Reply With QuoteUnited – It was a comfortable win with three goals; a clean sheet (first clean sheet since Ipswich in October) and a really solid performance all over the field. We ran around, won tackles and passed it better than them. We were not mazing and at times were a bit carless ourselves but did not need to be at our best really. We have played better than that (Forest, Fulham, Brum) and not won but did not need to be at our total best today.
Sunderland were truly dreadful and deserved nothing. They were maybe the worst side we have faced this season (Burton and Barnsley were bad) and never even gave themselves a chance with such a negative approach (more on that below). However, we did what we had to. We won individual battles, competed as a team and the midfield were solid with Lundstram and Duffy very good and Basham quietly inefficient. The defence were untroubled but did what they had to. Donaldson and Clarke did not score but ran the line well and were a real nuisance all day. Sunderland struggled to cope with their running, height and strength. United moved it about when they could and even though at times they were a bit slow to shift it, they finally quickened it up and chances came.
I felt it was inevitable we would score as they were so deep and defensive. After the opening goal; we relaxed more and then scored two more early on in the second half. After this the game was over. We maybe could have scored more but actually did not have to as it was so comfortable and just eased to a win. We had more of the ball, created more chances (they did not create anything), had corners, free kicks and all the chances at goal. We maybe could have been a bit more clinical in the final pass/third but that is being a bit over critical. However, if we had gone for the jugular it could have been 5 or 6. They had gone and seemed to want to be off the pitch long before the end.
The football was a bit different today. We played some long stuff mixed with decent passing stuff (mostly through Lundstram and Duffy) but used the pace and running for Donaldson and Clarke to turn them around and they two centre backs really struggled. Off the ball we picked up most loose things and I felt won the key tackles today and made sure we had most of the ball when we needed to. However, overall when we had to we put the ball in the right areas and got chances. We scored a couple of decent goals and then one excellent third goal (the cross and header for the third). The game was effectively ended just after the hour.
We now need to follow this up with a big performance and hopefully another three points against Bolton. John Fleck will come back in I am sure for Basham who will got back into the defence for one of Carter Vickers or Stearman (harsh as both did well today). The front two did look a handful and their running and pressing was good to see. They may not have scored bit created chances for others. Nice to see two new scorers (when we have relied on Sharp and Clarke) and two players scoring their first goals for United. Shows we keep attacking and can throw men forward. The third goal summed up wilder’s approach with the centre back overlapping the left wing back to cross for the right wing back to power past the two strikers to head home. We now have 2 more games before the window and have to be looking at 4 points to keep us in the mix. Bolton will no doubt offer a tougher threat than an abject Sunderland side and be more physical and offer more in the way of a goal threat so we need to up things again but confident we can get another win and continue too get us moving back in the right direction.
Sunderland – Awful side. Abject from start to finish. They barely had an attack all game and certainly not one effort on goal. I cannot even remember any off target; with a few skewed shots and some blocked efforts the total of their efforts. They came out so defensive with 8 or 9 men behind the ball and never even tried to attack. They just invited attack after attack. They played one up top with Grabban out and had Vaughan chasing lost causes and tried to cancel out the midfield but had none of the ball really and just seemed content to sit back and soak things up. We did not create loads but that kind of approach suggest it is inevitable chances will come and so it proved.
After it went 1-0 and then 2 and then 3-0; the game was done. After this they made changes but it affected nothing. They were poor off the ball giving us too much time and allowing key men such as Duffy and Clarke time to hurt them and on the ball, they just kept giving it away. Their passing was simply wretched. I can barely remember them keeping it for more than a couple of passes all day. I could go on but their performance deserves no more words – it was that bad. Coleman seemed to have given them some new life and resurgence but today they limply succumbed easily. They set up with no hope of getting anything from the game and such a negative approach was really quite startling when they need wins to move away from the bottom. The approach at the end when the players went to the fans and got jeers and some rods back in their direction summed up the day.
They will have a scrap on to stay up based on that showing but I am sure they cannot play as bad. They have now got that elusive home win and you feel they may pick up more points at home now they have got the monkey off their back. Still as Birmingham have shown there is no guarantee they will move away and it will be a real fight. Not quite sure why Coleman went there. It seemed too soon after a great job he did at Wales to go into a salvation job. They have a real mix of experienced players (over the hill) mixed with some good young talent (not ready) and not enough players they can rely on week in, week out. If Grabban goes back to Bournemouth you worry where the goals will come from. They rely on players like Cattermole and Gibson who are often suspended or injured and the two lads at the back are slow and immobile. Both the keepers they have are also less then reliable. All in all they really lack the quality to consistently win games and it will be a case of scrapping the odd win / point here and there and seeing if it is enough.
Opposition Man of the Match: I cannot think of anyone who came out with any credit. Vaughan tried hard with no service but the defence struggled, the midfield gave it away and had no control and the subs had no impact.
Opposition Weak link: Take your pick but the two centre backs were really dire. O’Shea used too be a good pro who was a reliable Prem performer but today looked an old over the top has been who need to call it a day at this level. Wilson was not much better. I also felt Gibson was horrendous in midfield. Overweight, ponderous and sloppy in possession. I could go on; they were so poor.
Moore 7/10 – Had nothing to do all game. Made one punch under little pressure; caught a few through balls and that was it. His kicking was good both from hand and from the floor. One of the easiest games a keeper can have.
Baldock 7/10 – Back to standards he has set after a few average performances since he came back into the team. He got up and down; attacked on the overlap and did the basics defensively. He did not quite get on the end of some things or overplayed the ball but then second half he was on the move and a real threat. Ended with a superb flying header where he powered into the box to score superbly. Always on the move tonight.
Stevens 6.5/10 – Thought he was still a bit off (from standards earlier in the season). He misplayed the ball a few times and then kicked it out twice under little pressure but did keep going forward and did try and create an overlap. I felt he never hid though and kept trying to make things happen but his touch and passing not been quite at it.
Carter Vickers 7/10 – Solid under little pressure. In the last few games we have conceded a few goals but he has been fine to be fair and not done much wrong. He headed it away, cleared it and used it sensibly. Decent athlete for his size and I felt used ball well when he could.
O’Connell 7/10 – Better than he has been. He started the game a bit sloppy with a few sliced clearances out and then just let ball go out but got much stronger as the game went on and I felt second half was bombing forward and attacking well but also did the basics at the back. Great cross on the run for the second goal - a peach of a delivery.
Stearman 7/10 – Sound performance. He had had a lot of flak but today as he did at Villa after the penalty was fine and did nothing wrong. Stepped out when he could and used it but also made the headers and tackles. Good to see him get in the box and score a good header too – not an easy chance but he put it right in the corner.
Basham 6.5/10 – A bit up and down again. Some wild tackles and slices at the ball – deservedly booked for a stupid tackle where they were going nowhere and some poor passes that sold players short but for the most part he covered ground, kept it basic and got up and down. Think he is better in the defence though and may move back there with Fleck back.
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Originally Posted by Deadbat_DB
