Post by deadbat on Jul 8, 2020 21:41:00 GMT
Our pod reaction on the major formats and my match report below
soundcloud.com/tufty-club/tufty-club-reaction-wolves-home
open.spotify.com/episode/1fFGaoVc1gH5vc1nlrkavg
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/tufty-club-sheffield-united-podcast/id1508158343#episodeGuid=tag%3Asoundcloud%2C2010%3Atracks%2F854516845
---
The Blades chances of European football took a massive surge in the upward trajectory after a sensational stoppage time winner against Wolves at a rain sodden Bramall Lane. Once again centre back John Egan was the hero. This time with a majestic header from a late Ollie Norwood corner. There was no coming back from Wolves in a game they had to win to keep their own Champions League places alive and a huge three points for the home team.
United welcomed back Jack O’Connell to the starting line up and gave a start to Billy Sharp with no place for David McGoldrick in the squad who joined John Fleck on the injury list. John Lundstram was back on the bench.
Wolves started with a powerful front three of Neves, Traore and Jimenez and were looking to get a vital three points in their quest for a Champions League place.
The game began in wet conditions and the a few players were skidding around early. Traore was on the ball early but seemed to hurt his shoulder under a challenge from Stevens but was deemed fit to carry on. On 5 minutes Berge showed quick feet and strength but his pass was errant although the subsequent foul on Norwood was ridiculous as the Wolves man slipped and fell into him.
The Blades won the first corner on 8 minutes but carrying on from Sunday a poor delivery was cleared. Wolves started to get on the ball more after it had been a quiet opening from both teams and Jota nearly got Jonny in but Basham covered well. On 15 minutes Egan had to clear after Osborn had given the ball away. Wolves looked dangerous on the ball and on the break with Jimenez class apparent and the ball going to Traore at every opportunity. United were ‘tripling up’ on the wide man but this left men over when crosses did come over.
Berge’s lovely ball inside the full back put Basham in but he pull back evaded everyone. United had their first chance when O’Connell reminded everyone of his crossing ability as he whipped one over but McBurnie flicked at the keeper. Traore at the other end got down the right past Stevens and was able to get his cross over but it was cleared.
At the drinks break, little had been seen in terms of chances but after the pause for refreshments in the pouring rain – Traore’s deep cross was headed back by Jota but Henderson clutched it high up I the first chance for the visitors.
A lovely break from their own goal line showed the pace and skill of Wolves as Jiménez flicked on and they were away. Jota looked set to shoot before O’Connell pulled him down cynically and was rightly booked. Neves took it and it was a beauty but clipped the bar with Henderson well beaten. A few inches lower and it would have been a goal.
Wolves had moved the ball better and United were giving it away too much and were guilty of playing it long with McBurnie and Sharp starved of anything to feet and the latter also caught offside a few times.
The home side had an improved spell and Sharp did well to cross but McBurnie poked well wide before Sharp nearly got in after a bad back pass from Boly but Patricio held him up long enough and the ball never came in after a series of poor crosses.
Wolves speed on the break was evident again as Neves hit a cross that that Henderson saved low down before at the other end Baldock was felled but United were given the advantage and Stevens hit a dangerous cross but Coady cleared.
United had 4 or 5 chances to get the ball over but from two Norwood corners and another cross in open play and then both Baldock and Stevens all were guilty of poor final balls again with the near post man hit routinely.
The half time whistle came with the game goalless. Wolves had looked the better side in terms of skill, fluency, pace and danger and had the best chance with the free kick hitting the bar. United had been cautious to the extreme for a home side and were perhaps worried about the pace of Wolves on the counter if they committed too many men forward but the passing was often too long and the Blades had not kept the ball long enough to worry the visitors.
United started the second half better and Sharp got away down the left but his cross was straight at Patricio. Basham then got down the other side but his cross was not far enough from the goalkeeper either. McBurnie had looked gingerly as he came out for the second half and obviously tried to give things a go after picking up a knock but sadly he was struggling and on came Mousset.
Egan pulled Jimenez back for a silly free kick but the delivery was cleared and Neves fired over. On 53 minutes a good all through saw Sharp in and he fired home but the flag had gone up – rightly so. The VAR checks confirmed he was clearly offside.
Basham went down quite theatrically as he got into the box after decent build up play but there was no contact in a rare moment of a United player going down too easily. United had been much better this half but had to be wary of Wolves on the break.
Stevens put a sensational cross that just evaded the United strikers as the game entered the final 30 minutes; a spell Wolves have done really well in all season.
Stevens was booked for pulling down Traore; with the card given after the advantage saw United clear with Basham doing well again.
Jimenez clever play featured again but his cross was straight at Henderson. Egan then cleared but after Sharp got outmuscled, Jota was in but again Basham came across to deny any opportunities. Zivkovic was on for Sharp as United had a fast but raw strike force to end the game as they looked to find gaps in behind a high line. The newcomer did well twice, once to win a free kick off a clumsy Boly and then put a cross in that Baldock met with Jonny sleeping but headed down and wide. It was the best chance of the second half for either side with neither keeper still making a real save all game.
Traore has run his course and even though United had done their job on him with Dendocker coming on as Wolves went more two up top in a bid to find a late winner but had not really threatened and United had shaded the second half. Mousset held off his man but his shot was wayward and miles wide before Baldock and then Stevens both sent over telegraphed crosses.
Good work from Basham saw him sweep up again before United went down the end and had a series of attacks after decent link play down the right. Berge did well but Baldock’s cross evaded everyone before Mousset and Zivkovic combined to lead to a crossing chance for Stevens but his driven ball hit the hand of Doherty. The free kick was taken short down the line for Osborn but his cross did not beat the first man and was cleared for a corner as the game was now in three minutes of stoppage time.
The home side were now pressing for the winner and the corner came over was played back but Zivkovic’s shot was blocked and then Osborn as it dropped tried to force it home but it was deflected and Patricio had to scramble behind – it may not have been going in but he could take no chance.
As the game entered the final 30 seconds, this was surely the final chance for either side? Norwood took the corner and hit the mark arrowing the ball into the penalty spot and EGAN rose majestically to power his header into the net giving the keeper no chance. Egan slid on his knees and was joined by his teammates whilst Wilder ran down the line celebrating with any of the few people he could find! Wolves took the kick off but they could not get the ball into the box and the final whistle came to signal a huge win for the Blades.
United – Big win. A draw would not have been a disaster against a really good side and even though it was not the best of games in tricky conditions with two teams maybe feeling the effects of so many games recently. It lacked quality both ways. I thought Wolves looked more dangerous first half but did not create much at all but broke well and showed some nice flicks/touches – they have such good front players but we double and tripled teams Traore and kept Jiménez away from goal. We did not really do much the other way either but McGoldrick had a flicked header from a decent O’Connell cross and Sharp nearly got on an error. They hit the bar with the best effort of the half but neither keeper really had much to do in a game with few chances and little quality. Both teams seemed to cancel each other out and the formations being the same and both sitting deep meant it had to be some real individual quality to carve out a chance and it did not happen. It was fairly even but they maybe looked a bit more likely without looking likely if that makes sense!
Second half thought we were the much better side. We defended well, they got frustrated and not sure they did anything of note 2nd half. Henderson was a virtual spectator and the front lads faded and Traore eventually went off. We did not show much in terms of our own forward although the two that came on stretched a very deep defence where it was hard to get in behind, a little bit more. We had a few half chances with Stevens cross and then Baldock nearly scored and maybe should have done better once he got in. The final stage you thought they may use their quality and pace to stretch us and find an opening as they have scored so many goals (33) in the 2nd half and are a great final third team also but it never came and they ran out of steam.
We attacked a lot more than them – it was not incessant pressure but we always looked more likely. We won a few corners and free kicks and then eventually had a few half chances and it led to the final corner and finally a great corner after another mixed bag (more bad than good) and what a header by our goalscoring hero Egan! 2 in 2! We do see our centre backs trot up over the years and often head it like defenders (in the sense of a defensive side by heading up and out/over) and the record for such strong players/headers of the ball is really poor. Tonight, he caught it perfectly and powered it home; holding his man off and meeting it on the full. A proper old-fashioned goal in the sense of the cross and header. A bad one to concede but over the course of the game I think if anyone shaded a poor game it was us. We were better than them in the second half and in the first half not sure they were much stronger than us so if anything, 1-0 was about right really if it was not a 0-0 which you could also make a strong argument for in such a game starved of much quality. It was two honest groups, well organised with few mistakes but neither side despite getting into good areas did enough to create or work the keeper. Wolves had more of the ball but did not do much with it.
It was another much more committed and solid performance than those opening 3 and we have improved and now taking out the cup, we have won 2, drew 2 and lost 2 so it’s been an average-ok start rather than a poor one. Win Saturday and it’s suddenly a good return pretty much and suddenly not only Europa League but the other competition is on again. That would be a big ask having played a day after Chelsea and it is so many games but we seem to be getting stronger in some ways the more we play with the rhythm and momentum. We are sadly picking up knocks to players but the end is in sight now with only 4 games left so we need a big push. If we can win 2 or more of those games it may be enough for a top 8 finish. We have some hard games still but at home we seem better even with no fans than away. It is no coincidence that we get our defence fully back (no offence to Robinson who has been steady) and we keep a clean sheet and look much more solid overall.
Just nice to see a run of 3 or 4 much better performance and results. Maybe if we had not scored, we would not be seeing things so positively all of a sudden as we would have been 10th and thinking that even though a draw was ok; things had sort of tailed off in terms of a bid for those top places that would get you something. Now the late goal has almost breathed some new life into things. We may not have been there but how good did it feel when that hit the net and no question of any offence to disallow it as seems to happen on most goals. We have scored late on under Wilder but more in League One than maybe even the Championship and even those sorts of goals often 80-85 maybe rather than 90+. It is a while since we scored a last-minute winner so late (Norwich at home maybe last season?)
Big credit to Wilder – a lot were doom and gloom (including myself – as we looked so bad to open things up) but with changes to the team he has got the team believing and helped them slowly turn it back round and now with 2 wins and a draw we are in good form again. Just hope we can finish the season strong. The defence is so key to what we do. With those together even with a few out of form, injured or different rotations we have a chance.
Ratings:
Henderson 7/10 – Not sure he had much to do. Fielded a few crosses and kicked away a few. Not sure he would have got the free kick but it was a great effort. Outside of this did he have any saves to make?
Baldock 7/10 – Typical Baldock game. Up and down, incredible fitness, energy and defended well (so improved this part of his game) and was always involved in an attacking sense. First half made some good runs and was not always seen but then got on the ball more second half. Too many times his crosses let him down hitting the first man too often. He still needs to work on this part of the game but he has had an excellent season. Starting to find an understanding with Berge too.
Stevens 7/10 – Continuing his recent improvements after a bad start to the restart. He was better Sunday and then tonight did well against a tough opponent. Gave him a shrug early which saw Traore hurt his shoulder. He had lots of help as they needed to get men around him but think he only got away from him once or twice. He did get a booking but at least this was not till the hour mark and then they took his man off which was a moral victory definitely and I was certainly relieved as he only needs a moment. He put a few poor crosses in but one great cross second half and I felt got forward more and more as the game went on.
Basham 8.5/10 – Thought he was fantastic again. So composed, calm and defensively reads the game so well and makes lots of interceptions. He seems to be everywhere at times. He drives us forward attacking wise and combined well down the right and gave us that extra man – but then would be back to make the block or sweep up. So underrated (not by our fans) but for me our player of the season. You could make an argument for man of the match for him, JOC or Egan tonight.
O’Connell 8.5/10 – Got Man of the Match on Sky. Great to have him back and to see him getting forward (not as much yet as he finds his fitness) but defensively sound – just the one booking which he maybe had to take. He makes us look so much more solid at the back. We look like we plug the gaps more on the floor and in the air. Helped out Stevens to cover Traore but got back in the middle too to cover. Really committed but also intelligent defensive performance.
Egan 8.5/10 – Like the other two was great – Jimenez cam off him and did a few flicks but near the goal he was limited as Egan won everything and was solid in his defensive work getting to the ball first nearly every time. Made some good blocks, tackles and read the balls coming in. He had a shaky return but the last 2-3 been excellent and playing some of the best strikers in the world in Kane and Jimenez he was able to hold both fairly quite when it mattered.
Norwood 6/10 – Still not quite hit his form and looks a bit leggy for me. He was at full stretch defensively a bit and tried to commit fouls as they broke away. Seen bits of the reasons why teams did not keep him as in a two in midfield with two at the back think he would struggle. Our formation helps him though. His passing was mixed – some good long ones to wide but a few he gave away. He did get better with his passing and attacking work 2nd half though and was surer with the ball. He took some bad corners/crosses first half but then slowly they got better and he found his eye with a superb one right at the end that hit the mark. It needed scoring but was a great pace.
Osborn 7/10 – Another steady game. Thought he was maybe the best of the midfield three. He was able to show lots of energy and got his foot in and made tackles/blocks. First half he was not as effective as he has been but then he got more involved as the game went on and saw more of the ball. He was more careful with his passing after giving away a few first half and nearly got in on the free kick routine and had a shot deflected that led to the corner and the goal. He has been a real plus. He puts so much in and is competent on and off the ball.
Berge 7/10 – Some good and some bad tonight. I felt he played a bit more within himself after some recent improvements in getting on the ball. Early on he drifted effortlessly away from his man but then gave it away and his game was a bit like that at times tonight. He did some really good things with neat and tidy passing and linked well down the right. One great ball down the line to Baldock for instance but then second half he got on the ball and linked well with Bash and George down that side. He like the others, never really found a final ball or pass and maybe needed to be a bit more forceful but he is slowly learning out system and we are definitely seeing improvement.
McBurnie 5.5/10 – Like the last game not his night. After two good games, followed it with two poor games where he was not really in the game. He had one flicked header but not sure he imposed himself at all and the ball kept coming back – not all his fault as we were going too long and not keeping it first half. He came off after the break and maybe had not been fully fit to start with.
Sharp 5.5/10 – He had one half chance when on the back pass and the goal disallowed. He did run the channels a few times and got down to create a couple of half chances but not sure he offers much when he is so far from goal – he is not strong or quick enough and we need more – not his fault from a striker when we don’t have much service. We did improve when we brought the other two lads on – who were not great but gave us a bit more energy. If we are not creating much – he is not offering much as harsh as that is he just tries to win free kicks. We really miss McGoldrick when he does not play as he links thing so well and we have a big gap between midfield and the forwards when he does not play.
Subs –
Mousset 6/10 – The two that came on were better than the two that came off. He did his usual trick of pulling up seemingly injured again but then kept going as he had to as he had to stay on! He had one powerful run and shot miles off target but they sat so deep it was hard for him and Zivkovic to use their pace – they did try but it was a game where defences seemed to come out on top.
Zivkovic 6.5/10 – He livened us up a bit when he came on – he won a free kick and put over a cross that led to the Baldock chance. Not sure he did much and was chasing around a bit with out much purpose but he looked energetic. Not quite sure what kind of player he is yet – as not see the break out pace we have seen on all the videos but he did ok today when he came on.
Manager Wilder 8/10 – Hard when he is missing McGoldrick and then McBurnie went off but I felt tactically he was great tonight. We realised the threats and doubled/tripled up Traore – we kept Jimenez quiet and funnelled them inside when we could. We did not attack much first half and was conservative but as the game went on, we grew more and started to make them worry about us more. Our wing backs were more dangerous and we had more of the key chances/balls into the box. They were stifled second half and even though we had an unfamiliar strike force we did enough to push and push till we got the winner. A fantastic three points. Maybe not performance wise in terms of blowing them away but they have beaten so many teams away with pace and breaking. We had to wait till we could have a go and then did towards the end. I thought we finished stronger fitness wise too which is great when Wolves have been maybe the strongest team in the league to close games. We seemed to finish fitter and stronger – so maybe the work we had done in the lock down and all season is coming to the fore – now match sharpness is back.
Wolves – I like the manager and think they have some fantastic players. They have solid, underrated defenders and some excellent ball playing midfielders but have better forwards than us and that bit more quality with Traore and Jimenez. I think they are a side that don’t get the credit they deserve. They have spent a lot but also don’t have that big a squad and that maybe came to the fore (bit like it has for us) as if their best 2 or 3 attackers are nullified (credit to us) then they struggle to create. They did not really look like scoring and had few chances and never tested Henderson. Outside of the free kick did they look like scoring. Traore and Jimenez are so key so you worry if they lose them as they may do in the summer. I hope if anyone (other than us) gate-crashes the big time that they are the team as even though have quite a few players from the continent, they seem an honest bunch and like us not been helped by being on the wrong side of VAR quite a bit this season.
Today though they seemed to struggle and we tactically did the things we need to do. They really needed to win to get where they want to get (would not want Europa League again due to squad size and gong through this and still are this season) so it was odd they did not have more of a go second half but at the end we looked more like the winners. They got done on a classic set play and there was no coming back – to me this was their own fault as they had not really looked like scoring or even trying to really create much.
We have played them twice and got the better than them both teams in terms of performances and taken four points and that is not to be sniffed at when I recall them destroying us 3-0 at Molineux with the core of that team – shows how far we have come on the last few seasons. Their wage bill and spending power, even with a smallish squad for a team near the top, dwarves ours by some way so it shows what a job Wilder and we have done to be even near them – or today beating them.
Opponent Man of the Match – Not sure anyone was outstanding for them. Coady was maybe the best player in being solid in everything he did. I felt Neves and Jota showed a few flashes and even though Egan played him well close to goal; I thought that he showed his class coming deep with neat flicks and touches. Moutinho is a good ball player and sits deep and is maybe a more mobile version of Norwood. They do have some good players but today (as with their last game) just were not quite at it.
Opponent Weak link – We held the front three up more than them being poor but they did not offer much. At the back Jonny at times lost his concentration faced with little from us in terms of attackers and Stevens and a few others got down the left from Doherty who struggled when we attacked him. Boly was the poorest player. He nearly handed one for Sharp and then gave away a silly free kick second half. I might be wrong but he seemed to be the man who got overpowered by Egan, albeit in a sea of bodies with the vital moment.
Referee/Officials/VAR – After his first incredible decision when Norwood was penalised for being run into; he was ok. Martin Atkinson gave a reasonable performance and our two bookings were easy decisions. Not a difficult game for VAR -there were a few half-hearted appeals for handballs but they were not even looked at in detail so cannot have been (although with VAR you never know). He could have booked Basham for diving – that was poor for me from our man and we would have called him out if it was an opponent. The rest of the game I am not sure there was a bad tackle or even many tackles really. It was game played in good spirits with two fairly honest sets of players – same as Sunday at Burnley.
Coverage- Andy Hinchcliffe seems to do us every game but even though he is ex Wednesday, I quite like him as a pundit. Think he is balanced and reasonable. I don’t mind Souness either, he has been very praiseworthy of us all season even though he calls us Sheffield too much. Seems like we have not got any ex Blades who can be pundits or they don’t ask any as we have had Neville commentating for Man Utd, Ian Taylor I think when we played at Villa, we had Van Persie analysing when we played Arsenal, Redknapp v Spurs and Matt Murray tonight for Wolves. It does seem odd. I’d rather them just have neutral analysts/commentators but suppose they will drag out whoever has a connection and outside of Michael Brown, not sure we have any?
soundcloud.com/tufty-club/tufty-club-reaction-wolves-home
open.spotify.com/episode/1fFGaoVc1gH5vc1nlrkavg
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/tufty-club-sheffield-united-podcast/id1508158343#episodeGuid=tag%3Asoundcloud%2C2010%3Atracks%2F854516845
---
The Blades chances of European football took a massive surge in the upward trajectory after a sensational stoppage time winner against Wolves at a rain sodden Bramall Lane. Once again centre back John Egan was the hero. This time with a majestic header from a late Ollie Norwood corner. There was no coming back from Wolves in a game they had to win to keep their own Champions League places alive and a huge three points for the home team.
United welcomed back Jack O’Connell to the starting line up and gave a start to Billy Sharp with no place for David McGoldrick in the squad who joined John Fleck on the injury list. John Lundstram was back on the bench.
Wolves started with a powerful front three of Neves, Traore and Jimenez and were looking to get a vital three points in their quest for a Champions League place.
The game began in wet conditions and the a few players were skidding around early. Traore was on the ball early but seemed to hurt his shoulder under a challenge from Stevens but was deemed fit to carry on. On 5 minutes Berge showed quick feet and strength but his pass was errant although the subsequent foul on Norwood was ridiculous as the Wolves man slipped and fell into him.
The Blades won the first corner on 8 minutes but carrying on from Sunday a poor delivery was cleared. Wolves started to get on the ball more after it had been a quiet opening from both teams and Jota nearly got Jonny in but Basham covered well. On 15 minutes Egan had to clear after Osborn had given the ball away. Wolves looked dangerous on the ball and on the break with Jimenez class apparent and the ball going to Traore at every opportunity. United were ‘tripling up’ on the wide man but this left men over when crosses did come over.
Berge’s lovely ball inside the full back put Basham in but he pull back evaded everyone. United had their first chance when O’Connell reminded everyone of his crossing ability as he whipped one over but McBurnie flicked at the keeper. Traore at the other end got down the right past Stevens and was able to get his cross over but it was cleared.
At the drinks break, little had been seen in terms of chances but after the pause for refreshments in the pouring rain – Traore’s deep cross was headed back by Jota but Henderson clutched it high up I the first chance for the visitors.
A lovely break from their own goal line showed the pace and skill of Wolves as Jiménez flicked on and they were away. Jota looked set to shoot before O’Connell pulled him down cynically and was rightly booked. Neves took it and it was a beauty but clipped the bar with Henderson well beaten. A few inches lower and it would have been a goal.
Wolves had moved the ball better and United were giving it away too much and were guilty of playing it long with McBurnie and Sharp starved of anything to feet and the latter also caught offside a few times.
The home side had an improved spell and Sharp did well to cross but McBurnie poked well wide before Sharp nearly got in after a bad back pass from Boly but Patricio held him up long enough and the ball never came in after a series of poor crosses.
Wolves speed on the break was evident again as Neves hit a cross that that Henderson saved low down before at the other end Baldock was felled but United were given the advantage and Stevens hit a dangerous cross but Coady cleared.
United had 4 or 5 chances to get the ball over but from two Norwood corners and another cross in open play and then both Baldock and Stevens all were guilty of poor final balls again with the near post man hit routinely.
The half time whistle came with the game goalless. Wolves had looked the better side in terms of skill, fluency, pace and danger and had the best chance with the free kick hitting the bar. United had been cautious to the extreme for a home side and were perhaps worried about the pace of Wolves on the counter if they committed too many men forward but the passing was often too long and the Blades had not kept the ball long enough to worry the visitors.
United started the second half better and Sharp got away down the left but his cross was straight at Patricio. Basham then got down the other side but his cross was not far enough from the goalkeeper either. McBurnie had looked gingerly as he came out for the second half and obviously tried to give things a go after picking up a knock but sadly he was struggling and on came Mousset.
Egan pulled Jimenez back for a silly free kick but the delivery was cleared and Neves fired over. On 53 minutes a good all through saw Sharp in and he fired home but the flag had gone up – rightly so. The VAR checks confirmed he was clearly offside.
Basham went down quite theatrically as he got into the box after decent build up play but there was no contact in a rare moment of a United player going down too easily. United had been much better this half but had to be wary of Wolves on the break.
Stevens put a sensational cross that just evaded the United strikers as the game entered the final 30 minutes; a spell Wolves have done really well in all season.
Stevens was booked for pulling down Traore; with the card given after the advantage saw United clear with Basham doing well again.
Jimenez clever play featured again but his cross was straight at Henderson. Egan then cleared but after Sharp got outmuscled, Jota was in but again Basham came across to deny any opportunities. Zivkovic was on for Sharp as United had a fast but raw strike force to end the game as they looked to find gaps in behind a high line. The newcomer did well twice, once to win a free kick off a clumsy Boly and then put a cross in that Baldock met with Jonny sleeping but headed down and wide. It was the best chance of the second half for either side with neither keeper still making a real save all game.
Traore has run his course and even though United had done their job on him with Dendocker coming on as Wolves went more two up top in a bid to find a late winner but had not really threatened and United had shaded the second half. Mousset held off his man but his shot was wayward and miles wide before Baldock and then Stevens both sent over telegraphed crosses.
Good work from Basham saw him sweep up again before United went down the end and had a series of attacks after decent link play down the right. Berge did well but Baldock’s cross evaded everyone before Mousset and Zivkovic combined to lead to a crossing chance for Stevens but his driven ball hit the hand of Doherty. The free kick was taken short down the line for Osborn but his cross did not beat the first man and was cleared for a corner as the game was now in three minutes of stoppage time.
The home side were now pressing for the winner and the corner came over was played back but Zivkovic’s shot was blocked and then Osborn as it dropped tried to force it home but it was deflected and Patricio had to scramble behind – it may not have been going in but he could take no chance.
As the game entered the final 30 seconds, this was surely the final chance for either side? Norwood took the corner and hit the mark arrowing the ball into the penalty spot and EGAN rose majestically to power his header into the net giving the keeper no chance. Egan slid on his knees and was joined by his teammates whilst Wilder ran down the line celebrating with any of the few people he could find! Wolves took the kick off but they could not get the ball into the box and the final whistle came to signal a huge win for the Blades.
United – Big win. A draw would not have been a disaster against a really good side and even though it was not the best of games in tricky conditions with two teams maybe feeling the effects of so many games recently. It lacked quality both ways. I thought Wolves looked more dangerous first half but did not create much at all but broke well and showed some nice flicks/touches – they have such good front players but we double and tripled teams Traore and kept Jiménez away from goal. We did not really do much the other way either but McGoldrick had a flicked header from a decent O’Connell cross and Sharp nearly got on an error. They hit the bar with the best effort of the half but neither keeper really had much to do in a game with few chances and little quality. Both teams seemed to cancel each other out and the formations being the same and both sitting deep meant it had to be some real individual quality to carve out a chance and it did not happen. It was fairly even but they maybe looked a bit more likely without looking likely if that makes sense!
Second half thought we were the much better side. We defended well, they got frustrated and not sure they did anything of note 2nd half. Henderson was a virtual spectator and the front lads faded and Traore eventually went off. We did not show much in terms of our own forward although the two that came on stretched a very deep defence where it was hard to get in behind, a little bit more. We had a few half chances with Stevens cross and then Baldock nearly scored and maybe should have done better once he got in. The final stage you thought they may use their quality and pace to stretch us and find an opening as they have scored so many goals (33) in the 2nd half and are a great final third team also but it never came and they ran out of steam.
We attacked a lot more than them – it was not incessant pressure but we always looked more likely. We won a few corners and free kicks and then eventually had a few half chances and it led to the final corner and finally a great corner after another mixed bag (more bad than good) and what a header by our goalscoring hero Egan! 2 in 2! We do see our centre backs trot up over the years and often head it like defenders (in the sense of a defensive side by heading up and out/over) and the record for such strong players/headers of the ball is really poor. Tonight, he caught it perfectly and powered it home; holding his man off and meeting it on the full. A proper old-fashioned goal in the sense of the cross and header. A bad one to concede but over the course of the game I think if anyone shaded a poor game it was us. We were better than them in the second half and in the first half not sure they were much stronger than us so if anything, 1-0 was about right really if it was not a 0-0 which you could also make a strong argument for in such a game starved of much quality. It was two honest groups, well organised with few mistakes but neither side despite getting into good areas did enough to create or work the keeper. Wolves had more of the ball but did not do much with it.
It was another much more committed and solid performance than those opening 3 and we have improved and now taking out the cup, we have won 2, drew 2 and lost 2 so it’s been an average-ok start rather than a poor one. Win Saturday and it’s suddenly a good return pretty much and suddenly not only Europa League but the other competition is on again. That would be a big ask having played a day after Chelsea and it is so many games but we seem to be getting stronger in some ways the more we play with the rhythm and momentum. We are sadly picking up knocks to players but the end is in sight now with only 4 games left so we need a big push. If we can win 2 or more of those games it may be enough for a top 8 finish. We have some hard games still but at home we seem better even with no fans than away. It is no coincidence that we get our defence fully back (no offence to Robinson who has been steady) and we keep a clean sheet and look much more solid overall.
Just nice to see a run of 3 or 4 much better performance and results. Maybe if we had not scored, we would not be seeing things so positively all of a sudden as we would have been 10th and thinking that even though a draw was ok; things had sort of tailed off in terms of a bid for those top places that would get you something. Now the late goal has almost breathed some new life into things. We may not have been there but how good did it feel when that hit the net and no question of any offence to disallow it as seems to happen on most goals. We have scored late on under Wilder but more in League One than maybe even the Championship and even those sorts of goals often 80-85 maybe rather than 90+. It is a while since we scored a last-minute winner so late (Norwich at home maybe last season?)
Big credit to Wilder – a lot were doom and gloom (including myself – as we looked so bad to open things up) but with changes to the team he has got the team believing and helped them slowly turn it back round and now with 2 wins and a draw we are in good form again. Just hope we can finish the season strong. The defence is so key to what we do. With those together even with a few out of form, injured or different rotations we have a chance.
Ratings:
Henderson 7/10 – Not sure he had much to do. Fielded a few crosses and kicked away a few. Not sure he would have got the free kick but it was a great effort. Outside of this did he have any saves to make?
Baldock 7/10 – Typical Baldock game. Up and down, incredible fitness, energy and defended well (so improved this part of his game) and was always involved in an attacking sense. First half made some good runs and was not always seen but then got on the ball more second half. Too many times his crosses let him down hitting the first man too often. He still needs to work on this part of the game but he has had an excellent season. Starting to find an understanding with Berge too.
Stevens 7/10 – Continuing his recent improvements after a bad start to the restart. He was better Sunday and then tonight did well against a tough opponent. Gave him a shrug early which saw Traore hurt his shoulder. He had lots of help as they needed to get men around him but think he only got away from him once or twice. He did get a booking but at least this was not till the hour mark and then they took his man off which was a moral victory definitely and I was certainly relieved as he only needs a moment. He put a few poor crosses in but one great cross second half and I felt got forward more and more as the game went on.
Basham 8.5/10 – Thought he was fantastic again. So composed, calm and defensively reads the game so well and makes lots of interceptions. He seems to be everywhere at times. He drives us forward attacking wise and combined well down the right and gave us that extra man – but then would be back to make the block or sweep up. So underrated (not by our fans) but for me our player of the season. You could make an argument for man of the match for him, JOC or Egan tonight.
O’Connell 8.5/10 – Got Man of the Match on Sky. Great to have him back and to see him getting forward (not as much yet as he finds his fitness) but defensively sound – just the one booking which he maybe had to take. He makes us look so much more solid at the back. We look like we plug the gaps more on the floor and in the air. Helped out Stevens to cover Traore but got back in the middle too to cover. Really committed but also intelligent defensive performance.
Egan 8.5/10 – Like the other two was great – Jimenez cam off him and did a few flicks but near the goal he was limited as Egan won everything and was solid in his defensive work getting to the ball first nearly every time. Made some good blocks, tackles and read the balls coming in. He had a shaky return but the last 2-3 been excellent and playing some of the best strikers in the world in Kane and Jimenez he was able to hold both fairly quite when it mattered.
Norwood 6/10 – Still not quite hit his form and looks a bit leggy for me. He was at full stretch defensively a bit and tried to commit fouls as they broke away. Seen bits of the reasons why teams did not keep him as in a two in midfield with two at the back think he would struggle. Our formation helps him though. His passing was mixed – some good long ones to wide but a few he gave away. He did get better with his passing and attacking work 2nd half though and was surer with the ball. He took some bad corners/crosses first half but then slowly they got better and he found his eye with a superb one right at the end that hit the mark. It needed scoring but was a great pace.
Osborn 7/10 – Another steady game. Thought he was maybe the best of the midfield three. He was able to show lots of energy and got his foot in and made tackles/blocks. First half he was not as effective as he has been but then he got more involved as the game went on and saw more of the ball. He was more careful with his passing after giving away a few first half and nearly got in on the free kick routine and had a shot deflected that led to the corner and the goal. He has been a real plus. He puts so much in and is competent on and off the ball.
Berge 7/10 – Some good and some bad tonight. I felt he played a bit more within himself after some recent improvements in getting on the ball. Early on he drifted effortlessly away from his man but then gave it away and his game was a bit like that at times tonight. He did some really good things with neat and tidy passing and linked well down the right. One great ball down the line to Baldock for instance but then second half he got on the ball and linked well with Bash and George down that side. He like the others, never really found a final ball or pass and maybe needed to be a bit more forceful but he is slowly learning out system and we are definitely seeing improvement.
McBurnie 5.5/10 – Like the last game not his night. After two good games, followed it with two poor games where he was not really in the game. He had one flicked header but not sure he imposed himself at all and the ball kept coming back – not all his fault as we were going too long and not keeping it first half. He came off after the break and maybe had not been fully fit to start with.
Sharp 5.5/10 – He had one half chance when on the back pass and the goal disallowed. He did run the channels a few times and got down to create a couple of half chances but not sure he offers much when he is so far from goal – he is not strong or quick enough and we need more – not his fault from a striker when we don’t have much service. We did improve when we brought the other two lads on – who were not great but gave us a bit more energy. If we are not creating much – he is not offering much as harsh as that is he just tries to win free kicks. We really miss McGoldrick when he does not play as he links thing so well and we have a big gap between midfield and the forwards when he does not play.
Subs –
Mousset 6/10 – The two that came on were better than the two that came off. He did his usual trick of pulling up seemingly injured again but then kept going as he had to as he had to stay on! He had one powerful run and shot miles off target but they sat so deep it was hard for him and Zivkovic to use their pace – they did try but it was a game where defences seemed to come out on top.
Zivkovic 6.5/10 – He livened us up a bit when he came on – he won a free kick and put over a cross that led to the Baldock chance. Not sure he did much and was chasing around a bit with out much purpose but he looked energetic. Not quite sure what kind of player he is yet – as not see the break out pace we have seen on all the videos but he did ok today when he came on.
Manager Wilder 8/10 – Hard when he is missing McGoldrick and then McBurnie went off but I felt tactically he was great tonight. We realised the threats and doubled/tripled up Traore – we kept Jimenez quiet and funnelled them inside when we could. We did not attack much first half and was conservative but as the game went on, we grew more and started to make them worry about us more. Our wing backs were more dangerous and we had more of the key chances/balls into the box. They were stifled second half and even though we had an unfamiliar strike force we did enough to push and push till we got the winner. A fantastic three points. Maybe not performance wise in terms of blowing them away but they have beaten so many teams away with pace and breaking. We had to wait till we could have a go and then did towards the end. I thought we finished stronger fitness wise too which is great when Wolves have been maybe the strongest team in the league to close games. We seemed to finish fitter and stronger – so maybe the work we had done in the lock down and all season is coming to the fore – now match sharpness is back.
Wolves – I like the manager and think they have some fantastic players. They have solid, underrated defenders and some excellent ball playing midfielders but have better forwards than us and that bit more quality with Traore and Jimenez. I think they are a side that don’t get the credit they deserve. They have spent a lot but also don’t have that big a squad and that maybe came to the fore (bit like it has for us) as if their best 2 or 3 attackers are nullified (credit to us) then they struggle to create. They did not really look like scoring and had few chances and never tested Henderson. Outside of the free kick did they look like scoring. Traore and Jimenez are so key so you worry if they lose them as they may do in the summer. I hope if anyone (other than us) gate-crashes the big time that they are the team as even though have quite a few players from the continent, they seem an honest bunch and like us not been helped by being on the wrong side of VAR quite a bit this season.
Today though they seemed to struggle and we tactically did the things we need to do. They really needed to win to get where they want to get (would not want Europa League again due to squad size and gong through this and still are this season) so it was odd they did not have more of a go second half but at the end we looked more like the winners. They got done on a classic set play and there was no coming back – to me this was their own fault as they had not really looked like scoring or even trying to really create much.
We have played them twice and got the better than them both teams in terms of performances and taken four points and that is not to be sniffed at when I recall them destroying us 3-0 at Molineux with the core of that team – shows how far we have come on the last few seasons. Their wage bill and spending power, even with a smallish squad for a team near the top, dwarves ours by some way so it shows what a job Wilder and we have done to be even near them – or today beating them.
Opponent Man of the Match – Not sure anyone was outstanding for them. Coady was maybe the best player in being solid in everything he did. I felt Neves and Jota showed a few flashes and even though Egan played him well close to goal; I thought that he showed his class coming deep with neat flicks and touches. Moutinho is a good ball player and sits deep and is maybe a more mobile version of Norwood. They do have some good players but today (as with their last game) just were not quite at it.
Opponent Weak link – We held the front three up more than them being poor but they did not offer much. At the back Jonny at times lost his concentration faced with little from us in terms of attackers and Stevens and a few others got down the left from Doherty who struggled when we attacked him. Boly was the poorest player. He nearly handed one for Sharp and then gave away a silly free kick second half. I might be wrong but he seemed to be the man who got overpowered by Egan, albeit in a sea of bodies with the vital moment.
Referee/Officials/VAR – After his first incredible decision when Norwood was penalised for being run into; he was ok. Martin Atkinson gave a reasonable performance and our two bookings were easy decisions. Not a difficult game for VAR -there were a few half-hearted appeals for handballs but they were not even looked at in detail so cannot have been (although with VAR you never know). He could have booked Basham for diving – that was poor for me from our man and we would have called him out if it was an opponent. The rest of the game I am not sure there was a bad tackle or even many tackles really. It was game played in good spirits with two fairly honest sets of players – same as Sunday at Burnley.
Coverage- Andy Hinchcliffe seems to do us every game but even though he is ex Wednesday, I quite like him as a pundit. Think he is balanced and reasonable. I don’t mind Souness either, he has been very praiseworthy of us all season even though he calls us Sheffield too much. Seems like we have not got any ex Blades who can be pundits or they don’t ask any as we have had Neville commentating for Man Utd, Ian Taylor I think when we played at Villa, we had Van Persie analysing when we played Arsenal, Redknapp v Spurs and Matt Murray tonight for Wolves. It does seem odd. I’d rather them just have neutral analysts/commentators but suppose they will drag out whoever has a connection and outside of Michael Brown, not sure we have any?
