Close. But just not close enough. An allegory that sums up Sunday afternoon quite nicely don't you agree? Sums it up much nicer than the possibility of linking it to a Nick Jonas song from like, what, 2017? But for those few minutes when we pulled level against the standout team in club football anywhere in the world, it felt like we were going to do it. We were going to get that unlikely point against the all conquering team in club football, we'd be off the mark, we'd be on our way! Then it was over. Like tears in the rain, but what a few minutes it was. It wasn't all disheartening, far from it. United more or less kept City at arms length on Sunday and did something that not many teams can do. Subdue Erling Haaland for large stretches of a game. We might not have got the point, but we didn't disgrace ourselves either. Let's take a look back at what could have been.
A couple of changes from last week's agonising defeat to Forest with our wing backs changing from Osborn/Lowe to Baldock/Osborn. Hamer and Souza both made full home debuts with Oli McBurnie a welcome returnee on the bench. City lined up with what can only be described as a God squad with a frontline spearheaded by the aforementioned Erling Haaland with our old pal Grealish on the flank. World Cup winner Julien Alvarez slotted just behind the big Norwegian with Bernardo Silva making up a very frightening looking forward line. The game kicked off and, from the off, it became a game of United absorbing City probing as our visitors looked for a way towards goal. Despite the domination of possession, City were struggling to create clear cut chances in front of goal and weren't really cutting us open at all. An early United change was forced after Ben Osborn limped off to be replaced by Yasser Larouci but very little was happening in front of goal. Then it happened. A sliding John Egan had the ball hit his arm supporting him in said slide tackle and, with almost a gleeful point (if that is even a thing) City had a penalty. Up stepped Haaland, Wes went the wrong way and... HE MISSED! The ball bounced off the base of the Kop End post and rolled away! There was a slight check to see if Wes had left his line early, he had not and the game continued with The Lane roaring on our charges. City continued to probe but found Wes Foderingham in inspired form with the highlight of his half being a superb close range block to deny Alvarez what looked like a certain goal. The probing continued from City, but United stood firm and we went into the break at half time still on level pegging. The second half saw much of the same as the first period with City looking to try and unlock a United defence that just wouldn't budge. The gaps, however, were becoming a little bit more frequent but the normally lethal Haaland looked to be having an off day after spurning a glorious chance to break the deadlock after a great cross from ex-Blade Kyle Walker found the Norwegian a few yards out from goal. All the striker could do was slam his effort wide as it began to look like we might be getting away with being another team that the big striker scores against. Perhaps we should have known better as minutes later, Haaland opened the scoring. Grealish sent Baldock with a cut in from the left (to be fair to George, this may be only the second time that our old pal Jack has got the better of him in numerous meetings and, up to this point, George had had Grealish's number) and lofted a ball to the back post that Haaland outjumped Robbo for to head home. Wes was at it again not long before the opener I should mention, denying Haaland again with a super fingertip save to send a chip spiralling over the bar. United were not fazed by going behind however, and began to bring the game to City. A long throw from Robbo was cleared poorly by Ederson with Hamer launching an effort goalwards that Dias just blocked what looked like a goal bound effort. Buoyed by the crowd, United continued to come forward with McBurnie coming on and linking play up extremely well up top. City went close from a free kick that Wes was equal to and then minutes after that, it happened. A poor backheel from Walker allowed Traore the chance to cross into the box. His cross was just behind Hamer but the deflection saw Vini Souza slide pass out to an unmarked Bogle. The ex-Derby man took aim and... SCORED! United had done it with minutes to go! The ground was in absolute bedlam as City looked shellshocked. What a moment for United and what a moment for Jayden who has been unlucky with injuries as of late but what a time to score your first United goal since the home game against Stoke last season! However... The dream of a point was over not long after it looked on. Alvarez swept an effort just over the bar almost immediately and then a moment or so later, poor defending from Larouci allowed Walker to carry the ball unmarked into the area. Kyle laid the ball off to Rodri to slam past Wes and restore the City lead. From kick off however, United did go close to an instant response. McBurnie whipped in a great ball for Anel that our Bosnian just couldn't quite get on the end of. Close, but just not close enough. And that was that for the game. Another last minute heartbreaker for United, but the positives perhaps outweighed the negatives in this one. A battling performance from United was all that could have been asked before the game and is exactly what we got on Sunday. We really did reduce City to very little in regard to clear cut chances throughout the contest and made Haaland look very human at times. The marginal errors that we might have got away with in the Championship have cost us at least two points in the last two games and need stamping out like yesterday. But, and this is a big but, we didn't look out of place at all on Sunday. If Anel's neck was just a bit longer, or his leg was just a bit longer, we're possibly talking about us coming out of the weekend with an unlikely point. Close, but just not close enough. We turn our attentions to the Cup tomorrow with the visit of Lincoln City to The Lane before a big clash on Saturday against Everton. If we play with as much heart as we did on Sunday against The Toffees, who's to say we can't get a positive result? 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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