Post by deadbat on Apr 5, 2022 23:00:18 GMT
Podcast to come tomorrow morning all being well. Report below….
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The Blades chances of making the end of season playoffs took an upward move as they saw off fellow playoff contenders QPR at the Lane. After such a good home record that had seen them not lose since October, United would have banked on another strong performance to help make up for the poor away showings in recent times. So, it proved as United dominated the first half and scored after a clever set play saw Baldock step over a Fleck corner and Norwood fired home from the edge of the box for his first goal in over two years! United controlled much of the game but the longer the game went on, the more even it became but in truth QPR did not really create many chances at all despite United being less secure in possession in the second half. Neither keeper had a real save of note to make though and Gibbs White had the best efforts of the 2nd half but chipped over and fired wide. QPR did win a few late set plays and corners but Foderingham was untroubled. It was a crucial three points for the Blades and takes them back into the top 6.
Manager Heckingbottom was able to include Oli McBurnie in the starting line up and also opted to bring in Uremovic for his league debut. Stevens was the other change. Norrington Davies, Robinson and Jebbison dropped to the bench. QPR brought back Andre Gray and Jeff Hendrick to their starting line up in an attempt to hold a poor run of form which had seen them drop out of the top 6.
United started on the front foot and were pressing far more than they did in the disappointing defeat at Stoke. Fleck and Stevens were on the front foot and Norwood was involved in dictating the play. United won a free kick which saw Westwood claw away with Egan waiting at the far post. Gibbs White flicked a ball over the top that drew ooohs and ahhhs from the crowd but then he overdid it on the next moment. Berge was also struggling to make much headway and most of the good play came from Fleck and Norwood in the centre of the field. Rangers has offered nothing of note and it was perhaps not a surprise when the Blades took the lead after only nine minutes of play.
It came from a corner from Fleck and clearly one that had been worked on in training as Baldock intelligently stepped over the ball and NORWOOD hit it firmly and it went through the bodies in the box and Westwood saw it late and could not keep it out. It was the midfielders first goal for over 27 months since the penalty at home time Watford on Boxing Day 2020.
United were playing some nice football and some of the triangles and interplay was creating space on both sides of the field. McBurnie’s back heel saw Gibbs White get away and he was cynically baulked by Dickie who was booked.
Uremovic then stopped his man at the other end but Fleck was continuing to show real energy winning the ball back on more than one occasion. The Blades continued to move it around and at pace. They had not created too many chances but were getting into the final third with some intricate football. QPR in contrast were relying on the long punt and had not tried to play it through the thirds at all and it was very much percentage stuff relying on the physicality of Dykes. Gibbs White was starting to show some of his strong running and some lovely link up between him and Berge saw the Wolves’ loanee’s cross find McBurnie who could not get any power on his header which Westwood held comfortably. The striker was working really hard though and the crowd were perhaps more appreciative of his efforts than referee Bond who asked Egan to have a word with his striker for his critique of the referee’s performance so far.
United had been the much better side and continued to play all the football. Fleck again made a good interception and linked well with Norwood and then Gibbs White and United won another corner before Berge, who had been quiet, drove through unchallenged with a great run where he kept going and going but his shot was blocked at the last moment. He had another good run soon after that won another corner. Rangers had not really offered anything at all but did win a corner after a Gibbs White flick too many.
United got caught offside three times in succession and the visitors then did have a brief spell and one run from Chair saw the ball come in from the right but Hendrick could not angle his header on target. The half time whistle came after a spell of midfield play where neither side could work any balls into the front players. The Blades had been the far superior side though and well deserved their lead.
The second half saw United begin on top again. Berge’s lovely slipped ball to Gibbs White saw him send a cross over that did not quite sit and Rangers cleared at full stretch. Baldock then had a run but his step overs failed to out fox Barbet. The ball was sent back in though and Egan’s header was just away from Uremovic at the far post.
Rangers had not really offered anything but did have a moment of note when Chair showed quick feet to create space but his shot was well wide. It was the first effort of note they had really had all game. A few moments of indecision from the Blades saw Uremovic booked and then Davies got lucky as Field nearly got through but the ball was cleared with Fleck in the right place at the right time again.
United were able to forge an opening as a Berge run after good work from Baldock, saw it played back to Gibbs White who tried the chip but it landed on top of the worried Westwood’s goal.
Soon after Gibbs White then ran down a ball and won a corner off Westwood tight to the touchline. The corner was cleared but Egan then came out of defence with a good run but ball just too far from Gibbs White who seemed to be constantly involved in the action even if everything was not coming off.
Some lovely football from United saw the ball moved from left to right but Baldock once again failed to deliver and hit the first man. Uremovic took a knock and like Goode before him, was another loan man picked up an injury early into his United career and he came off for Robinson.
Gibbs White and Berge worked space after more good work from Fleck but again there was no final ball. United had played the far better stuff but had not really produced any quality in the final moments despite still looking the more likely. QPR did have more of the ball this half but they had created even less and made a double change with Dozzell and Thomas for Hendrick and Gray.
Further changes followed not long after with the R’s final change seeing Sanderson come on for Barbet, which was maybe a surprise with Austin on the bench.
United changed their front line as Jebbison came on for the tiring McBurnie who had worked hard as the game entered the final 20 minutes.
Dykes got away from Egan in a rare break and the ref adjudged it was a corner as his cross shot whizzed over and for the first time in the game United started to become careless with the ball and the defence was starting to get too deep.
Still the visitors had offered nothing so this made it even more frustrating when Baldock gave away a stupid foul for no reason with Chair seemingly going nowhere. The same man took the effort from a dangerous position centrally and form 25 yards out but it hit a man in the wall. Osborn came on for Berge as the game entered final 8 minutes and United tried to find extra legs in the middle of the field.
Fleck who had been excellent took a good booking as QPR looked to break away. The game ticked into 88th minute. Jebbison found MGW whose low shot was easily saved in the first effort on target for either side of the 2nd half.
United then broke in the last minute and beat the offside trap. Fleck sent Gibbs White clear who cut in but shot was narrowly wide. It was a great chance to seal the game.
An additional 6 minutes were to be played and Osborn gave away another stupid foul. The free kick was driven in but United cleared. QPR won two late corners but the header went wide from Dickie. The final cross saw Foderingham fouled and United had done enough to win the vital three points.
United – Just really important we won tonight after the let down and non showing at Stoke. We wasted the good work of the Barnsley win but effectively not turning up at the 365 and losing to a poor side who seemed disinterested. We had to recover from that and put in a good performance and even more importantly get the win. We did that tonight. We played well and won. We deserved it too. We were not superb and did not create much despite some good football and much more commited play all around but we were very good off the ball and most of the team worked hard. I felt the desire and efforts came from the men in red and white. We dominated the first half and scored early with a corner move and rare goal from Norwood which was long overdue. When he strikes/passes a ball so well, you do wonder why he cannot do that more? It was well taken and credit to the coaching staff, even if QPR switched off. I thought Fleck and Norwood completely controlled midfield most of the game, certainly for the first hour.
We moved it around at a good tempo and McBurnie held it up and worked hard. Oddly Berge and MGW were maybe the two most frustrating for spells. They did some good things of course and neat touches and driving runs but also made some poor choices at time. Berge had one surging run and McBurnie had a header (tough chance) but for all the decent triangles and football we played (some good stuff) we did not create too much. Fortunately, they created absolutely nothing at all and barely had an attack first half with one Hendrick header the sum total of everything they did going forward.
Even after the break, we continued to play some nice one touch stuff and Berge and Gibbs White started to become more influential but we had a few efforts across the box and one Egan header followed by an MGW chip. We sort of stopped playing for a bit around the hour and started to become a bit careless. McBurnie tired and when he went off, we struggled with Jebbison as harsh as it sounds a complete non factor. We then started to just sit back a bit and gave away some daft fouls. It was not as if Rangers really were cutting through us. Chair had a few moments but it continued to be more of a concern they may score from a set play (free kick or corner). In the end they huffed and puffed but did not threaten and MGW could have sealed it. Still was nervy at the end when they had a few corners but we did enough and did not concede a late goal which we have done a few times against fellow play off teams at the Lane this season.
In the end 1-0 was about right. Neither side created much at all and cannot recall a proper save from either keeper. They had no real clear chances at all – a Chait shot wide and a late header flicked a long way wide and MGW still had the better chances 2nd half and should/could have sealed it. We looked a bit tired/leggy as the game went on and just seemed to want to see it out rather than keep playing the good football that had moved them about and made them chase us. Maybe we just did not have the energy to keep doing that and just had to grit it out. In the end we deserved the win. We will need to create more and be better in the final third but we defended pretty well today and the midfield controlled a big part of the game. Fleck and Norwood were the best two players on the field I thought. Stevens had a decent return and McBurnie worked hard. MGW and Berge were in and out with some good bits and some frustrating. I thought the new lad Uremovic struggled with the pace and physicality of the game and will need to get up to speed quickly. I expect Robinson to be back in Saturday.
In the end it was a crucial win. You look at the fixtures of the likes of Boro (after Fulham tomorrow) and Forest (two very winnable home games this week) and Blackburn (Blackpool home) and we have the hardest fixture of the weekend. Granted Luton play Huddersfield on Monday. Today was a really important victory. I said we needed to target 4 points from the next two. Oddly after Bournemouth, we face teams in Reading (safe now?), Bristol City, Cardiff, QPR (will be out of it possibly by then) and Fulham (already be Champions) who could have nothing to play for. It will be 5 games you probably might handpick albeit a relaxed Fulham still would be very dangerous with the attackers they have.
We need a huge effort Saturday. Hopefully Billy may be able to give us some minutes and then after the Easter weekend, we may get Basham back for the last 3 games? It will be tight and I still feel we need to be far more consistent but today showed that we can play good stuff and if we defend right, then we have the quality in some of the front players to create goals out of nothing. Tonight, we did not really create much so we need to be more sure in the final third otherwise it will be a lot of 0-1/1-0’s to end the season as we have seen from tonight and Saturday.
Ratings:
Foderingham 6.5/10 – Nothing to do first half at all. Saw one ball go across when Hendrick missed a header but he was untroubled. 2nd half did not have much to do either. One shot from Chair wide and then at the end took one cross and got fouled from another. One header flicked wide was the only real chance they had in the closing stages.
Baldock 6/10 – Mixed bag really. Did ok at times and the dummy for the goal was great but so many times he got in good positions and overplayed or hit the first man. Too many stepovers too. These never achieve anything from him! He seems to completely lack the belief when he gets into the final part of the pitch – annoying as he links well with others and shows good energy and is a constant outlet. Silly foul 2nd half that was totally needless led to a free kick.
Stevens 6.5/10 – Thought he was ok actually. A few times he overran it or tried to make passes too tight but defended ok and was able to link a few times first half. Like Baldock, the final ball was not really there and he overplayed his crosses a few times. Still, he kept going and I cannot recall too many big mistakes defensively even if he tried a few aimless balls when we needed to keep it 2nd half. I would keep him in on that showing instead of RND – granted the former’s form has not been great for a few years but think he offers more going forward.
Davies 6/10 –First half largely untroubled but he still lost a few headers. He did move it quicker than he has done in previous games helping us keep the tempo decent. Second half he was pressured a bit more but he made one good block. Twice he gave it away under no pressure kicking it straight to them and then he headed one down right to them. Still not convinced by him. As she showed Saturday, makes too many mistakes at crucial moments.
Egan 7/10 – Better game from him tonight. He came onto the challenges more and was able to win much more than Dykes. He chased him down and got stuck in when he needed to and made sure he could not hold it up at all. Dykes got away from him once 2nd half but he got back at least as the cross deflected over. One good run out too but his ball was overhit to MGW.
Uremovic 5.5/10 – Thought he struggled to be honest but seen some who thought he did well? A few ok touches early on the ball but then he gave a foul away and started to struggle with them running down that side near half time. Second half he gave away a booking and then a few times he lost his challenge and they had a few moments (nothing really happened for a chance after it to be fair). He then took a whack and went off. Not a great start to get injured but apparently cramp? Looked a fair bit off the pace to me but that is to be expected. Not as physical as I thought he might be despite the booking and lost a few 50-50’s. Ok but maybe I expected better and that is unrealistic.
Norwood 7.5/10 – Very good performance capped with the winner. On the ball early and often. He sprayed it around and did it at pace going left and right. Also did the defensive stuff, getting his foot in and helping break it up. The goal was a great striker and he kept it down well. After this he continued to control things. Second half maybe not as influential and it all got a bit scrappy but still made some good interceptions and kept it moving when he could.
Fleck 8/10 – Our man of the match for me easily. He was excellent from start to finish. High energy, pressing, tackling, closing down and seemed to find some life/vigour we have not seen for some time. He was everywhere at times and just was constantly in motion. On the ball he was involved in lots of our good moves with little passes, runs and link ups. He did some great things off the ball too, constantly chasing back, tackling and stopping them having the easy ball out. Kept going too right to the end and was still making the interceptions when it mattered. Need to see more of this from him every game.
Berge 6.5/10 – Some really good stuff and some bits where he went missing or was timid. Still frustrating for me. Much better and more effective than Saturday but again only in spells really. He started a bit slowly and thought he gave it away or was taken out of it by being slow to things but then improved as the half went on. Had one great run where he just kept running as I was imploring him to keep going which he did! Began the 2nd half well with a lovely ball and also involved in a few neat moments down that side but as the game went on, he seemed to tire and was jogging around and was right we took him off as he was doing a lot of pointing and leaving men defensively.
Gibbs White 7/10 – His mark may seem low but I actually thought for all the flicks and tricks, he gave it away a lot and some of his passing and attempted moves to create things saw us giving it away. He did some good things and his running off the ball and ability to run at players is a real asset but not sure we saw much in terms of end product. One cross to McBurnie and then a lot of other times he overplayed passes or took the wrong option. He was always involved and keeps running and trying to get into areas. His chip was a good effort actually but the finish at the end he should score really being one on one. Clearly a great talent but he can be frustrating for all his quality. Not sure he was the man of the match that fans voted for?
McBurnie 6.5/10 – Maybe some may say this mark is way too high for someone who only had one headed effort and no other real assists for chances and/or did not look a goal threat? However, I thought he worked really hard and he held it off, never gave the defenders a moment and played some nice link passes/flicks too. One great back heel to MGW and a few other passes to teammates in moves but more than this, he was a pest and I thought ran his socks off. He did tire 2nd half and came off. We struggled after this as had nothing up front at all. He did well tonight as a team player even if he does not look like scoring but then not sure either side or players looked like scoring much tonight to give it some context!
Subs –
Robinson 6.5/10 – Did ok and thought he made a few clearances and interceptions but then took too long on a few others! We did not really get threatened too much and he made a few headers at the end to clear.
Jebbison -I am going to get hammered for this – but he has to do a lot more. He had 28 minutes with stoppage time tonight and barely touched the ball. Granted we were maybe retreating a bit and not keeping it as well as we had but he needs to put more effort in than he did. At Stoke a lot said he had no service and maybe that can be said tonight or the fact we were not really trying to create but I need him to work harder, chase more and be a nuisance. The defence basically were not pressured by him on challenges or when he came out. Worryingly he looked knackered 10 minutes after coming on and could not keep up with players who had played the whole game! As I say sure I will be seen as harsh and he is young but we need more from a sub who is supposedly fresh. We had no out ball/no threat in terms of just hustling or harrying for the final part of the game and it kind of kept coming back.
Osborn – Thought it was the right call and he won a few tackles and interceptions just to help us keep it up the field at the end. A handy lad to have come on when we need someone who can give us an extra man in midfield.
Manager: Heckingbottom 7.5/10 – A better performance markedly from the weekend. We played some decent stuff and controlled most of the game. The defence was solid and Fleck/Norwood the best two players on the park. We saw flashes from our flair players. The only real criticism is we did not create much for all the decent stuff we played and the final ball/moment was not there. Wes had nothing to do but Westwood did not either outside of the goal. I think he had no choice to take McBurnie off as he was knackered but will ask for more from Jebbison as a runner at the end. Robinson did ok and Osborn also helped see it out. Overall, the team looked more up for it, moved the ball at a faster and more urgent pace and we did enough to win the game. Will face a much better side with a myriad of attacking threats so will need to probably score and create more than one or two chances as happened tonight as our defence will surely be tested more. Feel it is a massively important game and will show a lot about the side – tonight at least made up for the debacle at Stoke.
QPR - They were one of my tips to make the playoffs. They had improved at the end of last season under Warburton and had bought some good Championship players. The lad Dykes was improving up top and Austin had been brought back. I just thought they had a decent mix of experience around the field and some players who could create and score goals and the likes of Gray and Johansen at this level would prosper as they have before. They started really well and were right near the top but in recent weeks have faded away a bit. They have had injuries like us and seem to also like us, lack the consistency and energy to go on a really good run of results. Saw the manager (a solid manager at this level) get a fair bit of stick recently and some were questioning if he should stay in charge which shows when you do well, expectations start to rise.
Tonight, I thought they may come out and have a go and get stuck in/get amongst us but it never happened. They were second best most of the game. They defended really deep but also gave it away easily and we had all the ball. The goal was well made but they did not react at all to either Baldock or Norwood. After this they were struggling and we had a number of other attacks but maybe we did not put the game away when we had the opportunity to do this. They just lumped it to Dykes and never got the dangerous Chair or Gray in the game at all. Their midfield was bypassed completely. They also were quite cynical with MGW being chopped down a number of times.
Not sure they were much better to begin the second half and we had a few chances/spells down the right and looked more likely still. Chair had one shot wide and they had a few better moments but not sure they had any real prolonged spell. They made changes but I was surprised Austin did not come on to give them another forward up. What did they have to lose? The Sanderson change seemed odd as the final sub. At the end they had a few free kicks and corners but not sure they came even close to scoring and could have conceded a second on the break.
They did not deserve anything from the game and did not have one effort on target. Granted they may argue we did not either but we scored one of the few we had and in the end were the better side. I felt we were the only one who tried to play football. It seemed a bit percentage – with the ball up to Dykes and hoping to get knock downs. Not sure they went down the sides or tried to play much possession stuff. I thought they may be better than they were but maybe they are just stuck in a rut and cannot get going. On that evidence they won’t be in the top 6 and you hope by the time we go down there; they might even be out of it. They will be harder to beat no doubt at Loftus Road. Tonight, they looked a bit like we did at Stoke.
Opponent Man of the Match – Few came out with any credit. Maybe Chair who had a few runs and one shot and only one who looked likely.
Opponent Weak link – Hendrick has come in for some stick since his move and for a Premier League player for many years, struggled and Fleck and Norwood ran the game. I also thought Dickie (who scored a lot of goals earlier in the season) was dirty and kept playing the man.
Referee/Officials – Darren Bond. Not had him ref us for a while – have to go back to the promotion season when we beat Norwich 2-1 and then also drew at Birmingham. Tonight, he was ok actually. The bookings were all right – he maybe could have booked a few more of the QPR players who seemed to be targeting MGW. He did get in the way a few times but I liked how he stopped both sides trying to gain ground on throws. The six minutes stoppage time seemed excessive. One assistant (John St) seemed half asleep as two balls seemed to go out?
Matchday/Crowd – Though the back corner of the Kop tried but it was mostly flat. Only real noise seemed to be directed at Westwood (hate that piggy die chant by the way) but the rest of the game was quiet. They only brought maybe 500 fans and they seemed quite frustrated with their team and manager and heard a few moans when they kept going back second half. The United home fans at least did try and bring the side home with a few chants near the end at least.
