Post by deadbat on Mar 16, 2022 23:06:56 GMT
Podcast links and then report below….
soundcloud.com/tufty-club/tufty-club-reaction-21-22-blackpool-away
---
United’s picked up a draw on the West Coast at Neil Critchley’s fast improving Blackpool side against a weary and weakened Blades side whom the international break cannot come quick enough. Untied were the better side in the first half, whilst the home side shaded things after the break. Both teams had chances with Pool hitting the bar and then United having a goal seemingly harshly disallowed after a Norwood striker. The Blades are now out of the top 6 after a number of other contenders registered wins this midweek and will hope they can find something from the final game against Barnsley before this two-week period off.
The Blades made one change with Ndiaye in for Hourihane and there were more youngsters on the bench in Osula and Gomis – with none of the previously injured players deemed fit enough to make the match day squad. Oli McBurnie joined the casualty list also. Former Blades CJ Hamilton and Gary Madine both started for the Seasiders who were on an excellent recent run, particularly at Bloomfield Road.
The opening saw a false start as United went too soon but when the game started, Berge was able to put in a muscular challenge before the Blades won an early corner. The short one eventually fell for Gordon but he misjudged the ball twice. The next spell saw the visitors dominate possession but it was all non-threatening stuff as Blackpool were able to let them have the ball without really penetrating. Finally on 11 minutes Ndiaye burst forward robbing a man before feeding Sharp. The leading scorer had Gibbs White in support but rightly opted to shoot but his low effort flashed the wrong side of the post. It was a good opportunity and one you would expect him to hit the target. A minute later and good work from Norwood to win the tackle saw Sharp then feed Berge but the midfielder’s effort was wayward and well wide.
Blackpool had not been in the game but Madine got on a loose ball and fired over from a long way out but Gibbs White then won a corner at the other end as the Blades continued to make the running. As the corner came in, the ball bounced around and Grimshaw could not get there. Egan headed back and Berge toe poked over the line seemingly as the defender tried to clear but the offside flag was raised.
Egan had been going long when he had it maybe conscious of the issues Saturday where we were put under pressure and one such clearance nearly saw Sharp in on goal but Grimshaw did well to come out and clear. Norwood then took a shot that was comfortable for the keeper. Good work from Osborn saw him work space down the right but he was chopped down as he centred. The free kick came to nothing and Blackpool worked some space via Bowler whose cross was header just wide from Madine in their best effort of the game.
Gibbs White’s flicks and touches were mixed with some working and some not coming off but he did well to find some space before the defender cleared. At the other end, Norrington Davies gave away a cheap foul, a worrying trademark of his game seemingly but the free kick was cleared by Robinson. The defender was booked soon after which seemed harsh as it was his first foul.
After a flat ball was changed, Ndiaye went on a good run but Norrington Davies’ shot was blocked when well placed before another silly foul given away, this time by Gibbs White saw another chance for Madine who somehow was left unmarked but headed at Foderingham. After United had been far better of the two sides and had the chances, Blackpool through Madine had opportunities of their own and then came the closest to opening the scoring. Bowler had been a real pacy threat down the left and he came inside and with no Blades man going to him, he took a chipped shot which hit the bar and bounced down. Hamilton could not convert on the rebound and United survived. Despite being the better side, this was a real let off as a side hit the woodwork for the third time in two games.
Two late tackles from the home side, firstly on Gordon and then Gibbs White saw the Blades players frustrated. Connolly was booked for his crude tackle for the latter foul that saw the Wolves loanee pull up lame limping away. The free kick was wasted as after the touch, Berge’s shot was blocked. Gibbs White then got in after he had seemingly recovered and fed Berge but the ball was behind the big Norwegian. Norrington Davies committed his second foul but somehow escaped official censure which upset the home players and fans alike. The half time whistle came after a minute additional time in a period which United had been the better side but actually the home side maybe had come closest to scoring and, in the end, created as many clear chances as the Blades, despite the level of control United had. This was a far cry from the game on Saturday in terms of control and possession even if the final third had seen a lack of quality.
The second half saw the first chance fall to the home side as Ekpiteta headed across and Connolly flicked goalward and just wide. Blackpool had come out more on the front foot and were seeing much more of the ball. The next spell saw little quality from either side although Gordon had to concede a corner when at full stretch. United had not had the same control but did win a free kick when Norrington Davies was fouled on the hour mark. The free kick came to nothing and the home side were back on the attack quickly. Bowler’s cross was palmed away from Foderingham like a wicket keeper dealing with a wide ball and palmed into the slips.
The home side were definitely the better side this half a ball over the top from Dougal saw Hamilton get the better of Gordon but shot badly wide when almost one on one with Foderingham. United could not get going and after controlling possession, Berge and Norwood had been completely anonymous this half. The strikers were not in the game.
Bowler was able to find space again and worked his way down the left past Norrington Davies and was in on the angle. His cross shot was seemingly touched round the post from Foderingham but a goal kick was awarded.
With 20 minutes to go, Hourihane came on for Ndiaye and Berge moved into a more forward position. Norwood’s awful passing continued with two give aways under no pressure. United’s second half fade out had been worrying after being the better side and they had not created a single opportunity. Gibbs White then gave the ball away when he had a chance to break as the poor play continued with barely a move of note.
However, it seemed like United had taken the lead as after winning a corner, the ball dropped to Norwood who fired home with a great driven shot but as the as the players celebrated, the assistant had raised his flag. It seemed unclear whether it was for a player who had done down in the corner (Robinson) or Sharp but it was a very strange decision as it did not seem to affect the shot at all. It seemed an odd call and Blackpool players looked as surprised as anyone when the flag went up with only one token appeal. United were fired up after this and Sharp got down the left and won a corner. After this broke clear, Norrington Davies came inside and had a shot with his right foot at the keeper.
Bowler threatened to break as he went past two men but Robinson got back well to deny him as the game entered the final 10 minutes. Kirk and Lavery came on for Hamilton and Connolly. The next period became scrappy and neither side could create much. Norwood gave it away again and then Sharp could not come inside before at the other end Bowler for once had a poor touch. The game drifted to the final stages and even though United won a late throw, the ball was too far for Egan and it went out for a goal kick. The referee only played two and a half minutes of the allotted three of stoppage time. United had dropped to 9th in the table after the mid-week results and had dropped four places in a week which was disappointing after a return of 1 point from 6 but were still in touch with the top 6.
United – I thought it was a dour game despite some saying it was an exciting 0-0 including my podcast partner? I did not feel there was much quality on display from either side and barely a shot on targets all game with a few decent bits but overall, two sides playing not to lose for long spells and quite timid and not willing to really go at the other side.
Is it a point gained or two lost? Hard one to analyse. I would have taken a point before the game but then after Saturday and losing so much, we perhaps needed a win and you look at the other results with so many winning last night and tonight – we did not lose much ground Saturday/Sunday, but have over the last few days in terms of places – it seems like a chance missed. I did not think Blackpool were any great shakes and nowhere near the power and in your face showing of Coventry – who ironically lost to Hull tonight! First half we were miles better than them but missed a few decent openings (Sharp with a good one) and were not clinical enough when it mattered with a few breaks seeing the final bit/ball/shot going awry. They then started to come back and Madine missed a few decent headers and they hit the bar with the best chance of the half. Overall, we were the better side and controlled midfield and were the aggressors and had much more of the play.
Sadly, we could not follow this up 2nd half and they were stronger and had 2 or 3 good chances with a few flashing wide and going across the box. We lost the midfield and our key players did not get in the game. Gibbs White, Ndiaye and Sharp became anonymous and Berge and Norwood did not get on it. The defence did ok but they still got through us a few times. However, it still seemed a game if we upped it, we could win but we seemed to lack energy/belief or any kind of urgency. We then got a goal out of nothing but seemed harshly disallowed to me but will have to look back – not sure they normally get given at all – especially when you do not have VAR at this level? We improved a bit after this but could not keep it up and it petered out to a draw. Probably a fair result but I was frustrated that the players we need to get us goals or get us big results, for the second consecutive game did not do this and regressed as the game went on. They look a tired bunch at the moment and seem to be struggling 2nd halves (Boro apart). Every other team seems to be finishing stronger than us in most of our recent batch of games which is a worry (fitness/conditioning/lack of ability to properly rotate?) when others are playing as many as us.
We have another game coming in a few days against a team who have been on good form in Barnsley and need to give it our all before a two-week break. The crowd need to be behind the team and hope we find one last effort and can get a vital three points. We then can get some players back hopefully and have a last push for the final 8 games, is it? At the moment I am not sure we make the top 6 based on the last period of form and results. We seem to lack the belief and fluency we had and seems more hopeful we will score or get results than genuinely believing we will (as I say apart from that Boro result) so need that reset after Barnsley.
Ratings: Marks may seem low but no one was awful but no one great 4-6’s about right I feel for an average display individually and collectively.
Foderingham 6.5/10 – Little to do first half. One header flashed wide, another straight at him and then watched on onto his far but he was not hugely involved outside of these three efforts and better protected this half. Second half he saw one go past the post early on and then palmed one away if a little strangely. Saw a shot go wide from Hamilton and was not protected as much. Thought he made one great save from Bowler but the ball was adjudged to have gone straight out? After this untroubled for the final 20 minutes really.
Osborn 6/10 – Well forward to begin with. Much more than Saturday and linked well a few times. He showed some neat touches and got first to the ball but again lack of quality when it mattered. Forced back more second half and they had more attacks. Not sure we saw much of him at all after the break and they did get in down this side once or twice between him and Gordon.
Norrington Davies 5.5/10 – Not really involved at all to begin with and only saw him when he committed an unnecessary foul again – did another later and was lucky not to be booked. Had one shot blocked when he was well forward but Bowler caused him quite a few problems and he was not close enough. He got past him second half with the chance that Foderingham seemed to save. Had one run where he ran forward and shot at the keeper. He is quite erratic as he does some ok things and then loses his man or makes a silly foul.
Gordon 5.5/10 – Started with a few errant touches and mistimed a few when well forward but did ok with a few defensive interceptions. However, they seemed to sense one on one he could be got at and I felt he was always full stretch. Second half they went at him twice early and led to corners being won. He then let Hamilton in for a chance and I thought he would struggle but did a bit better after that and made no further mistakes. Offers us nothing at all going forward. I thought technically he would be more composed and could maybe carry it but seems to have no confidence when he goes over half way.
Robinson 6/10 – Ok defensively but then one foul and he was booked. He did over throw some long throws actually which saw them drift out or away from our players. He was ok but a few times they got between us for headed chances. He did make some better interceptions second half but did not help RND with the dangerous Bowler and left him one on one at times.
Egan 5.5/10 – Just booted it early and maybe after a bad showing Saturday was just conscious not to make silly mistakes. He did not pass much and just went long. One nearly saw Sharp get in. Lost Madine somehow twice for free headers which he should have done better with. Even second half there were too many balls that we lost the first header or challenge. Looked quite limited tonight I felt with and without the ball but supposed will say we did not concede. Two headed chances going forward but headed up and over again.
Norwood 4.5/10 – Won a few tackles and was busy and much better than Saturday to begin with. Some of his passing did not come off and seemed obsessed with that diagonal drilled bar at times. Set plays were poor as he seemed obsessed with short ones first half. Second half he started to give the ball away and was doing a lot of pointing. I thought he was decent first half but awful second half and every time he had it, he gave it away or overplayed it. A few times he was running back and getting completely outpaced again showing how we can get run through. However, he then scored a long range shot which was a real surprise based on his shooting recently but then he was denied by the assistant and a controversial decision. Shame as of course this is allowed and I rate him much higher as the match winner!
Berge 5.5/10 – Thought he started well and won a tackle and then was well forward and had one shot blazed over. Neat and tidy without being too influential in the game but felt he did look for it to begin with and was always in space. Felt he was one of our better players actually and things happened when he got involved first half. Faded really badly after the break and I am not sure I saw him for about 20 minutes. Then won a corner and got on it a bit but need much more from him. He almost seems to play it safer when more withdrawn as he knows Norwood cannot get back if we lose it.
Ndiaye 5.5/10 – Started slowly but then on the quarter of an hour mark had one good run that saw the Sharp chance. Later on, had another decent moment when he ran from deep to feed RND. In between he flitted in and out of the game and maybe not as involved but still had been better than recent games in that he looked to drive and link like earlier in the season. He was at least able to turn and get at them a few times. Did not do it enough though and then a few loose balls and second half he was not in the game and taken off.
Gibbs White 4/10 – Another one of those games where touches and flicks were too much and he needed to do the basics. He did look a threat at times but often things just came off him or it was unnecessary juggling when we needed him to get it down. A few moves he nearly played people in but often it just was lazy stuff. Took a whack from a poor foul. Second half barely saw him at all and he actually did not show or even work off the ball – maybe he was injured or tired but we had nothing up the top of the pitch second half at all.
Sharp 4.5/10 – Had the one chance early and should have done better but put it wide. Set one up for Berge but then he was quiet and not in the game at all. He tried to link but often it was feeding off scraps again. Every time it went to them second half it came back though and we needed them to harry/press or at least chase things down but they were not alive at all and we had nothing up top and outside of the disallowed effort and one RND shot did we have an effort at all?
Subs –
Hourihane – Came on but wafted his foot at a few and just kicked it to no one in particular.
Osula – Brought on right at the end. Not sure he had a touch. Probably shows how unimpressive Jebbison has been in his cameos (and maybe training) if this lad has jumped ahead of him (at least for tonight).
Manager: Heckingbottom 5/10 – Better start and we controlled the game and could/should have led but then once again as Blackpool tweaked things, he did not react or too late. The Hourihane change and shifting Berge forward should have happened a lot earlier than it did. By this stage the game’s shape has changed and they were the aggressors. The second half fade outs and way we do not react or change (maybe lack of senior options do not help) but we need to adapt when other teams/managers do or if we do not lead risk this happening every week as teams sit on Norwood (realise if they pressure him, he will give it away) and ensure they give MGW no space and we look a bit clueless relying on Sharp poaching something.
Blackpool – Critchley and co have done a fantastic job there. To get them up and have them really competitive and even contending for the playoffs is testament to him and the players. They get the most out of what they have got and whilst they have some experienced and talented players, you would have though just stayed up was a good season. You look at Peterborough and Hull and they are right down the bottom and of course Blackpool came up via the playoffs. They have the likes of Keogh and Madine who are real experience hands at this level but have some promising young player and seem to have a good scouting system to pick up lower league/Irish league or in the case of Connolly, Premier League players who were cast aside at that level but can do a job lower down.
They have been superb to mix it with bigger sides and now under a more stable ownership, crowds are coming back and the future looks bright. The appointment of Critchley was an inspired one. Should be a stable force at this level for a few years you would think and have enough to stay away from the bottom end but maybe not quite enough to challenge. They will continue to upset some bigger and more fancied outfits though. Good luck to them, I always like seaside clubs as visits there invoke good memories invariable of excellent days out. Shame the last few times we have played them there has been night matches or more Blades would surely have gone across.
Tonight, I did expect better on recent showings and they were second best for the first half but did improve. Will argue they had the better chances and Foderingham had more to do but got away maybe with the goal. They will be happier with the point I feel on reflection with how the game went and we still looked to have a bit more quality but sort of faded away second half and they got better without totally dominating the game.
Opponent Man of the Match –Bowler. Quick and lively. He got at us and caused problems with his running and shooting. Can see how he has been scoring and assisting so many goals.
Opponent Weak link – Connolly was a bit of a hatchet man and fouled MGW badly twice before he got booked. Hamilton was not really in the game and missed a decent chance. Madine as always, a handful but has to do better with the headers he had in front of goal.
Referee/Officials – Geoff Eltringham. Reffed us in the 2-2 draw with Preston at the Lane where not sure he was great particularly from what I recall but was ok in the 2-0 win against Bristol City in difficult conditions. Going further back he reffed three games in our promotion season; the 3-1 v Derby, the 2-0 v Rotherham and 2-2 at Stoke and not sure I recall him getting too much obvious wrong and recall he sent off Will Vaulks in that home game.
Today him and his officials seemed to get the disallowed goal wrong and it seemed very harsh to disallow it. Not sure many of the home players were even asking for it? Watched it back now and it’s a goal. Noone is interfering at all. No idea how the assistant has got that decision? Hecky says the Berge one was onside too. I thought there was only one defender between him and the keeper so was on? We have had some favourable decisions recently in games to be honest but maybe a few have gone against us tonight in big situations that could have decided the game. He booked Robinson but not RND which was odd as the latter fouled more. The rest of the game he was actually ok really and not sure he got much wrong in general play but the offside decisions are of course down to his assistants.
