The 'must win game' is a phrase banded about more and more in football vernacular, you could call it a football cliché (*wink* *wink*) alongside fellow phrases like 'relegation six pointer' or 'keeping their destiny in their own hands'. But United's game against Cardiff last Saturday was up there in regards to 'must win' games as we enter the final stretch of a season that looked dead from a United perspective at the start of the year. But now we're firmly entrenched in a battle for one of the last two play-off places left in the top six and with teams breathing down our neck, our indifferent form as of late needed a shot in the arm and we aimed to give it that shot as we took on Sean Morison's mid table Cardiff.
Only one change was made to the starting XI from Bristol City with Ben Osborn coming in for an injured George Baldock. Billy Sharp returned to the matchday 18 after a period out. For Cardiff, perennial United villain Aden Flint could only make the bench with the only other notable inclusion in their starting XI being former Preston and West Ham man Jordan Hugill. The game kicked off and for the first fifteen minutes, the game looked a lot like it would go the way of our last home game against Reading. United struggled to string passes together and couldn't really get out of our own half. Watters was barely challenged by Egan through the middle of the park as our centre back basically unclipped the proverbial velvet rope and let Watters have an unchallenged shot on goal that required a tidy stop from Wes with his feet. Foderingham was next to let Watters have another go at goal after his pass out from the back found the feet of the Cardiff forward just outside the 18 yard box. Watters laid the ball off to Hugill but good defensive work from Robinson eventually saw the ball cleared but it was two big let offs for The Blades. United woke up a bit after this and Ben Osborn saw a rasping drive from about 20 yards tipped behind by Phillips. United continued to probe and excellent play from MGW saw Berge clean through on goal with only the keeper to beat. Our big Norwegian brought down the ball but his poked finish just couldn't quite squeeze through Phillips legs. The game calmed down a bit after this opening salvo as both teams tried to build a clear chance. It would be United who would get the next good opportunity and it was that man Berge again testing Phillips with his effort from a tight angle forcing the Cardiff man into another good stop. The half came to a close not long after and after an initial scare, United began to look a little bit sharper at the end of the half. Cardiff made a couple of changes at the break with McGuinness and former Rotherham man Vaulks replacing Drameh and Ralls. Despite the changes, United would get the lead two minutes after the restart with good work on the right eventually seeing Gibbs-White put in a peach of a cross that Iliman Ndiaye powered home with a bullet header to send The Lane into raptures and giving the Frenchman his second goal in three games. There were a few minimal chances after this for both teams with the most notable being Berge winning us a corner that came to nothing and McGuinness flicking on a throw that Foderingham dealt with. Billy Sharp came on for Ndiaye and saw the next big flashpoint in the game after he brought down a Gibbs-White pass in the box and under pressure from the Cardiff defender went to ground but saw nothing given. It was the last incident of note in the game and as the final whistle blew, United secured a huge three points as we look to secure a place in the end of season play off lottery. It's been a week since this game but I don't think my opinion on our performance has changed much since then. It was a comfortable game for United and, aside from the first 15 minutes, we didn't really allow Cardiff a chance to threaten Wes or our backline. We probably should have had the game wrapped up before half time and Berge probably could have done better with at least one of his two chances in the opening exchanges. Overall, a very professional performance from our boys in red and white and it puts us in a position where if we win tonight against QPR, we can effectively seal a play off place before our season ender at home against Fulham next week. Whisper it quietly, but I'm feeling cautiously optimistic. Will that optimism be shattered come ten tonight? Maybe, but fingers crossed all goes well! 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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