Post by deadbat on Feb 10, 2022 0:34:17 GMT
Podcast to follow tomorrow – so too late to do tonight but will do after work tomorrow
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The Blades recent winning run continued end as they saw off old nemesis Steve Bruce in his first game as West Brom manager. United have now won four games in a row and are only a point off 6th place, albeit in a crowded battle for the playoffs. However, with games in hand and momentum, the Blades will be relishing every game with confidence. The only concern from tonight will be a nasty looking injury to David McGoldrick that further weakens an already depleted forward line. West Brom had started the game well but after Billy Sharp scored against the run of play, there was only one winner. Jake Livermore’s reckless tackle saw his team reduced to ten men and for all the moaning from Bruce and his coaching staff at the officials, he maybe needed to direct his anger towards his own players who resorted to late tackles and fouls rather than trying to play football. Their direct approach yielded few chances whilst United, who were not maybe at their best, still looked far more dangerous and the only side who looked to play any football. When they passed it around, the Blades went through the Baggies easily and could have had more goals before Sharp again finished a delightful team move to seal the three points.
Manager Heckingbottom started by rotating things around again with Robinson, Baldock, Hourihane and McGoldrick in for Norrington Davies, Davies, Berge and Fleck. Gibbs White was back on the bench for United. West Brom started with a very muscular looking line up that was clear to see when the two teams flanked each other at the line ups pre game. Andy Carroll began up front and former Blade Callum Robinson was on the bench. As the flash bulbs went to signal Bruce’s arrival for his latest game for a new side, United knew a win tonight and they would be level on points with West Brom and with games in hand.
West Brom settled the quicker and were well advanced in the Blades half winning an early corner and also the long Furlong throw was put into practice early on. United had been slow to get going and were not picking up the loose stuff or able to keep the ball. However, from their first attack Basham exchanged passes with McGoldrick before firing his shot off which dipped over the bar. West Brom continued to look the more aggressive in the start of the game and were pressing United back but Reach’s shot was well off target. Grant then also had a chance that was closer after more sloppy play from United had given the ball away. Carroll was putting himself about but often illegally and committed two fouls early leaning into his man with his clumsiness to the fore.
Diangana has a shot blocked and the crowd were getting frustrated as United continued to cough up possession with Bogle stumbling out of play, Robinson finding a West Brom shirt twice and then Norwood telegraphing a pass. Livermore then had a shot that Foderingham had to field. It had been a really slow start and Bruce will have been pleased to hear the groans from the home crowd. However, after another Carroll foul – United broke out and completely against the run of play scored the opening goal.
McGoldrick played a lovely through ball down the side and Baldock, playing in an unfamiliar left back position played in an equally clever ball and SHARP was able to turn and hit his shot which took a fortunate deflection off a defender and wrongfooted Johnstone and nestled into the net. United had not really deserved this but it was a well-made goal helped by the slice of luck.
West Brom looked to respond and Reach’s ball over the top found Diangana who sprinted away from Baldock who seemed to be the man adjudged to be playing him onside. The forward was in on goal and looked set to level when Baldock made an incredible recovery run and tackle to deny West Brom a chance to level. Fantastic defending from the Blades man although the West Brom player may have taken too long to get his shot away.
The next spell saw United start to win more of the ball and move it about. When they got it down and were more secure with their passing, they were able to pick West Brom off and get through. The visitors were relying increasingly on long throws and flicks ons from Carroll and their promising start had not been built on as the home side started to improve. Ironically despite the contrast in styles, it was a kick from Foderingham saw Ajayi make a complete mess of the bouncing ball and Sharp turned and was one on one but his close-range effort was too close to Johnstone who made a point blank save to deny the United skipper a second goal.
The next spell saw a scrappy spell punctuated by a series of niggly fouls, with Carroll committing a few more and Mowatt then booked for a poor challenge on Sharp after an earlier foul on Ndiaye had been unpunished. United thought they had doubled their lead when a lovely ball from Hourihane was poked home by Sharp but the linesman’s flag went up. It looked a close call but the leading scorer was denied.
Not long after the Baggies were reduced to ten men. Hourihane moved the ball on and the tackle from captain Livermore was reckless to say the least and with the Blades player caught around the ankle area and the out-of-control nature of the tackle, it was not a surprise to see the red card come out from the referee. Bruce, Agnew and Clemence complained vociferously from the technical area – a trend that would continue all game – but surely their anger should be at their experienced captain for a poor piece of play that completely hindered his teammates that were already behind and now faced 50 minutes with a man fewer.
United then had a really good spell before half time with McGoldrick heavily involved in the good moments. His play led to a corner and then after it was played to Norwood, his fierce shot was blocked as it arrowed towards goal. The half time whistle came as the United fans stood to applaud a better second half of the first half after a sloppy and slow start. With a man advantage and the lead, the fans would have been hoping United could go on and take another vital win.
Bruce brought on Molumby for Diangana at the break and West Brom began the 2nd half like they did the first, forcing United back and winning a corner and another long throw. Norwood gave it away and then Basham’s back pass was compounded by Foderingham’s kick out of play. United struggled to get out and Carroll had a shot blocked. United were not helping themselves by going long rather than trying to keep the ball.
As the game approached the hour mark, the home side finally started to settle down and move the ball about. The big, slow centre backs struggled when the ball was on the floor and going from side to side. A better move saw Bogle link with McGoldrick and a corner was won that led to another Norwood shot blocked before Bogle also had an effort that cannoned off a defender. Ndiaye then also tried to pass the ball into the corner but that hit a defender. The improvements from the home side, saw Robinson even well advanced to try a shot before Bogle then forced Johnstone into a save but Baldock was flagged for offside as he tried to get in on the rebound.
West Brom struggled to create anything in open play but a free kick was headed wide by Clarke as the set plays continued to be their main outlet of creativity. However, United still looked the more dangerous side and were more attractive to watch when they did have pockets of play in a relatively quality free game. McGoldrick had maybe been the outstanding player on the field and his lovely ball beat the offside trap and Ndiaye was in but took too long and his effort was pushed round the post from Johnstone. It was a great chance for the young forward and hopefully a moment that United would not regret.
The corner was cleared eventually and West Brom then had a bit of a spell with a Reach shot at Johnstone and another effort from Mowatt blocked with appeals for handball waved away. Bogle had to have treatment after getting hit with the ball and then the referee oddly dropped it on the bounce to help the West Brom player cross the ball in after he was right to give them possession back after the stoppage!
United then came out and started to keep it well again. McGoldrick then went down when he sent a cross over and it seemed a bad injury and had to be helped off with it unclear the nature of his injury. McBurnie came on for him and at this same moment, Ndiaye was replaced by the returning Gibbs White.
Robinson twice came out to rob West Brom in a better second half from the defender and United were now more on the front foot and from a corner that came in, Basham and Robinson combined but it went off the wrong side of the post and out. Bogle was then cautioned for a clumsy foul and the free kick came out and saw a shot blocked away as United had to ensure they were focused.
Robinson came on for the Baggies for Mowatt as the game entered the last 15 minutes but it was not long after this when the vital second goal came. It was a lovely team move progressed through the third with McBurnie, Bogle and then Gibbs White involved who drifted inside but SHARP took the initiative and smashed in the finish giving Johnstone no chance. The skipper was lifted shoulder high by teammates in front of the Kop. The roar signalled what an important goal this was in that it effectively sealed the three points in a crucial game.
O’Shea came on for Furlong as West Brom now looked well beaten with a few more balls chucked into Carroll but Egan, Basham and Robinson remained solid and the visitors were not able to test Foderingham and they looked a tired bunch. Gibbs White and McBurnie helped run the clock down before Berge replaced the two-goal hero Sharp who got a standing ovation from the Lane as he departed. To be fair to Bruce who had been complaining and whingeing all night, he did at least offer a handshake to the Blades legend as he came off.
There was 5 minutes of stoppage time but United saw this out with no alarm and could celebrate another win. The full-time whistle came as Status Quo’s Rocking All Over the World accompanied the players as they left the field with the new anthem booming out from the terraces, to celebrate Hecky and McCall (and Lester) impact on the side. United have games coming thick and fast and will feel confident they can get right into the mix of the playoffs with several home games and fixtures against teams around them to come.
United – Odd one to assess. I think we have played better this season and maybe not got wins/draws and not sure we were amazing but we still did deserve the win in terms of doing enough at key parts of the game. We started both halves badly, particularly the first and it took us 15 minutes to get going. We just looked slow and sluggish and were standing off. We did not pass it and not one player really was sure with his touch and passing. I felt they might get one but even though they had a few efforts, can’t recall anything that clear cut really and a few went past the post but they were still kind of relying on set plays and corners. Sadly, we have a lot away, like we did at their place early. We then scored with almost our first decent move when Didzy set up Baldock and we got a bit of luck. It was poor defending and we saw how easy it was to go through them and turn a slow and static defence.
After this we had a let off as they broke through and were one on one but Baldock made a fantastic recovery. Sharp then had chances to make it two and had one disallowed after a miss he maybe should have scored when Johnstone made a great save. The offside looked close to me? The game became a bit niggle with Carroll a constant offender but the red was a poor, late tackle and seemed reckless. Not seen it back but seemed out of control. This was a big moment and we had a good spell after this up to half time. I felt we had the better of the second part of the first half after the poor start.
The second half saw us slow again and we did not take advantage of our man advantage and went long. We gave away the ball and it was frustrating but again not sure they did much to hurt us and seemed to lack ideas or nuance to get through us. We slowly came out and had a good spell around the hour with Bogle having a few chances, Norwood and Robinson also had chances. We looked close to getting a second and were now in control really and they started to lose heart as we moved it about. Whenever we got it down and passed it or tried to keep it on the floor, we created stuff and after McGoldrick’s unfortunate injury, we got the second with both subs involved. It was a lovely team move and Gibbs White showing his class – thought he was going to shoot but fell for Sharp and he buried it superbly. That was that and we saw things out. We are remarkably still only 10th – seem to have won loads and gone nowhere and I joked on twitter if the league are giving us these points but clearly it is so tight now and another few wins and we will be in the top 6. We have games in hand too and lots at home too.
I am not sure United were amazing but we played all the decent football and when we wanted to get it down and did this, we created and actually outside of the two goals, the best 3 or 4 other chances/attempts came from us. They had a few go wide or over and Foderingham made a few saves but mostly these were routine. Their best chance they never got a shot away, as Baldock got back to make the tackle when the lad looked set to level.
The red card did not help them but we eventually did settle down and do what we had to versus fewer men, moving it about well. As I say I think we have played better recently but always hard against a physical (dirty!) and direct side and Bruce will have had them motivated in his first game. They began closing us down and looked up for it but faded and regressed as the game went on. In the end 2-0 was about right and we did enough to win the game. Many players did some good things mixed with messy moments but overall, we still had too much and won against a rival which will give us confidence. Also helped us avenge the loss earlier in the season as we played good football in pockets to create things and limited them to rather basic flicks and set plays. In the end the side that wanted and did play football won. We maybe were not consistently doing this but we did enough when we needed to. We can play better than that and will do, I am sure. Hopefully the McGoldrick injury will not be too bad but did not look great. With Brewster out, we are quite stretched up here now with so many games to come over the next few weeks.
We go to Huddersfield for another big game and I am sure we will rotate things around again in terms of starters/subs used as we looked to ensure we can keep fresh with the Saturday-midweek pattern happening for a fair period ahead. Nice to see the team and club have a winning feeling again though and the team seems to have a lot more confidence and are also seeing teams of without the giveaways or stupid goals being conceded with another clean sheet.
Ratings:
Foderingham 6/10 – Did not have a lot to do and not sure he made many great saves or had many difficult saves to make. Made some routine ones. Came for a few balls and was a bit flappy on a few and then kicked one out of play second half. He is quick off his line to come and get things in general play though.
Bogle 6/10 – Not sure it was his best night and started with some odd things where it went out or he mis-controlled things. He picked up two injuries – leg and head – in different circumstances and also got booked. However, he had a good spell around the hour mark where he got forward well and had one shot blocked and another saved. He was involved in some better things second half.
Baldock 7/10 – Credit to him. Began at left back and a few dodgy early moments of control or poor passes had me concerned but he got back after the offside (he may have played him on?) and made a great tackle. This seemed to galvanise him and he improved after this with a number of interceptions and also, he got forward when he could.
Basham 6/10 – Like Bogle, he did some good things and made some interceptions and runs forward but some odd stuff too. He had one shot early over after a good run and came out a few times with interceptions but gave away a number of daft fouls, the silly back pass to Foderingham 2nd half and then got skinned three times (twice with nutmegs!). He gave 100% as always and desire is always there of course.
Robinson 6.5/10 – Thought he had a good game despite some daft moments in the game. He gave it away a few times with short passes and then nearly put them in but he also came out with the ball a few times, won his tackles and got forward well when he could too. He was determined to make sure he nipped in and also had a few shots/headers at the other end. Frustrating as mixed in with all this he still seems to always make a mistake and I constantly worry when he passes it at the back.
Egan 7/10 – Faced with a tough opponent in Carroll, he stuck to his guns and won what he could but also intelligently let him win some and then picked up the pieces or went in after the first header/control. Thought he was just really solid at the heart of the defence and not sure they had any clear chances in the box all night – just long-range shots really?
Norwood 6.5/10 – Started slowly as they pressed him and did not let him have it at all. He was a bit rushed and some of his passing was off but did improve and we started to have more of the ball and he became central to this. As the game went on, him and Hourihane started to control that area and after the red, it became easier. We just kept it better overall but he still went long too much or crosses it when no need. Did have a few decent shots blocked.
Hourihane 7/10 – I thought he was our best midfielder tonight. Nothing flash but he was nice and composed, kept his shape and after a slow start from everyone, started to nip in, win balls and then keep it. He obviously drew the red card too. He played a lovely ball to Sharp on the offside and some great corners to the edge of the box mixed with some driven ones that caused issues. Second half he rarely gave it away and him and Norwood were a good defensive shield. Not sure their games complement each other as neither carry it and both are quite static but both are intelligent and he is a nice and solid player. It is working though with them as a pair!
Ndiaye 5.5/10 – Not his night tonight on the ball. He always works hard and presses but early on he got muscled out of it or his touch was not quite there. Felt he did not really get in it until he won a few fouls and started to improve. Second half he had the great chance which he has to score and maybe tried to be too clever. Went off on around 70 minutes.
McGoldrick 7.5/10 – Until he went off maybe our best player, along with Sharp – for the goals of course. In general play though Didzy was very good. He was the one probing and creating, he came deep and started to make us play after a poor start. Lovely ball for the first goal and then he started to get on it and make things happen. Great close control and can slow the game down to bring others into play. Second half he continued to look our best player in terms of creating or bringing people into things until he went off. I thought it looked an Achilles injury (seemed to do it when he kicked it rather than a challenge) and hope it is not a long-term injury. Be a big miss if he is out a while.
Sharp 7.5/10 – Continues to score and also shut up his critics (many of which are Blades fans weirdly – including myself ashamedly at times). I thought he was a menace all night against two slow and static defenders. He scored with almost his first chance and then missed an even better one when Johnstone saved at close range. Unlucky with the offside one and then continued to harry and chase. Won a few free kicks and got in front of his man to hold it up. Great second goal which was swept in with aplomb after a lovely team move.
Subs –
McBurnie – Did well Saturday and continued this tonight with neat hold up, nice interchange and good game management. Involved in the second and he also played some nice stuff in other moments we had near the end.
Gibbs White – Came on and fell over and mis controlled initially but then suddenly he came to life and set up the second goal. He then started to have a few other decent bits of play with runs down either side. Great to see him back and expect him to start Saturday, especially if Didzy is out for a bit.
Berge – Brought on right at the end as we sought to run the clock down.
Manager: Heckingbottom 8/10 – Slow start and I was worried he had picked the wrong team as they looked strong and physical and Ndiaye and our midfield were getting shrugged off things but we scored and then slowly improved. We finished the half strongly and I thought we started to move up the field. We continued to just get it down and play and not get involved in the cynical and cheap stuff they were serving up. The subs also were involved in the second goal. He took a chance changing a winning team and Baldock at left back could have been seen as a gamble but in the end, we freshened things up again and got the win and sure this will continue. Doing a fantastic job and suddenly the side look more organised, more resolute and playing effective and winning football. Got us going in a completely different direction since he took over and really surprised me. Thought we may improve after the slow and predictable tempo of Slav but even I did not envisage the turnaround of this nature in results and performances.
West Brom – I thought they would be right there for promotion with the squad and experience but had concerns whether Ismael’s ways would work longer term as worked for a season but sustaining that and with some better technical players may not happen. They started the season with the in your face pressing and intensity and direct approach. They bullied teams like us but then they started to drop off and the fans realised that it was not great to watch. If you win, you can kind of cope with long ball and percentage football but when the results drop off, then the fans will start to become unhappy. That of course happened and they dropped away from the automatic places and in the end were right near dropping out of the playoffs when the board acted. It may seem harsh but I think if they had carried on, then their season would have petered out and they would have been making the change in the summer anyway.
Bruce is a short-term appointment and they will be paying him a fair bit. It is a different approach to the one we have ultimately took with Heckingbottom who we see being here for a longer period. Bruce will surely demand cash and expect instant results. He is here to get them up, ideally this season but if not next. He is not coming here to be part of a project and they have a fairly ageing squad but have taken some steps to address that over the last season or so with some of the incoming players but still possess a lot of burly, experienced types. I think he may keep them around the top 6, but if they did go up, like us, then what as the team/squad clearly was/is not good enough for the higher level. Like with us, I worry what the plan is and how sustainable things are? If teams like them and us do not go up in the next 2 seasons, then cost cutting is inevitable and both could be set for a longer spell at this level (see Stoke, Huddersfield, Swansea) or worse (Sunderland, Portsmouth, Wigan).
They have an odd set of players with lots of decent experience players but a lot who are on the downward trajectory of their career. They do have some talented players too but I am not sure I look at them and think wow. They are a solid playoff team at this level but even that looks a stretch maybe now with improvements from us, Boro, Forest etc. Not great to watch but effective on the whole until the last month or so when they have struggled to find a result. They are the type of team I can see being a losing playoff semi finalist against a more dynamic, hungrier and mobile side. I might be wrong but now are out of the playoffs and fading fast.
As for the game against us, they knew a defeat and we would be level and have reeled them in. I worried that Bruce would get a reaction and his record against us is so good. I just felt they were due a result, had been rested for a while longer and the new manager syndrome would kick in. Maybe it is my natural Blades pessimism! They started well, pressing us back and looked up for it. They had the better of the first 10-15 minutes and pressed Norwood and our defence but with our first real attack we scored. Bruce looked aghast! Then we had more chances and their porous and slow defence was shown up. The red card was a big moment. They complained but it was a very silly challenge by an experienced player. After this we looked the better side even though they began well 2nd half too. Not sure they created much in open play or even from the countless long throws/set plays pumped into the box. They were really limited/alehouse at times and I would not want to watch that. It’s a team of giants that play for long throws or knock downs. Awful to watch. They have a few talented players too who surely must not enjoy playing in such a style. Maybe Bruce will evolve it from the previous manager but his previous suggests probably not.
I always thought when we got it down and played through them, both before and after the red card, they struggled and we always looked more likely to create chances and score more. Not sure they ever really got through us and most of their attempts were scrappy bits and pieces or long shots. Did Foderingham have a proper and meaningful save to make all night? Johnstone made 2 or 3 big ones in contrast and if Sharp/Ndiaye take the one on ones, it could be even more than 2-0. In the end they were well beaten. Bruce, Agnew and Clemence were constantly moaning at the officials. It was pathetic really. Not sure what they moaning about? The only cynical and dirty foul came from them with Carroll constantly fouling all night and little tugs/pulls from their big players all game. If he had concentrated more on coaching or changing things to give them a chance of creating then maybe they would have done better but their managerial team just spent all night haranguing the ref and the poor lady who was the fourth official. To be fair she just laughed it off. I always wondered how many you can have in the technical area? I thought it was just two and they often had four. Agnew was constantly in her ear. It was pathetic and glad to see Bruce getting the chants towards the end. Hated the fact he told his player off for kicking it out when we had an injury. Not good to see. His player was more sporting than him.
Opponent Man of the Match – Johnstone made two fantastic saves and was the outstanding player. Outside of this difficult to pick anyone out. Maybe Furlong with his long throws – yes that is how poor they were! The lad who came on Molumby was decent and at least tried to get on the ball and penetrate a bit!
Opponent Weak link – Take your pick. Carroll was ungainly, dirty and ineffective. Did win a few flicks or hold ups but kept falling over and was pathetic looking for fouls when he was often the one fouling! Not sure how he did not get booked. The two centre backs Ajayi and Clarke were appalling. Slow, static and easy to turn. Felt when we got it to our quick players or played football, they had no idea what to do and were so clumsy. Callum Robinson never touched the ball as far as I could tell. However, for his idiocy it has to Livermore with the red card and made it so hard for them. Seen him do this before and amazed he is captain with such poor decisions.
Referee/Officials – Leigh Doughty. Another name not come across. He did us at Forest in the 1-1 but not sure we have seen much of him and came up from the National Leagues/Non-League fairly recently, only qualifying as an EFL ref in 2019. Bruce and co seemed to blame him for everything but not sure he got that much wrong really. There were a few close calls for offside though and both went for West Brom. I have seen the red back and it is a poor and reckless tackle. The other yellows for Mowatt and Bogle were fair enough too. Bruce was looking for non-existent fouls yet Carroll and co went in late several times. I also though the ref had an odd moment when after Bogle went down, he then rightly restarted the game giving it to them but bounced it down giving them the pace to cross it in on the half volley! At least later on when we had the ball and it was stopped, he repeated this! His main issue was his positioning as he kept getting in the way of our moves across the field. Not sure he was anywhere close to the reason for WBA losing though.
Matchday/Crowd – I was a bit disappointed with the crowd tonight despite the win. Felt it was still rather flat and quiet. Even with the goals and the red card, not sure we quite had the noise levels and chanting the team deserved. Everyone probably needs to do more as the team are doing well at the moment. Even I tried to sing and get behind them but not much happens in the South Stand! I felt the crowd did help with the red in terms of making sure he knew what we all thought! West Brom maybe only brought around 1,500 fans and I know it was a night match but expected maybe more? Suppose they have been losing and it is expensive to come to the Lane as a visiting fan to balance my critique.
So many wayward headers have obviously twisted his brain back to front.