Forte’s true touch of class

Photo: Pictures by ALAN HOWARTH

FINISHING TOUCH: Jonathan Forte puts Athletic in front.

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Sheffield Utd 1, AThletic 1

JONATHAN Forte showed his old club how it is meant to be done.

Decisive, canny and cool-headed perfectly described Forte's instant control of a visionary Daniel Johnson pass and an effortless slotted finish which put Athletic a goal up.

Boyhood Blades fan Forte celebrated his 12th strike of the most productive and understated campaign of his career.

Athletic were the sharper-minded and more focused of the teams from the off. After an early scare from the quiet Jose Baxter, Athletic took full command against flat-footed opponents.

Forte's goal was followed by a change in formation, a safety-conscious move designed to protect Genseric Kusunga which also took impetus away from Athletic's attractive pass-and-move charge.

Daniel Johnson nearly made it 2-0 with a rasping drive which fell to him at the edge of the box. It lightly skimmed the top of the crossbar on its way over the top. Forte, too, almost raced clear down the middle but for a false touch with a lone defender to beat.

Bob Harris forced Rachubka into a smart low stop but as half-time approached, the feeling was Athletic could easily have been heading in to the dressing room with double their lead. Not that the cause was aided by referee Andy Davies in any way.

Eighteen months ago, Andy Woolmer put in one of the most inept officiating performances seen in recent years when the Blades visited SportsDirect.com Park to win 2-0 and here, Davies seemed bafflingly one-sided at times.

Many were harsh, such as the two bookings that saw Jabo Ibehre sent off near the end of the game.

Excellent in what was largely a lone striker role following the switch to a 4-1-4-1 shape, Ibehre was first cautioned for the most innocuous of trips and then dismissed in the 87th minute thanks to some theatre from Blades captain Michael Doyle worthy of the stage at the nearby Crucible.

The foul count at half-time was 11-2 in the home team's favour and the booking tally of nine between the sides told the tale of Davies' abysmal, card-happy afternoon.

Athletic were impressive from the off in the second period and twice went close to adding to their lead. First, James Wilson hit a far-post volley, then Forte cut in from the right to charge into the box and flash a shot into the side-netting.

Clough's men only really perked up on the introduction of equalising hero Jamal Campbell-Ryce.

Campbell-Ryce was switched to the left wing where he got little change out of the sturdy, assured Kusunga.

Athletic were then put under some sustained territorial pressure, though Rachubka wasn’t really tested again.

At the other end, even after Ibehre's harsh dismissal, Athletic could have won. Mills had already gone within a couple of feet of netting, while Forte's glancing header in the 89th minute came after McEveley was lucky not to get a red card for hauling down Dominic Poleon.

Sheffield United's lack of clarity on the pitch, reflective of a proud old club battling with tough issues off it, could have been capitalised upon.

For all Athletic's positive traits – it's now one defeat in 17 games – the killer instinct to put sides away has been lacking. The clear ability within the squad is as-yet unmatched by its collective self-belief.