Kevin Gage's Sheffield United Column: I was disappointed after final whistle against Brighton ... but all things considered, why I shouldn't have been!

So imagine you’re Graham Potter, the Brighton and Hove Albion Manager, a week ago, formulating a game plan to travel up to Bramall Lane and attempt to get a vital point in your Premier League survival battle.
Kevin Gage Column Kevin Gage Column
Kevin Gage Column

You’ve played Sheffield United already this season at home and despite having the lion’s share of possession, lost the game 1-0 as the Blades stifled everything you threw at them and were dangerous on the break.

You manage a Brighton team that are renowned as being one of the best footballing teams in the division, and normally try to stick to your footballing principles as a general rule. However, these are not normal times in the Sheffield S2 footballing region and when coming up against a Blades team that are ripping up the general rules, drastic action sometimes has to be taken.

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Graham Potter, to his credit, decided to take it, and somehow his team grabbed a vital point in their relegation scrap.

Chris Wilder manager of Sheffield United and assistant Alan Knill during the Premier League match with Brighton - Simon Bellis/SportimageChris Wilder manager of Sheffield United and assistant Alan Knill during the Premier League match with Brighton - Simon Bellis/Sportimage
Chris Wilder manager of Sheffield United and assistant Alan Knill during the Premier League match with Brighton - Simon Bellis/Sportimage

An opposition manager will know – absolutely know – that if you are going to get anything from a trip to Bramall Lane, then his team is going to have to hang on at times and defend well… very well indeed actually.

You also know that you are going to be pressed back for long periods of play, especially in the second half as the Blades pile men forward and try to create sustained intense pressure as the crowd roar the team on. It's not only a test of a team’s ability to do their defensive job but also a big test of their character.

So Graham Potter picked a team to do a job at Bramall Lane, and by-and-large they did it. Not the free-flowing, possession-based team that often gets the job done, but one that was physically imposing and wouldn’t crack under the onslaught they were expecting.

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A case in point was playing five defenders across the back with an average height of six foot three inches, including Dan Burn – who, at six foot five, has to be the tallest wing-back ever! Brighton were limited to their least amount of possession all season as the Blades swarmed all over them and as the game went on, we all felt a winner just had to come from someone, somewhere. It should have come from our No.9 Oli McBurnie, to be honest, as twice his left foot let him down from a few yards out, and then his right side-foot volley produced a brilliant instinctive save from the Brighton ‘keeper Mat Ryan.

John Fleck signs a three-year contract extension watched by Chris Wilder manager of Sheffield Utd and Stephen Bettis: Simon Bellis/SportimageJohn Fleck signs a three-year contract extension watched by Chris Wilder manager of Sheffield Utd and Stephen Bettis: Simon Bellis/Sportimage
John Fleck signs a three-year contract extension watched by Chris Wilder manager of Sheffield Utd and Stephen Bettis: Simon Bellis/Sportimage

John Fleck’s shooting radar was also a yard or two off which meant he couldn’t cap another outstanding display with a deserved goal, but as the news filtered through that he’d signed a new three-year contract, we’ll forgive him!

In truth, and although we certainly had our foot on the accelerator pedal pressed firmly to the floor, and despite revving the Blades engine to it’s absolute maximum, we never really hit our creative top gear. David McGoldrick made a welcome late appearance and nearly made a difference in the dying stages but it wasn’t to be this time.

We were forced to settle for a point, and we will wait to find out how valuable it might prove to be at the end of the season.

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Ok...I’ll hold my hand up now. I’ll admit it. I was disappointed at the final whistle. Not with the performance, not with the effort, not with anything I saw on the pitch really. Just a bit deflated I suppose with the actual result.

David McGoldrick of Sheffield Utd challenges Lewis Dunk of Brighton: Simon Bellis/SportimageDavid McGoldrick of Sheffield Utd challenges Lewis Dunk of Brighton: Simon Bellis/Sportimage
David McGoldrick of Sheffield Utd challenges Lewis Dunk of Brighton: Simon Bellis/Sportimage

Which is ridiculous I know, but such is the high level of expectation that watching this brilliant team has instilled in me! We all sometimes need to take a step back, look at the bigger picture, not get too carried away by what we’ve achieved, and take a reality check! Me included, actually.

I get the feeling us fans sometimes look at our fixtures, see games against lower table teams and think we only have to turn up to win. The actual reality, of course, is far from it and woe betide any player in a Chris Wilder team who dares to think it either!

So mild, fleeting disappointment over and I’m happily taking the hard-fought Premier League point! There are now 11 games to go, 40 points already in the bag, survival guaranteed, and an FA Cup fifth round tie against a team in a lower division to come.

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A fully-fit, strong squad, and everyone chomping at the bit to get on the pitch and play their part as the season reaches it’s climax. Not too much to be too disappointed about actually is there?

Oli McBurnie points to the big screen replay of Enda Stevens' stunning strike against Brighton: Simon Bellis/SportimageOli McBurnie points to the big screen replay of Enda Stevens' stunning strike against Brighton: Simon Bellis/Sportimage
Oli McBurnie points to the big screen replay of Enda Stevens' stunning strike against Brighton: Simon Bellis/Sportimage

And, maybe, the best is yet to come? Remember, this is Sheffield United… anything could happen, and to us, it usually does!

UTB.

Kevin Gage owns The Manor House, Dronfield, hotel/bar/café. Follow him on Twitter: @gageykev

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