Deadbat_DB
Vital Squad Member
The Blades got back to winning ways after a dramatic victory over Preston North End at Bramall Lane meaning it has been a defeat, a draw and a victory in a week. It has been a real mixed bag of performances for United. Today; the home side improved from the really disappointing performance against Birmingham and edged in front in a largely eventless first half with a Billy Sharp’s poachers’ goal. An extremely negative Preston side offered little to nothing in reply and it was quite comfortable for United even if they did not create hatful of chances. The second half saw a superb Chris Basham flicked header from a text book Olly Norwood delivery and that seemed to be it. United looked in complete control. Two goals out of nowhere after a strange tactical change saw Preston suddenly level and it looked like a complete throwaway. Undeterred, United came again and thanks to a superb Enda Stevens run and cross, the excellent McGoldrick turned home what proved to the winner. A really exciting end to a game that should have been seen out long before the late drama but ultimately the outcome was still the same for the relieved home side.
Wilder went back to the side that started against Villa with both wing backs restored and McGoldrick and Sharp back in the side. Preston came into the game after being smashed at Leeds in the week and had experienced a really touch start to the season after an impressive season last campaign.
The traffic around Bramall Lane and the city in general due to students arriving; meant a high proportion of fans were delayed getting to the ground and some missed the kick off. Indeed, Preston only arrived with just over an hour to go before kick-off.
The home side started on top and kept the ball well with Norwood and Duffy involved and McGoldrick looking busy. The two wing backs were getting forward and the play was already at a higher tempo than in the week even if the chances were not arriving early on. Preston were playing a very negative formation and approach and often had 10 men behind the ball. Maxwell was timewasting from the start which seemed an odd approach for a side that needed a win to get away from the bottom echelons of the table.
Duffy tried to play Fleck in and then Sharp was crowded out and United tried to probe but there was little space to get in and once again the play seemed to slow down and it became a frustrating spell. One chance came when Fleck fed Basham and his cross was met by McGoldrick but Huntington nodded his effort away. Freeman then put over a deep cross which the same player met but powered wide. Preston had offered little in reply other than a few aimless long-range shots. Although Egan made a superb tackle to deny Preston after Basham had lost the ball for the second time in quick succession.
United took over possession again with Norwood looking to get on the ball and find openings although Duffy lost his footing when in a good position and then had a shot blocked not long after.
United were able to nose in front just after the half hour. Freeman played a delightful ball behind the full back and McGoldrick beat the offside trap and cut in towards goal. His chipped effort was half parried away but only into the path of the waiting SHARP and from a few yards out the prolific striker could not miss and he tucked it away easily.
Stevens then sent a cross over that McGoldrick stretched for and headed wide as the striker continued to dominate over the centre backs. Preston had a rare break and United were at full stretch and Fisher had a shot that was blocked by O’Connell and then Egan again also got a good block in. The half time whistle came not long after.
The second half and the Blades remained in the ascendancy and started to force Preston back who oddly were still not coming out even with a deficit. United won a free kick on the right-hand side and from it, Norwood hit a superb angled and hard delivery that BASHAM flicked brilliantly on its way and right into the top corner. He celebrated his first goal of the season jubilantly in front of the Kop as United doubled their advantage.
United looked to put the game to bed and good work from Duffy fed in McGoldrick but his finish was not the best and he dragged it wide on the angle with only the keeper to beat. Preston had their first effort of the half when Clarke headed goalward but it was relatively easy for Henderson. Preston had a spell but were not really creating and United were keeping a solid enough line. Johnson started to cause some problems and finally they got between the lines on a few occasions but they were wasteful with the final ball when they got into some better positions.
Wilder took off Sharp to be replaced by Johnson and saw a change to the formation. This did seem odd in a game United were controlling. Whilst Preston had started to have a spell they had not really threatened. This change actually contrived to change the game and Preston had more of the ball and were now winning midfield and finding much more space. However, they still had created little. Still, the different formation did seem to throw United out of kilter. This coupled with United sitting back and not filling holes in the middle and pockets in front of the defence saw Preston edge back into the game.
Still, the goal came rather out of the blue when too they were afforded too much time to move it to the left after run through the middle. This led to an unopposed cross came over and an unmarked Johnson fired home as Egan lost him in the middle. If they had not scored at this point and a further few minutes had ticked away; the game would have been won but this suddenly buoyed the visitors and they came again. This time down the other side as after a shot was blocked, Hughes cross with Freeman too far off his man, was turned in by sub Johnson via a deflection. Ironically, replays showed it would have gone wide if it had not hit O’Connell. Suddenly, the game was turned on its head. United were stunned. They had looked relatively comfortable but bang, bang and it was level. They were now less than 10 minutes to play and Preston now would have fancied an incredible win.
United went quickly back to a more familiar formation after the tactical tweak had not worked at all.
It was the home side that scored the 5th goal of the game. Patient play saw Johnson find Stevens and he surged forward and past a defender before coming inside and sending over a perfect cross that MCGOLDRICK could not miss. It was a much-deserved goal for the striker who had played really well all afternoon without his reward until this point. Dean Henderson’s passion was summed up as he raced to celebrate with the South Stand jumping into the fans.
There was still a couple of minutes of normal time and then 6 minutes of stoppage time which drew groans from the home crowd. Admittedly there has been a number of subs (5 and then a further for United as Stearman came on for McGoldrick after the board had gone up) and goals but it seemed excessive. Most of the time wasting from Preston had come in the first half.
Preston continued to have a go at getting something and Henderson had to show his handling twice. Preston hit a number of balls and long throws in but did not create any more clear-cut chances. Johnson saw some time out in the corner for the Blades before Henderson took one final ball as the referee finally blew for full time 7 minutes 4 seconds after the board for 6 minutes went up!
Wilder went back to the side that started against Villa with both wing backs restored and McGoldrick and Sharp back in the side. Preston came into the game after being smashed at Leeds in the week and had experienced a really touch start to the season after an impressive season last campaign.
The traffic around Bramall Lane and the city in general due to students arriving; meant a high proportion of fans were delayed getting to the ground and some missed the kick off. Indeed, Preston only arrived with just over an hour to go before kick-off.
The home side started on top and kept the ball well with Norwood and Duffy involved and McGoldrick looking busy. The two wing backs were getting forward and the play was already at a higher tempo than in the week even if the chances were not arriving early on. Preston were playing a very negative formation and approach and often had 10 men behind the ball. Maxwell was timewasting from the start which seemed an odd approach for a side that needed a win to get away from the bottom echelons of the table.
Duffy tried to play Fleck in and then Sharp was crowded out and United tried to probe but there was little space to get in and once again the play seemed to slow down and it became a frustrating spell. One chance came when Fleck fed Basham and his cross was met by McGoldrick but Huntington nodded his effort away. Freeman then put over a deep cross which the same player met but powered wide. Preston had offered little in reply other than a few aimless long-range shots. Although Egan made a superb tackle to deny Preston after Basham had lost the ball for the second time in quick succession.
United took over possession again with Norwood looking to get on the ball and find openings although Duffy lost his footing when in a good position and then had a shot blocked not long after.
United were able to nose in front just after the half hour. Freeman played a delightful ball behind the full back and McGoldrick beat the offside trap and cut in towards goal. His chipped effort was half parried away but only into the path of the waiting SHARP and from a few yards out the prolific striker could not miss and he tucked it away easily.
Stevens then sent a cross over that McGoldrick stretched for and headed wide as the striker continued to dominate over the centre backs. Preston had a rare break and United were at full stretch and Fisher had a shot that was blocked by O’Connell and then Egan again also got a good block in. The half time whistle came not long after.
The second half and the Blades remained in the ascendancy and started to force Preston back who oddly were still not coming out even with a deficit. United won a free kick on the right-hand side and from it, Norwood hit a superb angled and hard delivery that BASHAM flicked brilliantly on its way and right into the top corner. He celebrated his first goal of the season jubilantly in front of the Kop as United doubled their advantage.
United looked to put the game to bed and good work from Duffy fed in McGoldrick but his finish was not the best and he dragged it wide on the angle with only the keeper to beat. Preston had their first effort of the half when Clarke headed goalward but it was relatively easy for Henderson. Preston had a spell but were not really creating and United were keeping a solid enough line. Johnson started to cause some problems and finally they got between the lines on a few occasions but they were wasteful with the final ball when they got into some better positions.
Wilder took off Sharp to be replaced by Johnson and saw a change to the formation. This did seem odd in a game United were controlling. Whilst Preston had started to have a spell they had not really threatened. This change actually contrived to change the game and Preston had more of the ball and were now winning midfield and finding much more space. However, they still had created little. Still, the different formation did seem to throw United out of kilter. This coupled with United sitting back and not filling holes in the middle and pockets in front of the defence saw Preston edge back into the game.
Still, the goal came rather out of the blue when too they were afforded too much time to move it to the left after run through the middle. This led to an unopposed cross came over and an unmarked Johnson fired home as Egan lost him in the middle. If they had not scored at this point and a further few minutes had ticked away; the game would have been won but this suddenly buoyed the visitors and they came again. This time down the other side as after a shot was blocked, Hughes cross with Freeman too far off his man, was turned in by sub Johnson via a deflection. Ironically, replays showed it would have gone wide if it had not hit O’Connell. Suddenly, the game was turned on its head. United were stunned. They had looked relatively comfortable but bang, bang and it was level. They were now less than 10 minutes to play and Preston now would have fancied an incredible win.
United went quickly back to a more familiar formation after the tactical tweak had not worked at all.
It was the home side that scored the 5th goal of the game. Patient play saw Johnson find Stevens and he surged forward and past a defender before coming inside and sending over a perfect cross that MCGOLDRICK could not miss. It was a much-deserved goal for the striker who had played really well all afternoon without his reward until this point. Dean Henderson’s passion was summed up as he raced to celebrate with the South Stand jumping into the fans.
There was still a couple of minutes of normal time and then 6 minutes of stoppage time which drew groans from the home crowd. Admittedly there has been a number of subs (5 and then a further for United as Stearman came on for McGoldrick after the board had gone up) and goals but it seemed excessive. Most of the time wasting from Preston had come in the first half.
Preston continued to have a go at getting something and Henderson had to show his handling twice. Preston hit a number of balls and long throws in but did not create any more clear-cut chances. Johnson saw some time out in the corner for the Blades before Henderson took one final ball as the referee finally blew for full time 7 minutes 4 seconds after the board for 6 minutes went up!