Sheffield United (U21s) 2-1 Peterborough United (U21s)

Sheffield United (U21s) 2-1 Peterborough United (U21s)

Professional Development League

Tuesday 13th September 2022

A goal in each half meant Sheffield United picked up the three points in this Premier League Professional Development League game against Peterborough United.

By no means was it 'vintage' from the Blades, but they were still the better team and the scoreline was a fair enough reflection of what unfolded. George Broadbent got the opener, the equally as impressive Louie Marsh doubled the lead on the hour mark before Posh reduced arrears late on through Joe Taylor.

Due to now playing the crux of their PDL home fixtures at York's LNER Stadium (some 50+ miles from Sheffield), this was United’s first U21s game at Bramall Lane this term.

Amongst the more familiar names in their line-up were Oliver Arblaster (always a pleasure to watch) and he’s recently broken into the first team, George Broadbent, who spent last season out on loan at Rochdale, and Sydie Peck whose 18th birthday it was. Finlay Potter (wearing No.4 and not No.5 as the team-sheet incorrectly stated) and Louie Marsh also featured having battled through bad injuries in the past 12 months.

Following a relatively quiet start, the game sprung to life when the Blades’ midfield trio of Peck, Arblaster and Broadbent, plus Potter, all combined for the opening goal.

The birthday boy dropped back to the halfway line to get possession and played it to Potter. He found Arblaster who, instinctively on the half-turn, knocked an inviting first-time ball through for Broadbent to latch onto. The ex-Rochdale loanee still had lots to do as he advanced towards the edge of the area with the ball at his feet but before a Posh player could put a tackle in (or get near him), he looked up and with one accurate swing of his boot, unleashed a low drive into the bottom corner. It was a ruthless, well-executed finish on the back of a high quality and purposeful passage of play. 1-0.

Despite the breakthrough, United toiled a bit as they sought to add further damage.

Potter was often guilty of playing a few too many balls over the top which Peterborough's defence were only too happy to collect although when the Blades did get the ball on the ground they looked a threat. Marsh applied himself well to pose a frequent nuisance whilst Broadbent looked the biggest threat as he made several clever runs in-behind (some worked; some didn’t - but the ideas were always clever). When he broke down the left side and whistled an inviting low ball across the goalmouth on 37 minutes, Theo Williams saw his shot saved by Will Lakin from pretty much point-blank range.

Williams knew he ought to have made it 2-0 but, on the flip side, Posh themselves had already squandered a golden chance to make it 1-1 up at the other end. The Blades defence were horribly caught out when they tried to play out from the back; Potter was the guilty party who gifted the ball straight to an attacker inside his own box yet with only Callum Hiddleston to beat, Kellan Hickinson skewed his shot wide. Hickinson was also off-target from about 20 yards closer to half-time which meant the Blades remained in the ascendency by the interval.

Marsh went close not long after the break when he forced a save from Arblaster’s near-post cross and, with things pretty even, Peterborough then put the ball in the net through Taylor - only to see his effort ruled out for offside.

With an hour played, the team wearing red and white made it 2-0. 

Peterborough’s Dan Butler was at fault as his stray pass inside went straight to Marsh's feet. About 30 yards out, the attacker still had lots to do but his technique as he carried the ball forward, was as good as the eventual finish; a low drive across the ‘keeper and into the bottom corner. Another example of being clinical when it matters.

To Posh’s credit, they made a decent fist of things in what remained of the game and were unfortunate not to return back to London Road with a point in the end.

Taylor reduced arrears with 10 minutes to go when he slotted home having got through before the same player ought to have made it 2-2, prior to a lengthy amount of injury-time, when he turned well inside the box, retained his balance and had both time and space to pick his spot only for his low drive to be comfortably saved by Hiddleston. Another shot was whistled just inches wide; and so close, in fact, that it knocked over Hiddleston’s water bottle.

Ultimately, despite the game finishing beyond 3.00pm and Posh posing a decent threat in the latter stages, it was the Blades who picked up all the points.

Individually, there were some alright performances by those in Sheffield United shirts.

George Broadbent was one. He took his goal well and posed a persistent threat; showing good technique in various instances to bring the ball onto his right foot. His good play provided the chance for Theo Williams and he raised a smile during his ‘exchange of words’ with a Peterborough defender just before half-time. Considering he’s been out on loan various times already and turns 22 very soon, it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s loaned out again sometime in the near future.

Bar one instance in the second half where he was caught in possession on the edge of his own box, Oliver Arblaster’s quality shone through again. He just looks so composed on the ball and trustworthy with how he applies himself. I appreciate good players; he's always a pleasure to watch - and it's testatment to his quality that he was kicked and clattered as much as he was during the last half-hour or so.

Louie Marsh made a positive impression. He was dangerous on and off the ball, showed glimpses of intelligence and took his goal well. He’s still got areas for physical development (which will happen in time because he's only just turned 18) but whenever I watch the Blades next, I'll be keeping an eye on him specifically because there was something about this display which makes me think he could hold his own when he inevitably goes out on loan into a first team environment. I liked what I saw.

It wasn’t Sydie Peck’s best ever performance (and he’ll have probably wondered himself what he was doing during a 30-second spell in the first half when he lost possession by trying to force the ball forward and then played an intended pass straight out of play). That aside, the two things which stood out were his defensive contributions and just how much he dropped back to deep areas to get on the ball, plus how he appears to have significantly ‘bulked up’ over the summer. That will be vital in his development because, technically, he's a class act for his age group and is a player I've already got a lot of respect for.

Elsewhere, Finley Potter couldn't be faulted for his application and how he attacked things. The long balls (which he was guilty of playing) might not please everyone but, equally, that style will work in some environments, and I'd like to think he's growing in confidence all the time now that he's recovered from the injury which kept him out for so long.

Nobody really stood-out for Peterborough with the possible exception of Charlie O’Connell who was tidy with his footwork and played at centre-back in their 3-4-1-2 formation. I'm not sure if that's his best position or if he’s there simply due to his height, but he was still as good as anyone in a blue shirt.

Next Up: Burton Albion (U18s) vs Doncaster Rovers (U18s) at St George's Park on Friday.