YES YES YES - that was brilliant and I am still buzzing. After the borefest that was QPR this was one of those games that makes it all worthwhile. From the first minute to the last, from the keeper to the subs they gave everything and were rewarded with a deserved 3 points and an atmosphere around ER that we have not seen for ages. The whole ground was rocking at the end with MOT, we're going up, Gary Monk, and the brilliant, Luke Ayling and Berardi, Pontus Jansson Kyle Bartley (eve though two of them were not playing!) - a chant that shows we appreciate that this is a real team We kept an excellent promotion bound Brighton side to one real chance (albeit Green made two great saves) - when the defence fell to sleep and their forward was left totally unmarked in our area, but his shot although it had real venom was straight at Green and he stood strong and saved it , that was their only real chance in a game that we largely dominated. Wood could and perhaps should have scored four and maybe have had another penalty.
We heard on the way to the ground that in addition to the suspended Ayling we were also without Janson , although he was on the bench - an odd decision, if he was fit he should have played , if not fit he should not be on the bench. We were however buoyed by other results, ths losses by Wednesday and Huddersfield the night before was added to by the loss at home by Fulham - this meant that in some ways the pressure was off - a defeat would no cause us much harm. Brighton tired the old turn them round in the first half so we started attacking the Revie Stand, and attack we did - roared on by a healthy 30thousand crowd, many of whom,myself included had taken advantage of the late kick off by having a few extra beers. We put them under pressure from the off and forced a number of corners and free kicks, one headed over by Bartley and one fell to Wood who really should have scored but got it a bit tangled in his feet. As the half drew to a close Wood was bundled over in the box - a decent penalty shout from my view but the referee disagreed. Cooper in for Jansson made his almost compulsary error but was saved from an own goal by a brilliant point blank reflex save by Green - he really has stepped up in the last few weeks and you can see how he got England caps. Cooper, having got away with his error, knew it was his day and was really solid, so much so that we did not miss Jansson at all. So we went in at half time 0 0 to the applause of the crowd - keep this up and we would not lose. Brighton started the second half brighter than us and for a few minutes I worried that they had taken the sting out of us and were going to go on now and win as Bridcutt starting sitter deeper again. However this did not last long and we got things together again with Pedraza Sacko and Hernandez all running at them and causing them problems. We had another chance when a great cross from the ever dependable Berardi went through two defenders and Hernandez and fell to Wood, again he should have scored but he seemed to be taken by surprise and his weak shot was easily saved. Then on the hour mark the game was won, Taylor went down the wing, beat the full back and put over a lovely cross, Wood back pedalling managed to get his head to it and loop it back over the keeper (Leeds fan Stockdale - who was told a few times that he is Leeds) - another goal to add to his increasingly impressive tally , this time with his head. We felt that this goal would be enough and we were solid at the back and gave them no chances to get back into it apart from the one clear chance I mentioned above. The ground was bouncing with all four sides joining in the festivities. Monk made a couple of changes and one of these, doukara, led to the icing on the cake. Doukara got the ball and went rampaging forward taking on a few defenders, he stormed into the box and was tripped - 100% penalty. We all knew Wood was going to score and he did not let us down as he thumped it down the middle with such force we heard the thud of foot hitting the ball. Great stuff We spent the last 10minutes singing and celebrating as the crowd showed why Leeds fans are still special - an atmosphere you never see in the Premier League these days - brilliant.. OK it will not be enough to get us promoted automatically but beating a team as good as Brighton has made me feel much more confident that we can actually win the play offs - there I have said it - we have a solid defence and that always gives you a chance, so if we keep Wood fit and scoring and anything is possible Like I say I am still buzzing and what a way to go into the 2 week break Dave _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email [email protected] MARCHING ON TOGETHER
