Villa 2 United 2 - report from the sofa

Did not venture down to Birmingham pre Xmas due but here are my thoughts from the warmth of my front room…..
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It was very much a case of a point earned for Chris Wilder’s man who are now six without a win but have at least stopped the rot. After being 2-0 down after ten minutes, it looked a bleak afternoon for the Blades but a great fight back saw them level before half time in a pulsating first half that could have ended 4-4 at the intermission. After the break there were few chances for either side but United showed more solidity and shape and saw the game out fairly comfortably to get an important result. With two home games to come and players such as Freeman, Fleck and Evans on the way back; along with the transfer window, United will hope today is the start of an upward trajectory back up the league places.

Manager Wilder made two changes bringing in Donaldson for Sharp and Duffy for Carruthers. Neither change was a surprise after a number of poor performances last week at Deepdale. Both sides were missing a number of key men with the aforementioned trio and Coutts and Brooks (seemingly in hospital in his home town of Warrington after a recent virus) missing for United; and Terry, Jedinak and Kodija missing for Villa also. Still the two respective benches showed the disparity in spending and wage power with a 12-million-pound striker in Scott Hogan and former England international Gabby Agbonlahor in reserve.

The game began with Villa on the attack and moving down both flanks getting runners on the overlap but it was a contentious moment that led to the early goal. The ball was played into loan striker Keinan Davis and as he controlled it with his back to goal; Stearman poked away but may have caught the defender as he cleared. It seemed a soft penalty but would have depended on the angle of referee Simon Hooper. It was a challenge Stearman did not really need to make though and have the ref a decision to make. After the protests, ADOMAH rolled it past Moore sending the keeper the wrong way and giving the Villains, a dream start.

United had not got going and Villa were winning all the 50/50’s with Snodgrass pulling the strings in the middle, Grealish busy and Davis a good foil up top. A silly foul was conceded by Stevens on Grealish giving the home side another opportunity. The ball from Snodgrass was a good one but JEDINAK did not even need to make a run and from almost a standing start got in between Basham and Stearman to nod past Moore giving the keeper no chance. It has been a nightmare start for United and it seemed the bad run was set to go on. Villa were buoyant but it had been two incredibly sloppy goal to give away.

United were able to get back into the game straight away though. Lundstram played a delightful long ball over the top and DONALDSON beat the offside trap brought it down superbly and then lobbed the ball expertly over Johnstone into the net. The defending was sloppy with Jedanik and Chester caught square but the finish was absolute class.

Energised by this, the Blades came again and Baldock came inside and had a shot blocked before Clarke was penalised for being offside. The game was more even now and Lundstram was becoming more and more influential in proceedings. His prompting nearly got Donaldson in again. Villa also were still dangerous with Whelan and Hourihane having shots blocked but soon after this the leveller came. A hopeful ball forward was miscontrolled by Jedinak, who was having a mixed afternoon, and DONALDSON latched onto the ball. He steadied himself before firing under Johnstone on the angle. Another great finish and suddenly parity was restored.

The end to end nature of the game as Adomah missed a great chance with a header after Elmohamady stole in on a two on one down the right-hand side. The winger really should have scored as Baldock waited at the far post but put his effort wide. At the other end Donaldson nearly turned a cross home from Duffy. Clarke then headed wide before Carter Vickers had a chance blocked under pressure. Villa then had a good opportunity when Hourihane pulled his shot just wide. Both defences were simply all over the place and it seemed inevitable more goals were to follow. United were giving too many free kicks away and gave an opportunity to Snodgrass but his shot was blocked by the defensive wall.

O’Connell needed treatment after a clash of heads which left him bloodied but then Villa came on the attack again and Hourihane had another shooting chance before Lundstram had a go at the other end but his shot had the power but lacked direction. The action was relentless and Jedinak fired over for the home side just before the half time whistle.

The second half would surely have seen both managers asking for more concertation, solidity and shape in their sides to stem the chances coming at both teams defences. United began by giving away more silly free kicks but had the first chance when nice interchange saw Clarke put Duffy in and his shot was palmed away. Clarke then headed over. Villa came back into it and had a spell of possession and won two free kicks but Moore and his defence kept a solid line. Grealish was starting to pull the strings and drew a series of fouls with Basham rightly booked. De Laet came on for Snodgrass before

United had a great chance to score when Clarke headed wide from a lovely Stevens cross. It seemed like he was offside but there was no flag and with the form he is in, you expected he would have scored. Basham committed two fouls in a couple of minutes and was fortunate to escape a second yellow but after the harsh penalty maybe this evened things up. Grealish was clearly the man Villa were looking to and United tried to crowd him out when they could. Chester had a header easily saved from Moore from another free kick but Villa had not created much despite now being more in the ascendancy as the game entered the final 20 minutes.

Donaldson was booked for a pull back and then Jedinak continued his own horror show with a clumsy foul and then a giveaway soon after. O’Connell was the next in the book for a rash foul as United continued to give Villa chances from set plays despite a much-improved performance since the disastrous start. Agbonlahor and Hogan came on for Davis and Elmohamady for Villa whilst Carruthers and Sharp entered the fray for Donaldson and Duffy for United. Adomah and Stevens took whacks in a challenge as the game became more stop start than it had been.

The second half had offered few real chances for either side but United had to keep a close eye on the dangerous Grealish. Lundstram had been excellent for United and twice he stepped out of defence and strode forward showing his growing confidence in what had been his most assured showing in a Blades shirt. The game entered the final minutes and was petering out somewhat although as the board showed an additional four minutes, Villa won a corner but this came to nothing. Carruthers twice won free kicks to help United see things out and the final whistle saw a well deserved and important point after such a poor run.

United – Well after 10 minutes it looked like a drubbing was on the cards. It had been a dire start. We gave away two silly fouls although the first had some doubt to it; I felt it was a silly challenge and even Stearman knew that from his reaction at the end. The second was another stupid free kick give away and then awful marking and a really basic goal to concede. We looked all over the place and you felt we were in big trouble but got the goal quickly; a brilliant goal. We then had more chances; as did they before we got level. We showed real spirit, guts and some decent football to get back into the game and draw level. After this it became a bit basketball and it could have been anything at half time. Both defences looked poor and you felt there were more goals both ways. The next goal seemed crucial but it never came.

The second half saw what we have been asking for in terms of a more committed, hardworking and organised Blades display. It was not cavalier and not the swashbuckling type of approach but we did the basics much better and Villa kind of run out of ideas. We did not go forward too much after say the hour mark but in the second half we had better chances than them and the only real save of note, the Villa keeper made and the best chance was Clarke’s. The only major issue second half was the continuation of the first half of a number of silly free kicks that we gave away. This always meant they may get a chance. The fact they got booed off at the end showed we had done well though and frustrated them. They are strong at home and even with good players missing (like us) they still have real threats so we did well. I felt there were some good performances from the likes of Donaldson, Carter Vickers and my man of the match Lundstram. Clarke worked hard for the team and Stearman had a good second half after a poor first half. A few still were up and down, O’Connell, Stevens, Baldock and Basham and I felt Duffy had a mixed match. Carruthers even did well when he came on.

I felt more than individuals it was a better team performance and even though the defence got pulled apart first half, we did cause them problems and kept the ball better at times. A few times we went longer that I would have hoped and panicked a bit but when you are on a bad run you tend to do that. It was a good point and one that stops the rot and gives us a platform for the two home games. It was a performance away from home more in keeping with those we have seen earlier in the season. Even if not close to those standards, it was a marked improvement from poor showings at QPR, Millwall and Preston in recent losses.

We do have players coming back but clearly we need to invest and it was interesting to note even the pundits discuss the notion that Wilder might one day move on if he does not get backing. It is hard to see us getting much higher (without Coutts) than say 5th or 6th without that extra quality down the spine. I worry that reports coming out from Wilder suggests it might be one nominal fee (for this level) and loans. That will not cut it and be really disappointing. For all this talk about how much the Prince has put in year in, year out, supposedly; the fact remains if we want to go up or give ourselves a chance of the playoffs; then we have to spend some money. We may not be able to spend stupid money but we have to compete with even likes of Bristol City (who have spent 5 million plus for a player) to stay in touch. Except Cardiff all the 6 above us have spent big money and will spend again. We may not get another chance for a few years (look at our city rivals who now seem a long way off) and next season will be even tougher. Despite the bad run we have given ourselves a real platform so the board have to give Wilder the tools to push us on. If they don’t; they are effectively accepting or cannot sustain more than mediocrity and/or is suggesting we need further investment to move the club on if McCabe and the Prince can’t or are not willing to do this.

Still I will end by saying what a year it had been. To go from League One football a year ago to win the league at a canter accruing 100 points was sensational. To start the season as we have and even with the dip and the injuries/suspensions; we are joint 6th in the league and have won at Wednesday and Leeds. We have a lot to be thankful for and have a superb manager who we all trust knows what needs to be done short and long term.

Villa – They started superbly and got two goals and seemed like they were a side well removed from a team that had been also struggling. They then tossed away two sloppy goals themselves and after this it could have gone either way. They looked really good first half going forward with Grealish, Snodgrass and Adomah all looking threats. They have a lot of midfielders that can shoot too and get into the box ahead of the striker/s. Something we do not. They did what we can do and overload the wide areas and we struggled to match this and two or three times we switched off. I felt they looked good and they may have had more goals but at the back they were abysmal. Chester and Jedinak struggled with both our strikers but particularly Donaldson who scored two and looked a threat all game running in behind. They made mistakes and they looked nervous. After the break I felt they may take the game to United and come again but actually created less than us and even though they had more of the ball and Grealish showed a few decent moments; not sure they created too much. They had a lot set plays and ball in the last third but never really hurt United. They kind of run out of ideas and in the end looked as happy with a point as we did.

For the money the squad has cost and even with the players out they should maybe be doing better but have been hit with injuries but still have million-pound players in reserve (we do not) and with a big crowd and backing, you think 6th is a bit below par. Still after a poor start, Bruce had steadied the ship and pushed them on and you feel they will be in and around the top places this season.

Opposition Man of the Match: Grealish. A moaning and diving so and so but he is a talented player. He has quick feet and can move the ball quickly and like Brooks does, he makes time for himself. I felt he was the main threat and we had to crowd him out. I felt Adomah looked dangerous first half and Snodgrass put some good balls in also. A few others were up and down but they do have midfielders who can shoot and get into the box.


Opposition Weak link: Jedinak scored but did not do anything else right. He was at fault for both goals and made mistake after mistake and looked an accident waiting to happen. Chester alongside him also got pulled about a lot. I felt we could have exposed them more for their weaknesses in this area. I am not sure about the keeper who always looks like he has a mistake on him and is bit of a line goalie. The lad Davis did ok but if they had a Clarke or a Donaldson; they would have a better chance of holding the ball up and bringing those midfielders into the game. The subs did nothing when they came on despite a lot of pedigree.

Moore 7/10 – Faultless on the goals. He actually did not make any saves which is odd as they had a few other chances but only one more on target; a regulation take. He caught a few crosses and his general play (kicking etc) was fine.

Baldock 7/10 – Mixed bag. Got forward well when he could but made poor decisions when he got into good areas although did cut in a few times and have some shots blocked. He nearly cost us on a cross when they headed over. Felt he was more solid second half.

Stevens 6/10 – Felt he carried on his poor-ish performances; at least compared to where he has been. He put in one good cross for Clarke but his final ball was poor again. I felt more than attacking wise was that he was just sloppy in touch and passing and concentration levels lacking. He like the rest of the team was more switched on second half.

Carter Vickers 7.5/10 – He has been another whose standards have dropped but he was good today. I am not sure he did much wrong all game. He won headers, cleared it and kept it nice and simple. He was fine today and did his job.

O’Connell 6.5/10 – Up and down but as game went on; he got more toward standards of earlier in the season. He began sloppy and was poor in his marking leaving his man too much and the lad Davis caused him problems and got in front of him. He was just a bit hesitant but then became stronger, strangely after he got a whack and had a decent second half but did give away a poor booking.

Basham 6/10 – Thought he was the poorest midfielder we had out there with the ball but battled hard off it. He was doing a job for the team and got a few foot ins or tackles but he was sloppy on the ball and gave it away too much or just lumped it rather than having some composure. He was very lucky to stay on the field after a yellow and then two other fouls. I was surprised he stayed on as looked certain he may get a second yellow but to be fair to him was really disciplined after this.

Lundstram 8/10 – Excellent. Other than once when he lost his runner down the right on the chance with the Adomah header and another where he got caught in possession; everything else he did was first class. I have criticised him previous weeks for being slow, predictable and weak. Today he was anything but. Strong in the tackles, read the game well, used it short and long and made some lovely passes. He even carried it on and started attacks. Thought he was superb and my man of the match despite the Donaldson goals. Set his standards and hopefully that is a real confidence boost for him that he can be really influential.

Duffy 6/10 – Thought he was a bit quiet today. Showed his usual flashes of quality at times and some neat balls and touches but gave it away quite a bit too. He got into those little areas and tried to make things happen but we played more balls over the top today and went more direct than we have done as it was effective rather than choosing just to miss the midfield out. He nearly scored with a good long range shot but was tiring when he went off.

Clarke 7/10 – Worked hard for the team. Actually, missed a couple of headed chances that you would expect him to do better with but they will not all go in. He linked quite well with Donaldson when I was not sure it would work (had not in the past when tried – QPR away). He ran well down the channels and tried to bring others into play. He did get caught offside too much again.

Donaldson 8/10 – Took his two goals superbly with a sublime touch and lob and then composed drilled finish when he had time to think about it. He was a major threat all game with his running behind and they could not cope with him. In previous games (Sunderland apart) did not seem to be pacey player I remembered (maybe lost a yard as happens as players get older) but today he was mobile, strong and a willing runner.

Subs:

Carruthers – I winced when he came on as he lacks discipline and gives it away but today other than a daft dive, he did well. He nipped in a few times, played some neat balls and was quietly effective. I think cameos as sub are the best he can hope for though at the moment as has not done anywhere near enough to play major minutes.

Sharp – Fell over weakly and lost the ball first challenge which has been his calling card the last few weeks but then after this did well, ran the channel, won a few free kicks and used it ok. Gave it away twice at the end when he had a chance to put Baldock in but he was fine today as a sub. Donaldson and Clarke will get a run now I am sure; especially with Brooks out possibly longer.


Manager: Wilder 7.5/10 – We normally start games really well and Wilder has made it a big part of us but today we were slow and sloppy and carried on our form of late as we looked like it was going to be a long night but we got level and after this big credit to him. We could have gone gung ho but we became more solid and organised and the second half was a professional away performance. We were a unit and more of a team and we saw some better units throughout the team. We need to get back to winning ways now with two games we can win at home and need the crowd to rouse us to get the good start ourselves on Boxing Day.

Officials – Simon Hooper had a poor day. The penalty was definitely soft and then after that I felt he gave us nothing for long spells and we won 2 free kicks I counted all first half and the first I remember came after about 25 minutes! He did miss an obvious hand ball by Lundstram but then he gave them so many free kicks around our box. I felt even the slightest nudge he was giving not helped by their players tumbling to the deck quite easily. He then did us a big favour by failing to send Basham off. It was an awful decision regardless of who you support. He had been booked, committed one foul soon after and then another pull back. I do agree with Bruce and felt that Grealish was not offered much protection. It reminded me of what we see with Duffy at the Lane. He was kicked most times he got the ball! He did book 3 of our players and none of their players despite an awful tackle high up on Sharp that escaped a card. I did think overall United were a bit cynical (we are quick to say it when teams do it to us) second half but I was pleased as we have been a bit of a soft touch recent weeks so glad we got in and fouled a few; as bad as that seems. It knocks teams off their stride and slows down play.

Crowd – There was talk of a sell out but there were 35,210 out of a 42,785 crowd so nowhere near full and the main stand had big gaps at the top. Still an impressive crowd a few days before Xmas. The crowd were behind the team first half but after we got level they seemed to turn on the team. Hard to tell just by going for the TV but I heard much more of the United fans most of the game who came across loud and clear and very supportive. Hope everyone managed to get home ok with the train issues. Looking forward to Boxing Day when we will see the rarity of a sold-out Bramall Lane and it should be a cracking atmosphere with a big club as an opponent and a packed away end too.

Merry Christmas! Up the Blades!

Stearman 6/10 - Started game sloppy and a daft tackles for the pen. He was all over the place first 15 minutes but then got much better as the game went on. Second half thought he was quietly effective and made some decent blocks and interceptions. I think Wright has been harshly ommited. We need to get back to Bash, Wright and O'Connell. These three are surely our most effective?

Agree with all of that. Happy Christmas to you mate.

Thanks DB, good summary mate and all the best.

Didn't get top see the game sadly, as wrangling family members from various parts of the country, and a technical error (wife recorded the wrong bloody programme..!) means that it highlights only for me this time.

Penalty? No, but you see them given all the time. AV's second, Baldock not following his man in. Our first. Lundstrams pass!! If Man City had scored that goal, you see it breakfast dinner and tea for days. Second, the chump who scored gave us one back. Nice finish though. Leons miss, just caught in two minds. Not what I'd expect, but I think he's earned a bit of slack for the odd miss.

From 2 down in 10 mins its a great point, but now 6 without a win. Still playing positive football, and it looked from the bit I saw, we are finding a way of playing without Coutts.

Grealish is the opitomy of why I hate premier league & a lot of foreign players .
He dived & faked at every opportunity,
Donaldson was totally bemused by his booking because he was never anywhere near the guy.
The ref got the penalty wrong, and fell for the fake trips time & again
Can the EFL look at the video & retrospectively impose penalties for obvious simulation, because they should have a field day with the way Villa play
Happy with the draw though
UTB