Reply With QuoteUnited – Excellent performance for the most part. The first half was similar to Preston and Bristol City but we actually created better chances then both of those games. Sharp missed a hat trick of good chances with an effort saved when he was one on one, a penalty missed and then an effort from the corner straight after over the bar. We had other half chances and completely dominated the midfield. We finally got in front when Sharp scored the hardest chance of the lot! After this we just moved them about and they could not cope. Half time probably came at a bad time. Millwall did have one chance though through Gregory but other than this is one-way traffic. We had all of the ball and they rarely threatened. The midfield three dictated things; the wing backs got forward as did O’Connell and Basham and the front two were looking mobile. It was like we were the home side. The only concern was it was only 1-0.
It proved that the nagging doubt of not getting more goals would haunt us; the same as when we played at Bristol City and did not take out chances. The home side came out and started to show more intensity and scored a soft goal with a looping header – a bread and butter goal for the home side but a shocker to concede as was just a corner and a header. There was no flick or clever moment. Then a long ball forward (decent ball from Leonard) caught us out and Egan lost Gregory who beat the offside trap and coolly rolled it into far post. Out of nowhere we were losing a game we had completely controlled. I was furious as it was just a nonsense we were losing a game we had been on top and easily the best side. We then became really ragged and O’Brien had a chance and it remarkably could have been 3-1. After this we got our focus and started to control things again. We had more half chances and Duffy had one saved and then McGoldrick nearly got in. Johnson came on and gave us pace and some more attacking impetus down this side. He played really well and was involved in some good attacks. Fleck started to be more influential and Duffy actually got stronger as the game went on.
We just kept our passing going and did not panic. You felt we may get another chance but a stupid foul gave us a bit of a lifeline. We scored and after this you senses there was only one winner. Sharp had a goal disallowed after lovely move and we kept moving them about from side to side and the gaps started to appear. We nearly got in a few times and then a delightful patient move saw Duffy involved again and the ball in after nice clever play was put in by McGoldrick. A simple a finish as the one he converted last week. After this we saw things out quite easily as we put on height in Stearman and Clarke as they pumped balls forward.
A big three points. Still people, including me will nit-pick that shocking spell of defending; where we were all over the place conceding two goals and giving the ball away constantly. It was just like Preston as we panicked and lost our shape and composure. To our credit we settled down and started to dominate again. I felt the midfield three had an almost second wind after the hour mark and they looked like they were handing on. The goals may have come late on but the amount of ball we had and weight of pressure meant they were unlikely to hold out.
I am so glad we play like we do compared to Millwall. Even if we had lost or drew today I would say that. We try and pass it, we link the areas of the side, we are patient and wait for openings. It is lovely to watch at times. We are guilty still of overplaying or being a bit slow to move it forward but would rather that than the percentage stuff the likes the home side played today. We at least try and link and play neat one touch, one twos, triangles and try and play players in. Credit that we kept doing that today when we could have panicked. Credit too to Wilder for leaving the side as it was and not just throwing players on and changing the formation. He had faith in what we were doing and trusted the players that they would keep doing what they had done and get back into the game.
Millwall are a side that have had a bit of a hoodoo on us – only won once in six games and lost the last three down there. They have had some fortunate smash and grabs in both defeats at the Den in games we should have drawn or won. Today we played the best I have ever seen us have done down there and got a well-deserved three points; even if the circumstances once again like with the Preston game was a bit bizarre. We had 66% possession, more efforts, more big chances and even disregarding the stats; we were far superior aesthetically.
Take away the stupid and slow start to the 2nd half and the comeback and look at the whole game and for the most part there was only one side playing football and one side who actually controlled the football. It was justice in the end we won the game. Great to see us winning 3 games right at the death now after not doing that much this season. Also, nice to see us go for the jugular rather than settle. I said on twitter just get a point conscious of some daft chuck always over the last 12 months. Shows that I know nothing and that a positive approach will work. Loved the way we went for the win and got it in the end.
A huge three points and puts us right in the mix at the top. A defeat or draw would have seen us back in a 6th-9th pack and not much in it but now we have moved away and there were a lot of draws today also. West Brom and Boro look strong but some fancied sides dropped points today – the likes of Derby and Brentford. We now have a game at Blackburn to me that is like a free hit. They have not lost at home yet (I like stats like that as think if we were the home team; we would be due a loss!) and have started well but we can go there with no fear. A point or even three and it will have been a great week and set us up for a very winnable game against Hull before the next international break. It is two games I do not fear and if we carry on level of performance of recent games (Brum apart) we can definitely get some more points and be right up there.
Millwall – Got to say they are dire to watch. They might make Bolton look quite cultural at times! They knock it forward when they get it and rarely play through midfield. The ball over the top with Morison and Gregory to chase is their many ally. Their second tactic is to get on knock downs or flicks on from them. The third option is the set play as a result of the other team clearing the first or second option. It is very Bassett like in his pomp but as we saw under him is might effective at times as we saw glimpses of today. They have obviously got a great deal of success out of doing it and the promotion and playoff chasing campaigns over the last few seasons.
They have normally been well organised and committed but obviously this season they have not started well. By all accounts they have dominated some home games and been unfortunate not to win against the likes of Middlesbrough and Leeds. Today that was not the case. Anything but a Blades win would have been an injustice. They can moan about the officials and penalties all they like but one was a stonewall one and stupid. The other was harsh but in general play for possession and chances; they were second best nearly all game save for a spell for 10 minutes after the break. They deserved nothing out of the game and if it had been 0-3 at half time you cannot say it would not have been fair. Second half they had a go and stunned us with two decent goals from their perspective but the score line was a bit ridiculous even giving them credit for turning it around. They had a chance to make it 3-1 which they missed and then after this we took control again. They gave a mindless spot kick away and then after this you could sense the lack of confidence and their only looked one winner. After we scored they lumped it forward and it was long throws and set plays. It was all a bit desperate. It is not great to watch. The two front lads work hard but other than the Gregory goal and one other chance he had – not sure they were too effective today. The midfield hardly had a kick most of the game and the defence offered lots of chances for us.
Last season they set up with a different formation to match us up and recall Harris being lauded for it. Today they seemed more of a 4-4-2 but it was hard to work out what they were doing. Williams played just in front of the midfield and maybe it was more of a 4-2-2-2 – they had little width and Williams seemed to play just behind Leonard, Wallace and O’Brien. They got badly exposed down the flanks where we had overload after overload all game and they never changed it. I suppose they got in front and felt the game turned but really this was just a mad spell and after we regrouped the pattern of domination continued.
They look stuck in a rut. They rely on their home form and getting the home crowd on side but today they were booed off at half time and full time. The fans seem restless but they have spent a bit of money at least for them in buying Bradshaw, Leonard etc. They have lost a key man in Saville and just too many ***** players have not hit form. They rely on work ethic and organisation and the aforementioned basic but quite effective tactics working. So far, they have been off in all facets of this and as a result lie 2nd bottom. I think with the front lads and the demands of Harris; they will pull away and remember they started badly last season but I don’t see them repeating last season and they will probably be just below mid table.
