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Hartlepool United struck deep into injury-time to deny Leeds United all three points and the opportunity to profit from their rivals slipping up.
Leeds were again unconvincing but looked to have sealed the points in a scrappy game when Luciano Becchio prodded home his second. Hartlepool never gave up and equalised for a second time just before the final whistle to earn a deserved point.
Late goals always hurt and the manner of the goal, another set-piece, is equally disappointing but you have to take it on the chin and move on. We have scored plenty of late goals this season and it was inconceivable to think we could go the whole season without conceding so late. It is an old cliche but things do even themselves out over the course of a season.
It was our never-say-day attitude which led to those goals and it can be said our application is what has caused this slump we are in. It is easy to see we have been off the pace recently – we lack the bite, the desire to close down and the solidity we had during the earlier part of the season. You can put that down to a lot of things but we need to get back to doing those basics.
I have no doubt we will come through this and gain promotion quite comfortably – I am not as up and down as a lot of Leeds United fans. As fans it is almost as if we have a mild case of Bipolar. When we win we get far too carried away and when we lose we have blown it and we will be lucky to make the play-offs.
Let’s keep things in perspective. Yes we can all see we are not playing well and it is slightly worrying but even the best sides go through a bad patch. We should be getting three points from places like Hartlepool but these guys aren’t robots and are playing at League One level for a reason right now – they are fallible.
I am not making excuses but the weather can have a bearing on a dip in form. Playing on a muddy, bumpy pitch isn’t conducive to passing football and is often a leveller when playing teams of a lesser standard. It is the same in Rugby League too – just look at Leeds Rhinos and St Helens this weekend, they will be dreaming of flat, slick surfaces in the summer.
I am as disappointed as anyone with yesterday’s result but we are still chipping away at our points target and when we re-find our form I have no doubt we will pull away from Charlton and the rest.
Leeds United return to the real business of promotion today when they take on Hartlepool United at Victoria Park.
The FA Cup run was romantic and left us all with some great memories but it did start to hinder our promotion bid, now it is over it is time to leave our promotion rivals behind. The Carlisle game aside, we can fully concentrate on the league and with some relatively easy fixtures coming up we won’t get a better chance to pull away.
There is a chance of another FA Cup hangover but we have some good players to come back in and those fresh legs should make the difference. The likes of Max Gradel and Gary McSheffrey are the kind of players who can take the game by the scruff of the neck and we shouldn’t be afraid to go at Hartlepool. We have been tentative on our travels of late and started games well on the back foot, starting with two attacking wingers would signal our intent.
I can understand why it would be difficult for players to get up for a game like this after playing in front of a full house at Elland Road, after all it is the same for the fans, but the Spurs game should motivate the side. They should be determined to play in front of crowds like that every week and they won’t have a better chance to do it than with Leeds United.
Team news
Simon Grayson has a perfect opportunity to freshen things up against Hartlepool. Robert Snodgrass looked out on his feet again the other night and should be replaced by Gradel who needs to be starting games. McSheffrey should come in for Bradley Johnson and Shane Lowry should replace Andy Hughes.
Paddy Kisnorbo looks set to miss out again through injury so Lubo Michalik and Richard Naylor will continue at the back. If Neil Kilkenny is back I would play him alongside Michael Doyle and rest Jonny Howson.
Jermaine Beckford is due a rest but Grayson understandably doesn’t want to leave his main man out, particularly when he doesn’t have a proven goal scorer waiting in the wings. It is a problem, Larry will just have to make sure he chooses the right games to rest him. I don’t think today is one of those games.
Grayson doesn’t have any excuses, he has to shake things up. He doesn’t strike me as a manager to make the same mistake multiple times so I’m looking forward to seeing an energetic performance.
Prediction
Hartlepool are struggling at the wrong end of the table and were hammered 5-0 at home by MK Dons a few weeks ago. They will obviously be up for this game but we should put them firmly on the back foot with some positive intent. This isn’t a game for containment, we should go at them with everything we have got. If we do that I can see a comfortable win.
Hartlepool 1 Leeds United 3
Leeds United bowed out of the FA Cup but not before they gave Tottenham Hotspur another scare at Elland Road.
Jermain Defoe’s hat-trick sent Spurs through to the fourth round and ended Leeds’ brave cup run. But not even the sight of Defoe rounding Casper Ankergren and ending Leeds’ hopes could silence the home crowd, who were magnificent throughout. You don’t go to many grounds where the away fans are drowned out celebrating a goal by the home crowd.
The noise levels at Elland Road brought back memories of Champions League nights entertaining the likes of AC Milan and Barcelona. All three sides of Elland Road which hosted Leeds fans rocked to the sound of “We are the champions, champions of Europe” with scarves twirling above heads halfway through the first half, it really was a sight to behold.
The fans matched the players’ passion on the pitch and it is just a shame we ran out of steam in the second half. There is no reason to be downhearted though, we had a great run and we can now concentrate on the real business of getting out of this godforsaken league. This is a massive blessing in the context of our season.
Enthralling match
The game itself started in the same vein as the first, with Spurs firmly on the front foot. Andy Hughes, who seems to be reverting to the Gary Kelly school of defending, almost gifted Defoe a goal in the first minute. Spurs had plenty of luck in the first half, with every ricochet seeming to fall straight to the England striker through on goal, only to find an inspired Leeds keeper. They mixed that luck with some good passing and played at a high tempo which we couldn’t match during the opening exchanges. It is worrying how we have started games in recent weeks.
When we settled down we played some good stuff ourselves and played a full part in an entertaining game. The players showed their resolve once again with a terrific response to Defoe’s sliced opener. The crowd got right behind the team and the players responded by laying siege on the Spurs box. Luciano Becchio, who was my man of the match, pounced on a rebound to slot home a deserved equaliser. Half-time came at a bad time for us, Spurs were certainly saved by the whistle.
They came out fired up in the second half and we had no answer as we began to tire. Spurs are a good side and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them secure fourth place in the Premiership, if they get everyone back fit.
Marching on together
There were some positives to take out of the game. Casper Ankergren enhanced his reputation as a big game player with another excellent exhibition of shot stopping. Games like this make it all the more frustrating when he makes a clanger against the lesser sides.
We again showed the stomach for a fight and mixed it with some fluid counter attacks. Michael Doyle and Bradley Johnson provided the grit in midfield while Jonny Howson and Robert Snodgrass were at the heart of everything good in the first half. Snodgrass again faded in the second half – he is well overdue for a rest.
If the game proved anything it was that Leeds United are well and truly on their way back. The whole country misses us – the passion, the controversy, everything that comes with the club. We left the top flight a hated club, one loathed by fans up and down the land. We are working our way back with great dignity and it could just be that when we return we will have reshaped the club’s image into one of lovable foes.
One thing is for sure – Leeds United will be back in the big time before long. We have been to hell and back as supporters but this is the beginning of something special. All those miserable memories will make our return all the more special.
Leeds United returned to winning ways with a comfortable 2-0 victory against promotion rivals Colchester United.
Simon Grayson included two debutants in his starting 11 – a much changed side from the one which started against Swindon Town a few days earlier. Gary McSheffrey and Shane Lowry both impressed and gave the side fresh impetus as they put their poor league form behind them. The five changes really freshened things up and the players who came in all made an impact and lifted the lads around them.
January was a long month but now we have a settled squad which should get us out of this league. It was a good transfer window – we kept hold of Jermaine Beckford, got rid of some dead wood and made three quality additions. Grayson has always said he will not bring players in for the sake of it and will only bring guys in if they were better than what we have, he was as good as his word again.
It is not easy attracting high quality players when you are a League One club but Grayson is doing a very good job convincing these players to drop down. He identified his targets at the start of the month and remained patient despite it taking him longer than he would have expected. I am happy with the make up of the squad and we have no excuses now, we have to get promoted.
Welcome clean sheet
It was a much changed defence for the Colchester game and we looked as solid as we have for a long time. Lubo Michalik has been unlucky this season. Whenever he has played he has done well and should have played more than he has. He was excellent on Saturday and will be looking for an extended run in the side.
The midfield got the side ticking again and you have to hope for more consistent performances from the players in there, they have been far too hit and miss of late. Michael Doyle and Jonny Howson looked good in the centre of midfield and McSheffrey brought something different to the side – he looked a class act.
Beckford has really impressed me recently – his attitude has been spot on. He looked like a proper player against Colchester, he didn’t try to overplay and w0rked hard for the team. I think the fact he scored another penalty speaks volumes for where he is at mentally – he looks a different player to the one which stepped up against Millwall in the play-offs and Carlisle earlier this season.
It was a vital win and a good weekend for Leeds. Confidence has been restored and we seem to have come through the other side of the blip.
Leeds United look set to have two new faces in the squad to take on Colchester United at Elland Road tomorrow.
The rumour mill has been working overtime today with Gary McSheffrey and Shane Lowry heavily linked with loan moves to the club. The club hasn’t officially confirmed the signings yet but Sky Bet is already taking specials on McSheffrey’s debut and Lowry’s wikipedia page has been updated, stating he signed on a season-long loan yesterday.
It is always a bit risky commenting on speculation but I am pretty certain this is true. The club has a track record for keeping things firmly under wraps, think back to Max Gradel and Sam Vokes being confirmed as loan signings just before kick-off against Norwich.
I can understand why Simon Grayson would want to keep the opposition guessing but it can be very frustrating for fans who just want some transparency. Regardless of when it is announced, these two additions will give the fans a big lift after Tuesday and the place should be buzzing tomorrow.
Grayson seems to be hedging his bets again by delving into the loan market but that is no bad thing. It is a policy which has worked for him in the past – Richard Naylor and Max Gradel proved they could cut it at Leeds and on the flipside Liam Dickinson and Lee Trundle couldn’t. I have no problem with his “try before you buy” policy.
Fast start required
Colchester will provide a real test tomorrow and we need to start much better than we have in the last few games. We have been slow out of the blocks and have given away sloppy early goals, something which was unheard of coming into the new year. We need to start pressing high up the field again and some fresh legs will allow us to do that.
Lowry would more than likely go straight in at left-back, with Andy Hughes shifting over to the right. Richard Naylor is fit again so should come into contention to partner Paddy Kisnorbo.
It will be interesting to see where Grayson plays McSheffrey, who can play left side or up front. I would probably put him out on the left providing ammunition for Jermaine Beckford and Luciano Becchio. Max Gradel must surely start on the right which gives good balance to the side. Bradley Johnson and Robert Snodgrass should take a rest. It is anyone’s guess who will play in the middle.
Prediction
I am not quite sure why I am persisting with this but I surely have to get one right sooner or later. I think a lot hinges on whether these signings come through or not. We need to freshen things up and these two loanees would give everyone a big boost. I fear for us if they don’t come through. Colchester will be tough but a side buoyed by two new signings and with Grayson’s post match team-talk still ringing in their ears should prevail (hopefully).
Leeds United 3 Colchester United 1
Simon Grayson faces the biggest test of his short managerial career after his Leeds side fell to a demoralising 3-0 defeat at Swindon Town.
Leeds were never in the game and the 3-0 scoreline flattered them as they were run ragged by in-form Swindon. This run of results in the league is becoming increasingly worrying now and Grayson has a big job on his hands to pick the players up before Colchester on Saturday.
I feel pretty deflated this morning – just what is going on? We have held our own against some of the best in the land but we get back to the league and are a shadow of the side. The obvious thing would be to point at the cup distractions. These extra games are affecting us mentally more than anything. The players just can’t seem to motivate themselves when they return to league duty. Swindon were a decent side but we should be able to get something from a game like that.
The physical demand is obviously taking its toll on the players. We are not doing the things we did well earlier in the season – pressing high up the field, closing down wingers and defending as a unit. We often hear about our strong squad but where is it? I can’t think of too many players in the matchday squad who genuinly think they have a chance of starting and it is all looking a bit too bare outside of that squad.
This is a huge week. The end of the transfer window is fast approaching and Uncle Ken needs to show his ambition, now. If we don’t get out of this league this season, I fear we never will. I feel we need three quality players – a striker, a ball-winning midfielder and another winger. This is a pivotal week in the context of our season.
Need for fresh legs
As you probably know by now, I am a big Grayson fan. However, I felt he made a big mistake last night.
I can see why he wanted continuity after playing so well at White Hart Lane but the best thing for the team would have been fresh legs. We had some real pace on the bench but didn’t utilise it until we were 3-0 down. Aidy White and Max Gradel should have started and Luciano Becchio should have partnered Jermaine Beckford. Jason Crowe needs some time out of the side to learn how to defend – we need Ben Parker back so we can shift Andy Hughes over to the right.
Our midfield seems to have fallen apart in the league. Jonny Howson should not play out on the right anymore, he is like a lost child out there. Michael Doyle is far too hit and miss for a holding midfielder, I would rather see Andy Hughes in that role at the moment. Bradley Johnson and Robert Snodgrass just look absolutely knackered right now – we need some fresh legs in there against Colchester.
I would not call it a crisis by any means but we need to get back on track on Saturday. Chelsea went through a bad patch, Man United got beat by three at Fulham and just look at Norwich’s early season form. Every side goes through a lean spell but the good sides show character to come through the other side without too much damage.
I can understand why some Leeds fans are panicking. Being a Leeds fan is like being in a loveless marriage. There are some high spots but ultimately they will just beat you around again. This Leeds side has shown enough to make me think they have the resolve to get through this though. A couple of new signings and a win at the weekend would make the world feel like a much better place again.
Leeds United will be aiming to put some daylight between themselves and Charlton Athletic with victory over promotion rivals Swindon Town at the County Ground.
Leeds received a big boost without kicking a ball when Charlton unexpectedly lost at home to lowly Leyton Orient. They will have to make the slip up count though and face a tough task against an overachieving Swindon side.
It is a quick turnaround for the players after the energy sapping draw at White Hart Lane, I think the addition of Max Gradel could make a big difference tonight. He signed a permanent deal yesterday and his bubbly personality and enthusiasm will lift the whole squad. He will be itching to get out there and I think it would be a good move from Simon Grayson to play him from the start.
We struggled to lift ourselves for the league games after Old Trafford but Grayson shouldn’t have too many problems motivating the players for this one. The consensus is League One is a three horse race this season and a win against Swindon would add further weight to that theory.
This is a massive game in the context of our season. We need need to return to winning ways as soon as possible to regather our league momentum so we can pull away from the chasing pack once and for all.
Team news
It is difficult to know which way Grayson will go tonight. The tactic of using Robert Snodgrass in a free role worked very well on Saturday but I can’t see Grayson going with that again, although I think maybe he should. Snodgrass revelled in that role and played some of his best football this season. I just think Luciano Becchio might start the game.
As I have said, Gradel should start and I would even consider starting Aidy White too. Real pace on both wings is an exciting way to go and would make life uncomfortable for Swindon who won’t have had many teams come at them on their own ground this season. I am not sure which two would miss out, I will leave that up to Mr Grayson!
I can’t see there being many more changes to the side.
Prediction
Swindon will be tough, particularly with a couple of ex-Leeds players in their side. They have one of the best home records in the league and will fancy their chances against a tired Leeds side. We will have taken a lot of confidence from the Spurs game and the introduction of a couple of enthusiastic youngsters would freshen the side up. After starting off so well this season with my predictions I haven’t got close for a long time! I’m going for a draw.
Swindon Town 1 Leeds United 1
Leeds United defied their league standing once again with a stunning injury-time equaliser to deny Premier League Spurs in the FA Cup fourth round tie at White Hart Lane.
Leeds spent the best part of the first half on the back foot and had inspired keeper Casper Ankergren to thank for keeping them in the game. After going in behind at half-time, Leeds came out fighting and took the game to Spurs – equalising first through Jermaine Beckford’s swivel and finish and then through his dramatic penalty six minutes into injury-time.
I couldn’t be prouder this Monday morning. What an incredible effort from the players, a performance full of pride and belief – we finally have a team to be proud of again. My heart ruled my head and I was delighted to come away with a draw and to take them back to Elland Road.
Thinking about it today and it is a game we could well do without, but I don’t think anyone can honestly say they were willing Beckford to miss. In a lot of ways it was even better than Old Trafford. We came across a very good Spurs team and the atmosphere was as good as it gets. We were heavily under the cosh for the first 20 minutes or so but once we settled down we played some good stuff and gave as good as we got.
We seem to have gone from a team everyone hates to one neutrals are suddenly cheering for in these cup ties. We have won back the respect of a lot of people and I couldn’t thank Simon Grayson enough for what he has brought to the side. It is nice to be in the public eye for the right reasons and long may it continue.
Snoddy in the hole
Grayson surprised a lot of people with his line-up but he got it spot on again. He played Beckford up top on his own with Robert Snodgrass roaming behind him in a free role. Snodgrass hasn’t had the best of seasons but had a great game, he always looked a threat. Like Casper, Snoddy is a big game player. He needs to work on his crossing though. He fails to beat the first man too often for a player of his quality.
The defence looked ragged at the start of the game but slowly got to grips with the different threats provided by Peter Crouch and Jermaine Defoe. Paddy Kisnorbo is a real fighter and a leader and he kept them going all game.
The midfield, which has been dominated in a lot of games this season, was outstanding and got well on top of their Spurs counterparts. Six bookings would suggest we were struggling at times to get to grips with them but I like to think of it as full blooded commitment. Some of our passing was brilliant and we counter-attacked fluidly when we had the chance.
Beckford has once again received most of the plaudits. He did have a very good game and no doubt changed a couple of digits on his transfer fee/new contract. I said to my mates after he missed his third chance that he would grab the next one and sure enough he did. He does miss a lot but the law of averages tell you he will take one sooner or later. His work rate is impressing me at the moment, epitomised by one of his challenges in the second half.
Back to Elland Road then in front of a packed house and it should be another pulsating encounter. Make no bones about it, getting out of this league is our sole priority this season, but this cup run has put us back on the map and earned us some much needed revenue.
Swindon tomorrow is a huge game, I hope there is no cup hangover because we badly need these three points.
Leeds United face another daunting away trip in the FA Cup as they face up to Tottenham Hotspur in the fourth round at White Hart Lane tomorrow.
Leeds put themselves well and truly back on the footballing map after the win at Old Trafford but their form has dipped considerably since that victory. The majority of Leeds fans will be glad to see the back of the cup competitions, with winning promotion from the third tier our only priority this season. That said, Simon Grayson and his side will be fully motivated as they look to spring another major shock.
I am on the fence really. I absolutely hate losing and my heart tells me we should win at all costs tomorrow. My head, however, is telling me it is a long hard season and these cup runs have the potential to derail our promotion challenge. We already look jaded so the sooner we can fully concentrate on League One, the better. I think the best scenario would be losing by a single goal after producing a display full of pride and passion and giving another great account of ourselves.
Spurs know this is their only realistic chance of silverware this season so will come at us hard. It is a shame Aaron Lennon will miss the game but I’m sure Andy Hughes will be a very relieved man. As much as Hughes has improved, that would have been hard to watch.
Harry Redknapp has stated he will play a few youngsters, who will no doubt be mixed in with experienced players like Leeds old boy Robbie Keane and Roman Pavlyuchenko. I am expecting a strong line-up, there is a slight fear we will suffer a demoralising defeat.
Team news
A few of the players are nursing knocks after the Carlisle game, according to Simon Grayson. All the players will want to play in this one though so I am not expecting anyone to miss out because of a slight knock.
We should employ a similar tactic to the one we used at Old Trafford – playing with two strong banks of four and counter attacking with pace and purpose when we get the chance. With the form we have been in this type of game should suit us.
The defence has looked shaky recently but should receive a lot more support from the midfield in this one. We will go with our most solid back four which, if everybody is fit, looks like this: Leigh Bromby, Paddy Kisnorbo, Richard Naylor, Andy Hughes.
The rest of the side should be the same as the one from the previous round, the only change being Robert Snodgrass replacing Jonny Howson.
Prediction
Leeds need to find some inspiration from somewhere to overcome a very strong Tottenham side. We have looked well off the pace in the last few games but I’m sure we will see a totally different Leeds side for this one. It will be a performance full of guts and determination but ultimately we will come up short.
Spurs 3 Leeds United 1
Leeds United have it all to do in the second leg at Brunton Park after Carlisle left Elland Road with yet another victory.
The two sides approached the game in a positive manner which made for an exciting game full of chances and some woeful defending. Despite Leeds having more of the first half chances, Carlisle were full value for their lead at half-time. Leeds dominated the second half and should have at least come out with a draw.
I thought it was an improved performance from Leeds. We started the game brightly but for 20 minutes in the first half we were nothing short of atrocious. We gave the ball away time after time and shirked so many tackles it was becoming ridiculous.
The defence and midfield played like strangers – Carlisle didn’t have to work for their chances, we just gifted them. They could have been out of sight but for some excellent last ditch defending from Andy Hughes and Leigh Bromby. Carlisle were just as generous at the other end but we didn’t work their keeper half as much as we should have.
Simon Grayson must have given the players a rocket at half-time because we played with a much higher tempo and laid siege to the Carlisle goal for most of the second half. Their winner came against the run of play, worryingly from yet another set-piece/cross.
We seem to have fallen back into the bad habits of last season and you have to point the finger at the keeper. Yes it was a good cross from Ian Harte but Casper Ankergren stood like a scarecrow in the six-yard box expecting the ball to somehow bypass their striker and go straight into his hands. What has happened to Shane Higgs?
More Becks speculation
I am not even going to comment on the Jermaine Beckford speculation today – it is doing my head in now. All I will say is Beckford proved last night why he isn’t Premiership class. Every Leeds fan knows it takes him four or five chances to score in most games and he couldn’t even put one of those away against Carlisle. I am impressed with his improved work rate, whose benefit that is for is anyone’s guess, and he does get in good positions but he needs to stop thinking he is better than he is.
The defence was poor again last night, a few last ditch challenges aside. Jason Crowe was caught out of position so many times and when he was in position he backed off and backed off – Carlisle got all their joy down that flank. I wanted him taking off at half-time, he was that bad. I think everyone was shocked to see him equalise and he even had a couple of chances to put us in front after his goal.
The midfield went missing, not for the first time this season. We seem to have a real problem if an opposition player drops into the hole – the midfield offers no support to the defence, emphasised by Graham Kavanagh’s free run for the first goal. Robert Snograss, for all his effort, was again below par, Bradley Johnson likewise. Neil Kilkenny did his best to pull the strings but wasn’t helped by Jonny Howson, who looks seriously out of form.
Mike Grella shows some nice touches but tries to play too much – he needs to know a simple ball will do. We have a worrying lack of depth up front.
It was an improvement on recent displays but we look like a side low on confidence. I have no doubt this is just a blip and a mental thing, you don’t become a bad team overnight. We deserved more out of the game but Carlisle are a real bogey side for us.
As Grayson said after the game, it is a fine line between winning and losing and the luck which was on our side at the start of the season seems to have deserted us right now.
Leeds United entertain Carlisle United in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy northern area final first leg tomorrow, as they look to get back to winning ways after two mediocre performances.
The competition won’t have been at the top of the club’s list of priorities at the start of the season but now they have got this far they will want to go all the way.
Carlise have been somewhat of a bogey team for us since we dropped down to League One and the games are usually tight, epitomised by the nature of Leeds’ victory the last time the two sides met in a two-legged affair. There wasn’t anything to choose between them until Jonny Howson scored a memorable goal in injury-time to send us to Wembley.
Carlisle will probably fancy their chances tomorrow but I think we will see a good response from the players. If the Wycombe game wasn’t a kick up the backside, the Exeter game certainly was – we were slow out of the blocks and never recovered.
We look low on confidence right now but I think the two cup ties this week are just what we need. We can almost play without fear, with no league points at stake we have a perfect chance to iron out some of the problems we have been having.
Team news
Simon Grayson will have a decision to make – will he freshen things up with some big games coming up or will he play the big guns to see if they regain some form.
It is a tough one because the players have looked a bit tired recently but they can’t get their confidence back on the sidelines so I would go with the strongest 11, with a couple of exceptions. They are all professional footballers so should be able to play two games a week.
This game would be a good opportunity to give Ben Parker a start. If he was fit enough to be on the bench on Saturday then he should be fit enough to start this one. I would play him and move Andy Hughes to right-back.
Paddy Kisnorbo and Richard Naylor have looked off the pace in the last two games so should get a chance to sort their problems out. I have no doubt they are our best two centre halves but it is worrying they are both off colour at the same time.
The midfield is a cause for concern at the moment. I would like to see Jonny Howson back alongside Neil Kilkenny, a partnership which worked really well towards the back end of last season. Michael Doyle has shown glimpses of what he can do but just hasn’t done it enough for me.
Mike Grella must be pushing hard for a start but I think Grayson will stick with Jermaine Beckford and Luciano Becchio. Becchio is in a bit of a slump and doesn’t look like scoring right now, what he would give for a goal.
Prediction
This is an important game, not only is it a final but more importantly it is an early chance to get back to winning ways. Carlisle have always performed well at Elland Road so it should be a tough game. However, I can’t seeing us playing as bad as we did on Saturday and can see us taking a decent lead into the second leg.
Leeds United 3 Carlisle United 1
Leeds United suffered defeat for just the second time in the league this season against Exeter City but received a big boost today after Jermaine Beckford pledged his short-term future to the club.
The performance yesterday was similar to the Wycombe one last week, in that we never got going and looked well off the pace. It is a bit worrying to see us so flat in consecutive games but I think we need to keep things in perspective and realise every side has a poor run of results during a season, let’s hope it doesn’t damage our promotion bid too much.
Norwich City are on fire at the minute and Charlton are in impressive form too, it looks as if it is going to be a three horse race. It is quite possible we will have been knocked off the top by the time we play Swindon, we will see how good a manager Simon Grayson is in the next couple of weeks.
The side looks low on confidence and energy right now and we are starting to see cracks appear in a defence which had been so solid previously. The whole Beckford saga really hasn’t helped things but it all seems to have been resolved now.
In my blog “Beckford won’t leave now”, I said he would find it hard to leave after the win at Old Trafford and Beckford cited that as one of the reasons for withdrawing his transfer request, as well as the reaction he got during the Wycombe game. It really makes you wonder what the hell his agent was playing at.
Beckford doesn’t often speak to the media so it was a surprise to read the article on the official site. The statement itself is very encouraging and should give the side a big lift. We have been waiting a long time to hear Beckford come out and say something like that, it is good to hear. I have been quick to get on his back but really respect what he has done and he should get a good reception against Carlisle. I think he will sign a new contract in the summer if we do go up.
A bad day all round
It was a pretty dismal spectacle on the field yesterday and there were similarities with last season’s dreadful performance at Hereford. Incidentally that was the last time we lost by two goals and was also the last time we went in behind at half-time – let’s hope this defeat has the same galvanising effect. It wasn’t quite as depressing as Hereford but it came pretty close for me.
It is hard to find any positives really. The defence was all over the shop, the midfield was again overrun and out battled and the strikers didn’t get a sniff. I was happy to put last week’s performance down to an Old Trafford hangover but the Beckford mess has obviously affected the squad.
Now it has all been resolved everyone knows where they stand and we can move on and get back to winning ways – the sooner the better.
Leeds United and their loyal fans make the long trip down down to Devon tomorrow to take on Exeter City.
The two sides have already met once this season on a sunny day back in August, a world away from “Frozen Britain”. On that occasion Leeds ran out 2-1 winners but didn’t have everything their own way against the newly promoted side, having to rely on a late Jermaine Beckford winner.
That game seems a long time ago now but from what I can remember we were quite complacent that day against an enthusiastic side and nearly came unstuck against their 10-men. The season is in full swing now and those cobwebs have been blown away but there were some worrying signs last weekend against Wycombe.
We lacked energy and were overrun by a side we really should have beaten convincingly. I am happy to put that down to an Old Trafford hangover but a repeat performance tomorrow will end in defeat.
The locals will no doubt be well up for this one, our last visit to Exeter’s St James’ Park was way back in 1931. We are well used to coming up against teams who raise their game when Leeds are in town and this will be no different. The conditions will be a leveller but I’m confident our boys will have enough fight to overcome Exeter.
Team news
Andy Hughes should return and if fit will slot back into the left-back position, a problem area last weekend. Bradley Johnson was all at sea and Jason Crowe wasn’t much better on the other side. I would bring Leigh Bromby back in Crowe’s place. The game will come too soon for Ben Parker but it would be good to see him on the bench.
It is time for Simon Grayson to make a decision in the centre of midfield. He still doesn’t seem to know his best partnership in there and it is starting to disrupt the rest of the side. Jonny Howson offers no width on the right, we need Robert Snodgrass out there with Johnson on the left. I think Grayson will go for Neil Kilkenny and Michael Doyle.
Jermaine Beckford is still a Leeds player so it looks as if he will take his place alongside Luciano Becchio. I can’t see anyone paying what we want for him so he could see out the rest of the season with us. Becchio looked well off the pace against Wycombe so needs to put in a good shift tomorrow to create the space for Beckford.
It looks as if Max Gradel will play his last game for the club after Nigel Pearson reiterated his desire to keep him at Leicester. It is a shame we haven’t managed to hold onto him but I think Aidy White could take up the role of impact sub. He has real pace and could cause problems for tiring defences. The end product isn’t there yet but he has talent.
Prediction
I can see this being a scrappy game with limited chances. I can see us nicking it, we should have more firepower in the final third.
Exeter City 1 Leeds United 2
We are almost two weeks into the January transfer window and despite all the speculation, surrounding Jermaine Beckford mainly, we haven’t seen any activity on the transfer front. This has become normal practice at this time of year, with all the movement concentrated on the last few days of the window.
I read a rumour this morning linking Leeds with Marlon Harewood. That sounds pretty ridiculous to me, it seems as if the media are trying to play Leeds and Newcastle off against one another. Another example of this is a story I saw yesterday with the headline “Hughton Tells Leeds to face reality”, yet you read the article and there is no mention of Leeds or Beckford, just a vague reference to his transfer plans for the month. However, it is clear the two clubs are locked in a stalemate over Beckford at the moment.
If Beckford does leave I would like to see Gary Hooper come in as his replacement. He is proven at this level and has a decent return so far this season in the Championship, he would be a good signing moving forward. Even if Beckford stays I think we need to bring in another striker, we look a bit light up front. I can’t imagine someone of the calibre of Hooper coming in if Beckford is still here but we do need another proven goal scorer in the squad.
We have more than enough defensive cover but I am starting to worry about the Shane Higgs injury situation. He has had a couple of failed returns and there hasn’t been an encouraging update for a while which makes me think that could be it for his season. Simon Grayson may need to delve into the loan market and secure a keeper for the rest of the season.
I would like to see a right winger brought in. Jonny Howson hasn’t had much joy out on the right, the scum game apart, and needs to make way for Robert Snodgrass, who similarly doesn’t perform as well on the left. Howson could return to the middle, we have plenty of cover in there, but if Snodgrass gets injured we don’t have a natural right winger in the squad.
Players going the other way
I don’t think we need to make any more additions. Ben Parker returning will feel like a new signing and the 6-1 reserve defeat of Scunthorpe United is testament to our strength in depth. There is always the loan market if we have injury problems.
It is high time a few players left the club. Andy Robinson has been coasting on a fair old pay packet for some time now and hasn’t made the impact we expected when he signed 18 months ago. Letting him go would free up a bit more money on the wage bill.
David Prutton is obviously a good bloke to have around the place but his days at Leeds are numbered and we should be looking to move him on this month. Alan Sheehan and Enoch Showunmi are other players we should be looking to get rid of.
Paul Huntington is an investment for the future so I would send him out on loan for the rest of the season, along with Davide Somma and a few of the club’s youngsters.
Where do you think we need to make additions? Who would you get rid of?
It is Monday morning again and, as expected, papers and websites are full of speculation about the future of Jermaine Beckford. We had a slight reprieve from the rumour mill for about 90 minutes on Saturday but even then the subject wasn’t far from peoples’ lips and Simon Grayson had to field more Beckford questions after the game.
The performance itself lacked energy and the players could be forgiven for a certain amount of complacency after their triumph at Old Trafford. I don’t think the poor performance can be attributed to the Beckford situation but the more it rumbles on, the more it is starting to overshadow all the good work we are doing on the field.
I thought the fans handled the situation well, there was a smattering of boos and anti-Newcastle chants but for the majority of the game they got right behind Beckford. He responded with a determined performance but was let down by some poor service.
I felt let down after hearing the news of Beckford handing in the transfer request. I thought it was a pointless move by his agent and has just caused unnecessary problems. I can’t see why the player would want to move on now, hence my blog titled “Beckford won’t leave now” after the Man United win. He is on the cusp of promotion with Leeds and when we do go up will surely be offered a much improved contract. Instead he wants to jump one, maybe two divisions mid-season and won’t be given much time to bed in at his new club with either promotion or relegation on the line. He has been poorly advised in my opinion.
Leeds won’t budge
A fully committed Beckford would clearly benefit Leeds as they try to maintain their promotion charge. His goals have become invaluable to us but this whole situation has the potential to derail our season.
Grayson has maintained his stance and said the club won’t lower their asking price. Potential buyers won’t want to pay more than they have to with the player out of contract in the summer so it looks as if it could be a long month for Leeds fans, with Grayson playing his cards close to his chest. We would also need a replacement lined up before Beckford makes his move.
Not only do we have to put up with the Beckford saga but now there is a ridiculous rumour linking Grayson with the Burnley job. Grayson said he is 100 per cent committed to Leeds and I have no reason to doubt him and don’t think for one minute he would jump ship to go to to Burnley, a team we could well be playing in the Championship next season. If he does go I will have lost what little faith I have left in the game.
I hope there is an end in sight to all this speculation, either in the way of an acceptable bid or Beckford having a change of heart and committing his short-term future to the club – the sooner it is all sorted, the sooner we can get back on track and focus on promotion glory.
Leeds United were brought back down to earth by a determined Wycombe Wanderers side and in the end were lucky to come away with a point.
I thought we were well on the way to my prediction when Jonny Howson scored with a speculative shot from outside the area, but the goal fest never materialised. Wycombe penned us back and hit the woodwork twice during a first half in which they dominated in the main. Leeds were never really at the races and the deserved equaliser came following a swift counter-attack, the Wycombe striker taking a great first touch and slamming it past Casper Ankergren into the bottom corner.
It was a very disappointing performance, possibly our worst of the season. I am not going to be too critical of the players because it must be difficult getting up for a game like that after such a high last weekend. Yes we should be beating teams like Wycombe at home but Leicester City dropped a lot of home points against sides down the bottom last season and it didn’t affect them too much.
It would be easy to blame the performance on the Jermaine Beckford saga but I think the players simply had an off day – they are allowed one or two after all. Wycombe put everything into the game, like many teams who come to Elland Road, and impressed me. After watching the game I would have to say this was a point gained.
Shaky at the back
The defence looked all over the place today – we haven’t looked that stretched for a long time. The usually dependable centre-back partnership of Paddy Kisnorbo and Richard Naylor played like strangers at times and I have to say we missed Andy Hughes. Bradley Johnson, for all his effort, wasn’t comfortable at left-back.
The midfield lacked the bite we saw at Old Trafford and struggled to gain a foothold in the match. They gave the ball away time after time and it was a thoroughly frustrating afternoon for all of them in there. Although saying that Robert Snodgrass did cause them a few problems, he was the last player I would have taken off out of the midfield four.
I have given Beckford a lot of grief in the past week but he was one of our better players. I would still rather have someone in there who is here for the long-term but I thought he worked hard and always looked a threat. I really thought he was going to pop up with the winner – I was preparing myself for all the hammer I would have received! Luciano Becchio was nowhere near his best – I would say he was probably our poorest player.
It was a bad day all round. There was a weird feel around the place today, a lot is owed to the Beckford situation and is not helped by the persistent nagging from the stewards who kill what little atmosphere there is left in Elland Road these days.
We didn’t play well, in fact we were pretty hopeless, but these performances have been few and far between under Grayson and I expect us to move on from this and get back to winning ways next weekend.
Leeds United get back to the bread and butter tomorrow when they take on relegation-threatened Wycombe Wanderers at Elland Road.
It has been a whirlwind week if you are a Leeds United fan, with hardly a moment to catch your breath. It almost feels as if we are a Premiership club again, we have demanded that many column inches. Not for the first time, Jermaine Beckford has been at the centre of it all.
No one will ever forget his winner at Old Trafford but what has happened since has certainly tarnished the memory. Since my last blog, it has been revealed that Beckford handed in his transfer request before the turn of the year. Leeds obviously wanted to keep it in house but Beckford’s money-grabbing agent blabbed to the media, ending his client’s time at the club and any relationship he had left with the fans.
Simon Grayson is understandably furious. Now the fans know he has a very difficult decision to make. If Beckford does play he is sure to get a hostile reception from our fans. I would personally prefer not to have to support him, something I would have to do if he plays (you can’t not support someone in a white shirt after all). I would honestly rather pull a fan out of the Kop and play him rather than someone who doesn’t want to be at the club. I hope he has played his last game for us.
Team news
Grayson has an almost fully-fit squad to choose from for the visit of Wycombe, with only Shane Higgs and Ben Parker missing through injury and Rui Marques away on international duty, although I did notice Parker training with the rest of the squad in the photos on the official site.
I don’t think there is any way Grayson can change anything after last weekend’s sensational victory, except for Beckford of course. I would play Mike Grella alongside Luciano Becchio up top – he should get a run in the side while we look for a replacement for Beckford.
Leigh Bromby got suspended at just the wrong time – a slight understatement perhaps. Not only was he playing so well and missed a dream start at Old Trafford, but he watched his understudy excel in his place during a famous victory. He could find it hard to regain his place if Jason Crowe maintains that level of performance.
It will be good to see Max Gradel back – he should take his place amongst a very strong looking subs bench. I hope Uncle Ken uses some of Beckford’s transfer fee to sign this lad on permanently.
Prediction
A lot of sides would struggle to get up for a game like this after such a high last week but this side is different. Grayson will have his side focused and I don’t envisage any problems. If we avoid defeat tomorrow we will have gone a full year without losing a home league game, an incredible record considering the squad Grayson inherited. I can see the players enjoying themselves tomorrow. Life without Beckford starts here.
Leeds United 4 Wycombe 0
Jermaine Beckford has handed in a transfer request, according to his agent Nick Rubery, in the hope of engineering a move away from the club before the end of January.
Leeds United have repeatedly stated they will not sell him unless the right offer comes in. If someone doesn’t pay what the club wants, he won’t be going anywhere. It is very unlikely he will wear the white shirt again so it is a risky move. It will no doubt be the last straw for Leeds fans – he won’t be made to feel welcome at Elland Road again. It has to be said his agent is clearly behind all this.
In some ways you can’t blame a player for wanting to leave to earn more money but what does that say about his ambition. I have always said he is a very good League One player with the potential to be a good goal scorer in the Championship, but he won’t make it in the Premiership. His attitude is shocking if things aren’t going his way, he has a poor first touch and defenders will soon find him out.
I recently wrote about the club’s ambition but they can’t do too much about this. We shouldn’t be held to ransom by anyone. I am very confident Simon Grayson has someone equally as good, if not better than Beckford lined up.
I want players to sweat blood for the cause and quite frankly Beckford hasn’t shown much passion or desire since he’s been here – it has all been about personal gain, summed up by this latest act.
I think he is making a big mistake. He could have become a legend at this club – a huge club on the rise. He will now have to prove himself at a new club and re-establish himself, something which isn’t easy.
If he doesn’t want to play for the club then good riddance, let’s see where we both are in five years time.
Leeds United boss Simon Grayson has been nominated for the Coca-Cola League One manager of the month award for December – the sixth time he has been in the running for the accolade during his 12 months in charge. He has bizarrely never come away with the award.
Grayson will say he isn’t too bothered and would happily give the award a miss if Leeds are at the top at the end of each month, but he is only human after all and I’m sure he would like something tangible to recognise his side’s achievements.
The awards panel need to get a grip really – I don’t know how they have managed to overlook him this season. We are by far the stand out team in the division and our record speaks for itself. We have lost only one game in 23 and sit eight points clear of second place, with the best defensive record by some distance. I know the award is based on that month alone but even so we haven’t had a bad month yet.
I can’t say I lose any sleep over Grayson missing out but I would appreciate a bit of recognition from outside the club for a guy who has turned our fortunes around almost single-handedly.
So a day on from yesterday’s amazing win at Old Trafford and it still hasn’t sunk in. I actually woke up this morning thinking it was a dream, luckily I turned BBC News on and immediately saw Jermaine Beckford’s goal again – what a moment. I spent the day reflecting on the magnitude of the result and the extra attention Beckford will receive during this transfer window. It seems pretty obvious to me that we don’t need to sell him.
The club has obviously been through a lot financially, having bounced back from the brink of extinction, so we always have to keep an eye on the figures but selling your top scorer makes no business sense – unless someone makes a bid exceeding £5m, which is unlikely given he could leave for free in the summer. Beckford’s goals will carry us to the Championship this season and that will be worth a lot more than a couple of million this month.
We have played three Premiership clubs this season which has brought the club unexpected revenue and we received a big fee for Fabian Delph in the summer. The finances are looking healthy now so we shouldn’t be bullied into selling one of our best players.
What happens in January will say a lot about Ken Bates and the board’s ambition. This club is moving in the right direction at long last and I would see selling Beckford as a massive step backwards. We are not a selling club anymore and shouldn’t be dictated to by anyone. Beckford is part of our long-term plans so we should do all we can to keep him, the club needs to show how much they value him.
I have never been Beckford’s biggest fan but it is in the club’s best interests to keep him. He is a prolific goal scorer in League One and has the potential to be a good striker in the Championship.
I trust Simon Grayson will make the right decision, I just hope Bates doesn’t have too big a say. I hope we offer him an improved contract this month but can see the board waiting until the summer to do that. The least we can do is keep knocking back the offers, we need to show ambition off the field as well as on it.
Well I don’t know where to start. What an incredible day, it really doesn’t get much better than this. The players and fans should be so proud of their efforts today. I have a feeling my words won’t come close to summing things up but I will give it a go anyway!
I went into the game hoping to put in a performance similar to the one we saw against Liverpool – full of spirit and endeavour, leaving the watching public in no doubt that Leeds United are back. The best I was hoping for was a replay so we could get them back to Elland Road, the thought of victory never entered my mind – bad I know. We didn’t just beat them, we beat them well.
It was an epic performance from our boys. There was so much passion on display and it is days like this that make you realise why you support the club through thick and thin. We have been through so much over the past decade – this result was for us.
Becks has a taste of the good life at Leeds
I have said it many times before but Simon Grayson has got this group of players believing and they will feel on top of the world tonight. The club really is going places and everyone in the squad should want to write themselves into Leeds United folklore.
There has been a lot of speculation surrounding Jermaine Beckford this past week whilst I have been away. Apparently Newcastle United are close to signing him, but would he really want to leave after that today?
A lot was made about his spat with the fans the other week but that seems to be well behind everyone now. I truly believe Leeds will be back in the Premiership in the next couple of years under Grayson and Beckford should want to be an integral part in that.
He has got a feel of what it will be like when we get back there and he can’t help but be impressed, especially by the magnificent 9,000 or so Leeds fans who were at Old Trafford. If he has any real ambition he will stay at the club and be central to something special, instead of grabbing the money and being a peripheral figure at a smaller club currently enjoying a better time of it than us.
For him to stay though Uncle Ken will have to open up his cheque book and show some ambition, I know a lot of our fans won’t be holding their breath.
Paddy epitomises desire
To see Paddy Kisnorbo at the end just filled me with pride. The picture of him embracing Jason Crowe smiling with blood all over his face epitomised the desire in the squad right now. They never took a backward step and matched Man United all over the park.
The defence was immense and provided excellent cover for Casper Ankergren, who had his best game for a long time. Special mention must go to Jason Crowe. He has found himself down the pecking order recently but took his chance with both hands and will give the manager a real headache when Leigh Bromby returns.
I don’t really want to single any players out because they were all brilliant. They deserve all the praise they are getting and have been rewarded with a trip to North London to face Spurs. There is a much more important game coming up before that though – Wycombe Wanderers at home. I can’t wait.
Leeds United signed off for the year with a 4-2 victory over rock-bottom Stockport County, though the score line doesn’t reflect just how close this game was.
Despite taking an early lead through Robert Snodgrass, Leeds found themselves behind just after the hour and facing an embarrassing loss at the hands of a side coming off the back of ten straight league defeats. Jermaine Beckford, back in goal scoring form, levelled things up soon after, before Leigh Bromby rocketed in his first goal for the club to put Leeds 3-2 up. Beckford grabbed his second in injury-time to give the score a flattering look.
It was another stuttering performance but we again came away with the three points and stretched our lead at the top. You have to admire the attitude of the players – we fell behind again but showed resilience and belief to get back into the game. We seem to be able to win a game from any situation and that is the sign of a champion side.
Stockport were a lot better than I expected and made our defence look strangely shaky at times. The poor pitch and pedantic referee didn’t help matters at times, but I thought it was an open and attractive game and credit must go to Stockport for playing a full part in that.
Grayson’s subs again worked a treat. Max Gradel was always a threat and his reaction at the end suggested that was his last game for the club. I really hope the manager and chairman have a good chat and decide to use some of Fabian Delph’s money for Gradel’s transfer fee, he is the kind of player we need around the club.
Becks back on form
Beckford has put all the drama over that substitution behind him and has repaid his manager with two clinical performances over the festive period. He took his goals really well and there is a marked improvement in his attitude. Whether that is to impress potential suitors or not, it is good to see.
I have had my worries over the full-back positions for most of the season but I think we are starting to see consistency in there now. Andy Hughes is playing as well as I have seen him play in a Leeds shirt and Leigh Bromby is improving all the time. Hughes is the kind of player you could put anywhere on the pitch and he would do a job for you.
I thought Bromby was very professional in shaking off the disappointment of missing the trip to Old Trafford. It will hurt him being a boyhood Leeds fan but he didn’t let his head drop and even popped up with the winner. Fair play to him.
Grayson interestingly went for Michael Doyle and Neil Kilkenny in central midfield, leaving out Jonny Howson. I personally feel Howson is a much better player than Doyle and brings a lot more to the side. It will be interesting to see which way he goes on Sunday – it will hurt Howson if he is to miss that game.
I’m jetting off to Milan in the early hours of the morning for a New Year getaway, just arriving back in time for the big one against scum. The players have a few days to prepare now before the game and I hope they go into it full of confidence and with no fear. They have a real opportunity to make a name for themselves.
Leeds United make the short trip over the Pennines to take on League One whipping boys Stockport County in today’s lunchtime kick-off.
The pitch was only passed fit after a pitch inspection at 8.30am this morning – credit must go to the ground staff and volunteers who have made the game possible.
Leeds go into the game red hot favourites against a side rooted to the bottom of the league. Stockport have lost 10 league games in a row and are coming off the back of a 4-1 hammering at MK Dons on Boxing Day, they really are there for the taking.
It can often be difficult for a side to get up for a game like this when they are expected to win so easily, but I have faith in Simon Grayson’s motivational skills. There is the carrot of a starting place at Old Trafford so everyone will be looking to impress. The main goal is obviously to stretch our lead at the top of the table.
Team news
I expect to see a few changes today with a couple of players nursing knocks and due to the fact it is our second game in three days.
Andy Hughes has a knee injury while Richard Naylor limped off towards the end of the game on Saturday. If they do miss out, I would like to see Aidy White start at left-back with Lubo Michalik starting alongside Paddy Kisnorbo.
It would be a good game to start Bradley Johnson in but again it means Grayson making a decision in the centre of midfield, something he seems reluctant to do. I would personally leave out Michael Doyle but Grayson may want him in there for his defensive qualities.
We could see a few surprises from Grayson, similar to the line-up we saw against Oldham at Boundary Park, or it may just be a case of taking precautions with those who are carrying knocks.
Prediction
Leeds need to show their ruthless side and really get at Stockport. There is a real opportunity to win big and get some confidence behind us going into the FA Cup tie next week. The pitch won’t be the best and the crowd will be up for the game but an early goal should send us on our way to a comfortable victory.
Stockport County 0 Leeds United 4
Leeds United had to come from behind to see off a resilient Hartlepool United side in front of a crowd of over 30,000 at Elland Road.
Leeds had their fair share of luck yesterday, the first two goals coming courtesy of fortuitous deflections. Jermaine Beckford made sure of the win in the second half with a delicate chip over the oncoming Hartlepool goalkeeper to make it 3-1.
Beckford had a much better day of it, not just with the two goals but with his all round play. He put in a decent shift and linked the play well. The majority of the fans got behind him and he responded with a good performance. I’m sure there will be more strops from Beckford and groans from the crowd in the coming weeks, but last week’s incident seems to have been put to bed, for the time being at least.
In the end it was a comfortable victory but Hartlepool did give us a bit of a scare. We haven’t fallen behind too often this season so it was a test of the players’ resolve and they came through it well. Simon Grayson won’t be happy with conceding from a set piece, we haven’t often seen players ghost in unmarked during his reign. I’m sure he won’t be overly concerned though.
Workmanlike performance
It wasn’t the slick performance I predicted but we did what we have done so often this season – grind the other team down. We look so well organised and difficult to break down. The players put in a hell of a lot of work off the ball and we have players who can take the chances when they come along. Grayson got Blackpool out of this league so knows what needs to be done. It may not be pretty at times but it certainly is effective.
I thought the defence was solid again, led by Paddy Kisnorbo who is incredibly consistent. The midfield still lacks balance with Jonny Howson on the right but did the job – I thought Robert Snodgrass and Neil Kilkenny stood out in there. Beckford and Luciano Becchio have a good understanding up front and worked very well together again yesterday.
It was another home win and another three points towards our promotion charge, which shows no sign of letting up. 53 points is an amazing tally considering we haven’t even passed the halfway mark in the season. With some relatively easy games coming up, we should be looking to put some real daylight between ourselves and the chasing pack.
First of all, I hope Leeds United fans everywhere had a very jolly Christmas and haven’t pulled up too blurry eyed today. I love Boxing Day, as a sports fan it doesn’t get much better. It is always a good time to evaluate where your side is heading going into the New Year, Leeds are in a perfect position on the anniversary of Simon Grayson’s first game in charge.
This time last year, Grayson was preparing to lead the side for the first time against table-topping Leicester City. He only had a couple of days with the players beforehand but even on first sight must have known he had a real job on his hands. The team back then had zero confidence and were shipping goals for fun, a year on and how things have changed.
His Leeds side go into today’s game against Hartlepool United having lost only one game at Elland Road all year and boasting the best defensive record in the country this season. Grayson has got his side playing with passion and belief and is unrecognisable from the one which stepped out against Leicester.
Hartlepool go into the game in inconsistent form, sitting mid-table in League One. They usually come to Elland Road to try and play a bit of football which should make for an open game.
Team news
Grayson has no fresh injury concerns going into the game, with Shane Higgs and Ben Parker the only long-term absentees.
A lot has been made about Grayson’s one-sided spat with Jermaine Beckford and it will be very interesting to see the reception Beckford gets today – I personally hope the crowd gets right behind him. He is a frustrating character and what ever happens in January happens, but for now he is a Leeds United player and we need to fully support him while he is still wearing the white shirt.
The return of our first choice centre-backs has done wonders for the team’s confidence, they very rarely give the opposition a sniff. I can’t see a Hartlepool side low on confidence troubling Richard Naylor and Paddy Kisnorbo too much this afternoon.
The same side which put in such an accomplished against Southampton should start the game. Bradley Johnson must be pushing for a starting place but Grayson will be reluctant to make changes after last weekend, especially since it will mean making a decision about his central midfield pairing. I have no idea who he will go for in there when everyone is fit.
Prediction
This Leeds team is built on organisation and hard work but I can them turning on the style today. Our form has stuttered a little of late but the players will take a lot of confidence from last weekend. Hartlepool aren’t in the best form and are missing a few players so we should be looking to put them to the sword. I think we will see some good football and a convincing Leeds win.
Leeds United 3 Hartlepool United 0
Early winter as a Leeds fan was pretty much unbearable last season. Defeat followed defeat, each one seemingly more embarrassing than the last. The board’s patience finally snapped just before Christmas after our fifth straight loss – for a side who were big pre-season favourites, it was a ridiculous run of results.
Gary McAllister had lost the dressing room and cut a forlorn figure on the sidelines – a man devoid of ideas. He only had one way of playing and teams had found us out. Each post match interview was a carbon copy of the last, he acknowledged our problem at set pieces but the next game another player would ghost in unmarked to score. He had to go.
So who would replace him? Former assistant Gus Poyet and Adie Boothroyd were touted as possible replacements but Bates went for Yorkshire born Simon Grayson. A few eyebrows were raised at the time and Bates’ ambition was called into question.
Grayson didn’t have long to prepare for his first game at home to one of his former clubs, Leicester City on Boxing day, but even so there were early signs of his influence on the team. Robert Snodgrass stole a point with a last minute equaliser that epitomised a fighting spirit which had evaporated under McAllister.
A year on and Grayson has stamped his authority all over the Leeds team. His side plays with a real passion and is driven by the history of the club and the opportunity to be part of something special.
A case for the defence
When Grayson joined the club, the defence was a shambles. The signing of unknown Frenchman Mansour Assoumani summed up McAllister’s desperation. He had become so caught up in playing pretty football that he forgot the basic principle of building from the back.
Grayson immediately sought after a leader at the back, someone with courage and experience. He found the perfect man in Richard Naylor. The change was almost immediate with the side registering a number of clean sheets, a rare commodity at the time. The addition of Sam Sodje on loan further strengthed the back four, which became water tight by the end of the season.
In the summer, Grayson failed in his bid to sign Sodje and instead brought in Paddy Kisnorbo on a free transfer. He turned out to be one of the signings of the summer. He has formed a formidable partnership with Naylor and is an integral part of the meanest defence in the country, conceding just 10 league goals in 21 games.
The transformation at the back under Grayson has been incredible and owes a lot to hard work on the training ground. He now has a defence he can trust.
An eye for a player
Grayson has worked the transfer market very well since he arrived. He hasn’t been forced into any panic buys and has brought in horses for courses.
It is easy to forget now but he lost his star player in the summer. The money recouped for Fabian Delph would have burnt a whole in most managers’ pockets but not Grayson’s. He has been shrewd, utilising the loan market perfectly – the additions of Naylor, Sodje and Max Gradel being prime examples.
Kisnorbo was a player unknown to most of us, as was Shane Higgs, but they have been revelations and perhaps more impressively, were brought in on free transfers. You can sense he is already building a squad capable of competing in the Championship next season and we can expect to see a lot of action in the transfer market when the window reopens.
Grayson has also been responsible for players reinventing themselves in a Leeds shirt. Bradley Johnson is a prime example. A player frozen out and sent to Brighton under McAllister, Johnson has become a key player in the current Leeds side. Grayson has given Johnson freedom to express himself and we are reaping the benefits now. He has a great relationship with the players and they all know where they stand with him. The team spirit is as good as it has been for a long time.
Not all plain sailing
Grayson hasn’t had everything his own way since taking over. There was of course the infamous night in Hereford, widely regarded as the turning point last season. It was a totally inept performance, one of the worst seen from a Leeds team in a long time. The loyal fans had finally turned on the team, chanting “we’re sh*t and we’re sick of it”.
He didn’t throw any cups of tea or give anyone the “hairdryer treatment” – he just gave the players a few home truths and told them they were playing for their futures at the club. He got the perfect response and the team went on a long unbeaten run, culminating in a play-off place which looked a long way off after that game.
Grayson was guilty of a certain amount of negativity in the play-offs. The first leg was away and he admitted he was happy coming back to Elland Road with Millwall still in sight. That was reflected in the side’s performance at The Den. We offered very little attacking threat and showed no urgency after Millwall had scored. Despite a spirited performance in the second leg, we bowed out despite being the better team. You could easily argue that Millwall only had two clear cut chances in the tie and we were in control for large parts and could feel unfortunate, I just felt we went in with the wrong mentality.
His dealings in the transfer market haven’t been flawless either – the loan signings of Liam Dickinson, Lee Trundle and Tony Capaldi spring to mind. Fortunately these misjudgements have been few and far between.
The future
Leeds are in pole position in the promotion race with a tally of 50 points from 21 games. In past seasons I have been reluctant to get drawn in by all the excitement but this season is different under Grayson.
We finally have a manager to be proud of. The players wear the shirt with pride and are focused and determined to bring success back to this club.
Grayson knows he hasn’t achieved anything yet and will be judged on where the club is when he leaves them. One thing is for certain though, the club is heading in the right direction and that is in no small part down to the manager and his backroom staff.
These are exciting times for the club and I’m determined to enjoy every minute.
It’s over 48 hours since Jermaine Beckford left the Elland Road pitch and it is a topic still on the lips of Leeds fans everywhere.
Simon Grayson planned a meeting with the striker today. I’m sure it was all very amicable and they have cleared the air. The manager said the incident won’t have any bearing on what happens in January – I’m not so sure.
Beckford looked like he was just playing out time at the club on Saturday and I think the fans sensed that and reacted accordingly. The one thing Leeds fans ask for above anything else is to wear the shirt with pride.
Beckford turned down a new contract in the summer and the relationship between him and the fans hasn’t been right since. The incident against Southampton has been bubbling under the surface for months and it will be very interesting to see what happens against Hartlepool on Boxing day.
Will Grayson start him? What will the reaction be like when his name is read out at the start of that match? How will he celebrate if he scores in front of the Kop?
I just can’t see a way out of the situation. Beckford doesn’t strike me as the kind of a guy who can turn the crowd around with his personality – similarly Leeds fans don’t forgive so easily.
There is no doubt Beckford is a class act in League One and would be difficult to replace for the remainder of the season. However, he does waste too many chances and would easily get found out at a higher level.
Personally I wouldn’t mind if he left in January. I am confident we could find someone equally as talented with a good attitude to boot. Obviously the price would have to be right.
I would like to know what you think though.
Leeds United extended their lead at the top of League One with a hard fought 1-0 victory over Southampton, in a game which could turn out to be one of Jermaine Beckford’s last for the club.
It was a keenly contested match, settled by an individual piece of magic from Robert Snodgrass. Sadly for Snodgrass, the game will be remembered for a substitution and the reaction which followed.
Simon Grayson decided it would be best for the team to replace Beckford with Max Gradel, a good move in my opinion. It wasn’t one of Beckford’s better days and he was clearly getting frustrated. What followed was a sad state of affairs.
Jeering one of your own when they are substituted is just mindless. He frustrates me as much as anyone with his attitude at times but the reaction from a section of our fans was ridiculous. The guy is still a Leeds player and has bailed us out on many occasions.
Beckford trudged off the field, pushing his manager’s offer of a handshake away. Regardless of what the fans did, Beckford shouldn’t have been so disrespectful to the management and his team mates. I can understand his anger but he didn’t do himself any favours and should be punished by the club.
I was pretty confident Beckford would stay at the club in January but I can’t see it now. It has nothing to do with the relationship between player and manager, that will be fine. However, the relationship between the player and fans is at breaking point. He hasn’t signed a new contract, he shows petulance towards the fans, which is reciprocated, and I can only see one end result.
Larry knows best
In the midst of all the commotion, Max Gradel and Bradley Johnson entered the fray. The substitutions didn’t directly lead to the goal but they lifted an already vocal crowd and freshened things up with pace and enthusiasm.
Grayson realised it wasn’t Beckford’s day and wasn’t afraid to take him off. He was proved right yet again when Snodgrass curled in the winner just two minutes later. He really has a knack for making the right decisions at the right time, long may it continue.
The back four was immense today. Paddy Kisnorbo and Richard Naylor played like they have never been away – absolute rocks. Special mention must go to Leigh Bromby and Andy Hughes, who have both copped a fair bit of flack from me. Bromby had his best game in a Leeds shirt and Hughes seemed to be everywhere. I think his spell out of the side, coupled with Tony Capaldi’s performances, has made the fans realise just how important he is to the team.
I thought the midfield worked really hard to shut down space and played very well as a unit. We have players in the side who can win games with one moment of brilliance, Snodgrass provided it today.
Southampton are a good side but we gave them very little in the way of opportunities, it was a much more accomplished performance. Charlton dropped points against 10-man Millwall which means we go into Christmas four points clear with a game in hand.
Grayson celebrates one year at the club next week and the future looks bright – with or without Jermaine Beckford.
Leeds United will roll back the years tomorrow when they face Southampton at Elland Road – a regular fixture during the first decade of the Premier League.
Southampton were a side famed for the mercurial Matt Le Tissier and having one over Manchester United at The Dell during that era, now they find themselves in the lower reaches of the Football League battling financial woes – a story all too familiar for Leeds fans.
The south coast club, handicapped by a 10 point penalty in their first season in League One, are slowly creeping up the table and are one of the form sides.
Leeds on the other hand have set the pace during their third season in the third tier. Performance levels have dropped in recent games but the side, buoyed by the return of key personnel, should be highly motivated by the challenge of facing one of their promotion rivals.
The game will see two of the league’s top strikers go head-to-head, Jermaine Beckford and Rickie Lambert. Beckford has scored 12 league goals this season, while Lambert has scored an incredible 17 goals before Christmas. It will be a big test for United’s mean defence.
Leeds have dropped points in recent matches and will be looking to avoid further slip-ups with Charlton breathing down their necks.
Team news
Simon Grayson has a near full-strength squad to select from for this game. The side has been dogged by injuries in recent months, slowly but surely players have started to return.
A fully fit Shane Higgs would surely take his place in net with the safe pairing of Richard Naylor and Paddy Kisnorbo in front of him. I can see Andy Hughes playing at left-back with Leigh Bromby starting at right-back.
It will be interesting to see who Grayson goes with in midfield. If Bradley Johnson is 100 per cent fit he would have to start on the left-hand side, Robert Snodgrass moving over to the right. This means Grayson would have to choose two from Michael Doyle, Jonny Howson and Neil Kilkenny. Kilkenny is our form player so has to start, which means Doyle or Howson would have to miss out. Grayson seems to love Doyle for his ‘ball winning’ and seems to love Howson in general. I think he just might hold Johnson back and start him from the bench.
Jermaine Beckford and Luciano Becchio will definitely start up front having had a rest in midweek.
Prediction
This game has all the makings of one of the toughest of our season and a big threat to our outstanding home record. Southampton come into the game full of confidence and will take heart from Huddersfield’s performance at the same ground two weeks ago. The big difference from that game is we now have our first choice centre back pairing and keeper back. It will be a close game but I think our quality from the bench will be the telling factor. It could come down to a Grayson substitution.
Leeds United 2 Southampton 1
A much changed Leeds United struggled past in form League Two side Accrington Stanley to book a place in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy northern section final.
Simon Grayson made nine changes to the side which drew at Brentford and it showed as Leeds struggled for rhythm during a lacklustre 2-0 victory at Elland Road.
None of the fringe players pressed their case for a first team place, nor did they show the enthusiasm to push the current incumbents.
It is easy to blame the performance on all the changes but the players should be professional enough and it is not as if they don’t know one another. A couple of players could be excused for being a little rusty but the rest should be disappointed with their efforts.
Accrington Stanley had plenty of chances but showed a lack of composure in front of goal. Southampton won’t be so generous on Saturday.
We did squeeze through to the final final though where we will face Carlisle United in a repeat of the 2007/2008 play-off semi-final which ended with Jonny Howson scoring a last minute winner to send Leeds and their delirious fans to Wembley. I would settle for a similar finish time around.
Hogan the best of a bad bunch
Hogan Ephraim was probably our best player last night. He showed good endeavour and energy, scoring the first via a defection and crossing for Neil Kilkenny’s header. Hogan didn’t do enough to push for a starting place but it was an improved performance.
The rest of the midfield was poor, giving Accrington far too much space and showing a lack of desire to get back and help the back four, who themselves were run ragged at times. Lubo Michalik was decent alongside a rusty Richard Naylor, Jason Crowe hasn’t mastered the art of defending yet and Andy Hughes was Andy Hughes.
Mike Grella and Tresor Kandol both had a frustrating time of it and were withdrawn after an hour, Grella in particular didn’t take the decision too well.
We have come through the purple patch we enjoyed at the end of October and for the majority of November and are now seeing similar performances to the ones we saw at the start of the season. We are still grinding out results but you have to wonder how long this will continue.
We couldn’t have wished for an easier route to the JP area final but can expect a much sterner test in the final. Hopefully by the time that comes around we will have a settled side playing confident football.
Leeds United continue their hectic schedule tonight as they play host to League Two side Accrington Stanley in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy northern area semi-final.
You can expect to see plenty of changes to the line-up this evening with the volume of games beginning to take its toll on the players – the club has been playing two games a week now since Saturday, November 7.
If you want to be a successful club you need to deal with this kind of schedule and Simon Grayson has the numbers and quality at his disposal to be able to cope.
I was in Barcelona this weekend so missed the game against Brentford. By all accounts it was a boring affair with limited opportunities – Leeds creating the best of them.
I had a sneaky feeling it would be a draw and would have settled for that before the game. The gap may have closed again at the top but we are still accumulating points and Griffin Park isn’t an easy place to go.
It was great to hear Paddy Kisnorbo returned and put in a man of the match performance. The guy is exceptional at this level and is becoming a cult hero among Leeds fans.
Team news
Grayson should use the game as an opportunity to rest a few players and give starts to players waiting patiently on the sidelines.
I would start Mike Grella and Tresor Kandol in place of Jermaine Beckford and Luciano Becchio, although I think Grayson will play Sam Vokes.
Richard Naylor should start the game in place of Paddy Kisnorbo, I can’t see Larry playing Kisnorbo again so soon after his return from a knee injury. This way both players will have had 90 minutes under their belts leading up to a big game on Saturday against Southampton.
Jonny Howson should be given a rest and Robert Snodgrass will return after his one match ban.
This is the team I would go with tonight:
Ankergren; Crowe, Naylor, Bromby, White; Gradel, Doyle, Kilkenny, Snodgrass; Grella, Kandol.
Prediction
I think it will be a tough game. Accrington come off the back of an impressive 2-1 victory at Notts County and we are struggling for fluency right now. We all know Grayson doesn’t enjoy changing the side regularly but is forced into doing so at the moment and the performances haven’t been the same. It won’t be pretty but I think we will grind out a victory.
Leeds United 2 Accrington Stanley 0
My Barca experience
I took a well deserved break away from England at the weekend and headed over to Barcelona to take in the Catalan derby.
Camp Nou is a ground I have always wanted to go to and I have never seen Barcelona live before. For a while though I thought it wasn’t going to be.
The game was pencilled in for the Sunday evening so we booked our flight for Saturday afternoon. The powers that be decided to change the game to Saturday, the first derby to be staged on a Saturday in years, meaning we had just over two hours to get from Girona airport, 100kms out of the city, to Camp Nou, at the other side of the city.
We stupidly decided against a sat nav and decided instead to use a map and our natural instincts. Throw into the mixer a driver driving on the other side of the road and car for the first time and you get an idea of just how stressful the journey was.
We got into the city in no time at all but there was a ridiculous amount of traffic lights and crazy roundabouts which didn’t seem to have any order to them.
Eventually we got close enough to the ground to dump the car and leg it a couple of miles down to Camp Nou. We missed the first five minutes and I spent the majority of the first half trying to catch my breath, but it was an amazing experience.
The game
Lionel Messi missed the game after being on the receiving end of a crunching tackle in Kiev last week. I was gutted – you don’t get many opportunities to watch truly world-class players like him live. I will probably have to make do with seeing an ageing Messi at Elland Road in a few years’ time!
The game was much slower and there is a lot more sideways and backwards ball movement. Some of the technical ability was unbelievable, particularly from Andrés Iniesta who was the best player on the park.
The stadium was amazing but the atmosphere was disappointing. I can only compare it to a theatre audience, they just sit back, watch and enjoy. There isn’t a lot of participation and it was hard to tell that Barca had even been given a penalty, which was one of softest penalties you are ever likely to see.
It was a great experience and weekend but it’s back to the important stuff tonight – Accrington Stanley at home in the Paint Pot trophy!
Leeds United will need to guard against any forward thinking tomorrow as they travel to a Brentford side with a good home record.
Brentford might be languishing perilously close to the drop zone in League One but they have collected most of their points at Griffin Park and will provide a stern test for a Leeds side that have looked a bit off colour in their last two outings.
We have looked shaky in defence and are really starting to miss a leader back there. Reports suggest Richard Naylor, Shane Higgs and Paddy Kisnorbo are back in training and nearing a return, although it is difficult to tell just what is going on under Simon Grayson.
He is a manager who likes to keep his cards close to his chest, which can be frustrating for the fans at times. I think we would all like to know when our key players are going to be back and whether we will need to have a few more drinks before kick-off to combat the anxious moments provided by a defence led by Casper Ankergren.
Grayson will be doing his level best to keep the players focused on the league. A trip to Old Trafford is great for everyone connected with the club but will mean nothing if we start to drop serious points in the league. I would sacrifice a place in the fourth round of the cup for three points any day. I’m sure the players will be 100% focused on the job in hand come 3pm tomorrow.
Team news
Grayson welcomes back the loan players for the trip to Brentford. Max Gradel should start the game in place of the suspended Robert Snodgrass, with Hogan Ephraim and Sam Vokes starting on the bench.
Vokes has done okay since he arrived at Leeds but lacks that striker’s instinct. Now Luciano Becchio is fit he could find himself amongst the substitutes until he heads back to Wolves.
As I have already mentioned, our biggest problem at the moment is at the back. I have a feeling either Naylor or Kisnorbo will be back tomorrow which would make me so much more confident going into the game. If one of the two is fit, it could mean Leigh Bromby switching to right-back and Andy Hughes moving over to left-back.
We should have a strong bench, particularly with our attacking options. Vokes, Mike Grella and Tresor Kandol could all be in the 18 and it could be another of those games where Grayson’s subs make the difference.
Prediction
My prediction for this game is based on who is fit. If we have a similar side to the one who started against Huddersfield, I think it will be a score draw. The return of Naylor or Kisnorbo would give the side a huge lift and I would expect us to win the game by a couple of goals.
Leeds United survived a real scare before booking their place in the FA Cup third round and a trip to rivals Manchester United.
The game should have been done and dusted long before Anthony Elding’s second half equaliser. Simon Grayson must have been livid after seeing his side forced into an unnecessary period of extra-time. With a gruelling schedule coming up and key players still on the sidelines, it was something we really could have done without.
I have to stop going for optimistic predictions in games like this – I have been a Leeds fan long enough to know better. It should have been a cricket score but it was just one of those typical Leeds nights.
We absolutely battered them for the first hour – it was like a low intensity training match. We had so much time on the ball, even inside the box – we just couldn’t seem to squeeze the ball home.
After one defensive mistake in the middle of the park which led to their equaliser, the side seemed to fall apart and big cracks began to appear. This side has dealt with the day-to-day pressure of promotion well, but when faced with real pressure last night, the strain started to show.
Let’s face it, if they had have blown it last night it would have had a huge impact on our season. The fans’ dream of a reunion with their fiercest rivals would have been shattered and the players’ confidence would have been shot.
Thankfully Kettering completely ran out of steam and we took advantage with some quality finishing.
Combative midfielder wanted
I’ve lost patience with a couple of players after last night’s game.
Michael Doyle has been a regular under Grayson but I still don’t know what he brings to the side. He certainly doesn’t offer anything going forward, as his shots last night would testify, and doesn’t do much of the tough tackling he was brought in for. He just seems to do a lot of running around without ever impacting the game. Grayson obviously sees something in him, I think we all need to start seeing that something very soon.
The other player is Casper Ankergren, who I think is becoming a liability. His distribution and commanding of his box is poor to say the least. He clearly affects the players around him. They are reluctant to pass back to him and similarly to allow him to come for crosses. I can’t stress the importance of getting Shane Higgs back enough.
I again thought we lacked the balance in midfield I’ve talked about in recent weeks. Most of our plays are coming down the left – any half decent side would be able to read our tactics at the moment. Robert Snodgrass regularly fails to beat the first man with crosses and looked knackered in the first half, probably due to the work load placed on him. On the other flank, Jonny Howson struggles to make an impact when he is playing out of position.
Jermaine Beckford did himself no favours if he is looking for a move away in January. He missed chance after chance last night. You might get one or two chances in the leagues above and he isn’t that kind of striker – he needs a good four of five most of the time.
The positives
Neil Kilkenny was excellent again. He ran the show in midfield and was unlucky not to score himself. He is our form player at the moment and is key to our fortunes over the festive period.
Grayson is making a habit of making the right changes at the right time.
Tresor Kandol played his first game for a while and gave the side a different dimension when he came on. He dropped deep and showed some neat touches, taking his goal well and having a hand in a lot of the good play in the second period of extra-time.
Grayson changed the game when he introduced Mike Grella. There was no way he was settling for penalties – he went gung-ho against a tiring Kettering defence and reaped the rewards. Grella took his goals well, especially the second, and it should give him the confidence to shoot more often.
I can’t believe some of the reports saying the score line flattered us, if anything it flattered Kettering. The manager knows his side can play much better and will have learnt a lot from last night’s game. The main thing was to get the job done and we did. Bring on the scum!
Leeds United welcome non-league Kettering Town to Elland Road in the FA Cup second round replay tomorrow night, knowing victory would set them up with a lucrative clash against their fiercest rivals.
Excitement has been growing in Leeds following the third round draw which pitted the winner of the second round tie against Manchester United. Kettering will be just as motivated by the carrot and we can expect to see the same passion and commitment we saw from them at Rockingham Road.
There are no two ways about it though – Leeds fans desperately want this game to happen. Not because we will be playing the champions and it will be a nice day out earning a bit of cash for the club, but because it gives us the opportunity to renew a rivalry which, at its peak, is as intense as any other in the country.
You have to go to a game between the two teams to realise just how much the two sets of fans despise one another. Their fans won’t admit it but they have missed us!
Anyway, I’m getting a little ahead of myself here. We need to get passed Kettering first and to do that we need to eradicate the mistakes which crept back in against Huddersfield at the weekend.
The defensive unit was poor on Saturday. It was a mixture of a lack of communication, not closing down and slack marking. I’m sure Simon Grayson has let his players know the importance of getting these things right and we will see a much improved performance if he goes with the same personnel.
Team news
Grayson goes into the game without the majority of his loan players. Max Gradel will be the one most keenly missed.
He has been a revelation since he joined on loan and it will be a sad day if he goes back to Leicester City. The fans have really taken to him, not just because of his goals but because of his attitude. He has a bright future in the game.
Hopefully we will see the return of influential defender Paddy Kisnorbo, who has missed the last three games. It would be the perfect game to throw him back into. If Kisnorbo doesn’t make it, I would like to see Rui Marques start. He has been in the squad for a few games now and needs to get some game time under his belt.
I would give the full-backs a chance to redeem themselves after Saturday and would start Aidy White on the left wing. He deserves a go from the start and we need to restore balance in the midfield. I would give Jonny Howson a rest – I don’t think anyone has played as many games as he has this season.
Luciano Becchio will start his first game since the Charlton game, possibly alongside Mike Grella. I would be tempted to hold Jermaine Beckford back for this one. I think Tresor Kandol is available for selection but he seems to have disappeared again.
This would be my team:
Ankergren; Crowe, Michalik, Marques/Kisnorbo, Capaldi; Snodgrass, Kilkenny, Doyle, White; Grella, Becchio.
Prediction
Kettering impressed me at their place but I think it will be a different story this time. They missed their chance in the home tie – everything played into their hands on that occasion. I think they will struggle with the size and slickness of the Elland Road pitch and Leeds will have too much quality for them.
Leeds United 4 Kettering 1
Huddersfield Town twice came from behind to take a point from Elland Road, in a game they will feel unfortunate not to have won.
Leeds United were left to rue defensive frailties, a rarity this season, as they failed to extend their lead at the top of League One.
Huddersfield played some good football and got at a defence which has seldom been tested this season and is still missing some of its big guns. The sooner the likes of Shane Higgs, Richard Naylor and Paddy Kisnorbo are back, the better.
There is just no communication or organisation when these players are missing. We saw the good and the bad from Casper Ankergren again. Yes he can pull off some great saves but you never know what he is going to do the next minute. It clearly affects the confidence of the defenders, particularly Lubo Michalik.
The full-backs were all at sea up against the impressive Huddersfield wingers. Tony Capaldi looked a bit like Alan Sheehan today and Jason Crowe was all over the place too. Aidy White must be wondering what he has to do to get in the side.
Midfield dilemma
Simon Grayson still doesn’t seem to know his best partnership in the heart of midfield. After Tuesday I thought he would definitely go for Jonny Howson and Neil Kilkenny. He instead went for Kilkenny and Michael Doyle in the middle, with Howson on the right.
I think playing this way gives us a lack of balance and Howson doesn’t look comfortable out there. I would have preferred to see Max Gradel start, giving us two natural wingers.
Gradel again made a big impact off the bench and just adds a new dimension to the side when he comes on. It did puzzle me that Kilkenny was the one to make way for him. I thought Kilkenny was one of our better players – Doyle should have been the one to go off.
Robert Snodgrass was my man of the match. Everything went through him and it was another strange decision when he came off.
I’m not bashing Grayson by any means. His substitutions led to another goal, I just feel the players who came off were impacting the game more than the ones who stayed on.
No time to panic
I’m sure a lot of fans will be disappointed by today’s performance and result, but we need to keep things in perspective. We are still missing half a dozen first team regulars and were up against a good League One team. I dare say a full strength Leeds side would have fared better against a Huddersfield side missing so many key players.
It wasn’t nice to see bad habits creep back into a defence which has done so well this season, but Grayson will sort them and we still have those big players to come back in.
We lost to Huddersfield twice last season when we should have at least got a point from each game, they may feel aggrieved today but that’s football.
We are still top of the league and have maintained our excellent home record – things could be much, much worse.
Leeds United host local rivals Huddersfield Town tomorrow in a midday kick-off which pits the best defence in the league against the best attack.
Leeds have been rock solid all season, conceding just eight league goals, while Hudderfield have been scoring for fun. The problem for Huddersfield is they haven’t been able to replicate their home form on their travels – having lost six of their nine away games, a terrible record for a team in the top six.
They don’t have far to travel tomorrow though and should have no problem getting up for a game against their fiercest rivals. In the last few encounters they have managed to put everything into their cup final and come away with the victory, but managed little else over the course of the season.
The Huddersfield fans love to brag about those victories which should give the players and fans added motivation to give our neighbours from down the M62 a good hiding.
The Leeds players are a highly motivated group and just love to win, they will revel in the fever pitch atmosphere created by a near sell-out crowd and I think will produce one of the performances of the season.
Team news
Grayson will revert back to his strongest available line-up for this game.
Jermaine Beckford and Robert Snodgrass will definitely come back in after a deserved rest in midweek. Larry does have difficult decisions to make in other areas of the team though.
For the majority of the season Michael Doyle and Jonny Howson have featured in the centre of midfield and have been solid if unspectacular. Recently Neil Kilkenny has been given his opportunity and is arguably our form player.
I’m sure Grayson would love to play the combative Doyle in this derby game but can’t ignore the impressive partnership between Howson and Kilkenny. It is a tough decision to make but I would go for Howson and Kilkenny. I saw enough in midweek to suggest they can cope with the physicality and the side plays at a higher tempo with them in there.
After his excellent performance in midweek I would start Max Gradel on the right with Snodgrass on the left.
Paddy Kisnorbo should be fit again which is a big boost going into a game against the league’s highest scorers. He has been our player of the season and we need a leader like him in a game like this. I would partner him with Lubo Michalik, with Jason Crowe at right-back and Tony Capaldi at left-back.
Grayson has to go with Luciano Becchio and Beckford up front, who should terrorise this Town defence.
Prediction
The longer this unbeaten home league run goes on, the more inevitable the end seems. However, I haven’t seen a Leeds side as determined as this for a long time and can’t see them giving up the record without an almighty fight. Huddersfield seem to have an imbalance in their side and I fully expect us to exploit that.
Leeds United 3 Huddersfield Town 1
Leeds United continued their relentless march towards promotion with a second 2-0 victory at Boundary Park in the space of a month, this time with virtually a second string line-up.
It was our second game in three days and Simon Grayson used the game against Oldham Athletic as an opportunity to rest some key players ahead of a hectic schedule. In truth this was a terrible Oldham side and we won the game with a lot to spare.
You can only play what is in front of you though and the Leeds team on show last night certainly put in an accomplished performance.
Grayson can put any eleven on the field and knows what he is going to get. The players work so hard without the ball and play some really neat football with it.
Those who missed the game, the likes of Jermaine Beckford and Robert Snodgrass, will come back in against Huddersfield but know they will have to perform to keep their place because there is so much quality waiting in the wings.
With everyone fit I think only two or three from last night’s team would get in Grayson’s first eleven, which speaks volumes for the amount of quality we have in the squad at the moment.
Classy Killa controls things
Neil Kilkenny was my man of the match last night – he ran the show in midfield. When he plays the team has more direction and he has added a bit of an edge to his game now too. He should be one of the first names on the team sheet on current form.
Jonny Howson does a hell of lot of work off the ball which goes unnoticed. He worked tirelessly for the team last night and led with passion. He impressed me.
I thought Leigh Bromby and Lubo Michalik were excellent. I gave them a bit of stick after the weekend, particularly Bromby, but they dealt with everything that came their way and looked very assured.
We have had all kinds of defensive combinations this season but again, it doesn’t seem to matter who is out there, we keep shutting teams out – it is now just eight league goals conceded in 18 games.
Selection surprises
Grayson surprised many by going with Sam Vokes and Max Gradel up top, but the partnership was a good one. Vokes is excellent at holding the ball up and Gradel was everywhere, he really is a livewire. He set up both goals and laid another on for Snodgrass, who should have scored. Vokes could have had a hat-trick but lacks that killer instinct in front of goal.
I thought the two new loanees did okay last night. Tony Capaldi is a solid left-back who likes to get forward and certainly gives the side better balance. Hogan Ephraim made a decent debut but didn’t seem to have the pace to go around defenders – he is short on match fitness though so that needs to be taken into account.
Overall it was a very professional performance against a pretty dire Oldham side, who couldn’t even muster up a shot on goal. Grayson knows his side will face tougher tests this season, but also knows he has the strength of depth to deal with whatever is thrown at him.
Leeds United head over the Pennines for the second time in a month to take on Oldham Athletic, knowing a repeat performance will set them up nicely going into the busiest period of the season.
It’s a quick turnaround after Sunday’s cup tie but Leeds welcome back some fresh players, who will be sure to liven the team up on a freezing cold night in Lancashire.
We will reap the benefits of our huge squad tonight and should really take the game to a side so low on confidence.
They are in poor form and are there to be shot at, especially if their main threat Chris Taylor does miss the game with a hamstring injury.
The Leeds players need to forget about a potential visit to Old Trafford, the league is far more important and we need to be relentless in our promotion pursuit.
Fortunately we have a manager who will not let the players’ minds wander and I expect to see a thoroughly professional performance tonight.
Team news
It’s difficult to predict what sort of side Simon Grayson will put out tonight. We have players available after being ineligible for the FA Cup game, whilst the likes of Richard Naylor and Bradley Johnson are still on the sidelines.
The one man we desperately need back is Paddy Kisnorbo. I thought we looked a different team without his assured presence at the back – it was quite worrying how easily Kettering sliced through us at times.
We missed a natural leader at the back and I think we might struggle if we have the same centre-half pairing. They don’t seem to talk to one another, add to that a keeper incapable of commanding his area and we’ve got a little bit of a problem.
Larry should shake things up a little in midfield. Robert Snodgrass is in need of a rest and it would be a good opportunity to give loan man Hogan Ephraim a start. Snodgrass works hard and sees a lot of the ball but his delivery from wide areas has been poor recently.
We offered very little down the right at the weekend so it would be an idea to go with two natural wingers. I’m not sure who Grayson would drop though. Neil Kilkenny has been excellent since his return, Jonny Howson is the stand-in skipper and he sees Michael Doyle as the ball winner.
I would start Luciano Becchio up front with Jermaine Beckford. They have a good understanding and Becchio brings the best out of Beckford. Tresor Kandol is back in contention now as well which just adds to the attacking options.
I would go for this team, providing Kisnorbo is fit:
Ankergren; Crowe, Michalik, Kisnorbo, Capaldi; Gradel, Howson, Kilkenny, Hogan; Becchio, Beckford.
Subs: Martin, Marques, Kandol, Grella, Vokes, Doyle, White.
Prediction
We have a very strong squad and I can see us winning quite comfortably. The players who missed the game at the weekend will give the side fresh impetus and will take the game to Oldham. My predictions have been pretty woeful recently so maybe take this with a pinch of salt!
Oldham 0 Leeds United 2
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.”
Leeds United head south to Kettering Town in the FA Cup second round, looking to avoid the same humiliation suffered at the same stage this time last year.
It’s almost a year to the day since that fateful day in the small village of Histon, a day which signalled the beginning of the end for Gary McAllister.
This day does feel quite similar in a lot of ways – the weather, playing a high-flying conference side at a tiny, uninspiring ground in front of the ITV cameras – the main difference being the man in charge.
Whereas McAllister saw these types of games as an opportunity to rest some players, Simon Grayson sees them as an opportunity to keep the juggernaut powering on.
Team news
Grayson will give Kettering the respect they deserve and I fully expect to see a strong side take the field.
We have a few players missing because of the terms of their loan deals, but Tony Capaldi could feature after been given permission to play by his parent club.
He will face stiff competition from Aidy White. I would start with Capaldi to keep it solid in the face of an enthusiastic start from Kettering, and then bring White on to take advantage of a tiring side.
It will be interesting to see who starts up front. We have a quick turnaround, with Oldham coming up away on Tuesday, so Grayson has to be careful with his selection.
I don’t think Luciano Becchio will start the game so it could mean an opportunity for Mike Grella or Tresor Kandol, although Kandol seems to have fallen back down the pecking order after that incident at the end of the Yeovil game.
It would be nice to give Jermaine Beckford a rest but I can’t see it. I think he will partner Grella up front, with Becchio coming on for half an hour or so at the end.
It should be as you were in midfield and at the back. Fit again Jason Crowe could come in to replace Leigh Bromby, who had a torrid time in midweek.
Prediction
It will be a tough game, but we are used to going to places like this where teams want to take your scalp.
I’m expecting a tough opening, with the players having to roll their sleeves up against an inspired side in front of a passionate home crowd.
I can see us settling down pretty quickly though and running out comfortable winners in the end.
Kettering Town 0 Leeds United 3
Leeds United boss Simon Grayson had a productive last day in the loan market – signing three players, with three heading out of the club for a spell.
Grayson has covered all bases in the run up to the New Year – these temporary signings emphasising his relentless attitude towards our promotion push this season.
Most managers would be content with our squad, six points clear at the top with a game in hand, not Grayson though. He strives for perfection and won’t allow the players to let up one bit.
The new signings mean added competition for places, as well as adding quality to the existing squad. They will also cover injuries over the festive period.
The players coming in
Hogan Ephraim – QPR winger Hogan was described by Grayson as quick and direct, able to play on either flank. This is a clever move from Grayson, with Bradley Johnson injured and Robert Snodgrass a bit off colour. Let’s hope he’s in the same mould as Max Gradel.
David Martin – The Liverpool keeper comes in as cover for Casper Ankergren, in Shane Higgs’s continued absence. I can’t see him getting any game time. I do feel for goalkeepers – this guy is moving down two divisions to sit on the bench.
Tony Capaldi – The Northern Ireland international is perhaps the best signing of the three. He will play left back and I’m sure his addition will give the side more balance and quality in that position.
The players heading out
Davide Somma – Somma has joined League Two club Chesterfield United until the New Year. He has been doing well for the reserves recently and I’m sure this spell away from the club playing regular competitive football will do him the world of good.
Andrew Milne – Young defender Milne has joined Darlington until January 2. He hasn’t featured for the first team yet but has played five times for the reserves. Let’s hope Steve Staunton doesn’t ruin him.
Alan Sheehan – Sheehan played his final game for the club a long time ago. He joins Swindon Town on loan and it’s only a matter of time before he leaves permanently.
I would have preferred a couple more to leave but all in all I think it was a good day’s business. It sets us up nicely for the festive period – come through that unscathed and you’ve got to think the league is ours.
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.
Leeds United welcome Leyton Orient to Elland Road tomorrow night, looking to stretch their lead at the top of League One.
Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Brighton is widely regarded as our best performance of the season to date so the players know they will have to put on a show in front of an expectant home crowd.
After a stuttering start to the season, where we picked up points without really impressing, the team has really clicked into gear of late and are now oozing with confidence.
Fortress Elland Road
We are unbeaten in 19 home league games and it will take a very good team to come to Elland Road and leave with three points.
Norwich City are the only team I can remember troubling us during that run. I just can’t see Orient being up to the challenge – I can see them chasing shadows all night.
I’m trying not to get too cocky at the moment but I just can’t help it. It has been a while since I’ve seen such a determined Leeds team, with the skills to boot. These are good times and I intend to enjoy them.
Team news
Simon Grayson will go with an unchanged starting 11 in this one, the only change coming on the bench where Tresor Kandol should come in for Enoch Showumni.
Neil Kilkenny was the star of the show again at the weekend and has grabbed his chance with both hands. His pass to set up Jermaine Beckford’s goal was described by Grayson as “out of this world”, you can’t really argue with that. It will be very interesting to see who Grayson goes with when Bradley Johnson returns.
Lubo Michalik deserves a special mention. He had a bit of a nightmare last season but has really got his head down under Grayson and looks more like the player we signed on loan from Bolton. Again – Larry will have a tough decision to make when Richard Naylor is fit.
Prediction
In the past Leeds teams have slipped up in games like this, I can’t see past a walk in the park tomorrow though. Grayson won’t stand for any drop in standards and the players know that. It could be a long night for Orient against this rampant Leeds side.
Leeds United 4 Leyton Orient 0
Leeds United eased to a 3-0 win against Brighton at the Withdean Stadium, ending the home side’s mini revival under Gus Poyet.
Leeds looked refreshed after the international break, outclassing Brigthton in every department. It was a complete performance and this side shows no sign of letting up under Simon Grayson – the players attitude is first class. They work even harder without the ball than they do with it, the team spirit and will to win is clear for all to see.
I really can’t see anyone in this league catching us. We won yesterday’s game with incredible ease, even without half a dozen first team regulars.
A new Leeds on the up
The game had all the hallmarks of a typical bad day at the office for Leeds teams of the past. Awful conditions and stadium, a team on the rise under a new boss, with injuries meaning yet more changes to the team.
But not this side under Grayson. The guys who come in are all top class players at this level and are determined to cement a place in the team. The team ethic means there is no sulking on the sidelines, just motivation to take their chance when they are called upon.
We have a formidable defence, the best in the country at the moment. Grayson has a wealth of defensive talent at his disposal and it doesn’t seem to matter who he puts at the back now, a clean sheet is almost inevitable.
Going forward we have players capable of pulling a goal out of nowhere. It was Robert Snodgrass’ turn yesterday but we have seen Jonny Howson and Neil Kilkenny do it recently too.
Sign him up
We really have upped our game and that is starting to show in the results. I was a little worried earlier in the season when we were winning games without playing well and felt the Millwall game could be a turning point in our season, one way or another. That result gave the players a kick up the backside and their intensity since then has been impressive.
Much of the credit has to go to Grayson and his backroom staff. They have installed a winning mentality and have made the team very hard to beat.
We need to do all we can to tie Grayson down for many years to come. An exciting future lies ahead under his guidance.
Leeds United make the long trip down to Brighton tomorrow, hoping to stop the home side’s resurgence under new boss Gus Poyet dead in its tracks.
The game has a bit of spice to it with Leeds coming up against former assistant manager Poyet, who ditched the club to take the number two role at Tottenham Hotspur.
Poyet was a popular figure amongst the fans during his spell at Elland Road but his reputation has been tarnished somewhat after leaving the club for Spurs – traditionally Leeds fans don’t take kindly to players or managers leaving for a ‘bigger’ club.
Poyet was the catalyst behind our excellent start to the minus 15 season and Dennis Wise’s ability as a manager started to unravel once he left. He is clearly an inspired leader and should do a good job down there – but it is a big drop down for him.
Anyway enough about Poyet and Brighton, if Leeds play at their best tomorrow there is no doubting who will be taking home the points.
Team news
The break has given Simon Grayson and his staff the opportunity to nurse some of the injured players back to health. The game will come too soon for them but at least they have got another week’s rehabilitation under their belts without missing anymore games.
After resting a couple of players against Grimsby, I think Grayson will revert back to his tried and tested away formula. Unfortunately that will probably mean Neil Kilkenny missing out after impressing in the Johnstone’s Paint game.
The starting line-up will look a lot like this:
Casper Ankergren; Leigh Bromby, Paddy Kisnorbo, Richard Naylor, Andy Hughes; Robert Snodgrass, Michael Doyle, Jonny Howson, Bradley Johnson; Sam Vokes, Jermaine Beckford.
We look very solid at the back and I wouldn’t bet against us getting another clean sheet. Max Gradel should definitely be given an impact role after what we saw against Grimsby and Tresor Kandol is completing his three match ban.
Prediction
The forecast is pretty miserable for tomorrow afternoon, the Withdean Stadium isn’t the most inviting grounds at the best of times, so Leeds will really have to battle for the points. The Poyet factor will no doubt inspire the home crowd and their players but if we show no sign of rustiness and stay focused I can only see one winner. It will not be a day for the purists, that’s for sure.
Brighton 0 Leeds United 2
I have read on various websites that we have taken Argentine defender Walter Garcia on trial and he will feature in a behind-closed-doors game against Middlesbrough today.
I am all for giving players with talent and potential a go at the club but do we really need another defender on the books?
It is an area of the team where I feel we have more than enough cover. Maybe Simon Grayson is thinking of getting rid of some of the dead wood in January and is starting to assemble a team ready for the step up to the Championship.
From what I have read about Garcia he is a versatile, no-nonsense defender who is a bit of a journeyman – he doesn’t seem to like hanging around at a club for too long. At least it will give Luciano Becchio someone to talk to.
We do take a lot of players on trial these days and most come to nothing. Let’s hope he has the same impact as fellow countryman Becchio and strengthens the squad moving forward.
Leeds United booked their place in the Johnstone’s Paint semi-final with a routine 3-1 victory over Grimsby Town at Elland Road.
Two goals just before half-time killed off a spirited Grimsby side who played better than their league position suggests. Jermaine Beckford added a third ten minutes after the break, before former Leeds player Peter Sweeney scored a spectacular consolation goal – not sure where he pulled that from.
It was a decent enough performance from the men in white but we did appear to be going through the motions at times. We gave the ball away far too often and lacked the intensity we have seen in recent weeks – understandable given the small crowd and standard of opposition.
Grimsby gave a good account of themselves but there was only going to be one winner and we can now look forward to a semi-final date with either Accrington Stanley, Carlisle United or Bradford City.
Kilkenny stakes his claim
One man who firmly put himself back into first team contention was Neil Kilkenny. I thought he was superb and looked a class above anyone else on the pitch. He took his goal brilliantly and ran the show in midfield. It will be difficult for Simon Grayson to look past him for our next game at Brighton.
Bradley Johnson did okay alongside Kilkenny with some neat touches and excellent work for Beckford’s goal but I think he is better on the left.
Robert Snodgrass was below par again. I’m not sure what has happened to him this season, he has shown what he can do in patches but seems to be suffering from a loss of confidence.
Max Gradel showed why he might be better suited to an impact role. He did some good things but there was some dross mixed in there too – his final ball let him down at times. There is certainly enough to work with and I would like to see him stay on.
Offside nightmare
The back four didn’t look as solid without Paddy Kisnorbo. They played too high up the pitch and were only saved by some shockingly timed runs from the Grimsby strikers – maybe their wives could go over the offside rule with them.
Andy Hughes showed why he has been a regular under Grayson this season – I thought it was his best game for a while at right-back.
Aidy White looked short of game time, with some lazy passes, but showed why he is so highly thought of.
Sam Vokes does a lot of unselfish work for the team but doesn’t provide much threat in front of goal. I’m hoping to see more from him before his loan ends in January. Beckford put in a good shift and got his customary goal with an excellent finish.
All in all it was a comfortable victory and the players have a bit of time off now to recharge their batteries.
Leeds United take on Grimsby Town at Elland Road tonight, knowing victory would leave them just three games away from a day out at Wembley.
Okay, so the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy isn’t exactly the most glamorous cup competition in the world, but I don’t think any Leeds fan would turn down a trip to the famous ground. The draw couldn’t have been kinder to us so far – a bye in the first round, drawn against the lowest rank side at home in the second and now facing the team second from bottom in League Two in front of the sky cameras.
The Southern Section is a much tougher side of the draw, with Carlisle the only other League One representative from the north, so we really couldn’t ask for a better or easier opportunity to get to Wembley.
I missed the play-0ff final two years ago because I was in Australia for a year, so I will probably be in the minority of fans who want us to really go for this trophy.
I don’t see the cup competitions as a distraction at all, we have the squad to cope with cup runs and I’m sure the players would rather be playing games than training.
Team news
I can see Simon Grayson putting out a strong team with almost a two-week break coming up after this fixture. He may see the game as an opportunity to give players like Aidy White 90 minutes.
Michael Doyle and Paddy Kisnorbo are missing, through suspension and international duty respectively, so there will be a couple of enforced changes.
I would personally go for a team of:
Casper Ankergren; Leigh Bromby, Lubo Michalik, Richard Naylor, Aidy White; Max Gradel, Neil Kilkenny, Jonny Howson, Bradley Johnson; Sam Vokes, Jermaine Beckford.
The players can get their rest after this game, I would like to see Grayson take no prisoners tonight. He is very professional in his approach to every game so I’m sure we will see a similar line-up to the one I picked. The difference could be he rests Beckford and Johnson.
Prediction
I’m sure Grimsby will play with a lot of pride and will treat this as their cup final. However, I just think we will have far too much for a side who are really struggling at the bottom of the Football League.
Leeds United 4 Grimsby Town 0
Leeds United saw off the challenge of Oldham Athletic to progress into the second round of the FA Cup, where they will face non-league side Kettering Town.
It wasn’t the most entertaining of games – the undoubted highlight was Jonny Howson’s cracking opener ten minutes before the break. Leeds sealed the win with a second deep into injury time when Aidy White found fellow substitute Mike Grella who showed composure to finish off a fine counter attack.
It was a performance reminiscent of many of our away days this season – extremely solid at the back, workmanlike in midfield with enough quality in the final third to finish teams off.
Change of tactics
With three strikers unavailable and two others flattering to deceive so far this term, Simon Grayson opted to go with five across midfield, leaving Jermaine Beckford up front on his own. I found this a bit of a strange move, given Beckford’s work rate, but it did work.
It gave everyone a chance to see how our three main central midfield players shaped up against one another and I think it’s fair to say Neil Kilkenny and Howson will have impressed the manager the most with their understanding and quality on the ball. Kilkenny in particular looked very comfortable on the ball and is an excellent passer for League One. Howson seems much more at home with Kilkenny alongside him and it would be good to see them start the next league game.
The back line recorded another clean sheet with an assured performance. Casper Ankergren looks better with each passing game – he made a couple of brilliant saves and commanded his box with more confidence.
Beckford worked hard up front on his own with little reward. He’s the kind of player who needs someone alongside him to the donkey work so he can save some energy to get into those goal scoring positions. At least he showed willing and proved he can work for the team when under instructions from Grayson.
Again the manager’s substitutions worked a treat. It was good to see Grella get on the scoresheet and White show pace and composure with the assist.
All in all it was a professional performance and the team shows no sign of taking its foot off the gas, whether there are points on the line or not.
A reunion with the Coopers
Our reward for getting past Oldham is a trip to Kettering Town, managed by the son of Leeds legend Terry Cooper. Mark Cooper said before the draw was made that his perfect draw would be to play Leeds and his wish came true.
It will certainly be a tough game at Rockingham Road. Kettering are going well in the Blue Square Premier and the clash isn’t too dissimilar to last year’s tie with Histon.
I know we won’t have any sort of complacency issues going into the game this time around under Grayson.
Leeds United make the short trip across the pennines tomorrow to take on Oldham Athletic in the FA Cup First Round – the first time The FA have showed a club game live on the internet.
The game is one of the ties of the round and gives the club an opportunity to salvage some pride after the disastrous exit at the hands of minnows Histon Town in the second round last season.
That match epitomised Gary McAllister’s final days at the club – the ex-manager cutting a forlorn figure on the bench, devoid of ideas as the rain lashed down around him on a dark day in Cambridge.
The club’s fortunes couldn’t be more different as we step into the competition this time around. The team is flying, full of confidence at the moment.
Some people feel the FA Cup has lost some of its prestige and glamour but I think a lot of clubs are starting to take it seriously again – the return to Wembley has a lot to do with that, although we could do without both semi-finals being there.
I for one would love a run in the famous competition.
Team news
Simon Grayson has a selection dilemma up front ahead of tomorrow’s clash. Sam Vokes isn’t permitted to play in the FA Cup, Luciano Becchio is still on the sidelines with an ankle injury and Tresor Kandol starts his three-match ban for a slap at the end of the Yeovil game.
Just a quick word on Kandol, it seems The FA love making an example of Leeds. You see so many similar incident go unpunished, Jose Bosingwa’s blatant kick to the back of Yossi Benayoun last season springs to mind. I must also thank The Football League Show for highlighting the issue, would you have done the same if it was an incident at the end of a game between Wycombe Wanderers and Leyton Orient?
Anyway, it seems a straight fight between Mike Grella and Enoch Showumni to partner Jermaine Beckford. Grayson should, and probably will, go for Grella.
I would be tempted to give Neil Kilkenny a run in midfield at the expense of Michael Doyle. It’s a good opportunity to try something new in the centre of midfield and it would be interesting to see how he goes alongside Jonny Howson. Max Gradel will also miss the game under the terms of his loan agreement.
With no league game for two weeks, after the Swindon Town game was postponed because of international call-ups, I can’t see Grayson making many changes tomorrow. The rest of the team should remain unchanged with a handful of players still in the treatment room.
Prediction
Oldham sit in mid-table in League One after an indifferent start to the season. They have struggled to score goals and have won only two of eight home league games. I don’t think either team will want a replay so it should be an open game. I can see Leeds nicking it by the odd goal.
Oldham Athletic 1 Leeds United 2
So we are a third of the way through the League One season and the table is beginning to take shape. There have been shocks, managerial changes aplenty and lots of goals and excitement in what is widely regarded as the most competitive third tier in years.
Of course as a Leeds United fan I am delighted with the start to the season. One defeat in 15 games, with the best attack and defence in the league and seven points clear, you can’t really complain.
The new signings have been terrific and Simon Grayson continues to impress as Leeds boss. The find of the season has to be Paddy Kisnorbo – he has been immense and should really have been considered for a PFA award.
Moving forward, I expect us to push on from now until Christmas with some relatively comfortable fixtures coming up.
The chasing pack
Of the teams up there at the moment, I see Norwich City as our nearest challengers. They got off to the worst possible start with a 7-1 reverse at home to Colchester United but slowly recovered under new boss Paul Lambert and are in great form now, just four points off an automatic promotion place. They are the best team we have faced so far and will take some stopping if they hit top form.
Charlton got off to a great start but there form has dipped of late. I think they will struggle to keep up with Leeds and will drop out of the top two in the coming weeks.
MK Dons have picked up where they left off last season and have the ability to go the distance again.
Colchester United shrugged off the loss of Lambert and are keeping pace with the teams at the top, with an almost perfect home record. However, as we have seen with Oldham Athletic and Leyton Orient in recent seasons, it is difficult to maintain a promotion challenge with a lack of strength in depth.
Huddersfield Town, one of the teams tipped for the title, have had an indifferent start to the season, with an excellent home record and a terrible record away from home.
Best of the rest
Millwall and Bristol Rovers are two teams who could be involved in the play-offs come what May.
Millwall have gone the course before so know what’s required, I can see them pushing up towards the top two between now and Christmas.
Bristol Rovers got off to a great start but have seen their season unravel in recent weeks, losing their last five games. They have the potential to cause a few ripples at the top but need to pull themselves out of this slump soon or risk another season of mediocrity.
I would have expected Southend to be up there at the end of the season but they have all sorts of financial difficulties and that will hamper any promotion hopes they may have.
Oldham Athletic have the potential to challenge but have got off to a slow start and lack any real firepower up front.
Teams like Swindon Town, Hartlepool United and Walsall have performed above expectations so far but don’t have the squads to challenge for promotion.
Battle at the bottom
At the bottom there are a few surprises. Tranmere Rovers fans should feel sick with what they have had to deal with since the end of last season. The inexplicable sacking of Ronnie Moore, the appointment of John Barnes who has no managerial pedigree, followed by his swift departure, and a team on the pitch devoid of ideas and hope. They are in for a long, hard season.
Brighton were tipped by some to be at the top end of the table but have had a terrible start and have just sacked Russell Slade. Under the right management they could finish mid-table.
Southampton slowly but surely pulled themselves back into the black but it probably took a bit longer than they had hoped. They won’t have any relegation worries and who knows what could happen at the other end if they put a run together.
Stockport County are another League One side with plenty of money problems and have a real fight on their hands to stay in the division.
Last season’s promoted sides haven’t had the same impact MK Dons and Peterborough had in the last campaign and all face a fight against relegation.
It will be interesting to see the jockeying for position between now and New Year. As a Leeds fan, I expect us to open up a big lead at the top and make it clear to the others there is only one automatic up for grabs.
With all the optimism around the place at the moment, I dared to dream where we might be in a few years time. You often hear clubs speak about a ‘five-year plan’, is it ridiculous to dream we might be back in Europe in five years time?
The infrastructure is in place, we have the fan base and we can still attract big name players to the club, not to mention how attractive a revitalised Leeds United would look to potential investors.
I know I’m getting ahead of myself but it won’t hurt to dream a little…
[poll:8]
(Please note: this post should not be compared with Peter Risdale’s idea of ‘Living the dream’)
Leeds United scored four goals for the second time in as many days, Yeovil Town the latest team to feel the power of Simon Grayson’s squad.
It was very much a game of two halves yesterday – Yeovil more than a match in the first-half, with Leeds showing their class in the second-half to run away with it.
I was impressed with Yeovil – they tried to play football and were perhaps a little unfortunate not to take the lead before Bradley Johnson’s fortuitous opener just before the break. The game changed yet again with Grayson’s substitutions. He is a manager with the ability to influence games from the sidelines. He obviously has a very strong bench at his disposal but the way he utilises his subs and reads the game is impressive.
Better balance
The side looked much more comfortable when Max Gradel replaced Andy Hughes. Bradley Johnson moved to left-back which gave us two natural wingers. Gradel was excellent again – he has pace, skill and an excellent attitude. He took his goal well and works hard for the team. He is becoming a real fans’ favourite.
Neil Kilkenny made a big impact after replacing Michael Doyle. He has a good range of passing and shows more attacking intent than Doyle. Jonny Howson looked a different player with Kilkenny at his side and his performances in the last two games suggest he is rediscovering his best form. I would be tempted to go with Howson and Kilkenny in the cup next week.
In defence we were as solid as ever. Just eight goals conceded in 15 league games speaks volumes for the improvement seen at the back under Grayson and is a world away from where we were this time last year. I’m still not too keen on Andy Hughes at left-back but the results keep coming.
Embarrassment of riches
Jermaine Beckford and Sam Vokes were a real handful for the Yeovil defence and have the makings of a real partnership. Vokes has a brilliant first touch and does a lot of selfless work, while Beckford plays on the shoulder of defenders and will get you a hatful of goals.
Tresor Kandol is proving to be a real impact player off the bench in his second coming as Leeds player. He looks strong and determined and certainly loves scoring goals – take a look at his celebration if you haven’t seen it.
With other results going our way, we are seven points clear now. Even at this early stage I think it’s ours to lose. Our squad looks so strong and the players we have on our bench and even outside the match day squad would walk into most League One teams. This is our year, we are on our way back – MOT!
Leeds United return to Elland Road tomorrow to face Yeovil Town, brimming with confidence after trouncing Bristol Rovers in midweek.
We were excellent against Bristol and that should be a template of how we should play for the rest of the season. We looked assured in possession, determined in the tackle and deadly in the final third – such a performance and result will give the players a massive boost and should be a warning to our promotion rivals.
We have played all of the teams up at the top of the table and have done very well without playing well, opening up a four point gap between us and them. We have a couple of gears to go through yet and I’m very confident we will hit my pre-season prediction of 100 points.
The games against teams like Yeovil are just as important in our quest for promotion. Yeovil are one of the smaller clubs in League One but have been in good form recently, so it will be a tough game. Losing points in games like this can be the difference between winning and losing the title, just ask Liverpool. If we don’t get an early goal I expect we will hear lots of frustrated moans and groans. It’s important everyone remains patient, the goal will come. Once we get one, we have the ability to blow teams away.
Team news
I don’t expect any changes tomorrow. It was our best performance of the season on Tuesday night and Simon Grayson should stick with a side who will be buzzing at the moment. The only way I can see him changing things is if it looks like players could do with a rest – that’s doubtful though. The players know they would have a hell of a battle reclaiming their shirt if they go out of the side.
Prediction
Both sides will be full of confidence going into the game. However, I don’t think that will alter the way Yeovil play. They will come to contain and hit us on the break. It will be difficult to break them down but I can see running away with it in the end.
Leeds United 3 Yeovil Town 0
Leeds United emphatically returned to winning ways at the Memorial Stadium last night, thumping Bristol Rovers 4-0.
The exceptional Jermaine Beckford bagged a brace either side of the break, Sam Vokes netted his first for the club and Tresor Kandol rounded off the win in the dying minutes.
It was an excellent all-round performance from Leeds, the players justifying Simon Grayson’s decision to stick with them after a number of substandard performances. The measure of a good side is how they come through adversity and the team certainly passed the test with flying colours last night. We won battles all over the pitch and dominated them from the first minute – it really could have been more.
Grayson does it again
I will admit it, for the first time since he took over, I doubted Grayson, stupid I know. When I heard the team I couldn’t believe he hadn’t changed things – the same shocking midfield, Andy Hughes continuing at left-back and Leigh Bromby starting ahead of Jason Crowe, giving us no attacking outlet from right-back. It just shows what I know.
Grayson made a bold and brave decision sticking with the same team which lost at Millwall. Since the Liverpool game, the team have looked down on enthusiasm and quality. We have carried a few players recently and it would have been easy to make wholesale changes. But Grayson kept faith in his players. Not wanting to let their manager down, the players responded in emphatic style.
The midfield, under so much pressure before the game, was superb. They have been very poor in recent weeks and there were strong calls for Grayson to shake things up in there. Fair play to them though, especially Michael Doyle and Jonny Howson, they got stuck in and showed the quality we all know they have. Robert Snodgrass was exceptional in the second half. When he’s in that kind of mood, no-one can handle him in this division.
Richard Naylor had his best game since he came back into the side. He and the ever consistent Paddy Kisnorbo looked identical last night with the bandages on! Leigh Bromby showed a bit more enterprise going forward and I even thought Andy Hughes had a good game.
Jekyll turns on the style
You never know what you are going to get with Beckford. He frustrates the life out of the majority of Leeds fans. One game he spits his dummy out, wanders around the pitch and doesn’t get a sniff. The next he is ripping defences apart, scoring brilliant goals and doing tricks Cristiano Ronaldo would be proud. He really is an enigma.
The fact is Leeds are lucky to have a striker of his quality in League One. He frustrates me more than anyone but I really hope he sees out the season at Elland Road.
It was great to see Vokes get on the score sheet. He has shown glimpses of what he can do since he arrived but put in a real complete performance last night. I hope we can keep him for longer.
Tresor Kandol again made an impact off the bench. He should be applauded for the character he’s shown getting back into the first team squad. He has been out of favour for some time now but has never moaned about it, he’s just got his head down and worked his way back into contention. The fans have a love-hate relationship with Kandol – they certainly love him right now!
Last night’s victory was the confidence boost everybody around the club needed. I can see us going on another long unbeaten run now, with good performances to match. We are very lucky to have Grayson, I know now never to doubt him.
Leeds United will be looking to put the weekend’s defeat to Millwall behind them with three points at Bristol Rovers on Tuesday night.
The rearranged fixture gives Leeds an early opportunity to get back to winning ways and the reverse at the Den should give the players the wake up call they needed.
There has been no shortage of effort in recent weeks but we have lacked the quality you would expect from a team sitting at the top of the table.
The defence has been solid but often just hoof the ball up field, bypassing the midfield. The midfield itself has struggled to dominate and keep hold of possession when they get it. The full backs have offered nothing going forward, leaving the men on the flanks with too much to do. And the forwards have been frustrated by the lack of service and have largely been peripheral figures.
Our away form has been very good this season but we are workmanlike away from Elland Road, nothing more. I think it’s time we start to impose ourselves on teams and go at them from the first whistle. We need to play with the free spirit we showed against Liverpool. If we get the ball down and play, we have the ability to take Bristol Rovers to the cleaners tomorrow. They are in a bad run of form themselves and the last thing they need is a team coming at them.
I know we tried to play pretty football under Gary McAllister and came unstuck, I just think we have a better foundation now to play some attractive football.
Team news
To do that, Grayson needs to make a few changes. Neil Kilkenny should be given a run in the side at the expense of Jonny Howson. Howson has just meandered through recent games and could do with a spell out of the side. It is unlikely Grayson will replace both central midfield players so we will probably only see one change in there. Though I would be tempted to give Max Gradel a start to inject some pace and energy into a pretty flat midfield right now.
Jason Crowe should be brought back into the side at right-back and I would definitely bring Aidy White into the side in place of Andy Hughes – the likelihood of which is very remote.
The front two will probably remain unchanged, with Tresor Kandol used as an impact player off the bench.
I know it sounds like a lot of changes, and it is only one defeat, but we certainly need to inject some life into the side. Grayson has some big decisions to make and I just hope he makes the right calls. We are low on confidence and enthusiasm at the moment and all it takes is one bubbly individual to lift the side.
Prediction:
A lot rests on Grayson’s team selection. If he keeps faith with the same 11, I fear another substandard display and further dropped points. If he does decide to shake things up a bit, I think we will come away with a two goal win.
Leeds United’s unbeaten league record came to an end at the hands of rivals Millwall, the culmination of a string of poor performances.
An early Neil Harris header, after a blatant push on Andy Hughes, gave Millwall the lead, only for Paddy Kisnorbo to fire home an equaliser ten minutes later. The home side dominated the second period and Gary Alexander headed in a deserved winner to leave Leeds pointless for the first time the season.
I’m extremely disappointed with the result, not just because we lost our first game of the season but because it seemed avoidable.
For a while now, I’ve been talking about our lack of attacking threat from the full backs and the distinct lack of cohesion and bite in the centre of midfield. Injuries have played a part to some extent but it’s not as if we don’t have options.
This isn’t a knee-jerk reaction to a defeat, the problem areas which have been visible for some time were exploited yesterday. Let’s face it, we have been lucky to go unbeaten for so long. A number of late goals have given the table a flattering look.
The battle in the middle
I’m one of Simon Grayson’s biggest fans but I think he has missed a trick in recent weeks.
I said before the Millwall game that the game would be won and lost in midfield and it was. It seemed pretty obvious to me. We have been weak there for a number of games now and lost both games at the same venue last season after being outmuscled in that area. The Michael Doyle-Jonny Howson partnership just isn’t working. One or both need to be dropped, a break out of the side would do them good and freshen up the midfield.
Grayson decided to go with Leigh Bromby ahead of Jason Crowe at right-back, a strange decision. It gave the defence a rigid look and it seemed we were going there happy with a point. We don’t like to take the game to teams away from home and the stats show that – just seven goals in six away league games. Robert Snodgrass had a poor game and I think much of that owed to the lack of support from Bromby. Bromby seems much more comfortable at centre-half.
A natural left-back please
I’m boring myself now going on about Hughes’ role at left-back in every blog but it clearly is a big weakness for us. I’ve tried to be kind to him and give Grayson the benefit of the doubt but he can’t continue in that role. Teams are exploiting us down that side and the poor results will continue to come until the situation is resolved. Aidy White is fit and raring to go and I don’t see how he could do any worse than Hughes, at least he is left-footed.
Another person I’ve tried to give the benefit of the doubt to is Jermaine Beckford. I wrote in the summer about how his bad qualities outweigh his good ones and he gave a perfect example of that yesterday. He was terrible and looked so disinterested. In his defence, the service to him wasn’t great.
On to the positives! We are still top of the league with a game in hand, playing nowhere near our best football. We have taken ten points from a possible twelve against the teams we have played in the top six, with Bristol Rovers to come on Tuesday.
Like I say, this isn’t a knee-jerk reaction following a defeat, these are real problems which need fixing. I just hope the loss forces Grayson’s hand and we see some changes against Bristol.
Leeds United head to South East London tomorrow with the only remaining unbeaten record in the country and plans to avenge last season’s heartbreaking play-off defeat.
Professionals don’t like to talk about revenge but I’m sure deep down it gives them added motivation to get the three points at Millwall.
There is always plenty of needle between these two clubs, both on and off the field, and I’m expecting another feisty battle.
Millwall see this as one of the biggest games of their season, if not the biggest, so it’s going to be really tough t0 go there and come away with the victory. We went there twice last season and lost on both occasions so Simon Grayson knows what he’s up against.
They are just coming into a bit of form and have been scoring for fun recently. Like us, they have some key men missing, most notably Zak Whitbread who was a rock against us in the two play-off games. They will certainly be the most physical side we have come up against so far.
Team News
Grayson has no fresh injury concerns going into the game. It must be nice for him to have a selection headache for the right reasons – Tresor Kandol and Max Gradel must be knocking on the door now.
Grayson has never been someone who tinkers with a winning team but I think he needs to for this game. We haven’t been playing well, we can’t let the results hide that fact – sooner or later, our luck will run out.
The midfield has been worrying me for a number of weeks now. I would replace one of Michael Doyle or Jonny Howson with Gradel – Doyle would probably get the nod because of the nature of the fixture. That would allow Bradley Johnson to play in his preferred position and I think this would bulk us up in the centre, as well as giving us pace and skill down the flanks in Gradel and Robert Snodgrass. Gradel has been described as a bit ‘hit or miss’ so it will be interesting to see how he goes from the start.
Paddy Kisnorbo will come straight back into the side to partner Richard Naylor at the back. I expect both full-backs to retain their places. As you may know by now, I’m not Andy Hughes’ biggest fan at left-back but it’s a difficult game to bring someone else in. Shane Higgs will miss out so Casper Ankergren will start at the ground where he was subjected to abuse from a pitch invader in the play-offs. I really want Casper to do well tomorrow, he needs a good game.
Up front, I would continue with Sam Vokes and Jermaine Beckford. Kandol may feel a little unfortunate after Monday’s performance but he could be a big player for us off the bench.
Prediction:
The longer an unbeaten record goes on, the more inevitable the end seems. I really hope our first defeat doesn’t come at Millwall, don’t like them too much. The key battle is in midfield, if we win that I think we will win the game. If we don’t I think we could experience our first loss of the season.
Leeds United returned to the League One summit thanks to a fortuitous injury-time winner from Jermaine Beckford.
Leeds took the lead courtesy of Bradley Johnson’s sixth goal of the season. Norwich equalised just before the break through the impressive Grant Holt who outmuscled Johnson at the back post. In the dying minutes, a terrible goal kick landed at the feet of an alert Beckford who ran clear and scored in front of the delirious home fans to make it 2-1.
In a game Norwich City dominated in large parts, Leeds struggled to get the ball down and play, a feature of recent displays, and the gap between the midfield and the back four was alarming. But the one thing this team does have in abundance is desire and this was a big three points in the context of our season.
I have no doubt Norwich will be one of our biggest rivals for promotion along with Charlton. They were the best side to come to Elland Road in a long time and out passed and outran us for the majority of the match. They just failed to create clear cut chances and tired a bit in the last 15 minutes. I was very impressed with a few of their players, particularly Grant Holt.
Grayson does it again
Simon Grayson had an excellent day all-round yesterday. Firstly, securing the services of Sam Vokes and Max Gradel on loan. Then changing the tactics at half-time to counter Norwich’s diamond formation. The decision which changed the momentum of the game though was to introduce Gradel and Tresor Kandol.
He saw the Norwich defence was tiring so threw on a big man and someone with real pace – they couldn’t cope with that. I thought Kandol was excellent – strong in the air and equally adept on the ground. Gradel was the game breaker though. I haven’t seen someone make an impact like that on debut for a long time. The only problem now is he has to live up to those standards week in, week out!
The defence looked shaky in the first-half without Paddy Kisnorbo but settled into the game and looked solid as it went on. I thought the decision to play Leigh Bromby instead of Lubo Michalik was a strange one but he did well alongside Richard Naylor. We still need to resolve the situation at left-back – Andy Hughes still doesn’t look comfortable there and it’s time to give Aidy White a run. Although I wouldn’t bring him in against Millwall, the team who tormented him on his last league outing at The Den last season.
Shane Higgs limped off on his comeback after a very shaky opening to the game, probably down to the injury. Casper Ankergren gave us his trademark top draw saves but again lacked confidence coming for crosses. I’m starting to feel sorry for him, I think the crowd get on his back far too quickly.
What’s happened to the midfield?
The midfield was very poor again. The partnership in central midfield isn’t working and I would change it for the Millwall game. I would drop Howson, who was anonymous again, bring Johnson inside and put Gradel on the wing. If our midfield puts in another performance like that on Saturday, we’ll lose.
Sam Vokes’ performance was encouraging. He looks to have an excellent first touch and is a good addition to the squad.
I have to end this piece on Beckford. I wrote yesterday about how he had to stand up in last night’s game and I think he did. I was as frustrated as anyone with him during the game – the usual thoughts of him being lazy and a bit shy when it comes to the big games came to mind. But having watched the replay, he worked hard to get himself into those goal scoring positions. He’s not a guy who needs just one opportunity to score but he will keep getting in those positions and will eventually put one away. You could see how much it meant to him and that goal will do him the world of good.
Leeds United return from the international break tonight looking to extend their unbeaten start to the season against a rejuvenated Norwich City side.
Norwich, among the pre-season favourites for promotion, got off to the worst possible start with a 7-1 opening day defeat at home to Colchester United, but have put that well and truly behind them under Paul Lambert and are one of the league’s form teams.
The break came at a good time for Leeds, the medical staff working overtime in an attempt to get some fit bodies back on the pitch. It has also given the players a much needed breather and I expect them to fly out of the traps.
I think it’s a big game for Jermaine Beckford. He is widely regarded as the best striker in League One but has yet to convince a lot of Leeds fans. With Luciano Becchio facing a spell on the sidelines it’s a big opportunity for him to lead the line with passion and purpose. There is no doubt he is the key man, if he is off colour and has one of his petulant 90 minutes we could be in trouble.
The word on the grapevine is that Sam Vokes will sign on loan today. The rumour mill has been going crazy since Friday but Simon Grayson doesn’t conduct his business in the media spotlight. As much as I would love it to be true, I just can’t see it. How many summer signings were rumoured beforehand? How many of the rumoured players actually signed?
Team news
Shane Higgs and Jason Crowe are expected to return to the starting 11 tonight. Casper Ankergren hasn’t done a lot wrong since he stepped in but Higgs is undoubtedly the number one now and we have missed his presence at the back. Crowe will provide a threat from right-back and it will be interesting to see who starts in front of him on the right wing.
Jonny Howson started there against Charlton but never looked comfortable and we suffered as a result. If fit, I would probably go with Andy Robinson. He is another player with something to prove and will look to make a big impression if selected.
Of all the players mentioned, no-one has more to prove than Tresor Kandol. He could start alongside Beckford, a partnership which blossomed at the start of the minus 15 season. I would probably go for Kandol, though Mike Grella would be pretty unfortunate to miss out.
Grayson also has a decision to make at left-back. Ben Parker has been ruled out for up to three months which means Andy Hughes will continue to fill in or Aidy White will start his first league game in over a year. Hughes has done a good job but I think it’s a good time for White to have a run in the team. There would be a lot of experience alongside him and I think he and Bradley Johnson would complement each other nicely.
Even with some key players out I think we will nick it tonight. The players will be raring to go after the break and will be looking to put in a big performance after drawing the last two home games.
Prediction: Leeds 1 Norwich 0
With Leeds United’s injury crisis worsening by the day, I thought it would be a good time to have a poll on whose absence would impact most on the team. It has been reported today that Ben Parker will miss up to three months after undergoing a hip operation, Tresor Kandol and Andy Robinson may also face a spell on the sidelines after picking up knocks playing for the reserves. Robert Snodgrass, Luciano Becchio and Shane Higgs are amongst others with injury concerns.
[poll:7]
The international break came at a perfect time for a Leeds United team beset by injuries. There was a good chance a depleted side would have come unstuck at Bristol Rovers yesterday. They are in great form and would have really tested the strength of our squad.
The break has given me an opportunity to rate the players on their performances to date. I have marked the players out of ten, rating those who have featured in the majority of Simon Grayson’s match day squads:
Shane Higgs – 9: One of the finds of the summer. Commands his area with great confidence and is a good shot stopper too. His standout moment was the penalty save which earned us a point at Southend.
Casper Ankergren – 6: Casper lost his number one jersey at the start of the season but has been given an opportunity lately due to an injury to Higgs. A very capable shot stopper but there always seems to be an air of panic when he’s between the sticks. The defence looks less assured with him behind them.
Jason Crowe – 7: Crowe’s contribution before his injury almost went unnoticed. It only became apparent when Leigh Bromby had to step in and we lost our attacking threat from right-back. Promising partnership with Robert Snodgrass.
Andy Hughes – 6.5: Always gives his all and will play wherever the manager asks him to. Will never win over some fans but his versatility makes him a key component of Grayson’s squad. Gains a half mark for playing out of position.
Paddy Kisnorbo – 10: An almost faultless start to his Leeds career. Doesn’t miss many headers or tackles and exudes confidence to those around him. The bandage he has worn since the opening day typifies his commitment. The find of the summer.
Rui Marques – 6: Started the season alongside Kisnorbo at the heart of the defence. Had the makings of a promising partnership before he picked up an injury. Made some clumsy challenges though, giving away two penalties, he was fortunate they didn’t cost us any points.
Lubo Michalik – 8: Looks so much more confident under Grayson and with Higgs behind him. Back to the form he showed during his time on loan from Bolton. Has even bagged himself a goal this season.
Leigh Bromby – 6: Looks more at home at centre-back. Offers nothing going forward other than his long-throws. The four-year contract given to him looks generous – time will tell.
Richard Naylor – 7: Has looked a bit rusty since his return from injury but has done ok and looked solid enough. Is a big presence for us at the back and will form a formidable partnership with Kisnorbo.
Bradley Johnson – 9: The most improved player this season. Can strike the ball with a lot of power and is exceptional in the air. His attitude has been first-class and is a key player for us now.
Michael Doyle – 7: A lot of his work goes unnoticed. He loves a tackle and breaks up play nicely. Could show more going forward but has had a decent start to his Leeds career.
Jonny Howson – 7: Looks stronger this year and seemed to regain his confidence when he was handed the captaincy. Has shown what he is capable of in patches but has also gone missing on occasions.
Neil Kilkenny – 6: Hasn’t had many opportunities this season because of injury and the form of the side. Has the ability to provide the killer pass but hasn’t really impressed when he has had his opportunity.
Robert Snodgrass – 7: I’m not sure he has been as good as has been reported in the press. The Liverpool game seemed to give him the confidence he was lacking at the start of the season. Has made some vital contributions and I hope he makes a swift return from injury.
Luciano Becchio – 7: An excellent foil for Jermaine Beckford. Does a lot of selfless work and we look a bit light up front without him. Like Snodgrass, I hope his injury isn’t too serious.
Jermaine Beckford – 7: There is no doubt he can finish but it often takes a number of attempts. Still needs to work on his work-rate/attitude.
Mike Grella – 6: Mostly used off the bench. Has shown some promise but doesn’t look like he will become a prolific goal scorer. Needs more game time.
Enoch Showumni – 4: Seems to be Grayson’s ‘go to’ man off the bench. I have some sympathy for him coming back from a life-threatening illness but he really isn’t good enough. Poor touch and is terrible in the air for a big man. Needs less game time.
I expect the likes of Ben Parker, Aidy White and Tresor Kandol to play prominent roles between now and Christmas. Some of the players I have mentioned need to up their game, whilst some will do well to maintain the standards they have set.
What do you think to my ratings? How do you think the team is looking two months into the season?