THE big weekend. Make or break.

By: Tim | 6 Comments

Two games left to go.

Two games for Leeds to cement a place in the Championship and make it a memorable season for all associated with the Elland Road club.

The build up to the match with Charlton at The Valley cannot be understated, it is quite simply huge.

The Whites find themselves second in the League One table just one point ahead of Millwall and in the driving seat. But theres a slight itch on the drivers bum at the moment, the journey isn’t over yet.

Charlton have resigned themselves to the play offs being five points behind their visitors tomorrow and find themselves with mixed feelings.

The Addicks have already had one team celebrating promotion at their ground when Norwich secured top spot in League One, so having another team possibly celebrating a place in the Championship as well may be too much for them.

But, ask any Charlton fan and they’ll say that they aren’t great friends with Millwall. And a defeat for Leeds plus a victory at Tranmere for the Lions would see them into second and with virtually one foot in the Championship. They can’t bare the thought of that.

Ultimately for Simon Grayson though, he needs his side to do the job. He has said it repeatedly, two wins and we’re up.

But obviously as Leeds fans know after the amazing start to the season and subsequent dodgy patch after the Man U game, nothing is straightforward.

Charlton will provide tough opposition with their defence particularly impressive.

Leeds have found decent form recently with 4 wins from 5 putting them in pole position with others below them slipping up.

Leeds still have one of the best away records in the league and backed by an always vociferous support, the players will know what a win tomorrow will do.

Getting the result means going into the final 38,000 sell out home match against Bristol Rovers needing a win, which many Leeds fans will like to think they can get against a side who are already on their holidays.

A possibility not mentioned here but has been by everyone else is the thought that after tomorrow Leeds might already be promoted and the subsequent Bristol Rovers match would be a massive party.

This would happen if Leeds won tomorrow and Millwall lose at struggling Tranmere who are desperate for points to avoid relegation. That game won’t be as easy as it seems.

But being a Leeds fan, i’m not considering the fact we could be promoted after tomorrow, thats just fantasy stuff. I’m anticipating a final day showdown.

For the squad, only Kisnorbo and Crowe are certainties to miss out although poor Ben Parker who has had a horrible season picked up a calf strain during the MK Dons win last weekend.

The 21 year old left back was making his first start since the opening day of the season, when he went off after just 21 minutes with a knee injury.

It’s anticpated that Andy Hughes will swap to left back and Bromby to right back.

Jermaine Beckford is likely to start on the bench again after making some cameo appearances that any club in this league would cry out for.

Becchio and Gradel will start up front and hopefully after an impressive debut against MK Dons, on-loan Arsenal youngster Sanchez Watt will start on the wing.

His big game, big crowd experience playing in the Carling Cup with Arsenal at the Emirates means he won’t feel the pressure, he’ll thrive on it. And his pace and skill is something that all Wenger youngsters seem to possess. And finally the 19 year old was given a start last saturday and impressed.

Otherwise I hope the team isn’t changed much with the possibility of Johnson missing out for Doyle. The irishman has been favoured by Grayson in away matches when looking for a more defensive minded player in the the middle of the park.

Any repeat of the last away game debacle against Gillingham and Leeds will lose as Charlton will make them pay.

But hold their nerve and get the win and Leeds will have one foot in the Championship instead of Millwall.

Backed by the away support and with Season ticket holders and members at Elland Road watching on the big screen from the East stand, this is unquestionably the biggest domestic league match for Leeds United in some time.

3pm tomorrow it will start again, by 4.50pm the mission could be over. But will it be over for good reasons or bad?

Apologies. But onwards and upwards.

By: Tim | 8 Comments

The irony of the start of the last post hasn’t been lost on me. The fact that i bemoaned not updating regularly and have now gone a while without updating again. I once again apologise. I have had a busy time of it as of late and will keep on track now until the end of the season. At which point if i don’t feel like I can do the justice a site like this deserves then I will pass on the baton.

Now thats out of the way, time to move on to the latest Leeds news.

It’s been a strange few weeks at Elland Road. After four straight defeats against arguably 4 out of the strongest 7 teams in this league in Norwich, Swindon, Millwall and Southampton, Leeds dropped out of the top 2 for the first time to as low as fourth after the 3-0 humiliation at home to Swindon.

Another dismal home defeat to Millwall followed and safe to say hope of automatic promotion in my eyes and many others at the match was nil. Much like our goalscoring record in those 4 games.

Suddenly things turned around again. Three straight wins against Southend, Yeovil and Carlisle pushed us back up into 2nd thanks to other results going our way. Disbelief amongst the Leeds faithful that this had happened.

Mainly because of the nature of our performances. Not totally disastrous as there were some good points but the lack of ability to score combined with the suicidal defending which in the end cost the side badly.

So once Millwall and Charlton lost and Swindon drew last Saturday, the chance to be at least 4 points clear in 2nd place seemed a dream with 3 games left. Unfortunately it can’t be that easy.

After the canaries of Norwich were singing in the sun at the Valley to celebrate their promotion, Leeds wasted a glorious chance to put themselves in pole position to go up automatically with them, crubling to a 3-2 away defeat to Gillingham.

3-0 after 30 minutes put end to the hope of that. The Gills home record is fantastic comapred to their away form. No away wins and 5 draws. While at home only 3 defeats and only 12 goals conceeded. Leeds had the best away record in the league though, shame no-one told the players.

But amazingly because of the other results, with 3 games left, Leeds still find themselves second. But only 1 point ahead of Millwall, 2 ahaead of Swindon and 3 ahead of Charlton.

The remaining fixtures for the Whites see them at home to MK Dons, away at Charlton and home on the final day against Bristol Rovers.

The fate of going up automatically is in The Whites hands, win all three matches and they’re up. You would like to say that the home games are very winable.

MK Dons are currently in dissaray after their manager Paul Ince announced he was leaving the club at the end of the season due to basically a lack of financial backing that meant he felt he couldn’t take the club any further.

But he might as well go now as he is serving a five match touchline ban and he isn’t exactly getting the best out of the squad at his disposal.

His side isn’t exactly one full of confidence, 8 games without a league win and a recent home defeat to struggling Wycombe is not ideal.

That match against the Dons is on Saturday, then follows Charlton at the Valley. A win or even a draw might be enough to take them out of the race.

Another match that plays into the Whites hands is on the final day as Millwall face Swindon.

The two main competitors to Leeds’ second spot. If Leeds do find themselves second still by that final day, and Millwall and Swindon are both within touching distance, then a home match for Leeds knowing that only one of their main competitors can get enough points to overtake them would be a huge boost.

Swindon face Wycombe away and Brentford at home before the Millwall away day clash and Millwall have Leyton Orient at home followed by Tranmere away before hosting the Robins.

In both cases they face teams struggling against relegation and looking for points. But also, in theory, matches that they should win. But recently their form has deserted them.

Swindon haven’t won in three and Millwall haven’t won in two games. There are so many permutations as to what position would make Leeds safe in second that it would take too long for any sane man to take in. The simple one is 3 wins from 3. Thats the fortunate position Leeds are in.

No matter how unlikely or likely Leeds fans think this can happen it’s still the situation. Knowing that we don’t have to think about other teams results is nice. Every match we play now we only have to think about ourselves. We just need to win every game. Everyone below us knows that even if they win all their remaining games it’s not neccessarily enough. I know which position i’d rather be in.

So for the sake of my own sanity, unless it looks like we’re going to lose a game (a la Gillingham last week) I won’t be looking at anyone elses results until full time. Because quite simply if we’re winning, theirs don’t matter.

It really is impossible to call who will finish second. At the moment everyone is being very British about taking second. “No after you, no after you, no after you I insist, WILL SOMEBODY TAKE IT!” Swindon, Millwall and Leeds have all had second spot recently then panicked whilst there and lost it. Hopefully Leeds won’t lose it now!

If though, Leeds find the form that won them matches against Southend, Yeovil and Carlisle deservedly, they can win their final matches. But anything resembling the Gillingham disaster will well and truly finish them off.

Hang on folks!

Ups and downs. Never dull supporting Leeds

By: Tim | 3 Comments

Firstly I want to apologise for the lack of posting recently. I’ve been very busy recently doing MA dissertation work and having lessons for my driving test, which I passed last thursday Hopefully things will return to a vague sort of normality.

Since i’ve been away, it’s been a mixed bag of sorts for Leeds fans.

After another disappointing home result with the draw against Brentford, Tuesday night presented the opportunity to pull 5 points clear of third place Charlton with our game in hand against Tranmere Rovers.

Tranmere just outside the relegation zone presented a good chance of cemeting second place for now anyway, and for once Leeds ran out comfortable winners.

It was a dominant display at Prenton Park which led to a final score of 4-1 to Leeds.

Snodgrass with a free kick from the right wing luckily finding its way through past Luke Daniels on 6 minutes.

Beckford then made it 2-0 when Gary McSheffrey was unceremoniously hrought down in the box with a quarter of an hour gome and Beckford the resultant penalty away.

Tranmere got back into the match just 4 minutes later from John Welsh’s scrambled effort after a pinball session in the Leeds box from a corner.

Leeds turned the screw and a fine counter attack just after the half hour led to a beautiful first time ball from Beckford on the right into Luciano Becchio who met it with a fine diving header, 3-1.

Then the game was settled with 66 minutes gone after a long ball from Micky Doyle set the pacy Beckford away past the back line and his delicate lob over Tranmere ‘keeper Daniels sealed the 4-1 win.

There had been dominate performances from Leeds in the past few games but with very little reward, in this game Leeds got everything they deserved.

Then at the weekend a tough match at St Mary’s awaited. Southampton have been on fire at their home ground putting teams to the sword with dominant goalscoring exploits from Lee Barnard and Rickie Lambert.

Play off contenders Huddersfield Town were put to the sword with a 5-0 hammering just recently.

A full house, a fine pitch, lovely weather would seem to promise and end to end match but Leeds were outplayed and outclassed in both halves.

Boss Simon Grayson lamented his sides effort after admitting they could’ve been 3 or 4 down by half time. Luckily it was only one.

Former Leeds left back Dan Harding got the only goal of the match on 24 minutes finishing a the far post from a set piece. Had to be him didn’t it.

And he ran to celebrate in front of the travelling support who in his time at Elland Road wasn’t very well received. Revenge for him was sweet.

Responsibility for this change in fortunes is hard to pick out but one must look at the players and not the manager.

It was the same players who won so convincingly a few nights previously and even though this game was never going to be easy, the lack of any shots on target until the 92nd minute said alot.

It seems some players have delusions of grandeur still, a mentality which seems to take over everytime they win. A convincing performance seems to lead to some thinking to they can just turn up and win the next game cause they were so brillliant.

A delusion started after the Manchester United win and seemingly has never changed.

The frustrating thing is that we do have good performances in us. The performances against Brentford, Leyton Orient, Oldham, Colchester and Tranmere recently showed that we can play great football but without just rewards sometimes.

Grayson almost admitted after the game that the title was Norwich’s after they went 7 points clear of Leeds with their 3-1 away win at Huddersfield. I think it has too. We’re playing for second, Norwich are unstoppable.

The players need reminding of this fact now. The title was in their hands with a 11 point lead at the top at the end of December, which they have fettered away in the last 3 months to being 7 points adrfit.

Maybe a reminder of how they have thrown the title away will act as a reminder not to throw 2nd spot away. Losing that will be nothing short of disastrous and would lead to a derserved damning indictment of their season.

Luckily Charlton’s 4-0 hammering at 5th place Millwall kept them 5 points behind, and Colchester also lost leaving them behind by 8 points. Millwall’s win though means that they are 5 points behind Leeds like Charlton. But Leeds can help to keep them at bay with a win against them at Elland Road next Monday night.

Leeds also still have Charlton, Swindon and Norwich to come, so with the 5 point lead, it is still in Leeds’ hands.

No doubt a match live on Sky against Millwall will get the players fired up and a win will be vital as all the other teams will have played by this point, so pressure could be applied to Leeds if the likes of Charlton, Swindon and Colchester get results.

Recent performances have shown that Leeds have good players who can peform maybe without their just desserts. If Southampton is anything to go by though, the matches upcoming against the top teams could end in disaster, as would their automatic promotion hopes.

And that would be the mother of all disasters.

Leeds 1 Brentford 1. Frustration. Sheer frustration.

By: Tim | 1 Comment

Once again Leeds flattered to deceive in a match which can only be described as a 1-1 thrashing.

From start to finish the Whites dominated the game showing enterprising football and creating chance after chance.

But unlike earlier in the season when everything was going in, everything wasn’t.

Brentford hadn’t known what was hitting them in a first half where the Bees were bombarded.

Like any match though, the longer it goes on without a goal and not taking your chances, you’ll be made to pay. And Leeds were.

With an hour on the clock a whipped in corner by Brentford wasn’t deal with and Ben Strevens scrambled the ball home to send their healthy travelling support into raptures.

Leeds saw that happen and just carried on dominating without getting the goal again.

As the Sky Sports reporter at the game said, Leeds were all over Brentford ‘like a cheap suit.’

Finally Leeds did get what they deserved. With just 18 minutes left, when Gary McSheffrey from just 4 yards out calmly played the ball across the 6 yard box to Jermaine Beckford to level it up.

In an attempt to push on and get the winner, boss Simon Grayson brought on new signing Paul Dickov and Bradley Johnson.

It looked like it would pay off but Dickov had a shot blocked in the 90th minute, and finally Lubo Michalik rose up with his 6ft 4in frame and powered a header across the Brentford goal.

It was heading for the left corner but hit the post and bounced away to safety with Beckford lurking.

A chorus of boos greeted the Leeds players at the end, maybe more for the result than the performance because as a whole the performance was very good. But the lack of goals showed that the finishing was the problem.

One man guilty of missing chances was midfielder Robert Snodgrass who when faced with a one on one took to long to shoot and wasted the chance.

The Scot also had a host of other chances which were wasted and he admitted to the Yorkshire Evening Post that the side made “silly errors, as usual.”

“We can’t be proud of ourselves coming away with a draw. It’s two massive points we’ve dropped and we should be bitterly disappointed.

“You saw the way we came out of the blocks and Brentford hardly had a shot. A few stupid things have killed us.

“They know who they are and know what they have to do better but you can’t blame individuals. It’s a team game and we take the fall as a team and win as a team.”

A rousing and refreshing honest review of the match.

Boss Simon Grayson was pleased with the teams performance and despite the fact that a draw at home to Brentford isn’t a great result.

Especially considering the upcoming matches with Norwich, Charlton, Southampton, Millwall and Swindon, the dropped points against Brentford, Walsall, Brighton, Exeter and Wycombe suddenly seem alot worse.

Theres one last chance tomorrow night for Leeds to pick up points against lower league opposition with a trip to Prenton Park to face Tranmere.

Just outside the relegation zone but with no doubt raised confidence following a win over a free socring Southampton side at the weekend, it will be a tough match.

But this match is even more crucial because it’s a game in hand. None of the other top 6 are playing. Currently two points ahead of Charlton in second, a win would put Leeds 5 points clear of the playoffs which would be effectively 6 with their better goal difference.

Amazing that we are still in that situation considering a run of 2 wins in 11.

But however we got to that situation is irrelevant now. It’s a chance to close the gap on Norwich to 4 points as well as form a gap between the play offs.

And as much as recent results haven’t gone well, we still have only lost 4 games all season. The best in the league. We still have the best defence in the league and the best away record still. And recent performance against Oldham, Huddersfield and Brentford were all much better. Oldham and Brentford were total domination start to finish.

But tomorrow night Leeds need to find the back of the net with more of those created chances. Great creative football means nothing if you end up losing.

Leeds versus Brentford. The bees can buzz off!

By: Tim | 2 Comments

After an enthralling draw last weekend away at rivals Huddersfield Town, Leeds return to Elland Road and welcome Brentford.

The 2-2 scoreline meant that Leeds stayed in second place four point ahead of Charlton with a game in hand and after the rare luxury of a whole week without a match, Leeds should be raring to go.

A point made by manager Simon Grayson commenting after his players had played 13 games in 42 days since January 16th.

Speaking on leedsunited.com Grayson said; “We’ve gave the lads Monday off, but they were back on Tuesday and there was a freshness.

“We needed that little break. We have a midweek game again next week (Tranmere away, our final game in hand) but this week has been good because it has been a break from the run of games.”

The match against Brentford will not only see a fresh, rejuvenated squad but also some welcome additions.

After seemingly the longest trial in LUFC history, 37-year-old striker Paul Dickov finally sealed a short term contract until the end of the season.

The delay was due in part to a FIFA ruling saying that no player can play for more than two clubs in a season. After starting the season at Leicester, the former Scotland striker joined Derby on loan and then cancelled his contract at the Walkers Stadium.

Brief trials at Toronto FC in the MLS also gave him food for thought but now he’s at Elland Road, and the new number 7 can’t wait to get started;

“I have a massive desire to succeed and if I get my chance, i’ll try and take it with both hands.

“I’ve never kidded myself. I’ll give my all and put pressure on defenders. I’m enthusiastic.”

The gaffer has also suggested that Dickov’s arrival will be nothing but beneficial to the club whether he plays many games or not.

“He’s had a great career, he’s got great ability, he’s got a hunger and a desire, and his experience can only benefit us as a club and the younger players as well.

“He might not start every game, but he’ll be pushing everyone and he will make a big contribution towards what we are looking to achieve.

“His experience will be important and some of the younger players will learn about movement and know-how.”

Dickov played the full 90 minutes in the reserves match against Huddersfield at the Galpharm on wednesday and has already earned the nickname, “Benjamin Button” by the players. As his fitness levels only seem to have improved with age and is regularly beating his fellow team mates in running exercises and in practice matches.

Now as many Leeds fans know, Dickov has taken a fair bit of stick off us lot, particularly after an alleged rape trial of which he was cleared. Dickov says he’s been aware of this and hopefully he can win us over. He’d better get going quick! His age has caused concern amongst some fans even if the players don’t seem to agree!

Tresor Kandol also played in the reserves match and is over a hamstring problem and is fit for selection at the weekend.

One player who didn’t feature midweek was Ben Parker.

The unlucky left back who has been dogged by injuries since going off after just half an hour of the opening match of the season looked set to start for the reserves on Wednesday.

But Simon Grayson said he picked up a knock on his knee earlier in the day meaning he had to pull out. Positively though it’s not serious and he’ll be fit next week and possibly ready to play again.

As for our opponents, Andy Scott’s Brentford have been unlucky with having their last two games postponed due to waterlogged pitches.

Their match at Colchester and their home tie against Tranmere were both victims of the weather meaning it has been a couple of weeks since their last game.

The Bees currently sit in 14th place, not fully safe from relegation but with the cushion of a few games in hand, it’s not a hugely worrying thought at the moment.

Striker Charlie MacDonald (pictured right) and winger Myles Weston both have 8 goals to their name in the league this season and will be the Bees’ main threat.

Their last league result was a 2-1 win against Walsall and they held Leeds to a 0-0 draw at Griffin Park when the sides last met in mid December.

Leeds on the other hand go into the game with a somewhat renewed confidence after a convincing win against Oldham at Elland Road, followed up with a spirited second half performance against Huddersfield coming from behind to take the lead before succumbing to a late goal.

But it was the way they took the game to a team who were and still are unbeaten at home that impressed many. Leeds were just 10 minutes away form inflicting defeat on the Terriers and it was an away point many weren’t expecting.

The match on Saturday is a must win though as Norwich are at home to Yeovil, Charlton are at home to bottom placed Stockport, Colchester play Brighton at home on Monday and Swindon travel to Bristol Rovers.

All bar Swindon’s game are pretty much guaranteed wins and Leeds can’t afford to slip and conceed ground to the chasing pack and also keep their eyes on top spot.

A win would also give confidence going into the even more crucial game in hand on Tuesday away at Tranmere.

If 1st down to 5th all win their games this weekend, then Leeds would be 4 points clear of Charlton in third going into that game.

A win at Prenton Park would extend their lead in second place to 7 points from Charlton, 8 from Colchester (with a game in hand) and 10 points ahead of Swindon (who will have two games in hand). And reduce the defecit behind Norwich to just two points.

But that can only be achieved if the Whites win tomorrow and hope that a bonus may come in one the teams around them slipping up.

Huddersfield Town 2 Leeds United 2. A ding dong derby.

By: Tim | Add Comments

It always promised to be a cracking West Yorkshire derby match and it was.

The Galpharm Stadium welcomed its biggest crowd of the season of just over 21,000 to welcome local rivals Leeds.

As many Leeds fans know, we have never done great against Huddersfield. We have failed to beat them since December 2007 when we picked up a comfortable 4-0 victory at Elland Road.

What this can be blamed on is unknown. It’s thought that Huddersfield see it as a bigger match than us and they get up for it more. I don’t buy into that.

Passions run high

Both matches have attracted larger than average crowds and judging by the celebrations after each goal yesterday, it clearly gets into the hearts and minds of everyone involved.

Before the match Simon Grayson did make a good point though, even though it is a derby match, you don’t get more points for winning this match than any other. It’s still a league game and it’s 3 points up for grabs.

But with Huddersfield still the only unbeaten home team in the league, it was never going to be easy. Plus the Terriers were on a good run of form. I would’ve happily taken a point.

Unfortunately the start wasn’t great for Leeds. The visitors went behind on 13 minutes after a wickedly deflected shot by midfielder Anthony Pilkington left keeper Casper Ankergren stranded.

Even though the hosts were on top, it’s always a cruel way to go behind. You couldn’t help but think that it would be the start of a routine win for Huddersfield.

It was always going to be the case of could the Leeds players get up for the match now?

After recent matches where results haven’t gone the way Leeds players would’ve wished, the fans would never forgive them if they didn’t at least try and get something out of this particular match.

Huddersfield were on top for the whole of the first half, but the second half was all about Leeds. The response that was wanted.

The equaliser came on 61 minutes when a Robert Snodgrass cross found midfielder Jonny Howson who planted a header into the top left corner in front of 3,000 ecstatic Leeds fans.

And just minutes later they went into delirium when the in form Luciano Becchio had a close range header when Snodgrass’ corner was flicked on by skipper Richard Naylor to the Argentinian at the far post where he couldn’t miss.

Leeds then were well on top and it looked like a first win at the Galpharm was on the cards. Unfortunately Lee Clark’s men are known as perennial attackers, and score goals for fun.

This happened again when Gary Roberts side footed a cross from the right wing after being left unmarked at the far post.

5 minutes of injury time couldn’t change the result and the spoils were shared.

Obviously a tinge of disappointment for Leeds fans and players because of being so close to winning it. But there were plenty of positives to take from the match.

Huddersfield are no slouches, 6th in the league and are a fine team especially at home. But Leeds went and battled all the way and even more impressively came from behind to take the lead, something perhaps we wouldn’t have done a few weeks ago with our run of form.

We battled, we fought in a true West Yorkshire derby style and it’s a point most Leeds fnas, realistically, would’ve taken before the game.

And with Colchester losing and Swindon drawing, it was a valuable point.

It means Leeds are 4 points ahead of Charlton with a game in hand (effectively five points with the much better goal difference), 5 points ahead of Col U (6 with GD), and 7 ahead of Swindon.

Norwich’s win mean we are 5 points behind them with a game in hand, but even though we were in pole position and could have possibly lost the title, the important thing for me was always top 2, automatic promotion, the title is and added bonus. But we’re still not out of that race yet.

It was a fine advert for League One football, an end to end free flowing match replicating the 2-2 draw at Elland Road earlier in the season.

Don’t be suprised if the Championship welcomes 2 West Yorkshire clubs next season.

Leeds 2 Oldham 0. Thats more like it for Leeds

By: Tim | Add Comments

Leeds picked up only their second win of 2010 and did it comfortably last night.

Two goals from Luciano Becchio in the second half gave the whites a comfortable 2-0 victory over struggling Oldham.

The build up to this game rightly focused on the slightly worrying form shown a side who were 10 points clear at the top of the table in December.

Leeds had only picked up 1 win in the league since December 30th before last night.

It was hoped that three home games in a row would start a revival, but after losing their 13 month unbeaten home record to mid tabled Walsall and barely scraping a point against Brighton, only three points would do against Oldham.

I went to the game last night and this peformance was far the turgid displays shown in recent weeks.

Boss Simon Grayson made three changes to the side that drew with Brighton. The most suprising and notable change came with the introduction of 18 year old Aidy White on the left wing in place of Bradley Johnson.

Luciano Becchio came in for Gary McSheffrey and Robert Snodgrass also started after his injury time equaliser against Brighton.

It was clear that the game plan for Leeds was to attack. White and Snodgrass were deployed on the wings to be the creative output using their pace and trickery.

Pace was something that the whole team brought to the table throughout the game, never giving the visitors chance to settle on the ball.

Oldham were playing for a draw, a goalless one knowing that their record as the lowest scorers in the league meant they couldn’t afford to conceed.

Knowing that Leeds were on a bad run of form, after winning the toss they forced Leeds to attack the Kop in the first half.

But the pace and, for once, the creativity of Leeds was starting to open up Oldham.

Andy Hughes who was superb at right back overlapped Snodgrass and his cross who hit on the half volley by Beckford, but the prolific striker hooked it wide. That was just after 7 minutes.

Pawel Abbott had a extremely rare chance for Oldham on the counter, with his shot across goal going wide of Ankergren’s right hand post.

Then it was back on the attack for Leeds.

The fluidity and creativity was more like the Leeds of early season. Aidy White was particularly ctaching the eye with some intelligent running and passing.

Howson had a chance just outside the box which he put over the bar, and Snodgrass forced a fumble from Oldham keeper Dean Brill and also opened up an opportunity which he hit just wide.

It was frustrating for Leeds for the reason that they deserved more than they had.

The work rate was immense and even though some passes went astray, it seemed only a matter of time before the home side would go in front.

Micky Doyle had a great chance when the ball bobbled around the area and fell to the Irishman 7 yards out by Brill’s right hand post but after taking a touch the Oldham keeper closed him down to make the save.

It looked like the chance for a goal would come from a penalty after Becchio was bundled over by Ruben Hazell just inside the box, but the referee missed it. It was a clear cut penalty.

The boos rang out for the referee at half time and the cues of ‘you’re not fit to referee.’

If the first half saw endeavour and not quite taking what they made, the second half saw even more creativity and this time taking their chances.

The first goal came on 53 minutes when Aidy White went on another run into the centre of the park, as he and Snodgrass regularly swapped wings which caused chaos, and he found Beckford wide left.

The striker then skipped past the right back and his shot across the face of goal was saved by Brill, but Becchio was there to tap home.

The second came just 9 minutes later when Snodgrass showed some great skill to get to the byline and his chip from the right found Becchio again at the far post and he rose up to head home.

Aidy White then made way for Max Gradel safe in the knowledge that it was a good night’s work, and was duly applauded by the Leeds fans. He brought skill, pace, creativity unseen in recent games.

On the other wing Snodgrass was causing the chaos that Leeds fans know he is capable of, but maybe hasn’t shown.

And after his own criticism of his performance against Walsall which he publicly spoke about, he was showing trickery of feet and passing of the highest quality that made Sean Gregan and his defence plead for no more.

Credit to Oldham though they did try (sort of) to get back into the game but the uninspring front two of Jason Price and Pawel Abbott showed why they were the lowest scorers.

Winger Chris Taylor (who is still in Andy Hughes pocket) came closest to scoring forcing a save from Ankergren diving to his left and Price, after getting the ball tangled in his feet, managed to poke a shot in from 6 yards out but Andy Hughes was again in the right place at the right time.

But really Leeds for the first time since late December, never looked like conceeding and closed the game out with ease.

The result moves Leeds 4 points clear of Colchester after their game was postponed due to snow and 6 points clear of Charlton in fourth after their defeat to Brighton at the Valley. Norwich’s late win against Southend at Carrow Road means they stay 3 points in front but Leeds do have a game in hand.

A deserved, committed and creative performance more like the Leeds of early season and once which will need to regularly turn up in the next few games.

The performance of Aidy White, the dominance of the Whites and the huge deluge of snow, meant it was truly…..an all-white night for the club….i’m sorry.

Leeds 1 Brighton 1. Getting a bit more worried

By: Tim | Add Comments

Leeds scraped a draw at the weekend against Brighton with another late late show.

A Robert Snodgrass goal in the 95th minute secured a point against the relegation threatened Seagulls who were down to ten men for the last quarter of the match.

Albion took the lead with a somewhat dubious decision by the referee when Paddy Kisnorbo and Richard Naylor were adjudged to have brought down Glenn Murray just inside the box.

A little soft for my liking, but nethertheless it was coming and Murray stepped up to score himself and Leeds were staring a second home defeat in a row in the face.

Tuesday’s defeat to Walsall was our first home league defeat since January 2009 as the Whites went down with a whimper, it looked liked de ja bloody vu on saturday.

But after the red card for defender Adam Virgo for a lunge on Leeds winger Max Gradel, Leeds didn’t exactly turn on the pressure but a Gradel cross to the far post was headed across goal by Kisnorbo for Snoddy to hammer home deep into injury time.

But it can’t hide the fact that again Leeds were poor. Against a team struggling at the bottom these three home games in a row should’ve yielded at least 7 points, so far we have just one.

And tuesday night’s game against Oldham is again a game we should win. Oldham are the lowest scorers in the league and are also fighting off relegation.

But seeing how Leeds are playing, they must fancy their chances like anyone.

Grayson again made changes to his line up after the Walsall debacle, in which he said wholesale changes would be made and that any of the players could’ve been taken off at half time, to see if it would make an impact. It didn’t.

After a fine performance against Leyton Orient, only Beckford was brought in against Walsall but the same midfield which was free flowing and dominant, was slack and leggy against the Saddlers. Only at Elland Road.

For the Brighton match it was all change as Johnson moved out wide, Doyle came in to partner Kilkenny and Howson for some inexplicable reason was moved out wide right where he is ineffective, which has been shown on numerous occasions, not his fault, it’s just not his position.

Snodgrass was left out, as was Gradel and Becchio. McSheffrey started up front with Beckford and Hughes and Kisnorbo returned to the back four.

The defensive changes obviously worked to a degree as we didn’t conceed from open play, it was a penalty which did it. So maybe that’s being sorted out. Thanks in no small part to Kisnorbo, a consistent performer who breeds confidence.

But everywhere else was a disaster again. The same team who would score for fun between August and January was again struggling.

I wish I could put my finger on whats going wrong, I honestly can’t though. Genuinely.

It could be all manner of things, the number of games creating tiredness, players not coping with the pressure all of a sudden, rumours of players thinking their too good for this league after the Man U win and think they can just ‘turn up’ and win? Who knows.

But the squad is no different to the one who registered only one defeat in the league between opening day and January 16th. No different to the side who were top of the league by ten points in december. The same squad who had only conceeded 11 goals in four months and scored a shedload more.

It perplexes me as to what has happened. But Simon Grayson is the only man I think can thurn this around, and I have total faith in him.

Now I am aware that teams have blips during a season and the chances of us losing just one game all season were slim, but we have now lost three more games in a month.

It seems though that other teams don’t want to go up much either. Norwich lost again at the weekend, their second defeat in three games meaning that top spot is still up for grabs. Charlton went five games without a win before their victory over Yeovil at the weekend.

It means now that it’s getting very tight. Norwich top on 66, with Leeds’ last gasp equaliser meaning they stay second with 63 points and with a game in hand (Walsall was another game in hand wasted), with Colchester 3rd on 62 points and Charlton 4th on 60 points.

Creeping up now are Swindon on 56 points and have two games in hand over the top four bar Leeds, who they have just one game in hand over. A run of 11 games without defeat, with strikers Charlie Austin and Billy Paynter scoring 30 goals between, have them as dark horses for automatic promotion.

It’s getting more and more nerve wracking now. Before January 3rd, Leeds had a lead of 10 poins on top of the table at one point. Gone. But Norwich were looking insurmountable in the last couple of weeks but now are also having a blip with two defeats in 3 games.

Nothing is for certain but from a Leeds perspective, Oldham can’t hold any fear. The last gasp goals against Orient and Brighton have saved them a point from the jaws of defeat, points that could be crucial, but they need to gain some confidence back.

Home against Oldham on a cold tuesday night with a low attendance might not seem a great time, but for God’s sake, who cares when it is, just bloody do it Leeds!!

Leyton Orient 1 Leeds 1. Becchio saves the day!

By: Tim | Add Comments

A trait of the Leeds team from the first half of the season returned on saturday at Leyton Orient.

The never say die attitude which has seen Leeds fightback in matches and claim late late goals was shown once more.

After going 1-0 down at Brisbane Road with just 7 minutes of normal time remaining, they fought on and Luciano Becchio scored a fortuitous goal 5 minutes into injury time to secure a draw.

Anything less than a draw would’ve been extremely harsh on the visitors as they dominated the match form start to finish.

The stats in the first half showed alot. 11 shots on goal for Leeds, Leyton Orient just had 2. But wasted chances and fine goalkeeping from O’s keeper Jamie Jones had kept out McSheffrey, Bromby and the impressive Snodgrass.

The domination continued in the second half although the hosts woke up slightly.

But the thought of them scoring seemed unlikely as Leeds were comfortable. A fact shown when Orient took off their leading goal scorer Scott McGleish. Kept quiet by the Leeds backline.

Until a Nicky Adams cross found the big skipper Tamika Mkandawire who got his sixth of the season after losing his marker at the back post to head past Ankergren.

Cruel, harsh, unfair, but the unlike in previous league games, the grit and determination came back and Leeds continued to bombard the Orient goal.

And with 20 seconds left in injury time, after a game of penalty box pinball after attempts from Johnson and McSheffrey were blocked, the ball fell to Argentine striker Becchio whose effort appeared to be bobbling wide, but defender Charlie Daniels diverted the ball past his helpless keeper.

Justice was done. And again showing that despite Beckford’s absence Leeds can score goals and get results.

Boss Simon Grayson made his intentions clear about wanting to change the way things had been going with a number of alterations to his line up.

Crowe kept his right back spot after his goal against Carlisle, while Michalik dropped out and Bromby coming in to partner Naylor at the back.

In Midfield Doyle and Howson who were brought off in midweek were left out and their replacements that night Kilkenny and Johnson both started.

The shock decision came when Max Gradel was partnered up front with Becchio; Snodgrass and McSheffrey were placed on the wings, despite both having strikers experience, one at a premier league level.

And with making these changes Grayson got a response. Leeds hardly seemed troubled at the back at all, akin to their early season form and their midfield were interchanging and passing around to devastating effect creating chances and confusing the Orient side.

The changes in the centre midfield partnership made a huge impact on the side.

Kilkenny and Johnson were described as running the midfield by Grayson after the match and the stats suggested so.

The sheer number of chances created by the midfield showed this and without seeing the action myself maybe this could be the start of something beautiful.

Bradley Johnson hasn’t started in centre midfield yet for Leeds but a loan spell at Brighton last season saw him score 5 goals in 10 appearances in that role.

His form on the left in early season had seen get 6 goals in the league, and thats in an unfamiliar role. At centre mid, he could provide alot more for Leeds.

And with Snodgrass, Gradel, McSheffrey and White all natural wingers, he could get the chance for regular action in the centre and flourish.

There has been much criticism from Leeds fans about Doyle and Howson being anonymous in recent games with the side resorting to long ball tactics. It seemed to be far from that yesterday.

Earlier in the season Leeds played it on the floor and looked good doing it, and again this match showed a return to the Leeds of August to December.

But not starting a striker up front like Grella or McSheffrey up front with Becchio clearly put Leeds at a disadvantage as chances were wasted.

Grella who has scored regularly when making sub apperances which he showed again in midweek against Carlisle, must be thinking what does he have to do.

One could say though maybe those wasted chances could’ve been scored by a Beckford.

But I argue maybe they could’ve been scored by a player familiar in the forwards position like Grella or McSheffrey; but not Gradel; he’s never been known as a striker, so that decision confused me and maybe cost us.

Still a good point considering the form of Orient who haven’t lost in 2010 and had a fine home form going into the match.

The never say die attitude meant they gained a vital point, unfortunately with 10 minutes to go, Norwich were losing again but came back to win at Brighton 2-1.

So Leeds find themselves 4 points off top with 2 games in hand and 5 ahead of Charlton with soon to be two games in hand once the Addicks play on Monday night.

It’s far from despair, it continues an unbeaten run in the league to three, with a win at home and two away draws. They say win your home games and draw your away games and its promotion winning form.

We shall see in the next 10 days as Leeds have three home games against Walsall, Brighton and Oldham. Walsall being one of Leeds’ two games in hand. 9 points from those 3 games is a must.

Leyton Orient versus Leeds United. A tough one.

By: Tim | Add Comments

It’s a tough trip to Brisbane Road up next for Leeds United after their midweek heartbreak.

Following the unsavoury scenes which followed the match, the players will have to make sure they are re-focused for tomorrow.

It’s not been a happy hunting ground for Leeds. Last season after being 2-0 up and with The O’s being down to ten men, Leeds ended up drawing the match 2-2. Probably put a smile on their pumpkin faced famous fan (yeah remember him, the phantom of the opera guy). I won’t show a picture again, see my earlier blog.

Geraint Williams’s side have built their season on a steady home form which has helped them to 12th place in League One so far.

6 wins, 4 draws and 5 defeats is the extent of that form but have only scored 5 more than they have conceeded, so they are there to be got at.

As a team they are very well organised. I went to the match at Elland Road back in November when they visited and they caused us some problems.

They regularly got at us and had a group of young dedicated players with some experienced heads including Sean Thorton, Jason Demetriou and striker Ryan Jarvis is impressing many with 6 goals to his name.

Centre back Tamika Mkandawire pulled alot of the strings at Elland Road with an assured display and has chipped in with 5 goals in the league this season as well. A good return.

But without doubt their danger man is forward Scott McGleish.

The former Wycombe forward has 11 league goals so far this season.

His goal at the Valley consigned Charlton to a rare defeat and the 36 year old will be looking for another big scalp.

McGleish has scored 3 in his last 4 but his team mates have shown what they can do even if he isn’t scoring, helping themselves to 5 against Bristol Rovers without reply at Brisbane Road. All different scorers.

As for Leeds their recent form, as we know, in the league hasn’t been inspiring following their FA Cup heroics.

But with their JPT exit on Wednesday, there are no distractions or other games to tire the players. It’s solely the league they have to focus on.

What was forgotten in the penalty shoot out and subsequent fan invasion was that fact that Leeds came back from 1-0 down to level and from 2-1 down to win 3-2 on the night. With the last two goals coming in the fnial ten minutes after some brave substitutions from boss Simon Grayson.

Doyle and Howson were both substituted for Kilkenny and Johnson, while Mike Grella came on for centre back Richard Naylor. And it paid off handsomely with Grella netting the ‘winning’ goal.

It was determination and a fightback not shown for a number of weeks in the league and a hark back to the Leeds of before January 3rd.

They were also 10 seconds away from beating Hartlepool at Victoria Park the previous weekend with a committed performance.

All in all Leeds haven’t lost their last 3 games (over 90 minutes) and maybe they are starting to find form, but key for them tomorrow is defence.

With Paddy Kisnorbo close to recovery, the Leeds defence has been uncharacteristically leaky. Upto christmas their away form and defence was the best in the league.

With Jarvis and McGleish to contend with they have to be on form and not give away sloppy goals like they did against Carlisle, and free headers from set pieces like in the dying moments against the monkey hangers.

Leeds will also be without Jermaine Beckford who is also close to recovery from a hamstring strain but they haven’t been short of goals since his injury with Becchio scoring 2, Snodgrass 1, Crowe 1 and Grella 1.

McSheffrey started to show his class against Carlisle in the second half and should start on the left wing again with Gradel on the right.

Snodgrass started up front with Becchio but did switch with McSheffrey at times, this could be the case again. Although Grella could get a starting place, he has consistently scored everytime he has made a sub appearance or started. Goals against Stockport, Kettering and Carlisle have showed what he can do.

I can see a change in defence with Hughes coming in at right back and maybe Bromby at centre back to replace either Naylor or Michalik as neither were very convincing against Carlisle.

We have goals in us, but before when we were scoring them and not letting them in, we now have a problem and it’s what has cost us in recent games.

IF and its a big if, we can keep Jarvis and McGleish relatively quiet,and keep a solid defence, we have goals in us to win.