Sheffield United easily saw off the challenge of Championship strugglers Leicester at Bramall Lane thanks in large part to a 7-minute hat trick from leading scorer James Beattie. The game which featured snow, rain, wind and sunshine, was effectively over by the 20 minute mark as United cantered into the lead and then professionally held off the 10 man Foxes with ease. Ian Holloway remarked that the game turned on the incident that saw Leicester defender Patrick Kisnorbo dismissed and the award of a penalty kick that led to United`s lead. Whilst his argument stands up, it cannot be argued that for the whole contest United were in complete control and that the lethargy of the performance offered by City was quite startling for a team staring relegation in the face.
United began by restoring Beattie to the starting line up and giving a starts to Ian Bennett, Ugo Ehiogu and Stephen Quinn in place of the injured Kenny and Hulse, the suspended Morgan and the rested Carney. Leicester began with former Derby man Steve Howard spearheading their attack but were without skipper Stephen Clemence and United loan player Lee Hendrie who was ineligible. United were quickly on the offensive as they forced an early corner amidst torrential rain and sleet after Sharp pressurised McAuley. United then forced Leicester back further after some neat approach involving Quinn and Naysmith down the left hand side.
United`s purposeful start was rewarded when after 10 minutes they won a penalty kick. Beattie`s flicked header saw Sharp in the clear and goal side of his marker, Kisnorbo. As he chased the ball down, the defender seemed to pull him back and whilst the contact was minimal it was clearly outside the box and when Sharp fell to the deck it was some time after the initial foul. The assistant referee on the John Street Stand flagged furiously and as expected once the referee had confirmed the penalty after discussions with his assistant, Kisnorbo was dismissed, as he was clearly the last man. After the remonstrations had finally died down, both from the players on the field and a rather animated Ian Holloway, the penalty could finally be taken. Beattie took the kick, complete with trademark quick turn and run up, but his kick was too close to Henderson who saved the ball down to his left. However, BEATTIE was quickest to react and smashed the rebound into the net to spare his own blushes. United were soon back on the attack as Leicester attempted to re-organise. Sharp was clumsily tripped up on the edge of the box which again saw Leicester players appealing against the award, which was strange considering the clear cut nature of the decision. From the free kick BEATTIE hit it, low and hard, and as the ball skimmed off the turf Henderson could only shovel the ball into the net. A clear goalkeeping mistake from a strike that was firm and accurate but one that really should have been dealt with. United`s confidence was positively brimming and Leicester looked like they may concede every time United attacked. Leicester had a brief passage of play but could not force any real pressure with Ehiogu making a commanding start, with several key blocks and tackles to nullify any chance for the visitors.
Unbelievably, United got a third goal inside 20 minutes; Cotterill`s strong running led to a corner. The corner came over from Tonge and BEATTIE met it on the full and headed the ball downwards and past the stationary keeper to complete a remarkable 7-minute hat trick and one of the fastest ever seen at this old ground. As historians would have been checking the record books it was at this point a small gathering of Leicester fans chose to leave the ground. To their credit, the majority of the away support stayed and cheered their team loudly despite the game now being effectively over before even a quarter of the game had been played.
The game now was being played in front of bright sunshine as Leicester were now employing an odd line up with them being reduced to 10 men that effectively saw them choose to play without a left back and Cotterill was taking full advantage. Stearman`s horrible challenge on Quinn saw him rightly booked as Leicester`s frustration threatened to bubble over with numerous fouls being commited on United`s players. Leicester finally had an effort on Ian Bennett`s goal but Howard`s long range shot was scuffed wide before Oakley`s similarly long range effort was comfortable for the keeper. The half time whistle came after 3 minutes of stoppage time and the fans showed their appreciation for United`s efforts as they left the field for a well-earned break.
Leicester sought to improve and they did immediately as Howard tested Bennett but it was United who were still controlling the play and seeing much of the ball. Manager Holloway had restored his left back, Mattock, to his normal position but it mattered little as Cotterill was giving the youngster, an England under 21 international, a torrid time. United sought to get the ball to the loanee at every opportunity and his direct running and dangerous crossing was a feature of United`s play as they attacked the Kop end. From such cross, Quinn breasted the ball down but could not get his shot away under pressure. Cotterill was then crudely hacked down by Mattock inside the area but the referee chose not to give the spot kick with the controversial first half decision clearly still on his mind. Beattie then cleverly worked an opening from Naysmith`s cross but blazed over. Leicester brought on Chambers and King for Stearman and Oakley but they could not stem the tide as United continued to look the more likely to score again with Sharps` hold up play and tireless running an underrated feature in their play. However, Leicester had their best chance when Speed gave the ball away and then collided with Kilgallon in trying to recover his error. Fryatt was in the clear but Bennett spread himself to make a great save. From the rebound, the former Walsall man looked set to score but smashed the ball high over Bennett`s goal and into the Bramall Lane end. Beattie came off for Stead, to a standing ovation just after the hour mark, with manager Kevin Blackwell, clearly feeling the job was done with Tuesday`s game now to the forefront of his mind. Worley replaced the hapless McAuley not long after with the big centre back having been given a lesson by the now departed Beattie. Gillespie and Law replaced Cotterill and Tonge and then Stead almost added a fourth after good work by Sharp on the right hand channel but Chambers made a brave block. The final chance fell to Leicester but after a scramble ensued following a corner kick, Ehiogu helped out his keeper and cleared the ball for a final time. As the stoppage time was played, Leicester looked a sorry state and had been a beaten side for some time, as the game had resembled a practice game for large periods of the second half.
Player Ratings
Bennett 7/10
Handed a rare start and did ok. He had little to do really but did make one great save from Fryatt when the striker was one on one and then got up quick enough to force him to blaze over. Bennett`s kicking was very poor though. What is it with our keepers distribution?
Halls 7/10
Steady enough although at times his positional sense is poor. He also will get punished by a fast winger and that concerns me for Tuesday. I actually would play Geary despite us winning yesterday as Wednesday do have some genuine pace down the flanks.
Naysmith 7.5/10
Continued his improvements in recent weeks with another solid performance. Tackled well, read the game and played some clever balls down the line. If he had played like he has in the last month all season, people would have been saying he has been an excellent signing. He needs to maintain this consistency next season.
Kilgallon 7.5/10
He played well enough, making one or two good tackles in the first half and showed his pace as he easily saw out danger against the slow Leicester frontline. He has maintained the level of consistency he has shown all season. I have a feeling Beattie will get the player of the season award for his goals but I would give it to Killa`.
Ehiogu 8/10
Played exceptionally well that surprised me and most of the crowd after his clumsy, error ridden performances in his brief United career so far. He won so many great tackles, made blocks, used the ball intelligently and generally hardly put a foot wrong all afternoon. Howard is an asset in the air but Ehiogu played him very well. He won his fair share of headers against him but also let him win a few on purpose and then won the second ball. He looked like the player who was in and around the England squad some years ago when he was the commanding centre back at Villa. He even had time to wave to the Kop! A tough one to call for Tuesday as it is with Halls-Geary, do you leave him in or restore Morgan? I would go with the latter who is a bit more mobile but it is a difficult decision.
Speed 6.5/10
A strange performance. At times he looked a class act and put out some good balls in the first half and helped us exploit the extra man. He also won a lot of 50/50`s and headers in the central area. His passing was actually wretched in the second half and had a spell when he gave the ball away4 or 5 times straight to the opposition. He did always go and try and win the ball back though.
Tonge 7/10
Steady performance. Like Speed he played some really good balls and some clever balls, inside full back or over the top for the centre forwards to run on to. He also gave it away too cheaply. However, the midfield he was up against usually ensured they just gave it straight back.
Cotterill 8/10
Outstanding. He has shown patches of really good play in the previous games with some great crosses and evidence of direct running that scares full backs half to death. Today, he did it for the whole game and I lost count of the number if times he went at, and beat his man and also followed it up with a great cross. If he reproduces that form on Tuesday, Wednesday will be in trouble. Must be signed on that display but I fear Wigan may also reconsider after hearing/seeing these displays and a few other teams may sniff around too.
Quinn 7/10
I thought Quinn did well today. Granted he could have done better a couple of times with his final ball or even when well positioned in front of goal but for the most part he used the ball well, he kept it simple, kept his position and played with a great deal of sense. He never shies a tackle and he cannot be faulted for effort. What worries me is he is the sort of player that will probably get sent off on Tuesday, especially with Mr Bennett in charge!
Sharp 8/10
A menace all afternoon. He held the ball up very well, linked with players well and ran well off the ball. He may not have had any real clear chances but his performance was quietly very effective. He caused many problems for the defenders and seemed to look faster (at least over a few yards) than previously in the season, or maybe the Leicester defence was just that slow! His nutmeg down the left side in the second half and then his clever run and cross for Stead were just two occasions when he showed his skills and cleverness. I think all of us are praying he scores on Tuesday and if he did it in front of the Kop, the roof will lift off!
Beattie 8.5/10
Looked a class act today. Whether he was playing for a move, as some cheekily suggested around us, or playing to really help the club he currently plays for, is immaterial. He just looked too good for the backline. He was tad fortunate you could argue on both opening goals with the rebound falling for him and also the free kick that was appalling goalkeeping. Beattie always looked a threat and won a lot of headers considering the stature of the players he was up against. Fingers crossed he is firing again in the week. Rightly taken off after an hour to be rested as he has not played a full game for some time.
Stead
Looked a threat as he always does. Would start for most teams in the division and he has been very unlucky not to feature more. If Beattie does remain then he will surely look for a move but if he does move on, then he will battle with Hulse and Sharp for the two spots next season. I would love to keep him but he surely cannot be happy with his current role even though the current forwards are playing well which makes it hard for Blackwell to change.
Gillespie
Came on for the closing stages and put one good cross in.
Referee
Nice to see him back around the squad. He looked a promising player last year and I feel we are not exactly blessed with depth and quality in central midfield so hopefully (after Tuesday) he may get a start before the end of the season. It is a shame Jordan Robertson is injured, as I would have liked to have seen him too.
United
Started the game very well. We took the game to Leicester, Sharp and Beattie (finally developed a good partnership) caused problems with their movement and strong running and after the first goal, which was very fortunate (to get a penalty and a man sent off) to take the lead, we then ensured the game was put out of reach with a ruthless spell. Beattie looked a top, top striker and they could not handle him for long stretches but Sharp played very well and was an excellent foil for him. Cotterill had his best game for the club and on that form has to be signed. He run the defenders ragged and put some superb crosses in that really should have led to more goals but either just did not quite fall right or players did not get in the right positions. The central midfield was solid enough and was helped by having the extra man. At times we played some good stuff, albeit playing against mostly dustbins, but we did keep the ball for longer periods then we have all season. What was frustrating was that the midfield players had ages to make decisions on the ball and often this maybe led to them trying to do too much. When they kept it simple and just moved it on and exploited the extra man we looked like we would get chances. As for the back, Naysmith continued his improvements and Ehiogu was a massive surprise with an excellent performance where he looked solid, commanding and basically a class act. If he can replicate that form, he is going to be a far better signing than any of us envisaged but the key is he had to play like that every week. I do feel a team with pace would cause him a lot of problems but today was perfect for him the slow, lumbering Howard whose strength is heading, played easily by big Ugo. It is a shame we have made our run too late and the arguments will rage over whether we would have made the playoffs if the change had been made earlier (more Robson going than the actual replacement – although Blackwell has done really well). I still think it is a stretch to make the top 6 and I am more relieved now that we are definitely safe but if we can win on Tuesday and follow it up at Turf Moor (two results that are not unfathomable) then the unthinkable may be alive. We really do have to win 4, draw 1 to make the playoffs though. Any more defeats and we are not going to make it but at least the prospects for next season are far better. If we can replicate this form and make one or two additions, say Cotterill, another central midfielder of genuine class and maybe a wide left player then we should be there or thereabouts if we can continue the same levels of application and up tempo football. Keeping Beattie is going to be hard as the financial pressure may force a sell and I would understand both for him and the club if he did go and bear no grudges. It would be great if would hold onto him for another season though as he guarantees goals and would be the key man in what should be a promotion assault next year.
Leicester City
A truly dreadful side. Yes going down to 10 men and conceding a penalty and going behind is a massive set back but the way they capitulated was worrying for their fans. They basically gave up and I think they only had 1 or 2 efforts on goal all afternoon and only really had one clear chance from my memory (the Bennett save from Fryatt). They actually looked like they had accepted the defeat when it was 3-0, which was poor. Professional pride should have seen the effort levels remain and also the odd tackle go in or even foul just to show they cared but it did not come. They basically are a team of 6 or 7 six footers who are supposedly good in the air (did not show on our set plays where we won a lot) but are very poor footballers and look so immobile. Stearman, McAuley, N`Gotty et al just do not have the pace to cope with nippy, clever players and they are the sort of players that will get booked or even sent off quite often. I cannot actually think of a player that did well for them today. Howard was off the pace, the defence was pedestrian and the midfield was atrocious, tossing the ball away at every juncture. Their goalkeeper was appalling too. His handling was very suspect and he did not seem confident leaving his line, even when the ball was just above his head. When he did go for the ball, he always flapped or punched it. He very rarely just caught the ball, even from simple efforts or crosses. He could be a major weak link in their survival hopes. Is their regular keeper injured? Holloway`s odd formations after the sending odd did not help. He started with no left back, and then played 4-4-1. Then he went 3-4-2, he then went 3-3-3, but none of it really worked as they could not keep the ball and could not handle our forward players, particularly Cotterill who the young left back will have had nightmares about last night. I hope they get enough points to send our neighbours down but on this evidence it is going to be a mighty struggle for them.
Referee
Mr Pike had a strange game. He actually did alright for the most part as it was not easy to referee. I felt Leicester were a physical side that put in several poor and late challenges. They can appeal about the big decision all they want but Holloway forgets umpteen other dreadful challenges by their plethora of gangly and clumsy players. The one on Quinn by Stearman could have easily been a straight red. He could not have properly seen the tussle with Sharp as he was some distance off it and the assistant was perfectly placed. It certainly was not a penalty as the contact happened outside the box but actually was still a red card as he was last man but should have been a free kick. As soon as Sharp went down, regardless of whether it was or wasn`t, I knew he would flag. He half flagged 4 or 5 times already in the game and seemed to want to be a big part of the action. United had 2 or 3 strong penalty awards in the second half. The one on Cotterill was a stonewaller but by this point, he was not going to give anything unless someone was assaulted in the box. It was sad actually that the referee had let Holloway`s rants affect him. After all it was the assistant that gave it and he had no choice but to award the kick.