United 0 Barnet 1 - report

The Blades were knocked out of the FA Cup to non-league Barnet who deservedly won at Bramall Lane thanks to Shaquille Coulthirst’s penalty kick. United made 10 changes but offered up a really abject showing and the London based side completely deserved their victory.
There were debuts for Dowell and Bryan with only Cranie keeping his place from the win at Wigan on New Years Day. A number of other players came back into the side with rare starts for Moore, Johnson Stearman and Coutts and recalls for Freeman, Washington, Clarke and Lundstram. Barnet were backed by a healthy following sat in the Bramall Lane Upper tier and managed by Darren Currie, the nephew of former Blades legend Tony Currie.
Barnet were quicker out of the traps and Taylor shot wide after Lundstram had been outmuscled. Soon after Coulthirst headed home but was adjudged offside as Barnet were having all the early chances against a sluggish home side. Coutts was booked for a foul after Johnson had given the ball away before Robson fired over for the Bees. United had not got going although Dowell showed a few neat flicks but Clarke and Washington had not had any service at all. After a giveaway in the corner, Barnet break and Johnson and Freeman were easily bypassed leading to Mason Clark being in. Stearman took an age to get back and when he did, he cynically brought his man down for a penalty kick. He was booked as a result of the challenge. The penalty saw Moore guess the right way but COULTHIRST put enough power on it to see it go in off the hand of the keeper.

United won a free kick when Bryan was felled but Dowell’s effort was deflected wide for a corner and United did not really offer any clear chances. Coulthirst and Mason Clark continued to cause problems at the other end and United’s fans let the team know what they thought of a lacklustre first half showing at the half time whistle.

The 2nd half saw Barnet come out strong again and Coulthirst got away from Freeman to cross and Johnson had to toe away. Another break saw the same man win a corner. United had been awful and Duffy had to be introduced for Washington with Dowell going further up top. Sweeney’s header had to be flicked away by Moore and then the same man nearly made a mess of a long-range shot shovelling it towards his own goal.

Sharp came on for Lundstram soon after as Barnet made two changes also. Freeman had a decent chance but his angled shot was well wide before the final change saw Basham on for Bryan. Sharp had a chance but got his angles wrong and his effort went well wide from Freeman’s cross. The game drifted into stoppage time and United had not yet made Cousins have a save to make of note all game until right at the death when Sharp’s cross was diverted goalwards by Duffy but Clarke’s flicked header was straight at the keeper. He nearly made a mess of it but flicked it onto the bar and the ball was then cleared for a corner. 5 additional minutes saw Barnet win a number of free kicks and see things out professionally in the corner and in the end, they eased to a well-deserved victory.

United – An embarrassing day. Lost 1-0 and could have been more. The scoreline flattered us. It was not just about being outworked or outfight either. They played better football. They attacked well and got behind us and on another day they may have got 2 or 3 more goals. We turned up and felt it would be easy and got exactly what we deserved.

The players and team’s performance today was more than embarrassing. Regardless of the changes and players being out of the team or not having played much – the lack of desire, energy, passion and football (the touch/passing was appalling) was simply unacceptable. Many of those players should be ashamed of how bad they played and their attitude today stank. They were slow on and off the ball. We did not win tackles, did not press and when we had it played it nice and safe and then either lost it or did not go forward with any pace. We barely created a chance in 90+ minutes against a non-league side. We barely had a shot and hardly had any action or goalmouth play at all. A few Freeman crosses, a Sharp half chance and then the late Clarke flicked header. That was it. Up to 70 minutes we had barely had a move of note let alone got anywhere near their goal with any real purpose. Their keeper won’t have had many easier games all season. It was garbage. United have rightly been given lots of plaudits the last few years for fast, forward play with purposeful attacking and really good football. Today, they looked a slow, weak, clueless side where not one player took any responsibility. A lot of senior pros too and no one stood up. Freeman, Coutts, Stearman, Clarke, Lundstram etc. Not one player actually got on the ball and made things happen. They all effectively went through the motions.

The players walked off at the end and should be embarrassed as the none league team’s players and fans went wild. I wonder how they felt as the Barnet players jubilantly celebrated in the dressing room next to them? As Wilder says they should find a side door to sneak out of. For some of them it should be a rude awakening. Many were given a chance today to prove they may have a chance of being around the team in the coming weeks and run in. Not one player looked anything like a first teamer for a team at the top end of the Championship. Indeed, the National League side looked the higher side up the pyramid today. A damning inditement of how pathetic United were. The likes of Stearman, Freeman, Coutts, Lundstram, Washington and Clarke looked a long, long way off being more than being subs. The current first team will feel very safe and that is a worry. It shows we probably need 2 or 3 more players to give us competition as none of those today looked anywhere near good enough if we have injuries, suspensions or drop off in form. Wilder confirms as much in his post match words but that puts pressure on the existing first team and gives them an element of comfort which we do not want. They know they can have a couple of poor games and still stay in. I don’t like that mentality but hopefully the players, as they have showed recently can just keep the same level of consistency regardless of the lack of competition for their shirts. Wilder saying that ‘we are third in the Division because none of the players are normally in the first team’ is really a summing up of how bad the depth is in this squad in terms of quality to come in.

Barnet – They were fantastic. They fought for every ball, and competed from minute one right to the end but more than that they played good football and actually outplayed us for long spells of the game. They came at us early and with two strong runners had early chances and had one effort before another was chalked off for offside. They then got a penalty and after this saw out the game rather comfortably. We had a few balls go in and the late Clarke chance but not sure the keeper had much to do all game. Indeed, 2nd half they had chances to extend the lead and if they had won 2 or 3-0 it would not have been unfair. They thoroughly deserved the win. They fight harder than us and looked like they cared. They showed an intensity and were neat and tidy on the ball. They had willing runners all over the field but even on the ball looked as good as us and actually looked more dangerous in the areas that mattered. They dealt with us with ease packing the defence and we had no idea had to get through them. They will have been surprised how easy they won the game in the end. It was a comfortable 1-0 win really. Credit to the players and the managements. The travelling support was excellent too. They deserved the win and hope they get a decent draw next round. Whoever they play will give them a harder game than we gave them. They will get much tougher games in the National League.

Opponent man of the match – Take your pick. The keeper made a late save but only one he made but the defence were superb, defending in numbers. The midfield won tackles and passed when they could and they had willing runners. The front two caused us all sorts of problems from start to finish. The lad who scored Coulthirst was superb. He ran off the defence, held it up and looked good on the ball. Deserved his standing ovation when he was taken off. Clarke and Washington should be embarrassed at his effort and desire in comparison.

Weak link – No one. Maybe most of United’s team! They had no one who played poorly at all and every one from the starting eleven to the subs put so much effort in but used the ball intelligently too.

Moore 4/10 – Harsh mark it maybe but he looked edgy all game. The penalty he got a hand to but in overall play he did not command and seemed rooted to his line. He nearly let one threw his hands 2nd half that could have made it 2-0. Took an age to kick it out too. Noticeable we would not kick it back to him in the same way we do with Henderson who gives us that option of playing it at him even at pace sometimes. Realised how good our current number one is when you see the hesitant Moore but cannot have been helped with the mess in front of him.

Freeman 4/10 – He actually put two excellent crosses in that led to half chances other wise his mark may be lower. Outside of this he was languid, slow and lazy. He looked disinterested and 2nd to the ball a lot. He was sloppy with the ball and got skinned quite a few times too. On that performance Baldock will remain with the shirt for a long time yet. Looked like he could not be arsed most of the game and his attitude summed up the day.

Bryan 3/10 – Shocking performance. I was looking forward to seeing him and what he could do. He looked like he had never played football in his life never mind not having played for us before! I am being serious! His passing, control and awareness were shocking bad. Some are saying the experienced pros could have helped him but he could not even do the basics. Mistimed headers, wild slices, passes out of play and losing the physical battle too. Technically he looked really poor and just wanted rid of it after a woeful opening. Did win us one free kick with a bumbling run. 2nd half he improved a bit – he could not get much worse. One of the poorer debuts I have ever seen at the Lane and looks miles off even being a league footballer let alone Championship ready.

Johnson 3.5/10 – The left side was awful today. We had no play of note down there at all with poor touches, the ball bouncing away and when they attacked, we looked all over the place. He is a player I want to do well but I would worry if Stevens got an injury/suspended now Lafferty has been allowed to move on – as I would be more comfortable with the Posh loan man playing. His touch is really poor and often leads to a tackle and another who took an age to get it out of his feet and move it and needs so many touches to even execute a cross. He looks bereft of confidence but I wanted him at least to try and run his man or use his pace but he did not even do that.

Stearman 3/10 – A lot have been saying he has been unfortunate not to play more and he may have been rusty but he was awful today. Slow and sloppy to react to the long ball; he was terrible twice letting his man get away even before the clumsy penalty which he was lucky to stay on the field. After this he never recovered. The ball kept getting stuck under his foot and the front lad for them ran him ragged all day. One to forget. He is normally quite steady but seen as one of the experienced pros today you would have expected much more. He was all over the place today.

Cranie 4.5/10 – Maybe our best defender and that is saying something. He did not quite make as many errors as the rest! He too was panicky on the ball and slow to deal with danger. Gave away some daft free kicks and was slow to sense danger. He took too long to move it on when he had it.

Coutts 4/10 – Really disappointing. On and off the ball he was slow. Looks so far off the pace it is untrue. He took forever to even execute a slow backwards or square pass. Cannot recall any moments of real quality and he did not carry the ball all game and just seemed to want to play it nice and simple. He got booked for being late on his man and a few other times got outmuscled also. He looks a long way from being ready but did not help everyone else was so bad. Not sure we can afford to carry him though and the odd 10-15-minute cameo when we are leading and need to keep the ball as about the best, we may get this season. He is nowhere near ready being a regular for a top end Championship side. Maybe he will be after a summer of work but he has a way to go. He seems no closer now than he was when he came into the team back in October and that is a concern.

Lundstram 4/10 – Sort of game you would think he may boss. He may get on the ball and dictate but he played it safe with no urgency. Did not pass it forwards much at all and the two midfield lads showed no drive or urgency all game. It was all slow and backwards/sideways and just allowed them to get men back. He lacks any kind of pace or running ability and his main play seems to be just to get it and pass it 5 yards to the side. Not sure he will ever be more than a League One player sadly and like with Lafferty, Lavery, Carruthers etc, we may have moved on from this sort of player. How poor were Coutts and Lundstram – I would be looking at some insurance in midfield for Duffy and Norwood in the form of a signing. That may seem a snap reaction but they were so slow and off the pace. I felt the midfield offered the defence no protection and created nothing at all today.

Dowell 5.5/10 – He was maybe our best player and he hardly convinced. A few neat flicks and wafts but not much came off. He at least tried to get on the ball and move it on a few times. Was supposed to be playing in the Duffy role but ended up wider and did not give us an outlet we needed. He took too much time to move things on and allowed them to get back. Need to see more of him as at least he showed one or two neat touches.

Clarke 3.5/10 – Not given anything really in terms of balls to his feet or even many crosses of note but laughable lack of effort really despite this. He barely got his shirt dirty. Did not pull his man about, did not move off the ball, was behind his man and looked disinterested completely. The service was poor but even when a few decent ones came in 2nd half he was behind his man or on his heels. His touch was awful as it just kept bouncing off him. When he had it he has no awareness of where the other players are and goes the wrong way or plays a heavy pass. He has had a really poor season and I do believe if anyone did come in for him (rumours of Swansea the other day) we would move him on. He had that spell last year and ironically could have got 4 or 5 million pounds for him if Villa’s interest was to be believed. That seems a long time ago. He has to do much better than that.

Washington 4/10 – Like Clarke not sure he moved about enough or was much of a nuisance factor. I will say the ball came in too slow and we did not given him much service. He at least showed two moments; one run off the ball first half that he nearly got in and then a flick and run 2nd half. Outside of this he was poor and not sure he showed that much more than Clarke really.

Subs –

Duffy – At least tried to get on the ball but he was often crowded out and not sure we created too much from him but by this stage we were getting very desperate. I did expect more from him but even he ran into blind alleys.

Sharp -As above. He had one half chance where he miskicked wide and one other low shot but the slow pattern of play and the lack of urgency meant it was hard for him to come in and immediately alter things.

Basham – Came on and gave it away twice and miskicked in the corner. Then overplayed one at the other end. Fitted right in!

Wilder 4/10 – His team selection I agreed with but they were awful. Individually and collectively. He can’t be blamed totally for that but the lack of appetite and readiness for the game; the coaching staff have to take some responsibility too. He made changes (I would have left the eleven out there and let them suffer to be honest and try and turn it round themselves – they got us in the mess) but did not really alter anything. He has less games now but more worrying realises what a poor and weak squad we have and if we have any injuries/loss of form; we literally have nothing underneath the starting eleven at all. Not one player really made a case for even being given a longer opportunity off the bench let alone starting.

Referee – Fine. Got the penalty right and the two yellows were correct. He had a big ball when a poor tackle from them could have been a red but I think he got it right. They did timewaste but he played 5 minutes and to be honest he should have blown up a lot earlier and put us out of our misery!

Crowd – Nearly 10,000. Over 9,000 will want to forget that game very quickly. Most have never seen United lose to a non-league team. They have now! I was too young to be at Altrincham with the other 10,000 Blades that seem to have gone there when we lost in the early 80’s! Barnet’s fans were excellent. They sang from start to finish and got behind the team really well. They must have had a great day and deserved the win. Our fans were quite reserved and the smattering of boos at half and full time could have been a long louder and longer but Wilder had rightly got himself a lot of credit.