Blades look sharper

Tuesday, 26/04/2011

by Sean Dungworth, Shoot's Sheffield United blogger

Prior to the Easter holidays the Blades were dead and buried, they were already planning for League One, well, at least the fans were, myself included.
 
All but the most optimistic, or certifiable, had consigned United to their fate. However, a few weeks ago I described United as being a wounded animal in a bullfighting arena, and that occasionally, against all the odds, the bull wins.
 
Well it would appear the beast will not be killed off quietly; it will simply not just lie down and die.
 
Three goals on Saturday against Bristol City and three goals against Reading have scooped United six points from their last two contests, lifting them to third from bottom. But more importantly they have closed the gap with Palace to six points, and Doncaster’s dip in form has dragged them to within six points of us also.
 
The fly in our particular ointment being our inferior goal difference, we lag Doncaster by eight goals and Palace by nine. We are paying the price for having only netted 42 times this season, and for having a defence that leaks more than the Parliamentary Expenses Committee!
 
Our defensive frailties have stemmed from having an unsettled back four, and the major loss of Morgan for such a large portion of the season.
 
Our paucity in front of goal, I believe, has been avoidable. In the first instance, our sale of Billy Sharp to our relegation rivals Doncaster, prior to the season’s start, was inexcusable. The lad wanted to play for United, he’s a Blade through and through (or was), and he has proved that he can score goals, given the right service.
 
He has found the net 15 times this season for Rovers (in the league), where would we be with those goals on our tally? He was obviously never going to be part of Kevin Blackwell’s plans, but, if Blackwell was already living on borrowed time (one can only assume this as he only lasted two games into the season), why did McCabe countenance his sale?
 
Secondly, and perhaps a greater question, why did Adams wait so long to give Jordan Slew his chance to shine? The youngster has scored for fun in the academy team and makes the England Under-19 team, so why not the United first team. Not because our seasoned, well-paid, established forwards playing week in week out, have been prolific, that’s for sure.
 
Slew has been given his opportunity and has seized it, scoring twice in succession. He could have made it three in three games on Monday were, it not for an arguable decision by the referee.
 
The return of Darius Henderson was greeted with scepticism by most fans. Although he has scored regularly for United, his physical game often loses the team’s momentum, and his constant ‘back-chatting’ of the referee often lands him in unnecessary trouble. He is seen by many as more of a liability than an asset.
 
He was roundly booed by sections of the home support on Saturday. I would say unfairly so, he really put a shift in, and given the length of his absence from the game, due to injury, one would expect a period of grace to build up his match fitness, and to acclimatise to first team football once again.
 
I don’t think he will ever be a ‘darling’ of the Lane faithful, but he showed the away following at Reading just what he can do when he bagged a brace to help gain those latest three points. If United can keep hold of (i.e. if Mr McCabe will pay Henderson’s wages) both Slew and Henderson, I believe a devastating partnership could develop, certainly against League One opposition. It could be like watching Dean and Agana once again!
 
After this weekend I can see United winning their last two games, by at least a couple of clear goals. I don’t see Palace slipping up by too much, but it could happen, and losing by two or three goals is not beyond the realms of possibility.
 
I can see Doncaster losing their last two games, and leaking several goals in the process. Suddenly the six point, eight goal, deficit doesn’t look too big… If, you’re looking at it from a really long, long way away!

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