Sheffield United 1 Doncaster Rovers 1

[S36Reject]

Date: 3rd October 2009

Venue: Bramall Lane

Attendance: 26211

Referee: Lee Probert (7/10)

Man Of The First Half: Glenn Little

Man Of The Second Half: Richard Cresswell

Man Of The Match: Chris Morgan

Blades Line-Up:
Bunn, Walker, Davies, Morgan, Stewart, Little, Montgomery, Quinn, Cresswell, Evans, Henderson

Substitutes:
Bennett, Kilgallon, Treacy, Cotterill, Reid, France, Taylor

First Half:

United make 4 changes to the side after the very disappointing performance last Tuesday that drew with Ipswich, Davies coming in for unfit Kilgallon and 3 starting debut's in Little, Stewart and Cresswell coming in for Cotterill, Taylor and the injured Harper respectively.
United get an early alarm call as Shiel's finding himself with a shot at Bunn in the first 30 seconds, Evans having an effort saved brilliantly by Sullivan soon after. The United team however looked disjointed and unbalanced as Doncaster took the game to United, Hayter and Shiel finding easy access to long range shots as the better football and possession began to take it's toll. United, however, are tough to beat at home and are resolute in defence. Montgomery doing what he does best, protecting the back 4, only this time using an outlet in the impressive Glenn Little. Little, following on from his cameo role in mid-week, was the one bright spark in the United side, supplying quality crosses for Evans and Henderson to attack. However, the United strike force were sluggish and didn't take the chances created. Cresswell hit a well worked shot after Quinn's hard work and vision saw the his run, Sullivan again being equal to the effort.
United peppered the Doncaster goal in the first half hour. Davies connecting with 3 corners with Morgan and Evans also going close. Montgomery flashed a goal bound effort for Hird to deflect, Sullivan relieved for it to go in his direction.
Doncaster were far from whipping boys, Hayter forcing a save at the near post from Bunn and while Morgan, clearly a man possessed, rallied and snuffed nearly every attack from Rovers. Woods and Webster being stifled by the Blades Captain
Wilson limped off on 39 after challenging with Montgomery to be replaced by Roberts, Roberts straight into the thick of things when sending a great through-ball to Shiels, Morgan again being on hand to save Walker's blushes
The Deadlock was broken at the stroke of half time, again, a great ball by Roberts found Shiels in space he sees Hayter running in and feeds the Striker. Walker making the challenge, HAYTER strokes over Walkers Leg and the ball deflects passed Bunn and Trickles into the net
0-1 Hayter(45)
4 Minutes of added time for the few injuries were played, United's Cresswell forcing a save from Sullivan after Henderson's well worked pass found the on loan Striker
HT 0-1(45+4) : Hayter

Second Half:
Half-Time Substitution, France Replacing the injured Montgomery (Obviously injured in the Challenge with Wilson )
Doncaster reverted to frustrating Tactics, swamping midfield and Drowning the ball out. Making time a weapon against the Bramall Lane Faithful Roberts taking a total of 2 minutes to take a throw, forcing the referee to book him on 53.
Evans attacked with more purpose second half but was found wanting when shooting, Sullivan being the Rock. United soon levelled however, a throw from Walker found Little and with great quality from Little, left Chambers for dead and sent a perfectly flighted pass over Sullivan for Cresswell to Send a flying header into the net
1-1 Cresswell (65)
Cresswell had to receive Medical attention after connecting with the post for the goal but continued to the delight of the crowd
Henderson rattled a post 10 minutes later after jostling clear of Woods from another quality cross from Little. Evans being replaced by Treacy just after Heffernan came on for Roberts, Cresswell moving into the United Attack.
Both sides seemed intent on the draw even after Cotterill replaced Little to a standing ovation(82)
Doncaster applied the pressure late on, Heffernan, Hayter, Hird and O'Connor all having efforts defended by the impressive Davies and solid Morgan. United having 1 last effort, Sullivan saving from Walker's volley from Cresswell's knock back in 4 minutes of time added.
FT 1-1 (90+4) Cresswell : Hayter

Have to add some qualifying comment to my initial rant after Saturday's game.

A bit better finishing, and if the goalies had been on opposite sides, we would have won comfortably. Yes, we were dominant in possession but had no idea in the final third. I said before I believe Evans is playing more forward midfield than striker and once again he was hesitant to get fully forward. That's not because he's crap or lazy, but because that's what he's been told to do. He didn't do that at Norwich, where he scored 10 in 20 appearances for a shite team. I think because Hendo is playing with his back to the opponents' goal trying to win headers that Evans is waiting 15-20 yards deeper waiting to pick it up. Poor tactics imho.

Positives: Cresswell, Little, even Quinn apart from his shooting.

Negatives: Injuries, Monty being played out of position, Davies spoling a decent enough display with some terrible use of 3 free headers from first-half corners, the feeling I'm starting to get when the ball goes near Bunn, the seeming lack of protection for the back 4 from the job Monty was doing in the first part of the season.

I thought Stewart looked a bit ordinary to be honest. I prefer Taylor myself but let's give Stewart more than one game to make his mark. Why can't Reid get a game further forward btw?

Overall though I have a fundamental problem over and above the obvious distaste for the tactical "plan".

We looked like 11 players who had just met, basically because many of them HAD just met. There's been no time yet to build understanding and the team ethos. In January some of them will be gone....and the whole thing starts again. There's no consistency to our team selection over a longer period so we'll ALWAYS look disjointed and awkward in our style if we persist with this idea of borrowing players for weeks at a time.

Results lately have gone for us. You could say it means it was OK to lose points like we have done, because no real damage is done. The problem is, if we HAD picked up the points we should have done lately we could have been anywhere in the top 3. Worryingly, KB said we're playing crap but still picking up results! What? Averaging a point a game? Somebody have a word......?

Ok, Rate 'em:

Bunn
Walker
Morgan
Davies
Stewart
Little(82)
Montgomery(45)
Quinn
Cresswell
Evans(76)
Henderson
France(45)
Treacy(76)
Cotterill(82)

[S36Reject]

Bunn 7
Walker 6
Morgan 8
Davies 8
Stewart 5
Little(82) 8
Montgomery(45) 7
Quinn 7
Cresswell 8
Evans(76) 6
Henderson 6
France(45) 7
Treacy(76) 7
Cotterill(82) 7

[BobBooker]

Bunn 7
Walker 6
Morgan 8
Davies 6
Stewart 7
Little(82) 9
Montgomery(45) 7
Quinn 7
Cresswell 8
Evans(76) 5
Henderson 7
France(45) 7
Treacy(76) 8
Cotterill(82) 7

[HSBCBLADE]

S36 - nowt wrong with match reports mate, keep up the good work.

Bunn - 7
Walker - 6
Morgs - 7
Davies - 7
Stewart - 6
Little - 7
Monty - 7
Quinn - 7
Creswell - 8
Ched - 6
Hendo - 7

SUBS

France - 6
Keeeeeth - 6
Cotts - 6

[Staboblade]

Bunn.7
Walker.8
Morgan.7
Davies.7
Stewart.7
Little(82).8
Montgomery(45).7
Quinn.7
Cresswell.8
Evans(76).6
Henderson.7
France(45).6
Treacy(76).6
Cotterill(82).6

[Ashblade]

Bunn 7
Walker 6
Morgan 7
Davies 7
Stewart 7
Little(82) 8
Montgomery(45) 7
Quinn 7
Cresswell 8
Evans(76) 6
Henderson 7
France(45) 6
Treacy(76) 6
Cotterill(82) 6

[GannonsShoeLace]

Bunn 6
Walker 8
Morgan 8
Davies 8
Stewart 6
Little(82) 8
Montgomery(45) 6
Quinn 4
Cresswell 8
Evans(76) 5
Henderson 7
France(45) 6
Treacy(76) 7
Cotterill(82) 7

[lingsbord]

Bunn 7
Walker 7
Morgan 8
Davies 7
Stewart 6
Little(82) 8
Montgomery(45) 6
Quinn 7
Cresswell 8
Evans(76) 6
Henderson 7
France(45) 7
Treacy(76) 7
Cotterill(82) 7

[YouFUMS]

Bunn.................7
Walker...............6
Morgan..............8
Davies................7
Stewart...............8 (MOM in 1st half, but tired in the 2nd)
Little(82).............8
Montgomery(45).....7
Quinn..................7
Cresswell..............8.5
Evans(76)............6
Henderson............7
France(45)............6
Treacy(76)............6
Cotterill(82)...........7

[spamneggs]

Bunn - 6
Walker - 7
Morgan - 7
Davies- 7
Stewart - 6
Little(82) - 8
Montgomery(45) - 6
Quinn - 6
Cresswell - 8
Evans(76) - 6
Henderson - 7
France(45) - 6
Treacy(76) - 7
Cotterill(82) - 6