Deadbat’s report of Saturday’s 1-1 draw at QPR, our 6th draw in a row in all competitions
Kevin Blackwell`s first league game in charge of Sheffield United saw them earn a late, albeit deserved draw in what ultimately was a very poor game of football between two sides badly lacking in confidence. It was a scrappy performance and neither side could state the case that they should have won the game with QPR having the better of the first half and United controlling matters in the second half. The game was a drab affair, which belied the fact that both sides boasted relatively expensive squads at this level but showed why they are nearer to the bottom than the top of the table. United will point to the fact that they have now gone unbeaten in seven games since the defeat at Hillsborough but 6 straight draws has now left them looking down rather than up with any challenge for a play off spot now looking a forlorn hope. United will hope they can claim a victory soon to relieve the pressure in what is increasingly looking like a relegation battle. United looked a poor side devoid of ideas for large periods in West London but were up against an equally unambitious side and did enough to get back into the game. It was unfortunate that the equaliser did not come earlier as the Blades looked the likeliest side to go on and claim the victory after skipper Chris Morgan`s leveller.
United made only one change, an enforced one, from last week`s draw with Middlesbrough as they brought in Chris Armstrong for the injured Lee Martin. QPR started with youngster Angelo Balanta up front but were without key man Akos Buzsaky who was missing through suspension. Ex Blade Mikele Leigertwood started in central midfield for the R`s.
United began the game on the attack and Tonge had an early shot that was well over after the ball bobbled away from him at the crucial moment. QPR then forced United back and won a series of corners and throw’s deep in United territory. Leigertwood header was tame though from Delaney`s delivery. Vine then had a powerful run before shooting over the bar. Hogan Ephraim was providing the main threat for the home side and causing real problems for United full back Gary Naysmith. It was Ephraim who provided the opening goal on twenty minutes as after a neat build up, as he teased Naysmith down the right hand side and then delivered the cross from which BALANTA flicked home past the stationary Kenny from just outside the six-yard box. It was no more than QPR deserved as they controlled most of the game up to this point. They continued to test the visitors with Rowlands influential in the centre of the field. A rare chance for United saw a scramble in the box but Beattie could not convert. Rangers were back in the attack and finished the half the stronger, and Ephraim nearly doubled the lead only to fire wide from the edge of the penalty area when well placed. The half time whistle came not long after this chance and gave United a chance to regroup under the new stewardship of messrs Blackwell and Ellis.
Balanta had an early chance in the second period, only to see his shot saved by Kenny, before Tonge shot wide for the visitors. United were gradually coming into the game with Quinn and Tonge more involved in general play. United forced a number of corners but could not test keeper Camp, whose most serious action was when he had to flip away a cross from the waiting Beattie. The game was becoming even scrappier and United needed to change things, which they duly did with the disappointing Sharp going off to be replaced by Cotterill. Hall did well to deny Stead who was now operating in a more central role but United needed Kilgallon to be on his toes to deny Vine a shooting chance. United made their final moves with just under a quarter of an hour to play as Beattie and Stead were replaced by Hulse and Shelton respectively. The visitors equalised within 60 seconds of these changes through the unlikely source of the right boot of captain, Chris Morgan. Kenny`s long kick into the box was not cleared properly and MORGAN turned and fired a real daisy cutter through a crowd of bodies. With keeper Camp possibly unsighted it nestled into his right hand corner of the goal. United now sensed they could go on and win the game but once again needed Kilgallon to be alert to make another key interception. United came again with Shelton and Cotterill combining well and forcing the home side back. However, United had to be wary on the break and Vine was fouled by Geary in dangerous territory leading to a booking for the full back. Ephraim floated in the resulting free kick, but Kenny caught the cross. United then went back on the attack and were not settling for the point but could not muster another shot on target. United forced two late corners in stoppage time but could not find the winning goal and both sides had to settle for a share of the spoils as referee Bennett blew for full time.
Player Ratings
Kenny 7/10
Did not have much to do aside from picking the ball out of the net, which he had no chance with. He did not have a real save of note to make all game. He did everything else adequately in terms of handling, cross taking, distribution.
Geary 6/10
In general play he did alright and tried to get forward when he could but often had to revert to staying in his defensive role. He commited a bad late foul that led to a yellow card and then made silly tackle not long just before the end and could easily have been sent off. He also gave away a few daft free kicks late in the game that could have led to a goal but also stopped our momentum when we were looking the side most likely to win at that stage.
Naysmith 4/10
Our weakness all afternoon that QPR badly exploited in the first half. He gave his winger way too much time and stood off. His main aim as a full back should be to stop the cross and stop the supply line. He did not do this and finally they scored from one such occurrence of his poor defending. His actual distribution and touch is appalling for an International player.
Kilgallon 8/10
Man of the match easily. There should not be a question of him being out of the team again this season. He played with intelligence and passion. He tackled well, making several good interceptions and used the ball well when in possession.
Morgan 7.5/10
Solid enough despite allowing his man too much space when they scored. His equaliser may not have been a pile driver but was well placed and rescued us a point. He has led the team well in recent weeks and his performances have improved.
Tonge 7/10
Quiet for the first half but actually got stronger as the game went on and was our best passer of the ball. Had a few wayward shots but at least he had a go at goal which was more than our strikers did all day. Did not hide today and tried to help us turn things around but must be like this from the start not just when we are trying to salvage games. Has looked an improved player in the 2 games since Blackwell came back though.
S. Quinn 7/10
Quinny has played fairly well since being picked in the centre of midfield. I felt he and Tonge let the QPR midfield have too much of the ball and also did not do enough with it when in possession in the first half. After half time they did much better. They pressed and closed down and got the ball wide especially when Cotterill came on.
Armstrong 5.5/10
Quiet game and only started to get involved in the last 20 minutes when we had our best spell. He did not really help Naysmith as much as I would have thought and this left him exposed, as poor as the left back was. Armstrong will never be more than a squad player at Championship level in my opinion but at the moment he probably has to start at left back due to Naysmith`s performances.
Stead 5.5/10
Poor game. He has played right side for the last two games which is what many fans, including myself have wanted (him in a wide role even if he is not going to be picked up front). However, it has not really worked. He tried hard but did not get on the ball and without any real service offered no real threat.
Sharp 5/10
Just not happening for him. My comments seem to be repetitive every week for him. Tries hard, covers a lot of ground but rarely touches the ball, let alone have any chances on goal. He is so slow it is untrue, as numerous lumbering centre backs this season have proved by out chasing him to loose balls. I have never seen a striker play so many games and have so few touches or chances. Maybe it is the service but the guy looks badly out of his depth. I think Blackwell may persist with him but think it will not be long before he is back out of the team. He needs a spell on loan somewhere but the trouble is we cannot loan him to a fellow Championship relegation rival (only teams at this level who may be interested) and loaning him to a league one side is pointless as it does not show if he can do it at this higher level which at the moment looks highly unlikely. I really hope he proves me wrong and starts banging them in but I cannot see it happening.
Beattie 4.5/10
He has been very poor since his return to the side. He looks disinterested and just limbered through the game barely breaking into a sprint all afternoon. He won a few flick on headers but that was about it. He may have shook his head when he was taken off but it should have happened a lot earlier. If he does not start applying himself then Blackwell should drop him. I cannot see him being at the club in the summer and his body language at the moment suggests he wants to be back in the Premiership. Trouble is his recent performances will not have endeared him to any potential suitors.
Cotterill
Cotterill – Replaced Sharp and this saw him play down the right with Stead going up top briefly until replaced. He looked fairly lively and we did have quite a few attacks down his side. He at least pressurised the full back and got him going backwards. He did make a genuine difference and should be starting the game next week.
Hulse
Came on and put himself about but still looks badly off the pace. May be used as a substitute until the end of the season and hopefully he will then get a proper pre season behind him. One thing is for sure, no Premiership clubs will be looking at him any more as he looks a markedly inferior to the one we saw last season, whether it is his lack of fitness, sharpness, confidence or just form.
Crowd
Looked a threat with his pace alone and worried the QPR defence even if not actually having much possession of the ball. The defenders when faced with him chasing them down often just kicked it out leading to more United pressure. Should have come on a lot earlier.
QPR
Looked a very poor side but of course so did United. They did better than us in the first half and deserved to be winning but they hardly ripped us to pieces and I cannot remember another save Kenny had to make all day. They did play a few pockets of today football and the goal they scored, although easily avoidable, was a good one. However, they never totally convinced and looked as low in confidence as us and just defended deeper and deeper in the second half. You could tell we would finally create something and maybe even score as they just tried to hang onto what they had. They have a few lively performers in the attacking third like Ephraim, Agyemang and Vine but they are bereft of overall quality, especially today with Buzaky missing. I was also pleased Mahon was not in the line up as he always seems to do well against United. Despite the money they have spent they seem no closer to promotion than before although will stay up. They need to sign several more players and replace weak links like the keeper Camp who was very slow down to the goal and at fault I felt.
United
Not a very good performance at all. A draw is not a disaster and we did show a bit more fight than we have in previous games but in truth it was no better than what we have seen all season. I did not detect any real pattern of play nor any real purpose to United`s game. We tossed away possession time and time again and until the closing stages of the game we created nothing of note. The lack of pace throughout the team is frightening and is one of the slowest United teams I have ever seen. However, fair play we kept going and plugging away and finally got level. If the game had gone on another 10 minutes, Blackwell is right we probably would have won as we controlled the game for the last 20 minutes or so. We finally looked like getting behind them with the pace of Shelton and Cotterill. Prior to this the one paced (slow) Beattie and Sharp did nothing and barely had a kick. We also did not get the ball down the flanks. The changes definitely helped us, especially Cotterill. We need to start creating more chances in game if we are going to score more goals. It is good that we have stopped conceding goals but at the other end we are creating very little. The work rate of the strikers has to be better and they have to chase more lost causes and pressurise defenders more. The QPR back line had way too much time on the ball today or time to clear. It may sound controversial but amidst all the talk over our quality and depth of strikers, I feel none of them are currently playing anywhere near a high level. Beattie and Hulse look unfit and disinterested. Sharp looks out of his depth and Shelton is erratic in his form. Strangely enough even though Shelton is wildly inconsistent I would probably play him as his pace worries teams and he could cause problems to a pedestrian Middlesbrough back line. The striker who has probably done the best out of all of them, Stead, is rarely in the team and when he is, he is now having to play wide to accommodate our other strikers, who are actually inferior to him. Stead and Shelton did really well against Man City, so why not go back to that combination? Reputations or transfer fees should not come into it.
Crowd
Despite the close proximity of the stands to the playing area that normally makes for such a cracking atmosphere at Loftus Road, the ground was as quiet as it has ever been for a game I have seen there. The home fans made no noise aside from a brief spell after the goal and the away fans were equally quiet save for their own salvo after their own particular goal. United filled a lot of the upper tier and also had a sprinkling of fans in the lower tier. It was a decent following but not as many as previous games there I have seen with United. I actually like going to Loftus Road. Their fans are a fairly friendly lot, the Springbok pub is next to the ground and tends to be always full of Blades, as it was again yesterday and it is easy to get to/away from, as evidenced yesterday when we were back in central London, Oxford Circus/Soho before half five.