Post by deadbat on Feb 19, 2022 19:50:18 GMT
Podcast links to come later - report below….
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United ended the week with three points and continued their unbeaten run and moved into the playoff places after a resounding victory over Swansea City at the Lane. After dominating the game in midweek but unable to finish their chances, United were ruthless in this contest going three goals up before the break to effectively seal the contest and then scoring a fourth in the second half. In truth, the margin of victory flattered a desperately poor Swans side who could have been beaten by an even greater margin as the home side swarmed all over them and pressed them from start to finish. Russell Martin’s side continued to try and play out from the back all game but it was very reminiscent of the Blades under Jokanovic and time and time again they coughed up possession and gave United chances. Gibbs White and Berge were excellent throughout and United scored four very good goals. At the other end they were largely untroubled and kept yet another clean sheet and have now not conceded a goal at home since the game against Blackpool back in October.
Heckingbottom made changes yet again with Fleck, Berge and Sharp in for Hourihane, Ndiaye and McBurnie. Sharp was back leading the line with Gibbs White and Berge just behind the leading scorer. Swansea started with leading scorer Joel Piroe up front and Blades nemesis Jamie Paterson just behind, after returning to the side after contract negotiations had seen him left out after Xmas. Former Blade Kyle Naughton was not fit enough to be involved.
After difficult weather all over the UK, Swansea were backed by only a few hundred hardy souls and the game began in swirling wind and rain but without the anticipated snow/sleet that had been forecast.
United as they have done in most home games recently started well and pushed Swansea back with Norwood to the fore. They won an early corner off Manning and another soon after but the away side were able to clear. It became evident that they were going to try and play out from the back but this tactic saw Fleck and Berge twice win the ball and get United back on the ball to create opportunities. Swansea had struggled to get out early on and the home side were trying to get Gibbs White on the ball and were looking to find the threaded ball down the gaps. Sharp was denied and then Berge nearly found a pocket of space after a strong run.
The first goal was not long in coming though and was well made. After a corner was cleared, Baldock returned the ball in forward and then as it fell for Norwood, the midfielder played a lovely ball around the corner. GIBBS WHITE beat the offside trap and clipped a lovely finish with the outside of his foot and beyond the dive of Fisher. It was well made and expertly finished and with one pass and finish, United did what they had failed to do over the course of the game in midweek.
Swansea tried to respond but Basham and then Egan read the ball through and in turn flicked it away from Paterson. United were swarming all over their visitors and it was not long before the second goal came. It was patient build up again and ended up with Norrington Davies who did well down the left and sent a teasing cross in that was just away from Gibbs White but coming in at pace was BALDOCK who sent an unerring driven shot that smashed into the net via the underside of the bar! It was an astonishing finish and the goalkeeper did not move. The full back celebrated his first goal for over two years by running in glee towards the United bench as the crowd reacted with a mixture of delight and maybe even surprise as the source of the goal!
United were in dominant mood and soon after Gibbs White was through but opted a back heel back to Sharp when he could have gone on. Another chance came when good work from Berge, Gibbs White and then Sharp who pulled off wide, saw a perfect pull back but Gibbs White’s header went just wide. He probably should have scored.
Swansea continued to try and play it out from the back but all of United’s players were quick to react and Berge and Fleck were key to the press neve being beaten and then Gibbs White got on the ball looking to probe. Paterson had tried to get on the ball the other way but a weak effort from Ntcham at Foderingham was about the only real attack they had in a very one-sided game. It was a strange game as Swansea had a lot of the ball in their own third but simply could not out and seemed like they were not willing to adapt and these strange tactics continued to cause problems. Sharp nearly got in again and then Berge had another strong run that led to a corner. Egan could not turn his effort towards goal but it was clear that the next goal was going to come from the home side if Swansea did not change their ridiculous approach/
The third goal came sure enough when Gibbs White played the ball through and SHARP was in and with Swansea having defenders back from their earlier goal kick, the striker took a touch and lifted it expertly into the net and the game seemed like it was over before half time.
Norwood’s poor foul was a black mark on a dominant first half performance and the midfielder was rightly booked. The next spell saw Swansea at least move it into the Blades half and another booking actually ensued as Baldock was the next to catch the stand out player Paterson as the visitors broke. However, a shot way off target from the same man was as close as they got and Berge was upended on the next attack as United continued to look the most dangerous side. Some nice one touch stuff before the break saw Norrington Davies well forward and the ball to Sharp was just cut out. The half time whistle saw a warm ovation from the home sides for an excellent first half showing.
After the break, United came out quick again and Gibbs White was again involved in the better moments. His flick and then run saw United well advanced again and then Berge and the on-loan Wolves man linked leading to Baldock side footing home but Gibbs White had strayed just offside in the build-up.
Paterson saw Foderingham have to make a save but it was a routine take from the United keeper and with Norwood controlling midfield and Berge continuing to cause problems with his strength and forward running, United were in the mood for more goals.
Sharp had a header off target before Fleck hit an effort that Fisher saved and the game continued in the same vein as the first half. Swansea continued to try and play it out and still were not able to break the press or have any sustained play in the middle of the field, let alone the United defensive third. It seemed like their approach would not change and another give away from the keeper saw Berge in but he took too long in a rare poor moment in an otherwise excellent game from the Norwegian midfielder. He was soon back on it driving down the right and winning a corner.
Obafemi came on for Ntcham for the Swans but they still only had one central striker in a rather baffling reaction to being three goals behind where they continued this patient play out from the back that was just leading to issues and chances for the Blades.
United won two corners after more giveaways but they could not create any clear chances in this spell but for the most part were happy to just wait for the mistake and the seize on the loose ball and then have a period in the Swansea half after recovering the ball.
Baldock went down and had to come off with Goode coming on for his debut and Basham going to right wing back and the newcomer won an early tackle drawing cheers from the crowd. Gibbs White was still causing all sorts of problems with his nifty feet and quick-witted brain. One skill drew a foul on half way before he ran at the Swansea back line and drew a cynical foul leading to a free kick. Fleck took it but it was too close to the keeper.
The fourth goal came though on 78 minutes and again was down to patient play after United recovered another giveaway and then in turn moved it on. Sharp was the architect with a neat ball and GIBBS WHITE passed it expertly into the far corner to give the score line a more accurate gloss.
Smith came on for Piroe and McBurnie replaced Sharp as the game entered the final 10 minutes and at this stage it seemed the only thing to be decided was the margin of victory. Swansea won a few corners but they came to nothing and Goode and Norrington Davies did some sterling defensive work to deny any chance of even a chance.
Jebbison came on for the game’s outstanding player Gibbs White with both incoming and outgoing player getting a loud ovation. Jebbison won a free kick with a run down the left checked illegally before Egan had an effort saved with a header.
As the game ticked down towards the end United had a great chance to score a fifth goal as the keeper made another woeful kick out in trying to still keep the ball but Norwood with all the goal to shoot out blazed over! Ironically a few minutes later he had a better effort as he drove forward and shot narrowly wide.
There was four minutes of stoppage time but this game had been decided a long time before David Webb blew for time, actually almost a minute before the allotted added time had been but nobody seemed to mind. It had been a dominant performance from the Blades who had seen of a poor and rather naïve Swansea side with ease.
United – Heard a lot saying the performance today was not much difference to the one in the week but I have to disagree as in the week we were not ruthless and timid in both chance creating and chance conversion. I saw many say we missed loads in the week but outside of the two one on ones and Robinson header felt we were not able to create clear chances or test the Hull keeper as much as we needed to for all the ball we had. Swansea had 62% possession today but in the same way we had a lot of the ball under Slav, it was completely pointless and indeed dangerous possession. They had a clear plan to play out of the back but United’s selection with midfielders likes Berge, Fleck and Gibbs White pressing was perfect in that we had players who could gamble and try and stop them coming out. They never really beat the press all game but kept trying it and trying it. The keeper I felt sorry for him as was following instructions but was complete suicide to me. They carried on all game and we must have had a dozen chances as a direct result of them trying this tactic of playing it our or overplaying. They keeper kept giving it away or the defenders took too long and lost it. It was amazing to watch them keep trying it, even at 1-0, 2-0 and then 3-0. You would think they would have changed it but stuck to their principles but all it got them was a hammering. On another day it could have been 8 or 9-0. It was ridiculous but then recall us earlier in the season trying this at times and it ending up in us losing it and being under pressure.
They barely had any possession in our half or beat the press and just coughed it up time after time. Still for all that, we still had to harry and press and create chances after we got it. Also, when we had it in general play even from the back, we were quicker and more dangerous than them all game with forward passes to runners and people breaking from deep and linking. The first goal was a great pass and finish and then the second was also well made but an incredible and surprise finish from someone who normally lacks composure in these positions. It was a shock when I saw him peeling away but a fantastic strike that always looks better when it goes in off the bar! After this we continued swarming all over then. We fouled them a bit (Fleck, Norwood and Baldock) but liked this as meant we did not give them time on the ball and the few times Paterson broke, we just held him up by fair or illegal means. Berge and Gibbs White were the stand outs with the latter’s flicks and tricks and runs from deep and the former being able to get on the ball and carry it and draw men and space. He was excellent today and the best he has played for some time.
The third goal was classic Sharp running behind and finishing superbly and that was It really. At this point as long as we did not do something daft (another yellow card or silly mistake at the back) and actually Swansea never really built up any head of steam. They continued to give it away and the keeper/defence were so sloppy and we had one disallowed and then a few times we were a bit slow to punish them (Berge with one chance) but Gibbs White was continuing to cause all sorts of problems with some great individual skill and won a few free kicks or drove at them too. The fourth goal he took superbly and made it look easy. The only slight gripe is Norwood missed a sitter and maybe we could have had more goals but overall, we were completely dominant and ruthless and 4-0 was perhaps the least we deserved. We were very good and for all Swansea’s deficiencies, we were able to exploit them very well and the team selection worked perfectly. The defence was solid too and nice to see some cameos from Goode and Jebbison who did ok when they came on.
We move onto Blackburn who had their game postponed but United have to feel good about their form. The defence looks so much more solid and another clean sheet and some of the players who have not quite been at it since they came back, Berge and Gibbs White, were the best two players on the field and looked very good and hard to hold today due to their skill/pace and power. It was a really good win and, in the end, as disappointed as you were in the week, we get a good draw at Huddersfield (who won at Fulham so maybe a pretty decent side!) and then 4 points from the two home games. We have a huge game this midweek as can put ourselves solidly in that 4th-5th spot with still a game in hand on some. We owe Blackburn (like we did WBA) and they have faltered a bit recently. It will be much tougher than today and maybe he may tweak the side a bit again (would only maybe make the odd change) but it is a big moment I feel in the season to really put a marker down.
Ratings:
Foderingham 7/10 – Very little to do but dealt with what he had to. A couple of regulation takes from shots and one catch from a high ball. Been decent with his feet too when he has had to deal with some slightly less than accurate back passes! Another clean sheet but of course very well protected. Not sure he has had a really big save to make or even been stretched in the last 4 games – indeed since the save at 1-0 at Birmingham. Everything has been routine.
Baldock 7.5/10 – An all-action game and much better than the week when he struggled versus a tough winger. Today he was on the front foot and saw much more of him as an attacking threat. Got into good areas and linked well. He had a few crosses/passes in the early stages and involved in the build up to the first. The goal he scored was phenomenal. He smashed it in and caught it oh so true! Loved his celebration as he ran across the field and showed how much it meant to him.
Norrington Davies 7.5/10 – He had a better game in the week and was very good second half I felt against Hull and continued that on with maybe his best performance as a Blade I felt. Certainly, his most complete in terms of what he did both ways. Defensively it was the most secure he looked but attacking wise he was much better too. He put some good balls in, used it well and linked very well when we got into these areas. Showed real energy and won/seized on a number of loose things all game. Playing against the club he started his career with, he seemed really up for it but gave a mature and composed display.
Basham 6.5/10 – Some good stuff and some not so good. Always gives 100% and continues to run all day. He was involved in some decent moves going forward and always committed in the challenge. Defensively he was a bit errant a few times and had a bad spell second half where twice he did too much and nearly put them in but actually did better when he went to right wing back and Goode played inside and ended the game more secure with his play.
Robinson 7/10 – Another steady game. Quietly playing a consistent spell with very few if any big errors and just really solid. I may get criticised for his but thing he is better than Davies (when he does not make those silly mistakes – a big when but he has done that recently!). He used the ball well, linked well with RND and the midfield and just was nice and assured. Improved a fair bit recently.
Egan 7/10 – Not really playing much as Piroe was up on top on his own. He has had to play a lone striker for a number of games recently but had done well to keep his concentration when teams have not really attacked that much. He was able to get onto the ball ahead of his man and also had a few efforts from corners too.
Norwood 7/10 – We are a much better side when he plays as we saw at Huddersfield last week and other games this season. I do believe his form had dropped off for a while but certainly since Slav went and we have been more front foot and had a five which has left him less exposed, his game has improved and he has looked more confident. Today he helped us forced them back and his range of passing was good again. Sure, there were some give aways but a few better set plays too. Great ball for the first goal. Helped having people pressing and running in front of him too. Only negative was a silly booking and then he missed a sitter right at the end (nearly scored with a better effort after it!)
Fleck 6.5/10 – Probably slightly the weakest of the three but still maybe better than any of their midfielders! He was dirty and how he did not get booked I am not sure (6 or 7 fouls and was warned on the 5th) but liked the way he did press and harry them. Helped us keep them up the field and he was involved in some decent moves too. He had a few efforts at goal (free kick and shot) and was busy. Still think he could do more but he actually did well to keep them boxed in.
Gibbs White 8/10 – My man of the match. Always trying to do things and yes this can frustrate at times with maybe one or two too many flicks or tricks but love his confidence and with a more solid midfield maybe he could try it more today! He was a constant threat and I actually thought he upped his work rate today. Outside of two great goals he did miss a header and tried to be too clever twice to Sharp and Berge in other chances but the fact he was there and always on the ball marked what a threat he was. 2nd half he was really busting a gut to chase and close them down and never stopped running. He began the game with a lovely finish that he made look easy – it was certainly not. He then was always in that pocket of space and looking to run in beyond or threat people in. He did this for the Sharp goal and then second half he was running at them more than just flicks/passes and that had to keep bringing him down. Quick when he gets going and he gets us up the field. Been a bit disappointed with him since he came back but maybe he needed a few games to get back up to speed. The fourth goal was a really tidy and cool finish and showed his class. When he plays like that, he looks a cut above this division, combining his skills/individual ability with a good work ethic.
Berge 8/10 – Best we have seen him for a long time over a full game – maybe since early season and the game against Birmingham when he was excellent. There has been a lot of debate about his role but his strength to me is running with the ball and carrying it and drawing men. He did this really well today but he also linked/probed and passed it well with pace. He was always on the ball and involved. The game did not pass him by as it has many times. They struggled to hold him back but he also was able to nick balls when he could and do the other side when needed. Second half he was excellent in helping us take it up the field and actually only slight criticism is the chance when he took too long when it came to him.
Sharp 7.5/10 – Worked really hard for the team as the effective lone striker but it did not feel like that with Gibbs White and Berge around him and Fleck, Norwood, Baldock and Norrington Davies high up the field too. He was able to help us rob the build out from the back and was always looking to get in. Set up one chance for Gibbs White who headed wide and then unlucky when Gibbs White tried to back heel it back to him. The goal he took was classic Sharp, running off the shoulders and expertly finishing. After some (me!) have been a bit critical of some misses, despite the goals he has scored this season, the goals he has taken in the last few weeks versus Birmingham, West Brom and today were absolutely clinical. I felt he could have had more today if we had just been a bit more secure with the final ball 2nd half but maybe that is being greedy. Showed again today how invaluable he is to us with his overall play.
Subs –
Goode – Came in and won a tackle and that set the tone for an impressive debut. He played right centre back and did well, came onto it, used it well and was front foot. Huge lad who has an imposing frame. Also got a long throw I think we saw? Looked a handy lad to have around for the run in.
McBurnie – Brought on against his former club. Did not see much of the ball but the game was done by this point.
Jebbison – Nice to see him in the flesh so to speak. He is a really tall lad but looks quite skinny of course. He won a free kick with a run and then nearly got on another ball through. Be good to see him on the break against slow defence as clearly can run and has pace.
Manager:
Heckingbottom 8/10 – I have been a bit critical in the last few weeks with his team selection (over rotating?) and his subs. I also think we looked a bit clueless offensively the last few games, as good as the defence has been and he maybe could have come out of our formation – certainly against Hull – and we maybe were a bit safe? Today his selection with the two midfielders just behind Sharp – well Gibbs White the most advanced but Berge also playing high up – worked perfectly. He talked about their ball retention in the week and how they will have a lot of the ball or do have a lot of it – but was happy for them to have it and we attacked/pressed when we needed to. They continued to try and play it out and we set little traps and made sure we got it back and they could not get out. The tactics we played was perfect and so huge credit to him today. We never let up and it was constant in terms of us robbing them and attacking. I suppose in the week, we take our chances and we win 1 or 2-0 and everyone is happy but the reality is we did not and today we did! The performances had some similarities but being ruthless and finishing is still the most important thing in football for all the possession. We showed today having the ball matters little – it is having it in the right areas and making it count. Good to see two newcomers (in terms of this season) being given time too as we coasted to the win. Hope Baldock is ok and we can go again in a different kind of game in the week. Huge credit to him getting us up to 6th though from where we were. Done a tremendous job and surprised me how quick he has turned round the performance and results.
Swansea – I do look at them form the outside and worry about us if we cannot get back up this season or next. They came down and were expected to go up and had a season or so close to it and in the playoffs or around it. They then ended up losing their manager and have gone for a younger man and with parachute payments ending, have had to lose players (Ayew last summer) and the squad is thinner and lacks most of the experienced Premier League players it had. It now is closer to the other end of the division than the top end. I always felt they were a well-run side and not a club that massively overspent even with a good duration (longer than us) in the top league. You can see how quickly thoughts go from coming back up to suddenly being a mid-table side and one that is more worried about going the other way even.
Russell Martin came with a good reputation like Cooper before him but it has taken him time to get his sort of style and they are still very up and down. They are possession based but seem to lack goals in the side and they had a similar sort of season to use, struggling to get going. We of course have moved up considerably but they look like they will just have a really drab end of season – being a bit off going down but a way off the playoffs. Suppose it is transition if you use annoying football terms but they certainly seem a way off competing for say top 2 moving forward and will need to recruit smartly from the lower leagues and build more slowly. They lack the real out and out quality to fire themselves into the top area of the league. As I say I have concerns as we have to move players on due to the wage situation and/or they come out of contract we could be in a similar position in 2 years and just around the middle to lower reaches of the Champ as more teams come down with parachute payments and teams with bigger investors even if they have been here a while will start putting cash in once the Covid situation (seen clubs cutting back) has calmed down.
They won the last time out v Bristol City but had been struggling before that and have had more of a break than us before this game of course. I heard Hecky say they would match us for possession based on the stats and in that sense may be a different sort of game to many clubs that have come to the Lane and not looked to have the ball or attack much. So it proved as they had a lot of the ball but it was absolutely ridiculous and pointless possession. They played it out from the back from the start and the keeper, centre backs and midfield were playing little tippy-tappy passes all game. It just saw them lose it, as like with us and other teams who do it lower down the leagues, they were not good enough to do it. It was laughable that even after going behind, they carried on with it and I thought right they will go longer now or go back to basics but no, they kept passing and passing and losing it and losing it! We could and should have scored 8 or 9 goals. United read the tactics and Hecky completely outcoached Martin. It was so easy how we picked them off and just kept creating chance after chance. 3-0 was about right at half time and then 2nd half we should have scored a few more than the single goal. They had a few tame efforts the other way but why they did not make changes to their tactics, approach or personnel I do not know. As I say it reminded me a bit of us under Slav/David Weir as the keeper and slow, technically weak players kept just losing the ball with poor passes or heavy touches. Looked well beaten long before the end and felt sorry for their fans who came a long way in awful conditions and had effectively lost the game by half time.
Opponent Man of the Match – No one really stood out collectively or individually but Paterson was the one player who at least looked a threat as he got on it and ran with it and drew a few fouls and had one effort on goal. Piroe who had scored a fair few goals was completely isolated up top.
Opponent Weak link – Take your pick. The keeper Fisher had a bit of a mare but was told to play that way and actually the goals he had little chance with but his passing and play meant they never got out – as I say albeit under instructions. The defenders Cabango, Burns and Manning were equally culpable but the midfield was as bad with the number 4 Downes never seemingly finding a black shirt all game and just losing it meekly. Christie is quite quick but they never got it down our end to use him and he had to defend more.
Referee/Officials – David Webb. His two previous games saw him send off the Derby keeper and the Preston defender in our games this season! Today he had an easy game really. He could have booked Fleck actually but the Norwood and Baldock ones were routine. They did not get a booking but never put a tackle in all game!
Matchday/Crowd – Odd one to really sum up as we celebrated the goals and were appreciative of the efforts and the way we scored (team and individual goals) but as the game was done, it kind of went flat. Swansea, as Hull did, let off a smoke bomb/flare – suppose if you have sneaked one in you kind of have to once you get it in but bit embarrassing to do it at 4-0 down. They also had a number of teenage fans who seemed to want to start a ruck against 25,000 Blades which was quite amusing! Must have been an awful day though to get beaten so easily and probably not the easiest journey there or back considering what has happened in the UK this week and particularly down there.
