Kick Off

Back at East End Park to watch United. Ended up on the edge of the United support as usual, high up in the stand with a good view of the pitch. Sadly United didn't perform anywhere near the standard you'd expect from team that is currently so far ahead at the top of the league and lost 0-2. But then again maybe it was a day for it as Liverpool finally lost a game, 0-3 away to Watford who had started the day second bottom of the league. Apparently United hadn't lost at Dunfermline since 2007, although it isn't quite as impressive as it sounds as they weren't in the same league for much of that time. I have been to see them play several times since United dropped down to the Championship and to be honest United have sometimes been fortunate against a strong physical team. Earlier this season it was the predatory instincts of Shankland that made all the difference and without him hitting the target United struggled. Dunfermline were physically strong as usual and whether it was lack of fitness or commitment they won most of the 50/50 challenges across the park. United had half the possession but a lot of it was spent with ponderous passing across the pitch at the back with no result. Presumably it was much easier for us, high in the stands, to see the diagonal runs being made by the strikers but surely that is what training is about - getting the defenders to make the passes for the attackers to run onto even if they can't see the run being made. Teamwork is best when you anticipate each other's movement before the move is made. Dunfermline's first goal a case in point - a header at the far post from a long diagonal cross. Perhaps the defenders should have been more alert to the danger but it was an inviting ball into a great attacking position. The ineffectual United passing got increasingly ragged as the game got away from them and more and more passes went out of play or were simply poorly controlled. Yes the referee seemed poor at times but his contrary decisions affected both teams - play to the whistle is what gets drilled into you at the earliest age. Dunfermline's second and decisive goal came from a swift counter attach when some of the United players were still distracted appealing for a penalty. Once they were two in front Dunfermline were content to waste as much time as possible and the referee didn't do enough to stop it but even so United didn't deserve anything from the match. Shankland had a few half chances but nothing came off for him and generally the supply to him was poor. Bingham looked just as poor in real life as he has appeared in recent games on TV. And why does Pawlett keep getting a game? He could be a playmaker but instead moves run out of steam and ideas when he gets the ball. If it was Football Manager I'd have the whole team in for extra training on their day off - five points from the last fifteen hardly is championship winning form and the big lead will soon disappear if the poor run goes on much longer.
After I got home I went to K's 40th birthday party at Bellfield which was fun.