United blew a two-goal lead in the first half on Saturday afternoon, and they only just rescued a point after falling behind early in the second half. The game was action-packed from start to finish.
My Player Ratings
Wes Foderingham: 1
Conceded three goals in back-to-back games now, not his fault for the goals we’re conceding, but, yesterday we continued to play short goal kicks which kept putting our defence under huge pressure. Foderingham should’ve realised this and kicked it long. He was involved in an incident after the game which saw him receive a red card. For an experienced player to even give the referee a chance to produce a red is poor.
John Egan: 3
It was unfortunate but he was at fault for the third goal. Needs to be better at commanding the box because, in recent games where we haven’t had Ahmedhodzic at the back, the back line looks fragile.
Rhys Norrington-Davies: 2
I think possibly his worst half of the season came in the first half yesterday. Prior to Blackpool’s first goal, he put the side under pressure by dribbling back towards his own net. On the ball, he constantly invited pressure onto the ball. He was at fault for the equaliser too. Two games in a row where he has failed to cut out the ball at the back post, and it resulted in a goal.
Chris Basham: 3
Started off very shaky. Error-prone. Won some battles against Madine but looked out of his depth at times when Yates ran at him. Moved to the left side when Ahmedhodzic came on and was better, but played most of that position when Blackpool had 9 men.
George Baldock: 4
Can’t think of anything he did wrong defensively. The solid work rate and energy as always. When he got into the final third, once again his delivery was atrocious. Doyle played him in behind the defence a couple of times and Baldock couldn’t even beat the first man with the cross.
Ben Osborn: 1
He didn’t look up to speed at all in this game. Very rusty touches and passes from Osborn. He was included at left-wingback to try to add balance to the backline, but I think he made the backline worse than in recent times. He was beaten in the air for the first goal too.
Ollie Norwood: 6
His passing was good, and even more so when United gained a 2-man advantage. He earned a late point for the Blades after firing home from the edge of the box in the 98th minute. Didn’t like how Blackpool easily broke past him several times yesterday.
Tommy Doyle: 7
Doyle has now become a dependable player for United, even when the team has been struggling in recent weeks, he has performed well. Set up the first goal with an excellently whipped cross. He was involved in the second goal too. Splits the lines with threaded balls and always demonstrates his vision and weight of pass in the final third.
James McAtee: 6
Bagged his first-ever senior goal yesterday. Had good bits of play when the ball was down the left. He was easily bypassed though whenever Blackpool broke.
Iliman Ndiaye: 7
Without Ndiaye, I think this team would struggle for creativity. Gets himself on the scoresheet for the first time in a few games. United was always depending on Ndiaye to drop deep and beat a couple of men to progress attacks. Losing him would destroy this team’s flow.
Billy Sharp: 4
Got an assist for the first goal when heading it back across to McAtee. Other than that, I genuinely can’t think of anything else Sharp did. His hold-up play should’ve been better. As the captain and an experienced striker, he should’ve told Foderingham in the first half to play long towards him from goal kicks to take the pressure off the back line.
Subs:
Brewster 5 (Sharp, 64)
McBurnie 7 (Osborn, 64)
Ahmedhodzic 6 (McAtee, 64)
Khadra 3 (Baldock, 84)