The Blades finally got back to winning ways in the league as they saw off visiting Carlisle at Bramall Lane thanks to a scrappy Ched Evans goal in the first half. The game was a poor contest with few real chances or incidents of note. In truth United should have won more comfortably but failure to keep possession threatened to undo their work off the ball. Couple this with the chances they did create being missed; including a second half penalty from Richard Cresswell led to a nervy ending. However despite all their huff and puff the Cambrians did not have an effort on note all game and despite the performance hardly being convincing, the Blades definitely deserved the three points.
The Blades began with an unchanged starting eleven and despite the rumours and counter rumours there was no James Beattie in the squad as it seemed that he will be further assessed before any decision is made on whether to sign him. Carlisle had two former Blades in the team that started; Paul Thirlwell and Jon Paul McGovern.
United were on top early on with some excellent play from Williamson out on the right the catalyst to winning two early corners. In the sixth minute the same man was involved as United should have taken the lead. His shot from outside the box as he cut in from the left was pushed onto the bar by keeper Collin and as the ball dropped to Cresswell he knocked the ball high over the bar with the goal gaping. The ball fell to him awkwardly but he really ought to have scored and could have even taken a touch.
United were completely controlling the middle of the field with the industrious Montgomery and Doyle winning everything! From another passage of attacking play United had a chance but Evans was blocked out. However, soon after they took the lead. Whilst Carlisle appealed for a foul at the other end the Blades broke and won a corner. From the delivery Cresswell beat Collin to the ball and as the ball fell at the back post, the initial effort was cleared off the line but EVANS smashed the ball high into the roof of the net from close range.
Carlisle finally came out and won a series of free kicks but despite having a go at goal on each one none of them was remotely threatening. United were back on the attack and Evans free kick was always curling wide after the same man had been fouled. Carlisle then had a chance but Miller shot into the side netting with Simonsen perhaps having it covered after some rare hesitant defending. United nearly made it two as nice link up from Cresswell and Evans saw Quinn through but his shot was parried by the keeper.
The second half saw United again start on top and Evans clever run and pull back just evaded Cresswell. Williamson had took a knock and had to come off to be replaced by Flynn who immediately sought to get at the full back. Montgomery hit a driven shot over the bar and United wasted numerous other chances to set up a second goal. Carlisle were coming into the contest and Michalik fired another free kick wide but the home side had a golden chance to seal the game soon after. Flynn burst down the flank and was clearly tripped by Ribeiro giving the referee no option but to give a penalty.
Cresswell took the ball after brief words with Evans but his spot kick was a poor one and too close to keeper Collin who saved down to his right. United could not convert the rebound that was blocked and the ball was cleared with Cresswell looking to the skies in anguish.
Carlisle had introduced Curran and Zoko with the latter creating a chance for the former who shot wide and United were now looking nervous as the margin was so slim. Porter came on for Evans with the crowd howling at the decision but the striker did seem to have taken a knock. Carlisle was pumping the ball forward and had a number of shots blocked and Miller hit a shot over the bar.
The referee declared that there would be 4 minutes of additional time and Collins and Maguire had to remain strong. The final chance actually fell to United as Lowton fed Quinn but the cross was not converted by Cresswell. It did not matter as the game ended soon after and United celebrated a hard fought but deserved win.
United – It was not a great performance but we did enough to win having more of the ball, more chances and winning many individual battles all over the field in terms of winning loose balls/getting to the ball first. We started the game well and were well on top and should have been comfortably ahead at the break. Second half we did not create as much and after the penalty we sat back and Carlisle got more men forward but they did not create anything really all game and United kept their shape and defended well. It was just frustrating that we tossed away possession so often when with a better touch and more control of the ball we would have had more chances and won the game easily. We really did make it harder than it should have been against poor opponents.
The midfield gave such a strange performance as they won so many balls and controlled much of things but then simply could not keep the ball, meaning they had to go and win it back again! The strikers actually also worked hard but at times also made some poor decisions, especially Cresswell. The wide men were frustrating with Quinn having a bit of a mare. Flynn gave us a real lift when he came on though. The biggest plus was the improvement in the defence who were excellent and defended everything the needed to with the minimum of fuss and common sense. Lowton and Maguire got back to the standard of earlier in the season and Collins was maybe the stand out player for us today.
It is pleasing to look more solid after some of those bizarre games against Wednesday, Preston and Exeter where it was exciting but often way too open and whilst we looked like scoring a lot, we looked like conceding a lot too. Wilson has made a definite decision to make it more solid and tighter all over the field and has certainly challenged the players to up the work rate as in recent games they have defended from the front. It means we may continue with Montgomery and Doyle, as poor as they are at times to ensure we are hard to score against and beat. There were one or two nice moves but with the ball we were poor at times and I do think against better teams we may have not had it so easy. I think next week will be tough as Chesterfield will be smarting from some poor results and are desperate for a win and a performance. United will have to have the same attitude and work rate they have had in recent weeks and hopefully if they can improve passing and decisions with the ball we can create more chances and score more goals against a team that is shipping goals aplenty.
Carlisle – Really poor side. I know they only lost 1-0 but I felt they were a team that could have been beaten comprehensively. They were never in the game in the first half and United had 3 or 4 other chances in addition to the goal. Carlisle hardly seemed to get in our half and I felt they lost the scrap too. They made changes to personnel and the formation in the second half and at least tried to get forward but never really had any chances I can recall. After the penalty the game was played more in our half and they won a few corners and free kicks but never had any clear cut chances and United could have killed the game a few times on the break.
They had a huge centre back (Michalik?) who must have been 6’6’’ who looked really alehouse and a few other really poor players who like us gave the ball away way too easily. They were really wasteful in possession and looked as a side nearly as slow as us which is saying something! They did not really threaten up front and did not seem to have any forwards with height nor was pace to trouble us and the lad Miller dealt with easily although the sub Zoko looked a tricky customer. I expected more from McGovern but he seemed to play inside a lot rather than the out and out winger I remember that had a bit of pace and decent ability on the ball. He was ineffective today. I did not even know Thirwell was playing until he went off. That was how I remembered him at United too! The best thing about them today was their excellent support. However, with our wage bill and resources we should look far stronger and better than sides like this but often this season this has not been the case. Away from the top 4 who have all been to the Lane, I would say sides like Bury, Colchester and Carlisle have been truly dreadful. The other side’s that have had a go at us like Walsall and Exeter have been successful and teams should realise we are not that good and poor at the back but those that sit back really struggle.
Simonsen 7/10 – Had relatively little to do and cannot remember a save to make. What he did do he did fine and took a few comfortable crosses and through balls. It is pleasing that for the last few weeks he has not made a mistake and looked more commanding. For us to keep two clean sheets in the last two games is also a positive sign albeit against poor opposition.
Lowton 7/10 – Like Simonsen he has now put forward two much improved and more assured performances. He defended better and got tighter to his man and also got forward really well. His crossing was a mixed bag with some good ones mixed in with some awful ones that did not beat the first man. He did have some surging runs and played some neat one two’s that led to chances. Needs to keep this level of form rather than the patchy performances previously.
Williams 6.5/10 – Steady enough game. He did the basics well enough and I cannot recall many glaring errors. He did lose his man once when he was not concentrating when they shot wide in the first half and then was given a tougher time when the sub Zoko came on but stuck to his task and contributed to affording few chances to Carlisle.
Maguire 7/10 – Dealt with what he had to fairly comfortable and won headers/clearances that were required. Did not have a player to mark often in the first half as the visitors had a 4-3-3 formation. However, he did not do anything silly and just played the percentages.
Collins 7.5/10 – Felt he was very good today and our best defender. He looked very assured and won most headers he went for. He won a few really key ones as the chucked balls into the box in the final stages of the game. He did get a daft booking which came about more from arguing previously than the challenge.
Doyle 5/10 – For their play off the ball I would give Monty and Doyle maybe 8/10. They worked hard, closed down the opposition and won so many loose balls and tackles. However, with the ball they would probably be closer to 2 or 3/10. The contrast in the two elements of their game is startling. The number of times they closed down or won a ball and then tossed away a simple ball or played it behind or fired it at a player. They seem to have no concept of where a player likes a ball in terms of position/pace of a pass and often the way they fail to do the basics with the football is startling. United had a real dilemma as they are currently starting to win games again and keeping clean sheets but will never create much from midfield due to these two but when McDonald plays they are far more open and although create more, they give away more as has been proved by results and goals scored/conceded.
Montgomery 6/10 – See Doyle above. He was phenomenal at times in chasing and winning so many loose balls and mopping up in front of the defence. He was 2nd favourite for a number of balls but got their and made it his. However once again his passing was truly dreadful. There was one moment where he won a ball, flicked it over another man and then after running 20 yards gave an awful ball to Evans. That summed up his afternoon. People will say how poor they were but without the work off the ball we may have given far more chances to the opponents.
Williamson 6/10 – He did ok in the first half with a few nice runs down the right and caused the full back a few problems. Hit the bar with a good driven shot. He did fade after the break, got a stupid booking and of course got a knock and had to come off. The frustrating thing for him is that he never seems to play a consistent run of games either due to injury or suspension and it would be interesting to see what is the most consecutive games he had played for the club whilst he has been here as I doubt it is over double figures.
Quinn 4/10 – Thought he was awful today. For all the poor passing of Montgomery and Doyle they at least put a shift in. Too many times Quinn gave the ball away or things did not come off and he then just fell on the floor or stood with his head in his hands. He did put a few dangerous whipped crosses in but his final ball overall was poor. The chance at the end when Lowton fed him, he could have shot or at least given Cresswell a better ball but his decision/execution was wrong. He needs a kick up the backside and may need dropping as he clearly thinks he is far better than he is. If his touch/passing is off as was today then he needs to work harder.
Evans 7/10 – A good performance again where he led the line well and chased lost causes from minute one. Scored a strikers goal where he was in the right place at the right time. The last few weeks he has tried hard but also shown some good play on the ball too. Hopefully the knock he has is not too serious. If Beattie does come in and can get fit, those two would be a difficult combination to stop at this level with their shooting and knack for getting goals.
Cresswell 6/10 –.He worked very hard all game and never stopped chasing and running but his contribution with the ball was not very good I felt. Too often he made the wrong decisions or was slow to react to things when quicker/better decisions may have led to clear chances. I counted him going to the deck at least 10 times in the first half and not all were fouls. Why he is forever falling to ground I do not know? He is so slow it is untrue and this means if his touch is not right the ball will not stick with him. At times he did flick on nicely or show some nice link play but it was a hit and miss performance. Of course everyone can miss a penalty but it was a really poor one and fairly easy to save. Surprised he did not go off instead of Evans but apparently Evans was injured so that explains that one
Subs
Flynn – Another encouraging cameo. He started the season poorly and it all looked a bit too physical/quick for him but after being out of the squad he has come back and shown some real promise in recent weeks. He has shown he can beat his man and also put some decent crosses in. Won the penalty that should have sealed the game. Maybe deserves a start after his improvements.
Porter – Came on for Evans and did little of note. He really has been a poor signing and another waste of what limited funds we have. We desperately need some pace in that area of the team but if Beattie comes in this does not address this but probably makes Porter 4th choice and I cannot see him playing much. I would consider loaning him out and getting him fit and hopefully scoring; and maybe bring Philliskirk back and see what he is like as he cannot be any worse than Porter as a backup.
Officials – Phil Gibbs. He refereed the game well and let things flow and I cannot recall many things he missed. The major talking point was the goal where in the lead up to the corner we won, there was a possible case of foot up on a united player but even with my red and white spectacles on, I felt their man went down really easily and the fact he got up and sprinted back instantly said it all. Even after this there was plenty of time for Carlisle to react and defend and they did not do it. The penalty was an obvious trip and the fact the right back did not even appeal proved it was definitely correct. He booked Collins for a foul/complaining, Quinn for dissent and also Williamson for a needless foul. Berrett was booked for the visitors for a poor tackle too.
Crowd/Atmosphere – Another great away following considering the distance they came. Must have been around 1,500-1,750 fans from Carlisle and they backed their team vociferously. I think the crowds for the remainder of the season will be around 15-17,000 depending on how well the team is doing and the visiting support. We have played many of the ‘bigger’ teams in this division so the average will probably go down. It was pretty quiet much of the game from three sides of the ground with only the odd burst of a chant from the home fans that were understandably nervous for the closing stages after our habit of chucking goals away at the death.