This really was a game of two halves and I think that was mainly down to the conditions with the wind blowing strong towards the Kop. Although we ran out comfortable winners this really could have gone either way but Huddersfield with their powder puff attack squandered chance after chance in a first half they dominated and we really struggled to compete. I arrived at the ground to see around 200 fans stood outside the East stand singing “You don’t know what you are doing”. It was a piss poor effort to be honest but I think Leeds fans have had it all over the last few years and this is just one more disappointment to take. Once in the ground though it was clear that the atmosphere was more charged and the fans really got behind the team. The rendition of MOT was sang as loud as I’ve heard it for many a year. Not much negative chanting and lots of support for BMD. Unfortunately the team couldn’t respond to the fans and Town took control with simple but effective football. There was an early sign of things to come though as Kebe combined brilliantly with Macca in a run that went the length of the pitch. Good pace and control and was the start of an excellent game for the gangly winger. We were playing a 4-3-3 with Murphy, Mowatt and Austin playing centrally. Surprisingly Austin seemed to be playing more advanced that the other 2 and spent a lot of time going for balls in advanced positions. Our defence were shocking in the first half, time after time Town found space down their left , our right. When we going to realise the Byram isn’t a right back. He wasn’t covering right and was exposed time after time. He actually provided the 2 best challenges of the half saving a couple of certain goals showing that he can tackle and can defend but I don’t think he naturally knows how to defend as a right back. He has to play in midfield and you only have to look at his attacking play in the second half to realise that this guy has far too much talent to be wasted at right back. The Town goal came from one such attack down our right. We stood off, gave Ward the freedom of the park and he took his time and drilled it into the bottom far corner. It’s hard to say whether Kenny was at fault but he was easily beaten. It was a deserved lead and they threatened to increase it. Again, we stood off at were all at sea as the Town midfielder hit it for outside the box. He was unlucky as the ball hit the post and rebounded to a white shirt. Then it was corner after corner and the wind seemed to be sucking the ball into the net directly from the corner with Kenny flapping all over the place. Then Naki Wells managed to break through whilst Tom Lees was taking a nap on the half way line. He could have taken it past Kenny but decided to go for an elaborate chip and ended up looking a c*nt for what was a really poor effort. There were other chances and I was thinking that the decision to relieve BMD of his job was actually very wise. We were well short of what was required. At the other end we did create one or two chances. Cameron Stewart has the best chance but he passed it wide and Mowatt and Macca combined well to break into the box but it came to nothing. There were some really performances from Leeds but probably the worse came through Warnock who just looked short in every way. His passing was atrocious , he just kept playing these ridiculous long balls. The fact that Warnock ended up looking like Roberto Carlos with his rampaging runs just emphasises the difference between the 2 halves. The Town fans rubbed it in with “Leeds are falling apart again” and “Ross McCormack , he doesn’t want to play”. It was crucial we grabbed something in the half and we did. From a free-kick the ball came over. Kebe managed to make a nuisance of himself and knock the defender off balance making the ball go loose. That’s all Macca needed to pounce and poke the ball past the hapless Smithies (he really is a shit keeper). Queue pandemonium in the stands and Ross milked the goal in front of the stunned Town fans by kissing the badge. 1-1 and to be honest it was daylight robbery. So on to the second half with Leeds having the wind but forget that let’s just enjoy the fact that we steamrolled a team into submission by playing some great football along the way. I would say that this was the best 45 minutes for many a year maybe because we’ve been so poor recently. Straight from the off we were at them and it was clear that they just couldn’t handle us. I also think the atmosphere really got to them. The crowd were loud, I was stood up shaking my fists at the pitch along with everyone else. We were going wild. The players responded. Ross and Kebe took control and really looked like they had a great understanding. One-twos, little flicks, dummies, faints , it was quality stuff. Then you add Sam Byram into the mix and they couldn’t get near us. Suddenly the whole team started to gel. Players who had struggled in the first half suddenly had time on the ball and we were moving all over the place, there were white shirts everywhere. The crowd roared the team on and it was just a matter of time before we took the lead. The goal when it came was another example of the great understanding and interplay between Ross and Kebe. The ball was played into Ross he held it up, played a sly back heel to the advancing Kebe who chipped it over the defender then took it on and struck in into the top of the net. It was a real quality goal and finish and showed that Kebe is a real talent and was obviously just finding his feet. How else could you explain it ? It was now one way traffic and it was soon 3-1 game over. We broke with speed (again) and this time Austin was provider playing the ball to an advanced Byram who brilliantly took the ball on past the defender and played a great pass to Macca who slid it home. I think Macca was offside but the linesman was clueless all afternoon and we weren’t arguing. We could have had more with Austin’s great left foot shot being denied by Smithies, who for once made a decent save. It was now a question of how many ? The 4th came from Stewart who showed good skill to get past his man and into the box. His cross escaped everyone and kindly fell to Macca unmarked at the back post who side footed home off the post. A great hat-trick and Ross was really controlling the game at that point. Everything he did was of high quality and you could see the Town defenders actually standing off him because they were scared of what he was going to do next. The fifth was high comedy as the ball was played over the top. Ross made a nuisance of himself but that was no excuse for Smithies who came charging out to flatten his own man leaving Mowatt to chip elegantly into the net for his first goal for Leeds. Town did create a few chances which mainly fell to Wells who fluffed the lot and was then subbed to chants of “Nahki Wells, he’s f’cking shit”. From my perspective I think he is a lively , young player but in this atmosphere he really crumbled. He’s got time. Adam Clayton also hit the bar with a cracking shot. He also got the treatment “You’re not good enough to play for Leeds”. The team then treated the Leeds fans to some champagne football and although simple stuff against a defeated team it was remarkable to see given recent form. Very emotional, highly charged game. Excellent stuff. Bring back BMD. Scores: Kenny – 6. He looks like he’s getting old to me. Byram – 7. Struggled first half but second half he was inspirational. Warnock – 6. Really poor second half, but actually looked like a proper left back in the second half. Pearce – 6. Worked hard but him and Tom Lees look really shaky to me. Lees – 5. Thought he was poor throughout. Only by bad finishing did we not concede more. Mowatt – 7. Well taken goal and some good football throughout, however I am concerned about his lack of pace. Austin – 7. Poorish first half but came into in the second. Murphy – 8. I’ve slagged this lad off consistently but today I’d say he was our best midfielder. He ran his heart out, tackled well, controlled the ball well and even got forward and distributed well. Ok, there was the odd aimless ball but on the whole I think he played his heart out for BMD. The one thing I’ve always said is that he has good balance and looks like a footballer. I’m actually pleased for the lad. Hope he can keep it up. Kebe – 9. Quality performance, great goal and lots of hard work. Macca – 9. Great hat-trick Stewart – 7. Not convinced yet. Need to see more of the glimpses he shows. Subs – Brown / Tonge not on long. Really enjoyed myself today. We are Leeds. _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email [email protected]
John 'Grampa' Sykes Rest In Peace old lad 28th Oct 1938 - 12 Nov 2013 MARCHING ON TOGETHER
