United had started the better side and for fifteen minutes it was all the home side and they eventually went in front thanks to a Kieron Freeman striker. However, the Blades could not build on this and Swindon finished the half the better side and should have been level but Mark Howard’s penalty save denied them. The second half United were second best for long spells coughing up possession and having to defend for large periods but did break out for a spell after Matty Done came on. Still with stoppage time almost up the games outstanding player Nathan Byrne struck a speculative shot that somehow went pastMark Howard and United had lost yet another game at home.
The referee had a poor night and United could have had a couple of penalties themselves on other night in a game filled with officiating inconsistency. However, United’s failure to build on a positive start mixed with more poor management from Nigel Clough badly cost United. Granted the decisions went against them but for long spells United struggled against a quicker, more skilful Swindon side. United put forth effort but a slow, small and weak side were undone by better opponents for long spells.
Manager Clough was without Jose Baxter due to illness but brought back a number of players from the final game of the weekend. He went with the same back fourthat started against Chesterfield and opted to play Basham in midfield alongside Coutts and Holt with Murphy and Flynn supplanting Davies. Done was seen as fit enough for the bench. Swindon brought all their big guns back for the game and will have been well rested after many had not played for several weeks.
United began superbly tearing into Swindon. They won challenges all over the field, the tempo was high and they pressed the visitors back. Flynn and Murphy were influential and the latter had a good run and shot just wide. On 11 minutes a huge appeal for a spot kick after what seemed a rather blatant hand ball after Murphy’s cross was waved away.
Harris then had a cross shot that just evaded Davies when a touch and it would have gone in. It was all United who were quicker and sharper and on 20 minutes the goal that seemed imminent came.
Flynn kept plugging away and won the ball before finally pulling it back and FREEMAN hit a shot that seemed to go through Foderingham and into the net. It was a deserved lead for the Blades who had looked really sharp.
Soon after Hylton nearly got on Thompson’s cross soon after and slowly the visitors got a foothold in the game. They had a half chance but Smith could not get the ball when well placed but on the half hour they had a great chance to get level
Harris put a foot out and Byrne went down. It may have looked a little soft but there was contact and the aware of the spot kick was not a surprise. Still after the early indiscretion in the box the other way; United fans felt rather aggrieved.
GLADWIN stepped up after the protests and hit it firmly but Howard guessed right and saved superbly before jumping high to clutch the subsequent rebound. The Kop celebrated the crucial save.
At the other end Murphy went down but no spot kick was given that way. This one seemed less straight forward. Harris was booked for his second indiscretion and then Davies also was booked for kicking the ball away. The crowd were becomingly incredibly frustrated with the referee and some baffling decisions aside from some big calls that went against the home side.
Brayford picked up a knock as indecision in the defence led to Swindon nearly getting in before Howard scooped away with his legs. The captain limped on for a period but was not right as the half time whistle came.
As expected Brayford could not continue and Clough surprisingly opted to bring on Scougall and moving Basham back to midfield.
This change instantly saw Swindon start to take control and for the opening spell, Luongo and Kasim were now zipping it about and looking to take the game to the hosts. Smith nodded wide and a low cross then just missed Kasim at the far post. Soon after United at full stretch knocked the ball behind.
The corner was whipped over and as Harris and McEveley got under the ball, the experienced RICKETTS came in and headed firmly into the net. It was a similar goal to the one from Sunday against Chesterfield but then again it was similar to another 20 or so goals conceded this season. A basic cross and header that United could not defend.
Swindon came again and Ricketts shot wide. They were now controlling the game and United were sitting further and further back in a poor second half performance. They broke out for a spell and Davies shot well over before Flynn had a good run and shot at the keeper getting clobbered in the process but the referee again saw nothing wrong.
Done was introduced for the ineffective Holt and was straight in on the action chasing down loose balls and causing havoc with his strong running and pace. He then got in and was able to scramble home but the referee saw a foul in the build up. Done than was clear but the referee brought it back for an earlier foul. Another baffling decision. Davies then had a shot saved. United had woken up for the final 10 minutes or so and were now looking as likely for the winner.
Murphy had been quiet but after a decent move, the ball came in from the winger and Davies ought to have scored but his flicked header flashed past the post.
Stephens then ran 50 yards from the back before shooting into the side netting as the game ebbed and flowed.
Scougall seemed to pull his hamstring and slowly walked off to be replaced by Doyle as the game entered the additional 5 minutes of time. United won two corners and seemed to be pressing for a late chance but two awful deliveries saw the ball cleared away.
Swindon picked up the ball after this and transferred it forward to the right hand side. The impressive BYRNE came inside and unchallenged opted to have a go. From 25 yards his shot somehow bounced up and away from Howard and into the corner. It was a stunning moment in the game. Swindon’s players and fans celebrated wildly this crucial goal in the tie. The game kicked off but only for a further minutes and the final whistle came soon after.
United – Our end to the season in form, performances and results has been really poor and this continued tonight. In my mind we had the first 15 minutes easily but after this save for maybe a 10 minute spell towards the end when Done came on; I felt Swindon looked superior side.
I am surprised some fans feel hard done by. We got a lead and were doing great and it seemed we had finally got a performance but then slowly but surely it unravelled. Swindon got stronger as the game went on and even after the penalty let off; we never responded. Second half we made a terrible change of personnel. Brayford injured of course but we needed either Doyle to stiffen up midfield or Alcock on and keeping Basham in midfield –either would have been preferential to the ineffectual Scougall who joined the similarly ineffectual Holt. We ended up with a 3 man midfield that offered zilch. Nothing. For half an hour Swindon dictated the game and were in complete control. Done came on and gave us some life and we had a few chances (Davies should have scored) but then the late winner was not a surprise. I honestly thought 1-2 was about fair over the course of the game. Sadly man for man and collectively I felt they shaded the game. Sure we had chances and maybe shaded clear chances to some degree but they also missed a spot kick. However in overall play and passing I felt they controlled the game. We looked at full stretch and a tired team.
They seemed fresh, fitter and quicker. We are woefully slow all over the field. The two goals were pathetic. Another set play (never been addressed by Clough) and then a shot where nobody closed him down and Howard somehow let the ball through his hands. It summed up our season.
I do hear some fans saying we were unlucky and had chances but other than the Davies one; I cannot recall too many clear chances and felt at times we were chasing shadows second half. Our midfield was non existent second half and Swindon dictated the game. We have small players who lack pace, strength and ability. They had players (in midfield at least) who were quick, nippy and mobile. They all moved off the ball. We were stationery and for an hour just lumped it with little interchange, movement or running from deep. We must have round 7-8 central midfielders in the club and outside of Basham and Doyle; the rest are weak, small, powder puff and lack pace. I am sick of watching such immobile, timid players in this key area.
I felt today summed up much of the season. We did better than we have for some weeks despite all the above and still were not good enough and still lost. Too much will be made of the referee and other factors, but the reality is we failed again when it mattered. Failed to build on a lead and allowed a visiting team to dictate for 60-65 minutes of a game with two small pockets of play at the beginning and towards the end; about our lot. We did not do enough to win the game and on reflection taking away from who you follow, if any side deserved to win it was Swindon. Clough was pleased with the performance which is really worrying when we let an away side dictate so much of the game.
Second leg we now hear the crap about we are better when behind, pressure is off and it suits our style. I am sorry but the reality is that we are losing now going to a place we got smashed already this season and Swindon will be completely confident of seeing us off. They over the season, tonight and over the two league games (we won at the Lane but they dominated first half and should have been 3-0 up at the Lane) they are a better side and sadly I expect them to finish the job. Hope I am wrong but will watch more in hope than expectation on Monday night. I will save the questions for the manager until after then but tonight reaffirmed that when it has come to the crunch he is not good enough. He has signed most of the players, he picks them and he has failed to address the lack of height/set play/centre back issue all year. He will not admit responsibility for theButler/Collins debacle and even now makes excuses for his own incompetence.
Ultimately for all the talk of the officials, injuries, tactics etc, we are proving ultimately we are not good enough. The other side put the ball in the net twice. We did it once. That determines who wins. Sounds incredibly patronising but that determines success and failure. Tonight we thus failed again.
Swindon – First 15 minutes they looked shell shocked and we were sharp, determined and really went for it. We missed a few half chances and then went in front. We looked like we were up for it and they seemed sluggish. Sadly they got back into it and gradually got on top. They won a penalty and then even after this controlled the final 20 minutes or so of the first half and will have thought they should be level.
Second half it was all them apart from a late spell when Done got them on the back foot and we had a brief 10 minute flurry from around the 75h minute mark. They passed it better, looked more fluent and after they scored, looked the more likely but did not create tons of chances despite controlling the game. However will say 1-1 away from him and still controlling the ball and dictating the tempo they would have been more than happy. The late goal was a dream scenario for them. They will have no fear about seeing us off second leg noting our weak defence aerially and also our non-existent midfield and will pass through us. They know we have very little to offer save for Murphy and Flynn’s occasional bursts. The only danger will be complacency but I am sure they will feel sure they will finish the job. To be honest many United fans may not have heard of some of the players but the likes of Byrne, Thompson, Luongo, Gladwin, Kasim, Swift are superior footballers to much of what we have. Think Byrne and Luongo are significantly better than anything we have in terms of pace, movement and football brain.
A club with smaller crowd and resources who have spent nothing but assembled a better side than us and players with youth, hunger, pace and creativity and can score goals. We have assembled a team full of average journeyman who look tired, slow and lacking in belief.
Howard 6/10 – He saved a penalty which was an excellent save down to his right and his handling and overall keeping was good. Mixed bag of kicking again but then at the end his solid performance was ruined by another real howler as he let a speculative shot creep in. Without this he may have been a 7-7.5
Freeman 7/10 – Our best defender tonight. Looked sharp attacking when he could and scored a really good goal getting into the box. Had a few other decent efforts. He defender better than some of the others and at least stuck to his task. Few times he was caught ball watching but worrying he has ended the season as our most consistent defender.
Harris 2/10 – Atrocious from start to finish. All those fans who stated he was the best left back in the division must be regretting such a declaration. He has been woefully inconsistent much of the season and tonight he barely did anything right. Gave away a penalty with a daft trip, then made another poor foul which led to a booking. Gave Byrne way too much room all game, often being 20 yards off him. He miskicked, struggled to eve control it and defensively was a complete liability. After that performance Swindon will target him big time Monday night.
Brayford 7/10 – Played ok winning key headers and looking determined to win the ball. He looked solid before picking up an injury due to McEveley’s indecision that led to him having to challenge. He limped on but had to go off. Who was brought on was one of our undoings.
Basham 7/10 – In midfield he was a 8/10 as we played well for the first 15-20 minutes. He got stuck in and won the loose balls and gave us a physical presence. Gave a few away but always seemed near the ball. Second half he was moved to centre back which saw us lose any control of the midfield (to be fair we had started to lose it towards the end of the first 45 minutes). At centre back he was less steady and not as comfortable and he got turned and ran at; as did the others.
McEveley 5/10 – He made a few tackles or clearances but also made a number of errors with skewed clearances or poor touches. Always diving in or at full stretch; you feared every time the ball went near him. Should not be near the side but our lack of options due to Clough at centre back means he played. A poor player that thankfully is out of contract and surely will move on to club number 18 or whatever it seems like!
Coutts 4/10 – Summed up his spell at the Lane so far. Cannot recall him being involved at all after a few early tackles early on. He just faded to nothing as we got completely overran. Doyle may not be as mobile but he surely would have done much better. A poor player for me that has added nothing to the side and just weakens a key area even more and it was weak enough.
Flynn 7.5/10 – Our best player. Worked really hard, got down the wing, made the goal with his tenacity and pull back. He kept going all night and I felt second half he was the only one who gave us a threat. Got some decent balls in and had a few efforts on goal. Got some hammer but wore shirt with pride; sadly let down by many of his colleague.
Murphy 6/10- He did well first 15 minutes and got at the full back and caused problems with a few direct runs. After this he was ineffectual and I cannot recall him doing anything of note after this. Second half he never got on the ball and I felt he was seen off by Swindon. Needed more from him.
Holt 3/10 – Did he even play? Seriously. I bet he did not touch the ball more than 10 times all game. Complete and utter non factor in the game. Not sure what he offers and surely he will be sent back up north of the Border after next week. He has scored a few goals but overall is just another small, slow midfielder who leads to us being completely overrun in this key area.
Davies 6/10 – Lots of effort and hold ball up at times but also came off him a bit too. Not really a goal threat and his touch was not the best. Had a few wayward efforts and then missed a good chance when nodded wide when he ought to have scored really. He tried hard and is not the worst player but he will not score goals and not sure he does enough in other aspects of the game to compensate for this lack of threat.
Subs-
Scougall 3/10 – Came on for Brayford and went into midfield. Doyle should have come on or even Alcock. We had been in the game in midfield, even controlling first 20 minutes but second half we had no control. I cannot recall one positive thing he did and he was chasing shadows as they dictated in this area. Luongo and Kasim just outfootballed our team of mini men. Did his hamstring near the end. Not be seen again this season. A major disappointment this campaign after promise he showed when he signed. Sadly after a more prolonged spell of seeing him, another one that does not even stand out against sides at this level.
Done – Excellent when he came on. Ran at the defence, got past men and caused problems turning the defence. Not sure why he did not start (surely if he is injured he cannot play any time – and see it as nonsense he can do 15 minutes but not 90 – surely his injury could go any time if that serious?). Gave us a chance of a late winner just due to sheer effort.
Doyle – Came on at the end when Scougall pulled his hamstring.
Manager rating –
Clough 3/10 – He picked a side that had Basham in the centre but two players who have been ineffectual for the most part in Holt and Coutts. He did not start Done; who helped change it when he came on. However the biggest issue is his decision to put Scougall on for Brayford, thus changing the side and massively weakening the central area. We completely gave them the initiative in this area and they controlled this part of the game. Our 3 midfielders barely kicked the ball and gave them too much space for much of the 2nd half. He has come out and just blamed the referee at the end and it smacks of desperation. The referee was poor but he needs to look closer to home. He is the one who has set up a side full of diminutive players and one that has no real recognised centre backs (McEveley and Brayford who started there are full backs – or have been for much of their career). He is the one who had not addressed the set play give always time after time. He is the one who has not had any kind of settled side and signed a team full of average midfielders. He is the one who has seen us sit back and try and defend when we lead. He oversees all this and tonight summed up why much of the season has been so unacceptable. He knows he may have one game to save his job as if we bomb out Monday then he will surely face questions from the board and it would not be a total surprise if he left.
Officials – Well Mr Bond, you were awful. He was poor both ways and actually missed a few obvious fouls to Swindon second half aswell but for the most part he did United no favours at all. The first one looked a clear penalty on the hand ball, the Murphy one would have been harsh but I felt Flynn got clipped after shooting and the Done foul was barely a foul. He probably got the Swindon one right, but looking at some of above, you could feel aggrieved not to get any of the aforementioned decisions. Aside from the big calls he was woefully inconsistent with decisions, sometimes letting physical play go and then other times bringing things back for nothing. He had no concept of the advantage penalising us twice when we had the ball and were going towards the goal. He kept moving free kicks a matter of a few yards. Wanted to be the star of the show. A big game with a lot riding on it and he had a shocker. On another night united may have got some key decisions to lead to a possibly different result and for all my concerns over Clough and united, he was a significant factor in the reverse.
Crowd – 20,000 plus but with only say 1,200 from Swindon at best. The crowd started loudly and with the team starting fast it was fervent early. Sadly much of the noise as the performance tapered off was more at the referee than anything else. Second half crowd began to get frustrated as we lost control of the game. Tried to will the side on near the end but the late kick in the teeth drew frustrations at the manager and the side at the end. Cannot fault the fans They tried to stay with them and again backed them in numbers but the side yet again let them down with another defeat in a big game that the season potentially could be determined on. It is now sadly quite expected when it comes to United. Fair play to those trooping down to Swindon. I hope they have a glory night but seen nothing from this side and Clough this season to suggest anything but the inevitable final let down.