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Sheffield United 0-2 Reading: Blades need to sharpen up after Royals reality check
SHEFFIELD UNITED manager Kevin Blackwell predicted both he and Reading counterpart Steve Coppell would learn a lot about their respective teams' promotion ambitions during the course of this match.
Not half they did.
Whereas Coppell discovered that Reading have the ability to win automatic promotion, Blackwell found out that United are not yet good enough to achieve that target.
United's first home defeat of the season – and their first at Bramall Lane since March – provided clear evidence their only realistic route to success lies through the play-offs.
Only two points separated the fourth-placed home side from their third-placed visitors before the start of play, but in reality the gulf was much wider.
Reading were superior in every department and, for fully half the game, displayed more passion and commitment than their hosts.
So slowly did Blackwell's side begin the match, indeed, that they would have come off second best to a team of tortoises on sleeping tablets.
Reading swept into a two-goal lead – thereby equalling the number of goals United had conceded in their previous eight home league fixtures – and should really have gone into the break with a three-goal cushion.
United rolled their sleeves up after the interval – no more than a minimum requirement – but left themselves with far too much to do.
James Beattie deflected a cross against a post and Billy Sharp had a couple of efforts saved, but the home team were generally powder-puff going forward.
The game itself was more of a dog-fight than a thrilling advert for footballing artistry and served up only one flash of memorable quality –Kevin Doyle adroitly leaving defenders for dead on the left touchline to tee-up Kalifa Cisse for the opening goal in the fifth minute.
Cisse had so much time in the area that he could have paused to light a cigar and smoke it to within a fraction of its stub before planting a crisp 12-yard drive past Paddy Kenny into the roof of the net.
United should already have been behind at that point, but Andre Bikey blazed a gilt-edged opportunity over the bar as the visitors apparently advanced at will.
Cisse had a shot cleared off the line before United finally got out of first gear around the 20-minute mark, Beattie arrowing a 30-yard free-kick over the bar.
But the home team were caught napping on the cusp of half-time when Doyle reacted sharply to Stephen Hunt's free-kick, stooping to nod in his 14th goal of the season from close-range for the Royals.
United made a double alteration at half-time, Sharp and Greg Halford replacing Stephen Quinn and Matthew Spring, and the move resulted in a better balance to the side.
A goal would have changed the complexion of the afternoon, but United's ongoing frailties up front were again in evidence as they were kept out by goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann and his back four.
The afternoon was summed up by a comically fluffed free-kick between Beattie and Gary Speed, which would have left both men yearning for a hole in the ground as opposed to another session on the training ground.
"We didn't start brightly enough," conceded Blackwell. "We showed too much respect to Reading.
"Why? I don't know. We've got a terrific record at home and we're playing well. But you can't afford to give teams like Reading a leg-up – they're good enough as it is.
"From a defensive point of view, the two goals were poor. We created some chances in the second half but we couldn't take them."
United's preparations were hardly helped by the ongoing fall-out of captain Chris Morgan's challenge on Barnsley's Iain Hume at Oakwell seven days earlier, which left the striker with a fractured skull.
But Blackwell refused to use that episode as an excuse.
"It's been a difficult week, but it's been more of a difficult week for Iain Hume," he said.
"We've just tried to get on with the football as best we can and I thought we trained really well going into this game.
"I just didn't think we got going quickly enough. They're the best team in the Championship and they've got quality all over."
Sheffield United: Kenny; Naughton, Morgan, Kilgallon, Jihai; Spring (Sharp 45), Howard, Speed; Quinn (Halford 45), Beattie, Stokes (Henderson 79). Unused substitutes: Naysmith, Cotterill.
Reading: Hahnemann; Rosenior, Bikey, Ingimarsson, Armstrong; Cisse, Kebe (Gunnarsson 68), Harper, S Hunt; Doyle, N Hunt (Long 76). Unused substitutes: Andersen, Matejovsky, Henry.
Referee: M Oliver (Northumberland). MATCH FOCUS
Hero: Gary Speed
In reality, there wasn't a hero. Speed was arguably United's best player, however, on an afternoon when no member of the home side significantly distinguished themselves.
Villain: Anthony Stokes
His blatant dive in the area during the first half symbolised United's day – entirely unconvincing. Stokes was booked for unsporting behaviour and failed to shine in front of target.
Key moment
Fifth-minute: Reading grab initiative as Kevin Doyle sets up Kalifa Cisse, who fires past Paddy Kenny from 12 yards.
Ref watch
Michael Oliver: Angered home fans with one or two fussy decisions, but this was not an especially taxing afternoon.
Verdict
United were given a harsh lesson by a Reading team who looked much more likely promotion material and punished them for a sluggish start.
Quote of the day
You can't afford to give teams like Reading a leg-up – they're good enough as it is.
– Sheffield United manager Kevin Blackwell.
Next game
Charlton Athletic v Sheffield United, Saturday, Championship, 3.00.Big match talking points from Bramall Lane
Can Sheffield United still win automatic promotion after Saturday's defeat?
No. Many a slice of humble pie has had to be consumed by those who have written off a team's chances of success at this early stage, but United do not appear to possess the firepower to achieve that target.
Kevin Blackwell is a good manager developing a good team, but unless he is able to work some magic in the January transfer window it is difficult to see where the necessary goals are going to come from.
The week was dominated by the ongoing furore surrounding Sheffield United captain Chris Morgan's challenge on Barnsley's Iain Hume at Oakwell seven days earlier. Did that affect United?
Hard to say.
The way they started the match – lethargic and slow to every second ball – suggested it had more of a subconscious effect than even Blackwell realised, although the manager was right not to use that episode as an excuse in defeat.
The reality was that Morgan and his team-mates were outclassed.
On this evidence, there appears to be a significant gulf between the leading teams in this season's Championship?
There is an appreciable difference in quality between the likes of Sheffield United and Reading. Five points separate the clubs with Reading one point behind second-placed Birmingham and United having been leapfrogged by Burnley into fifth. With Wolves striding clear at the top 12 points ahead of United it shows the extent of the divide.
Did Kevin Blackwell get his tactics right?
A moot point. With Stephen Quinn pushing forward in support of James Beattie and Anthony Stokes during the first half, United failed to sparkle. When Blackwell changed things around at half-time, bringing on Billy Sharp and Greg Halford, there was a lot more purpose to United's play.
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Weather for Yorkshire
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 1 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 4 C to 8 C
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