A relieved Andy Munro watches Blues beat Queens Park Rangers.
This was no classic but nevertheless a welcome return to winning ways. If we can beat the Blades in our next match, it will represent a bit of a revival but misery Chris Wilder’s teams are a reflection of his miserly character so we will have to be in decent form on the day.
Against Rangers Blues should have been home and hosed by half-time but the woodwork, a decent showing by the opposition keeper and some missed chances combined to keep it a bit of a cliffhanger in the latter stages of the second half. This was made all the more tense when Poku (the player who messed us around transfer-wise) came on but luckily he failed to net with his one clear chance.
The Blues goal was well worked with Ibrahim showing a rare degree of coolness to lay on Patrick Roberts. Certainly on this performance both deserve a start against the Blades. Incidentally our flagship signing Vincente again came on to disappoint and it would be good to know if Craig Gardner was the main element in spending a lot of money on somebody who has been comparatively peripheral so far. Maybe that’s why Gards has gone off sick with stress, or should that be distress?
On a more positive note, the defence were generally solid with Robinson excellent as was Christoph Klarer. Also good to see Ethan Laird so dangerous overlapping, something Iwata could learn from as , despite plenty of space he seemed unwilling to take on his man.
Solis and Paik particularly dominated midfield for most of the time and Jay Stansfield must have run a marathon up front with little reward.
Our next game will determine whether we sit fairly comfortably in mid-table or can push back onto the fringe of the play-off battle. I hope the latter but fear the former.
