Deadbat reports on last night’s 2-1 win over Coventry City. Sheffield United finally got back to winning ways at Bramall Lane as they built on Saturdays hard working win in the West Country against Plymouth with another three points against Coventry City. In truth the performance was once again unspectacular and lacked badly in conviction, ball retention and quality but at this stage of the season the victory was the most important statistic from the game. With numerous other teams once again winning in the bottom reaches of the table, including local rivals Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday, it was crucial United picked up maximum points and whilst their opponents could contest they were the better side for long spells, it is the Sky Blues who now find themselves in far stickier situation at the foot of the championship season.
After an impeccable observed minute`s silence for the late Derek Dooley, United began the game with the same starting eleven as that from the victory against Plymouth Argyle. The game began at a frantic pace with United kicking towards their own fans at the Kop end of the ground. United began the game on the attack but it was Coventry that had the first chance as Dann found himself clear in the box. His shot was saved by Kenny but United could not clear their lines and Dann was given time for another opportunity but Speed somehow managed to clear on the line. United then had an excellent opportunity themselves but also saw the ball cleared from the goal line. As the ball drifted over the visitors defence, Sharp lobbed the ball over the onrushing keeper, Marshall, but the ball was cleared spectacularly from his own goal line by Ward. Sharp`s striker partner Beattie should have arguably finished the chance by applying the necessary final touch as the ball bounced goal wards but he strangely opted to leave the ball, perhaps fearing that if he did touch the ball he would be adjudged to be offside. Kenny saved well after a deflected effort hit Mifsud and then watched Best`s effort drift over.
The game was end to end and even if the quality was lacking, there were clear chances being created for both sides. Sharp finally thought he had broke his long goal scoring duck when he diverted Carney`s low shot home but his celebrations were cut short when the linesman raised his flag to the frustration of Sharp and the massed ranks behind the goal on the Kop that have been willing him to open his account. The game did slow down in pace around the half hour mark, which coincided with a torrential downpour which clearly had an effect on play. Two efforts on goal from free kicks saw Beattie drive over and then Best strike the wall from a free kick from a similar position at the other end of the field. The dangerous Thornton was denied by a brave block from Kilgallon after an enterprising city move and then just before the half time whistle, Kenny came to United`s rescue with a tremendous reflex save from a firm downward header that seemed to have beaten him.
Coventry began the second half brightly as the rainfall had now stopped and hesitation down United`s left side saw the ball played to the lively Mifsud but his shot was saved by Kenny. United were struggling to get a foothold in the game and City were still looking the more likely. Thornton showed clever footwork to drift past three defenders but was eventually crowded out. United manager Blackwell needed to make changes and in quick succession replaced Carney and Beattie, with Gillespie and Hulse respectively. The game seemed to be drifting away when suddenly on 69 minutes, United went ahead and it was finally a first goal for the popular, Billy Sharp.
Geary`s initial ball was blocked but the ball fell kindly to Cotterill whose cross to the far post was played with pace and accuracy. SHARP rose above Osbourne and despite appeals for a push by the defender it was the more diminutive United man who won the header and sent it past Marshall. The relief for the crowd and for the striker was clear all around the ground as he finally netted in a red and white shirt. His over exuberant celebration, where he took off his shirt and kicked an advertising board in a celebration reminiscent of Temuri Ketsbaia, earned him a booking from referee Kettle.
As the cross came over from the right, Sharp and Hughes clashed but as Sharp fell, it came as a surprise to all when referee Kettle pointed to the spot. Several Coventry players were incensed by the decision with being booked for his protestations. After several minutes delay which included Gary Speed taking the ball off the first intended spot kick taker Sharp, the penalty was eventually taken. SPEED hit his effort with power but it lacked direction and was straight at Marshall who parried the ball. Fortunately for Speed, the ball came straight back to him and he calmly slotted the ball home on the rebound. The goal gave United vital breathing distance and they should have sealed matters not long after as Sharp darted away from Ward and was in on goal but with only Marshall to beat his shot across the keeper went the wrong side of the post.
This was a very good opportunity spurned and would prove costly as it was not long before United`s fans were left sweating again. A long ball over the top saw Morgan and Mifsud clash but despite the ball getting goal side off the United defender the contact was minimal at best. As Mifsud fell to the ground theatrically, referee Kettle unbelievable blew for another penalty to the disbelief of the United captain and also to the bewildered crowd. It was a classic case of a referee evening up a highly questionable decision with one at the other end. WARD smashed the spot kick into the net and the game was back alive. However, it was United who had the next chance with Hulse suddenly in on goal but his touch in attempting to lob Marshall was wayward with the keeper in no mans land. Coventry were now playing a more direct game in an attempt to find the crucial leveller. Ugo Ehiogu came on in an attempt to solidify the defence and in attempt to neutralise the imposing Ward who was now playing up front as an extra striker. The referee added 5 minutes of stoppage time and in reality he actually played over 6 as United had to endure one or two more nervy moments with several free kicks and throw ins coming into the United box. In reality they did not really test Kenny and the final whistle eventually came.
Player Ratings
Kenny 7.5/10
Made a couple of routine, if decent saves but one tremendous save from the header on half time although the ultra critical may say he should have got the cross anyway before the header. Distribution was very poor with some shocking kicks and ridiculous throw outs but he has performed very well and made some crucial saves in recent games.
Geary 6.5/10
Did not get forward much but played Tabb fairly well and did his bit defensively. He did seem at full stretch a lot but I felt Cotterill did not exactly assist him in this area of play. I think he has actually had an average-poor few games recently but is still usually one of our better and more commited players which tells a tale about the other players as much as him.
Naysmith 6/10
Another strange showing. He actually put two or three really good balls in and made a couple of good blocks but overall he let his man have way too much space throughout and did not prevent crosses coming in. Also his clearance both with foot and head often lacked purchase and direction; played infield rather than out wide away from danger. At times you see elements of quality but all too often poor concentration and slack positional play lets him down.
Kilgallon 7/10
Did ok if nothing spectacular. Mifsud often drifted onto him and he had a fairly quiet game so in that respect he helped nullify the danger man, which was a positive. At times he was slow to react to certain situations and I felt he and Morgan has a poor start to proceedings but equally put in some good blocks too.
Morgan 7/10
Had a fair old battle with Best and did not have it his own way completely. Was very unlucky on the penalty which was a joke decision but had been lucky to get away with quite a few rash tackles or attempts before and even after this award.
Speed 5.5/10
Struggling to see how he has improved things. I thought he would get on the ball, a la McCall and slow the play down, play a sideways pass or a short ball to keep possession a la Cowans but in reality he has been anonymous. He offers the aerial flicks and sound cover, especially defensively but he has not been the influence we thought he would. He actually gave the ball away a lot tonight. Lucky with the penalty as it was a poor effort but I suppose he kept his cool to convert.
Tonge 7/10
Not a massive influence as our midfield got outplayed for long spells but he kept going throughout. Tried to get it down and play it when he had possession but did not impose himself nor get on the ball anywhere near enough. He put a lot of effort in tonight and competed for a lot of 50/50 or aerial challenges I would not normally expect him to contest let alone win.
Cotterill 4.5/10
No improvement on what we have at all. He did little all evening with the ball (save for the goal of course) and actually seemed to want to get rid of it when he did have it. Also what was embarrassing was the number of times he bottled challenges or moved away from possible contact. Once or twice maybe you would forgive but this happened on countless occasions. However, did put in a peach of a cross for the opening goal as he did Saturday so maybe I am being too harsh but his overall performance was very poor.
Carney 6/10
Yes, he did give the ball away and yes he shied contact a few times but he pit the best two balls out first half and also the best two crosses in. He does shy away from the physical stuff and is not interested in the defensive side of things but he does have decent technical ability and can play that occasional pass that can open things up. I felt he was harshly substituted when they were players playing worse.
Sharp 7.5/10
Worked hard as he has all season but at last looked a goal threat tonight with one effort cleared off the line, another disallowed and a great header from a very good cross to finally open his account. His work rate was very good as even after he had the first two unfortunate near misses, he kept going and kept closing defenders down. At times his touch and overall play on the ball is not good enough but if he can score goals then he will stay in the team.
Beattie 4/10
He was not in the game really and his overall effort and movement was lacking. I felt even when the ball came to him; he did not keep it and managed to turn balls to his feet into balls around his head by applying a poor first touch. He did not link well with Sharp in a partnership that on the whole has simply not worked due to no pace, power and movement. He went straight down the tunnel after being substituted and did not seem happy but out of the two up front he was the most ineffectual tonight so can have no real grumble about being taken off.
Gillespie
Came on and played wide left but did not really offer much. Stupidly centred the ball in stoppage time when he should have seen out time in the corner.
Hulse
He still looks off the pace and at times it all seems a bit of a struggle. In fairness he won more headers and held the ball up better than he has as substitute in previous games but when presented with half chances he was slow to react. His actual match sharpness is just not there as evidenced by the chance when he was one on one and ran it out with an appalling first touch.
Referee
Came on as he did Saturday for the final few minutes to help preserve the lead by playing as part of a back three when they threw Ward up front.
United
It was not great at all. We did not play much better than we have in the dire showings in the league at home in recent weeks. Yes, their was more fight, passion and commitment but even with these qualities we still lost too many loose balls, still had too many players who basically lost nearly all their 50/50`s, namely Naysmith and Carney, and perhaps most notably the desperately disappointing Beattie and Cotterill. Aside from the battling aspect of our play and the effort that many players like Sharp, Morgan and even Tonge put in, the football served up was once again abject. Coventry played lots of pockets of football, some nice triangles and created things. Yes, we won the game and yes arguably we took our chance (I say chance as the two barmy penalty award`s negated each other) but we could have so easily fell behind and been chasing the game. We reverted to the long ball too often; We showed no composure and calmness (class) to actually keep the ball. It was very much ‘hot potato` syndrome and you cannot blame the crowd who were very patient again tonight, despite the dross served up in front of their eyes yet again. Yes, on the face of it three points is the most important factor and we have now had 3 excellent results in 7 days. If asked to take 7 points I would have probably laughed so in this sense it is job done. We are nearer to safety and crucially despite other stragglers winning; we have maintained somewhat of a cushion. However, on other days we could have easily lost the last two games when we have had narrow wins and owe a lot to the likes of Paddy Kenny who has made some great saves to spare some dreadful play in front of him. Maybe I should just accept the win and be happy but honestly the level of performance and skill on display tonight was still wholly unacceptable. Hopefully, we will have enough to stay up and it remains to be seen if McCabe gives Blackwell another season (personally unless we see vast improvements till the end of the season, I would consider a different direction) Whatever does happen their needs to be an upheaval of the playing staff with numerous players being moved on. We need to bring in hungry, talented athletic players who have the mobility to get around the pitch aided and abetted by players with genuine quality and desire to get on the ball and keep it. We cannot watch a season of average-poor players who can`t quite hack it at this level mixed with players who possess ability but lack the drive and motivation to want to succeed again at the top level (or at least have not shown it with us).
Coventry
Despite their position and recent struggles, they were better than I thought they would be. They played some neat and tidy football and some clever passages of play. Maybe they did not actually hurt us in the last third that much but for an away side I felt they controlled long periods of the game and will feel very hard done by to be leaving without anything. They looked the more incisive and technically looked superior. They did not have much luck tonight and definitely deserved to take something from the game although their finishing was poor. However, after we scored their heads did visibly drop and they somewhat wilted. Even though the second goal was controversial, United did come at Coventry two or three times after we had opened the scoring and it showed how fragile their confidence is, in the same way we have struggled when conceding this season. They of course got back into it through a ridiculous decision but even after this they did not look like scoring again. I felt that if they had gone in front, it would have been United that would have suffered badly in terms of morale. It is easy to say this but the first goal was very important tonight. It could easily have come in the early stages and then after this they had large spells. When it did finally arrive it was unexpected in some ways as the game seemed to be petering out a little at this stage as their threat had dried up somewhat and we did not look like offering much.
In terms of individuals, the fair-haired lad Thornton in midfield was the best player on the pitch. I felt Best was hard working, won his fair share of headers and chased a lot of balls. Mifsud the man expected to poise the main threat was fairly quiet save for the penalty, which was a ridiculous decision. Ward at the back is truly a man mountain, both in height and physique but he could be turned easily as Sharp proved once or twice. A guy with any kind of pace would run him ragged I feel. They have invested in a lot of young players with the likes of Dann and Fox, who both came from Walsall I believe, promising players for the future but probably not for a relegation fight.
Referee
Trevor Kettle was simply appalling. He started the game ok but gradually he gradually lost control over the game. It started when he actually gave two free kicks to United around the edge of the Coventry box that were not fouls in my opinion. He then evened it up at the other end and this set the precedent for the rest of his performance. He then gave numerous mysterious fouls although not helped by two linesman that basically never gave a decision when they were closest to give fouls – bad tackle on Geary a classic example. Kettle then continued to baffle with odd decisions, often whistling for hardly any physical contact and then playing on for quite stern challenges. He was maddeningly inconsistent and then punctuated his showing by booking people for nothing (Hulse) and giving two ridiculous penalties. He actually booked 8 players and I can only remember one bad tackle all night, the one on Geary that escaped even the award of a free kick. In terms of the penalties, ours looked a joke and merely a coming together of players as the ball came across. Theirs was even more ridiculous as he clearly evened up his appalling decision minutes earlier. The Coventry players were actually laughing at his award for a spot kick to them. He then decided to play 6 and a half minutes and give them two or three free kicks to them for nothing. I actually thought at that point he would play until they scored and almost looked disappointed when he had no option but to blow for time when we finally cleared. In truth though he was terrible both ways and was rightly booed off by both sets of fans. The assessor`s marks have to be pretty damning. It was a joke performance. To quote Chris Coleman, ‘When you’ve got someone in charge like that it becomes a circus.` He has summed it up perfectly.