By Deadbat
Ratings for Sheffield United players from the 2-0 FA Cup fourth-round defeat at Bolton.
Bunn 5/10 – Had little to do in the first half but nearly spilled a weak shot and his kicking was inconsistent. He was partly responsible for the first goal but had little chance on the second.
Walker 8/10 – Comfortably United’s best player. He got up and down, won tackles, covered for others and still looked our best attacker. At times he makes errors due to his inexperience but almost always recovers with pace and athleticism. He showed why he is headed for the Premier League at the end of this season.
Taylor 3/10 – Out of his depth. He put in one excellent cross but overall he was sorely lacking. He gave Lee way too much room from minute one, and his positional sense and ability to stop his opponent is non-existent. He tries hard and is okay on the ball but first and foremost he should get in the right positions, stop his man and stop crosses. He does not do any of these.
Morgan 7/10 – Solid enough for most of the game against a difficult opponent in Davies, who is excellent in the air. Was harshly penalised twice but overall he won the battle and was one of our few players to come out of the game with any credit.
Fortune 6/10 – Obviously he did not expect to play and had a difficult start, looking very sluggish and losing headers. However, he improved as the game went on and did an adequate job. Long term he is certainly not the answer and should only be used as cover as he lacks any kind of real pace or mobility despite being half decent in the air and okay at most of the basics.
Montgomery 5/10 – Some of his touches were appalling in the first half. Twice he mis-controlled when he should have just put his foot through the ball, and this led to chances for Bolton. He battled hard and kept going but, like most of the rest of the team, he just lacked quality. I barely noticed him in the second half.
Harper 5/10 –After his recent improvements he was disappointing. He put a few decent balls out but was mostly sloppy in possession and, like the rest of the midfield, offered little in creativity.
Williamson 5/10 – He’s not a winger, as he proved last week, and at Bolton he was never really in the game either, flitting in and out of proceedings. Went off in the second half with a pulled hamstring. Needs to be given a run in centre of the park.
Quinn 4/10 – Started the game well and was involved in a few of our half-decent moves. However, he then started trying the flicks and just disappeared completely. In the second half, as the full-back got forward, he did not even do the basics of tracking back. He seemed intent on playing inside, which meant that Steinsson had so much room. Taken off and rightly so.
Henderson 4/10 – Never in the game. He did not dominate in the air as he does in the Championship, allowing Cahill to easily win the battle. Had a few poor efforts that went nowhere near the goal and looked off the pace.
Camara 5/10 – Despite a few decent flicks and link-ups, he did not really contribute much of note. He tries to keep the ball and find a team-mate but needs to be more involved. He missed our best chance of the game when put through and was not a factor in the second half. He seems unable to last 90 minutes.
Substitutes
Ward – Had two shots - more than most of the team - but these were poorly aimed and went wide. He at least gave some energy and spark but sadly many of the rest of the side were stuck in mediocrity.
Cresswell – Was given a role wide left and then up front but he never got in the game.
Evans – Did not really contribute towards any kind of fight-back.
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