Stalemate

By BoroGuide

There’s precious little time to reflect on Friday night’s stalemate at the Lamex, as we have a mere 72 hours until the remaining installment of the playoff semi-finals gets underway at Bramall Lane. And there’s not much to be said with regards to the first 90 minutes…

Sheffield United came with a gameplan, which pretty much consisted of not losing. If the plan had any other facet, it was taking whatever they could get on top of the draw. Boro’s play was stifled to great effect and the result was a midfield dropping back and leaving the strikers increasingly isolated.

Gary Smith, however, is right to point out there is little point in thinking all is lost. Boro’ nabbed two goals up there only a fortnight ago; this time it will be about making sure the hosts don’t get two themselves. But that’s for another day. Let’s reflect on a game where we were treated with respect by a fallen giant.

Day 7 – A quiet game but alert to deal with Bossie’s only shot on target
Lascelles 6 – Increasingly troubled as the game wore on and given few options when on the ball
Ashton 7 – You respect his authoritah…!
King Robbo 7 – You could set your watch by him, such is the skipper’s dependability
Lairdy 7 – Lairdy in Red
Wilson 6 – Lacking a certain spark and not at his marauding best
The Essential Byrom 6 – Quiet by recent standards
Bossie 7 – Looked to impose himself in a hard-fought midfield battle
Freeman 7 – Effervescent and free-flowing, but was given much attention from defenders
Reidy 6 – Plenty of running but few opportunities
Patrick 6 – Held the ball up well but was isolated as the midfield went deeper
Moose 6 – Getting ever closer to his tip-top best
Robin 7 – Added extra enthusiasm to a Boro’ running out of ideas
JMW 6 – A short shift but made a vital intervention to halt a counter-attack