25 unbeaten matches over 13 months (unlucky for some) comes to an end! No complaints either as Wilder's Sheffield United gave as good a display of teamwork, energy and basic nous as Ewood regulars have seen since Wagner's Huddersfield Town rolled up two years ago, we all know what happened to them at the end of the season! Pass and move one and two football straight out of Bill Shankly's coaching manual.
"Pass the ball the way you are facing, don't stand and admire but instantly move into space to receive it back, the man on the ball then should always have 3 options of colleagues in space in front of him. Rinse and repeat until in and around the penalty area when trickery and skill can be used to create openings. End result was that United's one and two touch football was a direct comparison to our ponderous one touch to control, 2 touch to look up and 3 to pass. Chalk and cheese. This morning try as I might I can't recall Sheffield hoofing the ball from back to front whereas last night this tactic was the overused and the extent of our creativity.
Rovers were at a loss on how to to combat Sheffields play with Evans and Smallwood totally rendered out of their depth against the Blades midfield. Duffy in particular was involved in almost everything and again reminded me of Huddersfield's Aaron Mooy.
Armstrong obviously instructed to play wide left was virtually out of the equation (as was Reed) in the first half although a couple of blistering runs which left United's right back blowing bubbles showed Mowbray had done his homework on United's defence.
Even worse Graham and Dack were playing statues. I said at HT that one of them would have to make way and so it panned out as 10 mins into the second half Danny Graham (many peoples MoM on sat to dunce in 3 days) was mercifully withdrawn on 55 minutes and replaced with Brereton. The midfield had already been improved by replacing Smallwood with Mulgrew and bring Reed into midfield. Rovers improved markedly with Mulgrew pulling the strings from the back and providing a a calming influence on the rest of the team. When Bell was replaced with Rothwell on 70 mins the Rovers started to offer more of a threat to United who in fairness appeared to have gone from their 1st half 4-4-2 to a more defensive 4-5-1. No doubt with the intention of closing the game down and scoring on the break. It worked too as the only save Henderson had to make (in my recollection) was a fairly average stop from an Armstrong effort just before the end. Maybe Mowbray and his team would be well advised to watch this match over and over as seeing matches out from a winning position appears a complete mystery to them.
I felt comfortable before the match that this was our strongest squad, but they were made to look ordinary. We've made a good start but maybe the promotion 'bounce' is wearing off. Tonight we looked a bottom six team. I hope it's a one off but it's worth noting that Bristol City, Swansea and Boro have all beaten Sheff Utd this season.
Raya ..... 7 Kept rovers in the game with a series of reaction saves in a one sided first half.
Bennet... 5 Not a great evening but a better and more comfortable fit at right back than Nyambe imo.
Lenihan .. 4 Not his best game but kept under almost constant pressure most of the first 45. Is it too difficult to judge long ball clearances to fall at chest height to DG rather than either at or 4 ft over his head? I recall this lot were after him last close season.
Williams.... 7 My MoM. Won countless headers in clearing cross after cross and reverted to left back seamlessly after Mulgrew was introduced at HT.
Bell.... 5 Another hot and cold performance. Amari can look a thoroughbred one minute and a donkey the next. Seems reluctant to take on full backs and get to the by-line this season when last year I saw that as one of his strong points.
Reed.... 6 Poor first half out wide and looked far more accomplished in centre mid after he'd replaced Smallwood.
Smallwood... 4. I think Richie is about to become a benchman. Never at the races as Sheff Utd ran circles around him and Evans. I think this HT substitution like Danny Graham's 10 mins later can be chalked down as an act of mercy.
Evans.... 6 Tried hard but exposed, out paced, out muscled, out thought and outnumbered time and again.
Armstrong .. 5 Did little before the break but if partnered with DG in the first half might have troubled Sheff Utd with his pace through the middle.
Dack... 4 Ineffective and appeared a little disinterested too? Worst match I've seen him play.
Graham ...4 Ditto.
Subs
Mulgrew 7 made a difference although tbf Sheff Utd were on a 'to have and to hold' instruction as soon as they went 1 up.
Brereton...5 better on the night than DG but I'm sorry I know it's early days but as yet I can't see 8m or whatever it is that we paid in this lad.
Rothwell... 6 Did certainly try to make things happen and did trouble the opposition.
Mowbray.... 4 Plans laid waste by the strength and tactics of the opposition.
Referee Robert Jones (Liverpool). I think I preferred the referee on Saturday! This chap seemed more than a little partisan toward the away team on more than one occasion.