Sheffield United returned to the top of the SkyBet Championship last night following an impressive 4-0 victory at home to Reading.
A brace from Bosnian international defender Anel Ahmedhodzic, as well as a bullet header from Oli McBurnie for his second goal in as many games, and Illiman Ndiaye cool finish in front of the Kop end was enough to see out a comfortable victory for the Blades.
Regular VitalBlades Forum poster, deadbat, gives us a rundown of his player ratings.
Foderingham 7/10 – 7 might be too high but can’t mark him down as he had nothing to do! Took a few balls or crosses over but even those were not particularly in a crowd of bodies. A few shots went over the bar, but he had an easy night and a wonderful way to come back after his sickness bug!
Baldock 7.5/10 – Excellent effort all night where he was all action in terms of his work ethic and got up and down. A few of touches and crosses/passes but he does at times still take too long to make decisions, but he was a constant threat down that side. Did the defence work well too!
Lowe 8/10 – As above. He was good defensively making some good interceptions but also was able to get down the side well and his cross for the McBurnie goal was superb, driven the first time and into a great area. He put another in for Ndiaye too that should have been a better effort and then he continued the second half reading things well and always looking to get forward too. He set up the third with a run and pass too. Looks like a different player from the one I saw at the Lane a few seasons ago.
Ahmedhodzic 8/10 – Defensively fine as he stepped out and won the ball and carried it on several occasions. Got down the right quite a bit first half even a few things did not quite come off, he carried on bombing forward. He then scored a beauty of a volley second half and made several more runs and got into more great areas. He made a good tackle showing his defensive side too before heading in another! Seems to be attracted to the ball all over the field. Looks a splendid player who had a bit of everything and how we got him for such a fee and no one else signed him (higher up) I do not know.
Norrington Davies 8/10 – Continuing to get better game after game. He loves the scrap and won’t back down but his play on the ball has been improving as he looks composed and calm. He made a great interception to stop Joao, but he also just got into good areas and came across to block space. He had a few decent runs too in the attacking sense.
Egan 7/10 – Easy game in relative terms but he got there before Joao and then later Long and was on his guard for any long stuff over the top. Just was able to come onto the ball and helped us dictate from the back outwards. Did play one poor ball that they nearly got in and intercepted us. He was a bit lose in a spell for 10 mins.
Norwood 8/10 – Thought he continued his superb early season form and completely controlled the midfield from start to finish. He moved it around and at pace, but they did not get close to him as he was just the complete fulcrum for everything we did. He showed a superb range of passing and most good things came from him. Off target with a free kick but he has several great passes and assisted on the fourth but he it was more his complete control of the game. Made some good interceptions and helped us press and win the ball back too.
Doyle 8/10 – Impressive full home debut. Got up and down the field and was able to get into good areas. He participated in the first goal and had a few chances before that with him just getting into those areas off the front two. Busy and active and will tackle too. Great ball to Ndiaye too. He could have had a goal but hit one over, but he was never quiet and looked for the ball too. Quite mobile and can do a bit of everything. Really encouraging as he showed ability on the ball but got stuck in too and broke things up. Looked like a clever player who got in good positions to receive the ball.
Berge 7.5/10 – Just cruised the game. The mark may seem high but felt he was superb at just getting it and moving it. He was so fluent and knew when to take a touch or move it first time and/or when to switch play. Oozed class and then a few times he motored away from them and nearly made chances/goals. He set up the third goal and had a great run soon after and nearly set one up for Brewster. He had moments where he was quiet but when he needed to, he got on the ball.
Ndiaye 8/10 – Yes, he missed two good chances and maybe should score at least one – tried to be too precise on the first chance when Doyle played him in and then struck one too hard on the next chance. However, outside of this, his play was excellent and even when the ball came off him, he worked hard to get it back and his work rate is something else. Got some tap/hammer too when he ran with it but never let it deter him and continued to be an outlet and then of course scored a superb goal. This was another superb individual goal that was barely a half chance, but he worked space and hit a superb curling shot that went right in the side netting – quite similar to the Blackburn game. Love to watch him. Exciting. He dribbles, he runs, and he looks to be positive. Just the sort of player why you watch football.
McBurnie 8/10 – Another excellent showing full of work rate, skill and goal threat. The last few games are as consistent as he has been at the Lane in terms of a spell of games where he has done all the things. He started the game holding it up and holding men off but also came deep and was able to link and be almost another midfielder as he and Ndiaye both alternated in this role before the other went more advanced. He was tussling but in an effective way and then scored a brilliant header reminiscent of the one against Chelsea. It was not an easy one to convert but he did it superbly. He had another shot blocked and continued to work tirelessly and then helped win the corner that led to the second. Continued to fight and scrap but also use the ball well. When he plays like he has the last few games, he looks like the player we courted that summer and paid a lot of money for. Needs a run of games now but defences will not want to face him and Ndiaye on the form they are showing it is as much about work rate and off-the-ball stuff as scoring for me. The goals will come if they do the other more unfashionable stuff.
Substitutes
Khadra 6.5/10 – Chased defenders down and had a few bits and pieces but the game was won, and he did not see that much of the ball. A few flicks did not work and then he had to chase back and win the ball back! Great lad to come off the bench though.
Brewster 6.5/10 – Came on and got into some good areas but it did not quite sit a few times and he needs to do better when that Berge chance fell to him instead of trying to flick it in. He did help us to keep pressing towards the end.
McAtee – Did well albeit in limited time after his struggles at Luton. Got on the ball and moved it well and put in a great cross for Basham. One other poor corner again but overall, he was involved and looked confident – great game for him to come back into for a period with the game won and a chance to regain some confidence. The crowd gave him a nice hand before the corners he took.
Basham – What a sub to come on. Has ended up replacing Baldock and just being a runner down the right but if his job was to come on and help us be solid, he has not followed the script but that’s Bash – just running down the wing and being a nuisance. He nearly scored with a downward header and showed his usual all-action style! Less said about his throw though.
Manager
Manager: Heckingbottom 9/10 – Changed the team but the two changes worked with Ahmedhodzic scoring two and Doyle impressing. The team were at it from the start and after last season when Ince seemed to outcoach him as they swarmed midfield and made it hard with the pacy front lads getting in, we never gave them a moment. We played high up and ensured Norwood could dominate the ball The work ethic of the side was superb and then allowed the talent to take over. We absolutely dominated a side that was high flying and had 57% possession (seemed much more) and 18 shots (7 on target) to their 5 (0 on target). It was a real statement win and the work rate was complimented by some superb and slick football which led to some great moves, chances and more superb goals. It was brilliant to watch. Fair play to him as he has got us sharp and ready seemingly for the season after we looked so far off it to start the last campaign. His next step is to improve the away form of course.
Reading
Reading – Whilst Paul Ince was an odd appointment last season, he kept them up and deservedly got a new deal. He seemed to have been out of the game for so long but credit to him for the job he did, and he has continued this under difficult circumstances where financial problems continue to beset them. I did not see them going down as many did as if you took off the points deduction, they would have been comfortable last season and even though they lost a few players including their star man, Swift, I still felt they had enough and particularly goals at the top of the field to not be in any distress this year. I did not (and still do not) see them as being anywhere near the top 6 but the start they have had means it will be a season of at worst just below mid-table and possibly higher.
Joao of course always does well against us but they have other decent players at this level and whilst the squad lacks maybe depth, they do have plenty there to be ok and will be competitive in most games. I was surprised they got hammered at Rotherham but that seems to be an aberration in a season so far of great success. I did think that they were punching a bit higher than they may end up as I have said but did not want to say too much before the game but like Blackburn, they came here and were hammered really. They lost 4-0 and it could have been more. Not sure they had a shot of note and other than a few small spells in either half where they had a few ok moves and got into the game a bit, they were second best individually and collectively. They had won well at the Lane last season by attacking us but tonight never hurt us and were just dealing with wave after wave of United attacks. It was incessant and seemed a matter of time when we scored. They were lucky to only go in a goal behind. They put an extra midfielder on as realised Ndiaye and McBurnie were coming off and we had men all over and they had surplus defenders but the second goal so quick killed it. After this, it was a matter of how many and in the end, we made changes after the third and maybe let them off the hook a bit as it could have gone on to be even more.