The Blades’ began the new campaign with a defeat; the first time this has happened at this level after 3 previous wins on the opening day. Visiting Bristol City took the spoils due to well made goals from Aaron Wilbraham and Wade Elliott. United had got back level after Michael Higdon had headed a debut goal but in truth despite missing some chances the home performance was poor. United looked sluggish and lacking energy and sub par performances from many players saw the bookies favourites began with a loss.
Manager Clough surprised many entering the Lane as he named teenagers Louis Reed and Harrison McGahey in the starting line up ahead of Michael Doyle and Neill Collins who had to be content with a place on the bench. New signing Higdon was straight in and was made captain with Alcock partnering McGahey at the back, flanked by Davies and Harris at full backs. Fellow new signings Campbell Ryce and McNulty were on the bench but there was no place for newcomers Andy Butler or James Wallace.
City also fielded summer captures Wilbraham, Korey Smith, Mark Little and Luke Ayling and lined up with wing backs but two up front with leading scorer Sam Baldock joining Wilbraham.
The match began in the traditional August sunshine that often seems to accompany opening day fixture with a healthy crowd inside Bramall Lane.
City began better and Smith fired over. A few fortunate free kicks given further penned United back. Finally United awoke and Higdon charged down Fielding’s clearance before Flynn had a weak shot easily saved. Harris then curled wide before Wilbraham laid off but Baldock was blocked out in an even contest. Reed had shown well and Scougall looked busy but neither side had properly tested the keeper when the opener arrived.
Basham’s giveaway in midfield saw Freeman get clear and he fed the ball to the right hand side. Little had already caused problems down the right and skipped away from Harris again and was clear down the right, He pulled it back and WILBRAHAM met the cross and headed towards goal. Howard seemed to get there but only succeeded in palming it into the net.
United did respond with Scougall having an effort cleared after the keeper failed to gather and then the muscular Higdon, who had held the ball up well, had a header tipped over after a cross from the right. United had started to slowly get back into it and it was not long before they were level. United won a rare free kick on the right after a series of decisions seemingly went against the home side. Davies took it and it was an excellent delivery as HIGDON met it and glanced it powerfully into the corner giving Fielding no chance. It was a debut goal for the big striker who saluted the Kop as he ran back to the centre circle.
United had another couple of half chances soon after but Scougall could not grow enough to keep his header down and Basham shot wide. Bristol responded with a long range Freeman shot but Untied after a slow start had come back well and had enough chances to be in the lead. Harris was caught by Little before a throw in was taken and there was some doubt over to the intention of it. The officials did nothing and Harris after a long period of treatment was deemed fit to go on. Watching it back it may have not been a swung elbow but intentional or not he caught him and it seemed at least worthy of a free kick and a probably yellow card if not excessive enough to be violent conduct and a red.
After an extended period of stoppage time due to the above, the half time whistle came.
The second half saw City start brighter and much of the opening was played in United’s half. Wilbraham had a half chance and then after a miss timed clearance from McGahey, Baldock nearly got in too. Murphy was booked for diving for United who seemed to be still stuck in the dressing room. Baldock then had a shot at Howard before a cross just evaded everyone.
United had created little and were seeing little of the ball so introduced Campbell Ryce for the ineffective Flynn. However, soon after it was City who perhaps for their play in the second half, deservedly took the lead. A through ball was headed down and Wilbraham back flicked cleverly into the area. ELLIOTT latched onto the ball and under no pressure coolly drilled into the corner of the net. It was a really well made and taken goal but poor from United’s point of view as no one got close to any of the visiting players.
City were back on the attack an Freeman nearly made it three after he went past a static Basham too easily. Harris then played a poor ball and City were nearly in again. United had not had any real chances or possession the entire half and made another change when McNulty came on for Scougall as United went two up.
Davies was the second player booked for diving for clearly trying to deceive the referee. This was after an enterprising run from the former Derby man who had looked like United’s most likely source of chances all afternoon. Campbell Ryce has got into some good positions and from one such moment his shot fell into the path of Murphy but a combination of the post and Fielding saw the ball somehow stay out. It had been a poor second half but only bad luck prevented the leveller.
From a corner Basham’s header seemed goalbound but McNulty actually took it away from the danger area when it may have snuck in. Baxter was brought on with the last throw of the dice for Basham and played in midfield for the closing stages.
Five additional minutes were played but most of the game was played in United’s half a City held on comfortably.
United – Overall have to say I was distinctly underwhelmed at the overall performance. Yes on another day we could have had 2 or 3 more goals easily and it could have been us that nicked it. We could and should have been ahead at half time. However, we started the game poorly and then of course went behind. After this we got level around a decent spell. We shaded the first half on chances definitely and I felt we may kick on and improve on a mixed bag of a first half showing. Sadly we got worse after the break and never really turned up. It was not until around the hour mark we actually put 2 or 3 passes together. We just never got going and they made the better chances and had a few half efforts before scoring a well made and taken goal. After this they continued to control things and other than a few balls across the box and that one Murphy chance I cannot recall us creating tons of chances. Despite this we probably had as many if not more than them over the game. However, on overall patterns of play and control of the game we never really convinced and I felt we struggled with their formation. We did not control midfield all game and whilst they are good footballers Scougall and Reed got harried out of it. Basham was completely ineffective and at the back we often seemed at full stretch with players not covering gaps or getting back. Going forward we missed chances of course but still I also felt we got nothing from wide in terms of penetration and crosses from Murphy and Flynn. Our crossing and passing all game was really poor. Often slow and short or hitting the first man. We had to come inside all the time or hit Higdon. The new signing had a good first half and played the target man role to a tee but after the break he tired and with little service he only had one half chance with a header on the stretch.
I am concerned we have signed a lot of players but how many are real stand outs that can come out and be real difference makers? It seems to be quantity rather than quality to me. We lack pace still (way Little went past men time after time showed this) and in midfield we lacked any kind of control with small players who maybe decent players but lack presence to get into games. The game passed them by in the second half.
It was a brave move dropping Collins and Doyle (assume Butler is injured?) to the bench and I like the fact he gave Reed and McGahey their head but against some experienced players it did not really work today sadly I felt. Still for all criticisms, much of last season’s displays centered on good wide performances from Flynn and Murphy. Today they were both really poor and Higdon had to make what he could relying mainly in service from the excellent Davies.
With two tough away games to come it may not be the flying start we wanted but also may make many fans realise losing 3 of our 4 best players allied to a lot of changes in key positions that we maybe still some way from being a promotion type side. We need time and players to gel but still lack genuine quality in key areas for me. We have a lot of ordinary players and without that pace and power it is going to be a struggle to blow teams away.
Bristol City – Thought they had a 20 minute spell where they looked poor at the back and we had 3 or 4 decent half chances. They started the game better than us though and second half they were the better side comfortably even if on chances it was quite even.
I felt like tactically Cotterill bettered Clough today. The wing backs caused problems all game but they still controlled the midfield when we ought to have had more bodies in there. They had two up top to our one and in reality there should have been somewhere we had an advantage but it never really happened like that.
At half time they could have been behind as we did have a few moments where we could have scored despite City scoring first. However, despite this uncertainty I felt the entire second half they were far better. They passed it better, looked hungrier and had a better shape and worked numerical advantages all over the field. The second goal was an excellent goal and other than the one let off when Murphy hit the post I cannot recall them being under too much danger really and won fairly comfortably.
They look a side that will be up there though and I saw nothing different to suggest otherwise. Having power and pace like Emmanuel Thomas on the bench shows the options that have and Baldock and Wilbraham will be a good partnership. They have experience all over the field and some decent pace mixed with power/height. The lad Little was outstanding despite the indiscretion when he caught Harris.
Sadly look far closer to a promotion outfit than us at this stage and seem to have done better business in the summer going for quality (Freeman, Little etc) rather than quantity.
Howard 6/10 – Little to do in terms of efforts. He did managed to just about hang onto a few scuffed shots and took one good cross. Second goal he had no chance but on the first he should have done better. It was not that powerful or in the corner and why it took him so long to move to it and then he got there and just sort of pushed it in?
Davies 7/10 – Thought other than a slice at the end and another where he lost the ball; he was excellent today. His deliveries were the only crosses, corners and free kicks where we looked dangerous (did anyone else put a good cross in – so many telegraphed or on the floor?). Felt he was one of few players who showed any real urgency and got on the football and tried to get us driving forward.
Alcock 7/10 – A few slices and stretched clearances apart I felt he did ok. Not sure he is a centre back and may end up at right back but he attacked the ball, covered well and made some good interceptions.
McGahey 6/10 – Not as convincing as his partner. He looked decidedly clumsy at times and I counted at least 3 or 4 slices. A big lad for 18; but he looks extremely raw. He did not make any errors that led to chances/goals but he was not close enough to strikers at times (first goal). Definitely a work in progress and feel Butler will end up starting eventually alongside Alcock/Collins.
Harris 4/10 – His worst game I have ever seen him have for United. Murphy did not help him all game but his opponent was a wing back (not a regular full back ) so he should have expected Little to be where he was much of the game. He got skinned 2 or 3 times before finally it led to the goal. Got caught with the elbow of course but I felt all game his touch, passing and his defending was really below par. Made one good tackle near the end which was a lone bright spark in a really poor performance.
Reed 6/10 – Started well and sprayed a few balls around. He also played a few short passes and lost out physically (as you would expect) on a couple of occasions. He looks decent on the ball and shows good composure for someone so young. However, he faded badly and I felt he should have come off really as this area we had little of the ball. A decent prospect but not sure you can have him and Scougall in there as physically we will struggle.
Scougall 6/10 – One of our better players in the first half; he got around and was busy and also had a few efforts on goal and maybe should have scored. His touch was decent and he was busy. After the break I felt he disappeared and eventually was taken off. It could have been him or Reed as we never got any control of the midfield.
Basham 4.5/10 – Out of the all new players he was the one who disappointed me the most. Quite lanky in build I was told to expect a worker who got around the pitch and protected the back four (a bigger Doyle if you like) but he was nothing like that. Had one good shot on goal but outside of this he looked significantly worse than Doyle albeit on one showing. Woefully slow, he also is quite poor technically and was at fault in the build up to their first goal. He also nearly gave them another through a giveaway. With younger and more diminutive players around him I felt he would give us some bite and steel but had no control of the midfield all game and second half there was so much space for the Bristol players. He also seemed to let Elliott go on the second goal.
Flynn 4/10 – One of his poorest performances for some time. Cannot remember him doing anything of note all game and his touch was poor. He never got any crosses in and did not penetrate or go at his full back.
Murphy 5/10 – A key man who did not really turn up today. He did not get back to help Harris who was left badly exposed and then the other way never got past Little all game who was too quick for him. His crossing was also poor when he did get space although had had a few half chances off the line and off the post. Need a much better performance from him than that and one where he is more involved.
Higdon 7/10 – Played really well in the first half. He looked strong, physical and held the ball up. A real focal point. Decent on the ball and good in the air. Had one header tipped over and caused all sorts of problems long before he scored a well taken goal.
He was a key player in everything good we did. However after the break with little service and him tiring he hardly was in it. He had one headed chance but that was it. Still looks an addition that will improve us in this area once he gets fitter.
Subs-
Campbell Ryce – Did more in the time he had on the pitch than Flynn did in the entire hour he was on. He got on the ball and tried to penetrate and made a few half chances or won corners. Will be a useful impact sub although may get games if Flynn reverts to form he showed pre Clough (which sadly he looked like today).
McNulty – Came on and gave us two up top but cannot recall him touching the ball apart from to divert an on target header away from goal.
Baxter – Played in midfield but another given limited time. Seems to have put weight on rather than lost it! Turned into trouble once at the end when we were trying to get the ball away and can’t recall anything happening from him the other way.
Manager rating – Clough 5/10 – Not a good start. Of course not his fault if we miss chances but more than that the performance was average at best and that is being kind. He struggled to counter the formation of Bristol and his bold team selections did not really pay off in terms of performance or result. Odd that Higdon comes in and is skipper instantly and that Collins and Doyle were both on the bench. Does seem a lot of changes (albeit some enforced) from a side that finished season so well.
Officials – Awful all game. The linesman on the South Stand side was unbelievably bad. He missed so much all game and genuinely may as well not have been there. The referee was as poor and all game you never know what he would give next whether it was play on or to stop the game. He gave little niggly things but missed obvious fouls both ways. I know many felt he was against us but overall I thought he was equally bad both ways. He seemed to love the bookings for diving (could not see Murphy one but watched back and it probably was. The Davies one looked fair enough and did seem a blatant attempt to win a penalty) for us but when Little hit the floor he ignored that? I cannot say any of his decisions influenced a goal or even the game but he just seemed to have no control of the game and his positional sense meant he missed so much or kept running into players (ran into both Reed and Baldock second half). Like the way he booked Murphy and was talking to him as the game went on and also how he gave free kicks for someone barely brushing someone but then you could be manhandled and he would play on. Really poor standard.
Crowd – Good crowd of nearly 20,000 for the opening day. Bristol brought maybe 1,000 at best so it was a good start considering it was lunch time and on TV. It was flat most of the game with the new season optimism soon petering out as we went behind. The fans did get into it after the goal and the controversial decisions from the officials also saw the noise levels increase. The game kind of petered out which suited Bristol City and by the end it was really quit as another season of hope and optimism began with a defeat.