Sheffield United managed to continue their recent mini resurgence by picking up a point at home to high flying Nottingham Forest at a wet and miserable Bramall Lane. In a desperately disappointing contest where chances and good football were at a premium the game was a stalemate for the most part but United were the far superior side in the second half. Indeed, save for four point blank saves from Lee Camp; the Blades would have won the game.
Certainly United will have been surprised how poor Forest were and it took United over an hour to realise this but the much o the second half was spent in the visitors half but United could not take the chances they created and Forest somehow managed to escape the Lane with a draw.
United had to make more changes due to even more injuries with one loan keeper Mark Bunn replacing another Carl Ikembe, Andy Taylor coming in for on loan Fulham defender Kallio and Ched Evans returning up front with Lee Williamson dropping out as Untied went back to a more orthodox 4-4-2. High scoring Forest had their hero of Saturday Rob Earnshaw paired with Dexter Blackstock up front and were looking to preserve their impressive unbeaten away record.
The game began in dreadful conditions with the rain teeming down from the night sky. The match matched the weather with an ugly opening which lacked any kind of quality. Neither side seemed capable of putting more than two passes together and the groans from both sets of fans as he ball was carelessly given back and forth from each side continually. United had a half chance when Creswell had his shot blocked and McKenna curled a harmless effort into Bunn's arms after indecision from Walker and Morgan at the back.
The game descended into a midfield battle with no quality at all. It seemed neither side wanted to keep the football and chances were few and far between. Indeed up to the interval, an Evans free kick after Ward had been impeded was blocked and a very ambitious chip from the striker was held easily by Camp. Bunn made one good block from Blackstock and half hearted appeals for a pull back on Evans was waived away from the referee.
After the half time interval, the game continued in the same vein as the first half with no real passing football and only route one, direct percentage football from both sides. Unsurprisingly this led to few chances of note.
Finally United did create a chance of note as Walker's cross was half cleared but as Quinn knocked the ball back in, Ward's header was palmed away by Camp. McCleary replaced Anderson and then Camara came on for the disappointing Evans and was instantly involved with a run and weak shot. The game had started to open up and gaps were finally starting to appear. Harper's clever ball looked to have put Quinn in but he could not get a significant touch to divert it past camp who parried the ball away.
Camara then wriggled though and had a shot saved by Camp at his near post. Another opening saw Quinn involved again and his threaded the ball through into the path of Camara. The substitute's effort was blocked by Camp and then the keeper was able to get up and deny Quinn's driven effort on the follow up. United's players held their heads as two clear chances had gone begging in a matter of moments as Forest high fived their goalkeeper.
Suddenly a clever through ball found Kilgallon surprisingly in the clear with the centre back completely untracked from Quinn's precise ball. His first touch was sound but took him onto his weaker right foot and Camp was instantly at his feet to smother the defender's shot superbly.
Adebola and Tyson came on for Blackstock and Earnshaw but Forest looked disinterested in going forward and seemed intent on trying to take a point away from the game. They were now just knocking the ball into touch at every opportunity as Untied tried desperately to create another chance. United were now in complete control and Forest were hanging on and showing no sign of any attacking intent of their own. Two bizarre refereeing decisions saw Montgomery booked for an innocuous foul, moments after Adebola had escaped action for hacking down Taylor and then Kilgallon was unbelievably booked for so called simulation when he was baulked when he advance forward.
As the referee indicated an additional 5 minutes of stoppage time, United sensed new hope but could not create a significant chance of note. Indeed maddeningly for their supporters, United threw away three chances to get the ball into the box by taking short throw ins and corners when they chances to get the ball in the box. From such a wasted opportunity, Forest broke and gained a corner of their own but the ball was blocked from the subsequent effort and United scrambled clear. They won another final free kick but once again took it short and the referee immediately called time instantly.
United
For the most part despite us being the better of two really woeful teams, we were desperately poor and our football, touch, passing and invention was non-existent. For the last half hour of the game we came to life and through one or two decent moves created chances that should have been enough to win the game. The weather, the scrappy nature of the game and probably the shock at how bad Forest were all contributed to an awful opening 45 minutes where hardly anything happened.
The game continued to be quite poor after the break but Camara came on and gave us a spark and Quinn improved immeasurably and we had chances. We did not cut them to shreds but our pressure and the smattering of football we played was still more than anything they did and it should have been enough to get at least a 1-0 win but they scrapped their way to a point undeservedly and we have to move on.
I still think that overall we were poor for long periods though and it was desperate to watch but it is just that Forest were even worse and the game in general was just lacking in overall quality. Regardless of our opposition's deficiencies, I still feel there are serious questions all over the United team. We lacked creativity for the most part completely, failed to pass the ball, reverted to route one way too much and had nothing-to little up front.
Our midfield was poor in terms of keeping possession until the final third of the game and our wide men did not do much all game to create opportunities. There is still a lot of frustration from me that players like Harper and Evans see no sign of improving and no sign of any flashes of hope. We are no closer to seeing a fully fit squad and a team that looks convincing in terms of organisation, pattern of play and creativity.
Bunn 7/10
Had nothing of note to do all game. Other than a block on Blackstock he only had to make a couple of regulation saves and that was it.
Walker 6/10
Not the best of games. In the first half he was really poor; giving the ball away a few times and generally looking sloppy with his touch. He did improve a bit after half time and got forward a few times but other than one decent cross his overlaps did not come to anything.
Taylor 6.5/10
Thought he did ok for most of the game but then had a horrible 5 minutes where he gave the ball away three times and once it was nearly costly. He needs to concentrate more and avoid silly errors if he wants to stay in the team.
Morgan 7/10
Solid enough in terms of defending with usual array of headers and clearances. His distribution was pretty awful including one or two hurried kicks into touch or aimless punts forward but as a defensive performance it was solid.
Kilgallon 7.5/10
As above. Kilgallon started game poorly and let Blackstock win one or two headers but he got better as the game went on and got on top in the individual battle. As the game wore on and United controlled things he even got forward quite a bit and looked the player of old with pace, good reading of the game and that bit of class. Somehow ended up one on one with the keeper with the best chance of the game but Camp denied him with a point blank save.
Montgomery 6.5/10
Won most of the loose balls and felt he showed more determination than counterparts Cohen and McKenna. However, his passing and distribution was generally pretty poor once again including a couple of wild slices out of play.
Harper 6/10
At times he kept it simple and passed the ball well but the game passed him by for long periods. He always seems behind the ball when we are defending and when we are attacking seems too far off the pace. Generally he does not exert himself enough both physically and in terms of getting on the ball. This is annoying as when he does he put a great ball through to Quinn for instance but one good forward pass in 90 minutes is not good enough. Showed odd flashes but generally still does not look the answer in midfield.
Quinn 7/10
First half I thought he was never in the game and generally got rid of the ball or gave it away when it came to him. However he did improve a lot in the second half and started to get amongst the Forest players and was involved in some of our better moves. I actually think the 2nd half was as good as he has been for some time. He set up Ward, assisted to Camara and had the shot blocked from the subsequent rebound. His ball to Kilgallon was excellent too. I was surprised he was taken off (and I am not his biggest fan) as he was more effective than Ward or Harper.
Creswell 6/10
Battled hard but generally he was not a massive thereat and other than the odd flick on and chase for long balls, he was never really involved. Granted the service was poor and he was not given any clear chances but it is hard to see what he offers as a centre forward. I know it was needs must tonight but he is does not dominate aerially/hold the ball up, is quite slow and does not look that much of a goal threat. He certainly puts a lot of effort in and cannot be faulted for work rate though.
Ward 4/10
Thought he was really poor tonight and totally ineffectual. He gave the ball away most of the game, never beat his full back (even when he switched to the right) and his crossing/corners were awful. One of the worst games I have seen Ward have and surprised he stayed on/
Evans 4/10
Another nothing performance from Evans I am afraid. I keep listening to some fans on forums saying give him time or we are not playing him right but he shows no spark, no signs of improving and no signs of anything really. He is so slow to react to things and looks physically weak too. Not a goal threat and not really working for the team. Just not happening for him and we need to be looking at moving him on in the January window even if it means getting Sharp back to compete with Camara to play alongside Henderson. I think United fans have been incredibly patient with Evans but I think patience is starting to wane now.
Subs
Camara
Came on and gave us a spark without doubt. He had a run, a shot (ok it was weak) and looked to get on the shoulders of defenders. Surely has to start on Saturday.
Stewart
Strange he came on for Quinn who had been doing well. Had one run where he looked like he had made a chance but then took too long to cross the ball.
Forest
They may have spent money in the summer and have a wealth of striking options. They may have been on a great run being the only unbeaten side away from home in the entire league but I was amazed how bad Forest were tonight. They employed the same niggly, time wasting, negative tactics they employed last year when they somehow escaped with a 0-0 draw and it was much the same this year. Mark Bunn barely had to make a save of note as Forest were generally dire.
Granted United were not much better but I expected some kind of attacking thrust from Forest after recent wins and performances and hearing such good things. In reality they looked even worse than us. Their touch, passing and overall football was dire and if they are serious contenders for promotion then god help whoever does actually go up next year! In terms of the side Camp played very well and saved them from defeat. He came out quickly and smothered himself to make some very good saves. Morgan and Chambers were steady enough at the back but still allowed 2 or 3 clear chances and both looked slow and easy to turn but we could not take advantage.
Shorey and Wilson were ok but not given much of a test by any of our wide players. In the middle Cohen and McKenna gave the ball away all evening and wider players Gunter and Anderson who have been impressive by all accounts did nothing. Earnshaw showed one or two flashes but was kept under control and Blackstock did nothing. The substitutes did nothing at all.
Referee
For the most part he was sound. He did not get his book out, let things flow and in a generally incident free game did not throw up any controversy or try and become more involved then he needed to. Only negatives was that he let play go on and then brought it back for treatment on Earnshaw when it was not a head injury and also booked Montgomery (said it was persistent fouling) but Adebola had committed a crude foul on Taylor. The booking for Kilgallon was just baffling as he got blocked off. Even if he decided not to give a foul to book the United player was incredulous.