The Blades good recent run continued as they saw off lowly Rochdale with a relatively comfortably 3-0 victory at a bitterly cold Bramall Lane. The first half had been fairly incident free but a good save from Steve Simonsen was crucial as soon after Ched Evans continued his rich vein of form with another clinical finish. The second half saw United dominate proceedings and further goals from Cresswell and Evans gave the score line a realistic indication of a controlled performance from the home side.
The Blades brought Jean Francois Lescinel back into the starting line up for loanee Marcus Williams and also Kevin McDonald came in for David McAllister in the centre of midfield. There was still no place in the 16 for James Beattie who still deemed unfit after a calf strain and food poisoning. Rochdale included former Blade Stephen Jordan, long serving skipper Gary Jones and ex Owls Barry Murphy and keeper Lucas in their starting line up.
The game began with the game mired in a midfield battle but Quinn nearly caught out Lucas with a low daisy cutter that the keeper had to turn away round his left hand upright. McDonald had been influential showing his touch and range of passing but United were struggling to make much headway. Rochdale were happy to take their time over set plays and were clearly making sure they got men behind the ball to limit United’s attacking forays. However, the visitors actually had the best chance when Ball was played in and Simonsen had to be alert to come out and smother the shot. United had been the better side but had not been convincing. Evans had one long rang shot saved from Lucas and then had an even better effort as the cross from Quinn fell to him but his effort was once again saved by the keeper when the front man maybe should have done better.
On 39 minutes, United made another chance for the striker and this time he took it. The ball was played diagonally into the last third and as Cresswell was felled just outside the box; EVANS latched onto the loose ball to hit an excellent controlled finish across the keeper and into the top corner.
United now sensed they could take complete control and Williamson and Lowton almost combined to create a second. The full back then advanced and shot wide after an excellent individual run. Quinn then smashed a volley just wide after clever and patient build up play as United finally started to keep the football and create chances. Just before the break there was a real moment of concern as a serious injury was sustained to keeper Lucas.
From a cross from the right the ball was eventually cleared but in the melee it seemed keeper Lucas had taken a blow to the head area and was down and out not moving. Even United players immediately called for the physios and the game stopped instantly. It seemed fairly innocuous at the time but was clearly a serious injury and the game was delayed for around 10 minutes as medics attended to the stricken keeper. After Rochdale made a change and put on Edwards in his place.
The second half began with United on top again and Evans nearly scored again after a mistake from the full back saw Williamson cut in to centre the ball. The finish was hit over the bar as he was under a last ditch challenge from a defender. Rochdale had a half chance after a mistake from Francois but Ball’s effort was saved from Simonsen.
Francois had endured a wretched period of play but undeterred he linked up well with Quinn and hit a superb cross that CRESSWELL touched past the hesitant substitute keeper and into the net. United were now in cruise control and the advancing Lowton had another effort as he shot wide after another lung busting run and link up with Williamson.
Evans was bundled over by former Blade Jordan and once again it was the prolific
EVANS who stepped up and hit another unerring free kick beyond Edwards into the left hand corner of the net. It was another clinical finish from the bang in form striker. Soon after he could have had a hat trick. Another terrible piece of defending let him in but his first effort was parried by Edwards and after he played in Cresswell the front man sidestepped one man but his effort was cleared off the line by Holden. Collins then had a header cleared off the line and Maguire powered over from another corner as Rochdale were now really struggling to hold United back.
A rare break from Rochdale saw Jones’ powerful effort saved from Simonsen who did well to hold before the play was quickly transferred to the other end with Evans firing over cleverly flicking the ball up to set up the chance for himself. Cresswell headed over from a Lowton cross and it was clear it was only the margin of victory that would be in doubt as the game entered the final stages.
Flynn came on for Quinn and then Porter for Cresswell as the game was petering out to an inevitable and comfortable United win. Right at the end McDonald was replaced by Montgomery as Rochdale won a couple of late corners that came to nothing before the referee ended matters as United celebrated their final home game before Christmas with a deserved three points.
United – We were not superb (again) but did enough (again) and of course kept another clean sheet. In the first half I felt once again we were slow in our build up and looked too pedestrian to create things. It was another nothing sort of game that seemed to be heading nowhere before Evans took his goal well. After the break we completely upped the tempo, pressed them more and had far more of the ball in the last third. We created a lot of chances and for long stretches Rochdale could not get out of their half. It was not through superb football or great individual play but the basics of just harrying and forcing them to give the ball away and then in turn playing the ball into the right areas.
The defence was good today and apart from the one good chance they had in the first half they were restricted to long range efforts. We defended well from corners and set plays and won most headers/clearances in our own box. Apart from Francois the rest just kept it simple and did the basics. Doyle did a nice job just in front and McDonald, Quinn and Williamson although not always totally precise with their passing had enough to get in beyond Dale and into the last third. Cresswell toiled hard but Evans looked a class above again and easily could have scored 5 goals. Once the second goal went in the game was effectively over and you never felt in any danger. It was just a case of how may we could score. We still lack pace both in individual players and in terms of the pace we attack (often too slow to create things allowing teams to get men behind the ball).
We do not look totally convincing but each win against poor sides such as Carlisle, Chesterfield and also today against Rochdale we still have been full value for the wins and kept three clean sheets. We will need to do better against some of the teams higher up and may find some tougher games on the horizon but we do look more of a solid outfit with the much maligned Doyle actually being a key man in this. If we can add a touch more creativity and pace (a Clarke or Phillips type) and add another scoring threat to supplant Evans (a fit Beattie) then we should really be able to finish in the top 6. Unfortunately our neighbours have the same solidity we have but also have more offensive options and seem a better bet for automatic promotion. With Charlton also rarely losing it is going to be tough to gate crash the top two but a playoff place should be achievable and then it is up to us. Unfortunately our record in such formats is not the best!
Rochdale – Another truly dreadful side. They were in the game in the first half without being anything other than very ordinary. However they had a decent chance when Simonsen smothered but after they went behind they never really looked like coming back. In the second half it could have been 5 or 6 easily and they completely went to pieces. The control and passing of most of their players was wretched and made some of our players like Doyle and co look like real technicians! The two bald guys in midfield (one of them I know was Gary Jones) seemed to take it in turns at giving the ball away. The left back for them was awful and made numerous mistakes. It was a contest who was the worst left back for either side at times! The first keeper Lucas took a lot of crosses and it seems he is ok after he suffered what looked a really serious injury (severe concussion I believe and came around in the ambulance and has travelled back with the team) but his replacement looked iffy. Both made a few good saves but the replacement looked very poor. He dropped or failed to come for a few regulation crosses. The backline looked slow and easy to turn with Jordan looking exactly how he did at United; error prone and not close enough to his man. He played centre back but did not look any better than he had at left back at the Lane! They had nothing up front really and also were one of the few times that looked as slow and lacking in physique as us!
Simonsen 7/10 – Had relatively little to do but what he did he coped with. He made one good save in the first half at a key time when the game was 0-0 when he came out and smothered the shot. He then made saved a few well held low shots in the second half including one that took a deflection. The only gripe was his kicking which was quite poor again from dead play; his hands and from back passes.
Lowton 7/10 – A decent performance where he did not seem to have a winger against him much of the game due to Rochdale’s formation and utilised the space in front of him by bombing forward at every opportunity. His crosses were mixed with some good deliveries into that dangerous area between keeper and defenders and then some poor ones too close to the keeper. He used the ball well and showed good control and link play with some neat one-two’s.
Francois 4/10 – He had one of those days. Of course he has been out of the team for a relatively long time but to say he looked ring rusty is an understatement. His touch, passing and defending for the most part was awful. After half time he had a spell where he did 3 or 4 things wrong ranging from a bad pass to a bad piece of control to letting his man in to then slicing a ball to no one. It was pure comedy but not for most United fans who could not believe a player could do so many things wrong in such a short space of time. The only thing stopping him from getting a 2 or 3 was that he put in an excellent cross for the crucial second goal. He knew he was having a nightmare as even after the assist for this goal his body language said it all. He had a good start to the season looking athletic and aggressive and a decent signing but then went off the boil and now Williams looks a much better player. That despite the Reading loanee himself being quite poor in recent weeks. The way things are going Andy Taylor might get a game soon. Yes, the left back position is not strength!
Maguire 7/10 – Had a solid game. A few daft fouls where he raised his hands and a couple of extravagant diagonal balls notwithstanding, he had a decent game. He defended well doing the basics of kicking it out and clearing it and just played percentages when under pressure. When he could use the ball he did do and came out of the defence on a few occasions.
Collins 7.5/10 – Another very good performance where he defended with the minimum of fuss but was tight to his man and disciplined from start to finish. Made numerous headed clearances and just defended very sensibly putting t out when he had to but using the ball when he could. One moment summed him up in the second half when a player dribbled towards goal and advance and looked like getting a shot in but Collins went with him all the way and eventually got the block in to clear the ball.
Doyle 6.5/10 – Actually thought he did ok today. Yes he gave a few poor balls early on but he actually used it better as the game went on and always was an option for the ball. Whatever people thing about him and I am not his biggest fan he always shows for the ball and actually tries to get into space. His tackling and harrying was good again. He is never going to impress most United fans as he has little skill and lacks pace and creativity but we have started to win games since he has been back in the team. Maybe it is a total coincidence but his performances have not been as bad as many have stated and today he had a solid enough game without doing anything spectacular.
McDonald 7.5/10 – Thought he was the stand out player on the field in the first half and was one of the few players who actually looked like he could get on the ball and use it sensibly. He always seemed to be able to make space for himself and make an extra yard. Put some nice passes both short and long and showed good creativity always trying to find a shirt. I felt that he faded a bit as the game went on and his influence was not as strong and I know it is a big bear of mine but his fitness and stamina is woeful. I suppose at least today he lasted for nearly the full game. He definitely gives us something different and is excellent on the ball. Of course against better teams with more mobile midfielders than we faced today he may not have as much of an influence but at home against most teams at this level he should stand out and he did today.
Williamson 6.5/10 – A frustrating player that clearly has more ability than most of the opponents he faces at League Two level but also thinks he is better than he is. When he works hard and does the basics (such as covering for Lowton) the other things seem to come off for him. At times he looks a real asset and gets up and down the flank and can put some good balls in the box and links well with teammates. When we had our better spells in the game he was often involved but he still does need to get in the game even more I feel.
Quinn 7/10 – I felt it was another performance where his touch and passing was mixed again. Some decent bits of play where he got on the ball and came inside and tried to bring others into play but then a few misplaced passes and balls where once again he seemed to blame everyone but himself when things went awry. At times he still looks a class act and I also thought he did work harder today but needs to be a little less wasteful in possession of the football. He did put in a few cracking balls mixed in amongst some poor ones too close to the keeper. One or two excellent driven crosses should have been got on the end of in the second half showed what a dangerous player he can be.
Evans 8/10 – Once again he stood out as the best player on the pitch for maybe the 4th week in succession. He scored a well taken first and another excellent free kick but more than that his work rate and chasing down of defenders was very good again. He actually could have had 3 or 4 more goals with a shot saved in the first half, another over from close range from a Williamson cross, then another one that the keeper blocked which led to Cresswell having it cleared off the line and a header he ought to have scored. However, his touch and link play and overall contribution has been excellent in recent times and we must be concerned that teams in the Championship may come in for him.
Cresswell 6.5/10 – He did work hard and put a shift in again but once again he seemed to be often at full stretch or struggling to get on the end of things due to his total lack of pace and mobility. Too many times the ball shoots off him and away when he should stick more. Credit him today though as he at times hold the ball up and linked better with his teammates. Scored one goal when he got in front of the keeper and ought to have had another when he had one kicked off the line with the net gaping.
Subs
Flynn – Came on for Quinn but there was little time for him to get involved.
Porter – Brought on for Cresswell but like Flynn it was too late for him to really get in the game
Montgomery – Replaced McDonald as the game entered stoppage time.
Porter –
Officials – Truly dire. Both the referee and the linesman near the South Stand had absolute nightmares. The linesman in particular seemed to get nearly everything wrong from throws in’s where he just made decisions based on players/coaching staff appealing to not knowing when the ball had gone out (Simonsen in the second half). He also got quite a few offside decisions wrong. The referee, a Mr D Whitestone, wanted to be the star of the show and was obsessed with everything being taken from just the right spot to the frustration of everyone. The drop ball near the end after a clash of heads in the United box was baffling as the ball had been kicked out for a United goal kick so how he decided the ball was still in play was a mystery to all. He saw a number of free kicks that no one else saw and was obsessed with making sure everyone knew he was there. Everything you would not want out of a referee. The only plus was that he did not book anyone but it was the sort of game where there was barely a tackle/foul of note so even he could not start cautioning people.
Crowd/Atmosphere – Unfortunately it was very poor again. We won the game and won comfortably but Bramall Lane has become a bit of a library this season and I barely heard a chant/song all game. The only time there was any noise outside of the goals was when the referee was making his latest bewildering decision. Rochdale only brought around 2-300 and of course with it being just before Christmas and also a really cold day, you cannot really be surprised with the crowd of just under 16,000.