COLUMNIST KEN BUCKLEY

From my seat: Sheffield Utd (H)

By Ken Buckley   ::  25/08/2011 Well it was a night out... Less than 18,000 assemble in the ground and it was pretty dull and lifeless outside as half empty pubs would testify.

The team selected seemed quite strong on an individual basis but team wise you could just see the imbalance with no recognised wide men and the chance for the third choice striker to stake a claim. This is something both fans and players will need to get used to and accept the manager will have to find a way of playing that gives us the best chance of victories probably at the expense of joined up free-flowing stuff, well at first anyway until we all get used to the circumstance we find ourselves in and then perhaps confidence on all sides will return and the football become more palatable. It all adds up to another slow start though and the Blackburn game may well be revealing.

Last night?s game, as it turned out, was a good work out and minutes on the pitch for at least three of our main players. Arteta and Fellaini grew into the game and after tentative starts seemed to gain in confidence and look further than treating the ball as a hot potato. Saha got game time but with his injury failings I think it will be more good luck than judgement once again this season.

The game started with the Blues well on top and Arteta was rather wasteful with one good chance before around the 30-min mark we witnessed once again one break from the opposition, Jags seeming to miss-read the flight and see the ball bounce of his head into the path of Quinn who flashed the ball across goal and the evergreen Cresswell quickest into the box sweep home. What a downer and murmurings were heard from the faithful. Many wondered if they would now shut up shop and with our lack of craft and guile in the final third and yet another embarrassment being on the cards.

Hang on though, where we were lacking in craft and guile up front lady luck took a bow. Just a couple of minutes later Rodwell strode in from the left of the box, shot, and their keeper, our old keeper Simmo seemed to parry the ball into the path of their goal scorer who trundled it into his own net. Who is claiming that one?

Then just a few more minutes and the impressing Barkley was bearing down on goal from the right side of the box and was as ever ready to try a shot and from my seat his effort was screwed but turned into a peach of a lay off for Victor to joyously find the net, his first goal for a long time, maybe the bit of luck he needed, we will see.

Just a few mins to the break and some decent joined-up stuff broke out, you could just see the confidence as we not only kept the ball but advanced the upshot being Barkley attacking the box only to be stopped by a decent tackle but the ball broke to Arteta who sized things up in a flash and curled a peach around the diving Simmo and into the net for the goal of the game. Half-time and the conversation was of a predictable nature.

The second half was a bit of a bore. We knocked it about and played around them but without ever overexerting. Not a lot of note to report. Rodwell went down injured ,recovered but was soon subbed by Saha who looked fit and lively but by Saturday you never know. Arteta and Fellaini picked up yellows as they went that bit harder for match fitness.

Around 80mins Barkley came off to a tremendous reception to be replaced by Baxter and in the same break Neville replaced Osman. Looks like Ossie and Barkley are certain starters on Saturday. By the end we were well on top and I am sure if the players had really wanted to a couple more goals could have been had. The ref was a Mr Miller and looked a lot like H. Webb, reffed a bit like him as well. His final whistle was a bit of a relief though as it meant I was off back to my watering hole for the inquest.

"Who was your man of the match?" I was asked, difficult one that as no-one really stood out so I said Hibbert as he put in a respectable and solid professional shift all game.

Overall a win is a win and we are in the draw from a performance that suggests we still a bit off the pace and for some reason lacking a bit of confidence. Heitinga looked more comfortable as a centre back, Mucha got a game but didn?t have much to do except worryingly fish the ball out of the net, Jags seems a bit distant at times even though he had the captains armband.

Still no two games are the same and we owe Blackburn one on their pitch after last season. Will we shake off the cobwebs of doubt and collect all three points???

See you there to find out

UP THE BLUES

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