Despite making 10 changes, the Blades survived a lacklustre first half with a much improved second half showing. Jamie Murphy’s strike gave them the lead and after a late penalty scare, united broke out to score again at the death with Murphy again the scoring with a fine individual finish.
The game was delayed 15 minutes due to issues in the ticket office but as many home fans entered the ground they would have been shocked at the amount of changes Clough had made. Certainly a reshuffle was expected but such wholesale changes did raise a few eyebrows against the top of the league.
In came Ian Turner in goal, second time debuts for Kieron Freeman and John Brayford and a return for Terry Kennedy. Chris Basham was the lone survivor from the week in the back five. In midfield Louis Reed started as did Kieron Wallace and another debutant Paul Coutts. Che Adams and Ben Davies were on the flanks with Michael Higdon the lone striker. United had a strong bench with Michael Doyle, Stefan Scougall, Marc McNulty, Jose Baxter, Craig Alcock and George Long. There was no place in the 16 for new signing Jason Holt, Jamal Campbell Ryce, Ryan Flynn or keeper Mark Howard (due to family bereavement).
Brayford was made captain on his return and after a minute’s applause for the late Ken Furphy, the game began with the visitors the better to settle. Thompson and Byrne linked well and then Branco nearly found an opening. Kennedy was booked for a foul on Williams. This was the sign for a number of bookings including Higdon who was penalised several times in the opening period of the game. The game was bitty but Swindon were the side who looked most likely with more neat football nearly leading to a chance for Williams but Kennedy blocked well.
The first significant chance came when Toffolo curled a free kick wide but then Swift’s shot was saved well by Turner. The Robins had a great chance when smart play down the right saw the ball into the box and Swift completely miskicked in front of goal. Branco then headed over. It had been a struggle for United but Adams threatened to awake them from their slumber as he jinked inside, nutmegging a defender before curling wide of Foderingham’s goal.
Toffolo then had a shot that clipped the bar after a scramble in the United box. Byrne then got away from Freeman and his cross was cleared. United had struggled and Higdon’s fortunes was symbolic of this as a combination of slow play and also frustrating refereeing decisions; meant he was sacrificed just before the break. In truth fair or not, he may have been sent off if he had not been taken off. One clear dive just before was disappointing from the league leaders as they attempted to get the big striker sent off surrounding Coote.
Murphy was brought on just before the break and soon after Brayford’s cross was handled but adjudged to be outside rather than inside the box despite strong appeals. Soon after despite United being second best they nearly took the lead as after Reed was caught high and late, Davies took the free kick and hit the post. From the rebound Kennedy could not convert and Swindon got it away eventually.
The second half saw United fortunate to start as a good chance for Williams was well saved from Turner and then another chance was blocked by Kennedy. United then forced their way out with neat play from Reed leading to a half chance for Murphy. Wallace was withdrawn for Scougall who was instantly in the action and Brayford then had his first gallop of the game surging down the right wing before he chose sadly to pull back rather than shoot when well positioned.
United were now playing at a better tempo and after good work from Freeman and Adams, Murphy’s shot was saved well by Foderingham. Adams was getting more involved and one surging run saw him cynically chopped down as he attacked the last third. The offender Thompson could have walked but escaped with a booking. Scougall then took on Branco but the challenge was adjudged to have been fair in the box. United’s play was far better now and they were the side in the ascendancy. They got the all important break through with just under 15 minutes to go.
A quick throw saw Reed find space and he advanced before putting a lovely through ball into the path of MURPHY who was in on goal. He took it early perhaps surprising Foderingham and the power beat the keeper.
Buoyed by the goal United had a further decent spell but failed to create another chance and slowly they began to retreat and the defence was sitting further back. Still Swindon struggled to penetrate like they had in the first half and for the opening 5 minutes of the second half and a long range daisy cutter from Thompson was the closest they got.
United brought on Baxter for Coutts and Scougall then made a great tackles in the box after Swindon threatened to break. The game entered the final five minutes of stoppage time and united now were penned in as the visitors tried to salvage a point. They had a good appeal for a spot kick when Reed came across Turnbull but as the appeals were waved away, United broke. Kennedy released MURPHY who ran from his own half, so could not be offside, he was in on goal but had to run the whole half. He had an age to decide what to do but did not let this worry him as he superbly dinked the ball over the keeper and into the far corner to seal all three points. It was a great way to celebrate his contract extension as the team celebrated the clincher by the Kop.
United – For so many changes and such a reshuffle, it was a big win today. Swindon had the best of the first half and missed a few chances and there were a few let offs for United who were slow and looked like they did not know one another (they didn’t in many cases!). They looked better on the ball and were more purposeful. I also felt we were 10 yards off them even in the last third and as I say if they had taken a couple of decent chances it could have been a different game. We were slow all over and with Higdon having a bit of a nightmare allied to a poor refereeing performance; it never got going for United. For all that we had a free kick right on the edge for a hand ball that could have been inside and was borderline. Then we had a Davies effort that hit the post and was then scrambled clear. This was as good an opportunity and effort as anything they had. Still it had been a scrappy game and stop start with the referee simply startling. When Higdon went off (before he was sent off) Murphy came on and second half we improved in all areas. They still had a few early chances which Turner did well to save but after this initial 5 minutes I felt we were the better side in the second half.
Reed got on the ball and we started to win more of the loose stuff and knock it about better on the floor instead of aimless high stuff. Murphy was always a threat and for 15-20 minutes we then had complete control. We moved it around with purpose and had chances of our own. Scougall came on and was able to make a difference and we started to run at them and create things.
The first goal was well made and taken but then after this we started to sit back and hold on instead of going for more. This meant we sat in and at times just tried to hang on to what we had. However, I cannot recall that many chances they had despite us sitting back. Thompson’s low shot was not far off but then I felt they had a really good shout for a spot kick at the end when Reed seemed to have baulked their attacker. We broke and scored the clincher after this.
Overall we were not scintillating but after a poor-ish first half we got much better and upped the tempo after the break. We played with more pace and movement and the midfield improved. We scored a decent goal and then threw bodies in the way and defended solidly before breaking to seal it. It does prove how we have wasted and tossed away so many games this season as against the top of the league we certainly were as good over the course of the game and with making so many changes.
It was good we could win and stay around and in the top 6 as a defeat and we would have been in the bottom half. It shows how we have to keep picking up points. We have more depth now and good to see some of the young talent in Reed and Adams doing well again but we do need at least 1 possibly 2 strikers before the end of Monday. Higdon’s performance was pathetic. He seems to make one step forward (Weds’ impact game) and then two back. In reality he is just not good enough and like Porter, McGinn and probably Collins soon; then we probably should move him on. However we need that impact striker (or two) to do that. Worrying that Clough has taken so long to act and that he seemed to have put all his eggs in one basket (O’Grady – he won’t be coming now). Doyle scored again but unsure whether I would spend so much money on him really (have a feeling he may be a flash in the pan type) but we need to get one proper target man and someone with some pace too.
Overall though it has been a good week with the newcomers punctuated by Brayford’s signing, a decent draw at Preston and then a gutsy effort Weds. Today we then beat the top of the league and showed the squad has some depth too. I felt many of those that came in did well and showed they can be factors between now and the end of the season.
Swindon – I felt they were decent in possession first half and moved it about well. They missed one good chance after one move down the right when the striker really should have buried it. They then had a few other efforts and one scramble that somehow stayed out. They were bright and purposeful and showed in likes of Thompson and Byrne they have some really good footballers. Toffolo and Branco also were impressive on the ball. They were missing Luongo aswell one of their most influential players this season. They will have felt they were in control of possession and overall threat despite the late let off from the free kick.
Second half they were not the same side. United pressed them more and after they missed another decent early chance, they actually started to lose the midfield and struggled with some decent movement from United. Murphy and Adams caused them problems and they lost the battle for a big period of second half. They got opened up a few times and we scored the goal. After this they had a lot more of the ball but did not do that much against an organised United defence. They had a good shout for a penalty but Mark Cooper ought to remember we had a good shout (handball) in the first half that was given outside the box too. They then got done on the break right at the end as United sealed the game.
I was disappointed by some of the playacting and surrounding the ref to get Higdon sent off. Thought a top of the table side would be better than that.
For a top of the table side they knocked it about and played some pretty football but I also felt for a side that has scored a lot of goals and hammered us at their place, that they looked a bit powder puff up the top too today. The lad Smith who caused us so many problems at the County Ground was left out only coming on towards the end which was a relief. Today in terms of finishing and penetration when they got in good areas seems a one off looking at results over the season, but I did not see a side that before today looked 18 points better. You could say same about MK (beat us narrowly twice) and even Bristol but the fact is all these sides have been much more consistent than us and deserved to be competing for the automatic places that are almost certainly beyond us.
They, like us, have a lot of young players and some real talent but I do have a nagging doubt they might be the ones to dip out between them MK and Bristol City. Like Preston, they are another side we may see again somewhere down the line.
Turner 8/10 – Thought he did really well. A surprise start but his handling was good and he made 2 or 3 smart saves. Only one error when he half missed one cross but other than that faultless performance and as I say some decent stops when it was still at 0-0. Not sure where his performance leaves Long in the long term as he now is clearly 3rd choice
Brayford 7/10 – Steady if not spectacular start. Defensively he got caught out a few times first half but got better in this regard after the break. He did not get forward too much other than one run that nearly led to a penalty in the first half (handball) and then a gut busting run where he oddly tried to play it back rather than shooting when he was nearly in on goal in the second half. Great to have him back and sure when he had Flynn/Campbell Ryce in tandem he can be even more of a threat. Today he had Davies which meant he could not maybe link/overlap as much.
Freeman 6.5/10 – Thought he started the game very slow but got stronger as the game went on. First half he was poor and they played on him down that side. He looked a weak link. Second half he was much better. He made some good interceptions, tackles and interceptions. At times his touch is mixed but he did ok. Not someone I think will be first touch but a useful squad player to have about.
Basham 7.5/10 – Another solid defensive showing where he headed and cleared away. Becoming one of our more consistent players this season after a poor start in midfield. Reads game well and despite having so many different partners he has shown he can adapt his game.
Kennedy 8/10 – Got an early booking which was a touch soft but did not let that put him off and gave another brave and determined showing. Never seems too let us down and deserves another contract. He is another that won’t be a regular I feel but really useful man to have around. He gets in great blocks/tackles and puts his body on the line. Also made the second with a really good threaded through ball! After getting booked did well to continue to be so committed.
Reed 8/10 – Started the game a little slowly as Swindon controlled the midfield area. He like many of the others was off the pace but he got better and improved as the game went on and I felt second half he was one of the outstanding players on the field. He won the ball and then played it on. Knocked some good balls both short and long and of course made the first goal with a nice ball to Murphy. A player that has so much potential but even now looks comfortable as a professional at 17.
Wallace 5/10 – He was relatively quiet for me. Not sure I can recall him getting on the ball much and I felt the game passed him by for long periods. He was unable to get close to a few of the Swindon players first half as they controlled it. Kept going but not surprised he came off as he was not affecting the game either way really from a defensive or attacking sense.
Coutts 6/10 – Looks a bit like James Wallace in build (maybe a bit slighter and taller) and today he showed some bits and pieces of decent play but another where he did not really influence the game as much as he liked. First half it was tough against good movement and confident opponents but he did keep going and had a good spell second half where he won some tackles and played a few simple but effective balls. He came off towards the end for Baxter. Needs more games.
Davies 5/10 – A quiet game for Davies. Hit the post with a free kick and put a few fierce balls across the box but it was hard for him on the wing/right side and was another who first half was chasing players rather than getting on the ball. Improved second half and kept his shape and allowed some of others to get into gaps. He did the defensive side well helping cover for players who went forward.
Adams 7.5/10 – Some flashes in the game such as the turn and shot that went just wide from outside the box and then another good run second half. Couple of times was on his heels and left Freeman a bit exposed but he will learn. Has some pace and clearly a football brain. A few of his runs left defenders in his wake and Thompson was maybe fortunate to stay on for a cynical lunge as he sprinted clear. A player that is another who has real potential. Will not be a regular yet will get time with so many games between now and the end of the season (many weeks we have Saturday-midweek too.
Higdon 2/10 – What can I say? Yes some of the decisions against him was poor and they did try and get him sent off so maybe some sympathy but overall he was slow, clumsy, cynical and can’t recall anything positive he did much of the game. He was taken off before he was sent off (ref may have been a big factor as was there gamesmanship but he did not help himself either). A player that simply has not done it at the Lane so far.
Subs –
Murphy 8/10 – Came on for Higdon and helped change the game. Has everything Higdon does not in terms of pace, movement, trickery and football brain. Gave defenders a torrid time with his running and actually looked a real threat down the middle. Scored two well taken goals with the second a delightfully calm finish considering all the time he had.
Scougall - He helped make a difference as he put in a lot of effort and helped us close Swindon down and recycle the ball a lot more. He had a few decent runs and pressed well. I do feel the role he had today as a sub who comes on and shows energy is one he may be better equipped for than starting. At times still showed how painfully weak he is in the challenge but also showed how much ground he can cover too. One great tackle at the end in our box summed up his fitness.
Baxter – Brought on for the final 10 minutes. Played central midfield. Gave away one silly ball that set them on the attack and then played one decent ball the other way.
Manager rating:
Clough 7.5/10 – Well he changed 10 players and we beat the top of the league. He also wisely took off Higdon and brought on Murphy and the substitute scored two goals. Overall everything pretty much worked for him in the end but could also say he got away with it as if they had taken a few of their first half chances he could have been left with egg on his face. I felt 10 changes was too much. However he proved us all wrong with the result and 2nd half performance.
Will be pleased to get 3 new signings in and also that some of the squad players (Turner, Kennedy and Davies) also were all solid. He needs to work overtime to get that striker in that we need now. Today showed we are not far off the top sides on our day but our lack of consistency, lack of goals and silly give away of goals has left us playing catch up. Hoping we can go on a similar run to the one last year consolidating the play off place and maybe having a last go at one of the automatic places.
Sure Tuesday he will bring many of the players back from the Spurs game and hopefully continue another cup adventure but more important is the two games against Gillingham and Colchester when we have to try and take 6 points against two of the poorer sides in the league.
Officials – David Coote had one. That is an understatement. He basically had one of those refereeing performances where you should had you shaking your head. He was awful. Both ways. He booked 9 players, 6 for Swindon and 3 for us, but other than the awful Thompson foul I cannot recall any really bad fouls all day. He was booking players but had no control whatsoever which is odd as normally a referee who gets his book out a lot tends to at least calm things down. He was so fussy but then missed some obvious stuff at times too and maybe did not book a few who could have been booked (high foul on Reed). It seemed like neither side knew what he was going to give next and it was just a baffling set of decisions. He then ended up getting his book out for anything. He liked the free kicks just where he wanted them from but then marched out 8 yards (counted it twice) rather than 10 for his sprayed line.
Swindon got away with some cynical play acting trying to get Higdon sent off and some niggly stuff. Thompson could have walked for a horribly high and late foul on Adams that was borderline GBH. Swindon felt hard done by due to some decisions such as one where they appealed for a penalty second half but ended up with a free kick going to us, persistent fouling by Higdon (many were soft but he had been warned time and time again) one at the end, that despite everything else that had gone before, seemed a penalty to me. He was booed off at the end by both sets of fans and each manager could hardly say they were happy with his performance. His assistants were not much better either as they may aswell have been sat with me.
Crowd – Quiet-ish to begin with but the poor refereeing seemed to spur the Blades fans to make more noise and the second half it was a better atmosphere. Hard after the drama of the week for the fans to crank it up again but they did their bit second half. Swindon brought around a 1,000 and stayed loyal still chanting at the end. Easy to do that when you are at the top of the league of course. Another nearly 20,000 crowd which is excellent after the mid-week game and the bitterly cold weather.