Premier League Cup QF
Tuesday 9 April 2024
Played at Bramall Lane
SUFC 2023/24 Game #58
NBDR
No Beer Don't Read
The U Two Ones cup adventure ends on a proper cup tie night at The Lane. I felt we gave as good as we got. Maybe on a different night we win that. But, thoroughly enjoyable nevertheless.
The Carrier Bag Firm had been speculating for weeks, weeks I tells ye, would we bring the Big Guns out for this important Cup Tie.
Will Osula up top. ‘dre Brooks in midfield. Louie Louie Marsh on the road back to fitness. Big Guns.
Luke Faxon gloving. Dovydas Sasnauskas in the middle of a three. Mig Freckleton on his left. And Sai Sachdev at RCB. Sam Curtis wide right. Jay Tinsdale wide left. Osula up top. And fluid behind him. Marsh often in the True Ten role. Sydie Peck everywhere. Owen Hampson & Brooks doing a lot of fetching and carrying.
I think Sam Curtis is getting with the program now. I've had a dig about his positioning being a bit formulaic. Today, as the Young Blades looked to attack from the off, Sam pushed up, and pushed wide, into effective attacking positions.
I think he was helped by Sai being more of a natural RWB than RCB. Sai couldn't reset his autopilot. And was drifting wider and wider. Meaning Sam was pushing higher and higher. Maybe a happy accident which meant we were more of an attacking threat on that side.
House on fire start by United. A great run and shot by Brooks on just 6 minutes brought an instinctive save. But, Faxon and Freckleton got into a right fucking falling about fiasco on 11. When one or the other managed to recover their feet, the “clearance” hit the Forest attacker, and fell nicely for him to score easily. Nil One.
That was part of a little spell where Forest began to get a bit more control of the game. On 19, a lovely skip from Peck on the left ended with a clever cross going clean across goal, with no one able to get on the end of it. (So not that clever of a cross then Phil).
Immediately, Forest lost possession on halfway. And Peck put in a lovely chip from (say) just 10 yards inside the Forest half. Agonisingly over the bar.
As the first half was dragging on, I felt a bit frustrated by United's final threat. Lots of the ball wide and through the middle. But, a bit anonymous up top. Indeed, I had a bit of a go at Ryan Oné. Onlé to realise he wasn't playing. And it was Osula who was shit.
But, natch, Will was then involved in a great move which ended with him hitting a post. He played a superb flick layoff to Marsh. Who returned it into Will's stride. Great awareness to try and curl an edge of the boxer into the far corner. Absolutely rattled the post.
But. No mistake. Forest, still leading, were bang in it as well. #9 Osong was a right fucking handful.
United finished the first half at steam. On 43, Louie put in a weak finish to a good chance. On 45+2, Sasnauskas got on the end of a free kick, but his effort was blocked.
Will missed a great chance. But immediately (on 45+5), Owen H helped one across the box & Osula knocked home the equaliser. Half time One One.
United came out for the second half looking to attack. Sachdev, Curtis and Peck were combining well. Sachdev hit the bar on 50. But a great spell, with United well on top was ended on 56.
Andre Brooks lost it in an attacking position, a great breakaway and shot, and Forest were back in front. And. Fuck sake. They went three one on 59. Forest sub Konaté tearing us apart at this bit.
I might as well have my say on Andre Brooks. Didn't look like a first team squad player dropping down. Largely ineffective. And largely prone to make bad decisions and give it away against a sweeping counter attacking team. AnyRoadUp, he was hoiked for Macedo on 60.
Louie Marsh was clattered to win a Penalty on 69. There was no doubt in the mind of Osula that he was having it. Buried it. 3-2. Lot to play for.
I might as well have my say on Sydie Peck. Thoroughly influential throughout. Got that - this is my game, get out of the fucking way, if anyone's winning this, I am - thing going on. Beckhamesque (mentality wise).
The lots going in last ten of a cup tie. Multi balls being used. No cones mind. No ball boys mind. Forest subs fucking about with the balls so that they couldn't be used. Danny Cadamarteri going up there to keep them away from the balls. Suited United official and fringe Carrier Bag Firmer coming down from the stand to keep Forest subs away from the Multi Bs.
Time for Owen Hampson to get two yellows as we ended with ten men.
Proper Cup Tie.
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