A useful 3 points but in reality a pretty ropey performance. A positive enough start with Keogh scoring with a great volley but pretty soon it became apparent that the formation with Mika playing on the right, where he looked totally lost was just not working. He kept drifting inside and Howson who seemed to be pushed a bit forward was just not in the game. Our defence fallibalities also seemed to be returning with both White and Clayton giving the ball away carelessly and allowing Boro a couple of chances. It wasnt a huge surprise when they equalised from a corner. One nice 1-2 between McCormack and Keogh, with Keogh hitting straight at the keeper was about all we had to show for the next 20 minutes. Then a weird passage of play that changed the game. In about a 7 or 8 minute spell we only had a couple of minutes play as the ref made 3 or 4 players go off for treatment and got into a prolonged argument with the Boro bench. (Prompting lots of stick for Fergie Jr from the Leeds end who took a much different view to the different managers marriage difficulties). At the end of all this, a Boro player was off and not allowed back on leading to rising frustration on the pitch, which resulted in a stupid tackle on Keogh and a red card. Around the same time Grayson switched Mika inside and moved Howson to the right, but the last 10 minutes of the half we were frankfully awful, unable to pass to each other and completely failing to realise we needed some width to stretch the Boro defence. Mika robbed a defender and set McCormack up for one chance but apart from that we looked like the team had never met before. Second half it only took a couple of minutes for grayson to recognise the obvious problem and put Sam on for the unlucky Mika who had looked better in the middle. Without Sam doing that much we suddenly looked much better and he whipped a couple of crosses into the middle before setting up Clayton on the edge of the area for another good finish. Surely a cruise to victory then with Boro showing little attacking intent. Instead we drifted back to the slow ponderous build up, poor passing and general sloppiness that had characterised much of the first half. Often taking forever to get the ball into the box and finding only the small McCormack there when we did so. Nunez came on for McCormack but little changed. When Peterboro launched a free-kick forward we all knew what was coming, some awful defending and the ball was bundled into the net. Poor. We could even have lost it from there as Boro had a couple of corners and we were just relieved to get a free-kick on the halfway line to kill the game. Instead it was shovelled wide to Nunez who for once got a cross in quickly and O'Dea steered in off the bar, although Becchio finished off just in case the lino hadnt noticed it was already in. Mass celebrations but in reality disguised a very inconsistent performance. Scores Rabchuka 5 - Not much to too, kicked the ball straight into touch more than once. Connolly 6 - OK at back but a bit reluctant to get forward. White 6 - Opposite to Connolly in that made a couple of great attacking surges but looked dodgy in defence. Lees 7 - Solid enough O'Dea 7 - One extra for the goal but still not convinced. Mika 5 - Lost on the right but better in middle til replaced. Howson 5 - Poor performance from Johnny Clayton 6 - Another one with a bonus mark for the goal but worst game i've seen him have. Pugh 5 - Anonymous McCormack - 7 - Buzzed around and involved in most of the better things we did. Keogh 6 - Great goal and worked hard but really needs to get in box more. Subs Sam 7 - Provided good balance Nunez 6 - Ran down to many blind alleys Becchio - Only on for a couple of minutes for Keogh - not sure why you wouldnt leave 2 strikers on against 10 men. Matt _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email [email protected]
PETE CASS (1962 - 2011) Rest In Peace Mate
