Post by deadbat on Feb 15, 2022 23:45:46 GMT
Doubt there will be a pod – nothing to say and work/family stuff may mean it would not have happened till tomorrow anyway – we will see!
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The Blades recent winning run at home came to an end as they could not do enough to see off Hull City at the Lane. United, as they did on Saturday, struggled to create much in an attacking sense and missed the rested Billy Sharp up front. McBurnie and Ndiaye had chances in either half and Ingram made the saves although both were straight at the visiting keeper. Hull offered little going the other way and slowed down and spoilt things with the action often stopped and the ball seemingly rarely in play for a continuation amount of proper time. A weak referee failed to stamp down on these tactics but to be fair to Hull they were not troubled much all evening and were well organised and hard working throughout denying United space in the box.
Manager Heckingbottom resorted back to the midfield duo of Hourihane and Norwood, that has been so successful and so far before today unbeaten when they have paired together. Berge and Fleck were dropped to the bench. Ndiaye came back in for McBurnie and with doubts over whether Brewster and now McGoldrick will play again this season, United were severely stretched at the top of the pitch and they chose to rest leading scorer Billy Sharp. Wing back Jayden Bogle was out with a knee injury so Baldock went back to the right and Norrington Davies came back in.
Hull under new manager, Georgian Shota Arveladze, featured former Blade Regan Slater starting in midfield. Loan striker from Brentford Markus Forss began up front. The brought a sizeable following over for a midweek game that had been rearranged from the Christmas period.
United started well on top with Norwood and Hourihane seeing a lot of the ball and Hull clearly packing the defence and midfield areas. United tried to be patient but Norrington Davies and Baldock could not deliver the crosses when well positioned and Gibbs White was not able to get on the ball and impact things. The start of the game lacked fluidity as twice Hull saw players have to get treatment and twice, they had to change their shirts due to blood injuries. Already Ingram was also taking forever over set plays and the game seemed to be rarely in play.
When it was, the Blades were dominating the ball but were not able to create any clear chances so far despite winning two early corners. Robinson had a header off target from a ball that was played in from Hourihane and then Gibbs White had a shot blocked after the best move of the game from the home side.
Hull had not really threatened but it became clear that the main source of attack would come from the ball down the right for Lewis Potter to chase and he did get away from Basham and Baldock twice leading to a spell of play for them finally after barely seeing the ball. They had one good chance but Forss who was unmarked dragged his shot wide before Lewis Potter fired wide. For all the ball United had, Hull had as many shots go in as the home side.
Norrington Davies did well and sent over a dangerous cross but Gibbs White could not quite get there and the ball squirmed away from him and into the hands of Ingram. Ndiaye and Gibbs White then finally linked but the former fired over after a decent bit of set up from himself for the shot.
A ball down the left channel saw Mcloughlin make a mess of the bouncing ball and McBurnie was in but his shot on the angle was rather telegraphed and Ingram stood up to make the save before at the other end Hourihane’s rare sloppy pass saw Smallwood advance and fire over the top. There was 7 minutes of stoppage time played and Honeyman scythed down Norrington Davies to go into the book before a decent passage of play saw the ball come over but McBurnie got get his head onto the ball from Norwood’s cross and diverted it over on the stretch.
United started the second half on top but again the clear chances were not really coming and Ingram had still only made one save of note. McBurnie looped over another header and then at the other end Hull won a corner as the cross was fired at the midriff of MacBurnie. United continued to dominate the ball but time and time again the final ball was poor. Norrington Davies was proving more effective than Baldock in that at least he was able to carry the ball deep into Hull territory this half.
United broke out as a Hull player appealed for a foul but Gibbs White was away and slipped in Ndiaye but the striker took too long, as he did last week against West Brom, and his effort was straight at Ingram who saved. It was his second one on one miss in consecutive home games and the best chance of the game.
Norwood in a rare carry through with the ball was tripped but Houirhane’s effort deflected wide for a corner before after being booked, Ndiaye was taken off for Sharp. Eaves came on for Forss for Hull as City rotated their lone striker but Lewis Potter’s pace and trickery continued to be their main threat on the break and Baldock upended him for a free kick that United cleared.
Gibbs White drew a booking from McLoughlin and from the free kick, the Wolves loanee fired a volley wide before Berge came on for Hourihane as the game entered the last 10 minutes. United knew there would be a fair bit of time added on as Hull continued to take their time over everything but Ingram remarkably still had not been booked.
Berge twice won corners with powerful running but on the break, Longman has the best chance of the closing stages as he came inside and fired wide. Baldock was booked for a clumsy foul in the build up this chance.
The game entered four minutes of stoppage time and United won a late corner but the diagonal chipped balls were easy for Hull to mop up and the Blades could not create a clear chance or attack of significance before the full-time whistle went in a disappointing evening. Whilst Saturday, the Blades could argue it was a point gained, tonight was definitely two dropped and a game in hand where they would have expected to have won, gone awry.
United – I felt we looked flat and off the pace attacking wise and actually did well to get a draw on Saturday. Tonight, we were the better team, like Huddersfield were against us, but did not do enough really. We had a few chances with McBurnie and Ndiaye having opportunities they spurned but overall, we had so much of the ball (71%) and how many efforts/good shots/headers did we have? Sure, Robinson missed a header and a few other moments went off target but not sure we ever really built up a proper head of steam against a poor and spoiling Hull. They slowed things down, feigned injury, time wasted and helped by a weak ref made sure the ball was never really in play long enough I suppose to get any kind of momentum. However, for all that we have to do more. The quality form wide and central areas was poor. Ndiaye never got in the game and MGW only had some flurries later on. McBurnie never really looked like scoring. Some of his play outside the box was ok but ultimately, he is a striker who does not score and rarely threatens or worries defences in the box. That is a problem sadly. He had not scored now for over a season and a half in the league. That is simply not good enough. I felt Norwood and Hourihane had ok starts but faded as the game went on and some of their final balls/set plays second half were woeful. Out wide RND had a better end to the game but overall, him and Baldock rarely put a good cross or ball in all game.
I sensed we could have moved away from the three at the back actually or changed things a lot quicker but we kept playing the slow, ponderous build up and with little from the flair players, I struggled to see where we would create. It was never particularly cohesive and shows how important Bogle and Sharp are as creative and finishing players. We missed the pace and movement of Brewster and the link up of McGoldrick. I felt like with Ndiaye and MGW not getting on it enough, that we lacked any kind of threat from behind. It was like three compartments. The defence did ok and kept another clean sheet. A few shots wide and the dangerous Lewis Potter apart, they played almost exclusively on the break. We had so much of the ball but for me did not do enough with it. Heard some say we missed loads of chances but one clear one each half is not loads and how many times did we get behind them or get them facing their own goal outside of these chances?
Really disappointing night in the result and the performance that both were short of a side aspiring to be top 6. You could argue we nick a goal and we win 1-0 and it’s a solid and deserved win for all the possession we had but that did not happen and twice now we have lacked tempo and creativity. It is pleasing we are keeping clean sheets but we have created very little the last two games and the crossing/passing in the key areas has been way below the standards we need. Added to that, without Sharp we do not look like scoring much and worry the players who played today will not get us many goals.
Means Saturday we now have more pressure on us and have used up a game in hand. I felt tonight was the easy one of the three in terms of Hull having fewer attacking threats than Swansea and Blackburn. We will see but we have to do a lot better than we did in this game if we hope to beat either/both of those sides. Maybe I am going a bit over the top but Hull will finish probably 4th – 6th bottom at best and should be a side we put away regardless of rotating some players/some out injured and a weak ref. We need to be more ruthless in the final third but felt too many were kind of waiting for things to happen and not enough players took the initiative.
Ratings:
Foderingham 6/10 – Had very little to do. They had a few slots flash wide and he caught a few tame crosses/balls. His kicking was good as he got some bad back passes but dealt with them well.
Baldock 5/10 – He did ok last week v West Brom, but felt he struggled Saturday and wasted several opportunities and was a bit off the pace defensively. Sadly, thought tonight he was not great either way. Lewis Potter caused him (and Bash) all sorts of issues and he was the only threat but he beat him a few times and Baldock fouled him three times before finally getting booked. Attacking wise got into so many good positions but never delivered a good ball I can recall all night. Simply does not produce for all his strong running and fitness to get into these areas. Really missed Bogle’s range of skills and play in this area.
Norrington Davies 6.5/10 – Thought he was not great to begin the game with too many touches and wasteful but as the game went on, he got better and better. He was good 2nd half in terms of his touch, passing and being an outlet. Defended ok too. His final ball was often hitting the man or he overplayed it.
Basham 5.5/10 – Ok defensively when the ball came into him but struggled with the ball behind. One of those nights where the ball came off him too many times from his first touch and he got beat for skill a few times. Just sort of headed a few in the air or sliced a few too. Down his and Baldock’s side they had their most dangerous attacks. Coming forward he tried to break but not sure many runs led to him getting deep into their box.
Robinson 7/10 – Solid all night and used it well, made good tackles and stepped into cover when he had to. He did everything he needed to do defensively and can’t recall any obvious errors. Did have a headed effort when he might have done better first half. Not sure why he did not use his long throw more to offer us a chance to get it into the box more 2nd half? He has been one of our better players recently definitely.
Egan 7/10 – As above. He dealt with Forss and then Eaves – two different players – relatively easily. He won his headers and blocks and used the ball ok when he had it. One looping header over at the other end but defensively he did his job and another clean sheet.
Norwood 6/10 – To begin I thought he was very good and dictated the play using it well. He kept it short and long and moved us up the field. He was secure with the ball and the good stuff we did came from him. 2nd half he started to give it away and in one spell, he must have passed it them four times in a row with that straight pass through the middle. Started to go long and direct and too many of those chipped diagonal balls. His set plays were awful – one on half time to the front man and then two second half where he just did not even get it in after short corners. Did win a free kick with one run with the ball.
Hourihane 6/10 – He, along with Norwood, controlled the game to begin as we dominated this area of the field. He was just nice and steady with the ball and also sent two great crosses in that led to chances with that left foot of his. He then gave it away just before half time and 2nd half, like Norwood, started to become sloppier. He came off for Berge near the end but not sure he was playing awful. He was ok – nothing flash but we needed more ball carriers than simple sideways and backward passes and whilst he kept the ball it was all behind Hull.
Gibbs White 6/10 – Not good at Huddersfield and carried on with silly flicks and loose touches but then he did start to do more good things and he got down the right once and then was denied on a cross. Linked with Ndiaye and started to become more of an influence. Second half he was more of a threat and se tup Ndiaye, won a free kick and volleyed wide. Nowhere near his best and still things did not always come off but you felt if we nicked a goal, he would be involved in it.
Ndiaye 4/10 – I like him a lot but in recent times his form has been patchy. He does some good things and uses his strength and ability to carry the ball but he was wasteful a lot tonight as he was against West Brom. He ran down blind alleys and other than one shot wide, felt the game just sort of went on around him. He also started to lose it and set them on the break twice. Second half has a great chance and misses again (same as last week) and then his head dropped a bit and he chops his man down, gets booked and is subbed. Needs to do a lot better than he did tonight, on and off the ball.
McBurnie 5.5/10 – Some have said he was abysmal; some have said he played well. I am somewhere in the middle. His actual general play was ok at times with some decent build up and hold up – although when MGW and Ndiaye play, not sure he needs to come back so much. We need him in the box more. He goes to ground way too often looking for free kicks and his heading/kicking of a ball is incredibly timid/weak for a tall man who fancies himself as a bit of a hard man. He did get his head on it a few times but invariably takes the power of it and the shot second half was woefully weak. The one good chance he hit the keeper and lacked subtlety. He does not score and rarely looks like scoring to me. I have been waiting for him to come good for 18+ months. I keep hearing it is our style, formation, how we play him or we don’t get balls in? I then hear he has been injured/covid. Running out of excuses. Not sure he was the worst player tonight (Ndiaye and even faves like Baldock and Basham were worse in general play) but as a centre half I would much rather play him than Sharp.
Subs –
Sharp – Put himself about and trapped one ball before fouling his man, then won a corner and chased down the channels. We just looked more of a threat when he was on but due to the lack of quality/crosses coming in, not sure he had any chances?
Berge – Did well when he was on. Drove down the right three times and won two corners and another where he linked well and sent a decent ball over. Maybe could have come on earlier as they clearly were worried about his power and strong running. Need to see more of that.
Manager: Heckingbottom 5/10 – Mark may seem harsh but we needed to make changes quicker – same as Saturday and also change the style and even formation as Hull just sat in and forced us into the middle and we could not get through. When we went wide, they just moved men across and stopped the ball coming in. There is an argument we needed to sacrifice a centre back -they had 1-man up front. One man! We still had three centre backs. He would have been better putting Berge as an orthodox right winger and maybe Gibbs White on the left with Sharp/McBurnie up front and taking off a Basham and leading two in the centre? We ended up with a spare man doing nothing as Bash had to stay back sadly as Baldock was struggling with Lewis Potter. Maybe that is why he left him on? I just felt it was quite rigid and they dealt with us quite easily. We were not getting any kind of momentum at all and he needed to change the approach somewhat. He has been excellent since he came in but we have struggled to really look like scoring much the last two games – albeit not helped by some injuries but maybe he has tinkered too much – granted Billy cannot play forever. We will see lots of teams like Hull come and sit in and spoil and we have to be better, individually, collectively and tactically. Not sure we did enough tonight and that is the players and the manager as harsh as it sounds.
Hull – I was surprised they bounced back first time as felt they were going in the wrong direction after they went down and McCann did really well with much the same squad and relied on young players and journeymen really. They got up relatively comfortably in the end actually. I did think they would struggle again, as much of the players showed they were not up to this level before and not sure they did enough in terms of recruitment. They did struggle but had picked up a bit before the ownership change and then the almost inevitable managerial change that comes with it. Arveladze seemed an off appointment but clearly had some links to the new Turkish owners. Interesting that despite the change and Allam going, that the crowds have not shifted upwards as much I thought they might. I know a lot stayed away when he was in charge. The new manager has had mixed fortunes with a few decent results but then they have dropped off again recently but with the situation of Derby/Reading added into the poor form of Barnsley and Peterborough, they may well do enough to just about stay up.
Lewis Potter seems to be the player that they count on regularly and you wonder if someone may take him in the summer. They have some experience in the likes of Huddlestone, Smallwood and Honeyman but the rest of the side lacks smarts and goals. The lad Eaves is a handful but seems to struggle to stay fit. Forss was a smart signing from Brentford though and can finish well. Smith has not really had much impact at all up front and I am not sure he is quite up to this level. Remains to be seen how much Slater will play. I for one felt we were right to move these on. They had not really convinced 3 managers to give them a chance and they see them every day in training/u23/loan games for other clubs. Both are Sheffield lads and Blades so hope they can forge a decent pro career but they will have to improve hugely to be regulars at Championship level in my opinion.
Hull do not have a great record down here. Recall one win when Ched Evans scored twice for us on Boxing Day and they scored a late winner in a 3-2 win but over the years we generally beat them and recall some Edwards/Beagrie inspired Xmas time wins down the years. Latterly we have beaten them when Wilder was here and then under Warnock when we won 3-2 with Unsworth’s late goal. They are a not a side that is normally very successful against us at either ground (and Boothferry Park too) really.
However, tonight they got a point. It was awful to watch. They went down early and often and had two players change shirts for blood on their originals and it became so stop start. They did have a threat with Lewis Potter on the break and had a few shots go wide but they came for a point and I suppose they got it. They defended well and threw bodies in the way and denied us penetrating but I also thought they defended quite deep knowing we had to try and play through them and we could not do that. Poor side and not great to watch but got what they wanted and we have to be better to break sides down.
Opponent Man of the Match – The keeper Ingram time wasted and was annoying and somehow did not get booked but he made two smart saves even if they were into his chest and allowed him to save. However, the best player was easily Lewis Potter. Tricky, quick and positive. We struggled with him all night but he got little help and had to do too much himself. Got them up the field and won territory and free kicks.
Opponent Weak link – A lot of average performances rather than one stand out weak link – you could say the same about us I suppose! The midfield buzzed around but did little really other than cover positions and try and deny space. Honeyman is a dirty so and so, as showed again tonight. Slater was poor and saw absolutely nothing from him to suggest we did the right thing moving him on. Remain unconvinced that he will even be a regular for them. Forss was quiet and Eaves no better when he came on.
Referee/Officials – Oliver Langford. Reffed us at Blackburn in the defeat and then you have to go back to the West Brom 1-0 in the Promotion season. No real memories of him from other teams/games either. That is the thing back in the EFL, you do not get those notorious names (for good and bad reasons) and more unknown characters. Started off giving us lots of little free kicks but sadly whilst we may have been happy, this was the sign of things to come as it became very stop start and with lots of time wasting and slowing down by them unpunished. Also, for someone who gave little fouls, he then failed to give some for clear foul play choosing to give us two or three advantages when the opportunity to attack had almost gone. No problem with the bookings. Some were asking for a red for Honeyman but it was a routine yellow as was Baldock, Ndiaye’s for us and the one for McLoughlin for the check on Gibbs White. He got booed off at half time – maybe it was for not clamping down on the feigning injury/time wasting? He just was not quite strong enough and ended up being a game where the football never seemed to be in play or we were waiting for the game to restart constantly.
Matchday/Crowd – Think the Lane crowd has been really poor this season and today that continued. Yes, there is an argument the team needs to raise the crowd but we have been doing well and believe the players need a bit more. It is really quiet most games and for such big crowds (biggest at this level) you expect much more noise and backing. Maybe we have become complacent after the Premier League days. Although tonight there was little to cheer about. Hull’s fans (over 2k which was good for a Tuesday night in February) were noisy and supportive in comparison although the stupid bouncing thing made them look a bit like our rivals across the city. It always looks really daft and I would say the same if we did it!
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The Blades recent winning run at home came to an end as they could not do enough to see off Hull City at the Lane. United, as they did on Saturday, struggled to create much in an attacking sense and missed the rested Billy Sharp up front. McBurnie and Ndiaye had chances in either half and Ingram made the saves although both were straight at the visiting keeper. Hull offered little going the other way and slowed down and spoilt things with the action often stopped and the ball seemingly rarely in play for a continuation amount of proper time. A weak referee failed to stamp down on these tactics but to be fair to Hull they were not troubled much all evening and were well organised and hard working throughout denying United space in the box.
Manager Heckingbottom resorted back to the midfield duo of Hourihane and Norwood, that has been so successful and so far before today unbeaten when they have paired together. Berge and Fleck were dropped to the bench. Ndiaye came back in for McBurnie and with doubts over whether Brewster and now McGoldrick will play again this season, United were severely stretched at the top of the pitch and they chose to rest leading scorer Billy Sharp. Wing back Jayden Bogle was out with a knee injury so Baldock went back to the right and Norrington Davies came back in.
Hull under new manager, Georgian Shota Arveladze, featured former Blade Regan Slater starting in midfield. Loan striker from Brentford Markus Forss began up front. The brought a sizeable following over for a midweek game that had been rearranged from the Christmas period.
United started well on top with Norwood and Hourihane seeing a lot of the ball and Hull clearly packing the defence and midfield areas. United tried to be patient but Norrington Davies and Baldock could not deliver the crosses when well positioned and Gibbs White was not able to get on the ball and impact things. The start of the game lacked fluidity as twice Hull saw players have to get treatment and twice, they had to change their shirts due to blood injuries. Already Ingram was also taking forever over set plays and the game seemed to be rarely in play.
When it was, the Blades were dominating the ball but were not able to create any clear chances so far despite winning two early corners. Robinson had a header off target from a ball that was played in from Hourihane and then Gibbs White had a shot blocked after the best move of the game from the home side.
Hull had not really threatened but it became clear that the main source of attack would come from the ball down the right for Lewis Potter to chase and he did get away from Basham and Baldock twice leading to a spell of play for them finally after barely seeing the ball. They had one good chance but Forss who was unmarked dragged his shot wide before Lewis Potter fired wide. For all the ball United had, Hull had as many shots go in as the home side.
Norrington Davies did well and sent over a dangerous cross but Gibbs White could not quite get there and the ball squirmed away from him and into the hands of Ingram. Ndiaye and Gibbs White then finally linked but the former fired over after a decent bit of set up from himself for the shot.
A ball down the left channel saw Mcloughlin make a mess of the bouncing ball and McBurnie was in but his shot on the angle was rather telegraphed and Ingram stood up to make the save before at the other end Hourihane’s rare sloppy pass saw Smallwood advance and fire over the top. There was 7 minutes of stoppage time played and Honeyman scythed down Norrington Davies to go into the book before a decent passage of play saw the ball come over but McBurnie got get his head onto the ball from Norwood’s cross and diverted it over on the stretch.
United started the second half on top but again the clear chances were not really coming and Ingram had still only made one save of note. McBurnie looped over another header and then at the other end Hull won a corner as the cross was fired at the midriff of MacBurnie. United continued to dominate the ball but time and time again the final ball was poor. Norrington Davies was proving more effective than Baldock in that at least he was able to carry the ball deep into Hull territory this half.
United broke out as a Hull player appealed for a foul but Gibbs White was away and slipped in Ndiaye but the striker took too long, as he did last week against West Brom, and his effort was straight at Ingram who saved. It was his second one on one miss in consecutive home games and the best chance of the game.
Norwood in a rare carry through with the ball was tripped but Houirhane’s effort deflected wide for a corner before after being booked, Ndiaye was taken off for Sharp. Eaves came on for Forss for Hull as City rotated their lone striker but Lewis Potter’s pace and trickery continued to be their main threat on the break and Baldock upended him for a free kick that United cleared.
Gibbs White drew a booking from McLoughlin and from the free kick, the Wolves loanee fired a volley wide before Berge came on for Hourihane as the game entered the last 10 minutes. United knew there would be a fair bit of time added on as Hull continued to take their time over everything but Ingram remarkably still had not been booked.
Berge twice won corners with powerful running but on the break, Longman has the best chance of the closing stages as he came inside and fired wide. Baldock was booked for a clumsy foul in the build up this chance.
The game entered four minutes of stoppage time and United won a late corner but the diagonal chipped balls were easy for Hull to mop up and the Blades could not create a clear chance or attack of significance before the full-time whistle went in a disappointing evening. Whilst Saturday, the Blades could argue it was a point gained, tonight was definitely two dropped and a game in hand where they would have expected to have won, gone awry.
United – I felt we looked flat and off the pace attacking wise and actually did well to get a draw on Saturday. Tonight, we were the better team, like Huddersfield were against us, but did not do enough really. We had a few chances with McBurnie and Ndiaye having opportunities they spurned but overall, we had so much of the ball (71%) and how many efforts/good shots/headers did we have? Sure, Robinson missed a header and a few other moments went off target but not sure we ever really built up a proper head of steam against a poor and spoiling Hull. They slowed things down, feigned injury, time wasted and helped by a weak ref made sure the ball was never really in play long enough I suppose to get any kind of momentum. However, for all that we have to do more. The quality form wide and central areas was poor. Ndiaye never got in the game and MGW only had some flurries later on. McBurnie never really looked like scoring. Some of his play outside the box was ok but ultimately, he is a striker who does not score and rarely threatens or worries defences in the box. That is a problem sadly. He had not scored now for over a season and a half in the league. That is simply not good enough. I felt Norwood and Hourihane had ok starts but faded as the game went on and some of their final balls/set plays second half were woeful. Out wide RND had a better end to the game but overall, him and Baldock rarely put a good cross or ball in all game.
I sensed we could have moved away from the three at the back actually or changed things a lot quicker but we kept playing the slow, ponderous build up and with little from the flair players, I struggled to see where we would create. It was never particularly cohesive and shows how important Bogle and Sharp are as creative and finishing players. We missed the pace and movement of Brewster and the link up of McGoldrick. I felt like with Ndiaye and MGW not getting on it enough, that we lacked any kind of threat from behind. It was like three compartments. The defence did ok and kept another clean sheet. A few shots wide and the dangerous Lewis Potter apart, they played almost exclusively on the break. We had so much of the ball but for me did not do enough with it. Heard some say we missed loads of chances but one clear one each half is not loads and how many times did we get behind them or get them facing their own goal outside of these chances?
Really disappointing night in the result and the performance that both were short of a side aspiring to be top 6. You could argue we nick a goal and we win 1-0 and it’s a solid and deserved win for all the possession we had but that did not happen and twice now we have lacked tempo and creativity. It is pleasing we are keeping clean sheets but we have created very little the last two games and the crossing/passing in the key areas has been way below the standards we need. Added to that, without Sharp we do not look like scoring much and worry the players who played today will not get us many goals.
Means Saturday we now have more pressure on us and have used up a game in hand. I felt tonight was the easy one of the three in terms of Hull having fewer attacking threats than Swansea and Blackburn. We will see but we have to do a lot better than we did in this game if we hope to beat either/both of those sides. Maybe I am going a bit over the top but Hull will finish probably 4th – 6th bottom at best and should be a side we put away regardless of rotating some players/some out injured and a weak ref. We need to be more ruthless in the final third but felt too many were kind of waiting for things to happen and not enough players took the initiative.
Ratings:
Foderingham 6/10 – Had very little to do. They had a few slots flash wide and he caught a few tame crosses/balls. His kicking was good as he got some bad back passes but dealt with them well.
Baldock 5/10 – He did ok last week v West Brom, but felt he struggled Saturday and wasted several opportunities and was a bit off the pace defensively. Sadly, thought tonight he was not great either way. Lewis Potter caused him (and Bash) all sorts of issues and he was the only threat but he beat him a few times and Baldock fouled him three times before finally getting booked. Attacking wise got into so many good positions but never delivered a good ball I can recall all night. Simply does not produce for all his strong running and fitness to get into these areas. Really missed Bogle’s range of skills and play in this area.
Norrington Davies 6.5/10 – Thought he was not great to begin the game with too many touches and wasteful but as the game went on, he got better and better. He was good 2nd half in terms of his touch, passing and being an outlet. Defended ok too. His final ball was often hitting the man or he overplayed it.
Basham 5.5/10 – Ok defensively when the ball came into him but struggled with the ball behind. One of those nights where the ball came off him too many times from his first touch and he got beat for skill a few times. Just sort of headed a few in the air or sliced a few too. Down his and Baldock’s side they had their most dangerous attacks. Coming forward he tried to break but not sure many runs led to him getting deep into their box.
Robinson 7/10 – Solid all night and used it well, made good tackles and stepped into cover when he had to. He did everything he needed to do defensively and can’t recall any obvious errors. Did have a headed effort when he might have done better first half. Not sure why he did not use his long throw more to offer us a chance to get it into the box more 2nd half? He has been one of our better players recently definitely.
Egan 7/10 – As above. He dealt with Forss and then Eaves – two different players – relatively easily. He won his headers and blocks and used the ball ok when he had it. One looping header over at the other end but defensively he did his job and another clean sheet.
Norwood 6/10 – To begin I thought he was very good and dictated the play using it well. He kept it short and long and moved us up the field. He was secure with the ball and the good stuff we did came from him. 2nd half he started to give it away and in one spell, he must have passed it them four times in a row with that straight pass through the middle. Started to go long and direct and too many of those chipped diagonal balls. His set plays were awful – one on half time to the front man and then two second half where he just did not even get it in after short corners. Did win a free kick with one run with the ball.
Hourihane 6/10 – He, along with Norwood, controlled the game to begin as we dominated this area of the field. He was just nice and steady with the ball and also sent two great crosses in that led to chances with that left foot of his. He then gave it away just before half time and 2nd half, like Norwood, started to become sloppier. He came off for Berge near the end but not sure he was playing awful. He was ok – nothing flash but we needed more ball carriers than simple sideways and backward passes and whilst he kept the ball it was all behind Hull.
Gibbs White 6/10 – Not good at Huddersfield and carried on with silly flicks and loose touches but then he did start to do more good things and he got down the right once and then was denied on a cross. Linked with Ndiaye and started to become more of an influence. Second half he was more of a threat and se tup Ndiaye, won a free kick and volleyed wide. Nowhere near his best and still things did not always come off but you felt if we nicked a goal, he would be involved in it.
Ndiaye 4/10 – I like him a lot but in recent times his form has been patchy. He does some good things and uses his strength and ability to carry the ball but he was wasteful a lot tonight as he was against West Brom. He ran down blind alleys and other than one shot wide, felt the game just sort of went on around him. He also started to lose it and set them on the break twice. Second half has a great chance and misses again (same as last week) and then his head dropped a bit and he chops his man down, gets booked and is subbed. Needs to do a lot better than he did tonight, on and off the ball.
McBurnie 5.5/10 – Some have said he was abysmal; some have said he played well. I am somewhere in the middle. His actual general play was ok at times with some decent build up and hold up – although when MGW and Ndiaye play, not sure he needs to come back so much. We need him in the box more. He goes to ground way too often looking for free kicks and his heading/kicking of a ball is incredibly timid/weak for a tall man who fancies himself as a bit of a hard man. He did get his head on it a few times but invariably takes the power of it and the shot second half was woefully weak. The one good chance he hit the keeper and lacked subtlety. He does not score and rarely looks like scoring to me. I have been waiting for him to come good for 18+ months. I keep hearing it is our style, formation, how we play him or we don’t get balls in? I then hear he has been injured/covid. Running out of excuses. Not sure he was the worst player tonight (Ndiaye and even faves like Baldock and Basham were worse in general play) but as a centre half I would much rather play him than Sharp.
Subs –
Sharp – Put himself about and trapped one ball before fouling his man, then won a corner and chased down the channels. We just looked more of a threat when he was on but due to the lack of quality/crosses coming in, not sure he had any chances?
Berge – Did well when he was on. Drove down the right three times and won two corners and another where he linked well and sent a decent ball over. Maybe could have come on earlier as they clearly were worried about his power and strong running. Need to see more of that.
Manager: Heckingbottom 5/10 – Mark may seem harsh but we needed to make changes quicker – same as Saturday and also change the style and even formation as Hull just sat in and forced us into the middle and we could not get through. When we went wide, they just moved men across and stopped the ball coming in. There is an argument we needed to sacrifice a centre back -they had 1-man up front. One man! We still had three centre backs. He would have been better putting Berge as an orthodox right winger and maybe Gibbs White on the left with Sharp/McBurnie up front and taking off a Basham and leading two in the centre? We ended up with a spare man doing nothing as Bash had to stay back sadly as Baldock was struggling with Lewis Potter. Maybe that is why he left him on? I just felt it was quite rigid and they dealt with us quite easily. We were not getting any kind of momentum at all and he needed to change the approach somewhat. He has been excellent since he came in but we have struggled to really look like scoring much the last two games – albeit not helped by some injuries but maybe he has tinkered too much – granted Billy cannot play forever. We will see lots of teams like Hull come and sit in and spoil and we have to be better, individually, collectively and tactically. Not sure we did enough tonight and that is the players and the manager as harsh as it sounds.
Hull – I was surprised they bounced back first time as felt they were going in the wrong direction after they went down and McCann did really well with much the same squad and relied on young players and journeymen really. They got up relatively comfortably in the end actually. I did think they would struggle again, as much of the players showed they were not up to this level before and not sure they did enough in terms of recruitment. They did struggle but had picked up a bit before the ownership change and then the almost inevitable managerial change that comes with it. Arveladze seemed an off appointment but clearly had some links to the new Turkish owners. Interesting that despite the change and Allam going, that the crowds have not shifted upwards as much I thought they might. I know a lot stayed away when he was in charge. The new manager has had mixed fortunes with a few decent results but then they have dropped off again recently but with the situation of Derby/Reading added into the poor form of Barnsley and Peterborough, they may well do enough to just about stay up.
Lewis Potter seems to be the player that they count on regularly and you wonder if someone may take him in the summer. They have some experience in the likes of Huddlestone, Smallwood and Honeyman but the rest of the side lacks smarts and goals. The lad Eaves is a handful but seems to struggle to stay fit. Forss was a smart signing from Brentford though and can finish well. Smith has not really had much impact at all up front and I am not sure he is quite up to this level. Remains to be seen how much Slater will play. I for one felt we were right to move these on. They had not really convinced 3 managers to give them a chance and they see them every day in training/u23/loan games for other clubs. Both are Sheffield lads and Blades so hope they can forge a decent pro career but they will have to improve hugely to be regulars at Championship level in my opinion.
Hull do not have a great record down here. Recall one win when Ched Evans scored twice for us on Boxing Day and they scored a late winner in a 3-2 win but over the years we generally beat them and recall some Edwards/Beagrie inspired Xmas time wins down the years. Latterly we have beaten them when Wilder was here and then under Warnock when we won 3-2 with Unsworth’s late goal. They are a not a side that is normally very successful against us at either ground (and Boothferry Park too) really.
However, tonight they got a point. It was awful to watch. They went down early and often and had two players change shirts for blood on their originals and it became so stop start. They did have a threat with Lewis Potter on the break and had a few shots go wide but they came for a point and I suppose they got it. They defended well and threw bodies in the way and denied us penetrating but I also thought they defended quite deep knowing we had to try and play through them and we could not do that. Poor side and not great to watch but got what they wanted and we have to be better to break sides down.
Opponent Man of the Match – The keeper Ingram time wasted and was annoying and somehow did not get booked but he made two smart saves even if they were into his chest and allowed him to save. However, the best player was easily Lewis Potter. Tricky, quick and positive. We struggled with him all night but he got little help and had to do too much himself. Got them up the field and won territory and free kicks.
Opponent Weak link – A lot of average performances rather than one stand out weak link – you could say the same about us I suppose! The midfield buzzed around but did little really other than cover positions and try and deny space. Honeyman is a dirty so and so, as showed again tonight. Slater was poor and saw absolutely nothing from him to suggest we did the right thing moving him on. Remain unconvinced that he will even be a regular for them. Forss was quiet and Eaves no better when he came on.
Referee/Officials – Oliver Langford. Reffed us at Blackburn in the defeat and then you have to go back to the West Brom 1-0 in the Promotion season. No real memories of him from other teams/games either. That is the thing back in the EFL, you do not get those notorious names (for good and bad reasons) and more unknown characters. Started off giving us lots of little free kicks but sadly whilst we may have been happy, this was the sign of things to come as it became very stop start and with lots of time wasting and slowing down by them unpunished. Also, for someone who gave little fouls, he then failed to give some for clear foul play choosing to give us two or three advantages when the opportunity to attack had almost gone. No problem with the bookings. Some were asking for a red for Honeyman but it was a routine yellow as was Baldock, Ndiaye’s for us and the one for McLoughlin for the check on Gibbs White. He got booed off at half time – maybe it was for not clamping down on the feigning injury/time wasting? He just was not quite strong enough and ended up being a game where the football never seemed to be in play or we were waiting for the game to restart constantly.
Matchday/Crowd – Think the Lane crowd has been really poor this season and today that continued. Yes, there is an argument the team needs to raise the crowd but we have been doing well and believe the players need a bit more. It is really quiet most games and for such big crowds (biggest at this level) you expect much more noise and backing. Maybe we have become complacent after the Premier League days. Although tonight there was little to cheer about. Hull’s fans (over 2k which was good for a Tuesday night in February) were noisy and supportive in comparison although the stupid bouncing thing made them look a bit like our rivals across the city. It always looks really daft and I would say the same if we did it!
