The Blades got their season up and running with a regulation home victory against Millwall at Bramall Lane. The Lions, in recent years, have been somewhat of a bogey side for United but today the home side was quick out of the blocks and dominated the first half going in two goals to the good thanks to goals from the game’s two outstanding players Iliman Ndiaye and Sander Berge. Indeed, the Blades could have put the game away, but Ollie Norwood missed a penalty just before half time after Rhian Brewster had been clumsily upended. The second half was somewhat of an anti-climax as United managed the game out effectively without having to really exert too much energy. The visitors improved but never really threatened Wes Foderingham’s goal and in the end the home side eased to a rather comfortable three points.
Manager Heckingbottom made a few changes to his lineup with Enda Stevens out injured and brought in Anel Ahmedhodzic for his United debut with a more familiar-looking back line after the enforced shuffling on Monday night. Rhian Brewster was deemed fit enough to start and replaced Daniel Jebbison at the top of the field. New signings Khadra and McAtee were both on the bench along with club captain Billy Sharp.
Millwall was without the suspended George Honeyman but fielded two Leeds loanees Charlie Creswell, the hero of last week, and Jamie Shackleton. Blades’ nemesis Jake Cooper also took his place in the Millwall backline. Former United keeper George Long was on the bench but there was no place for another ex-Blade, Ryan Leonard or forwards Zian Flemming and Tom Bradshaw, due to injuries.
Sheffield United 2-0 Millwall
Saturday, 6th August 2022
Kick-Off: 3:00 PM
Report by deadbat
In bright sunshine, United kicked away from their supporters in the first half, with a number wearing the new home strip that of course the side wore for the first time at Bramall Lane. The home side began well and were dominating the ball and moving it at a far quicker tempo than the previous game at Vicarage Road. Fleck and Norwood were busy and, on the ball, and Ndiaye was coming off deep into dangerous pockets. Norwood tried an audacious lob that nearly caught Bialkowski
Millwall were struggling to get out and it was no real surprise when the opener came although how it came about was not quite in keeping with the crisp, passing movement that had been the feature of United’s excellent start. Foderingham provided the assist with the big kick forward and as Brewster eased Cooper out of it, the ball ran onto NDIAYE who brushed off Wallace and fired emphatically past Bialkowski for a beautifully finished goal. Millwall wanted a foul for the challenge from Brewster and replays suggested they may have had a case although the defending after this was poor.
United continued to dominate. Newcomer Ahmedhodzic was impressing as he came out of defence with real comfort and one marauding run had the Lane on their feet. Another run then saw him go right into the box before Ndiaye took over, and beat his man but then the last gasp challenge from McNamara denied him a second goal. United then had two efforts in quick succession from defenders with Baldock having an effort saved and then Ahmedhodzic having his effort knocked away from Bialkowski before he smashed his rebound over after the ball came back to him.
It was not long before the second goal came though and this time it was a defensive error. The architect of the goal was from a Millwall free kick, and it was United this time that turned defence into attack as cleared the ball and then saw a mistake they ruthlessly exposed. Cresswell made a hash of his clearance and had to chase his own errant pass, but Fleck was first to it. The midfielder threaded the ball through to BERGE who rounded the keeper and coolly rolled it into the net despite McNamara trying to get back onto the line.
United had been excellent and 2-0 certainly did not flatter them. Ndiaye was a constant threat with his control, movement and intelligence and Cooper, Wallace and Cresswell were really struggling to pick him up or know how to deal with his clever play. Fleck had an effort over the bar as it continued to be one-way traffic and Millwall had only offered a token threat from Mitchell’s long throws but they had not really had any moves of note and were cheaply giving the ball away under waves of United pressure.
Just before the break, the Blades could have put the game away as the ball was moved across the field with neat football and Brewster turned inside and wriggled his way from a few defenders before Cooper clumsily tripped him up. It was as obvious a penalty as you could wish to see and there were no grumbles from a dispirited-looking set of Millwall players. Norwood took it but as with his last kick in the playoffs at the City Ground, her rather telegraphed the kick sending it into the same area and height he normally chooses and Bialkowski sprang to his right to make a good save but one where if he guessed correctly, then he would always have a chance of executing. It was not long before the halftime whistle and this moment was the only real disappointment of a dominant first-half showing from Heckingbottom’s Blades who looked a much different side from the limp effort they gave forth at Watford in the week.
The second half you would expect Millwall to improve and they did and forced a number of set plays and forced United back who were clearly defending deeper to begin with. The away side had much more of the ball than the first half but did not create anything clear-cut despite their improvements. United seemed content to soak up the play and any pressure to begin the half did not lead to any concerns. Ahmedhodzic used his telescopic legs to make one crucial tackle and the much-improved Clark also made a good interception. Ndiaye shot wide after Berge’s clever play set him up in a rare break for the home team who had set up deeper in this half.
Foderingham saved a header that flicked towards goal on a deflection and Baldock had to head behind after Malone cut inside. There were several corners and throws but United was solid in how they defended these. As an attacking threat, the Blades did not offer as much going the other way, but Norwood did sting the palms of Bialkowski and Ahmedhodzic stepped out before curling a left-footed effort well off target. Berge was still showing his class with a few gliding runs that saw United get up the field and stopped any momentum building from Millwall. Ndiaye went down with cramp and he came off soon after, along with Brewster, with Sharp and Jebbison coming on.
The game seemed to be drifting to a comfortable conclusion for the home side as Millwall seemed to have run out of ideas with a Savile shot blocked and then Ahmedhodzic making another good tackle to deny Afobe.
Osborn came on for Fleck to give United some more legs in the midfield and Burey and Olaofe came on for Bennett and Savile as Rowett surprisingly did not make his first change/s until the game only had 10 minutes remaining. Jebbison went for goal after Ahmedhozic made the chance and wanted the return ball, but the striker went on his own but pulled his shot wide. Sharp then made space and sent over a cross for the smallest man on the field Osborn to head over. Clark also fired over after more clever work from Berge. United had not had any clear chances but then neither had Millwall and the game petered towards its conclusion. There were five minutes of additional time but a flare-up between Norrington Davies and McNamara was the only real moment of note in this period before the full-time whistle.