Sheffield United finally were able to end their home hoodoo when they fought back to secure a dramatic late victory against lowly Crystal Palace on a wet and miserable evening in front of the live TV cameras at Bramall Lane. In a game marred by poor officiating throughout, United had most of the game and the chances but after two harsh penalty awards for both sides and a sending off had left United facing only ten men, the Blades somehow found themselves back behind with only minutes to spare. However, late goals from Ched Evans and another penalty, this time converted by Daniel Bogdanovic, who was later sent off, allowed the Blades to secure the vital three points.
It was a game that was never a classic but with three penalties, two sending's off and numerous other controversial decisions and a game that swung back and forth, the viewing audience cannot fail to have been entertained by the number of incidents even if the actual quality of football on display was somewhat lacking.
United began with only one change restoring Richard Cresswell to the line up for Matt Lowton with Jean Calve operating in a more defensive position and United playing a more orthodox 4-4-2 with Cresswell and Evans up top and Reid and Yeates out wide. Palace came into the game on the back of successive wins and included former Blade Claude Davis at the back. The scourge of United's cross city neighbours, Darren Ambrose was missing for Palace.
United started the game kicking towards the Kop and began well pinning Palace back as they forced a succession of corners and free kicks without managed to properly test Speroni. Palace actually broke out and Zaha hit a shot that was blocked with Nosworthy. United were back on the attack and Reid looked to play in Evans but McCarthy managed to make a last ditch interception.
However, out of the blue Palace took the lead thanks to a very harsh penalty award. N'Diaye hit a deep cross that seemed to be going out of play and Calve made minimal contact to ease Dann out of it but referee Taylor unbelievably pointed to the spot for the softest award you will see all season. DANN took the kick and hit it straight down the middle to beat Simonsen comfortably. Stunned by this the Blades tried to get back into it but Reid could not get his free kick on target, Bartley headed wide and then Evans was crowded out. Evans then sent in a cross that looked destined to be a goal but McCarthy cleared with Cresswell waiting to convert. Simonsen pushed away from Zaha when Palace had a rare break but it was mostly one way traffic and from a long kick from the United keeper there was another penalty awarded.
Once again it seemed a ridiculous decision. Evans chased the kick and as Clyne and McCarthy also challenged the United striker went down. There appeared minimal contact and the Palace defender seemed to have the ball goal side but Taylor opted to 'even things up'. Palace protested furiously and Garvan was given a yellow and then a red for making his opinions on the award all too clear to the referee. After the commotion, CRESSWELL took the kick and with the outside of his right foot fired it into the left hand corner of Speroni's goal sending the keeper the wrong way. The half time whistle came not long after with both sets of fans and players seemingly bemused by the referee's decisions which threatened to turn a fairly mundane game into an exciting contest.
The second half began with United on top again and Reid and Calve combined but the ball fizzed across the box with no one making contact. Yeates was trying to get more involved but again it was Reid who sent a dangerous cross in that Evans, who had set up the original move, headed over. Cresswell then shot wide when well placed and Jordan headed over from a looping Reid cross O'Keefe replaced McCarthy as Palace tried to slow the game down but a rare breakaway immediately after United had been thwarted yet again saw them take the lead to stun the Bramall Lane crowd. Cresswell was denied from close range from Speroni with a stooping header but instantly the visitors were on the offensive turning defence into attack. Clyne got away from Yeates and sent a dangerous cross in that VAUGHAN headed in off the underside of the bar to send the small contingent of Palace fans into raptures. It was a real smash and grab raid from the ten men and United were once again behind at home.
United came again and after Evans had turned the ball back across goal Yeates hit a first time volley that appeared to deflect off N'Diaye's hand before Speroni saved superbly turning the ball onto the post. The waiting Cresswell could not convert and Palace yet again scrambled the ball away. Bogdanovic came on for the tiring Cresswell and from another ball into the box, United had three shots blocked in quick succession with bodies everywhere. It seemed it would not be United's night and the frustration was starting to become audible from the terraces.
With just over 5 minutes left Reid sent another ball into the box and Bartley got a firm header towards goal. Speroni once again denied United but this time the ball fell to a red and white shirt as EVANS was first to react and managed to hook the ball home from close range. Replays showed that the United striker was probably in an offside position but at the time no Palace players appealed whatsoever. It was a vital goal and with over 5 minutes remaining the Blades had the belief and impetus and it was clear they thought they could now win it as they raced back to the centre circle with the ball.
Instantly, United were back on the attack and as Reid in the first instance and then Lowton helped the ball into the box, Bogdanovic was sent to the floor by a clumsy challenge from Davis. It seemed the most clear cut penalty of them all and most of the Palace players seemed more angry with their teammate than the referee in this instance. With the rain teeming down and only moments remaining, BOGDANOVIC dusted himself down and cooly converted with Speroni once again guessing wrong for a vital goal.
The game now entered stoppage time with 4 extra minutes to be played and Palace now threw men forward with N'Diaye and Davis trying to get efforts in on goal but Simonsen held a low shot. Dann had a shot deflected wide and Palace had a corner right at the death but United cleared before Bogdanovic went in late on Clyne and was given a straight red to the disbelief of many in the ground who may not have seen how high the challenge actually was. Palace knocked the ball forward for the final time but the Blades cleared and the final whistle came not long after. It had been a bizarre game and a frantic finish but for the first time since September 18th; United's fans could celebrate a home victory.
United - Another home performance that saw some good things, some bad things and a lot of naivety and bad luck that looked set to lead to yet another home defeat. It was another less than convincing show against a poor opponent who were there for the beating but somehow had us chasing the game. I felt we were not great first half and did not have many clear cut chances but never really looked like conceding until a very harsh penalty award. An equally harsh one evened it up and when they had the man sent off we should have gone onto win comfortable second half. However, a mixture of poor play in the final third (lack of composure), good goalkeeping and bad luck kept them in it and then they broke and scored straight after we had missed a golden chance it seemed like another one of those days. We did keep going but I felt like it would be another defeat. However, for once a few balls fell our way and we got a vital equaliser and then after that I seriously thought we would go on and win and so it proved.
I thought we made poor mistakes at both ends as shown in the number of times we should have created chances and/or scored but poor final balls or lack of conviction and ability to attack the ball in the box stopped is from scoring a number of goals. It was a game we should have won comfortably from being against ten but somehow looked like losing again! I thought in terms of the play we at times played some decent patches of football but mostly it was poor and we relied on percentage stuff. Even our creative players like Reid and Yeates were not delivering many good balls in the vital areas and with little overall movement up front it seemed like we had thrown away another game. Every time we make a mistake at the back we concede and so it proved even if it was a well taken goal from Palace.
Despite not exactly turning it round in performances we have gutted out 7 from 9 points. We need to keep the run going and hopefully gradually pull away from the bottom. We do need 3 or 4 players in January though and the window can't come soon enough. We lack a natural finisher/goalscorer and a dominant centre half. Also, the full back positions are a real worry as whoever seems to play in those positions struggles to put two good games together.
At least we finally got a penalty (well two) and also won at home. Despite another so-so performance we definitely deserved to win for chances/possession and overall control of the game. Daft mistakes at the back and lack of concentration continue to haunt us as equally as poor finishing and lack of conviction in the final third. With Reid, Britton and Yeates we finally have come creativity but even though Evans did a little better today I still feel we look punchless up front and desperately need more quality/presence up there whether it is with the return of Henderson or an incoming player after Xmas.
Palace - Another poor side to visit the Lane but another side that were not particularly better not worse than us. They played little football of note and scrapped and battled most of the game without showing much class nor fluent football aside from the second goal which was about their only real attack of the second half. They tried to kill the game and take United out of things when they led and whilst pretty adventurous you would not expect anything different from them when they had 10 men. The fact they looked no worse with ten was symbolic of United's inability to stretch them and keep the football and also that Palace were not that great with 11 either!
They got a fortunate opener and then were pegged back unfortunately but after the break when they had 10 it was pretty much all United but thanks to good keeping and good luck they survived and then from their first chance they broke and scored. It looked as if they would hang on as they threw bodies in the way and denied us but when they conceded the second equaliser I felt they would succumb again and instantly we got another goal. They have a few decent players with Vaughan a danger up front and a player I would have liked us to have gone for. Dann is always impressive when he got on the ball and is another player I felt may have moved on in the summer. Zaha the winger had a good game and caused Jordan some real problems. He was very fast and direct and looks promising. Speroni always has a blinder against us and once again made some great saves but finally we were able to beat him at the end. Davis did what he used to do at United, making numerous headers and clearances but then you always knew an almighty mistake was round the corner and so it proved. I never felt I could fully trust him despite him seemingly having all the attributes you would want in a defender and get a feeling every other team who has him has fans feeling the same as me!
Simonsen 7/10 - Did not have many saves to make in open play but did make a few stops and his handling was better. At times he was hesitant as he sometimes stayed on his line when he should have come but did take some vital crosses at the end. Had no chance on the two goals.
Calve 5.5/10 - Thought he was poor tonight both ways. Looked stretched defensively and when he did attack he may have got forward but his delivery on the whole from wide was poor. Has an annoying penchant to switch to his left foot which is odd when he is right footed. Too lightweight and inconsistent with his distribution. Think he was a bit harshly done by on the penalty award though. Not sure he is the answer long term and I was disappointed Lowton was dropped as I feel he deserves a run in the side.
Nosworthy 7/10 - Had another good game today. In recent weeks he has improved and cut down the daft mistakes. I felt the defended strongly, made solid headers and clearances and also read the game well. Seems to have settled down and has been one of our more consistent performers recently. That is not to say there is not a Billy Smart's circus type performance lurking round the corner from Nos!
Bartley 6/10 - He played ok for the most part and used the ball fairly well, combined with fairly solid defending. However, lapses in concentration do not help him and this was evidence on the second goal when he completely left Vaughan for the header and he needed to put more pressure on him. This was similar to the situation when McSheffrey scored the other week and also McCauley against Ipswich. He does need to be stronger in such battles and if he does not win the header then do enough to stop the opponent get a clear effort in.
Jordan 5.5/10 - Thought he did ok in the first half and got up and supported the attack well and also nearly scored with a header but he had a bit of a nightmare second half and was beat at least 3 times for skill and pace by his opponent. He had been given a warning just moments before Palace scored but did not heed this warning and was out of position again as they went past him and Yeates to lead to the cross and the goal. Like Calve I am not sure he is the answer as our full back going into the future but with Taylor in reserve then it is difficult to say who should play left back.
Montgomery 6.5/10 - Monty did some great things off the ball as he always did with tireless running and tackling but he was inconsistent for the most part with the ball. At times he surprised us with a few basic square passes and even a couple of outside of the foot passes but all so often he tossed aimless balls away or out of play. I think we have to accept Monty for what he is as a mixture of positives and negatives and I cannot see that ever changing.
Britton 7/10 - Played very far back and was often almost right alongside the centre backs but he was tenacious in his ball winning and covering and I felt he worked really hard tonight. He passed the ball well when he could but at times I felt he wanted to go forward more but seemed to be almost afraid to advance and it was odd that Monty as a lot further forward. It was a decent performance but not one that we expected when we signed him in that his good play was more from winning the ball and breaking things up than being much of a creative force.
Reid 7/10 - I actually do not think he had a great game but at times he still showed his real class just from the way he could see a pass and make a ball that no one else could see. Despite this his distribution was rather mixed and he did sell teammates short on one or two occasions. I am sure he will have more influential games and his crosses/passes will be more accurate but what I liked is that he never hid and kept going right towards the end and always wanted to get on the ball.
Cresswell 6/10 - Sure he worked hard and took his penalty well but all too often he was not in the game or failed to hold the ball up well enough. He was forever caught offside or on the floor and he looks so slow at the moment. Had no kind of link up play with Evans and he really ought to have took some of the chances that came his way in the second half.
Evans 7/10 - I felt like Cresswell he worked hard and tried to make things happen but frustratingly he was out wide or away from the centre far too often. When he got in the box he had a fee chances or created things. He never hid and kept going and tried to make things happen. He managed to get a goal even if it was scrappy and probably offside. I do think it was an improved performance in some regards in terms of overall effort and willingness to try and get on the end of things.
Yeates 5.5/10 - Felt he did not totally convince tonight. He had a lot of the ball and was able to get the opportunity to cross the ball a lot but his constant failure to beat the first man became rather annoying to say the least. He swapped wings constantly but it mattered little as I can barely recall many crosses of real quality all evening nor can I remember him cleanly skinning the full back. In contrast he let Clyne get away from him in the lead up the second goal for Palace.
Subs -
Bogdanovic - Came on and tried to get involved but had not been very influential until he managed to get the ball with his back to the goal and Davis dumped him to the ground. Cool penalty aswell that went right into the corner. I felt the sending off was unnecessary. He did not need to go in like that and you can see why in some ways he was sent off as he was high although I felt it was more a yellow as it was not like he had his studs showing or went in too footed. It reminded me of the Lowton one at Cardiff. Now he has a three match ban which we really could do without.
Lowton - Disappointed he did not start as I felt he was growing more confident each game and I think long term he is a better option than Calve. Involved in helping the ball back which led to the penalty for the winner.
Palace -
Officials - Referee Andy Taylor will have had quieter games! I felt he had a bit of a mare from start to finish and both teams could feel aggrieved with his performance. I thought the Palace first penalty was very soft and then he basically evened it up with the United one which looked even less than a penalty. The sending off was difficult to call as it seemed to be for foul and abusive language but you could understand the Palace players frustration as the award looked a classic case of 'evening things up.' I felt we had a very strong award for a penalty in the second half that was not given and then the officials maybe should have flagged Evans offside for the second equaliser. Even so the second half had seen ever more mysterious decisions both ways and then he gave what looked a pretty clear award for the penalty a daft foul at the end. I could not really tell on the Bogdanovic sending off at the time but after seeing it back I can in some ways see why he gave a red but again he seemed to want to even things up again and was instant with his card. Regardless of the big decisions of which he got quite a few wrong it was his overall control of the game that was sorely lacking and he never seemed to know what he was doing. The fact that most of the crowd did not know what he was going to give next said it all and to hear him booed off by both sets of fans told a story.
Crowd - Surprised we got over 20,000 as even with the cheap offers with the game being on TV, the miserable weather and also Christmas looming I thought it might be much lower. The atmosphere was quite decent as the poor refereeing only served to hype up much of the crowd and give the game more needle. As more odd decisions kept being given the crowd became more involved and this added to the overall tension. The crowd became frustrated after we went 2-1 down and a few misplaced passes and crosses that were missed being got on the end of by strikers saw a few boos and cries of anguish but when we levelled the crowd came again and helped spur us on to the winner. I do feel despite the number of home defeats and the less than convincing performances that the home fans have been relatively patient with Speed and the team.
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Academy report -
I went up to the Academy at Shirecliffe and this morning and saw United play Wednesday at under 16 and under 18 level. Sadly, we led in both games at half time but somehow we lost both games! I watched more of the under 18 game but in the under 16 game we led 2-0 at half time with a cleverly taken goal and long range cross come shot that surprised the Wednesday goalkeeper. However, we lost our keeper through injury and the new keeper was quite diminutive in stature and Wednesday took advantage. They scored two in quick succession and then a bad mistake by the sub keeper as he let the ball bounce over his head from a long clearance led to a late winner. Wednesday's side seemed a lot bigger physically than the united counterparts but at that level I suppose it matters little as players develop quite quickly at 14/15/16.
In the under 18 game we were in control for long stretches. We were the better side for most of the game and took the lead through a good goal from our left winger (sorry do not know his name as there were no team sheets) who cut in and cleverly turned his man before converting with aid of a deflection. We were the better team kicking down the slope and played some really neat and tidy football. The Owls did miss a great chance on half time when after a bad mistake they nipped in and should have converted but the striker hit the post with an open goal. The second half again saw United the better side I felt playing better football but a clear penalty after the keeper and defender combined to bring down the striker saw Wednesday level. United looked to come again but Wednesday broke and scored again. United had numerous chances to equalise but failed to do so and the Owls celebrated wildly at full time. I was not too concerned as for the most part we seemed to have better, more composed footballers and on that evidence United have a stronger side despite the result. The midfielder wearing 4 (Marriot?) looked like Curtis Woodhouse in looks and the way he ran/operated and looked a class act and for me was the best player on the pitch. Maguire the centre back is composed on the ball and strong but probably not quite quick enough to make the step up I feel. Gregory was a strong player alongside him. As for Slew I was really disappointed with him and he is a long way off being a first team regular I am afraid. He was quite slow to react to things and also took too long to make decisions. When he did get the ball his final ball/shot was poor. He also is very lightweight and not as fast as I thought. He needs a loan spell down the leagues to toughen him up but I did expect more of him considering his goal scoring exploits recently but he did not impress at all and looked lackadaisical.
The other striker Ironside also looked a little lightweight and got brushed off the ball too easily despite showing one or two nice touches. So overall whilst we had a few decent looking players I would not be wholly convinced there is a conveyor belt of talent who may come forward to challenge for the first team in the next 12 months but you never can tell I suppose who may develop quicker than others.