Derby 1 United 1 - report from the sofa
Did not go but watched on a ‘stream’ so of course these reports are not quite as detailed as they may be if I was actually there. Welcome opinions of those who went to add to below.
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United put in an excellent away performance at Pride Park to get a deserved result against a bang in form Derby side. Indeed, on another day it could have been three points as the Blades dominated for long spells and completely controlled the second half. A poor challenge by George Baldock gave Derby an undeserved lead with a penalty scored by Matej Vydra and after this they had a few other chances in their best spell of the game. After the break United went close on a couple of occasions and were finally level when Leon Clarke headed home a terrific Clayton Donaldson cross. After this it was all United but poor final ball or overplay meant they did not create too many clear chances but they completely controlled the game and Derby created very little of note.
United made two changes with Donaldson and Baldock in for Sharp and Carter Vickers; who both dropped to the bench. The strength of Derby’s squad was shown when they rotated players out from the convincing win at Ipswich with scorer Sam Winnall on the bench.
The game began with United on top and moving it about well and showed some neat touches all over the field; without creating much. Fleck and Lundstram were moving it around and Stevens got in twice on the overlap but failed to deliver an effective cross. This theme carried on when we won 2 early corners. Derby had not been in the game but started to come out and Russell and Weimann linked well leading to a half chance but Stearman blocked well. United came back out and Davies deflected wide at the near post leading to another corner.
Despite being the better side, Derby scored on 25 minutes. Baldock looked to shepherd the ball from danger but Russell nicked in and the defender brought him down. It was sloppy defending and an easy decision for the spot kick. VYDRA scored high up into the net and Derby were undeservedly ahead.
After this the home side had a good spell. Russell pulled a shot wide and then Weimann got on the end of a big breakaway after a giveaway from Duffy but shot wide. This was a good chance to double the lead.
United had knocked it about well but had not created much. We had two more corners that came to nothing and then neat football nearly saw Lundstram get in. The first real chance came when Donaldson ran through directly at the defence and cut back and had a shot saved from Carsson leading to another corner. After this good work from Russell at the other end won a corner for the home side before the break. Stevens then joined Duffy in the book both for fairly innocuous challenges.
In the second half, United came out of the blocks fast and some good neat football saw them penetrate more. Baldock nearly got in with a run down the right and then Donaldson was blocked out. Soon after a lovely move saw Lundstram, Clarke and Duffy involved before Fleck shot just wide on the run in what would have been a superb goal.
United had dominated the half and the leveller came thanks to great work from the front two. Donaldson came inside and made space and then sent over a superb cross that CLARKE met on the full to head into the corner past the motionless Carsson. It was well deserved.
United continued to dominate and more good work from Fleck and Lundstram saw a half chance but Lundstram’s shot was blocked.
Derby were not in the game at all and the crowd were becoming to get frustrated. They made a double change with Thorne and Winnall on for Johnson and Vydra. Thorne was booked soon after and Fleck shot at the keeper from the free kick.
United kept coming forward and Donaldson nearly got in again as the away side looked the more likely. From a rare Derby attack Keogh clearly pushed Clarke a long time before Winnall slotted home and it the offence was rightly penalised.
Carruthers came on for Duffy and he was involved instantly with a run down the left and then had a shot that went well wide.
Martin replaced Nugent as Derby looked for a spark but it was still mostly the away side that were controlling the game. Stevens surged forward and won a corner and then Baldock did likewise at the other end.
Lafferty came on for Lundstram and the game entered three minutes of stoppage time. Very little happened in this period as United kept the ball and played a few down the channel and Derby did not even get the ball into the United box.
United – Really enjoyed watching us today. We played well first half but did not do enough in areas it mattered and gave away a stupid goal when we had not looked like conceding. After this we panicked a bit for a spell but got back control. We were unlucky to go in behind but second half we took the game to them. Our defence won the headers/clearances, the midfield held it up well and played some lovely stuff and the front two were able to hold it up and were willing runners. We scored and you felt we were going to go on and win out of the two sides. Derby offered nothing and we had all of the football.
We played well as a team but individually we were much better too. Lundstram and Fleck were very good; Duffy did ok in spells but did not actually have his best game despite still being a threat. I felt the wing backs did ok but both made mistakes but the three centre backs were excellent today. Stearman continued to get criticism but was faultless today for me and O’Connell much improved too. Overall, we looked a good side and it was a good performance that got a point and could have been three. Derby could not have grumbled too much if we had won it.
We were fluent in possession; we moved it at pace when we could and were very solid in our shape. It was a very controlled performance with no little skill.
The only criticism today apart from the daft goal/penalty; is the lack of penetration first half as we played it all in front of them and maybe did not move it enough. It was nice football and pretty to watch but we did not hurt them. Ironically the only chance we had was like the ones they had; when Donaldson sprinted away and made a chance of his own on a run down. Outside of this we were poor in terms of creating clear things. Second half we got better and had a few half chances. Fleck was unlucky to score, Clarke had a chance blocked and then we scored. After this we did look dangerous at times but again just made wrong decisions or did not shoot enough. Time and time again I wanted us to pull the trigger but we delayed and allowed them to get men back. We need to be more ruthless. The defensive play and interchange and hold up all over the field was excellent to watch but we need to do more where it counts; the final third. If we can do that we will really be something.
Final slight negative point. Our corners were abysmal. We had double figures and three times set them on the attack. Every other one was too floated or too long and cleared easily. We did not get close to creating a chance all game from corners.
We have played Bristol City and Derby (2nd and 3rd) and outplayed both but only got a point. That is due too defensive mistakes and then not being able to do enough in the attacking third. That is disappointing and we have dropped out of the top 6 with Villa’s probable win against Bristol City as I write this. Lots of teams have dropped off above us also (Leeds, Cardiff not won either game recently) but we have failed to make any ground up. We have to be more clinical and make good performances turn into maximum points.
Our final ball was really poor again. I remember one cross from Stevens, a driven one from Fleck and then another from O’Connell that flashed across but apart from that and the obvious one for the goal; we wasted so many great chances to get the ball into good areas. We touched and tapped it about and overplayed.
Still despite these criticisms to come to the in-form team in the division and outplay them for long spells; 58% possession, 10 shots to 2 and 3 on target to 1 and 13 corners to 2. That for an away team is dominating in every sense.
We now have a few weeks off (taking away the Cup – I would play all the fringe players) before the big one. Wednesday will be smarting after a horrific result today and will have some players back but sounds like we have some players coming in from Wilder’s interview and they are clearly there for the taking at the moment.
