Diego Watch - From the Grassy Knoll

Sheffield United U21 4 v Brentford U21 1

Monday 29 September 2014

Twitter @ball_sup

The grassy knoll at Shirecliffe for the U21s. Good open game. Lots of chances at both ends. The 1st half was pretty even. I was going to give it to Brentford on points. But United scored direct from a corner or maybe flapped in by the keeper (I couldn't quite tell). Other reports are saying Ben Whiteman, I'll bow to that, I mistakenly had it to Kyle Scarisbrick.

So I've got the wrong scorer & I don't really know how it's gone in. Excellent blogging.

By the end, United were running away with it.  Brentford equalised. But then in goalscoring terms it became the Diego show.  I've said before, he's better when he faces goal.

Right at the beginning of the game he made a tricky turn & got a great shot off. Beaten out by the keeper. Then he had a good run & chance down the left channel. Beaten out for a corner. Still in the first half he had a really good chance in front of a gaping goal. But missed it.

In the 2nd half, well the results speak. Diego took up good positions, looked for the ball, anticipated and took gambles & was calm in front of goal.

He tucked away a great Jason Paling cross. He chased down a defensive kerfuffle and put it in the empty net after the keeper had to scamper back & scoop it off the line.. He followed up a shot & was miles quicker reacting, the keeper parried & he calmly put it away.

Not an awe inspiring, all over the park, beat them on his own performance. Steady. Effective. Calm. Got the rewards.  Well done Kid.

Iain Turner looks a safe & class act, if we ever need him. Very vocal with his defenders. But not critical, just organising. Helping them with their positions.

So, a good win, so a quick celebratory drink in the Benjamin Huntsman Wetherspoons. Saltaire South Island Pale at 3.5%. Nice, simple easy drinking. I thought it was a bit honey sweet at first - which surprised me a little. The tastes weren’t all that powerful. But quite nice in a subtle way.  The fruit tones were a little grapefruit at first, but then a bit of pineapple I thought. Not much bitterness, but I didn’t miss it all that much - nice balance.