What did the first half of this game and our new centre back Martin Taylor have in common? Well, they're both about as far from pretty as it is possible to get. No offence, Martin. In fact judging by the comments around me you've already got a place in our hearts. You are big, menacing, effective, and have the added bonus of being able to get forward too. A white Danny Shittu if you like.
The first 45 was true traditional Division Two fare. An even battle with not much skill but a lot of heart. Henderson, in particular, looking threatening. It would've been no surprise had we conceded, especially in the opening 25 minutes when they were probably the better side, but with our back four looking the most settled its been all season and Scott showing £3million form we kept them out. Gradually we fought our way back into it with Eustace having a couple of chances and Cleverley's wonderful free kick hitting the post.
But then we took the kind of chance that was bound to come along eventually. You know, the sort of one other teams always seem to take against us. A moment of hesitation in the United defence and Cleverley popped up and was extremely brave to head the ball past the Blades keeper before crashing into him. A few minutes later and following another mix up Helguson was unlucky not to make it 2-0.
The five minutes of first half injury time can all be put down to United, even though a couple of our players had needed treatment. They are still as dirty as they were in the Warnock days but oddly delicate whenever they were on the receiving end of anything as physical as a tackle, going and staying down all too easily.
One expected Kevin Blackwell to give his troops a right rollicking at half time and for them to come out and take the game to us.
However it just didn't happen. In the second half it was so one sided that I can't remember Loach doing anything other than kicking the ball out when it was passed back to him. We took total control and deservedly scored twice more through another mix up that Helguson punished and a Cowie free kick that went through everyone and in. We could've had as many as four or five. Lloyd made his now expected charge for goal and was unlucky not to score. Substitutes Graham and Hoskins also both went close.
It was a fine team performance. Despite the newcomer it was a team that looked far more comfortable with itself, like it knew what it was meant to be doing. Its true to say that all of the goals were probably as a result of opposition errors but its to our credit that we punished three out of the four that Sheffield United made.
With Palace winning in the cup meaning yet another Saturday will go by the wayside this was a good first effort at turning the Vic into a Tuesday night fortress.
