The Blades had to come back from a goal down after a subpar first half performance when Dean Cox smartly converted but an equally well taken goal from Jamie Murphy, United’s 7,000, gave them a point. In truth United could have won the game after a much stronger second half showing and only one team looked like winning the contest. The game was not as free flowing as against Brentford and was scrappy for long spells but in the end both managers may have to concede it was a fair score in the end.
United had brought back Chris Porter and Harry Maguire for Ben Davies and Billy Paytner who both dropped to the bench. Orient also made changes opting not to start leading scorer David Mooney playing with Kevin Lisbie up top supported by Odujabo and Cox in a formation that sought to match up with United.
The game started with Orient the better side and quicker to the ball. Lisbie was well marshalled by Collins though who made two early interceptions. The O’s won a few early corners but did not really threaten Howard. They won a free kick but Ness’s effort was blocked by the wall. United had offered little going forward but one ball in from the right saw Murphy and McGinn get in each other’s way. Odubajo whipped in a great cross but noone was on the end of it. United had been slow to start and Orient were shading the contest without offering much of a goal threat. Brayford’s cross was punched away by Jones under no real pressure before United had to clear a decent ball in from Cox. There were some appeals for a spot kick for a clumsy looking challenge on Coady from Cuthbert but it would have been harsh especially after the furore in the week with the given/not given penalty.
United’s sluggish performance had not been punished so far by a decent Orient performance that had however lacked threat in the final third but just before the break they did get the opening goal.
Lundstram’s shot was blocked and as the ball bounced it was struck again by the same player. COX was onto the loose ball after the subsequent challenge in the air saw it drop and cleverly lobbed it over a United defender before smartly slipping it under Howard. It was a really well taken goal and the visitors may feel they had deserved the lead for showing a modicum of adventure and desire for the game in comparison to a lifeless home side.
Maguire was booked after being spoken too for previous indiscretions after his foul on Cox and then Brayford’s effort was wide with his left foot. Half time came soon after and United knew they had to improve if they would get anything from the game.
After the break it was noticeable United were playing further up the field and started to win tackles and get the crowd into the game. They were suddenly moving it on quicker and with more urgency.
Murphy had an effort blocked and then Brayford had another effort blocked as United started to finally get into the last third with some intent. They made two changes as Porter and McGinn came off for Davies and Scougall. This saw a reorganisation with Murphy going up top, Scougall playing more advanced with Coady dropping back more and Davies going wide left.
Scougall was immediately involved with his quick touches and strong running evident instantly.
United did get back into the game with an equally well converted finish. Davies won the ball and as an Orient defender fell to the ground holding his ankle (no question of any foul) and knocked a dangerous ball forward. Baudry slipped and MURPHY was in on goal. He took his time, drew the keeper and went round him before slipping into the empty goal from the angle. It showed real calmness and ensured United were back on level terms.
Buoyed by the goal, the crowd noise lifted and United were now well on top. They were bossing midfield and getting it forward quicker and the changes to personnel and tactics had made a real difference.
Scougall fired at Jones and then Coady had a shot from outside the box that was tipped over by the keeper as United looked to turn the screw. Brayford headed wide from a corner and it was one way traffic. Freeman was replaced by the returning Harris but there was no let up in the home side momentum but it did seem like time may be the biggest enemy to them getting the three points. Further passages of play just saw the final ball or effort not delivered with enough precision although United won a free kick in a dangerous position. Davies took the kick but whilst he got it up and over the wall, keeper Jones was well positioned and held the powerful strike well. A yard either side and it may have been a goal.
Scougall was booked for a cynical foul and then Lisbie had a rare break for Orient but was well tackled by Collins and it was back up at the other end again as the game soon was to enter an additional four minutes of stoppage time. Orient were wanting the final whistle more than the home side as more attacks were coming in but Flynn could not get his shot in and then Davies curled over just before referee Jones ended the contest.
United – Definitely a game of two halves. We were slow and poor in the first and then the second we woke up, scored and could have won the game.
First half the players were badly off the pace, slow and pedestrian in everything. We were not close enough to Orient and barely put a tackle in meaning they had a lot of the ball. Too many seemed to be going through the motions and only their lack of idea in the last third stopped them scoring before they finally did.
After the break we upped it significantly and were the far better side. We played at a higher tempo, won the midfield area and moved it quicker and with purpose. We got Orient on the back foot, scored a decent goal and after this we had all the play and with a bit more quality in the last third we would have won the game. I firmly believe if the game had gone on say another 10 minutes we would have scored again though regardless of poor final balls/choices as they were sitting so deep and showing no interest in attacking.
The defence and keeper were ok throughout. A few errors/moments of indecision apart they did what they had to do defensively although were too slow to move the ball forward, as they all were. In front of the defence the midfield did not get into Orient first half and were sluggish. They sat off and let them play. We also were sloppy on the ball either taking too long to make decisions or giving it away. I felt Doyle was the stand out (both first and second half actually) as he at least showed some bite and urgency but the rest struggled other than a few flashes from Murphy. I felt it was Coady’s quietest game for some time and McGinn was really poor. When we made changes we improved although to be fair they had improved anyway after the break. Scougall made a difference as he actually goes forward and moves the ball with pace when he has it. Murphy caused them issues with his pace and running.
Today showed we are not far off though and we are as good a side as them in my opinion even though the table suggests otherwise (our awful start and management saw to that). We are some way off Brentford and Wolves but an influx of attacking talent and we are suddenly not too far off them.
We are woefully short up top though. As well as Murphy did, he causes most problems out wide for me most games and will remain there. Flynn’s form has dipped recently so I still would like Brandy back (has to show work ethic and I know not everyone would agree but he has real pace) for another chance and to compete with those 2 for the shirts. I think we will alternate between Scougall and Baxter behind a striker and hopefully keep Coady to play alongside Doyle (he has done well recently and is maligned wrongly but ideally a big, strong and more mobile midfielder would be pursed more long term to replace him).
However going back to my original point we do need at least 2 strikers, probably 3 for if we do play 2 up top as we may in some games (need bench options too of course). The likes of Porter and Paynter won’t be at the club next year and I do not think Miller or Taylor will be. The other players are not strikers really as I have said so we will go into the summer with a fresh slate in terms of central strikers and so should be thinking about the players we need now. Think Clough knows that and that it is a big priority.
As for the remainder of the season, I think we may blood some youngsters now as the league is petering out when all we have to play for us whether we finish; which could be anything from around 8th – 15th but we are not going up and not going down. We need to be making sure we start planning for next season in terms of getting the right recruits in. We need some quality up top and somehow hope we can retain Brayford and Coady. We may need to resist bids for Maguire and Murphy too. However this is the first time for ages we know what league we are in and can get a bit of a head start on some teams who don’t. We have had that issue before for last few seasons.
I have no issues with us resting 8 or 9 for Tuesday. Some will say keep them sharp/match fit but they are in April now and playing another game 5 days before a semi against an up-for-it Rotherham side will serve no purpose to me really other than the risk of injuries or a red card. I would definitely take out the majority of the side; including likes of Howard, Brayford, Maguire, Flynn, Murphy, Scougall, Baxter etc. If we get stuffed so what? I know some may say it could have an effect on kids long term but don’t think it will and I am sure crowd will help them get through it. The priority has to be next Sunday for me.
Leyton Orient – First half they were decent if not spectacular. They moved it around ok and had a lot of the ball but cannot recall Howard making a save f note or them creating much even though they had more possession. They were quicker to the ball and controlled midfield I felt and this meant they were on the front foot and more alert. Second half we simply upped the tempo and when some of our poorer players came off Porter and McGinn, we improved and they started to struggle. They defended deeper and deeper and seemed quite happy to just try and get a point. They showed little adventure and were hanging on a bit at the end although they may say we did not create too many clear cut chances; like them in the first half.
Shows we are making progress when a manager says he changed his tactics and side to try and match up with us; by taking out Mooney and playing another man in midfield. I was glad the lad Batt did not start as he is quick and strong and like Donaldson for Brentford, had always caused us problems (someone we should maybe look at in the summer?). Cox is a decent little player and one I have always rated. He flits in and out of play bit gets in good areas and scores goals (two good ones versus us this season) and finished really calmly. In midfield they missed the combative Vincelot who I believe makes them tick but they still had a lot of the ball in the first half. Lisbie was well controlled by our back line and the dangerous. The highly rated Odubajo was well looked after by Brayford too.
They are a decent side and their away record is very impressive (only lost 2 all season on the road) but to me they are well off quality of Brentford and Wolves who we have seen recently. Those two teams had pace and moved the ball quickly with mobile players who looked like cutting us up. Not sure I could say the same about Orient who were workmanlike and organised but did not look like blowing teams away. Recent form has really dropped off and they will have to settle for the playoffs. I would be surprised if they came out of the four teams to go up as Preston and Rotherham are stronger for me.
However that is not to decry what Russell Slade has done. To get them where they are and the season they have had is tremendous considering the budget which will be a lot lower than many teams below them (us and Bristol City spring to mind) and they have done brilliantly. I said when reporting on Tranmere they would drop off after having a similar type season last year and I was proved right. I do not think they will be near the bottom or anything as I rate Slade far higher than Ronnie Moore and he will always have them organised and tough to beat. They may lose a few of their better players (as Tranmere did) thus meaning he may have to pick up some more bargains but I would not be surprised if they were mid table and pushing for the playoffs though.
Howard 7/10 – Little to do in terms of saves. One punch in the second half when he could have caught it for me and he had little chance on the goal but cannot recall him doing much else all game. Kicking was a slight improvement today from back passes and in general play.
Brayford 7/10 – Steady-ish game but did not get forward as much as he has been and this meant it restricted things for Flynn too. He did alright against a quick winger and at least restricted flow of crosses from that side. He does read the game very well and seems to get in good areas to intercept balls. Had a header just wide and always a threat when he gets on the ball and drives forward. Hopefully the wide open spaces of Wembley will allow him and Flynn to get back to the link up they have showed in previous games.
Freeman 6/10 – Thought he was sloppy at times, particularly in the first half and made a few errant passes or did not get tight to his man. Believe it was him who was lobbed on the goal (could be wrong) by Cox and made it all too easy for him. Did some decent things in terms of tackles mixed in with the aforementioned sloppy play. Been very inconsistent in the last two games after some decent games early on in his loan spell and not quite convinced me that he would be worth a permanent signing. Came off for Harris who I expect to play next week, although maybe Freeman will be back in Tuesday in one of the full back positions.
Collins 7/10 – Solid ish game. He headed and cleared and defended alright most of the game. He tried to come out of defence but at times both him and Maguire were a little slow to move it on and often kept passing it between themselves although there was little movement in front to defend them. He made a few good tackles and blocks today.
Maguire 7/10 – As above. He was solid without being anything special. He looked a bit sluggish to start (had a few weeks off of course) and was fortunate not to get booked before he did get booked. I was concerned he may do something daft after this! He got better as the game went on and imposed himself on the forward players ensuring we were on the front foot in the second half. Had one good run at the end but did not trust his left foot for a shot and passed it instead when maybe he should have had a swing at it!
Coady 6/10 – Fairly quiet today. I cannot recall him getting on the ball much or affecting play from either a defensive point of view or attacking although he had one decent shot second half. He seemed to just have an off day after some very good games since the turn of the year. I would rest him in the week to hopefully freshen himself up for the semi next week as he is one of the few who had played most of the games and not had the breaks that the likes of Flynn, Scougall and Baxter have had.
Doyle 7.5/10 – Thought he was the only midfielder actually getting stuck in first half and who actually made any tackles as the rest just stood off. He passed the ball well when he had it although only criticism is that he as a bit slow to move it on and the tempo was very low. We upped this after the break and he was part of it, winning it or getting it off the centre backs and moving it on. I felt he helped us control the middle area for long spells second half. Easily one of our most consistent players in recent times despite abuse he often gets on forums/phone ins etc. His nomination for League One player of the month backs this opinion up too.
Flynn 6/10- Not a great game and I feel he has regressed in recent weeks to the form he was in for a lot of his United career until his surge in form under Clough. Maybe he is tired or just having an off spell but he has not been the threat in terms of getting at defenders, getting crosses in or having shots on goal (the one the other night apart). I thought having Brayford behind him may help him today but he was really quiet a lot of the game even though he did the bits and pieces for the team in terms of defensive stuff.
McGinn 5/10 – As I said in the week, I am not sure what he offers. He is ‘ok’. He is not awful and at times shows decent control and keeps the ball but often the game passes him by. He is weak in the tackle, very slow and often you do not notice him. He was poor today and he struggled to get in the game. When he did he often gave it away. His corners were often high and floaty and we were never a threat which is odd as he took some good ones earlier in the season. His shot when he miscued awfully summed his day up and he knew he was going to get the ‘hook.’ We improved a lot after he went off. I am not sure he is someone that will be involved much as a starter next season. Maybe a decent squad player but you look at the mobile players Brentford and Wolves had in the middle of the park and can we get away with two fairly static, slow and lack of goal threats in the middle (Doyle the other).
Murphy 7.5/10 – As had become the norm, he was double and sometimes tripled up in the first half and had to keep coming inside. He still looked our only real threat though and put a few decent crosses over but he was not able to get in and behind due to sheer numbers he was up against. Second half he was moved inside and took his goal really well showing commendable calmness to round the keeper and slot in. He nearly got in on a few other occasions too and showed he can do a job up there.
Porter 5.5/10 – An upgrade on Paynter’s abysmal performance the other night but Porter was not great either sadly. He put a bit more effort in and at least won a few headers but offered little. To be fair he got a lot of criticism around me in the stands but many of the balls he received first half were fired up to him around his neck and it was hard with little service as the ball was not coming forward quick enough and when it did it never went to his feet. However he was often too slow to react to things and did not really even offer nuisance value. When he went off we did improve and looked more dangerous and mobile going forward. Think he is a sub at best (even next week) when you want to chuck some high balls up top but does not do enough for me. For all the discussion about the lack of service I still expect my striker too put defenders under pressure (look at Clarke with Wolves the other week) and work hard and those two lack the hunger and pace to even harry defenders.
Subs-
Scougall – Made a difference. He got on the ball, had a few decent runs and at least showed some urgency and did everything quicker than the guy he replaced. He still needs to take more care with his final pass as too often he shows a great first touch and goes on a run but then things sometimes just peter out.
Davies – Played wide left. Kept it simple and was a part of our improvement as we at least showed some willingness to get at them. Put a few dangerous crosses in as our set plays immediately improved and had a free kick that had power but was straight at the keeper sadly from a similar position (bit more central and further out) than the Peterborough one. He is not a full back but not sure he has the mobility/pace to be a wide man. A decent squad ‘club man’ type player but would I sign him in the summer? Probably not. We need some more pace and athleticism in the side and he is another that is quite slow and immobile.
Harris – Brought on for Freeman. He looked rusty to say the least after his spell out. He hooked three balls over his shoulder and out of play! Good to see him back though.
Manager rating
Clough 7/10 – First half he admitted we were poor and off the pace. We never got going and it is worrying that for the second home game in a week the away side has come out quicker and with more purpose than us in terms of passing the ball and just generally competing. Credit to him at the break as he must have had words as we played 10 yards further up the field in all areas, won the tackles and moved it quicker. He made good changes in terms of the players who came on and how he moved Murphy up top (Davies wide left) and Scougall just behind. The game changed and they struggled to cope with us and were hanging on at the end.
Officials – Michael Jones. Believe he is a Premiership referee. I thought he had a really good game and a far cry from Mr Ilderton the other night. He tried to let things flow when he could and cannot recall many bad decisions he gave all game. We had a few half hearted appeals for a penalty but none were that strong I felt. As for the bookings, he had no choice with Maguire (could have booked him for the first obvious hand ball) and he had committed three or four fouls before finally getting a yellow. The Scougall one was also a regulation booking as he cynically dragged someone back when they were on the break. Odubajo, Cox and James were all booked for the visitors and most of those were deserved too really for pull backs or no plays on the ball. No real issues with the referee today.
Crowd – Similar to the other night with an almost identical away following in terms of numbers with around 700 making the trip from East London. It was quiet and subdued for much of the game although when we got level the noise upped and the crowd senses the renewed effort from the players and the desire to get the win. One thing I have noted is win, draw or lose, the players have been warmly clapped up off at the end of halves/games and that is good to see and shows the positivity at what Clough is trying to do.