It was a scrappy game with neither side particularly impressive but as back in March at Tranmere it took an own goal, created by Tony McMahon, to settle matters.
United will be glad to get the three points and hopefully can give them a platform to try and move up the league but in reality those watching at Ashton Gate will know both sides are in for a long, hard fight to stay away from the relegation places based on the respective performances of both sides. City shaded the first half and had more chances whilst in the second half an improved performance saw the Blades have the better of things. The goal when it came was out of nothing but was enough to seal an abject game of football.
United began the game with a number of changes with Aidy White going to left back, replacing Matt Hill, Connor Coady playing wide right, Stephen McGinn in the centre and Lappin wide left. United also brought in Lyle Taylor for Shaun Miller. Manager Clough had spoke about the number of games that Miller had played in a short space of time and it seemed he had been rested. He was on the bench along with King, Cuvelier, Baxter, Flynn, Hill and sub keeper Howard.
A quick scan down the programme revealed that the home side also had a very big squad and probably similar issues in terms of too many players and none of them particularly performing! They started the experienced Nicky Shorey, Marvin Ellliott and had the dangerous Jay Emmanuel Thomas and Sam Baldock up front. Back in the side was former Charlton man Scott Wagstaff. They also had experience on the bench in the likes of keeper Frank Fielding, Marlon Harewood, Karleigh Osborne and Simon Gillett. Former Blades Academy boss John Pemberton was on the sidelines as assistant to Sean O’Driscoll.
The game began with United in all yellow matching the bright sunshine albeit it on a bitterly cold afternoon. City began the better side but were not able to create much as Maguire and Collins remained solid. City were looking to get the ball to Emmanuel Thomas at every opportunity who was drifting around the final third. A series of free kick and corners came to nothing for the home team and then United had their first effort; a header from Maguire which was wide of the target from a Lappin free kick.
Maguire was then booked after a heavy touch got him into trouble. Emmanuel Thomas’ free kick was well over the top before Shorey’s effort from another free kick was well held by Long. United had their first effort on goal when McMahon’s free kick finally saw keeper Parish tested but it was a routine save.
City were having more of the ball and United were sitting back and almost inviting pressure but City did not have many chances despite more free kicks in and around the United box. City were trying to get in and behind but it had been a game with few moments of quality from either side.
A clever ball by Wagstaff saw Baldock get behind a square United back line and he was in on goal but Long smothered his effort. It was the clearest sight of goal all afternoon.
Coady was booked harshly for a foul on the stroke of half time.
The second half saw United start much better and start to win battles and loose balls. They were defending further up the field and the midfield were getting on the ball more.
Coady broke through on a determined run but his shot was awful and high and wide. Soon after Coady had another effort but it lacked power and the keeper saved. Taylor then got into a good position but his final effort was also similarly poor and nowhere near the goal ending up into the United fans behind the goal.
United were now the better side but had not had a really clear chance and opted to try something different and brought on Baxter for Taylor with the former Oldham man going just behind Porter initially. Williams then came on for Shorey for the home side.
City had offered little of note but from a corner had a half hearted appeal for a spot kick before Elliott was blocked out and Baldock fired wildly over.
United played some neat and tidy footballer on the right with Porter and then Coady finding McMahon who advanced away from the defence with a Bristol playing slipping to ground. The full back fired in an inviting cross which glanced off defender FLINT and into the goal giving Parish no chance. United’s players congratulated McMahon in front of the jubilant away contingent behind the goal.
McLaughlin and the experienced Harewood came on for defenders Cunningham and Moloney as City tried to get back into the game as the contest entered the final ten minutes.
As United looked to see out time they brought on former City trainee and boyhood fan, Matt Hill for Lappin and pushed Aidy White into a more attacking position. From a corner the ball was bundled in but amidst a lot of contact the referee adjudged Long had been fouled as he tried to get the ball away. It was a sigh of relief for the home side as it occurred just as the game went into an additional four minutes of stoppage time. Osbourne fired miles over before right at the death an innocuous free kick was awarded on the edge of the box right with the watch showing time was up. The free kick was wasted again and the final whistle went soon after.
United – We won. That is the most important thing. However those that went know it was a shocking game of football and we were not great at all. Fortunately we met a side that was as bad as us. They shaded the first half as we sat back too deep, did not keep the ball and lost battles again. They were poor in the last third and only had a few chances though. I was concerned they would up it even more in the second and we would do well to get a point, but the opposite happened. We got better and they got worse. We had a 15 minute spell of winning the loose balls and had a few runs towards goal (and woeful efforts after the runs) and a few bits of interchange with Porter holding it up well.
I cannot say we looked like scoring and taking Taylor off (he had not been great but meant we went to a different formation) seemed to sense we would still settle for a point but then a decent move down the right and an excellent cross and we got an own goal. After this they had some pressure but other than the disallowed goal I never felt they were really creating much.
The positive for United were that for the most part the centre backs and the defence was good. Long and Maguire were much better than last week and we restricted their attacking threats quite well. We kept a clean sheet and looked more solid as a side; it was bit like the Wilson side of last year in a way but that did mean little going forward. We had another solid type of midfield with four central midfielders in effect starting and no wide players at all really. This solid approach was ok to a degree but for all that we did not have enough of the ball or win loose balls first half but got better in the second half and won more battles. Taylor was ineffective with little service but Porter battled hard.
Negatives were that the passing was poor much of the game and we looked clueless going forward. We did not start the game well enough and were too slow to loose balls as we were last week. We did get better as the game went on in this regard.
It was a game we did not deserve to win but probably did not deserve to lose but we have had a few games where we have been the ones to lose out in such games (Carlisle away springs to mind). I would love to say we have turned the corner and of course I am delighted to win but it was a really poor game. We easily could have lost 1-0 as won 1-0 and we still need to improve massively. Bristol City were a really poor side and both were as bad as each other. They looked like two sides that could be in a relegation battle.
United hopefully can get a win on Tuesday. Many of the bottom sides won and now we are actually 2 points adrift (would have been in a right mess without the win so was vital) but if we could win 2 or 3 and get a run we could be mid table. The word ‘could’ sadly is used with emphasis as I do not see this side winning a run of games; especially with Maguire now suspended and Orient on the horizon too. It is going to be a real scrap to stay in the league and as I saw today I do not see where the goals are coming from. The one major positive is that the defence got back to the standards of last season and hopefully that will be our salvation or at least till January when we can clear some of the dross out. I agree with Clough that we are carrying too many players – at least 10 players + all the loan players could go in next few months) and get 2 or 3 leaders in (centre back, centre midfielder, out and out winger and a striker that scores goal are priority but to be honest could be anywhere in the team it is so poor a side.
Bristol City – It was like looking at a mirror watching them. Their squad is massive too like us but not in a good way. With the likes of Shorey, Emmanuel Thomas, Pearson, Harewood etc they will have a large wage bill too. Like us they have a lot of underachieving players but mainly players on way down mixed with youngsters and journeymen. They seem to rely on Emmanuel Thomas a lot as his goals show this season but today he was ineffective and seemed to get frustrated. He had about 10 free kicks and none went near the goal! He is a talent but you can see why he has dropped down the leagues as he kind of sulks if things do not go his way. At the back Flint seems like an accident waiting for happen and I said he might make a mistake for us to win and I proved prophetic. The rest of their players should be doing better than near the bottom of the league as many have played at a higher level but as with us likes of Osbourne, Elliott, Baldock just seemed so low in confidence. Their midfield was as bad as ours as both teams had little out wide and gave the ball away constantly meaning the front lines for both teams had little service. The defences for both teams were on top but I felt we actually had the better centre halves and less likely to make a mistake and so it proved.
Today they had the better of the first half but only had a few chances and then second half regressed as we realised they were about as bad as us! They were a touch unlucky to lose and it seemed a 0-0 game for all the world but then as the home side you would expect much more in the second half and they did nothing really and we coped fairly well.
I suppose they have had a few unbeaten recently but it has mostly been a season of struggle and you can see why. O’Driscoll says it takes time but I could not see a side that was fizzing it around like Doncaster or that comfortable in possession. They had a lot of the ball in the first half but did little with it and were wasteful went it got to the last third. You could hear frustrations about City listening to the fans on the way out and many did not seem happy with the manager.
Do not think they will go down. Like us they probably have enough to stay away from bottom 4 but as with us will not be surprised if they are around the bottom most of the season as they look a poor side and despite some ‘name’ players for this level; like us lack any kind of structure, creativity and look like they could concede at the back.
Long 7/10 – Actually much better than last week in terms of confidence and handling. He made a few routine saves but held the ball (from free kicks). He made a smart save from Baldock which was crucial. He was well protected by the back four and it was not till the death he was put under significant pressure in the second half. On the disallowed goal it was hard to see. You would hope he would just come through and take everything out and it did seem a bit Simonsen (getting lost in a series of bodies) but fortunately the decision went for us.
McMahon 7.5/10 – He played well today and of course made the goal with an excellent run and driven cross that caused all sorts of problems and the eventual winner. He did his job against some tricky players and helped restrict City. Still gave away a few daft fouls at times but he was better today.
White 6.5/10 – Defensively he was ok but a few times he got caught and was a little slow to react to danger. Going forward he was less of a threat and cannot recall many times he advanced into their half really. Not sure he is any better than what we have (a la Coady, Lappin, Bunn etc)
Maguire 7.5/10 – Very good today. Gave away a foul and got booked (and now suspended) but he headed everything away and was commanding. He was more switched on and did the basics (kicking and heading it away) and read game well. Felt their best player Emmanuel Thomas was ineffective most of the game and Maguire was often closest to him.
Collins 7/10 – He was also solid. A few times he lost headers early on and gave away a few unnecessary free kicks I also felt on the Baldock chance, he was slow to sense danger after he had lost initial ball in lead up. Second half he improved a lot as did all the United team and was first to the ball most of the time. He was solid with Maguire as we had to deal with a lot of throws and balls into our box but other than a few half chances cannot recall them having any clear chances.
Doyle 5/10 – He was poor again today and fortunately their midfield was as bad! He and Elliott seemed to take turns to give the ball away. He was so sloppy in possession and routinely tossed it away. Also we did not win enough loose balls and tackles in the first half but we got better in this regard in the second half. I did feel our midfield was quite poor today
Coady 4.5/10 – Played wide right and seemed like a fish out of water. Did not know where to be in a positional sense and often drifted inside and meant it was all too narrow. Gave away a few free kicks and seemed quite slow when chasing back. On the ball he was not particularly careful and the one run and shot he had saw an embarrassing finish. Not sure he is any better than what we have also. He offered no more than Flynn, Hopefully we can get Brandy back and he can try and not do anything stupid as we are crying out for pace and penetration in the wide positions.
McGinn 5/10 – We do seem to win when he plays and I was glad he was brought back in as seems a neat and tidy footballer who takes a good set play and is preferable to Coady/Lappin in the middle. Today he was poor I felt. At times in the first half we barely saw the ball and whilst he became a bit more involved second half, he was not that influential and needs to assert himself more on games.
Lappin 5.5/10- He was the most steady of the midfielders but he too was not particularly brilliant. His corners and free kicks had too much air on them and he was not really a threat offensively. He did help out going the other way and was neater and tidier than the other three who were more wasteful but he is not a player that is going to really threaten in terms of creating or scoring goals. Another that seems no better than the ordinary players we have.
Taylor 5/10 – Never really got in the game. He tried hard and as usual chased around and closed down but his touch was mixed and he did not link well with Porter at all. To be fair for much of the game he was living off scraps again but I felt with his pace he could maybe cause problems versus a slow backline but often his lack of strength meant he got pushed out of it.
Porter 7/10 – Thought he actually led the line well today and held it up best he could with no real service. He brought others into play when he could and the ball did stick to him most of the time. Played most of the game with is back to goal so from an attacking point of view would be hard for him to have chances. Was in and around Flint when we scored.
Subs
Baxter – Came on to help us to try and create something. He was initially behind Porter but then kind of went wide left. He was not much of a factor really and totally unsure where his best position is. He lacks pace and movement to be up front and in midfield he could not get up and down the field. He is badly overweight and needs to up his fitness and his approach to the game in terms of his physique and his ability to play 90 minutes at a high tempo. Without changes to this regard do not see him being anything but a sub which is sad as he has some ability.
Hill – Was brought on at end and went left back as we looked to just solidify the back line and White moved forward.
Officials – Referee: Keith Stroud. Stroud was the ref for the Notts County game (red card – first day of the season). Maguire was booked for a late tackle that you could kind of agree with (now suspended) but Coady was harshly booked for a nothing tackle. City committed two equally bad fouls in the first half but were given nothing. I would say they made as many fouls as us all game but were never cautioned. In terms of some of the other decisions, I could not really tell on the disallowed goal as was at the other end but there seemed quite a bit of contact and it is the kind of one that most referees give when goalie has any kind of contact really. O’Driscoll complained but at the other end he would have wanted a foul I am sure. On the goal there was a suspicion that Coady blocked off the left back as McMahon overlapped but after it went in I did not see any appeals really. To be fair we had also been fouled in the build up so it was kind of swings and roundabouts. He did gave them a number of free kicks around the box and the one at the end was mysterious and seemed really harsh. You sensed that might be crucial but Emmanuel Thomas wasted another free kick and that was it.
Crowd/Atmosphere/Day Out – Two sets of fans seemed equally frustrated with both of their side’s performances. There was such a dearth of quality and the groans and moans were audible both ways. City fans were quiet most of the game apart from the section to the right of the United fans who tried to create some rivalry. The ground was half empty but still a better crowd (13,220) than they have had in recent weeks when they have been getting around 10,000 or so.
We sat right near the divide between the home and away fans which was interesting to watch the to and fro between our set of ‘young’ fans and their own set. Made me realise I am getting old as I kind of just watched the antics that was going on. Two or three flares went off (do not seem to have taken any notice of the message United gave about dangers) and worryingly without sounding like a kill joy a couple of younger lads had to go to the back as they were coughing and struggling with asthma. Yes it might look impressive to have the flares from a visual point of view but not great if you are your kids have health issues and you are right amongst it. Anyway end of rant. Apart from that the United fans (just under 1,000 made the trip) made a lot of noise and backed the team well as always.
The ground itself is not the best and looks quite untidy from the outside and the inside. It is a mish mash of stands and seems badly dated. None of the stands are the same height are look the same and the ground has a number of supporting pillars which makes viewing not the best. See they are looking at redeveloping the existing ground or constructing a new one very near to the current ground.
As for the remainder of the day, we got into Bristol around 10.30am and had breakfast and a few pints in the centre. Had a walk around the main shopping areas (near Cabots Circus etc) before getting a cab up to Clifton. We had a few beers in the Quadrant and also the Brunel near Clifton Square before watching the Merseyside derby in the White Lion and then sitting in the beer garden (I know it was cold) to have an unbelievable view of the Clifton Suspension Bridge and the gorge underneath it. We then walked along the bridge which was good and then the 20 minute walk to Ashton Gate via the river Avon. It was certainly one of more picturesque walks to an away game! After the game we got a cab to the Harbour side and had a few more drinks near there and Queen Square before having a curry at a place called Raj. We then headed for the train home after another drink in the Station and after a few more beers on the way home was back home for Match of the Day!