Leeds United stretched their unbeaten home league record to 20 games, but only after being pushed all the way by Leyton Orient.
It took a stunning late goal from on-loan Max Gradel to see off an Orient side whose performance belied their position at the bottom of the table.
It’s not the first time Leeds have struck late to steal all three points this season and it won’t be the last. As I’ve written many times recently, this side has a real determination and fights right until the final whistle.
It wasn’t the best of performances but one thing we have learnt this season is that this team can win dirty if it has to. We certainly didn’t see any of the free-flowing football witnessed in recent weeks but we did see the never-say-die attitude which has become synonymous with Grayson’s reign.
Wide of the mark
I think I’ve done pretty well with my predictions this season but I was way off last night. I expected us to take our free-scoring form into this game against a side low on confidence and really put them to the sword.
Credit must go to Orient who came to Elland Road to play football and deserved a point from the game. They raised their game, as many teams do when they play Leeds, and should be fine if they maintain that level of performance. The reality is that was probably them at their optimum level and they will find it hard to get up for every game like they did for this one.
Andros Townsend and Tamika Mkandawire were particularly impressive. Mkandawire had Jermaine Beckford in his pocket all night and Townsend made Leigh Bromby look distinctly average with his exceptional pace. Luckily neither could affect Gradel’s late winner.
Battling the elements
It was a stinker of a night at Elland Road – the strong winds making it difficult to play attractive football.
I don’t think that can be used as an excuse for the amount of balls hoofed up the field though. I was taught as a youngster to keep the ball on the deck if it was windy, I thought it was pretty basic stuff.
I will defend the back four though because they weren’t given much help from a midfield which was largely anonymous. I felt the midfield players slipped back into the form seen pre-Millwall and seem to struggle to function as a unit at home.
Sam Vokes continued his struggles in front of the home crowd and I would be surprised if Grayson makes a move for him in January. He tries hard enough but I don’t think he’s any better than what we have at the club at the moment.
Super subs
Again Grayson’s substitutions worked a treat.
Aidy White added a different dimension to the side with his pace from full-back and really impacted the game when he came on.
Max Gradel was the star man again though. He is full of energy and loves the ball at his feet. He was the difference between the two sides and we should do our upmost to keep him in January.
So we did it the hard way last night, but you can’t turn on the style every game. I see a lot of Leicester in our form this season – when we play well we hammer teams, when we don’t play so well we don’t drop points. It’s the sign of a champion side.
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