It was a battle of the tactics at Ewood Park, as an organised Sheffield United side stormed into Rovers’ backyard and left with the 2-0 victory that their well drilled performance deserved, after they poured water over the Blues’ unbeaten league home run, which ended after 25 games.
Before the game, Tony Mowbray highlighted, the likelihood of the tie turning into a tactical battle which soon became a reality as the clash wore on. The manager also likened his side’s current campaign to United’s campaign last season, which saw the then newly-promoted Blades compete with the best sides in the division and finish the season, comfortably in mid-table.
With his side heading into the game without a natural right-back, due to the injury to Ryan Nyambe, Tony Mowbray shuffled his players around by making 2 changes to the side that drew 2-2 with Nottingham Forest on Saturday. Paul Downing and the injured Nyambe dropped out and were replaced by Adam Armstrong and Derrick Williams, respectively, as Elliott Bennett filled in at full-back. Charlie Mulgrew, who had missed the previous 4 games, was also available for Mowbray from the bench.
The kick-off was met by the roar of 2000-odd Blades fans who had made the short journey over from Yorkshire to back their team for the victory, which, by the end of the evening, would put them joint top of the league alongside Middlesbrough and Leeds United.
The encounter was a quiet one during the opening 25 minutes, as Sheffield United cemented their dominance as the alpha side with Rovers struggling to cope with the width from their wing-backs and the presence of Mark Duffy in the number 10 role, behind strikers David McGoldrick and Billy Sharp.
On the 25th minute, it was Duffy who crafted the first chance of the game, as he looked to make his sides’ dominance count with the opener. The former Birmingham City midfielder received the ball after a patient build-up saw the ball played to his feet. Duffy, who had his back to goal, wasted no time in swivelling and releasing a shot at goal, which David Raya did well to save.
3 minutes later, Billy Sharp got in on the act, as he nodded Enda Stevens’ cross wide. United once again used their wing-backs to good use as Stevens received the ball on the left-wing. He beat his man before putting in a near-post cross which Sharp did well to make contact with. Unfortunately for the travelling support, Sharp’s header veered wide of the goal as he conceded a goal-kick.
Rovers’ first meaningful chance of the evening, didn’t arise until the 36th minute, as Bradley Dack tried to slot Rovers ahead. Elliott Bennett’s pace saw him glide beyond Enda Stevens and put in a low cross that Dack met. Unfortunately for Rovers, Dack wasn’t up to his usual antics, as his effort deflected behind for a corner, which the visitors did well to clear.
3 minutes after clearing Rovers’ corner, United had one of their own as former Rover Jack O’Connell rose highest in the Rovers penalty area in order to try and grab his second goal of the season. Raya, however, did well to react to the header, as he palmed it away before seeing his side clear the danger.
Raya was once again called for on the 42nd minute, as the Spaniard did well to deny consecutive efforts from both David McGoldrick and John Fleck. The first effort, which was struck by McGoldrick, came from long-range, as the former Ipswich Town forward tried to bend one in from 20-yards out, to which Raya tipped over the bar. The second effort, which fell to Fleck, saw the Spaniard see the ball through a crowd of bodies before claiming.
With the Rovers chances few and far between, the first-half ended goalless, as Chris Wilder’s side ended the half as the better team.
With the team-talks ongoing during the break, Chris Wilder would have been delighted at the display that his side had put in, during the opening 45 minutes. The only thing that may have frustrated the former Northampton Town boss, was that his side hadn’t found the back of the net.
Tony Mowbray, on the other hand, would have been frustrated with how his side failed to keep consistent possession of the ball and how they failed to unlock United’s sturdy midfield and backline. Additionally, Rovers’ lack of time on the ball and opportunity to create chances would have worried Mowbray, as the visitor’s good marking and defensive awareness continued to stifle Rovers’ attacking threat.
The second-half began after Rovers made their first change of the evening which also triggered a change in formation. Charlie Mulgrew was brought onto the field to replace Richie Smallwood, as Rovers matched the Blades’ formation and switched to a 3-5-2 of their own.
Another quiet spell at the start of the second period forced Rovers into making their second change on the 56th minute, as Danny Graham was withdrawn and replaced by Ben Brereton.
Seconds after the change, Rovers had their first chance of the half, as both wing-backs, Elliott Bennett and Amari’i Bell combined. Bennett fizzed in a cross which beat United’s 3 centre-backs as Bell, who was battling with Kieran Freeman in the box, met the header and powered it over the bar.
Rovers started to get themselves into the game as Ben Brereton had his first chance since being introduced off the bench. Some good dribbling by Bell set up Brereton who had the chance to swivel and release a shot. His shot however, was one that lacked real power as Dean Henderson, who was in the Sheffield United goal, managed to claim the ball with ease.
With Brereton too busy ruing his missed attempt, it didn’t take long for Sheffield United to make him pay, as prolific hitman Billy Sharp stamped his authority on the tie, by breaking the deadlock on the 66th minute. A disorientated Rovers side, allowed John Fleck the time and space to play David McGoldrick in, as the forward found himself on the ball in the box. He wasted no time in cutting the ball back across goal in the hope that Sharp would bundle the ball home, which he duly did at the second time of asking, to send the away fans behind the goal berserk.
3 minutes later, Brereton had the chance to make amends for his previous miss, as he tried to grab his first goal in Rovers colours by drawing the Blues level. A delicious delivery by Derrick Williams, towards the near-post, was met by Brereton, but the loanee could only see his nod fly over the net, as the miss was met by groans from the stands.
Rovers’ final substitution came in the 70th minute, when Joe Rothwell replaced Amari’i Bell.
Chris Wilder decided to utilise the substitutes at his disposal, on the 73rd minute, as he introduced Paul Coutts, who had recently come back from a broken leg, for Mark Duffy.
Coutts’ return to the United side gave them just about enough lift to push for the second, on the 78th minute, which simultaneously deflated any hopes Rovers had of salvaging something out of the game. A well worked move by United, saw Norwood play in Stevens, who was unmarked over on the left-hand side after Dack was given instructions by Mowbray to leave him. The unmarked Stevens moved down the left flank before putting in a deep cross that Sharp nodded home from close-range to seal the tie in the Blades’ favour, at 2-0.
Minutes after assisting Sharp’s goal, Stevens found himself in the book for a poor foul in the centre of midfield.
With his side in the lead, Chris Wilder changed his team’s shape into a 5-4-1, before removing Sharp and McGoldrick and replacing them with Leon Clarke and Conor Washington, respectively.
In between the separate Sheffield United changes, Rovers had a chance to reduce the deficit on the 85th minute, as Adam Armstrong was played through, in behind the United back 5. Despite being onside and timing his run to perfection, the finish was less glamourous than his movement, as Dean Henderson easily claimed the shot.
As 89 minutes appeared on the clock, David Raya had to pull off a final save in order to prevent a trouncing. Conor Washington was played through and found himself in the area, at a tight angle, with only Raya to beat. Despite the Northern Irishman’s proven goalscoring record, Raya did well to extend himself far enough in order to push the shot away.
During the 2nd of 4 added minutes, Elliott Bennett and Jack O’Connell were both handed yellow cards by referee Robert Jones after the pair squared up to each other, following a soft foul.
Time soon ran out for Rovers, as both, the game and their unbeaten league home run were ended, after an intense tactical game saw Sheffield United become too hot for Rovers to handle.
This game, in the eyes of many fans, may begin an inquest as to whether Rovers actually have what it takes to become a strong force in this division. Although the unbeaten run at home has gone, many fans would have argued that it would have been ‘more acceptable’ to see it lost against the likes of Aston Villa or Brentford, rather than Sheffield United. Such a hypothetical statement that some may come up with, sends waves of disrespect to a side that came to Ewood Park with a game plan and executed it brilliantly in order to try and stop Rovers do what they do best, which is to drive at teams.
Although this is by no means a pro-Sheffield United piece, Chris Wilder and his team need to be given credit for, not only how they handled themselves in this game, but also for how they’ve started their season, especially off the back of a successful campaign last term, which saw them finish 10th after only getting promoted in 2016-17, a blueprint, which Tony Mowbray admitted is something he’d like to model his side around. A final plaudit towards Wednesday’s visitors is their attacking style of football – irrespective of their game at Ewood – Wilder’s men came into this division, 2 years ago, with no fears and managed to achieve relative success off the back of it.
In terms of Wednesday’s game, Rovers were unable to cope with the Blade’s 3-5-2 system as they were overrun, both out wide and in the centre, an issue which Mowbray tried to fix in the second-half, but to no avail. Although this defeat is still raw, it should be seen as a learning curve for the side and should spur them on, not only to find a way of breaking down such resolute sides, but to create another unbeaten run.
Following the loss of both the game and the unbeaten run, Rovers have dropped down a place in the league, finding themselves in 14th with 15 points and a goal-difference of -2, from 11 games played.
Coming up for Rovers, Mowbray’s men visit Bolton Wanderers on Saturday 6th October at 5:30pm, with the game being on Sky Sports. After the derby and the 2-week international break, Rovers return to Ewood Park to host Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United, with kick-off on Saturday 20th October, scheduled for 5:30pm. Once Leeds leave Ewood, Rovers’ focus immediately turns to Tuesday 23rd October at 7:45pm, where Mowbray and his side travel to Wales, to lock horns with recently-relegated Swansea City.
