Beattie's masterclass sweeps aside Bristol City
JAMES Beattie gave a centre-forward's masterclass as City were swept aside at Bramall Lane, writes Andy Stockhausen.
Making only his second appearance since recovering from long-term injury, the former Everton striker netted either side of half-time to make it three wins in a row for the upwardly-mobile Blades.
He opened the scoring with a fierce volley in time added on at the end of the first half and City fell further behind when Liam Fontaine headed Stephen Quinn's free-kick into his own net on 56 minutes.
Beattie then hammered the final nail in City's coffin, heading a third from Dave Cotterill's 68th-minute corner.
City rarely threatened as an attacking force and Marvin Elliott headed their best chance over early in the second half.
Gary Johnson's team have taken just one point from the last three games and go into the two-week international break in a mid-table position.
Beattie almost doubled United's lead five minutes into the second period, seizing on a loose ball inside the 18-yard box and testing Adriano Basso with an angled drive which the keeper beat away.
City reacted positively and created their best opening so far when Elliott met Michael McIndoe's corner with a header which went inches too high.
The visitors were left to rue that miss when United scored a second goal on 56 minutes. Quinn floated a free-kick towards Speed and Fontaine inadvertently headed the ball into his own net from eight yards out.
City recovered from a two-goal deficit to salvage a point against Plymouth, but there was to be no escape this time and Beattie put the outcome beyond doubt in the 68th minute.
Again City failed to pick up Beattie from a Cotterill corner and the former England striker was left free to head in from eight yards out.
And it was almost 4-0 when substitute Brian Howard turned Beattie's cross just wide from close range with City's defence again at sixes and sevens.
5 Comments
by Alan, Ashton
Sunday, October 05 2008, 9:30PM
“Mike & Steve you have both hit the nail on the head, and as i said last week gary needs to drop the family tie thing now and oick his strongest team, which would not include his son thats for sure?? If anyone else in the team gave the ball away as much as him they would not make the bench let alone the team and thats fact??”
by Wayne, Bradley Stoke
Sunday, October 05 2008, 1:03AM
“Steve, How can you say that?
Our points return for the last 3 games is the same as last season against the same teams. the game before that was Donny wo we did'nt play last term and the Brum who were unlucky (in my opinion) to get relegated from the prem.
We have had a tough start to the season but gary will turn it around!!!”
by mike, kingswood
Sunday, October 05 2008, 1:01AM
“Fair play steve,i to am feeling a little down with what is happening,and i do wish we would have signed kevin phillips when there was a chance,i think he could have realy brought somthing extra to us.yes gj son can at times be pretty awful with his passing,but good with free kicks and corners.I do agree he does need to shure up his passing!.nicky maynard has worried me,i dont think he shows enough,but im hoping he does get better.but like i said..confidance i think is low,and that leads to poor play..n probably why were not quite at our best!!!ALSO THINK WE HAVE HAD SOME REALY BAD LUCK with some of the goals scored against us.BUT im sure in a few games time we will be back in the top 6 and looking at another playoff in the end.COME ON YOU REDS.ALWAYS BELIEVE!.”
by Steve, Southville
Saturday, October 04 2008, 8:04PM
“Mike, you don't speak for me!
We've been poor so far this season with far too much hoofball up to Adebola.
GJ neess to turn it around, get back to playing decent football and stick his son on the bench.
I'm getting fed up of poor quality football and being swept aside by teams that we conmfortably beat last season.”
by mike, kingswood
Saturday, October 04 2008, 6:51PM
“I think bristol city at the moment may be slightly low on confidance,as to why im not sure if its just the results we have been getting at the moment..maybe there might be more to it??.we started the season well and i think we will get back to winning streaks very soon,gary johnson now has the international break to get the lads ready in there minds with confidance..he is a great manager and will be successful with bs3!.COME ON YOU REDS.Im sure i speak for every city fan when i say we the fans are proud of you all!”