The Blades now have a clear four point cushion in the race for automatic promotion after they won their 5th successive game; at home to Leyton Orient and rivals Wednesday could only draw at Colchester. United had to come from behind after a great strike by Kevin Lisbie against the run of play but a crucial leveller on the stroke of half time from Lee Williamson restored parity. In the second half excellent individual goals from Michael Doyle and Ched Evans gave the Blades a deserved win and with news coming from the Weston Holmes Community Stadium that the Owls could only draw; United now hold the initiative with only three games to go.
The Blades began with an unchanged side with Ched Evans taking his place in attack alongside Richard Cresswell and Lee Williamson shaking off a stomach injury. United also had an unchanged bench. Struggling Orient had former Blade coach Russell Slade in charge and former United midfielder Matthew Spring in their engine room. Kevin Lisbie scorer of the late dramatic leveller at Brisbane Road started up top for the O’s.
The Blades began on top keeping the ball well with McDonald involved early and trying to find Evans at every opportunity. A chance came when Evans won a throw and Williamson put in an excellent cross but Quinn just failed to connect. Evans then had an effort deflected wide and Maguire had a header just wide from a corner. Keeper Jones then pushed out an Evans shot and the ball was scrambled clear. News that rivals Wednesday were losing further buoyed the home crowd.
It was one way traffic with Evans and then Hill having efforts blocked but suddenly totally against the run of play, the visitors took their lead with virtually their first attack. A ball over the top seemed innocuous enough but Maguire missed heading clear and then LISBIE was stronger than the much bigger Maguire and managed to then head the ball forward before unleashing a powerful left foot drive into the roof of the net. It was a great individual goal by the striker but he really ought to have not been allowed to get in that position.
United tried to come again but were seeing Orient defend in numbers. Cresswell picked up a knock when trying to head the ball and despite trying to play on was clearly in some distress holding his shoulder. He had to be substituted with Chris Porter coming on.
Porter won an earl header and then a half chance for Quinn came but his shot that he smashed into the ground was pushed over by Jones. Evans was looking dangerous but never everything was coming off for him and Orient still posed a danger on the break. Lisbie got away from Collins and Maguire again but on the angle he screwed badly wide. It was a good chance and United had been sloppy in their defensive work thus far. Spring also shot over and suddenly United were panicking as half time approached. Indeed another good chance came for Orient when Cox fired wide with Simonsen seemingly beaten. Porter headed just off target and United now were struggling to create any clear chances despite seeing much more of the ball and their defensive play was putting further pressure on them.
Crucially United did get level just before the break. Maguire’s diagonal ball saw Porter knock back into the danger area but Orient did not clear the ball and Evans from wide left passed it into WILLIAMSON’s feet who hit a left footer through a body of players. The keeper Jones got a hand to the ball but could only push it into the far corner and United were crucially level just before half time.
United began the second half on top and were keeping the ball well but had seen a few half chances crowded out or the final ball go astray. With news emanating from Colchester that Wednesday were now level United had to get to show some urgency to get in front and it was the captain who led by example. Evans played a pass inside and DOYLE took a touch further and with his left foot hit a superb long range drive that flew into the right hand corner of the net giving Jones no chance. It was his second goal of the week and a vitally important strike at the Kop End.
Campbell Ryce came on for Taiwo but United came on again and refused to sit back. Lowton put in two excellent crosses and the second one saw Jones push out and the ball was scooped clear. The visitors were struggling and United were keeping the ball well. Orient’s frustration at not seeing much of the ball boiled over when a bad, late challenge from Dickson on Williamson long after the ball had gone saw the Blades player lay writhing on the floor. The referee did not wait long before brandishing a red card and there could be little complaints.
United looked to take advantage of their man advantage but were looking a little nervous now and sloppy with the ball. Orient had a flurry of possession and won a corner after Hill had lost his man and Maguire had to stab behind. Still it was United who were having the best chances and Evans had an opening and a shot deflected just wide. Then McDonald advanced forward and shot narrowly wide when it seemed destined for the corner. Forbes then gave away the ball and neat interchange by Evans and Quinn played in Porter but his curled effort went narrowly wide as United once again just failed to get the all-important clincher.
A few other late tackles on Williamson followed with another hideously high challenge from Lea**** this time seeing another yellow as he skipped past the defender out wide. Porter and Reed came on in a double change for Orient and Flynn replaced Quinn down the left hand side but soon after the game was effectively sealed. Porter touched on and EVANS got onto the ball after Orient could not clear and nutmegged the defender Forbes before steering the ball into the corner of the goal with his left foot. This goal surely sealed matters and Evans wheeled away whipping off his shirt to pick up a daft booking but clearly a show of emotion after a difficult week from him away from the game. It was the third United goal struck by a player with their left boot!
Evans got a round of applause as he came off right at the end for O’Halloran as United looked to just see out the final moments. Porter for Orient had a half chance as the ball fizzed across the box and just wide before McDonald nearly converted at the other end but as the game entered stoppage time the biggest cheer came when news came from Colchester that Wednesday had dropped points meaning when the final whistle came at the Lane, United had a four point cushion as we enter the final furlong of the season.
United – It was not a vintage performance but much like last week, we did enough over the course of 90 minutes to win the game. We had 66% possession, more chances, looked better on the ball and other than a few daft moments at the back would have won even more comfortably. Going a goal down made it hard for us but we stuck at it and I felt stayed pretty patient I felt for the most part. However they easily could have scored again and actually had 2 or 3 great chances outside of the goal despite us having most of the play. It was a strange game in that regard in that we had most of the play but they had been very dangerous on the break.
If it had gone to half time with us behind then the pressure may have increased. The equaliser was crucial and meant we could be even more patient in the second half. I felt we dominated the game after the break and had numerous chances but the goal when it came was a long range effort. It was still nervy after this to a degree but they did not have many clear chances and it was mostly us on the ball. When the sending off came it gave us a boost and even though we still maybe should have killed off the game a long time before we did; it never totally felt like a game we would give away. The Evans goal sealed it and then the game was just played out with as much focus on events in Essex as at the Lane.
In terms of the actual performance again as I have said we kept the ball quite well, were fairly patient and looked to try and get the ball in the right areas. On occasions we went a little long and panicked but overall we tried to play it from left to right, feed the front two and try and get the ball into the box on the deck. Eventually chances came and but for a bounce of the ball here and there we could have had more goals really. I felt Doyle and McDonald controlled much of the game with the former excellent once again. Williamson played well again and Quinn did some good things but some equally frustrating things. I felt Cresswell was quite ineffective up to his strange injury which was his fault! Porter was much better and despite the critics of him around me in the stand, I felt he did really well and won a lot of headers, held the ball up and was a big improvement on Cresswell. Evans had a funny afternoon as even though he worked hard, not everything came off and a few shots, passes or piece of control did not quite come off for him. Despite this he still looked the most dangerous forward on the pitch and you always felt he may get a goal and so it proved. At the back it was not the best despite being under little pressure and we gave them a few clear chances from poor clearances or hesitancy. Maguire had his poorest game for a while and even Collins was not totally convincing. Simonsen did little wrong but the players in front of him lacked the certainty they have had in recent times. Lowton did ok for the most part but Hill continued his wretched performances.
It was not quite as comfortable as it should have been but we still played some really neat and tidy football and kept our cool under pressure remaining relatively patient. We also actually used our man advantage quite well and I felt were sensible with the football. I felt we worked hard and did when the ball back when we lost it and pressed well all over the field. A touch more care when on the ball and better possession in the final third and we easily could be scoring 4 or 5 goals every game with good finishers like Evans and Williamson.
United have hit form at the right time and are now in control. Next week will be really tough as MK Dons are a good side and it will be a really stern test. I hope United don’t play negative and go for a draw. A win next week and we are almost there but it will be tough. I think Wednesday may win against a decent Carlisle side so we still will have to get a result but if we do win next week it sets it up nicely for the game against Stevenage knowing we can win to go up. We now need 5 points from 3 games so 2 wins or 1 win and 2 draws. If Wednesday drop any more points than we really are almost there. We just need a couple of big performances. I really don’t want us to lose next week as if we do Wednesday could be above us by the time we play Stevenage and then pressure will be back on us. I still think there is a long way to go and feel it may turn back the other way (just feel it might be our turn to dip) and will go to the last game. I so hope we can go there and pull of the win as that really would see us almost there but it is going to be our toughest test for a long time and they can score a ton of goals at home. We have to be strong, disciplined and not commit some of the daft defensive mistakes we have been doing at home. Still it is going to be an exciting finish and we have out ourselves in a great position.
Leyton Orient – Felt they were second best for the most part but they still had 3 or 4 good chances in the first half despite being second best in possession. They scored a great individual goal and then had a couple of decent chances and if either of those had gone the right side of the post then 2-0 down for us would have been a big ask with the pressure on. However the goal we got kind of knocked them back and they began to defend and go back further and further. They invited pressure and you felt they would never quite hang on and so it proved although it was a long ranger that put us on front. I felt they lost their discipline after this and the red card was a horrible tackle and a deserved one. After this they went for Williamson a few times and another could have gone off. They put in one or two hefty tackles and seemed to lose their cool. I saw their coaching staff asking for a few fouls that I could not really see. They seemed a bit desperate and with some of the sides at the bottom winning knew they were being sucked into a relegation scrap with another defeat on the cards (haven’t they lost like 6 straight now?).
It was nice to beat them after the stupid goal we gave away at Brisbane Road in stoppage time earlier in the season. They have not done as well as many tipped (some of pre-season tips had them as outsiders for the play offs after a decent season last year and drawing with Arsenal in the Cup) and have really struggled since Christmas and now will be in a struggle to stay up. For what it is worth I think they will stay up as I have seen far worse sides this year and even though they did not really deserve to get anything; they at least had some efforts on goal and had a few lively players such as Lisbie who always causes us problems. Spring was combative in midfield but felt we did control that area of the field and I felt the two centre backs were quite clumsy and slow and we always looked like we could get behind them.
They tried hard and had a bit of a go, even at 2-1 but cannot remember that many clear chances in the second half and after the red card they struggled to get beyond us and it was probably only our own knowledge of United sitting back and nerves that made you think they may nick one, rather than them actually getting in beyond us.
Russell Slade has always done a decent job in the lower leagues and I feel will galvanise them to get the results they need and I think the bottom four may be the ones that go down in the end.
Simonsen 7/10 – Had little chance with the goal, a rising drive from Lisbie. A few other shots went just past the post but he had little to do in terms of actual saves. He could not be criticised for not coming off his line today and many of the issues in our defence was caused by people in front of him. One thing I will commend him for was his kicking from back passes. He was given some tough kicks back but he always found half way and was very decisive in such clearances.
Lowton 7/10 – Decent game. Defended ok and got forward when he could. One misplaced cross behind the goal was a poor moment but he put in 2 or 3 dangerous whipped crosses in the second half. Showed good touch, awareness and sensible play for the most part.
Hill 5/10 – Very poor again in many things but did win a few tackles and got better after the break. However, he is definitely the weak link in the side at the moment. He is so slow to react to danger, does not get tight enough to his man and his touch/passing/clearances often are errant. He lacks technique and does daft things with the ball but more worrying is he so often lets his man get space or get beyond him. Williams and/or Taylor are both surely preferable to him?
Maguire 5.5/10 – Thought it was his poorest game for some time. He was clumsy at times and lost his man on a few occasions. He finally got the through balls first towards the game and as the game went on; but first half he was not at it. He was slow to react to the danger from Lisbie and kind of got outmuscled as the ball came through and let him shoot too easy without any kind of challenge. He did this again at another stage of the first half and got away with it. Just felt he was not as decisive and sharp as he has been and often with the ball went too long. He did get better in the second half but his scrappy clearance under no pressure out for a corner summed up his game really today.
Collins 6.5/10 – Like Maguire I felt he was not quite as commanding and comfortable as he has been. To say they had very little of the ball they created 3 or 4 chances and when Lisbie got away for the chance he pulled wide, Collins just left him. A couple of other occasions he was a little slow to react. He did win most of the aerial stuff and got a few tackles/blocks in when the game went into the second half but he did look a little shaky today even if got stronger as the game went on.
Doyle 8/10 – Another excellent performance where he won tackles, broke up play, kept it simple and was able to also allow us to retain possession. He kept it nice and simple with the ball and very rarely gave it away. He had a few efforts on goal but his goal was a beauty. He has now scored 3 this season and with no disrespect to Monty but I think he has only got like 3 in 4 or 5 seasons! He is definitely an improvement on Monty as he can use the ball far better aswell as do as much of the things Monty does in terms of break up play. He has been very good in recent weeks.
McDonald 7.5/10 – He looked a class apart at times with some lovely passes and switches of play. He showed a nice touch and good strength. A few poor balls featured but for the most part he was able to show good range of short and long passing. Strangely a lot of our play in the second half seemed to go through the likes or Williamson and whilst he did some good things he maybe tired again as the game went on. Concerning when he took a kick near the end but he seemed to shake it off and seemed fine by the final whistle.
Williamson 7.5/10 – Once again scored and took it well even though I felt the keeper should maybe have done a bit better. He showed some neat touches and was always involved. I felt like a lot of our better attacks came down the right side with him, Evans, McDonald and Lowton linking well. He has a lovely touch and always looks on control in possession. Not a classic winger as he is not that fast but he is sharp and always looks to go forward and make things happen. He also has not given the ball away as much as he did last season and has been more decisive and shown more urgency in his passing.
Quinn 6.5/10 – Another up and down again which I seem to be saying most weeks. He gave the ball away more than many of the other midfielders and a few aimless first time balls when under no pressure was really frustrating. He did put in a few excellent crosses in the first half and showed some good energy with a few chase downs and tackles in the second half. He did work hard and whilst on the ball he could have done more he at least put a shift in. Just needs to take care of the football more.
Evans 7.5/10 – Quite a bit did not come off for him today with a few touches bouncing off or shots blocked but he worked hard again and linked well with others. He had a few chances and won a few corners with his running off the ball and strength against the centre backs. He perhaps should have scored with a deflected shot just wide and had a few others that have been going in the net in recent games but when the goal came he took it really coolly. Stupid to get booked by taking his shirt off but maybe with the week he has had, it was just the release of a lot of emotion. He has another tough week to come off the field but he keeps on finding the net when he plays and it is not inconceivable if he plays the final games he could make 40 goals!
Cresswell 5/10 – Thought he wasn’t really in the game much and a few misplaced touches or attempted links with Evans never really came off. He did work hard and chased defenders down but had tried a strange header not long before the one where he injured himself. Why he went for such a low ball with his head was beyond me and how he managed to injure his shoulder was once again an odd one.
Subs
Porter 7/10 – I actually thought he did quite well. Yes he did not have that many chances, one side footed effort just wide after neat build up in the second half when maybe he should have made the keeper work but his overall play was sound. He won a lot of headers, held it up and was more of a nuisance than Cresswell has been in recent weeks. He is very good in the air and wins more than he loses. He lacks pace and mobility and never looks much of a goal threat but then neither has Cresswell. I can see why Wilson keeps picking Cressy as we are winning and he does work hard and tire defenders out giving chances for others but I do feel Porter allows us to keep the ball further up the pitch due to his headers and hold up play. I still feel Beattie and Hoskins should be on the bench instead of one of the two below for the run in as we may need those extra options late in games.
Flynn – Brought on for Quinn as we tried to protect the left side in the same way as we did last week. He worked up and down the flank and won a few free kicks and played a few into feet. A neat and tidy footballer who never lets anyone down even if he lacks pace, guile and trickery to get past men.
O’Halloran – Came on for Evans right at the end as the game was about won but maybe only touched the ball once as we tried to just see time out. Think I would prefer Hoskins as an option instead of him to stretch defences at the end of games. Is Hoskins still ill or just not being picked?
Officials – Felt they were ok and better than we have had in recent weeks. There was a ridiculously fussy moment when the referee made them take a free kick four times for an offside when it really was not far from the actual offence each time we tried to take it! A couple of other fussy moments notwithstanding they kept it flowing for the most part and cannot remember too many really bad decisions or obvious free kicks that went the wrong way. The Maguire booking seemed harsh as Lisbie did all the pushing and actually it was Lowton that took issue and was silly and maybe should have got booked rather than his teammate. Lisbie was right to be booked for starting something out of nothing. Other than this up to the red card there had not been many bad fouls and it had not been that type of game but it was a shocker of a tackle and deserved a red card. After this there was a few late tackles, many on Williamson and the visitors seemed to lose their cool. They asked for a few non-existent fouls when Doyle and Maguire won clean tackles and their players rolled around (both players suddenly sprang to life the ball came back forward not long after!
Crowd/Atmosphere – It was very nervy for the most part again with the cheers when Wednesday went behind was the noisiest it had been all first half. When we went behind the frustration increased and you felt the pressure build but the players actually did well and when we got the goal you felt the crowd willing them on again. Despite Wednesday equalising in the second half; United crucially went in front not long after and then United had the advantage. The crowd then stayed patient and despite a couple of nervy moments I felt they got behind them and the third goal killed it. Odd how the Kop reacted about a minute after the full time whistle at Colchester when most around the ground seemed to already know it was full time! Hopefully with a massive following next week at MK (can’t make it as got relatives coming down – arrggghh!) the fans can see them to another good result and then we can pack the Lane for the final home game when hopefully it could be a promotion sealing game.