So last night was a first for me, I witnessed my beloved Sky Blues playing at their lowest league level of my life-time, yet there was a strange feeling of similarity about it.
Sure the personnel has changed (quite a bit too, more on that later), but the performance had a similar to feel too many of those last year, and it felt like the summer break hadn’t happened.
And that’s what I think led to the frustration and booing at half-time. Don’t get me wrong, everyone is entitled to cheer/boo/scream abuse at players if that’s how they want to express their feelings, and I agree that sometimes, players deserve booing.
But at half-time in the first home game of the season? Really?
Not to mention that for the last 5 minutes of the half we had actually began our improvement, and Sheff Utd had barely got out of their half. And we had a very good shout for a Penalty when McDonald was seemingly tripped in the box.
2nd Half, and the atmosphere, and performance improved a hell of a lot. Our passing was crisper, Barton got himself on the ball more, and Elliott and McDonald didn’t give their centre backs a moments peace. It was by no means a brilliant performance, but it was exciting, and it ended up with us taking a deserved lead, through Elliott, scoring his first goal for the club, after an excellent touch from Cody McDonald.
Before the goal we had some clear-cut chances, which should’ve resulted in a goal. McDonald and Elliott both put free headers wide, Malaga had his header cleared “off” the line. I haven’t seen the incident again, but it looked over the line twice to me, once from the original header, and then from Wood in the following scramble.
After the goal too, Malaga again won a header at a set-piece, and put it narrowly wide.
Moments after that, it was one-all, with a slick counter-attacking goal, finished by Nick Blackman.
After the equaliser, United got on top, without ever really threatening, and the game ended with the draw seemingly the fair result, with United having the better of the first half (including having one cleared off the line) and City on top second half.
Ratings
Murphy – Dressed in a rather magnificent shade of Magenta, Murphy didn’t really have a lot to do. Caused havoc once, when coming out for a cross and colliding with Malaga, but the Frenchman’s header dropped wide. Didn’t have much chance with the goal. – 6.
Brown – Looked uncertain at first, but slightly improved as the game went on, helped by Elliott’s running of the channels to give him an outlet ball. – 5.
Malaga – Solid debut from the Frenchman, I can only remember two mistakes, one header, which went straight up in the air (followed by him regaining composure, and winning the header when it came down) and one strange side footed pass into the stand, under no pressure. Looked dangerous from set-pieces - 7
Wood – I said last year he was the best centre half at the club, and still stick by it. Rarely beaten in the air, made some cracking tackles, and even looked to have improved his distribution, especially with his weaker right foot.
On the way out I heard that he could’ve done better with the goal, but, without seeing a replay, I think that was harsh - 8 (MOTM)
Hussey – Looked reluctant to go forward, and seemingly unconfident on the ball. Not sure whether it was tactics for him not to bomb forward. Looked solid defensively - 6
Jennings – Did everything Deegan was supposed to do, and more. Kept play ticking over nicely, and was always talking to those around him. Looks as if he will be a very good addition to the squad - 7
Barton – Looked quite classy on the ball, and I, for one, would’ve liked to have seen him involved more early on. Like the rest he grew into the game after a tentative start, perhaps understandably feeling his way back after such a horrific injury - 6
Kilbane- Solid. Looked comfortable on the ball, and won some good tackles. Like Barton though, I’d have liked to have seen him more involved. - 6
Baker – Anonymous 1st half, 2nd half his movement and touch both improved, and when he (or whoever is in the tip of the diamond role) plays well, so do we as a team. - 6
Mcdonald – Constantly harried defenders, trying to feed off scraps, looked like he should’ve won a penalty in the first half, and should’ve scored a header in the second. Great touch to set Elliott free for the goal - 6
Elliott – Like McDonald, Elliott didn’t give Uniteds defence any rest. Constantly chasing them down and hoping to capitalise on any mistakes. Took his goal well, but also missed a bad header minutes before - 7
Ball – Came on for Elliott, had one shot, that turned into a delightful cross-field ball to Hussey. Didn’t do much else – N/A
McSheffrey – Came on, had a chat with his old pal Micky Doyle, then went off for full time – N/A
Thorn – Some things haven’t changed this season, and Thorn needs to take some responsibility for that. Having all men back for corners, yet not having men on the posts is criminal. It cost us on Saturday at Yeovil, just like many times last season. Sheff U showed the value of men on the posts when they “cleared” the Malaga effort.
Another common theme was the poor 1st half, almost as if we had done no scouting on the opposition. He deserves some credit for the improved second half performance though.
A lot of fans moaned about the diamond last night, and it does have its cons as well as pro’s. It relies on the fullbacks, playing almost like wingers, and trusting the centre back and the holding midfielder to cover for them. Hussey and Brown both looked reluctant to take any chances going forward, and as a result, we struggled to get going. - 6
Bringing in as many new players as Thorn has done, it will take them a little bit of time to get used to the intricacies of the diamond, but there were definitely enough positives to build on for the season ahead, and with a bit of luck, efficient refereeing/linemanship, or just being able to keep a clean sheet, we could’ve won both games, and been sitting pretty with 6 points, but instead we have 2, which makes Saturdays game against Bury, pretty vital, even at this early stage of the season.
A win gives us 5 points from 3 games, and would turn this into a good start to the season. Anything less, and those boo-boys could be out again.
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