Match Reports

Hendo Off As Blades Lose

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Forest’s solid home form continued as they got their automatic promotion charge back on track after three successive away defeats.

The Blades named the same 18 for the first time this season, many fans would have been pleased to see the 4-4-2 formation away from home. Forest recalled Earnshaw and Blackstock up front.

United got off to the worst possible start, within four minutes Majewski’s corner found its way to Earnshaw who bundled the ball home from a yard out.

Forest began the game at a high tempo and as now seems to be the case with United, it took virtually the entire half to get into the game. Forest were getting the ball wide at every opportunity where Kallio and Geary were having to work hard, Geary getting a knock which forced him off after 40 minutes.

Throughout the first half United’s midfield looked off the pace, Williamson looked heavy legged and a shadow of the player who controlled the game last Saturday. United were not picking up second balls and giving away far too much possession. As a consequence the defence continuously hoiked long hopeful balls forward to relieve the pressure.

United made little impact throughout the half, only Mark Yates causing any problem for Forest for whom Cohen, Anderson and on loan Majewski – whose set piece delivery was excellent – were outstanding. Up front Henderson and Camara were getting little service, Henderson and Wilson were having a private scrap with alot of tugging and pulling and a couple of tasty tackles on each other.

The early goal and Forest’s dominance had silenced the Blades travelling fans to such an extent the it took twenty five minutes for the first half hearted chant of ‘scabs’.

Yates and Ward continued to swop wings, and it was Yates who went down in the area after bursting past three defenders, waved away by referee Miller.

In a rare attack, Nosworthy’s swinging cross eluded Geary at the far post and keeper Camp had to paw the ball out past his left post.

The second half was less than a minute old when for United fans it was deja vu Swansea last season, as Henderson was shown a straight red card. Few in the ground saw the incident which was later reported to be a elbow on Wilson. Billy Davies had a go at Henderson as he passed on the touch line and was in danger of inflaming the situation as Hendo replied with a few choice words.

Down to ten men, with a winger playing at full back, it looked like a damage limitation job from then on.

The sending off sparked a period of fiesty challenges and several bookings as United at last showed a bit of fight. Bunn pulled off a couple of good saves which kept United in the game before Yates tested Camp with a 20 yard strike.

Cresswell came on for the ineffectual Camara then Evans replaced a tired looking Williamson as United tried to find an equaliser. MOTM Bunn then pulled off a fine save from Tyson tipping is rising drive over. At the other end Ward was taking every opportunity to push forward down the right and curled in a cross which just eluded Cresswell and Camp, missing the far post by inches.

In the five minutes of added time, Quinn burst through but was stopped by a fine Perch tackle.
Glouc’s View
The only thing consistent about United is the inconsistency. You never know what is coming next. United are becoming a one half team. We were all praying for half time to come only one goal adrift because we know that the second half will be better – Until Hendo does something daft. Seven sendings off tells its own story and whilst there is little doubt that Billy Davies clearly targeted Henderson to be wound up by his team, Hendo really has to get his discipline sorted out and concentrate on attacking the ball not the defender.

United went to the long ball far too often, caused mainly by defenders under pressure as midfield failed to bring any kind of control to the middle of the park. The strikers received very little service and often had to come looking for the ball. Confidence will bring more ball on the floor but following the encouraging second half against Bristol City, United were back to square one last night.

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A quiet ten minutes now Blades, nothing silly!