az in the old Hot Chocolate toon, "I believe in miracles!" and we are deffo going to need one!

 

[Chips1889]

Trusty our worst player for me.

 

[Dave Burgess]

Everything crossed that by some miracle we can stay up, but realistically if we are out of our depth in the Prem, and we,re not the only one! Better to face the facts, regroup and be an excellent Championship team, feeling happier winning games and pushing hard for promotion with matchday much better to look forward to and the Guinness tasting even better. Before the start of the gradual slide from grace under Furphy, Happy Harry Haslam, Jimmy The Squirrel Sirrel, Porterfield and Martin Peters. The Blades had the envious record of never finishing lower than 11th in the old 2nd Division, not a bad record for a team dating back to 1889. Ironic really that the slide began after the opening of the stand that replaced the famous old Cricket pitch. Could be that the Cricketing Gods were deffo not amused!