Post by deadbat on Jan 26, 2019 19:07:40 GMT
It was definitely a case of a point gained for United as they drew at 2nd placed Norwich City. The home side will maintain a three-point gap and be pleased to remain in the automatic places but United fought back twice and after a poor start where Norwich could have scored more, the away side grew into the game. Second half, United had the better of the play and Norwich scored against the run of play. United had further chances, got back level and in the end merited a point.
Manager Wilder sprang two surprises when he named Madine and Dowell in his starting line up in place of McGoldrick and Duffy. There was no place on the bench for Clarke with Washington getting the nod.
The game started with the home side on top. Basham missed a header and Baldock needlessly fouled Hernandez. The free kick was half cleared but Stieperman hit a fierce shot that Henderson had to push away. It may have been going wide but he had to make sure. Soon after United had their first attack as Dowell came out on a run but his final ball was a poor one and gave Baldock little chance. Madine then played a good ball into Sharp but his first touch was not sound and the ball was cleared. Norwich were back on the attack and Stevens gave away a corner when he failed to deliver a diagonal ball. Two further corners came to the home side as they applied a lot of early pressure.
Norwich were controlling things and the first 15 minutes they showed why they have been scoring so many goals as quick, incisive football saw them get through United. One move was cleared away but then soon after the opening goal came. Lovely football saw the ball played quickly through but there was little pressure on the ball and Pukki’s pass saw HERNANDEZ slipped it under Henderson. It was a lovely goal and cool finish but really poor defending from all over the field and the defence given little protection. Baldock will have been disappointed to have lost his man.
Norwich were really flying now and Stieperman ran through but Egan got across to block. Norwich then won another corner after Hernandez teased Baldock again. The corner came over and Vranjic headed wide. Norwood the gave it away before Fleck also knocked it out of play as United’s midfield carried on from last week giving the ball away and allowing quick midfield runners to advance with the ball. This was putting United’s defence under all sort of pressure.
Dowell had looked lively but his end product had been poor and he badly sliced a shot wide in a rare United break out on 22 minutes. United’s first effort in a dominant performance from the home side. Baldock then got forward but his cross was poor. United then had a series of half efforts after a corner was not cleared. O’Connell then got forward for the first time and his low deliberate cross was perfect for Madine who rather telegraphed his shot and it was blocked. A decent chance though. United were having a better spell but Madine was rather looking for a penalty on 35 minutes as he went down under minimal contact.
Norwich then had another decent spell after the 10-minute improvement from United and the runners from midfield came again. Dowell was slow and gave it away. Buendia got forward and played a lovely one two and Henderson had to make a great save from point blank range to prevent it being 2-0. Fleck then gave it away under no pressure and City came again. Stiepermann had another great run and weaved past 3 men with no challenge whatsoever before Egan got in just before he was about to pull the trigger.
3 minutes of added time was signalled after a couple of stoppages and United were able to get level in the final minute. Stevens burst down the wing from Fleck’s cross and was stupidly pushed over by Buendia. It was an easy award despite the appeals and a ridiculous foul. After Krul was booked for some poor gamesmanship, SHARP had to re-spot the ball but fired past the penalty expert to make it 1-1 at the break. His celebration bizarrely involved a sock puppet and George Baldock!
The second half was the exact opposite to the first half with United beginning strongly. They won an early corner which Fleck sent over and Egan headed back into the danger area. Sharp with his back to goal pulled it headed it up and it clipped the bar. It was a decent effort. United won another corner and Egan headed over. The away side definitely had the initiative. Lovely football soon after saw Sharp play in Norwood who moved it across to Fleck. The midfielder’s shot was an attempted curler but went well wide. He should have done better.
Basham then got on the overlap but his cross was too long. It was much better from United who had been 2nd best for long spells in the first half. Norwood gave it away and then Dowell committed a silly foul which gave Norwich some respite. Not long after against the run of play, the home side went back in front.
It was another superb move as they cut United open – the time they moved it from the left to the right and maybe aided by a slight nick on the ball as it came over to the right side, the cross from Aarons picked out PUKKI who flicked it superbly into the far corner giving Henderson no chance. Once again United had not been tight enough and failure to press the ball or stop the final ball/cross was costly. Egan maybe could have been tighter but it was a superb strike by the man known as the Finn-isher.
The Blades came back again and Madine who had played well had a long range shot that Krul had to palm away. The corner came to nothing and then Fleck and Norwood gave it away in quick succession and United then struggled to keep the ball for a spell and Norwich were equally sloppy but would have been glad of a scrappy spell being in the lead.
Duffy and McGoldrick came on for Dowell and Madine and Duffy tried to get on it straight away but Sharp did not read his clever ball. Hernandez had been a handful and both he and Lewis caused Basham and Baldock issues with their trickery and pace. The corner was cleared and United came forward and Basham’s cross was headed over by Fleck.
Egan’s superb tackle saw Duffy onto the ball and he played it straight through for McGoldrick who took it first time and was well over when he was well placed and should have done better. Norwich then came in an end to end game but got crowded out as Stevens did well to get back. Trybull was booked for kicking it away and then Norwood’s diagonal ball from the free kick was hooked back by Baldock but again a poor final ball.
United kept going and another patient move saw the ball played to Baldock and then onto Duffy. He received it wide right and his cross was perfect for SHARP who did what he does best, peeled off his man and headed down and into the net past Krul. This time he shushed the Norwich fans as he ran away to celebrate the crucial leveller.
There was ten minutes to play and Basham was booked for a challenge on Pukki when the Norwich man seemed to have as much of the United’s player shirt as the other way around. A free kick seemed harsh let alone a yellow. The free kick was cleared and then Zimmeran was booked for a crude foul on Fleck and then Stiepermann pushed Sharp in the melee. The United man went down a bit theatrically but any time you raise your hands you are putting yourself in trouble and the referee by the letter of the law probably could have given the Norwich player a yellow card.
The free kick came over and after it came back across the box, McGoldrick was blocked out but the flag went up. With the game entering the final two minutes Norwich made a double change as Rhodes and Cantwell came on for Stieperman and Buerdia. United had a chance in the final minute as Duffy rolled it into Baldock whose low cross was flicked by McGoldrick but blocked by the Norwich defender It was a lovely move.
The game entered 5 minutes of stoppage time and would be longer as Stevens went down injured but United did well in this final period despite conceding a corner. Washington came on for Sharp and the final few moments Norwich pressed but the defence held firm and there was only one effort a shot miles over right at the death. The final whistle came after over 6 minutes were played. United’s players celebrated a hard-earned point with their 2,000 fans and now will go back to the Lane with a game against struggling Bolton and a chance to put pressure on the top two teams who play each other.
United – Do you know what I will definitely take that. First 20 minutes we were poor and they swarmed all over us. It looked like us at home as they passed it around us, got chances but unlike us they did score early and could have had more. They did pass it forward and through our midfield and with runners and like the 2nd half last week we struggled and the midfield in particular gave the defence no protection. I felt Madine did well off scraps and Dowell showed some early promise with no end product. They scored a good goal but no pressure on the ball at all. They then could have had a few more and we sat off and they found a way to exploit space. They won a lot of corner and the wide men were causing problems. Slowly we got back into it and had a few half chances but then they came again and had a good chance to make it 2-0. I was happy to just keep it at one after a poor first half but one where you have to credit the home side but we had the bonus of the penalty and got level.
2nd half was a different story. We started really well, hit the bar and had more of the ball and finally started to wrestle some control in midfield but then they scored a really good goal (poor from us as we did not press again) but we came again and had more chances and kept calm and got level. After this I fancied, we may nick it and had more half chances and McGoldrick a decent flicked effort. They of course had a bit of a surge at the end and won a corner and had a bit of territory but in the end a draw was a good result and we will move on.
It was a really good game. Norwich are one of the better teams we have played in terms of how they passed it, overloaded men forward, played through the thirds at speed and caused us issues with movement and one touch stuff. We kept in it and showed real resilience and then played some good stuff our of our own. I was pleased with United and showed we maybe can stay right up there with the frontrunners. I do wish we had a bit more belief and are waiting for things to happen too much. We need to be a bit more forceful and step things up 10-20% but then we won’t play many better sides than Norwich although tough trips to Villa, West Brom and Leeds await.
Interesting to see what happens this week as rumours abound of Clarke maybe moving out (we will do well to get anywhere near a million for a 33-year-old with a big-ish contract and if Bristol City or Hull are willing to pay that I would say thanks for great service and recognise that he has done his job but we have moved on now). I would like us to get that quick, striker up top (no offence to Washington) to compliment the other three. Dowell has to do more if he gets more minutes. We cannot wait 5 or 6 games before he gets up to speed and needs to quick up in thought and play. Overall though with 17 to play we are in third with a winnable (said that last year v Bolton) game that is tailor made for Madine to net his first Blades goal. We do need to play for full games as we have effectively put two halves together in two weeks and that is why we only have a point. Last week is more disappointing as we certainly should have taken something but today, we showed some real resilience. Normally United lose big games v promotion contenders (seem to in my lifetime anyway - in promotion races – League One v Bolton apart)
Norwich – They began at break neck speed, scored a great goal and after this I felt after this we had to just stay in the game. We were not great but Norwich were good and sometimes you have to just give credit to the opposition. Vrancic and Stiepermann were running at the United players and drawing men. Hernandez and Pukki were also threats. We struggled with their running and direct play (not direct in terms of hitting it long but direct as in running at us). They have some really clever players and like us lots of players who can move around the field and play in different areas – they do not stay to fixed positions. They don’t have an out and out striker, Pukki is furthest forward but he often comes back and allows others to move ahead of him.
They have pace and running and can play some lovely one touch football. The one thing they do better than us is play it quicker and move it forward and through teams more rather than side to side but you can do that with midfielders who can run – ours are more static and wait to receive rather than dribblers/runners. They always give you a chance as they commit men forward and at the back, they are not great at marking. I would say I think we have a better defence but they have more threats going forward. I don’t think our defence was awful but they were surging at us and our midfield did not help at all.
They scored the two best goals of the game (both superbly made and finished) and could have had a few more but second half we had nearly all the other efforts aside from the goals and in the end a draw was a fair result. I was concerned they may nick one especially when it went to 96 minutes as they normally do but they seemed to be equally aware of our threat and the best chance actually fell to McGoldrick in the 89th minutes. They will be in the top 6 as they score goals but I think like us they will miss the top two as they concede too many also. They also switch off at key periods for all the great football. Defensively they do ship goals and that might cost them but rather watch teams like them than drab defensive sides who shut up shop; whatever the state of the game.
I love the way they attack and throw bodies forward. It was a proper game today and two teams going for it. Little bit disappointed they went to ground a bit easy and at times we are too honest (the penalty was stupid and nothing to do with going to ground too easily). This leads to us having to defend lots of free kicks. Norwich do have some cute players but they also know when to go down. Overall, they have like us, surpassed expectations on budget (still have a squad and outlay much in excess of ours if you run through the match day squads) but fair play to them. Farke came across as a bit of an arse last year (as Wilder did to them for his rants) but both managers have got two teams playing expansive, attacking football and go for wins. Not sure why Farke called us physical. They had more bookings today and we are guilty of being too nice. Ridiculous statement really as was his Krul does not have one save to make – did he miss the Madine shot. We also hit the bar. He says we had no other chances – forgets the McGoldrick shot over; the flick also. 2nd half not sure they had a shot close outside of the goal. Admittedly, first half it was the other way but bizarre comments. He did admit a draw was a fair result amongst his other weird comments. For us to take 4 points off them is a really good achievement.
Opponent man of the match – Stiepermann was the best player on the pitch I felt. Big, athletic, mobile, dribbler, passer and can shoot. Looks to have the lot. Real talent but was around German (not big clubs first teams) and is 27 so obviously like many of United players found his role and niche. I felt Vranjic was decent too and of course Pukki. A bit of a McGoldrick type in that he comes off the front, picks it up and links. A real clever player. Hernandez caused us issues at the Lane and he did the same today with his pace although Baldock stuck to it after a tricky start.
Weak link – Anyone of the defenders. Stupid challenge by the lad Buendia on the penalty but I felt Sharp and Madine at times found space away from Zimmerman and Lewis etc. Zimmerman switches off at times and so it proved on the goal. Disappointing to see Krul be such an arse on the goal and glad to see Sharp score.
Henderson 7/10 – Got megged on the goal but right at point blank range and those are hard to stop as you either get your legs on it or you don’t. No chance on the 2nd as it was right in the corner. He made one save early on which was decent but maybe going wide anyway and then one-point blank really good save to keep it at 1-0. 2nd half not sure he had much to do really and Krul was the busier after it being the other way around first half.
Baldock 6.5/10 – Started game under pressure as the lad Hernandez ran at him and was direct with his pace and trickery. Gave away a few cheap fouls and then lost him as he ran off him on the goal (felt it was others fault more for not closing earlier in the move). He improved as the game went on and even though Hernandez caused him some problems, he stuck to his task. He got forward well but only one decent cross and too often his final bit was poor or he took too long. He needs to really work on this aspect of his game as he gets in such good positions.
Stevens 7/10 – First half hour he struggled a bit and gave away a few corners/fouls as they were on top. He also took too long when he got forward and had lots of chances to cross but opted to play it on again or take another touch. He of course won the penalty with a great run and drew the stupid push. 2nd half he was much better and came onto the ball and was able to show more attacking play and was higher up the field. The goal he was not tight on his man but like with Baldock on the first I felt others let him down as the ball was moved about and we got stretched.
Egan 8/10 – Thought he was our best defender. He maybe will be a bit disappointed Pukki got off him on the goal and found a yard but it was great skill and we had got pulled around before this so hard for him to pick his man up as they moved it around. Outside of this thought he was excellent. He won some crunching tackles (a few he overran in the first place) and I think one great challenge led to the 2nd goal. A few times near the end stood up and showed his commitment as he won balls he should not have won really.
O’Connell 7/10 – Solid performance. Like the rest was in bother at the start as they ran at us and had to stay in shape to keep us in the game but gradually came out and put in one good cross for Madine. Second half he was solid and won headers and cleared it and played higher up the pitch and was sound in most aspects of his play.
Basham 7/10 – All action display as per normal although he was a bit clumsy at times today. Not doubting his commitment as he shows as always but he overran it a few times or made poor choices. He, like Baldock, gets in great areas but does not always finish with any kind of end product and needs to be more decisive, quicker. Defensively he kept to position and read the game well.
Fleck 5.5/10 – Thought he was our poorest player and lost count of the times he gave it away with short passes or taking too many touches and getting crowded out. Too many times he took too long to passed it to a Norwich man and I felt defensively he did not get back first half as they ran off us. Did put a good ball out for Stevens on the goal. Improved after the break and played further forward, had a shot wide when he should have done better and got in the box for a header. He did improve but overall in big games I expect one of our so-called key men to play better but he has been too up and down this season and needs to find that spark. Just looks a bit sluggish and leaded footed.
Norwood 6/10 –Have to say for long spells he was really disappointing on and off the ball. He gave it away quite a bit amongst some decent passes but the biggest concern was that him and Fleck gave the defence no protection at all. They ran through us and picked the midfield off with one pass or dribble. We had a big gap between the defence and midfield and they exploited this. Normally he deteriorates as the game goes on but today, he improved and I thought 2nd half he was much better. He played some better balls and helped us get more control. We still gave it away too much and at times I felt the defence needed someone to sit in and be more of a barrier as they had men running forward. The goal was a result of him giving it away (and Dowell fouling). He did play well in the closing stages and won some tackles and was more assured but a concern that other midfielders the last two weeks have run off our midfield and we have looked slow and lacking mobility. That is two weeks running where for long spells we lost the midfield. We only improved after Duffy came on to help us keep the ball higher up the field.
Dowell 5.5/10 – Thought he started well with some good runs and always looking to get on the ball but his final product as last week was really poor. He telegraphed two passes and then also when given a chance to shoot fluffed his lines badly twice. I heard he was meant to be a really clean striker of the ball and a threat to shoot from outside the box but was poor today. He also dithered at times and twice they broke from him not being aware. He did not do the defensive stuff at all and meant if Norwood or Fleck got ran passed, he did not get back and looked static. Silly foul led to the build up the goal. He did look quite nimble and more athletic than I thought but we need an end product and he need to look after the ball better. We were much better when Duffy came on in this area.
Sharp 8/10 – Just keeps scoring goals. We will not know how lucky we are to have him until he is gone. He is a real talisman and teams are terrified of him. When we play teams, we always think that certain strikers always score against us. The reality may be different to the perception but in Sharp’s case it is mostly true for most of the opposition! Actually, as Paul Merson remarked when discussing the game on Sky; he barely had a touch all game. He did hold it up when he could and drew a few fouls from the defenders. He had an early chance when Madine played him in but took too long but outside of that had little of the ball first half until he coolly scored the penalty. I was worried as I don’t think sharp takes the best penalty – he often puts it a few feet off the ground and rarely in the corner. When he takes a good penalty, he cracks them though rather than places them and he did that today after the disgusting gamesmanship from the keeper trying to put him off. Hit the bar with a decent flicked header (not an easy chance) and then converted superbly. He is decent in the air and is a skill we don’t talk about but he buries a lot of headed chances than many strikers (some much taller and more physical miss) but it was all about the movement.
Madine 7/10 – I think he did ok. It will probably be the usual rubbish spouted about us going long and starting the game badly as he played but that is so far from the truth. We started badly as the midfield were slow on and off the ball, we did not press and they were much sharper. When we had it, we did try and play it to his feet/chest rather than lumping it but they had most of the play so he had few chances. The bits he did have he did ok, playing in Sharp, winning most headers he did compete for and linking well. 2nd half he had one good shot saved and was a threat. I was a bit surprised he came off as thought he may have left him on and put McGoldrick on but Didsy did ok also. Sometimes you can say both players played well. The goal ironically came from the sort of cross he would have loved. Overall, a decent debut and whilst he won’t play every week, he is handy lad for the run in. I just hope people don’t talk nonsense about us suddenly getting back into the game when he went off. 2nd half we were playing fine with him playing and the football was decent and not direct. They scored against the run of play.
Subs –
Duffy 7.5/10 – A few short passes early on but gradually grew into the game and was a real threat and helped us get back into it. He a few clever balls in and then nearly set up McGoldrick for a chance with the sort of ball Norwich played in the first half (through the defence) and then a lovely cross that made the equaliser. He also was involved in other moves as we sought a winner and maybe looked more likely after we scored and a lovely ball to Baldock nearly led to that.
McGoldrick 7/10 – Missed one good chance when he snatched at it but linked play well when he could and also nearly scored a lovely flick at the end. Involved in a few scrambled efforts. Unlucky not to start but we still have 17 games left and will need to rotate a bit and important that both Dowell and Madine got some minutes too to help us for future games.
Washington – Only came on right at the death and helped us chase down a few defenders as we preserved the draw as it was inevitable, they would seek a winner at home.
Wilder 7.5/10 – Fair play to him. We started badly and 2nd best for the opening 20-25 minutes but came back into it and got level. We then played really well 2nd half and I felt edged the second half in play and chances. We went behind against the run of play but he made changes (nothing against the two who came off who did ok on full league debut) but Duffy and McGoldrick gave us a lift and the former was a key man. We were still going forward for a winner without being daft and I felt we were not silly and too gung-ho and cautious due to Norwich’s late goals. However, we were not ultra-defensive at all and had chances after getting level. Really good point against a good side. We now have to take advantage of some winnable home games (3 of next 4) against the lower sides in the league sandwiched between a trip to an up and down Villa.
Referee – I felt he was a bit of a homer at times and a lot of 50/50’s went for them. The penalty was clear as anything really – a stupid foul. I also felt that the Basham booking was harsh- Pukki had hold of his shirt too. Duffy’s booking, I am not sure what it was for. They had one for kicking it away rightly – Sharp may have had one for taking an age to come off. The lad Stiepermann was lucky not to get booked after he pushed Sharp (he went down theatrically as did Madine in the first half and could have been booked). He did use the advantage well for both teams though. Not sure any major decision he made affected the game that was the wrong call although concerned when the clock ticked over 97 (I know Stevens was down a bit right on 90 mins) as felt this may see them nicking an undeserved winner.
Manager Wilder sprang two surprises when he named Madine and Dowell in his starting line up in place of McGoldrick and Duffy. There was no place on the bench for Clarke with Washington getting the nod.
The game started with the home side on top. Basham missed a header and Baldock needlessly fouled Hernandez. The free kick was half cleared but Stieperman hit a fierce shot that Henderson had to push away. It may have been going wide but he had to make sure. Soon after United had their first attack as Dowell came out on a run but his final ball was a poor one and gave Baldock little chance. Madine then played a good ball into Sharp but his first touch was not sound and the ball was cleared. Norwich were back on the attack and Stevens gave away a corner when he failed to deliver a diagonal ball. Two further corners came to the home side as they applied a lot of early pressure.
Norwich were controlling things and the first 15 minutes they showed why they have been scoring so many goals as quick, incisive football saw them get through United. One move was cleared away but then soon after the opening goal came. Lovely football saw the ball played quickly through but there was little pressure on the ball and Pukki’s pass saw HERNANDEZ slipped it under Henderson. It was a lovely goal and cool finish but really poor defending from all over the field and the defence given little protection. Baldock will have been disappointed to have lost his man.
Norwich were really flying now and Stieperman ran through but Egan got across to block. Norwich then won another corner after Hernandez teased Baldock again. The corner came over and Vranjic headed wide. Norwood the gave it away before Fleck also knocked it out of play as United’s midfield carried on from last week giving the ball away and allowing quick midfield runners to advance with the ball. This was putting United’s defence under all sort of pressure.
Dowell had looked lively but his end product had been poor and he badly sliced a shot wide in a rare United break out on 22 minutes. United’s first effort in a dominant performance from the home side. Baldock then got forward but his cross was poor. United then had a series of half efforts after a corner was not cleared. O’Connell then got forward for the first time and his low deliberate cross was perfect for Madine who rather telegraphed his shot and it was blocked. A decent chance though. United were having a better spell but Madine was rather looking for a penalty on 35 minutes as he went down under minimal contact.
Norwich then had another decent spell after the 10-minute improvement from United and the runners from midfield came again. Dowell was slow and gave it away. Buendia got forward and played a lovely one two and Henderson had to make a great save from point blank range to prevent it being 2-0. Fleck then gave it away under no pressure and City came again. Stiepermann had another great run and weaved past 3 men with no challenge whatsoever before Egan got in just before he was about to pull the trigger.
3 minutes of added time was signalled after a couple of stoppages and United were able to get level in the final minute. Stevens burst down the wing from Fleck’s cross and was stupidly pushed over by Buendia. It was an easy award despite the appeals and a ridiculous foul. After Krul was booked for some poor gamesmanship, SHARP had to re-spot the ball but fired past the penalty expert to make it 1-1 at the break. His celebration bizarrely involved a sock puppet and George Baldock!
The second half was the exact opposite to the first half with United beginning strongly. They won an early corner which Fleck sent over and Egan headed back into the danger area. Sharp with his back to goal pulled it headed it up and it clipped the bar. It was a decent effort. United won another corner and Egan headed over. The away side definitely had the initiative. Lovely football soon after saw Sharp play in Norwood who moved it across to Fleck. The midfielder’s shot was an attempted curler but went well wide. He should have done better.
Basham then got on the overlap but his cross was too long. It was much better from United who had been 2nd best for long spells in the first half. Norwood gave it away and then Dowell committed a silly foul which gave Norwich some respite. Not long after against the run of play, the home side went back in front.
It was another superb move as they cut United open – the time they moved it from the left to the right and maybe aided by a slight nick on the ball as it came over to the right side, the cross from Aarons picked out PUKKI who flicked it superbly into the far corner giving Henderson no chance. Once again United had not been tight enough and failure to press the ball or stop the final ball/cross was costly. Egan maybe could have been tighter but it was a superb strike by the man known as the Finn-isher.
The Blades came back again and Madine who had played well had a long range shot that Krul had to palm away. The corner came to nothing and then Fleck and Norwood gave it away in quick succession and United then struggled to keep the ball for a spell and Norwich were equally sloppy but would have been glad of a scrappy spell being in the lead.
Duffy and McGoldrick came on for Dowell and Madine and Duffy tried to get on it straight away but Sharp did not read his clever ball. Hernandez had been a handful and both he and Lewis caused Basham and Baldock issues with their trickery and pace. The corner was cleared and United came forward and Basham’s cross was headed over by Fleck.
Egan’s superb tackle saw Duffy onto the ball and he played it straight through for McGoldrick who took it first time and was well over when he was well placed and should have done better. Norwich then came in an end to end game but got crowded out as Stevens did well to get back. Trybull was booked for kicking it away and then Norwood’s diagonal ball from the free kick was hooked back by Baldock but again a poor final ball.
United kept going and another patient move saw the ball played to Baldock and then onto Duffy. He received it wide right and his cross was perfect for SHARP who did what he does best, peeled off his man and headed down and into the net past Krul. This time he shushed the Norwich fans as he ran away to celebrate the crucial leveller.
There was ten minutes to play and Basham was booked for a challenge on Pukki when the Norwich man seemed to have as much of the United’s player shirt as the other way around. A free kick seemed harsh let alone a yellow. The free kick was cleared and then Zimmeran was booked for a crude foul on Fleck and then Stiepermann pushed Sharp in the melee. The United man went down a bit theatrically but any time you raise your hands you are putting yourself in trouble and the referee by the letter of the law probably could have given the Norwich player a yellow card.
The free kick came over and after it came back across the box, McGoldrick was blocked out but the flag went up. With the game entering the final two minutes Norwich made a double change as Rhodes and Cantwell came on for Stieperman and Buerdia. United had a chance in the final minute as Duffy rolled it into Baldock whose low cross was flicked by McGoldrick but blocked by the Norwich defender It was a lovely move.
The game entered 5 minutes of stoppage time and would be longer as Stevens went down injured but United did well in this final period despite conceding a corner. Washington came on for Sharp and the final few moments Norwich pressed but the defence held firm and there was only one effort a shot miles over right at the death. The final whistle came after over 6 minutes were played. United’s players celebrated a hard-earned point with their 2,000 fans and now will go back to the Lane with a game against struggling Bolton and a chance to put pressure on the top two teams who play each other.
United – Do you know what I will definitely take that. First 20 minutes we were poor and they swarmed all over us. It looked like us at home as they passed it around us, got chances but unlike us they did score early and could have had more. They did pass it forward and through our midfield and with runners and like the 2nd half last week we struggled and the midfield in particular gave the defence no protection. I felt Madine did well off scraps and Dowell showed some early promise with no end product. They scored a good goal but no pressure on the ball at all. They then could have had a few more and we sat off and they found a way to exploit space. They won a lot of corner and the wide men were causing problems. Slowly we got back into it and had a few half chances but then they came again and had a good chance to make it 2-0. I was happy to just keep it at one after a poor first half but one where you have to credit the home side but we had the bonus of the penalty and got level.
2nd half was a different story. We started really well, hit the bar and had more of the ball and finally started to wrestle some control in midfield but then they scored a really good goal (poor from us as we did not press again) but we came again and had more chances and kept calm and got level. After this I fancied, we may nick it and had more half chances and McGoldrick a decent flicked effort. They of course had a bit of a surge at the end and won a corner and had a bit of territory but in the end a draw was a good result and we will move on.
It was a really good game. Norwich are one of the better teams we have played in terms of how they passed it, overloaded men forward, played through the thirds at speed and caused us issues with movement and one touch stuff. We kept in it and showed real resilience and then played some good stuff our of our own. I was pleased with United and showed we maybe can stay right up there with the frontrunners. I do wish we had a bit more belief and are waiting for things to happen too much. We need to be a bit more forceful and step things up 10-20% but then we won’t play many better sides than Norwich although tough trips to Villa, West Brom and Leeds await.
Interesting to see what happens this week as rumours abound of Clarke maybe moving out (we will do well to get anywhere near a million for a 33-year-old with a big-ish contract and if Bristol City or Hull are willing to pay that I would say thanks for great service and recognise that he has done his job but we have moved on now). I would like us to get that quick, striker up top (no offence to Washington) to compliment the other three. Dowell has to do more if he gets more minutes. We cannot wait 5 or 6 games before he gets up to speed and needs to quick up in thought and play. Overall though with 17 to play we are in third with a winnable (said that last year v Bolton) game that is tailor made for Madine to net his first Blades goal. We do need to play for full games as we have effectively put two halves together in two weeks and that is why we only have a point. Last week is more disappointing as we certainly should have taken something but today, we showed some real resilience. Normally United lose big games v promotion contenders (seem to in my lifetime anyway - in promotion races – League One v Bolton apart)
Norwich – They began at break neck speed, scored a great goal and after this I felt after this we had to just stay in the game. We were not great but Norwich were good and sometimes you have to just give credit to the opposition. Vrancic and Stiepermann were running at the United players and drawing men. Hernandez and Pukki were also threats. We struggled with their running and direct play (not direct in terms of hitting it long but direct as in running at us). They have some really clever players and like us lots of players who can move around the field and play in different areas – they do not stay to fixed positions. They don’t have an out and out striker, Pukki is furthest forward but he often comes back and allows others to move ahead of him.
They have pace and running and can play some lovely one touch football. The one thing they do better than us is play it quicker and move it forward and through teams more rather than side to side but you can do that with midfielders who can run – ours are more static and wait to receive rather than dribblers/runners. They always give you a chance as they commit men forward and at the back, they are not great at marking. I would say I think we have a better defence but they have more threats going forward. I don’t think our defence was awful but they were surging at us and our midfield did not help at all.
They scored the two best goals of the game (both superbly made and finished) and could have had a few more but second half we had nearly all the other efforts aside from the goals and in the end a draw was a fair result. I was concerned they may nick one especially when it went to 96 minutes as they normally do but they seemed to be equally aware of our threat and the best chance actually fell to McGoldrick in the 89th minutes. They will be in the top 6 as they score goals but I think like us they will miss the top two as they concede too many also. They also switch off at key periods for all the great football. Defensively they do ship goals and that might cost them but rather watch teams like them than drab defensive sides who shut up shop; whatever the state of the game.
I love the way they attack and throw bodies forward. It was a proper game today and two teams going for it. Little bit disappointed they went to ground a bit easy and at times we are too honest (the penalty was stupid and nothing to do with going to ground too easily). This leads to us having to defend lots of free kicks. Norwich do have some cute players but they also know when to go down. Overall, they have like us, surpassed expectations on budget (still have a squad and outlay much in excess of ours if you run through the match day squads) but fair play to them. Farke came across as a bit of an arse last year (as Wilder did to them for his rants) but both managers have got two teams playing expansive, attacking football and go for wins. Not sure why Farke called us physical. They had more bookings today and we are guilty of being too nice. Ridiculous statement really as was his Krul does not have one save to make – did he miss the Madine shot. We also hit the bar. He says we had no other chances – forgets the McGoldrick shot over; the flick also. 2nd half not sure they had a shot close outside of the goal. Admittedly, first half it was the other way but bizarre comments. He did admit a draw was a fair result amongst his other weird comments. For us to take 4 points off them is a really good achievement.
Opponent man of the match – Stiepermann was the best player on the pitch I felt. Big, athletic, mobile, dribbler, passer and can shoot. Looks to have the lot. Real talent but was around German (not big clubs first teams) and is 27 so obviously like many of United players found his role and niche. I felt Vranjic was decent too and of course Pukki. A bit of a McGoldrick type in that he comes off the front, picks it up and links. A real clever player. Hernandez caused us issues at the Lane and he did the same today with his pace although Baldock stuck to it after a tricky start.
Weak link – Anyone of the defenders. Stupid challenge by the lad Buendia on the penalty but I felt Sharp and Madine at times found space away from Zimmerman and Lewis etc. Zimmerman switches off at times and so it proved on the goal. Disappointing to see Krul be such an arse on the goal and glad to see Sharp score.
Henderson 7/10 – Got megged on the goal but right at point blank range and those are hard to stop as you either get your legs on it or you don’t. No chance on the 2nd as it was right in the corner. He made one save early on which was decent but maybe going wide anyway and then one-point blank really good save to keep it at 1-0. 2nd half not sure he had much to do really and Krul was the busier after it being the other way around first half.
Baldock 6.5/10 – Started game under pressure as the lad Hernandez ran at him and was direct with his pace and trickery. Gave away a few cheap fouls and then lost him as he ran off him on the goal (felt it was others fault more for not closing earlier in the move). He improved as the game went on and even though Hernandez caused him some problems, he stuck to his task. He got forward well but only one decent cross and too often his final bit was poor or he took too long. He needs to really work on this aspect of his game as he gets in such good positions.
Stevens 7/10 – First half hour he struggled a bit and gave away a few corners/fouls as they were on top. He also took too long when he got forward and had lots of chances to cross but opted to play it on again or take another touch. He of course won the penalty with a great run and drew the stupid push. 2nd half he was much better and came onto the ball and was able to show more attacking play and was higher up the field. The goal he was not tight on his man but like with Baldock on the first I felt others let him down as the ball was moved about and we got stretched.
Egan 8/10 – Thought he was our best defender. He maybe will be a bit disappointed Pukki got off him on the goal and found a yard but it was great skill and we had got pulled around before this so hard for him to pick his man up as they moved it around. Outside of this thought he was excellent. He won some crunching tackles (a few he overran in the first place) and I think one great challenge led to the 2nd goal. A few times near the end stood up and showed his commitment as he won balls he should not have won really.
O’Connell 7/10 – Solid performance. Like the rest was in bother at the start as they ran at us and had to stay in shape to keep us in the game but gradually came out and put in one good cross for Madine. Second half he was solid and won headers and cleared it and played higher up the pitch and was sound in most aspects of his play.
Basham 7/10 – All action display as per normal although he was a bit clumsy at times today. Not doubting his commitment as he shows as always but he overran it a few times or made poor choices. He, like Baldock, gets in great areas but does not always finish with any kind of end product and needs to be more decisive, quicker. Defensively he kept to position and read the game well.
Fleck 5.5/10 – Thought he was our poorest player and lost count of the times he gave it away with short passes or taking too many touches and getting crowded out. Too many times he took too long to passed it to a Norwich man and I felt defensively he did not get back first half as they ran off us. Did put a good ball out for Stevens on the goal. Improved after the break and played further forward, had a shot wide when he should have done better and got in the box for a header. He did improve but overall in big games I expect one of our so-called key men to play better but he has been too up and down this season and needs to find that spark. Just looks a bit sluggish and leaded footed.
Norwood 6/10 –Have to say for long spells he was really disappointing on and off the ball. He gave it away quite a bit amongst some decent passes but the biggest concern was that him and Fleck gave the defence no protection at all. They ran through us and picked the midfield off with one pass or dribble. We had a big gap between the defence and midfield and they exploited this. Normally he deteriorates as the game goes on but today, he improved and I thought 2nd half he was much better. He played some better balls and helped us get more control. We still gave it away too much and at times I felt the defence needed someone to sit in and be more of a barrier as they had men running forward. The goal was a result of him giving it away (and Dowell fouling). He did play well in the closing stages and won some tackles and was more assured but a concern that other midfielders the last two weeks have run off our midfield and we have looked slow and lacking mobility. That is two weeks running where for long spells we lost the midfield. We only improved after Duffy came on to help us keep the ball higher up the field.
Dowell 5.5/10 – Thought he started well with some good runs and always looking to get on the ball but his final product as last week was really poor. He telegraphed two passes and then also when given a chance to shoot fluffed his lines badly twice. I heard he was meant to be a really clean striker of the ball and a threat to shoot from outside the box but was poor today. He also dithered at times and twice they broke from him not being aware. He did not do the defensive stuff at all and meant if Norwood or Fleck got ran passed, he did not get back and looked static. Silly foul led to the build up the goal. He did look quite nimble and more athletic than I thought but we need an end product and he need to look after the ball better. We were much better when Duffy came on in this area.
Sharp 8/10 – Just keeps scoring goals. We will not know how lucky we are to have him until he is gone. He is a real talisman and teams are terrified of him. When we play teams, we always think that certain strikers always score against us. The reality may be different to the perception but in Sharp’s case it is mostly true for most of the opposition! Actually, as Paul Merson remarked when discussing the game on Sky; he barely had a touch all game. He did hold it up when he could and drew a few fouls from the defenders. He had an early chance when Madine played him in but took too long but outside of that had little of the ball first half until he coolly scored the penalty. I was worried as I don’t think sharp takes the best penalty – he often puts it a few feet off the ground and rarely in the corner. When he takes a good penalty, he cracks them though rather than places them and he did that today after the disgusting gamesmanship from the keeper trying to put him off. Hit the bar with a decent flicked header (not an easy chance) and then converted superbly. He is decent in the air and is a skill we don’t talk about but he buries a lot of headed chances than many strikers (some much taller and more physical miss) but it was all about the movement.
Madine 7/10 – I think he did ok. It will probably be the usual rubbish spouted about us going long and starting the game badly as he played but that is so far from the truth. We started badly as the midfield were slow on and off the ball, we did not press and they were much sharper. When we had it, we did try and play it to his feet/chest rather than lumping it but they had most of the play so he had few chances. The bits he did have he did ok, playing in Sharp, winning most headers he did compete for and linking well. 2nd half he had one good shot saved and was a threat. I was a bit surprised he came off as thought he may have left him on and put McGoldrick on but Didsy did ok also. Sometimes you can say both players played well. The goal ironically came from the sort of cross he would have loved. Overall, a decent debut and whilst he won’t play every week, he is handy lad for the run in. I just hope people don’t talk nonsense about us suddenly getting back into the game when he went off. 2nd half we were playing fine with him playing and the football was decent and not direct. They scored against the run of play.
Subs –
Duffy 7.5/10 – A few short passes early on but gradually grew into the game and was a real threat and helped us get back into it. He a few clever balls in and then nearly set up McGoldrick for a chance with the sort of ball Norwich played in the first half (through the defence) and then a lovely cross that made the equaliser. He also was involved in other moves as we sought a winner and maybe looked more likely after we scored and a lovely ball to Baldock nearly led to that.
McGoldrick 7/10 – Missed one good chance when he snatched at it but linked play well when he could and also nearly scored a lovely flick at the end. Involved in a few scrambled efforts. Unlucky not to start but we still have 17 games left and will need to rotate a bit and important that both Dowell and Madine got some minutes too to help us for future games.
Washington – Only came on right at the death and helped us chase down a few defenders as we preserved the draw as it was inevitable, they would seek a winner at home.
Wilder 7.5/10 – Fair play to him. We started badly and 2nd best for the opening 20-25 minutes but came back into it and got level. We then played really well 2nd half and I felt edged the second half in play and chances. We went behind against the run of play but he made changes (nothing against the two who came off who did ok on full league debut) but Duffy and McGoldrick gave us a lift and the former was a key man. We were still going forward for a winner without being daft and I felt we were not silly and too gung-ho and cautious due to Norwich’s late goals. However, we were not ultra-defensive at all and had chances after getting level. Really good point against a good side. We now have to take advantage of some winnable home games (3 of next 4) against the lower sides in the league sandwiched between a trip to an up and down Villa.
Referee – I felt he was a bit of a homer at times and a lot of 50/50’s went for them. The penalty was clear as anything really – a stupid foul. I also felt that the Basham booking was harsh- Pukki had hold of his shirt too. Duffy’s booking, I am not sure what it was for. They had one for kicking it away rightly – Sharp may have had one for taking an age to come off. The lad Stiepermann was lucky not to get booked after he pushed Sharp (he went down theatrically as did Madine in the first half and could have been booked). He did use the advantage well for both teams though. Not sure any major decision he made affected the game that was the wrong call although concerned when the clock ticked over 97 (I know Stevens was down a bit right on 90 mins) as felt this may see them nicking an undeserved winner.
