Sheffield United continued their excellent start to the season as they swept aside Bury in convincing fashion at Bramall Lane. After dominating much of the early stages it was not until just before half time before Chris Porter converted from close range. Immediately after the break the Blades doubled their advantage when Shakers goalkeeper Cameron Belford made a horrendous error pushing Nathaniel Mendez Laing’s cross into his own net and after this it was comfortable. Further opportunistic finishes from Matthew Lowton and substitute Erik Tonne put a gloss on the score line as the Blades remained unbeaten.
United had lost strikers Daniel Bogdnaovic and Jordan Slew in the week but had held onto midfielders Nick Montgomery and Stephen Quinn. The former was injured as United began with a new midfield pairing of Michael Doyle and David McAllister with Quinn and Laing out wide and Chris Porter in for his home debut partnering leading scorer Richard Cresswell. Bury had lost their prolific talisman Ryan Lowe in the week to United’s cross city neighbours but gave debuts to loanees Giles Coke and Byrne.
The match was delayed due to a sprinkler having to be covered after being left exposed but when the game did finally being United started by taking the game to their visitors with Quinn highly influential from the beginning. United won a series of corners and Collins went close twice from headers, perhaps should have converting from the second. Porter then shot wide when cutting in after good work from McAllister. From a free kick from outside the box Quinn’s effort was tipped round the post from Belford. McAllister then hit a shot into the ground and wide after the ball had been half cleared and United continued to dominate the game. United were always looking to play the game out from the back and with Maguire and Collins solid at the back it was a very one sided game so far without the goal their play deserved.
Bury finally came back into the game and were able to at least have an effort on goal as Coke fired over. Soon after Picken warmed Simonsen’s palms but it was a routine save for the keeper. However despite their improvement the visitors were behind just before the break. It came after Cresswell and Quinn had combined and then the ball was transferred across to Mendez Laing. The on loan winger cut in and hit a driven shot that Belford could only parry away. The rebound fell to Quinn whose close range effort was blocked but the ball fell to PORTER who poked home from close range. It was a scruffy goal but never the less the second close range effort in successive weeks for the former Derby man. Soon after Belford flapped at a Quinn cross just before the half time whistle came.
Straight after the break United doubled their lead. The ball was played into MENDEZ LAING from Doyle and then the winger took a step over before creating half a yard for a cross. His delivery from the right seemed to be too close to the keeper and it was but it actually ended up in the net! Belford tried to palm the ball away but somehow pushed it into the net in a calamitous moment. Soon after it was nearly three as from another cross from the right the ball ricocheted around the area and was cleared from off the line. Cresswell then cut in and fired over as the Blades threatened to run riot. The third goal did come when Doyle muscled Sweeney off the ball and played a delightful through ball into the path of Porter who hit a driven shot that Belford could once again only parry. The ball fell invitingly to the advanced LOWTON who had carried on his run forward and he was able to apply the easy finish. It was another goal for the young defender whose knack for being in the right place at the right time continued.
Bury tried to get a foothold back into the game and new signing Harrad came on but they were unable to create any real chances of note with Collins and Maguire continuing their strong start to the season. Blades manager Danny Wilson made changes with the game seemingly in the bag with Mendez Laing and Quinn being replaced by Williamson and Tonne. The Norwegian instantly had an impact sending over a delightful cross that Eastham nodded away preventing a certain goal with Creswell waiting to pounce at the back stick.
The fourth came soon after though as from Williamson’s corner Belford failed to clear properly and as the ball dropped, TONNE was able to superbly contort his body to scissor kick the ball into the corner. An excellent finish and his second goal in the week. United had a few further opportunities but if anything were guilty of overplaying as the new footballing approach again was in evidence. The game was played out with the home side keeping possession to the back drop of ‘ole’s’ from the crowd as the Blades were able to continue their excellent start.
United – A very good performance and a professional one to boot. United was solid, committed and played good football for much of the game. We began the game well and for the first 20-25 minutes we were in complete control and should have been ahead with a few good chances but our failure to score saw Bury have a decent spell and come back into it. They did not have any clear chances but had probably thought they had seen off the best United had to offer so when the Blades scored it was a real blow. After the break United scored a fortunate second and the game was pretty much over after this. United completely took over and could have scored many more goals then the further two they did score.
We looked solid at the back with the two centre backs excellent being committed and composed on the ball. The full backs defended well and got forward when they could. In midfield Doyle was excellent winning all the battles, tackles and loose balls and McAllister also showed he could put his foot in but showed his football brain too. Mendez Laing was not always in the game but contributed to goals as did Porter. Cresswell worked hard and led the line well and Quinn was excellent again; probably the outstanding player on the pitch. For me United won the game by competing all over and winning so many loose balls and all the 50/50 stuff. This gave us the foundation to play and pass. We always tried to play the ball out of the back with Simonsen throwing it out and the defenders trying to play all game. It was not Barcelona style football but it was neat and tidy and we never rushed and for the most part always tried to play in on the floor and to feet. We scored 4 goals but in truth could have had 7 or 8. It was as comfortable and professional performance as you could wish to see.
Maybe there are tougher opponents to come and next week for instance at Scunthorpe (a perennial bogey team) won’t be easy. Also we have Charlton, Huddersfield, MK Dons and Wednesday all to come. Yet so far we have beat what we have in front of us and done well. I have been impressed with the football and the solidity of the side. Players who were poor last year have really done well with Collins and Doyle being excellent. I do feel we badly lack strength with little to choose from in the way of centre backs or centre forwards if we get injuries and there are still questions over newcomers Mendez Laing, Flynn and Porter but they keep contributing or scoring goals so maybe this outweighs their overall performances which have been ordinary thus far. I really feel we do need at least 1, maybe 2 new strikers and some pace up that area of the pitch and hopefully we can do this in the loan market next week. If we can address this area and maybe get these Rangers kids in, get Morgan back and who knows maybe we can get straight back up. It will be a long hard season though and I remember Wednesday being in exactly the same position at this stage last year and look what happened to them. If we can replicate these performances and avoid injuries then I see no reason why we cannot continue to be around the top few places all season. The key is being consistent and having a solid base. Most of the wins have come about with us winning battles all over the field and then letting the quality and experience of Quinn, Cresswell etc take over. We win the battle and we will win most games regardless of the football we play; which has been to this point good and has been nothing spectacular but patient and ensure we keep the ball and get it into the right areas.
Bury – Another side that looked really poor. Maybe we will see better sides, maybe we won’t but other than the brief glimpses Walsall showed; I have not been impressed with the league one opposition we have faced so far. Teams look poor in possession, have little up front and look very brittle at the back. Bury were as poor as Oldham and they were bad. They complained often about decisions but seemed to forget that they often put the boot in and committed numerous cynical fouls themselves. The centre back Sodje made 3 or 4 bad fouls and somehow escaped a booking. A few other fouls went unpunished but their fans seemed to think the referee was against them which were bizarre when most of the fouls and dirty play came from them. The third goal summed it up. One of their players tried to take Doyle out and when he outmuscled him he went to the deck feigning injury.
The keeper, Belford, at the back was atrocious and looked an accident waiting to happen. He was at fault for the second and could have maybe done better on all of the 3 other goals shovelling out 2 shots and missing a cross he came for. At the back they looked very slow and easy to get through and United seemed to go through them at ease. In midfield they lost many of the battles and tossed the ball away when they had it. Also up front they looked punch less and clearly missed Lowe. They began the game 4-5-1 with Coke just off Bishop but even when it went 2-0 they still remained with the same tactics and formation and even when their new signing Harrad came on they still really only kept 1 up front.
They seemed to be time wasting from the off and when the 2 goals went in either side of half time they simply gave in and just wilted. In front of a large crowd and facing more experienced and better players; Bury seemed to just fall apart.
A team that maybe is much better at home than away but their recent away form suggest they have been tough to beat even away from home. Today they never really looked like getting anything from the game and looked a team that would be nearer the bottom than the top.
Simonsen 7/10 – Had very little to do but what he did have to do he dealt with comfortable. A few long range efforts or attempts that were straight at him and then a few routine catches and kicks. He was relatively unemployed for most of the afternoon as the defence was solid in front of him.
Lowton 7/10 – At times he was a bit lackadaisical I felt and gave his man too much room but he grew stronger as the game went on and began to get on the ball more and get into the opposition half. He is undoubtedly an excellent ball player and very good with the ball at his feet and showed this again today. He still needs to work on his basic defending and positional sense I feel though. Always willing to bomb on and get forward and showed this on the goal when he surged on and just was in the right place at the right time.
Maguire 7.5/10 – Very good performance where he did nothing flash but just defended solidly, read the game well and made numerous headers and clearances to nullify any possible threats. For the most part used the ball well and tried to pass it although once or twice his willingness to go too long was in evidence. Looks a very good prospect though and if he can shed a few pounds and continue to develop will be a very good player.
Collins 8/10 – Once again he was excellent and one of United’s stand out players. He won numerous headers, tackles and blocks but also led from the back often stepping out of defence and starting the play. He always tried to pass the ball rather than just lump it. Looks a different player this season and shows he does have some technical ability when on the ball. Maybe the lower level has helped him but he has been very good so far and him and Maguire have afforded few chances to opponents and are limiting errors. Been a pleasant surprise so far.
Jean Francois Lecsinel 7/10 – Decent game again. He always attacks the ball and ensures he gets tight to his attacker. Did not get forward much but as a defender he is relatively solid and a good athlete who ensures he gets to the ball more than his man. I have been impressed with him so far in his appearances this season.
McAllister 7/10 – He was quietly effective today and whilst not always on the ball; he did use it well when he had it, broke up play and tried to get forward to support too. He showed a different side to his game showing he could get his foot in and win loose balls too. He is a decent footballer and always is looking to go forward which is different to many of the other midfielders we have seen in recent years. I think there is more to come from him though.
Doyle 7.5/10 – Thought he was very good today. He was in the faces of Bury players, winning tackles and also using the ball well when he had it too. He kept at the Bur midfielders all game and the number 6 in particular was given a torrid time. He helped control the midfield all game. He also kept the ball well when he had it and other than a few poor passes in the first half showed his ability to play it both short and long. The ball to Porter for the third showed he maybe has more vision than we thought.
Quinn 8/10 – Once again showed he is a class apart at this level as he bossed the game. Always involved, always on the ball and always probing. Some superb balls into the box and some clever pieces of play all game. He seemed to be everywhere at times and whenever the ball was he was. Not everything came off but the fact is most of our play came through him was evidence to how influential he was. Showed some real bits of skill too and some real showboating too near the end with some clever flicks and tricks.
Cresswell 7/10 – Worked hard all game again and showed his hold up play and ability to link with others. Ran the channels tirelessly and always seemed to be first to the ball when it was played up to him. He showed his lack of pace at times when a few good balls played into him saw defenders catch up to him relatively easy. However, his work ethic and ability to harry and chase really gives opportunities to other defenders even though he did not have that many chances or score today.
Porter 6.5/10 – He scored a scrappy goal and had a few other efforts such as the one that led to the third goal. He also showed some other good bits of link play and at times showed his intelligence. However, at times his first touch was awful and often saw it rebounding into midfield. He also looked very slow at times when chasing through balls. He did score and was involved in other good bits of play but he can do much better for me and has not totally convinced me so far.
Mendez Laing 6.5/10 – Like Porter he was involved in two of the goals but like Porter he was probably still not one of our stand out players. His shot for the first led to the goal and then the second although actually a poor cross ended up being a goal and maybe the decisive moment in the game. He has flattered to deceive in the games I have seen and seems to fit in and out of games. Yet when he does get involved it often leads to goals and chances.
Subs –
Williamson – Came on for Mendez Laing and helped us keep the ball. He was involved in some good moves towards the end and showed his ability on the ball. To me he should start but I am unsure if he was fully fit today hence beginning on the bench.
Tonne – Brought on for Porter and played just off Cresswell. He showed a nice touch and some good vision with a good a good range of passing. Took his goal really well when even though it was close range it was not as easy as he made it look. An intriguing prospect who is forcing Wilson to look at him more and more.
Officials – Thought the officials were up and down today. They tried to keep things flowing but often they missed a lot too. I felt Bury committed numerous cynical fouls and that the referee let them off with a lot and could have booked a lot more. Maybe we had a few decisions go for us but the Bury fans having a go at the ref when Quinn headed the ball away and was clattered or when Lowton was knocked to the deck was strange. Quite a few throws also went the wrong way from the obvious decisions that should have been made.
Crowd/Atmosphere – Bury only brought maybe 300 or 400 fans that kept going and supported their team well. Nearly 18,000 means the crowd was not too bad I suppose. The crowd do seem to be taking to Wilson’s patient approach and the football played right from the back. They crowd got behind the team when they needed and in the second half helped us kill off the game. Maybe it won’t be long before Danny Wilson gets a chant of his own!