Reply With QuoteUnited – We have been heroic at times in the last few games with effort, desire and organisation. We have not played the football we have seen over the last few seasons and been more of a resilient type of performance. Indeed, Brentford and Leeds have been the better sides with the ball. Today, another side dominated us football wise but worked harder and we got exactly what we deserved.
We did not press them, defended poorly and had no control of the midfield. We led twice but never looked in control and individually and collectively we were second best. United never got going and served up a bit of a bottle job of a performance. On and off the ball we were not at it. Other than maybe McGoldrick, Basham and Fleck and Baldock in spells; most of the team were not good enough today. We looked nervous but never got to grips with City’s tactics. They pressed Norwood, got the wing backs playing right back in our own half an made us go long. When they had it, we never pressed them and sat off. I could not believe how much time our midfield gave them in comparison to the other way around.
We deserved to lose today. Credit to Bristol City. Johnson does seem to have Wilder worked out and we have no answer at times when teams press Norwood and make him go long. We need to have others step up and today we did not. I thought the lack of effort and desire was a concern. I can cope wit the odd bad pass or decision but we just sat off and they made us pay. I felt they looked very dangerous every time they attacked and going the other way it was hard work. We got the lead but never built on it and you felt the leveller coming. After the break it was a bit more even and then we scored after having a let off with the free kick. Once again, we did not build on it. I felt if they scored, they would go on and win and so it proved. They attacked us and got men forward and we struggled. Loads are blaming Johnson but not sure he is at fault for Wilder putting us 4-4-2 at this stage and Stevens made a number of errors today. The midfield also was really poor today and never laid a glove on the opponents who had all the time in the world. I felt out tight defence did not win the balls forward and Diedhiou caused us all sort of problems. The lad was never marked for three goals.
However, the biggest issue for me was the midfield never got to grips with them on the ball and let them dictate the play. We just sat off all game and never got close to them. On the ball we went long and never tried to play much football. It was very scrappy and if we had got anything it would have been undeserved.
Leeds and Norwich both won and after feeling on top of the world a few weeks ago; we now are probably all despondent. We now have two tricky away games and have to show our character. How we do in these will probably dictate whether we are still in the running when we come back to the Lane in a fortnight. Today, we did seem to panic a bit but I felt Bristol also played well and made it hard for us. Sometimes you have to give credit to the opposition. However, from the determined, organised and workmanlike team we have seen we saw none of these qualities and were easy to run past and easy to score against today. We lacked fluency on the ball and did not seem to have the shape and pattern of play we normally have. They disrupted us and we never really got going at all. Even at 2-1, it was a less than convincing performance and I would have taken a draw even at that stage. That sums up how the game had been going and how little control we had of proceedings.
We now have a week to reflect and maybe we are better as the chaser and being the underdog again. All the other top 4 won. It has been a dire weekend but it is not over. We have to go again and go on another run. The team has to respond. They will be backed by nearly 6,000 Blades next week – I will be there so report to come probably Sunday morning! We just have to get back to the basics of what got us there. Good quick football with bravery but working hard and outworking the opponent. Today, they did those things better than us. It happens. We just have to move on.
Bristol City – Played really well. They went behind twice but kept in the game; played some good football and controlled things for long periods of the game. They kept coming back and scored three goal goals. Fair play to them. They pressured us high and worked harder than us I felt. They really put a lot into the game and even when pegged back and went behind they kept at it and came right back at us. One of the better sides that have come here. A bit like Brentford with a goal threat really. They have a chance of the 6th spot with Boro slipping back. They have lost lots of key men but keep up near the top and as irritating as he is, Johnson has done a good job there. They play decent attacking football too. Like Swansea; have now done the double over us too.
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Opponent man of the match – Brownhill and Pack were excellent in midfield and outplayed Fleck and Norwood but Weimann takes the man of the match. Three superb goals all of a different type. Despite them being the better side, they needed these moments of quality to win the game. Palmer made a difference with a superb ball for the second. Diedhiou is a decent player but cost a lot of money and much more than we have paid for any of our strikers.
Weak link – I felt the keeper for a rookie was not tested. I also thought Wright at the back looked shaky. Hunt is a bit of a clumsy defender and got booked for a poor foul but then made the goal to get them level. Man for man though they are similar to us in quality really so shows how well we have done.
Henderson 6/10 – Made one good save but then three goals that went past him. Not sure he had any chance on the two goals they scored second half but seemed to lose the flight of the ball on the first and I felt he should have done better. Also, I thought at times he was slow out and a few times Stevens and Egan kicked away when he should have come and taken it.
Baldock 7/10 - He did ok and made the second with a great cross but did not get forward as much as he would have liked. Was pushed back more than normal at home. Second half we saw more of him as an attacking force but his final ball or run did not quite come off until the goal.
Stevens 5/10 – Poorest he has been for a while. He started the game ok but then a few moments of indecision and then I felt he should have cleared in the lead up to the goal. Him and Johnson did not seem to know who they were marking on the second and the lad got in to steer home but seemed his man. On the third he was not close enough and did not react to the one two. Not sure he was helped by no pressure on the ball in front of him.
Egan 5.5/10 – Not at his best today. Diehiou actually physically caused him problems and held it up and came off him causing problems. He was too deep also as was the whole defence. I did not feel we marked when the ball came across either and
O’Connell 6.5/10 – Did ok defensively but like the rest seemed a bit on his back foot when they attacked and not quite as assertive as he has been. The defence did not win the headers and loose balls like they have done. Went off with a knock and we paid the price.
Basham 7/10 – Out best defender. He ran around a lot, got his foot in and was a threat going forward. Drew fouls and did the basics well. I felt he was let down by many around him today and had to carry it forward as none of the midfield penetrated much with or without the ball.
