It was not pretty but United won 1-0 for the second consecutive game at Bramall Lane with a late deflected Jamal Campbell Ryce effort seeing off a plucky Rochdale side that were unfortunate not to take something back across the pennines. The home side had been less than convincing throughout and Dale had been well in the game and been unlucky to hit the crossbar in the second half but if anyone looked like unlocking the deadlock then it was Campbell Ryce and so it proved. United have now won two home games without getting anywhere near top gear and whilst the three points are all important;
United know they have to play much better and raise the tempo and performances both individually and collectively if they want to be anywhere near the top places at the end of the season.
United began the game with Alcock coming back into the side for Higdon and Davies moving wide right and Murphy the most advanced player with Baxter just behind. Rochdale had enjoyed two emphatic away wins this season and came into the fixture brimming with confidence.
United began the match in the ascendancy with Murphy having an appeal for a spot kick after some neat play led to him getting deep into Rochdale territory. Baxter then headed over before Campbell Ryce skipped away from his man but his cross was cleared. The first chance for the visitors came when McEveley hesitated but Henderson did not react in time. The visitors slowly came back into the game with Bennett shooting wide and a corner than scrambled clear. It had been a relatively even game with Campbell Ryce the main threat for United with his trickery and strong running. Such play led to a booking for Rafferty who was really struggling to cope with him.
Murphy shot wide before Baxter was even close with an effort that saw Lillis scrambling across. However, Rochdale then had a good spell and Henderson’s deflected effort had Howard concerned at the other end. IT had been an even game so far and United’s fans were getting frustrated at the slow tempo and the lack of an outlet up top with Murphy struggling to get into the game in a different position. Vincenti then had an effort that drifted across goal as the away side went off happy with their performance where most of United’s efforts had been from long range.
The second half saw United try and step up the pace and more good play from Campbell Ryce saw his cross just evade two United players before his cross then led to Basham heading straight at Logan.
Davies was withdrawn with McNulty coming on and going up top with Murphy going wide but it was not long before he had to be withdrawn also. Murphy had been struggling for the previous five minutes and he also had to go off with Flynn replacing him. Collins then met a Baxter corner but his header was straight at Logan.
Rochdale had been well in the game throughout and were unfortunate not to take the lead when a tremendous long range effort from Henderson beat Howard but smashed off the bar and away. It was an almighty scare for United’s, whose performance had lacked real penetration and cohesion.
The disappointing Basham came off to be replaced by Wallace who made his Bramall Lane debut before Baxter had a free kick opportunity after McNulty had been pulled back but his effort whilst powerful was again straight at the well placed Logan.
United were struggling to get the breakthrough and the crowd were starting to become frustrated but suddenly out of nothing the goal finally came.
CAMPBELL RYCE had been the most likely architect for the Blades all game and it was from his play that the goal eventually came. He jinked one way and then the other and came inside before hitting a dangerous cross which looped off defender Dawson’s boot, before nestling into the corner of the net away from the despairing dive of Lillis.
Rochdale now had to put men forward and in doing so left gaps and Flynn twice nearly took advantage with one shot wide and then a cross that was overhit. Rochdale made changes and had one final change as Vincenti’s header brought a save that looked good for the cameras as Howard acrobatically plucked it out of the high. Three final minutes came but United enjoyed much of this in the Rochdale final third as the keeper was booked for petulantly throwing it away as the Blades saw time out comfortably.
United – It was poor I am afraid. We look miles off the side that finished the side last season. Of course in terms of personnel it is quite different but the Clough up and at ‘em tempo where we were organised and disciplined but also pressed and played with a pace going forward when did have it is completely missing. I have not seen a performance where I can say we have played well yet this season and it was maybe even worse than against Crawley.
We never really got going all game and save for Campbell Ryce’s running and trickery and some creativity from Baxter, the rest of the side from an attacking point of view were really poor. It was a slow tempo with few crosses coming in and we had nothing up front with the disappointing Murphy the furthest man forward but totally ineffective. At the back the full backs were less than convincing and Rochdale had as many forays as we did. It was a game that neither side really deserved to win and the visitors could have won it with a shot that hit the bar before we got the late deflected winner. Both sides had a few efforts but neither side had many clear chances and United huffed and puffed much of the game without any controlled spells or real penetration. The build up play was slow and predictable and we never got many into areas to cause real problems save for Campbell Ryce’s direct running. The formation and approach with Murphy furthest forward did not work and we took too long to change it.
We are lacking so much from our game and with quite a few players struggling as the season has started with little real structure or identity to the way we are playing we look a very average side that is full mostly of slow journeyman players. Some of the players they have signed look really poor and it is hard to see what Clough has seen in them.
Of course we have ground out some points and since the defeat at Coventry have gone on a nice unbeaten run but it has not been convincing. We badly lack real quality and need 2 or 3 players in quite quickly for me if we are serious about being a promotion side. With sides like Bristol City, Peterboro, MK etc going so well, we cannot afford to wait around as sadly the current side is not good enough as Clough has said before to be a promotion contender.
Still it was a win and that is the most important thing at this stage but the performance and lack of cohesion is a real concern as if we carry on like this we will lose as many as we win. The whole side needs to step up 20% at least in terms of desire, tempo and the way they attack if we are to start causing quite ordinary (as Rochdale and Crawley are) more problems. At the moment the best we will do is scrappy games like this. We do not look like scoring more than 1 or 2 goals all game.
Rochdale – They did well. For an away side and with a side with such inferior resources in terms of squad and wages to United’s they were in the match all afternoon. They had a few chances, hit the bar and other than a few efforts the keeper saved were never put under any real sustained pressure all game and were desperately unlucky not to get anything from the game. They worked hard and pressed all afternoon. They tried to break and attack when they could and gave a really good account of themselves.
I like Keith Hill. He always speaks honestly and with quite a refreshing sense of humour and I always felt he came across well when he spoke when he was at Barnsley. He got them back up after a few yo yo years and they have started the season with some impressive performances. Today they showed attacking intent and even though they did timewaste on occasions they also attacked when they could too. They had a go and did not simply sit back. They defended well and restricted us mostly to long range shooting and even the keeper Lillis made mostly routine saves. Even the powerful ones were straight at him. A few of their players had decent games with Vincenti (the number 7) dangerous throughout and the midfield full of energy all match. They worked incredibly hard and gave us little time on the ball. The right back Rafferty had a nightmare and was close to getting sent off before he was taken off and the lad that replaced him, Kennedy, struggled with Campbell Ryce just as much. He was the main threat for United and they never handled him all game. Even after the goal they had a go and threw bodies forward but it was a hammer blow and it was too late for them to recover.
Howard 7/10 - Had little to do really even though Rochdale were well in the game. He made a few regulation saves and watched as the one crashed off the bar but other than that he was untroubled really.
McEveley 6/10 – Thought he had a poor first half and was slow at times. His indecision nearly led to a chance for them as he waited for Howard to gather and then dithered on another occasion. He got much better after the break and was sharper and more determined and won tackles. He also carried the ball forward well.
Collins 7/10 – Steady throughout really. Even though United were poor I am not sure the two centre backs did much wrong much of the game. Collins started the game a little off the pace but got stronger and came onto the ball more and was generally more alive than many today. He tried to bring it forward and then had one decent header that was saved in the centre half.
McGahey 7/10 – Quietly one of our more effective performers. He did nothing spectacular but like his colleague he was steady and did little wrong all game. He got to the ball first, cleared it when he could and moved it on without any real fuss. Looks one of the better recruits of the signings we have made on current evidence.
Alcock 5.5/10 – His poorest game in a United shirt. He was indecisive, sloppy in possession and also I felt he was too far off his man for much of the game. He had played well so far this season but today he was off the pace today I felt. Did keep plugging away but not a game where he was at his best.
Basham 4/10 – Sorry to say but I thought he was dreadful again today. From an attacking point of view he actually gets into some decent positions but then usually miss controls or does not connect. On the ball he was sloppy and gave it away on numerous occasions. One ball along the floor straight to their man in the second half summed up his complete lack of technical ability. Off the ball he marks space and often has no idea what is going on around him. I genuinely have seen no real
attribute to his play and I feel Wallace has to be given a run as he cannot be any worse surely?
Davies 5.5/10 – Not sure it was one of his better performances today. He put a few dangerous crosses in but in general play he did not influence things that much. He is an odd enigma in that it is hard to know where to play him as despite his quality from set plays, he rarely seems to put many crosses in from open play or get involved in open play. He came off which was not a surprise today.
Doyle 7/10 – Thought he was ok. He did nothing remarkable; either poor or bad. He got it and moved it on and won a few tackles or broke up play but played very far back trying to allow others to create in front of him but this did not really work (not Doyle’s fault). He made some crucial interceptions and blocks when Rochdale tried to break in the first half. He gets a lot of criticism but not sure he did much wrong today and was one of our steady players.
Murphy 4.5/10 – One of our poorest players today and I am not sure he has really got going all season. He had a few runs forward but got brushed off the ball too easily and looked very weak at times. He was played as an out and out striker but he saw little of the ball and when he had it, it did not stick. He looks more like the disappointing Murphy we first signed than the one that finished the season. Looks lacking in confidence but moving him around position wide is probably not helping.
Baxter 7.5/10 – Looked a threat and had a few efforts on goal and some nice runs and side steps that almost led to chances/genuine efforts on goal. He played more withdrawn today and often was too deep to make a difference but he did at least look one of few players who could make something happen with ability on the ball. One shot just wide and then another free kick saved were two of the few genuine efforts we had all game.
Campbell Ryce 8.5/10 – United’s best player comfortably. He was excellent today. I was one who knocked his signing but he looked full of hunger, fitness and skill. He caused all manner of problems leading to one player being subbed and others struggling to cope with him. Ran at defenders, used skill, pace and strength. Put in some good crosses and linked well with others. His game did not flag either and he carried on remaining a threat all game. It was fitting he scored (albeit it with a deflection) and I have to eat humble pie after criticising his signing as today he was excellent.
Subs-
McNulty – Brought on to give us something different up front but he did not really do too much. Got tripped once but then kept running into defenders when he did have the ball. Think if he gets a run in the side he needs a genuine partner really who he can play off. Not sure he will get more than bits and pieces of playing time at the moment.
Flynn – Came on and did get involved. Had one shot just wide and then one break saw him fire a cross miles away from anyone as we broke with men over. Another who had not got going although the way Campbell Ryce played he is more likely to get in ahead of others at the moment if he does get a start.
Wallace – Showed some glimpses. He tried to get on the ball and looked lively but it was such a scrappy game that it was hard for him to get on the ball. Looks quite compact and I hope to see more of him in future weeks.
Manager rating:
Clough 6/10 – It was a win. That is all you can really say as the performance left a lot to be desired. We lacked pace, tempo and genuine creativity and without Campbell Ryce and bits from Baxter not sure if we would have created much all game. At the moment it is not really happening at home in terms of performances and we need to really improve if we want o look more convincing. We do not look like really blowing teams away and the best we can hope for is 1-0’s. That may have been enough the last two home games but over the course of the season against better sides than the last two we have to do more and play much better. I am not sure he knows his best team yet and not sure his experiments with various front men have worked. I think he knows he needs more players or should I say better players but at the moment we look a very laboured side that is scraping by teams that we really should be winning convincingly.
Officials – The officials were very good today. The referee, Gary Sutton, had no choice with the bookings he made as a few cynical trips from Rochdale (most on Campbell Ryce) saw easy decisions with the yellow cards (Campbell Ryce booked for taking his shirt off on the goal – silly rule but then why do players do this?). As for the rest of the game I felt he did really well. He let play go when he could and tried to play advantage both ways and he just reffed it really sensibly. Only gripe was some blatant foul throws (on the South Stand side) from Rochdale and some quite obvious timewasting at times (not sure why they did as they looked as likely as us when they did attack).
Crowd/Officials – Another really decent crowd with over 19,000 there. This is remarkable really considering we made no further impact in terms of the transfer deadline and have been quite ordinary in most games this season in an average start (results). The crowd tried their best and came to life when players lik