Sorry for late report – went for a few beers post game in town and was very tired when I got in……
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United’s superb start to the season continued as they beat Reading 2-1 at Bramall Lane. It was another game where United came roaring out of the blocks and for the first 70 minutes they were excellent dominating a side that had made the playoff final last season. An individual strike of quality from Paul Coutts was matched by an exquisite team goal finished off by Billy Sharp to see United in complete control but after Sharp had missed a chance to seal the game, the Royals came back into the game. A late Roy Beerens goal saw Reading given a lifeline and they put the home side under real late pressure but the Blades did enough to see out the game and make it back to back home wins since the international break. United’s rivals at the top won but they remain in third place and well set for consecutive away games at Leeds and QPR.

Manager Wilder made two changes with Paul Coutts back in for Jon Lundstram with George Baldock coming in for the injured Kieron Freeman. Reading had a mix of youth and experience but the fact they could feature a player who cost 7.5 million in Sonny Aluko showed their spending power.

The weather was markedly different to the previous Saturday with rain and wind accompanying the players as they came onto the field. Reading resplendent in a bright orange outfit were pinned back early as United made their customary powerful start kicking unusually towards the Kop first half. Clarke’s work rate was giving Reading problems and his play won a free kick in the right-hand corner. The ball came over and O’Connell headed wide when he maybe got up too early. The pressure continued on the Royals as Coutts and Fleck dictated midfield and United swarmed all over Reading. United won two corners and then Clarke and Baldock linked before Duffy had a shot blocked. More clever football nearly put Sharp in and then Stevens burst down the left but his cross was cleared. Another lovely move saw Stevens cross and Clarke poked wide via a deflection.

It seemed inevitable that the Blades would score and they did just before the 20-minute mark. Baldock and Duffy set up the cross and then Clarke wrestled the ball back from a defender and although it was half cleared, COUTTS came onto it and hit a beauty of a shot from the edge of the box that went into the top corner. It was a superb striker and gave the keeper no chance. The players ran to congratulate the scorer as he ran towards the Kop with cries of ‘Coooooouuuuuttttttssssss!’ echoing around the ground to accompany the goal.

United kept coming and Reading did not have an answer in a game that was being played almost exclusively in Reading’s half. A clever set play saw Coutts and Basham link up with a short free kick but Reading made a block at the last moment. United continued to press and harry with Clarke again chased down a defender to win another spell of possession. Duffy then nearly found another opening but the second goal was not long coming. It was a superb move and involved several players with the final part seeing Baldock feeding Duffy with a clever ball and then the cross was perfect for SHARP to finish easily at the back post.

It had been total domination and finally Reading came out and won a corner before Beerens had a shot that went not far wide but United were back onto it and forced Reading back again with more controlled football after some great pressing again. The half time whistle saw a huge ovation for a brilliant first half performance from the Blades.

The second half saw Reading have a different formation again. They had changed it twice already in the first half in an attempt to somehow get a foothold in the game! They seemed to now have a 4-3-3 formation and wanted to get Aluko more involved and early on he had one good run but was well stopped by Stevens.

McShane came on for Blackett who had struggled all afternoon and the shape changed again with a 4-3-2-1 now being employed by the visitors! United continued to keep the ball well and Coutts and Fleck were still influential. The third goal should have come on 54 minutes from Duffy’s in swinging free kick but Sharp from point blank range hit Mannone’s legs and O’Connell was crowded out on the rebound. Sharp and then Basham had half chances not long after as United sought the killer goal but the game went through a quiet spell after this with both teams struggling in difficult conditions.

Swift came on for Aluko and the formation seemed to change again! Reading were having more of the ball but had not created anything of note really. They did have a few half chances with a shot wide, McShane heading not far wide and then Gunter getting forward but being denied by Basham. The game was starting to open up and United were now not quite having the same control they had and was more even with 20 minutes to play.

Brooks came on for Duffy for United and then Reading made another change with Clement coming on for Bacuna and slowly Reading started to have more of the ball. United were looking a bit weary as maybe the efforts of the first 75 minutes were starting to take its toll.

Lundstram replaced the skipper Sharp as the game entered the final ten minutes and United seemed to have done enough to stem any possible comeback but then out of nothing came a goal with just under 5 minutes left.

Carter Vickers header lacked purchase and Barrow drove down the left and played a nice ball across and BEERENS managed to get between his men and finish easily at the far post in similar fashion to Sharp in the first half. The Reading players scooped up the ball and knew they had 5 minutes plus stoppage time to steal something from the game. They put McShane up front and were now pressing United back and twice O’Connell had to clear. It was now all hands-on deck and Basham then made a smart interception to deny Swift. The game entered five minutes of stoppage time and Reading were now piling bodies forward and a game that United had controlled for so long, looked in some doubt.

United then broke though with Brooks playing in Clarke and beating the offside trap. He was in on goal but maybe took too long and his shot was saved by Mannone. Soon after Clarke returned the compliment and sent Brooks through but he also took too long and was crowded out. Still as the ball was cleared by United soon after, they won a free kick and the final whistle went not long after this and it was another victory for the Blades.