The game had been in some doubt for much of the morning and United will have wished that maybe it had fallen by the wayside as a lacklustre showing saw struggling Pool win deservedly. United never got going from the start and fell behind early and despite drawing level they tossed away two further sloppy goals in the second half and the late goal for the home side was a mere consolation. United had not lost at home and Hartlepool had not won away so perhaps it was fated that such a result would happen. What was concerning was how United were completely outworked all over the field pretty much from start to finish.
On the 150th anniversary of the first game ever played at Bramall Lane, credit had to the United ground staff for ensuring the game went ahead despite some torrential downpours in the days leading up to the game.
United had to make three changes as Westlake came in for the suspended McMahon, Williams came in for Collins and Cofie for Miller as Hill went back to centre back. The bench was once again full of young players. Struggling Pool fielded some experienced players and also had on their team sheet players with Blades links with former YTS man Humphreys and former reserve team regular Horwood involved.
United began by winning a corner and Doyle had a close range effort blocked but soon after United were behind as the visitors scored with their first attack.
United dithered on the throw and Blackman left his man and then Westlake was not switched on and the cross came over too easily from Humphreys. As the ball came over it sailed over both United centre backs and HOWARD had isolated himself on Williams and easily won the ball to power home his header.
Soon after Howard nearly scored again but rushed his shot and then an even better chance came as Walton threaded in Franks whose curler went narrowly past the post. United were all over the place and needed a nice exchange of passes involving McDonald and Flynn to create a half chance for Flynn.
United slowly started to get back into it and Blackman’s daisy cutter was excellent palmed away from Flinders. The next time United got sight of goal they were able to get level but this time the keeper will not have been happy with his work.
DOYLE hit a long range shot and whilst the effort had power it was an easier effort to save than the previous one that Flinders had saved but he somehow spilt it into his own net to restore parity to proceedings.
United looked to build on this and Maguire fired over after some nimble footwork and then a few opportunities fizzed across the box. Still for all this Hartlepool finished the half stronger and won two corners as both Williams and Westlake could not to grips with the wing play.
The second half saw no changes for either side and the first chance came when Flynn nipped in to round the keeper and score after the ball had been blocked from Cofie’s initial mis hit effort. Replays showed it was onside as Collins and Sweeney oddly squared up to each other but the referee chose to just have a word in an odd situation where players from their own team were pushing and shoving each other.
Still this seemed to galvanize Hartlepool and they were back in the lead with basically their first attack of the second half.
The attack once again came down the left hand side and United were completely switched off as Westlake lost his man once again; the cross came over from Horwood and HUMPHREYS stole in front of the defenders to angle a low shot goalwards. Long may have felt he could have done better as the ball went in off his hand and into the corner. It was an incredibly sloppy goal to concede as the United boyhood fan celebrated with the sparse Hartlepool following behind the goal.
United tried to find a way back but after McDonald’s decent run he fired wildly across goal and the Cofie’s fierce effort was straight into Flinders midriff. Cofie had been mostly disappointing and he was withdrawn for Chapell. Blackman went up front as the young substitute operated wide right.
From another Hartlepool attack they unbelievable scored again. Poole got away from Westlake and put in a lovely deep cross to the far post. HOWARD peeled off Maguire and nodded intelligently back beyond Long and into the far corner of the goal. United were stunned but Hartlepool had worked incredibly hard and no one could deny that they had deserved to lead in the game. United now faced an almighty struggle to avoid embarrassment and get anything from the game.
With just under 10 to play, United took off Doyle and Kitson and put on Ironside and Cresswell in a last ditch attempt to get something from the game. United huffed and puffed and Maguire seemed to be clearly brought down in a scramble but as he appealed and after a series of shoves the referee booked him and a visiting player; meaning Maguire faces a suspension.
Right at the close after the additional minutes of stoppage time had been played; United scored a pretty meaningless late goal. The cross came from the right and after the initial shot was blocked; MAGUIRE reacted first after the ball span away from Flinders and poked it in via a defender. There was barely any time to kick off and sure enough referee Deadman called an end to the game soon after Hartlepool had restarted to confirm the shock result of the season in League One. Hartlepool’s players and staff celebrated wildly with their fans whilst United’s players trooped off in front of their disgruntled home crowd.
United – Shocking and one of the poorest United performances in recent years. It was not really the ability/skill etc but the complete lack of effort from many as we got outworked all over the field. Hartlepool were quicker to the first, second and often third balls. We seemed like we thought we would stroll it but even after we went behind we did not improve. They could have been 3-0 up after 10 minutes. We then got level but after a half decent spell even then we became languid and they finished the half the better. The two goals in the second half were appalling defending but in truth they had other chances too. Our defence was all over the shop, our midfield slow and sloppy with the ball and out strikers completely static and seemingly stationary most of the game.
In terms in individuals most of the team had nightmares with the two full backs in particular all at sea, Maguire given a working over by Howard and the midfield two not having a clue how to use the conditions.
However it was more than just players having an off day, it was us not fighting, not competing and now showing any heart. They basically wanted it more and deserved it. When it came to us getting the ball we had no concept had to use it. They took the ball off the deck and floated balls into the channels where it held up, where as we kept trying to play balls on the floor and it kept slowing down and never making intended target due to boggy pitch. We never learnt and continued doing this with McDonald and Doyle playing so many balls that never made the intended target. We had no idea how to play the ball but this unbelievable continued right to the end. They got it into the channels and then attacked from there. We tried to ridiculously pass it along the floor when you simply could not do that today.
It was a huge chance missed to stay top but the side got exactly what they deserved; nothing. You hope the two injuries and todays shock result is not like last year when we lost players and decisive games (Oldham, Walsall etc) but now we go to Doncaster with half a defence and no Maguire due to his stupid booking. Donny are flying and will fancy their chances of beating us surely. We need to tighten up again at the back and out strikers need to keep the ball more but most importantly more than that we need to start winning the battles and showing we actually want to get out of this division. It has worried me that in recent weeks teams like Crewe, Tranmere, Brentford and now today v Hartlepool, other players have shown more desire to get to the ball and get stuck in and make it happen than our players where a few have seemed to just things will automatically happen for us. Today should be a massive wake up call and prove we aren’t that good. We may be top but today there was nothing between the two teams and shows if we can’t show the work rate we don’t have so many supremely individuals who can turn games on their own. Maddening that with others have games in hand and our squad’s lack of depth now telling, we could find ourselves outside the top two quite quickly.
Today most certainly proved we do need to bring in 3 or 4 players in January. If McCabe watched that he must surely realised when Journeymen players like Howard and Humphries look better than some of our players; that this team would not make the top 2 without investment in these key players.
Hartlepool – They actually looked a poor side and you saw in snatches why they are bottom in terms of technique, passing and skill. However they got an early goal and even after we levelled they kept fighting and seemed determined not to fold. Scored two more well worked goals but more than this they just kept fighting and fighting and for me deserved their win.
They closed us down all over the field and gave us no time. They won the physical battles and were sharper all over the field. They had a few tricky players out wide and exposed our weaknesses. They worked out how best to play the surface and played percentage stuff and did not try and overplay. They were solid at the back (albeit under little pressure) and chucked men at the ball and made blocks, tackles (which we did not). They made it hard for United to create chances and protected the keeper really well. They really fought for one another (actually did fight one another at one stage!) and you had to commend them for putting far more effort into the game than the Blades. It was not necessarily superior technical ability just players busting a gut and showing real determination in awful weather conditions.
Probably will go down as they are quite a bit adrift despite the win today. They do have a lot of players (who actually did well today) in Humphreys, Howard, Monkhouse that are coming to the end of their careers and lack real quality throughout the side. However if they work as hard as they have today and show such fight they may give themselves an outside chance I suppose.
Long 5/10 – Not great today but behind a shambolic defence it can’t have been easy. At times he was slow to come out or command and often balls came across box and he seemed routed to his line. Made a few punches away but I felt he could have done much better for the second goal and was maybe a little flat footed on the third.
Westlake 2/10 – He had done well in previous games and seemed to be getting to be improving to the extent I was disappointed when McMahon came back in but today he was appalling. All 3 goals came down his side and he was at fault to some degree (with others) for all of them. All day he gave the winger way too much space and then when he had it he tossed it away. The main problem was how slow he was to react to danger and problems and he looked a really poor player today I am afraid. They knew he was a weak link (as was the other side) and attacked all game long down the flanks.
Williams 1/10 – One of the worst performances I have ever seen from a Blades player. He was utterly appalling from start to finish. He chopped his man down about 4 times and how he did not get booked was beyond me. His control was awful, his passing wretched and often he could not even keep the ball on the pitch. He got worse as the game went on and I really cannot remember anything he did right all game. Truly shocking with and without the ball.
Hill 5/10 – Our best defender but that really is not saying much as he was poor and let the Hartlepool forwards impose themselves. Felt he did better than the rest and at least won a few headers/balls but then he too was slow to react to things and at times backpedalling. Really missed Collins as we lost a commanding centre back but also had to endure Williams all game.
Maguire 3/10 –One of his poorest performances in a United shirt. He had one turn and shot but often just punted it forward and although he did scored right at the end most other things he was really poor. He got bullied all game by Howard and barely won a header against him. He lost him badly for the third but in general play never got on top of the battle and seemed to be physically overpowered. He then picked up a ridiculous cheap booking when he got involved in a skirmish at the end when he seemed to get fouled; they claimed he dived but still we had lost and needed to walk away and started pushing (along with their players). Like v Oldham last year incredibly unprofessional and naive. Now we have a threadbare defence (unsure who would play centre back at Doncaster) due to utter stupidity.
Flynn 7/10 – Our best player comfortably. I have called him in recent weeks but he was the only one who showed any fight or desire today. He also kept the ball well, at least made a few things happen and showed some football intelligence. He had no help from anyone else and often had to plough lone furrows without any kind of back up.
Doyle 3/10 – Really really poor. He scored a fortunate goal (least he got a shot on target – McDonald never seems to do that) but Doyle gave the ball away constantly from start to finish. He did not grasp the conditions as so many of our players did not and kept miscontrolling or playing too short or too long balls. His performance today showed me we definitely need to strengthen in this area long term as his sort of niggly, kick em and try and spoil it type players are sadly becoming a thing of the past.
McDonald 4/10 – Nearly as bad ad Doyle to be honest. Continually looking for free kicks or moaning and often his passing was wayward. When he did get forward he had a few drives at their defence but his final ball was never right or over hit. He ended up going completely missing when we went 1-3 down and seemed to just give up (I watched him carefully). After playing so well the other day, today showed why no one came in for him. Against players who just fought harder and got stuck in I felt he mailed it in today at times.
Blackman 5.5 /10 – He was not good and often he lost the ball or tried too much but at least had a go and one of few who made some things happen. Still his end product was poor as other than one low shot that Flinders saved; I cannot remember anyone final ball or shot coming to anything really. He held the ball too much and allowed them to get men behind the ball. Finished the game up front but can’t recall him doing much after he changed position.
Cofie 2/10 – Heard a few people on forums in recent days saying he deserves a chance and he has raw talent and as he’s from Man Utd he must have something about him? Well today proved that sadly he is probably never going to make it in my opinion. He simply does not have the desire/heart or football brain to make it. He runs about a bit and has pace and some decent ability but so often the ball shoots off him or he cannot win it due to complete and utter lack of strength (bottle?). He seems totally disinterested and showed nothing today to suggest he should stay in the team nor will he ever make it in the pro game. A player that sadly just does not ‘get it’ and despite having a bit of natural ability I fail to see if he can’t do it here (3rd tier) how he will ever make it. A player that in my eyes is destined for the non-league at best in the coming years. I would send him back as he is no better than the youngsters we have.
Kitson 3/10 – Thought he was poor and as bad as Cofie was he was not much better and did not help him. He seemed to just stroll through the game and never really held it up nor brought others into play. He did not have an effort of note on goal, nor did he look like scoring and seemed also to just be going through the motions today. Up front we had no movement, no hold up, no running, no goal threat, nothing and whilst the defence and midfield were shocking today, we may aswell have had two cones up front, for all the affect our front pairing had on the game.
Subs
Chapell – Brought on to give us something different but he hit two crosses right into first man and then just got crowded out when he had it. Seemed very weak in the challenge and does not have any real pace nor trickery. Unsure if he is ever going to push on and make it as he is now 21/22?
Ironside/Cresswell – Brought on about 7/8 minutes from the end. Clearly too late as the game had gone. Bit pointless really and poor management from Wilson. They both got involved in a few of the scrambles right at the end but they surely needed longer to make a proper impact.
Officials – Mr Deadman thought we had come to watch him as he continually stopped the game, talked to players, wanted everyone to know he was in charge and generally irritated by stopping the flow. He failed to really penalise some blatant timewasting and also how he did not book both Doyle and Williams for us (for some shocking tackles) is beyond me. Not sure how he decided to book the 2 he did at the end (although it did seem a pen for us but after this Maguire pushed but so did about 7 or 8 others). We had a few good shouts for pens actually and also how did he not book both their players for almost fighting with each other? Both raised their hands and surely it does not matter if they are on the same team. Still for as poor as he was I can’t blame him for our inexcusable performance and loss.
Crowd - Dropped from the other day and the weather probably did not help. Hartlepool brought no more than 200 fans but fair play to them; they had a great day and should enjoy their deserved win. Our fans got frustrated but understandably as some of United players simply did not seem bothered as Hartlepool won contests all over the field. It became very clear the crowd were rightly not happy with the performance and by the end many were leaving in droves. The team were rightly booed off after a complete and utter non performance.