Post by deadbat on Aug 20, 2022 19:26:48 GMT
Podcast to come later. Report below….
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It has been an excellent week for Paul Heckingbottom’s Blades with back-to-back home wins on top of a hard-fought draw at Middlesbrough meaning United will end the weekend at the top of the table. Blackburn started the day at the summit of the Championship but had been on the receiving end of their first league defeat of the season at Reading in midweek. Today they suffered the same fate as a confident United side put them to the sword. The game finished 3-0 with two wonderful individual goals of contrasting types from Ollie Norwood an Iliman Ndiaye either side of a scrappier effort from Ndiaye. In truth the score line heavily flattered Rovers who were well beaten and aside from a scrappy 10 minutes after the break, the game was extremely one sided and but for the efforts of Thomas Kaminsky, it would have been an heavier defeat for the forlorn visiting side. United looked every inch a promotion contender and even with a number of players out injured, still had real strength in depth on the bench summed up by the players they could bring on.
United opted to use this full squad by rewarding Redi Khadra and Oli McBurnie for their efforts in the week when they came on and they both started. John Fleck also returned with McAtee, Brewster and Ndiaye rotated onto the bench. Blackburn started with talisman Ben Brereton Diaz up front despite a great deal of speculation with Nice the latest side to be linked with him. New manager Jon Dahl Tomasson would have been delighted with the start his new club had made, despite the defeat in the week, after losing key men Rothwell, Lenighan and Khadra from last season’s squad. New signing Sammy Smodzics started for the visitors.
The game began in bright sunshine with United kicking away from the Kop but whilst they had started slowly in the week, they began very well today. Norwood was constantly probing with the ball and with both wing backs pressing high up and Khadra buzzing around, it was one way traffic almost right from kick off. United won three corners in quick succession. Khadra had one effort with close control and a cross shot that was flicked over leading Rovers completely penned in. It was so one sided and with Egan and Norwood taking it in turns to probe, it was just a question of finding some gaps in a packed rear-guard. Norrington Davies and Lowe linked well down the left on a few occasions and then from another corner, the ball cannoned off a combination of Egan and Pickering and was cleared off the line with Kaminsky beaten.
Blackburn had offered nothing and it was an extremely negative approach for a side who had started the season well. United just continued to come in waves and it was attack after attack. They should have scored after Fleck did well to get in down the right after a slide rule ball from Berge and his cut back seemed set to be converted by McBurnie but somehow Phillips blocked his effort from point blank range. The striker should have finished but it was a great block. It continued to be all United and Khadra had a shot blocked and then Norrington Davies did well to dig out a cross, his second in the matter of minutes and McBurnie’s header drifted wide.
It was excellent stuff from United and the only frustration is they had not scored but it was hard with so many players to try and find a gap through but even with everyone behind the ball, they could do nothing about the opener when it came. Fleck was felled after running into the final third leading to a free kick from fully 25 yards. After no success from such positions for several seasons, not many fans would have expected success from such a situation. NORWOOD took it and hit an absolute beauty that rendered a wall, including a draught excluder, useless as he bent and arced it right into the top corner. Kaminsky barely moved as he watched the ball arrow into his net. A superb goal but maybe a long time coming for United and Norwood from such a position!
The dominant start showed no sign of abating with Norwood then in confident move sending a searing effort that dipped just over. McBurnie then headed wide from another excellent Norrington Davies cross. Brereton Diaz cut an isolated figure up front with Ahmedhodzic and Egan sweeping up anything that came their way and Berge also now becoming increasingly influential in helping United maintain such control. Blackburn had maybe their first proper attack of the half and Lowe was booked for kicking the ball away before a corner in a rare moment of sloppiness. The half-finished with United excellent value for their lead and should have really been out of sight.
The second half started with Norwood trying an audacious attempt straight from the kick that went over the bar as he tried to catch the keeper unaware. The next period at least saw Rovers try and play higher up the field after being almost camped in their own box most of the first half and at least tried to launch a semblance of an attack. They won two corners and Ahmedhodzic and Ayala were booked for grappling before one of these came over. Travis has the first effort of the game but it was a long way off but the game had been a bit scrappy and a for a period United lost their composure. Non the less a good break from Khadra saw him win a corner. Brereton Diaz was booked for kicking the ball away and United then started to regain control with Berge and Norwood getting back on the ball. Khadra had a great chance as he broke but took too long and had the ball nicked off his toe as he deliberated whether to shoot or square to McBurnie.
A decent move saw Berge link with Baldock who’s cross was dangerous and this led to a corner and the ball was not properly cleared and as it came back in Egan, beat the offside trap and intelligently headed back across where McBurnie looked certain to score but somehow Kaminsky made the save. The ball rebounded to Egan who could not turn it home with another brave block from the Rovers back guard. As the ball was cleared, the Scottish striker looked up to the sky as he goal drought continued despite his hard-working performance. He knows he should have scored.
Ndiaye came on for Khadra and Dolan for Szmodics as both teams made a change. Ahmedhodzic headed wide as United looked for that killer second goal. Soon after McBurnie had another two chances but these were not easy with one blocked by the keeper and another from a combination of the keeper and defender. Both of these were more difficult chances and the second he made by his own persistence. The Kop rose to salute his work ethic and efforts despite his frustration to somehow not convert. Berge then fired over after the ball sat up. Morton came on for Phillips in Blackburn’s second change.
The vital goal to give United comfort did arrive and it was a result of more excellent work from McBurnie who did well to turn his man and then right from the by-line pull the cross back. Blackburn could not clear and it fell for Berge who hit it and it deflected in off the backside of NDIAYE and into the net. After all the excellent play, this was a scrappy way to score but it had been coming. Rovers appeals seemed to centre on the ball going out and a handball but it seemed desperation from a side that had been completely dominated all game.
Basham then replaced Baldock with the long serving favourite getting a huge ovation as he came on, with his first game back after signing a new contract in the summer.
If this goal was scrappy, then NDIAYE’s second and United’s third was a thing of beauty. The ball was inside United’s half when the Sengalese man nicked the ball off a Rovers player and turned inside. He evaded two challenges and skipped past another with a superb run that culminated with a step over to sidestep his final defender and then he curled a superb shot from the edge of the box that kissed Kaminsky’s right-hand post and nestled into the goal. An absolutely superb individual goal. Ndiaye took off his shirt and held it up, Messi-esque and of course was booked for his over excessive celebration. He then went down with cramp and needed treatment before the game could re-start.
As the crackle and excitement of seeing such a goal enveloped the Lane, United were not content to sit back and went for more. Berge had one powerful run beating several men for pace and power but run out of steam at the end. Norwood’s cross was headed over by Basham and Ndiaye brought out more tricks and flicks to draw oooos and aaaaas from the crowd. Heckingbottom opted to introduce two more substitutes with Berge and McBurnie replaced by Doyle (for his home debut) and Brewster. Both outgoing men got a lusty round of applause with the latter, despite not scoring, getting a real hand for his workmanlike efforts.
Lowe had a shot saved after more good build up with several players involved and then Brewster was provided an excellent opportunity to score his first goal of the season, after good work from Ndiaye and Lowe, but the sub on his right foot could not finish and Kaminsky made another save to turn it behind for a corner. In the end it did not matter and the Blades saw out the additional four minutes confidently knocking the ball around in a contest that was extremely one sided.
United – We were very good first half against Millwall and then in the week after a poor half hour, we dominated the game against a spirited Sunderland side. Today against the side that were top of the league (granted they lost in the week and won’t finish anywhere near there you would not think) we put in an almost complete performance. Aside from a sloppy 10 minutes after half time and they did not exactly threaten even in this period, United completely destroyed Blackburn. It was men against boys and one side looked a team full of confidence that wanted to get on the ball, pass it, attack and create things. Another just sat back with 10 men behind the ball and tried to just play on the break, at least if they had even launched an attack. The first half was like one of those training exercises where you have attack v defence and they clear it and then you start again.
I could not understand Blackburn’s approach at all? Yes, United dominated the ball and moved it about crisply with Norwood, Berge and many others on the ball but they just defended. It actually was a really poor approach but of course it is hard to break down but surely you have more chance of gaining a point/three points if you try and attack? Sunderland did that in the week and got a goal and had some chances. The whole philosophy and the way they started set the tone. Credit to United who moved it around and passed it well and were patient. They had a few chances and McBurnie missed a good one with another cleared off the line off a defender. Maybe they will say they were not tested in terms of the keeper making saves but you defend so deep, you know that chances and/or goals will result. The goal came from an unlikely source and what a free kick that shocked everyone! After this we could have had more and it was so one sided.
They had a bit of a spell after half time but more just bits and pieces and corners. We went a bit scrappy and gave it away a few times and started going long but then reasserted ourself and Norwood/Berge/Fleck got on it and we moved back up the pitch (and indeed the gears). McBurnie somehow missed a trio of chances. The first unbelievable how he did not score although credit to the keeper. I think the crowd knew he was trying hard and contributing so like McGoldrick the fans recognised these efforts and the part he played. I know he missed two sitters (two others harder chances) but I almost can live with that to a degree if he does the rest which he did today. I was just worried, a bit like Sunderland, that the second would not come and they could always nick one with a few dangerous attackers but it finally did come. It was scrappy – off his backside but it was deserved. After this Ndiaye scored one of the best individual goals (of that type – do not see many like that- weaving, individual run) fans have seen at the Lane for many years. It was all his own making – nicking the ball (which he does a lot) and running and running and then the sublime finish. My Uncle turned to me and said it is one of those goals you will remember for a long time.
After this we could have had more and Brewster missed a golden chance (sure some will say if we had strikers who could finish – citing the chances McBurnie and he missed – we could be even better) but overall we coasted to the win.
The statistics actually do not reveal the true nature of how domain United were. 55% to 45% possession (it seemed much more!) and 23 shots to 10 with 10 on target for the home side to 0 for the away side but if the game had finished with United winning by at least double the margin they achieved it would have been a fairer reflection.
We played some great football and not even sure some were as good as they can be with key men Ahmedhodzic and Berge playing well but maybe not as good as the other night. We had no one really play badly with lots of 7 and 8/10 performances. I thought despite my praise for McBurnie, that the left side was the surprise stand out. Lowe was good and Norrington Davies- he was immense today. Norwood controlled midfield and the rest of the defence was solid too. Overall, it was an excellent team performance with two brilliant individual goals. Even with likes of Bogle, Sharp, Robinson and Clark out (missed anyone – Stevens and O’Connell?) we still look strong in terms of who we could throw on and the youth of the two City lads on loan and likes of Bash around as well, it looks really positive in terms of strength of the squad. I do not want to get carried away but we looked a powerful side today and blew Blackburn away and with better finishing/worse keeping, it would have been a deserved hammering.
Been a really good week. You worry about scouts and clubs circling around Berge and maybe even Ndiaye but if we can keep those two and get some players back added to the above, then there is no reason we cannot stay up there. The division seems to lack stand outside/s and with Watford haemorrhaging talented strikers and Burnley/Norwich/Boro not starting that well, we have to feel good but not get carried away. Luton will be tough and we need to now start adding to our impressive home form with improvements in points and also approach on the road. For now, though let’s just enjoy a great performance and an excellent week.
Ratings:
Foderingham 7/10 – Very little to do. Did not have a save to make or even take a cross. Just kicked a few balls out and that was it?
Baldock 7.5/10 – Solid enough. He got forward really well and controlled some hard passes well and also put a few ok crosses in too. One really good one second half when it was cleared behind after Berge put him in. He did the defensive bit when he had to and was always an outlet.
Lowe 8/10 – Continuing his improvements and thought after he did well in the week, he had another good showing today. Used it well when he got forward and showed good control and link play but more than that he made no real defensive mistakes of note at all and was really assured in his tackling and getting tight to his man.
Ahmedhodzic 7.5/10 – Not to the standards of his other games but still good. He got up and down with a few darts in behind and nearly got another goal from a set play. He did get beat once with one run down that side second half when he committed himself but then recovered his composure and stepped out a few times to read the play and come out with it. Looks so composed on the ball. Also got stuck in and got nose to nose with a few – ended in a booking after a tussle before a corner.
Norrington Davies 9/10 – Superb performance and my man of the match in terms of the overall game even though I may have given Ndiaye the same mark! He was all over at the back making tackles, winning headers and getting his foot in but was quick to the ball and aggressive too. He completely dominated down that side and then also used the ball well. I am still not certain he is a left sided centre back and see his future left wing back but today he showed he can play there (as he did in the week). Needs to keep these standards as shown consistency this week after a poor start at Boro. He was faultless today. Showed athleticism, pace, good use of the ball and tenacity to completely win all his battles.
Egan 7.5/10 – Solid showing where he won his headers and also moved it out from the back with accuracy. The last few games he has put some good passes out and moved the ball quicker too. He has taken it in turns with Norwood to launch the counter or pass when the defence sits off and let us have it. Defensively no issues and we barely saw Brereton Diaz (who admittedly got no help or service) and also neatly set up McBurnie for the chance and nearly got in on the rebound too.
Norwood 8.5/10 – Another excellent showing carrying on from the week. He not only scored a superb free kick that was unsavable but he controlled and dictated play all game. Some passes he overplayed and not everything came off but the love the fact he kept trying forward passes and it was not all sideways and diagonal. He was at the centre of everything good we did. He nearly scored another couple too with good long-range efforts. His set plays seem to offer more variety this year with him trying different things too.
Fleck 6.5/10 – Thought he was ok but one of our less effective players. A few times the ball came off him or he was not assured in possession. He also seems to lack that dynamism he had from a few years ago. He did set up the McBurnie chance though and had a few other decent moments but just a bit sloppy at times and needs to be more sure with his touch and passing.
Berge 8/10 – At times showed some real quality, even if he was not doing it all game but when he is on the ball and involved what an influence he is. He sort of flitted in and out but when involved he was very good and drifted across moving it well and a few lovely slide rule passes set up some chances. He brushed off his men and got into dangerous areas and help us keep the ball with his upper body strength allowing him to just move away from men. He had a few great runs second half including one powerful run where he just moved through the gears with power and pace and they trailed after him. Glad we rested him to stop any possible injury at the end and hope we can keep him but he is playing very well.
Khadra 6.5/10 – Started well with a lovely bit of control reminiscent of what we saw with his excellent cameo in the week, and a cross shot that was tipped over. Looked lively and was trying to get on the ball but does go to ground a bit too much I have to say. He continued to link when he could but was one of our quieter performers and found it hard with so many defenders back to get space. Second half after one run where he won a corner, he then went on one good run but took too long and was tackled when he had a great chance. He then gave it away a few times and seemed to be tiring and right to change it. He will have games where he is maybe not as effective as the other night and today, he was ok but maybe most of our attacks came through other sources.
McBurnie 8/10 – I may get lambasted for this mark as yes; he missed two sitters BUT he was excellent in everything else he did. He held it up, ran the channels, was strong in his challenges and won headers/flicks and kept it when it came to him. The only thing missing was a goal! He should score the chance in the first half and of course the one in the second is even worse and he struggles to erm…kick the ball hard but he kept going and then had more chances – these were harder. He just kept going and then set up the second. I thought he tried his guts out and played with intelligence as well as the sheer effort and also seemed stronger/fitter than he has been for some time. Yes, he needs to score goals of course but today we got them from other sources and he did his job. Well played!
Subs –
Ndiaye 9/10 – What an impact. Glad in a way we rested him as we need to rotate with so many games and he of course is a player that does struggle to play full games (he even got cramp today after the run and goal!). He came on and won a loose ball even before he scored – albeit this just hit him but the second was something else. A goal that will be remembered for a long time as he stole the ball and went on a run, drawing man after man and then the step over/dummy and the finish was exquisite. After this the party pieces came out and he showed a range of skills and was a constant threat. Gibbs White clearly far more advanced in his development and experience but what price this lad if he keeps improving? Hopefully we get to see him for a while longer yet.
Brewster – Still not quite happening for him. Today he had a superb chance but took too long and it was kind of comfortable for the keeper. McBurnie keeps the shirt on today’s evidence but sure they will be rotated over the coming weeks and both needed with Sharp out for the foreseeable.
Basham – Came on to a great reception but bombed forward from right wing back with a few runs and a header over. What a player to come on and plug in a number of positions.
Doyle – One decent bit of skill but overhit the cross. Good to see him get some time and his chance will come.
Manager: Heckingbottom 9/10 – Perfect performance and if McBurnie and/or Brewster score than it would have been maybe a 9.5. We began much better than the other night with a good and better tempo. We got amongst them and forced them back and the players he brought in looked dangerous. We had Berge in better areas and the whole side were ‘at it.’ We did not panic after it was only 1-0 and rode a sticky spell to take control and then went on and won easily. His sub Ndiaye had a huge impact and these sub and timings were very good – he seems to be getting the hang of how to use the greater number now maybe? We have rotated players well this week and gradually brought some of the new players in but rewarded those who have done well today. A clean sheet, a resounding win and top of the league. After a poor start, we have had 3 home wins a decent draw away.
Blackburn – They have had a good start and seemed like Tomasson has got his ideas across judging by results but the last week has brought them back down to earth with a huge bump. Well beaten at Reading and today. In truth they were lucky with 3-0 against the Blades. Their approach was so negative as they sat all 10 outfield players almost in their own third and sat so deep. They never even tried to attack and just defended. They have some decent players in the likes of Brereton Diaz, Buckley, Gallagher and Szmodics but never got them in the game as they ended up being defenders too! Awful way to try and get something from a game. They may say we did not have tons of chances first half but we still had 3 or 4 and they were never going to get anything by playing like that as something will happen in terms of a chance/goal. We scored from a free kick but this was poor play to concede. I thought he may change it but did not at all. After the break they at least came out but it was only a token 10-minute spell where they won a few corners and Foderingham did not get his gloves dirty all game – not sure he actually touched it with his hands? He had nothing to do and they no attempts of note on or near our goal.
After we got back control it revered to the same defence v attack but they somehow stayed at 1-0 with the keeper making save after save, various blocks and McBurnie missing a number of chances. The second came and then the third and it could have been anything after that. They were soundly beaten.
They looked like a side that despite the good start may struggle especially if Brereton Diaz follows the other good players they have lost. Much like McCarthy got derided at Ipswich, I wonder if they do not realise how solid Mowbray was. Maybe they may eventually play more expansively but he did great with limited resources to keep them solid and on the verge of the playoffs last season. A rookie manager at Championship and English football may see them having a period of transition. Hard when clubs like us and others have parachute payment of course but with clubs like Sunderland coming up and Hull improving etc – then I do see them nearer the bottom than top this year. Do not think they will go down at all but would not be shocked if they are looking over their shoulder? They looked a side lacking quality and confidence and defensively they cannot just sit in and will need to rethink their approach.
Opponent Man of the Match – Kaminsky. Kept it down with so many saves and some brilliant at point blank range even though McBurnie and Brewster should have scored some of the chances. The rest offered nothing with Brereton Diaz isolated badly.
Opponent Weak link – Take your pick. Cannot have a go too much at the attackers as given no service but the midfield did not get on the ball and the defence was badly stretched even with a number of men back. Ayala was given a torrid time by McBurnie and then Ndiaye so maybe just takes this award. The big lad Phillips is only 17 and has been linked with bigger clubs but it was all a bit much for him today not helped by experienced players around him struggling.
Referee/Officials – Leigh Doughty. First few games we have had ok refs but this guy was too fussy and stop start. He took forever to book people and seemed to want to be noticed too much. Not sure there was a bad foul all game at all but he was too involved.
Matchday/Crowd/Coverage – Crowd better than the week and more noise helped by the first half and how we started and appreciated how hard it was to break down a negative side who just defended. The fans really appreciated and kept supporting McBurnie (despite the misses) recognising what he had done and the roof would have come off if he scored. Blackburn brought less than they did last season – maybe the train strike did not help – and were very quiet but their performance was insipid so cannot blame them. Surprised so many stayed right to the end.
