View from the sofa / red button….
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The Blades went up to third and pulled level on points with Leeds and Middlesboro after ending Blackburn’s long unbeaten record at Ewood Park. The home side had not lost on its own ground since September 2017 but United deservedly won in another excellent and in the end comfortable performance. The Blackburn keeper made several good saves and United created all the chances in the game. They should have led at half time but then 2nd half got in front thanks to skipper Billy Sharp scoring at the second attempt after good work from David McGoldrick. The second goal came when Enda Stevens inviting cross was nodded home by Sharp at the back post. United saw out any comeback from Rovers with relative ease with keeper Dean Henderson only making one routine save all night and this came in the 85th minute.

Manager Chris Wilder opted against making chances an picked the same side that beat Millwall on the road. Blackburn featured the dangerous Bradley Dack and an impressive home record to boot and had made an impressive start to their return to the Championship.

United started well and had all of the early ball. Norwood was instrumental in most of the play and McGoldrick looked lively. The striker moved into space and looked to play Sharp in but his partner took too long and was crowded out. United won 3 early corners and from one pre planned routine, the short corner was miskicked by Sharp. A few others were scrambled clear. Rovers had not really been in the game and Dack was well marshalled by United and the aerial ball was being won by the Blades defence. United continued to control things and had a good chance when Duffy came into the channel and hit a powerful shot well saved by Raya.

Sharp then had a header flicked off target before Blackburn had a half chance and Dack had a deflected effort go behind for a corner. United came back onto the attack soon after and regained control and the home side were struggling to pick up players and contend with the United formation. A corner came over and O’Connell had a header saved and then the rebound was cleared away. Not long after another decent move saw Fleck hit a powerful shot that was well saved from the home keeper. Raya then saved an effort from McGoldrick. United had been by far the more dangerous side and had managed to have 3 or 4 decent openings if not golden chances but the keeper had made some decent saves. Blackburn had barely offered anything in response and a long range shot blocked by Evans was a rare opening coming just before the half time whistle.

The second half saw the home side change personnel and formation. Mulgrew came on for Smallwood and Mowbray attempted to gain some control by matching up with 5 at the back and 3 in midfield. Rovers did have a spell of play and two headers from Dack and Armstrong went over after some sloppy play from United. However, the best effort came from the visitors soon after. The ball was moved about well and as it came across; Fleck had a great chances but his well struck effort was blocked right in front of goal and out for a corner.

Graham had not been a factor and expensive new signing Ben Brereton came on in his place. The game had become a bit scrappy and Rovers had certainly had more of the game this half but neither side had really had any significant efforts on goal at this point as it moved over the hour mark.

However, a decent move with Duffy and then Fleck involved saw the ball transferred over to the left and McGoldrick peeled off and sent over a lovely low cross begging to be finished. SHARP actually made a bit of a mess of the first chance as he hit it straight at the keeper but then quickly reacted and tucked away the rebound. A typical classic poachers goal from Sharp. With the deadlock broken, United then started to dominate again. Fleck was causing problems with his running and McGoldrick’s intelligent hold up play was causing problems too.

Rothwell came on for Bell in the final change for Rovers who had struggled to cause United many problems all game. Although just before the change Brereton had their best chance as he got into a good area but headed well over when he really should have forced Henderson into work.

There were loud cheers from the visiting fans as Paul Coutts finally came back into the fray replacing Duffy. He moved into the centre of the field and his touch and composure was shown immediately as he linked with Norwood. Good work from Freeman and Basham saw off threats down the left and then soon after the second goal came.

It came from patient build up and then the ball was played down the left and Stevens sent over a superb deep cross that SHARP got on the end of, to nod down and in. He celebrated wildly in front of the jubilant United fans.

Stevens was the first player booked for a late foul as Rovers broke away through Bennett. Clarke replaced the scorer soon after and then finally Blackburn had a shot on goal as Armstrong stung the palms of Henderson. The final chance came when Washington replaced McGoldrick as United looked for some fresh legs for the final stages. The substitute then got in on goal as United broke and Fleck played him in but Washington’s effort was saved. He probably should have scored as he was one on one; albeit on the angle. The game went into 4 minutes of stoppage time and other than a late Blackburn corner, the only action was Bennett getting a booking for a late tackle and then O’Connell getting likewise for pushing the defender away after words were exchanged. The final whistle came and United celebrated their third win on the bounce and another solid performance and pleasingly a clean sheet.

United – Keep this brief. We were excellent again. We controlled the game almost from start to finish. Scored two good goals that were both well made and finished. We had other chances and restricted them to barely an effort all night. The defence was solid, the midfield composed and neat and tody and the front two looked dangerous. We did not create tons of chances but created far more than them and in the end saw out the game very comfortably against a side that has been doing well and have a very long unbeaten home record. We look a confident side and I am gla

We dominated the first half and it was very much like the games at Millwall and Bristol City. We had chances, maybe not clear ones but 3 or 4 saves the keeper made. We had efforts from shots and headers and on another day it would have been 1 or 2-0 at half time. They were not in the game at all. Recall a few deflected efforts but nothing close to being on target.

After the break, we did drop off a bit and they had some more of the ball but only recall a few headed efforts. We were not quite as controlled as we had been but then Fleck still had the best chance. After we scored; they had one header but other than that cant recall much at all. We started to get on the ball again; scored a second and then saw it out easily. It was a really solid performance and individually and collectively we made Blackburn look very poor. Maybe they had an off night but then so do a fair few teams against us recently- I think we are making teams look poor. We are out footballing most opponents at the moment and if we can cut out silly moments of madness (we did tonight) we know we have goals in the team and Sharp is on fire at the moment.

Nice to be right at the top – also pleasing all the other games were draws as this helps including the remarkable throwaway from our city rivals. Glad not to be right at the top as when that happened a few times last season then we started getting talked about and did not stay there for long! Saturday is a real banana skin. Hull are poor and the manager is someone who looks like a yesterdays man but we have to be at it. We do not want another Birmingham. If we keep to the standards we should win and that would be a great way to go into the international break. Might be a few tired legs with us having a day less in terms of rest but not sure even tonight we had to exert ourselves too much. The crowd can help on Saturday as we look to carry on the excellent form. A clean sheet is nice as we have been shipping goals and the defence on the whole was excellent tonight against a team that has scored a lot of goals at home. Really pleased with United at the moment. We are quietly going about our business and winning games with some assured performance. Long may it continue. Just hope we keep everyone fit as with this eleven and Coutts, Clarke waiting to get back in; it looks really good.