New Leeds force a replay

Kettering Town pushed Leeds United all the way in a pulsating FA Cup tie at Rockingham Road – Leeds having Jermaine Beckford to thank for sparing their blushes with a clinical finish ten minutes from time.

It was a classic FA Cup tie – with goalmouth scrambles, heroic defending in the face of wave after wave of attacks and an opening goal from a guy who looked like he had just walked off the set of Shameless.

A lot of credit must go to Kettering, who I thought were excellent. They fought for everything and on the balance of things deserved a replay at Elland Road.

I thoroughly enjoyed the game and don’t have too many complaints about our performance. I thought we played well, although the finishing left a lot to be desired at times.

The one big positive I took from the game was the attitude of the players. Everyone knows what happened this time last year and it would have been easy for them to let their heads drop once they had scored, especially since we had dominated the game.

I was impressed with how we didn’t panic and kept playing football. It didn’t look like it was going to be our day but the players remained calm and kept believing.

When we went a goal down last season it was game over. Simon Grayson has made this team extremely difficult to beat and I’m proud of the players’ efforts yesterday.

The negatives

There were a couple of things which disappointed me, namely Casper Ankergren and Leigh Bromby.

Casper has done some good things for the club but I think he is living on borrowed time now. He is a good shot stopper, there is no doubt about that, but he is a liability when it comes to crosses.

He came for a cross not long before the goal and got a decent punch to it. I’ve seen this in games before where he makes a good decision which gives him some confidence, then not long after makes a bad call.

Lubo Michalik isn’t blameless. He should have got his head to it and asked questions later, if he did get a call. Michalik looked a little uneasy yesterday, he needs someone with authority alongside him and I think the thought of Casper behind him worries him.

I’m not sure how Bromby got a four-year contract – I’ve not been very impressed at all. He got turned so easily in the first-half, it was embarrassing. When everyone is fit he will find it difficult to get in the squad.

I heard their player-manager say after the game that they had targeted our weakness – set-pieces. I suggest they get back to the drawing board ahead of the replay if we have our first choice defence and keeper back.

The draw

Well it was the draw all Leeds fans wanted, scum away. There is no beating around the bush, we hate them with a passion and I’m pretty sure they feel the same way.

I’m sure Kettering will be just as motivated to go to Old Trafford, but as their chairman said: “First off we’ve got to go and do what nobody does, win at Elland Road.”

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