Sheffield United ended their pre-season campaign unbeaten as they drew 0-0 at Bochum this afternoon. Cheered on by a couple of thousand Blades who had made the trip to Germany, the Blades were second best in the first half but edged the second.
They were indebted to Michael Cooper for keeping them in the game in the first 45 minutes, the United goalkeeper making three smart saves to keep it goalless, but had some great chances after the break, with Gus Hamer flashing just wide and Callum O’Hare forcing a good save from Timo Horn.
Here’s how we rated United’s players on the day ahead of next week’s season opener at Mansfield Town...
1. Michael Cooper 7
Probably United's most impressive performer on the day and without him it could have been advantage Bochum in the first half as he made a trio of smart saves, including one superb one after Miyoshi was sent clear. The flag stayed down, despite the Bochum man looking suspiciously offside, but Cooper stood tall and blocked with his body to keep the scores goalless. Later on he palmed wide as Taz let fly from distance and then had to be down sharp to his right to push the ball wide from Crimaldi's neat flick | Sportimage
2. Femi Seriki 6
The right-back, the subject of a rejected bid from Italy recently, showed some bright signs down that flank and set up a chance for Cannon as he went on the outside and crossed. Defensively he was solid enough, with his speciality of buying a free-kick from his man under pressure getting him out of trouble a couple of times | Sportimage
3. Japhet Tanganga 6
United were under the pump at times but they stood firm enough to keep a clean sheet and that's a habit they didn't show enough last season, so that could be a sign of progress at least as United finished pre-season unbeaten | Sportimage
4. Jamal Baptiste 6
He and his captain were handed a tough test against the lanky Hofmann and largely kept him quiet, although he should have scored in the first half when he somehow placed wide. More valuable minutes as the season ticks closer although United's search for two more centre-halves continues | Sportimage