Sheffield United finally got back to winning ways as they beat fellow mid table side Coventry by a single goal in an uneventful contest at Bramall Lane. The game was decided just after the break with a nicely worked goal that was finished off with a clinical strike by Richard Cresswell. United made changes once again with Glen Little back in for Lee Williamson and Paul Connolly coming in for Marcel Seip with Nyron Nosworthy switching back to a more familiar centre back position. On the bench was long term absentees Derek Geary and Gary Naysmith. Coventry were without former Blade Jonathan Stead through injury but had ex Owl Richard Wood at the heart of their defence.
The game began with little action in terms of goalmouth chances and much of the proceedings were played in the central areas of the field. Neither side had troubled either keeper and this continued despite United creating the first chance with Henderson’s header from Connolly being off target after 15 minutes. Not long after United finally could create a chance of note as Little was able to get in on goal but had two efforts in succession blocked as Coventry scrambled the ball out for a corner. Coventry had not really been in the game and were struggling to cope with Little who was proving a threat out on the right hand side.
The veteran worked more space on the half hour but no one could get on the end of his cross. United had another half chance when Taylor with his unfavourable right foot hit a low driven shot which Westwood had to dive across his goal to gather. Quinn was then played in after United’s best move of the half but his low left foot shot went wide of the goal. Coventry finally had a brief opening and won a corner but it came to nothing. Just before the break Henderson maybe ought to have scored when Quinn’s low cross seemed perfect but the big striker’s header was blocked by Barnett and the striker could not convert the rebound.
It was not long after the break when United were able to get the breakthrough. Barely a minute had been played and the goal came. Morgan and Montgomery brought the ball out of defence but it was Little who the chief architect as he exchanged passes with Cresswell before playing in the striker down the right hand channel. CRESSWELL took the ball in his stride and hit it firmly and it went into the net high past Westwood into his top left hand corner at the Kop end.
United had deserved their lead and nearly doubled it not long after as Little hit an angled cross over and Quinn hit a fierce left foot volley that was blocked by Wright as United half heartedly appealed for handball. Little then was in on goal but his dink over the keeper was misplayed and missed the target when he maybe should have done better. One time United target McIndoe came on for Baker and Eastwood for Sears as manager Coleman tried to shake things up and finally the Sky Blues seemed to awake from their slumber. A number of long throws from Gunnarsson forced the Blades back and Simonsen was finally forced into a save from a Clingan shot.
Little was applauded for his efforts as he gave way for Williamson but United were not having things totally their own way now and were now defending far deeper than they had been as Coventry were now finally making a game of it.
Their best chance came not long after when Wood’s header from a corner was blocked by Cresswell but they were handed a fortunate chance when referee Salisbury strangely adjudged Harper’s miskick that was caught by Simonsen to be a back pass but after the protests had been waved away; Coventry wasted the chance when Clingan blasted wildly over. Quinn was visibly struggling and came off for Yeates with 5 minutes to play and the substitute nearly weaved an opening before at the other end Gunnarson shot well over.
The referee deemed an additional three minutes of stoppage time would be played but Coventry were unable to test Simonsen despite opposition keeper Westwood coming up for a corner kick and United saw off the Sky Blues with a minimum of fuss.
United – It was not a great performance but we definitely were the better side and deserved to win as we had more of the ball, the play and more chances over the ninety minutes. It was a mixed bag though with a game that felt like a testimonial and even at such a woefully slow pace we still did not keep the ball well enough nor get the ball wide enough and create enough chances. We had maybe 4 or 5 clear chances all game but I felt with a bit more urgency and better play in the final third it was a game we could have won 3 or 4 nil.
The defence was solid today with all 4 of the backline and the keeper making few mistakes and allowing few chances albeit against a desperately poor attack in Coventry. The midfield was workmanlike and did win a lot of the loose balls and 50/50 challenges which meant in turn we were able to get into their half more than they were able to get into ours. However, despite efforts of midfield in winning the ball they were completely lacking in creativity once again other than the odd flash from Little who did well again and I felt up front we looked punch less.
We looked decidedly one paced in the top area of the field and once again the midfield did not get in front of the attackers at any point of the game nor did the midfield manager to create much for the front two. The strikers were off the pace too and whilst they huffed and puffed they did not look like a threat to the Coventry defence for much of the game.
Be interesting to see what happens next week as obviously we have nothing to play for but maybe a relaxed United side may cause a very nervy Wednesday problems. I just hope we defend solidly and I would even consider playing Henderson up front on his own with Little and Cresswell wide and Montgomery, Quinn and Williamson as a three to swarm the midfield. I just wish we had a fit Ward or Camara though as I feel we do not look much of a threat up front and rely too much on a 35 year old winger to create. I also worry about Taylor against Johnson who I feel could rip him to pieces, despite the left backs improved performance today.
Coventry – A really dire team that looked like they want the season to end even more so than United. They looked disinterested, de-motivated and clueless. They basically went through the motions. Thankfully for them they met a side that were equally disinterested and this made for a really dire game of football.
At the back they looked shaky but we did not have any pace nor guile to be able to penetrate them other than the goal and one or two other half chances. In midfield they tossed possession away even more than is and lost a lot of the 50/50 balls. Up front Morrison and Sears (and then Morrison) were handled comfortably by Morgan and Nosworthy and they offered very little as an attacking threat with one weak shot, a blazed over free kick from a back pass and a couple of corners/set plays being the sum of their efforts.
They relied on the long throws of Gunnarsson much of the time which was disappointing. I have heard some United fans suggest they would have liked Coleman in charge at the Lane but the football they played (or lack of it) was woeful and they looked completely devoid of ideas.
Simonsen 7/10 – Had relatively little to do. Indeed I cannot remember anything significant other than fielding a couple of tame shots or crosses. He has been one of our better loan signings and certainly improved the goalkeeping position. We could do with keeping him for the run in (loan runs out Thursday); certainly for the Derby next week at least before Paddy comes back maybe for the final couple of games.
Connolly 7/10 – Fairly sound game where he was put under little pressure. Did what he had to well in a defensive position. Did not offer that much going forward.
Taylor 7/10 – One of his better games for the club. Maybe the ‘testimonial’ style feel of the game helped him but he was fairly strong in the tackle/aerial battles and kept the ball well when he had it. He did not get sucked out of position as much and kept his shape. He also put a few decent balls into the box at times. An improvement today but long term I do think we need to improve in this area.
Morgan 7.5/10 – Very solid game where faced with Sears/Morrison he conceded very few chances too either and headed/cleared most things away with little fuss. Won’t play many easier games all season really.
Nosworthy 7.5/10 – Thought he was very good today. Other than one unforced clearance that nearly led to a chance in the second half he played well today. Cleared the ball well, read the game well and generally got on top of his opponent. For the most part he does look quite solid but worryingly you always think he is going to go through a mad 5 minutes at some stage and most games with United this has been the case. Today he played well though.
Montgomery 6.5/10 – Tackled well, competed and generally won most of the loose balls in the middle of the field. Some of his wild swings at the ball and chipped balls into no man’s land still reminded us of his faults though.
Harper 6.5/10 – Thought he played well first half at Newcastle and carried this on today in the first half where he usually kept the ball quite well and always played the sensible ball. I think he is a decent footballer who had a fair range of passes but his lack of pace/mobility means unless the ball is directly to feet the game can still pass him by; which was more evident in the second half. Unfortunately his poor fitness levels and the fact his legs have clearly gone means he only moves about 15 yards left, right and up and down (one run back to his own box to clear today was met by surprise by most fans)
Quinn 5/10 – Thought he was really poor today. Played out wide left but had little effect on the game and his touch/overall contribution was pretty poor really. Put a lot of short balls to teammates or played aimless flicks which was reminiscent of his early season form. He actually gave the ball away twice in daft positions which set Coventry on the attack in the second half. Odd to hear him in the press this week talking about how he would love to play for Swansea if he did have to leave (only a year left on his contract) as they play such good football; when in reality it is inability to keep the ball which makes him much maligned to most United fans.
Cresswell 6/10 – Once again his work rate could not be faulted but he did not look much of an attacking threat and did not really link with Henderson once again. However, his finish on the goal was excellent as it was only a half chance and it hit it firmly and true into the top corner. He always gives an honest performance and is an n intelligent footballer but does lack pace and means balls have to be played to his feet/chest for him to be effective.
Henderson 5/10 – Another poor performance where he was once again more interested in wrestling with defenders and pushing/shoving than trying to get into good positions where he could get on the end of crosses/balls. Surprised he was not booked as he committed a number of daft fouls and then went after one of their players unnecessarily after a foul in the second half. His actual touch/link up play was not good enough and he showed little mobility not danger to the opposition goal.
Little 7.5/10 – Once again despite concerns over stamina, pace and ability to get up and down; still showed enough in the game to be considered one of the better and certainly more creative players. Managed to outwit his full back on more than one occasion with his trickery and quick feet and was involved in many of our better attacking moments. Made the goal and a few other chances. However, from listening to Sam Ellis after the game it seems Little won’t be offered another year due to his inability to last the pace and his late season burst being too little too late.
Subs –
Williamson – Replaced Little and went wide right which I do not feel is his best position from the games he has played out there. I would like to see him played centrally and hopefully fitness permitting given a run of games in this area alongside Montgomery.
Yeates – Came on for the tiring/injured Quinn but other than one run where he maybe should have gone down under a challenge, he did not have that long to make much of an impression.
Referee – An easy game to referee. No bookings and no real bad tackles of note. As I have noted earlier it had the feel of a benefit game or friendly so there was nothing of note for the officials to make any rulings on. The one controversial incident was when he adjudged that Harper’s woeful clearance was actually a back pass which was a nonsense decision. Maybe he wanted to try and liven things up!
Crowd – Not much of an atmosphere in a nothing game other than the ‘singing section’ that was sat on Gangway A of the Kop. The particular cohort of fans that stood all game and did sing may have been mostly full of teenagers/chavs but at least it gave the game some sort of atmosphere. I am not necessarily in favour of singing sections as I don’t think clubs should need to create an artificial atmosphere/section to create noise but today it did help as the game was so dire that it needed something from somewhere on the terraces to create any atmosphere.
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