Some may say that Saturdays are made for dads, but on the early afternoon of Bonfire Night 2022, Saturday was made for Sheffield United as we proceeded to 'Ryan Gosling during the elevator scene in Drive' a table topping Burnley side that were unbeaten in 16 before visiting The Lane. It was scintillating, it was spectacular, it was all the words that Lady Gaga says in the popular meme format (you know the one) as United continued our mini resurgence back towards the top end of the table. It's been a couple of days but I'm sure all Blades don't mind reminiscing about the weekend for just a little bit longer? We're all agreed then? Good stuff let's get on with the review.
Three changes were made from the midweek win against Bristol City as, for the first time in forever, we had players in their preferred positions. Stevens, McBurnie and Anel all returned to the starting XI and McBurnie would have a couple of headers narrowly miss the target as Muric in the Burnley goal struggled with our aerial threat (more on this later). Despite our good start, Burnley would be the ones to open the scoring with our lack of closing down the dangermen being our undoing. A half-cleared corner was worked back to Benson Manuel who's curled effort on goal was diverted past Foderingham by the forehead of Jack Robinson. It was disappointing after we made a decent start, and we did try and get an equaliser with McBurnie again going close with his deflected effort from a Stevens shot forcing a clearance on the line. Burnley could have had a second from corner with more poor defending allowing Harwood-Bellis a free header on goal that just floated over the bar as the game went a bit end to end. On the half hour mark, United would have the goal that our early pressure warranted, and it was that man Iliman Ndiaye who kneed home after a McBurnie knockdown from a corner for his ninth of the season. After this however, Burnley went straight up the other end and perhaps should have had a second. A quick break eventually saw the ball worked to Zaroury with the Burnley man free as a bird, but his effort was straight at Wes. Maatsen was next to test Foderingham with a stinging effort seeing Wes at full stretch to tip the ball onto the bar. It looked like we would be heading to the break all level, and then Jack Robinson decided he wanted to be Paolo Maldini. Wes chucked the ball to Robbo who tried jinking past Manuel to comical effect with the Burnley man dispossessing JLT and slotting past Wes to give them the lead going into the half time break. It was a very disappointing end to a half where we more than matched Burnley. Indvidual errors cost us massively. How would we respond after the break? It turns out, we'd just come out a thrash Burnley who were shellacked like government mule in the second half. Three minutes after the restart and we were back on terms with our set piece prowess (ha!) causing more problems. A Robinson throw was cleared back to Robbo whose cross reached Anel with our Bosnian blade knocking the ball back across the six-yard box for McBurnie to turn past Muric with a diving header. The blue touch paper had been lit and it now looked like only one team would win the game from here on in. McBurnie had another header saved not long after his first and Anel even busted out an overhead kick that narrowly went wide of the post. Just after the hour, United would take the lead after another set piece caused chaos in the Burnley Kop with Anel clanging the crossbar with a header that bounced around the box and eventually deflected off of Jack Robinson and looped into the goal for the lead. Very pleased that Robbo got the goal and played a massive part in our second half resurgence after he had a tough first half to say the least. The pressure continued and so did the set pieces with Anel and McBurnie both forcing Muric into last ditch stops to stem the flow. The tide could not be stemmed for long, and we had a fourth as we entered the final twenty minutes! Another corner was half cleared to Osborn who sent an effort flying towards goal that was blocked but only as far as Anel who slammed home to put us firmly in charge. The turnaround was finally completed minutes later when a scything ball from Norwood saw Baldock clean through on goal. Our Greek international failed to turn the ball home but Muric's save only deflected as far as McBurnie who slotted home to give us a fifth and give full justification to a game that was turning into a mauling. As we entered the final phase of the game, United relented a little but still nearly had a sixth when Ndiaye saw an effort go narrowly wide after Norwood laid a ball into the box. Burnley did rally a little bit as they looked for a consolation with Harwood-Bellis going close with a header that Wes made a smart save from. The consolation didn't come however, and the final whistle came as the Bramall Lane faithful applauded and serenaded our boys after they made top of the league look very, very ordinary. Astounding. After the return from the international break where we couldn't buy a win for love nor money, we now go into tomorrow's game against Rotherham on the back of three wins and annihilating a team that up to this point had strolled the league. It was scintillating football from The Blades and the five goals flattered Burnley with Muric making some good saves to keep the score down. Our pressing was fantastic, and our set pieces were spot on which is something that we don't often get to say as United fans. To be fair actually, our set piece play has been decent this year and it's another arrow in our quiver as we gather weapons for the assault on the top two. But this was just brilliant. Bramall Lane was rocking, and the team reciprocated with a great performance. More of the same on Tuesday? We can only dream, but we with see. Until next time, UTB.
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AuthorHi my name is John and i will be giving my thoughts on the blades matches and all blades related news in this section Archives
November 2022
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