United 1 Birmingham 1 - report
After 26 games, United finally drew a game as they were held by lowly Birmingham at Bramall Lane in the late Sky TV game. A superb strike from Chelsea loan man Boga stunned the home fans but after the break United’s domination paid off when predictably Leon Clarke got the leveller. United continued to press but did not create any clear chances to win the game.
Manager Wilder kept faith with the same eleven and substitutes from the defeat in the week; whilst for Birmingham former Blades Adams and Cotterill were only on the bench.
United began well and forced the visitors back with Basham and Stevens well advanced. Birmingham had barely got into the United half in the first 10 minutes and Fleck and Lundstram controlled midfield but they were no clear chances of note.
The first chance did come when good work down the left saw Stevens play in O’Connell whose cross was met by Clarke but under pressure he headed wide. Birmingham had offered little but Jutkiewicz got in and Wright had to make a good block tackle. Back came the home side and Dean blocked from Lundstram who then hit a fierce low shot that Stockdale had to parry away. Clever build up saw Duffy play in Fleck and his cross seemed perfect for Clarke on his favoured left foot but he scuffed wide. It was the best chance of the game.
Sharp then could not get on the end of a deep Basham cross. Three times poor final balls undid United and then Duffy got crowded out. Birmingham had offered little threat going the other way but suddenly they stunned the home side.
Sharp lost the ball leading to a corner being won which Jota took. The ball was cleared but fell to the edge of the box on the right-hand angle. BOGA took a touch and hit a long-range effort that sailed into the net. Blackman got a hand to it but the power beat him. It was reminiscent of the goal Sessegnon scored on Tuesday (higher up) with the lack of challenge from a United player a concern. The sold-out Birmingham fans celebrated wildly at the far end of the ground.
Jutkiewicz then broke soon after and chose to go for goal but Wright made a great block to deny him showing him right before making the challenge. United kept going but no further chances came as they went in behind at the break for the second successive home game.
The second half saw United have most of the ball again but they were again struggling to create. Basham over hit a cross and then Stevens got blocked out. Sharp could not get in after a Fleck shot was blocked and then a nice move saw Stevens cross but Lundstram badly miscued wide.
Wilder decided to change things and Brooks and Carruthers came on for Carter Vickers and Sharp and United had more of a 4-4-2 although Basham and Carruthers seemed to alternate in the right wing back position.
A mix up between Wright and Blackman nearly saw Birmingham in but Jutkiewicz’s shot lacked power and O’Connell cleared after his initial slice had fell to him.
United then went down the other end and scored soon after Brooks through ball led to a cross that was palmed away from Stockdale corner. From the second phase of the set play, O’Connell linked with Clarke and the defender jinked into the box and crossed for Brooks who played the ball back. CLARKE took a touch and steadied himself before hitting a low right foot shot into the bottom corner past the stationery Stockdale who had no chance. The striker ran away to celebrate in front of the Kop; to acclaim his 9th goal in 4 games.
Duffy was more influential this half and his clever play nearly saw Stevens in before Clarke had a shot blocked as he looked for a winner.
Former Blade Adams came on for Boga who limped off and nearly got in but was his cross shot was held by Blackman as Wright did well to limit the chance. O’Connell fired over badly and Carruthers had a shot blocked.
Four minutes of stoppage time were to be played and most of it was played in Birmingham’s half but other than a moment when brooks got crowded out; they did not create anything of note and the game ended all square.
United – Disappointing that against two bottom half teams we only take a point from two games but that shows how far we have come. We played ok today but maybe were better in spells Tuesday but the opposition was a big drop off. I felt they were there for the taking but scored and had something to hold. We controlled play with almost 70% of possession, more shots, corners and so much control of the ball but lacked urgency in the final third and took too long to make decisions. Better choices in the final third and more shots and we would have won but seemed a bit powder puff when we got there. Birmingham defended well but how many crosses did we overhit or hit the first man. We got into ump**** positions but could not make this good build up play count and so often they just cleared the ball. The keeper only had one other save to make (Lundstram) other than a shot cross and then apart from Clarke’s shot wide we never really looked like scoring.
At the other end they had the one speculative shot to score but did little else and I felt were delighted with a point. They never had any real control of the game which was different to Tuesday but for all the good play for long spells, we did not do enough in the box where it mattered. I felt Sharp should have been hooked long before he did but then Brooks made little impact and for me needs to start a game as expecting him to make such an impact off the bench all the time is a reach.
Still, more good performance from key men Clarke and Fleck. The defence other than the indecision second half with the through ball and not closing down on the shot; were fine. They will say they hung in and we did not batter them but I felt we did enough to win the game but just did not make those good choices in the last third.
Overall, it was still good to watch – we moved it around and kept it. Maybe nit picking it was a bit slow and at times we took too long to move it. I would also say we overplayed at times. We need to shoot more and at times try and walk it in! This is lovely football of course and then sometimes when O’Connell and Carruthers shoot we all moan so hard to be too critical. I feel teams have matched out intensity in last week and managers tactically are starting to work out how to play against us more. I felt the first goal was crucial. I would not have been bothered if it was still 0-0 after say 70 minutes as I felt we had control and that a goal would come but when we went behind; this made it so hard for us. We also attacked mostly down the left and with Basham not having much of an impact it made they got men over on the other side. We missed Baldock/Freeman quite a bit.
We are conceding too many long range shots. Hull, Burton, Fulham and now today. Many may look at keeper and today they have a point as you could with Moore v Hull; but we are not closing down enough. Conversely you can say at least teams are not scoring loads of goals in the box and law of averages says teams will not keep scoring worldies against us. Still teams do shoot more than us from range.
When we scored I did feel we would go on and win and Brooks might unlock them but we never really had that massive wave of pressure or chances I expected.
Now we have a tricky game at Millwall but owe them one for the defeat last season. They are a big strong team and quite physical and I expect Basham back into central midfield and he may even go with Hanson or Donaldson alongside Clarke but I do feel Brooks needs a few games to get into a flow. He will make mistakes but can do things to win games.
It is ***** we keep in touch and with Bristol City and Villa winning; is very tight at the top. Wolves might run away but outside of this there is little in it between most of the top 6-8 sides. We need to get back to winning ways soon though as if we go 3 or 4 games without a win; then confidence may take a knock. We definitely need 2 or 3 incoming quality players. You can see some tired bodies at the moment and we are relaying on Clarke too much. If he stops scoring; then it will be even harder and the defence are conceding too many goals at the moment. Still we are third in the league and slightly down at not beating a team that cost millions in Birmingham. For the most part we looked a more skilled, fitter and well drilled side. It was just the final ball or choice. If we play 2 or 3 more accurate balls in, we could win the game comfortably.
In simple terms, if we carry on playing as we are and keep the level of pressure and passing; we will be fine and be around the top 6. We have to believe in what we are doing. We have had a bit of a drop off but easily could have won both games this week also. There are only two games this season where teams have been better (Cardiff and Fulham) and deserved to win every other home game. We should have got at least a point at QPR and Forest too. So we must be positive. To control most games and be better than our opponents in the majority shows how well we are doing.
