Hull City were finally able to record a long overdue victory at Bramall Lane thanks to a last gasp Jimmy Bullard winner after a Blades fight back was ultimately in vain. Behind to an early Jay Simpson goal, the Blades showed more woeful defending that led to a penalty and another Simpson goal. The game seemed up but a lacklustre Blades side finally awoke from their slumber and a Ched Evans header and then opportunistic finish saw the home side level. With United going for the winner disaster struck in stoppage time as City broke from a corner and with men committed forward United conceded right at the death.
Hull started with former Blade James Harper and had Jimmy Bullard on the bench as they looked to carry on their recent good form. United began with an unchanged side with Bogdanovic back on the bench and opted to start with a 4-5-1 formation once again opting to keep it solid as had proved so successful against Swansea last week.
However, any chance to build on this was blown away after only 3 minutes as shambolic defending saw Hull in the lead. Kicking towards their own fans, City cut through the United rearguard with Rosenior sprinting away from Taylor and then Stewart doing likewise to Nosworthy. The on loan Man Utd winger cut in and played a precision cross that was converted easily by an unmarked SIMPSON. United were stunned and the poor start continued as they simply could not get into the game. The crowd voiced their displeasure after more poor play saw Nosworthy and Bartley make mistakes and Simpson was almost in again. Montgomery shot over in United’s first real attack and in the move Taylor had suffered an injury and had to stay down for treatment. The full back could not continue and was replaced by Lowton. Not long after the opposing left back Kilbane was injured after a high boot from Evans that led to a free kick award and he too had to leave the field replaced by McShane.
Gerrard then felled Quinn and the offender and Reid for his protests, were both booked. Untied had been unable to test the on loan Arsenal keeper Mannone though and continued to look susceptible to Hull’s pace at the other end. Stewart was looking very tricky and combining well with the lively Simpson. Reid was not able to have any influence and Evans was struggling as United continued to play with just one up front despite being behind. Quinn then hobbled off with Ward having to come on as United were forced to make their second change before half time.
With the interval moments away, disaster struck for the Blades again. Simpson managed to get away from Nosworthy who got the wrong side of his man and then he only managed to haul him down. It was debatable whether it was inside the box but the assistant’s flag went across his chest to signal the spot kick. Nosworthy was cautioned and could have been sent off if he was deemed to be the last man. SIMPSON took the kick and sent Simonsen the wrong way. This was the seventh penalty the Blades had conceded this season and every single one has been converted!
The Blades were predictable booed off for a tepid first half performance that had seen them offer little going forward and second best in the physical battle too and would surely have been strong words from the acting management team at half time.
United at least were able to have some efforts on goal as firstly Bartley headed at Mannone from a corner and then Yeates curled over after a better passing move. United were able to get back in the game when Reid sent over a cross from the right and EVANS away from his marker headed firmly downward and into the net. The striker sprinted back to the centre with the ball as the crowd sensed resurgence in the home side. Not long after Bullard came on for Koren and then Stewart was booked for a late challenge on Simonsen and the game then threatened to boil over after Montgomery won a fierce but fair tackle on Ashbee and this led to a melee in the centre of the field with nearly every player involved. After the commotion had died down, Bartley and Ashbee were booked for grappling and many others were fortunate to escape action. United were clearly in the ascendancy and Hull were pegged back now. Yeates had an effort blocked and United forced a series of corners. With 15 minutes to go the Blades were deservedly level. Bartley played a long ball forward but Zayatte ought to have done better but dithered and EVANS stole in. The ball was sandwiched between him and Mannone but the striker came away with it and from the angle coolly converted to send the Lane wild.
United were now firmly in control and Ward and Evans nearly combined for a chance before McShane and then Gerrard cleared. United forced more corners and were now pushing Hull back but Stewart gave United a reminder of his ability as he turned Calve and went down looking for an optimistic penalty. Ashbee then committed another foul, a cynical trip on Evans but somehow escaped a second yellow card. However, as the game entered the additional 3 minutes of stoppage time it was United back on the attack as they forced another corner. The corner was caught by Mannone who wasted no time bowling the ball out and with men out of position Stewart sprinted away and with no challenge coming in advanced fully 70 yards before hitting a driving shot on the angle. Simonsen got a hand to it but could only divert it into the path of the waiting BULLARD who easily converted from close range to send the large Hull following into raptures at the other end of the ground. United’s players slumped to the floor as it was almost the last kick of the game. Scott Mathieson had played 3 and a half minutes but continued to play on and United did have time to have another final effort as Evans from 30 yards hit a shot that was saved from Mannone. Seconds later the referee blew for full time and City’s Bramall Lane curse was over. For United it was a desperate defeat in a somewhat cruel manner but once again they concede three goals at home yet again and shambolic defending from the start right to the bitter end was their undoing again as they remain firmly embroiled in relegation struggle.
United – A game of two halves for definite. First half we were dreadful. We never got going and lost most of the battle all over the field. We conceded a dreadful first goal which was so easy to make and score and then never got in the game at all. WE did not have a chance of note all first half and just gave the ball away time after time. Defensively it was like Billy Smart’s circus as each defender took it in turns to make mistake after mistake. The second goal was once again laughable and it seemed the game was up. As bad as Nosworthy were, many others were not much better but of course he made direct mistakes that led to the goals. Bartley also was pretty abject and could not do anything right. In midfield we never got hold of the ball and why even at 0-1 we stayed with Evans up front on his own was mystifying. They pressured Reid when he got the ball and also forced Yeates inside where they had men to cover. We looked clueless and showed little desire or fight to win the ball back when we lost it. The kick offs from the goals/start of the game summed us up. Played it back and just booted it out?! Honestly is that the best they can come up with?
Second half was a different United. We went to 4-4-2 and finally started to show some appetite for the game. We got amongst them and Montgomery and Britton started to pick up the scraps. Reid got on the ball more and finally we became a force in the game. We managed to switch play from flank to flank, became more patient in possession and forced Hull onto the back foot. A smartly taken goal from Evans saw us back in it and then we became further fired up after a mini brawl in the middle of the field. Evans then took his equaliser well and it seemed there was only one winner. However, just as we had against Burnley earlier in the season we tossed away a stupid goal, the like of which you see on the park in an u10’s game. From our corner in the 93rd minute we somehow found ourselves with only 2 defenders against 4 attackers. Monty should have brought him down on half way when he skipped away and then Lowton made a bad mistake when he decided not to go the man and stayed in the middle for some reason. Simonsen ought to have done a bit better too for me. There were 4 or 5 decisions from players that could have prevented this goal right from a poorly taken corner to the final moment when Bullard applied the touch.
Worryingly for me this was the easiest of the 4 Xmas games. I cannot see us getting much from Hull or Burnley especially with our recent abject away performances and then we have Doncaster at home whom we were torn apart by not long ago and O’Driscoll probably wanting to prove a point too. I cannot see us getting more than a point or two from these games and whilst this may appear pessimistic I feel it is more realistic, considering our performances and results this season.
As for the managerial situation today’s performance probably takes Carver out of the running. We showed some good fight in the second half but the first half performance was completely unacceptable and in the end it proved too little, too late. He probably knows today has ended any real chances of getting the job save for an unlikely win double in the next 2 away games. I commend United for taking their time more this time and actually doing proper interviews and seeing who is available. However, it is now over 2 weeks since Speed went. Surely we can make shortlist, approach the ones we want, interview and make an appointment in that time? The longer we take the harder it will be for a new manager in terms of getting his own players in and stamping his style on things. Another week and we could be even further in a mess. Carver and Ellis are unlikely to be at the club in a week too and this makes the situation even more bewildering.
I fear that despite a lot of bluster from Ryan and Doncaster; that there is some truth that we probably did talk to O’Driscoll and he probably turned us down. There was too many rumours and too much coming out from DRFC for there not to be elements of truth in us going for him. This is disappointing for me if and a big IF it is true. If he has turned us down after talks then the board have failed as if they cannot convince him then it is worrying and says a lot about the state of our finances etc. It seems like approaches have gone in for Adams and Scott. It does seem we are going to go for the cheap lower league appointment which is disappointing. Scott is not much more experienced than Speed really and it would me a massive step up. He is under no pressure at Brentford and whilst he has done well this is a completely different scenario. If Adams were not a ‘Blade’ he would not even be considered I feel. I do not think he is the man to take us forward and we may aswell have kept Blackwell who played a similar direct but organised style of play. His appointment would contradict completely what Birch said about wanting a progressive manager to develop the style of play and also not a manager who has been round and round the clubs which he stated he did not really want. I am not sure there are many other contenders that tick the boxes we have said in terms of a manager looking to carry on the style Speed was trying to instill as well as change the ethos. Personally I would have liked to have seen if Poyet was available as he has had quite a bit of experience in coaching and now management and has shown he has good contacts by some of the foreign players he has lured to Brighton but it is difficult as outside of O’Driscoll no one really seems like an outstanding candidate and it does seem like we will go for the cheap option once again.
Hull City – I did not think they looked that great but in the first half they won many of the 50/50 battles and looked more up for the fight than us. They did not tear us apart but the two men with pace, Simpson and Stewart, were too much for us and we looked susceptible very time either of those ran at our defenders. Cameron Stewart, on loan from Manchester United, was the best player on the pitch by a mile. He was lightening fast, skilful and direct. He caused United all sorts of problems and neither Calve nor Lowton (whichever side he went on) could stop him. He was too fast, too tricky and too good for us. Be nice if we could sign a player like him as we have no pace or penetration in the side whatsoever. Simpson was also very dangerous but probably could not believe his luck playing against Nosworthy who he made look a mug. The rest of their side was mixed. Zayatte was a bit Nosworthy like with some cool pieces of defending and then some awful play as shown with his defending with our equaliser. Koren showed some nice touches at times and of course Bullard is a class act and showed real appetite to get in the box and score a winner (when was the last time one of our midfielders got in the box to score a goal like that). Harper was non existent and I did not even know he was playing. Pretty similar to his season spell at the Lane really. He is stealing a wage yet again and I am sure Hull will find him out as we did quite soon. The negative side of them was their time wasting and at times quite cynical play which was sad considering some of the talents they have as mentioned. I felt Ashbee should have been dismissed for a series of crude fouls and his part in the melee (I felt Bartley raised his hands too and also should have gone) and then a bad foul on Evans somehow escaped action!
They actually were time wasting at 0-2, 1-2 and 2-2 and there was a sense of irony that they scored well after the third minutes of stoppage time. However, I would balance that by saying that when the ball came off Simonsen there were actually 2 hull players waiting to put the ball in. Fair play to Hull as how many times would we be throwing men forward on a break from a corner in the 93rd minute when 2-2 away from home. They went for it and it paid off. They were a touch fortunate to get the win but they were far superior in the first half and could argue they tossed a two goal lead away aswell. They will probably finish just below mid way but with investment from new owners and the likes of MaClean from Peterborough and Fryatt from Leicester on the way in they have much more fire power than us and despite being as ordinary as us throughout the rest of the team do have pace which we sadly do not. Frustrating as they are another side like many others such as Watford, Coventry, Ipswich that were not really better than us but took advantage of awful defending and left with all three points.
Simonsen 6/10 – Still not convincing. He had little chance with the first goal and the second was of course a penalty but overall he is too slow to come off his line and does not command or organise the defence well enough. I actually thought he was poor on the third as he pushed it into the danger zone. He either needed to try and turn it around the post or push it further out. It was weak hands and led to an easy tap in. May seem harsh criticising him but it was hardly a hard shot from Stewart.
Calve 4/10 – He is not good enough. I got called for criticising him on Saturday when I felt every time Sinclair had the ball he looked like getting past him. Well today I felt exactly the same with Stewart who gave him a torrid time all game. He cannot stop his winger and is very weak in the tackle. However, he does not even get close enough to his man giving him acres of space. He is just easy to beat. Going forward he takes too long to make his decisions, cross or pass and often gets crowded out or fails to deliver a decent cross. Amazed he has been starting ahead of Lowton.
Nosworthy 2/10 – Wretched. As bad a first half performance from a United player as I have seen for some time. Badly at fault for the first goal as he let his man get the wrong side to cross the ball and this led to the goal. Numerous other moments of indecision or bad defending culminated when he once again let his man get the wrong side and then compounded it by fetching him down. It may have been borderline whether it was in or out of the box but it was horrendous defending. He was led a merry dance by Simpson all first half and the Hull fans were actually laughing at him! He got better second half but again often took too long to clear or do the basics. We have to seriously consider terminating his loan as the money he is costing us (on ridiculous wages so I have been told, talking over 10K a week and Sunderland pay 50% of his wages on top of that) he is not doing it.
Bartley 4/10 – He was not much better than Nosworthy. His touch in the first half was wretched and it seemed like he had his boots on the wrong way round! He was not much better with his head with several misplaced headers or errant flicks. As good as they both were Saturday; they were dreadful in the first half. He got a bit better second half and maybe could have done better with a few headed chances from corners.
Taylor – I felt he was culpable in the build up to the first goal as he lost his man but others were at fault too. Got injured in a clash when he was going forward not long after and was taken off. Looked a bad one and was stretchered off. Probably be out for a bit. Another one like Jordan that is either injured or woefully inconsistent. Both are out of contract at the end of the season and will surely not be brought back due to aforementioned reasons.
Montgomery 6/10 – Thought he was poor with the rest of them in the first half but then suddenly started to win tackles, get amongst them and generally woke up for the second half. He led the fight back as we finally got a foothold in the game. His passing even improved after some shambolic efforts in the first half. However, ~I do think he should have took one for the team at the end; namely fetched the Hull man down. He would have got booked but it would have saved a goal. It was inexcusable not to even attempt a challenge.
Britton 6/10 – As above. He was never in the game and seemed to let the likes of Ashbee bully him first half. He was slow to react and did not have any influence whatsoever. He got better in the second and started to get on the ball and find our players. He kept it nice and simple but helped us quickly move the ball on and in turn create chances. Overall he has been a bit of a disappointment since coming to the club. I expected a lot more and too much is made of shape, formations or managers. He needs to do more for me.
Quinn 4/10 – Was never in the game; tossing away the ball constantly and seemed to now actually know where he was playing or who he was marking. Went off with a hip injury after falling innocuously and was taken off.
Reid 7/10 – He was up and down today. His long passing and crossing was actually poor. He sent 2 or 3 behind the goal or out of play but you could argue for some players were not reading what he was trying to do. However, most of the good things we did came from him. He set up the goal with a lovely cross though and then was involved in many of our better things and often was at the heart of when we attacked.
Evans 7.5/10 – Once again playing up front on his own for long spells; he did work hard but in the first half along with most of the rest was on his heels and beaten to the ball too much. Improved a lot after the break and was more like he was against Swansea. Won headers, competed and put himself about. Scored two well taken goal, a neat header and then a well taken goal where he did not give up when it could have favoured the keeper when the ball was played through. Took it well from a tight-ish angle too. He has improved in recent games but he does need some support. Ward was put alongside him but I felt he offered little. A shame Henderson is not going to be ready for another month or so according to Carver.
Yeates 5.5/10 – Frustrating performance. The few times he got the ball and went at Hull he looked dangerous but often he came inside or took too long to advance and the move petered out. His actual ratio of decent crosses/balls/shots in recent weeks has been really poor and most of the time he has given no real end product. I feel he had been poor in recent weeks and needs to get back to the form he showed a few months ago.
Subs –
Ward 5/10 – Came on and was played up top but he was caught offside at least three times and opted to come inside too much when he had the ball instead of going at defenders.
Lowton 6/10 – He came on for Taylor and played left back which was not a familiar position but he did ok although at times like Calve looked at full stretch against tough attackers. On the goal he was nowhere near Stewart and then instead of seeing he had advanced past Montgomery he opted to cover the box but did not mark Bullard just space. I would like him to be given a run in the team; at right back though.
Officials – Scott Mathieson. Had a strange game. He wanted to let the game flow and keep the match going and clearly did not seem to want to book players but at times he had no choice and it threatened to get out of control. Maybe he could have brandished 2 or 3 red cards to both teams and in not doing this the players started to take liberties and one or two very naughty challenges came in. He was not helped by his assistant referees as for the penalty he needed help and the assistant referee on the John Street stand took ages and then when Mathieson had indicated it was a foul he looked at him and it seemed a bit of guess work that it was inside the box. Maybe those nearer the incident can clear this up but it looked outside to me? Once giving the award then maybe he should have sent Nosworthy off for being the last man? Then in the second half numerous times for throw ins and corners the two assistant referees took ages to make decisions and often did not waiting for the referee. For the melee I saw both Bartley and Ashbee raise their hands and both could easily have been sent off. The latter committed 2 or 3 bad fouls in addition to this and he was very fortunate not to go off. I actually did not think we got much from the officials all day and it summed it up when he played 30 seconds over time when they scored the third when they had been timewasting all game since they scored early on.
Crowd – Decent crowd swelled by a couple of thousand from Hull. United were rightly booed off at half time but also in turn noticed the improvements in the second half and began to get the team behind them. It did seem that buoyed by the support and momentum all with the home side there would only be one winner. The crowd were baying for United to attack and go for it but of course this was to prove the undoing at the end and it was a disastrous ending to the game. It pretty much summed up United’s woeful season that looks like will be a battle to stay up and if United cannot improve their defending and with it their home form there is a real chance they could go down whoever the new manager is. If that is the case expect crowds to be more like half of that in attendance today; that is what the new managerial appointment is so important and United have got to get it right for once.