Professional Development League Play-Off Semi-Final
Monday 20th May 2024
Some games are quality to be there in person to witness and Sheffield United’s U21s were in top form as they cruised into the Professional Development League Play-Off Final for the second consecutive year, with this 4-2 victory over Swansea City at Bramall Lane.
In his post-match comments, Micky Collins praised the lads character, hard work and commitment throughout and I honestly couldn’t agree more.
For long spells and large parts, the boys in red and white shirts dominated and bullied a good Swansea side in certain areas of the pitch. They were clinical and ruthless. The work-rate across the whole team was outstanding and the quality was there in so many different areas. Right to left, defence and attack; whether it be Marshy, Sai Sachdev, Dovydas Sasnauskas, Owen Hampson or Evan Easton, etc, it was a case of top players combining together and producing a top performance on a really good night for everyone.
As has been so often the case when watching the Blades at this level over the past few years, it was ‘Sir’ Louie Marsh (must be due a knighthood by now) who got things going with a bullet strike which flew past Swansea ‘keeper Evan Watts in just the 11th minute.
Jay Tinsdale then made it 2-0 with a brilliant piece of skill not long past the half-hour mark where he cut inside from the left, used every bit of his energy to probe and worry the defenders, had a bit of good fortune to supplement his technique, and then slammed a shot into the corner past a full-stretch ‘keeper.
The Blades then created other chances to extend their lead as firstly Marshy, then Owen Hampson, saw efforts palmed away - and if they’d made it 3-0 then it probably would have been ‘Game Over’ as a contest well before half-time.
Instead, the Welsh team had other ideas and they pulled one back just two minutes prior to the interval when Glory Nzingo gloriously (and single-handedly) took the situation by the scruff of the neck by drifting forwards into a shooting position, looking up and lifting a sublime and swirling shot beyond Luke Faxon’s reach from about 25 yards.
What the Blades needed next was to restore their two-goal lead again and they couldn’t have made a better start to the second half as it was 3-1 within only two minutes.
Louie Marsh turned from scorer to provider - brilliantly flicking the ball past Swansea’s Kai Ludvingsen and charging forward… and with Sam Aston advancing alongside him (and unmarked) through the centre, Marshy picked out the perfect pass - oozing quality, which Sam gobbled up by slotting the ball home. Brilliant composure and a brilliant, brilliant piece of unselfish play by Marshy that will live long in the memory and is another classic case of why I love watching him so much!
Things soon got even better for the lads as 3-1 became 4-1 with Evan Easton helping to set in motion a great piercing and passing move where the ball was worked from back to front over a 30-second period which culminated in Zain Tahir involved in and then finishing off the move. Yet again, sublime football; it was quality and on a night of so many good goals, this one in particular epitomised everything which was so positive and sharp about the Blades performance!
Although they weren’t ever going to come back by this point, Swansea didn’t give up and on 82 minutes they pulled a goal back through Tom Woodward whose powerful drive from inside the box beat Luke Faxon and just a couple of minutes later, there might have been another twist had Fax not got fingertips to an effort from distance which looked as if it might find the net.
In the end though, there weren’t any further goals and the Blades will now play Birmingham City in the Play-Off Final in a date and time still yet to ‘officially’ be announced, but it’s very likely to be some point later this week.
Again, I can’t speak highly enough about the performance tonight - and I echo everything what Micky Collins said in his post-match interview.
All the qualities were there both individually and collectively and it was high quality stuff against a good Swansea side who are tidy, technical, but who were beaten by the better team.
Louie Marsh was just Louie Marsh (hence why he’s a pleasure to watch and why I back his ability to the hilt) and he’s proved his worth so many times through his productivity. Sai Sachdev caused problems all night out on the right flank and was in torturous form. There were four really good goals scored where credit is worthy with each one. Owen Hampson was class at times and controlled lots of things (fantastic to witness). Some of his passes were perfect. Some things didn’t quite come off (that’s football; it happens) but I’ll always admire and respect a player who tries to be creative and make things happen and when Owen is on form, as he was tonight, he can be so influential and one of the best player’s on the pitch. Billy Blacker was also good (lovely technique on the half-turn in the second half which raised a smile all round the ground).
Levis Pitan seemed accomplished all night. Zain Tahir played a great part in the fourth goal which all but ended Swansea’s hopes of a comeback.
Evan Easton and Dovydas Sasnauskas worked well together - both strong, committed, looking aggressive in their work, and it felt a privilege to watch them (and I can’t praise Evan’s contribution enough whether it be for the fourth goal or his distribution). Just a top, top, top defensive performance by him.
And just all-round a top, top performance… brilliant to be there to witness it, but of course, only half-a-job done as winning a Play-Off Semi-Final means very little if you don’t then go on and win the next one.
That game with Birmingham will be fantastic to watch because both teams have been strong in the PDL North throughout the season. They’re rightly the best two teams and there’ll be some fantastic battles in that game.
How will Evan Easton and Dovy fare against Junior Dixon - Birmingham’s talisman and one of the best in the league this season? Can the Blues contain Marshy - or will he provide that flash of inspiration? How much of an impact can others make? How tight will it be? And dare anyone mention it but… penalties? Could it really go all the way to that?
I’m looking forward to it massively already and these are the ones where the best (and worst) memories in football can be created.
For some Blades players who featured in last year’s PDL Play-Off Final at Millwall, it’s a chance to right the wrongs of that night at The Den. The desperation in the latter stages which turned into dejection at the final whistle, the solemn sighs of sadness as Millwall hoisted the trophy aloft and celebrated with ‘Rocking All Over The World’ playing aloud.
If you were there watching that night, or if you played in that game, you remember those feelings and have to use it as fuel and motivation ahead of what promises to be a tough game against Birmingham, but one where victory will be the sweetest feeling of the season and the opportunity is there for someone to be the hero.
Relish it. Embrace it. Enjoy it. It’s got the potential to be a cracker!
See you there!
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