Well, well, well, my predictions have been a bit off so far this season haven't they? I predicted a 2-2 draw against Barnsley, we won 3-1, I predicted a 3-1 win against Carlisle, we lost 3-1, and i predicted a 2-1 win yesterday, and we lost 2-0.
The Blades started well, taking the lead three minutes in, after Conor Sammon's powerful shot was parried by Tommy Lee, straight into the path of Che Adams (top picture) who finished with a shot across goal into the bottom right corner. From then on we dominated, and we just seemed to win corner after corner after corner, without generating any real clear cut chances. The defense looked very shaky throughout the first half. Billy Sharp and Conor Sammon were constantly making runs in behind the defense and there seemed to be so much room. However, any chances that came for the Blades were poorly executed. Talbot's fitness and pace looked very suspect in the first half, with him being constantly out of position. Kovak looked good however, he was keen to get the ball and whenever he did get it, he did something good. We finished the half with more possession, more shots, more on target and a total of eight corners. But, we were behind in the only stat that matters. The Score.
After a brilliant half time snack, a lovely chicken curry pie in the canteen, which was blue with smoke from a smoke bomb and filled with deafening noise from our fans in the canteen, we conceded less than five minutes after the kick off for the third time in the last two games. Conor Sammon found space again, and after a bit of skill on the ball, he played through Che Adams, who finished with a shot into the bottom corner, putting United 2-0 up with his second of the day. After that we really should of found the net at least once in the second half. Kovak had a brilliant opportunity after getting in behind the defense, he was six yards out and just as he was about to pull the trigger, a last gasp tackle from the defender ruined the chance. Dan Jones very nearly scored with a brilliant curling free kick. We hit the bar, and had chances cleared off the line. Very frustrating.
All in all, there are plenty of positives to be taken from the match. We were up against a side who are favorites to win the title, but we still dominated large periods of the game. Kovak, the new signing looked good aswell and would of had a debut goal to his name if it weren't for a very, very good tackle from the Sheff Utd defender. We're only two league games in and we look to be getting used to the new players, and Saunders' new style of play, which is very different to Cook's style of play. We just need to sort out our defending, and start playing right from the start, not ten minutes after kick off!
My Man of the Match: Dan Jones
Dan Jones is slowly becoming our most consistent player. Last season the left back struggled to maintain a regular first team place, as Sam Clucas spent most of the season playing left back, and then when Clucas moved up front, Drew Talbot came back from a loan move to fill in at left back. However, last season he played the last few games, and both play off games as our number one left back. Since then he has had few poor performances. When your'e looking for a player who had a good game, Dan Jones is always one, even when the rest of the team played poorly. This was the case yesterday as well. As always, he offered a great attacking threat down the left flank, and was solid at the back. On the rare occasion he was caught out of position, he would work hard to recover, and nine times out of ten he would make it back in time and put in a good tackle. In a game where our defending was a bit all over the place, he offered a bit of solidity, and also cleared a shot off the line in the second half.
League One Table as of today:
(+3) 1. Coventry (6GD) (6pts) + ( moved up) - ( moved down) = (the same)
(+3) 2. Rochdale (6GD) (6 pts)
(-2) 3. Gillingham (4GD) (4pts) Most places moved up:
(-2) 4. Siwndon (3GD) (4pts)
(+10) 5. Walsall (2GD) (4pts) Sheff Utd have moved up a total of 12 places this
(+7) 6. Oldham (2GD) (4pts) weekend after their 2-0 win yesterday.
(+11) 7. Scunthorpe (1GD) (3pts)
(-5) 8. Chesterfield (0GD) (3 pts)
(-3) 9. Burton (0GD) (3 pts) Most places moved down:
(+10) 10. Barnsley (-1 GD) (3pts)
(+10) 11. Peterborough (-1 GD) (3pts) Blackpool have dropped a total of 12 places this
(+12) 12. Sheff Utd (-2 GD) (3pts) weekend after losing 2-0 at home to Rochdale
(-6) 13. Millwall (-3 GD) (3pts)
(-4) 14. Bury (0 GD) (2pts)
(-4) 15. Doncaster (0 GD) (2pts)
(+1) 16. Port Vale (0 GD) (2 pts)
(-8) 17. Colchester (-1 GD) (1pt)
(+1) 18. Shrewsbury (-1 GD) (1pt)
(-7) 19. Fleetwood (-1 GD) (1pt)
(-12) 20. Blackpool (-2 GD) (1pt)
(-7) 21. Southend (-2 GD) (1 pt)
(-6) 22. Crewe (-2 GD) (1pt)
(-1) 23. Wigan (-2 GD) (1pt)
(-1) 24. Bradford (-3 GD) (1pt)
League One top scorers:
- Adam Armstrong-Coventry (4 goals)
- Nathan Byrne-Swindon (3 goals)
- Che Adams-Sheff Utd (2 goals)
- Bradley Dack-Gillingham (2 goals)
- Paddy Madden-Scunthorpe (2 goals)
- Marcus Maddison-Peterborough (2 goals)
- Mark Cullen-Blackpool (2 goals)
- Stuart Beavon-Burton (1 goal)
- Sylvan Ebanks-Blake-Chesterfield (1 goal)
- Billy Clarke-Bradford (1 goal)
League One most assists:
- Sylvan Ebanks-Blake-Chesterfield (2 assists)
- Andy Taylor-Walsall (2 assists)
- Gavin Massey-Colchester (2 assists)
- James Maddison-Coventry (2 assists)
- Marcus Tudgay-Coventry (1 assist)
- Tony McMahon-Bradford (1 assist)
- Nathan Tyson-Doncaster (1 assist)
- Tyrone Banett-Shrewsbury (1 assist)
- Michael Bostwick-Peterborough (1 assist)
- Jake Cassidy-Oldham (1 assist)
No comments:
Post a Comment