United – This team keeps on producing. A different kind of night. We did not have the ball much (even with 11 we were not great) and met a very good opponent who should be embarrassed to be so low with the talent they have and technical ability. Brentford played some lovely football and stretched us all night. We got the lead and then the big moment – the sending off. I have watched it back and it is stupid but not a red card at all. He is late but his feet are on the ground and not sure he really hits him that hard. It was a ridiculous tackle as the player was going nowhere and moronic but it is not a red card. The Rotherham one on Saturday he lunged in and left his feet more and had his foot higher. Madine was late but seemed to have his foot on the floor and whilst he did go to ground, he did not lunge; he just kicked him. After this I feared the worst. We hung on to half time and they were pegging us back.
After the break, our changes did not seem to help and we could not keep hold of the ball. It was wave after wave of attacks. For a spell it seemed inevitable they would score and you felt if they did, they would go on and win; as they did at Boro but we hung in there. Henderson made some saves, we had a bit of luck when they hit the post and the defence made so many tackles and blocks. I thought there were so many blocks and tackles. We really dug in. We actually had a few chances on the break and when Sharp came on it helped us as we had an out ball and two that could chase and run. This changed it somewhat. I actually felt from 70 minutes on; they did not really have as many clear chances and they were shooting from range more. We started to have a bit of play and broke things up and were not just kicking it away. They started to be a bit selfish and stopped working it from side to side as much and took some silly long-range shots. I still thought we would do well to get out without conceding as they had so much of the ball and felt something would be played in, they would finish as they were still moving it about and stretching us.
However, I then thought Sharp and McGoldrick being just nuisances allowed us to break out a bit. We had one chance and then won the corner and I felt they were always a bit susceptible on these – the fact the other way they took so much short stuff and did not put it in the box instantly suggested we could profit the other way. So, it proved when we won two big headers and sealed the game.
It had been a superb effort from the Blades and they stay right in the promotion race with so many heroes wearing red and white. We did not play much football but we did not have much of the ball after the red card. They are probably the worst side to play against with ten men but we threw bodies in the lines, we kept our shape mostly and won tackles/blocks. We really had to dig in. The Sharp change helped us and we then somehow had a bit of new life but you still thought we would do well to see it out. The second goal was huge. Tonight, there will be a lot of talk about the stupidity of Madine (harsh but don’t give the ref a chance to send you off) but I would want it more to be about the bravery of our manager (changes) and the sheer heart and desire of the team. Everyone put a huge shift in but massive credit to the keeper, Henderson, O’Connell, Egan and Fleck. All four were absolute warriors.
We now go into Saturday and have to go and give it everything. There may be a few tired legs but Sharp and McGoldrick will start and only played a half or less. Duffy will come back I feel also. We have to go there and just put it all on the line. If we lost it would not be the end but 5 points with how Leeds are playing might be too much with 8 to play. A draw would be fine but we need to go with a positive attitude and try and win. I am more relaxed about that game than I was tonight oddly as I felt tonight was a real banana skin and even more so when we went down to 10. I felt our run would come to an end but this team keeps showing everyone that they are proving people wrong and maybe I should not doubt them at all. I also feel it is a different game to Hillsborough really and that we can play a bit more relaxed also. We just need to give it everything; with a two week break to come after that. If we lay it all on the line like tonight and lose; then so be it. This team deserves so much credit for what it is doing and tonight embodied what it is to be a Blade. The ovation they got at the end and unison between fans and team summed it up.
Brentford – We have never lost to them since we came up. We have done the double over them this season and took 4 points off them last season. That is testament to how well we have done the last two seasons as these are a very good side who should do much better really.
Oddly their fans seem to think they are miles better than many teams (including us when you read some of the forums – and maybe they are but have to prove it with points gained and sadly they always start seasons badly and pick up too late) and will critique the likes of Egan and O’Connell. I tell you why make no mistake Brentford were one of the better sides at the Lane and actually were more than matching us 11 v 11. They always play great football and at times you think what a good side they are but they have little end product and you can see why they have tossed so many points away. They make daft mistakes at the back and at the other end are not clinical enough. Their fans may love they way they play but in truth they need to have more of a decisive edge in both boxes or they will be a mid-table club this year and next year. The likes of O’Connell and Egan are the sort of players they need if they want to push on ironically as they lack steel and leadership. Give me these two lads over the pretty, tippy tap stuff at the back they show. It gets you what it has got them mid table.
That said; they all are very comfortable on the ball and are easy on the eye. They knock it about, are patient (too patient) and play some nice one touch stuff. They have some really good players and a few maybe we could nick like we have before. They have some real attacking threats, pace, trickery and technique but as I say need to mix it up a bit. They need a bit more grit and maybe physical strength in key areas as you saw they lack a bit on set plays and almost have to score a perfect goal at times – something we have been guilty of at times but at least we can score goals in different ways. They know tonight has ultimately ended any play off hopes in all likelihood. They had to really win to have a chance and with an hour against ten would have fancied their chances but could not get that goal. If they had; they probably would have gone on and won but then made errors that saw the second go in.
The new manager has actually turned things around after a poor start when he took over from Dean Smith but it will be a bit too late and you worry if some of their better players, Maupay, Watkins and maybe Sawyers might get cherry picked like some of their other talent was. Still they of course have a scouting system and data analysts that allow them to sign the next players to replace the outgoing that they normally sell on for a profit. It is a system that works to a point but not sure I would like to see players going constantly and moving on and then others moving in etc. It is a bit Championship Manager.
Opponent man of the match – I felt the lad in midfield Saywers was excellent. He dictated play and was running things but of course we had to sit off in this area. Watkins was dangerous and Benrahma was a box of tricks but the end product was lacking. They all are comfortable on the ball and even some of the back lads can pass it and show quick feet.
Weak link – Maupay had a poor game and missed a few really good chances. He missed two point blank range efforts and then miskicked another second half. At the back though they made mistakes and Barbet (penalty), Dalsgaard and Jeanvier (corner to the goal) all errored at key times. I feel there is chances for goals if you put them under pressure. I also felt the sub Canos was so selfish and wasteful. He showed some good feet but did not look up and find the extra man choosing to shoot three or four times or run down blind alleys.
Henderson 8/10 – He got man of the match and was very good. He made one point blank save first half from Maupay and pushed a free kick over. He did nearly make a mess of a shot that Maupay then blazed over on the rebound and then nearly kicked into his own near when the ball was played him back – these two were not great moments but he did recover. After this he pushed away a few shots and looked determined not be beat. Had a bit of luck when one hit the post but he was very commanding and took some key late crosses/through balls. The save in the first half was very good and then he pushed a low one away but not sure he made many out of this world saves but did make a lot of saves and had to make them.
Baldock 7/10 – Got forward to start the game well and of course nipped in and drew the foul for the penalty. He then had a header go wide. Then after the sending off had to sit in more and defend and did this well against some talented players running at him. Withdrawn for Sharp on the hour.
Stevens 7.5/10 – Committed performance where he got blocks in, made tackles and tried to keep his shape. Got done a few times by people overloading him on two v ones but that was not his or the teams’ fault. Towards the end he made quite a few interceptions at ***** times and helped us stop balls coming in.