A real mish mash of a game and performance - some real quality and some schoolboy error stuff. Good points - we are now 11 unbeaten and joint second going into the new year, Bad points - 2 two goal leads thrown away in two games and a defence that still cannot defend. We rested / dropped Becchio and Kilkenny and gave both Paynter and McCormack their first starts. The first ten minutes let us all know what we were in for - a quick break from them and a pass across goal fell to one of theirs in space inside our area but he shot wide - a big let off. Then we scored as a cross from Connolly was nudged on by Paynter and Max was on hand to score another goal. Within minutes we thought it was all over as McCormack and Snoddy fed Howson who controlled well and beat a couple of defenders and placed his left foot shot into the corner, That should have been that and we had chances to put it beyond Pompey - our best chance when Snoddy played it through to McCormack who made a lovely flick onto Paynter but he managed to blast over. Then a break from them once again showed our problems at the back as the ball found Nugent and he fired a great shot across Schmiechal and into the corner. McCormack also cleared one of the line. At half time we felt that the next goal would be crucial and so were ecstatic when a corner led to the ball bouncing in the area before Johnson volleyed home - a good finish and he gave the Leeds salute and pointed to his badge (all very well BJ but if you love it so much sign your contract !) Instead of seeing the game out we were still celebrating when they broke and the ball ended in the back of our net.We knew if would be a nervy finish - Becchio came on and nearly scored with a header with his first touch but the keeper scrambled it away, Snoddy had a couple of speculative shots and we looked like adding another as the ref, poor throughout totally lost control as he turned down a 100% nailed on pen as McCormack was pushed over and then disallowing us a goal when the keeper dropped it under pressure. Then when 5 minutes extra appeared on the board we knew things were dodgy and so it proved when a ball into our box fell between O'Brien and Schmeichal who with no Pompey players anywhere near managed to contrive to score for them - disaster So full marks to Snoddy who was great, McCormack who looked a class act and Howson and Max first half (but both went missing second half) Collins looked like a big lump out of his depth and both Bruce and Bromby mus wonder how he gets on ahead of them. Paynter contolled the ball well but was not as energetic or effective as Becchio has been - needs to do better to dislodge the Argie So it was almost back to early season - great going foward but likely to concede whenever the other team attack. So a decent start to the season and we are well placed at the turn of the year BUT we need to get the defence sorted and the sooner the better, whether that means a new centre back being brought in in Janaury we will soon see but without it we have real little chance of staying top 6 Dave _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: http://mailman-new.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email [email protected]
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