The overlooked tactical switch that helped Sheffield United break down Lincoln City
Chris Wilder opted for a key attacking change as wingers shine against Lincoln City
A first half tactical switch came up trumps for Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder as the Blades returned to action following the international break with a 3-0 win over Lincoln City.
United had been labouring somewhat in a dour opening period until Patrick Bamford put them in front late in the half and that provided the springboard for dominance after the break, with Tahith Chong slipping in a second and Bamford on target again to secure a much-needed win.
After a cagey start to the game, Wilder opted to switch his wide players towards the end of the first half, which paid off quickly for his side, scoring just before half-time.
Ben Brereton Diaz was involved in the goal, cutting inside off the right flank to pick out teammate Joe Rothwell, who found Sam McCallum on the opposite side to feed the ball straight into Patrick Bamford’s feet.
Prior to the adjustment, Chong lacked opportunities to drive at defenders, and although Diaz had the vision to pick out some visionary passes, he lacked the quality to create chances.
When asked about the reason for the switch in his post-match press conference, Wilder said, “We just felt that caused them a few more problems going on the outside. They (Lincoln City) defend really well, they're compact, their press is really good, and we weren't switching the play quick enough.”
“Obviously, when ball speed and trying to isolate outside centre-halves and wing-backs is key, and we just couldn't get into that rhythm,” he continued. “It was just a little bit slow, and we needed to be a little bit quicker.”
“Chong's performance has been good, and I thought Ben was good today as well,” he added.
Chong had been busy during the international break as he was called up to represent Curaçao, playing 168 minutes across three matches.
“He's had some long trips to deal with. He came back late Thursday, so good for him to get some minutes under his belt and it'll be better for the games that he's played over on the West Coast.”
The 26-year-old looked sharp at Bramall Lane on Saturday afternoon, with fans hoping this is the start of a successful season for the winger.
The tactical change proved to be decisive for the United boss, as his side began to create clear-cut opportunities to score and were sharper in front of goal, for the most part.