Sheffield United 3 Cardiff City 4

[Pastitblade]

Date: 24th October 2009

Venue: Fortress (Mwahahahaha) Bramall Lane

Attendance: 25021
Referee: Kettle (didn’t you just wish the assistants were Pott and Black?)
Man of the First Half: Henderson
Man of the Second Half: Keeeeeeeeeefffffff
Man Of The Match: Keeeeeeefffffffff

Blades:
Bennett, Walker Morgan, Kilgallon,Taylor (Stewart 33) Little (Cotterill 62) , Harper Quinn Treacy Henderson Evans(Camara 67) Unused: France, Williamson, Davies, Bunn

Bluebirds

Marshall, Kennedy, Hudson McPhail (Rae 74), , Gerrard, Ledley, Matthews. Whittingham Burke (McCormack 79) Bothroyd Chopra Unused: Quinn, Taiwo, Enckelman, Comminges, Feeney.

Staggering match amazing result but when alls said and done a defeat is a defeat

Beleaguered Manager Kevin Blackwell had to make changes following the disappointment of Scunthorpe and Blackpool. Following an unsure series of games in the goal, Ian Bennett replaced Mark Bunn, Evans, Treacy and Little were restored to the starting line up with new signing Henri Camara on the Bench.

Virtually straight from the kick-off Cardiff were nearly ahead, a free kick was not properly cleared and Gerrard fired past Bennetts right hand post. An early let off but the defence was still looking shaky which was didn’t settle the nerves of the fans. The Blades then hit a bit of a purple patch and were playing most of the game in their opponents half. Ledley was booked for bringing down the dangerous Treacy and his wing play was providing the ammunition that the forwards were unable to take advantage of.

Mid half Cardiff had the ball in the net. Bothroyd headed the ball home from a pinpoint cross but the linesman adjudged the striker was in an offside position. Evans was booked for a wild lunge on Hudson and could consider himself a little fortunate to stay on the pitch. he then wasted a couple of opportunities and shot when there were better options available. Taylor had to go off injured to be replaced by Stewart

As the first half stalemate drifted towards half time and I drifted towards the exit to continue Vamps birthday celebration we entered what could only be described as a mental last five minutes of the half.

Cardiff took a quick free kick to Chopra unmarked on the wing but his cross seemed set to be cleared by Morgan but in a wild attempt to clear tried to hide the ball up Walkers backside the ball ricocheted into the path of BOTHROYD who had the easiest of chances in front of goal. Initially the linesman’s flag had gone up as Bothroyd was stood in an offside position and the goal seemed to have been disallowed but rightly referee Kettle gave the goal after discussing the incident with his assistant.

Straight from the kick off, United were level though. A long ball forward from Walker split the defence, and HENDERSON pounced onto the ball and calmly slotted it past the keeper.

Within a minute Hendo went from hero to villain. A long throw saw Bothroyd go down rather easily under pressure from Henderson, referee pointed straight to the spot. WHITTINGHAM duly obliged.

Hendo staggeringly back to hero almost instantly and the Blades back level again Walker crossed Morgs headed it on Evans headed towards the goal, Keeper parried but HENDERSON reacted quickest and looped his header into the net

HT 2-2 Stood in the ale queue almost reduced to tears as I had successfully managed to miss three bleedin’ goals!

The second half kicked off with United in the ascendancy and could have taken the lead for the first time a low cross from Stewart passed in front of the Cardiff goal with Evans unable to find the finishing touch. Soon after Cardiff from a corner produced some Bladesesque defending, the ball looped to Kilgallon who blazed the ball over from 12 yards. United were going to be made to pay for these misses.

Appalling defending saw the Blades go behind once more. From a long throw Morgan was beaten to the header and was flicked through to an unmarked WHITTINGHAM who had the easiest of tasks to slot the ball home. What in gods name has happened to our defence? Who has given it permission to go absent quite so frequently?

Cotterill replaced Little, Camara made his debut when he came on for Evans. United were pressing for another equaliser with Kilgallon having an effort blocked on the line with the keeper beaten, then the impressive Treacy broke through but had his shot blocked by the Keeper.

While United were pressing for the equaliser they were hit by a total sucker punch, in one fantastically fluent move from back to front saw the Blades defence once again floundering, WHITTINGHAM in front of an open goal to slot it home for what was an unbelievably easy hat trick……. GAME OVER……Well maybe not.

The fans were leaving in their droves but United were still creating chances but it seemed to be too little too late when 5 minutes injury time was announced in the fourth of the five minutes HARPER gave the blades a glimmer of hope but surely not.

In one final twist the Blades moved in to one final attack Walker powerful shot could only be parried by Matthews straight into the path of the onrushing Quinn who swept the ball into the net for an unlikely equaliser only to be thwarted by the linesmans flag BUGGER!!!!!!!!! The resulting free kick was the last kick of the game…….So near yet so far!

[Pastitblade]

Score the team.

Bennett .................... 7 Could do damn all about any of the goals
Walker ..................... 5 wants to be a wing back but neglected his defensive duties
Morgan ..................... 5 Poor
Kilgallon .....................4 Worse
Taylor (Stewart 33)........ 6 Missed all the action
Little (Cotterill 62)......... 6 OK
Harper ...................... 5 Still not ripping up trees
Quinn ........................ 6 In and out game but not bad
Treacy ....................... 8 My MOM
Henderson ................... 7 Can't argue with two goals
Evans(Camara 67) ......... 5 Will the Ched Evans please stand up!
Stewart ..................... 6 Bad to say but the best defender during the carnage
Cotterill .....................6 OK
Camara ..................... 7 Looked good for someone so short of match practice

[S36Reject]

How the hell you remembered all that, is beyond me

Great Report tho, Nice one You'll have to do some more of these

Bennett .................... 6
Walker ..................... 6
Morgan ..................... 6
Kilgallon .....................3
Taylor (Stewart 33)........ 4
Little (Cotterill 62)......... 6
Harper ...................... 6
Quinn ........................7
Treacy .......................8
Henderson ..................7
Evans(Camara 67) ........ 6
Stewart ..................... 7
Cotterill .....................6
Camara ..................... 7

[YouFUMS]

Nice match report, Pastit

Bennett .................... 5 Was hung out to dry by his defence, but also I thought his positioning for the 3rd and 4th goals was poor.
Walker ..................... 7 Confident going forward...Cardiff didn't get a lot of chances down our right side.
Morgan ..................... 6 No excuse for booting the ball against his own player when he had bags of time and space
Kilgallon .....................4 Blackie should sit him down with a video of the last 5 games, then ask him if he really thinks he's premier league? bench him!
Taylor (Stewart 33)........ 6 not good enough
Little (Cotterill 62)......... 6 Makes good use of the ball, rarely gives it away. frighteningly slow!
Harper ...................... 5 If he'd move his legs as much as he waves his arms around, then he may become involved in the game
Quinn ........................ 7 A steady performance. some good tackles. Didn't get into the box often enough
Treacy ....................... 7 looks dangerous when he tries to get to the byline. Chose to cut inside too often.
Henderson ................... 8 can't be easy for him when he's expected to deal with most of the balls forward. Worked hard for 95mins.
Evans(Camara 67) ......... 5 there's a striker in there somewhere. he and hendo aren't clicking.
Stewart ..................... 6 Got forward well, and kept Cardiff on the back foot.
Cotterill .....................6 typical Cotts performance.
Camara ..................... 7 looked really sharp and up for it. Whenever he lost the ball, he was fighting to get it back.

[spamneggs]

Bennett .................... 7
Walker ..................... 7
Morgan ..................... 7
Kilgallon .....................5
Taylor (Stewart 33)........ 6
Little (Cotterill 62)......... 7
Harper ...................... 6
Quinn ........................6
Treacy .......................7
Henderson ..................8
Evans(Camara 67) ........ 5
Stewart ..................... 8
Cotterill .....................5
Camara ..................... 7

[HSBCBLADE]

Nice match report Pastit. Love the line about Morgs trying to lose the ball up Walkers arse.

Ok, from Row J on the Kop and in the style of Blackwell calling em all by their nicknames:

Benno - 6
Walks - 7
Morgs - 6
Killa - 6
Tayls - 5
Blakey - 7
Harps - 6
Quinny - 7
Treece - 8
Hendo - 8
Cheddo - 6

Stewo - 7
Cotts - 6
Cams - 7



Oh, nearly forgot. A great big fat Crappity Smackin zero to the thirty or so chavs who grouped in the car park after the game, waving cans of Stella instead of their shoes, hoping to get on tv or radio. Do yourselves a favour lads, get back to Crappity Smackin school sharpish.

[S13 Wizzzaaaard]

Bennett .................... 5 (did ok he is never gonna save something amazing though is he)
Walker ..................... 6 (ok agian but still a work in progress)
Morgan ..................... 6 (seems to have given up helping Killa out, cant think why can you)
Kilgallon .....................3 (showing a lack of professionalism that could see other clubs put off him)
Taylor (Stewart 33)........ 3 (Taylor not good enough and I don’t think he ever will be)
Little (Cotterill 62)......... 4 (Little runs like an old old man and simply cannot get back once he's gone forward)
Harper ...................... 7 (wanted the ball and made us play football)
Quinn ........................4 (I still cannot see what he does for us)
Treacy .......................7 (obvious quality)
Henderson ..................7(tried as always and took his goals well)
Evans(Camara 67) ........ 6 (still doesn’t seem to know what his role is)
Stewart ..................... 7 (though he had a bad 10 mins to start with but then settled in well)
Cotterill .....................5 (never beat his man, his lack of pace and balls really showed)
Camara ..................... 6 (hard to judge what he did was good but not on long enough)