Reply With QuoteUnited – A great performance. Everything we did not do Friday; we did tonight. We competed from the off and were bang at it. Won all the loose stuff, tackles, competed, chased and harried. Won headers, blocks, got to the ball first and then picked up the second balls. On the ball our control, passing, touch and overall assuredness was all so much better. Every player played better and everyone put a shift in. We could have been 3-0 up after 15 minutes as we swarmed all over an albeit poor Reading side. We went in 2-0 up but had missed lots of chances and that was only negative. Think they had one chance first half and this was nowhere near as good as ones we missed. Second half they scored and they had a lifeline with Moore making a mistake pushing the ball into the incoming player from a save. After this we then missed more chances before they got a penalty. You felt here we go but Moore made a super save and then we made it 3-1. After this we had more chances and even though they had a couple; they still never really looked like coming back. We won at a canter in the end.
So many good individual performances, Fleck, Sharp, Duffy, Evans stood out but the defence all played well too. Every player really upped their effort levels and performance. We saw more of the United earlier in the season with O’Connell, Bash and the two wing backs bombing on. Fleck was running at players and Sharp looked a threat all night. We looked the gung ho, fearless side of earlier in the season and with a surer touch in front of goal could have been a walloping. Reading fans booed their team frequently but United deserve masses of credit for this. They pressed all night and were just nag at it. Complete antithesis of Friday. A huge turnaround. Big credit to the players. Sure many will say fans change their opinions and the bi polar fan will be discussed but to me we were crap on Friday, awful. Tonight, we were great and deserve all the plaudits.
We now need to carry it on Saturday – we may miss a few players but Burton are no great shakes – still we have played an extra game on a hard surface (will have been by the end) and have to repeat this performance. That is the challenge. Get as close to those standards set tonight the rest of the way. If we do that; whatever happens Wilder and us cannot complain.
Only negative was the double injury blow (and Duffy but looked less serious) when incredibly both Blackman and Clarke pulled up at the same time (opposite ends to the pitch). I thought that just sums up United’s luck but we got the win and hoping not too bad (Knill says they are not but muscle injuries usually need at least a week to recover so doubt either will be back for Saturday?)
Reading – For all the credit I give United and we made them look awful I felt; they did not help themselves. Looked as disinterested tonight as we did at Hull. Not bothered about competing for loose balls, gave it away, played a lot of long balls and were just so far off the pace. They had some bad luck also when McCleary went down injured early on – seemed to fall on the pitch and twist. However, they never got going and could not cope with our pressing and intensity. I recall us doing the same in the first half at the Lane and thought Stam would have them ready but they just folded again and were lucky to in just 2-0 down. Clearly can scored goal and attack as the 3-3 v Derby showed but defensively they take chances and give the ball away and leads to chances. They tried to play it out early on and clearly Stam wants this but not sure in a relegation battle this will help. After the crowd got on their back, they started clearing it longer and the crowd got on their back even more. Towards the end, their ire was at Sharp, the ref, their own players and anyone who would listen. It was a small crowd but became a bit toxic and the players wanted rid of the ball a lot. Reminded me of the United team under Adkins. They clearly have some decent players and even though have lost some they have many of those that made the Playoff final but things seem to have unravelled this season and they started badly and have just never recovered. Stam may not survive too much longer judging by the reactions. They have some experience and some decent players on paper but do not seem a team.
Opposition Man of the Match: Kelly the lad in midfield is a real talent and was only one who looked anything like. Cheated on the penalty but he was still a threat and got away from us a few times second half. The rest of the team not sure anyone stood out really. The keeper did not even make many saves; we
Opposition Weak link: Take your pick. The defence was awful, the midfield slow and weak and the attack powderpuff. Even the keeper did not save much (most shots wide!). The lad Moore is highly rated but had a bit of a mare tonight. I did not even realise Chris Martin was playing till he had that shot wide near the end. I have always liked him but becoming a bit of a Championship journeyman now.
United Ratings :
Blackman – Cannot really score him. He had nothing to do other than flick one low shot away and then pulled up – the same time as Clarke. Seems it might have been his back which was the issue before wasn’t it? Like with Clarke if a muscle injury could be out for some time.
Baldock 7/10 – Decent. Got up and down well and was able to support the attack. Had a few runs in behind and had one great chance that was saved when he should have scored. A few times like Stevens let his man run in behind but overall decent.
Stevens 7/10 – Thought he was better than Friday and used it much better. He got forward well and showed some nice passes and interchange. Still too far off his man at times and he gave it away in the build up the free kick long before the Basham foul and Moore mistake but still a poor error. Will not use his right foot and frustrates me when he spins around so many times to execute a left foot clearance.
Basham 7.5/10 – Determined performance full of passion where he made tackles and did all the notty gritty stuff. It was his foul that led to the goal but he kind of had to take it as player had got away. He got booked for this which was unfortunate and just because the ref had warned many of our players previously and he was the fall guy. A few slices (his first cross sailed over) but he was committed all night; won challenges and so determined.
O’Connell 7.5/10 – Thought he was out best defender. He was good on the ball, driving forward and overlapping like earlier in the season. First half he was like another winger – we have not seen this for a while. He defended intelligently and threw his body in the way and I felt Martin and Bodvarsson had very few chances.
Stearman 7.5/10 – Played well overall stepping out and using the ball intelligently. Got in blocks and interceptions and limited them to few chances. I felt he was very unfortunate on the penalty and the lad just ran into him and was looking for it. I was amazed the referee gave it. He then got a bit lucky when he caught Bodvarsson after he shot wide; that looked more of a penalty that the one he gave!
