Well it is not often I see us play a team I have not seen before (Burton last season was the previous one I think) so this game had something going for it from the off.Unlike previous seasons when fans, apart from us obsessives, could not be bothered to attend or show any enthusiasm if they did, this year the £1 for kids has led to all the open stands being packed and a real party atmosphere in the ground. This has been helped by the two scorelines 4 1 and 5 1. My lad has been to the 2 league games this season and seen 0 goals scored, 0 goals conceded, 2 shots (both by oppostion) that have hit the woodwork and very few saves. Anyone just going to the League Cup will have seen 9 goals for, 2 against, us hitting the bar, 2 hat-tricks and the emergence of Saiz - real value for money ! Having said that last night did not live up to the standards of the Port Vale game and whereas that 4 1 flattered them so brilliant were we, the 5 1 last night was very unfair on a Newport side who made Green work harder in the 90 minutes than Wieldwald has had to work in the last 3 league games. The side had a real makeshift look about it with debuts for Stokes and Gomes, Ayling out of position, Shaunnesssey back filling in, and Green making his first appearance, and it showed as we really struggled to do anything of note in the first half. To me, first half , none of the players who were looking to impress to get a place in the first team were successful in that endeavour and we were restricted to one long range effort by Ayling. At the back we were very suspect and they nearly scored twice, first a shot whizzed past the post and then anita headed off the line before they did in fact make the break-through. It was a fluke in many ways but may spell the end for Rob Green at Leeds. A tame shot , that seemed to be going wide, was met by a dive by Green and a flick of the hand that put the ball back onto the post and onto Greens back and in - very strange but that is what seemed to happen- probably an own goal. We huffed and puffed a bit without really looking like getting back into it, until right on the stroke of half time a corner was well met by Shaughnessey and his header well saved. The ball was kept alive , twice, by Ayling and fell to Roofe who slotted home from close range , so we went in at half time at 1 1 (same as Port Vale) Second half we started quickly and brightly. Dallas, who is looking leaner, sharper and better this season, went down the left wing, beat his man, leaving him on the floor , and put it a good low cross that was cleared but only to Roofe who was in the middle of the penalty box and he fired home. That gave us a bit of breathing space and gave Roofe his confidence as he later got on the end of a lovely through ball, controlled it and played an exquisite chip that beat the keeper and deserved a goal but hit the bar. Roofe was not to be denied though and a few minutes later a cross (from Ayling) fell to Roofe with his back to goal but his overhead kick found the corner of the net - perhaps the keeper should have saved it - and a hat trick for Roofe. Hopefully this will be the moment when he kicks on and really starts to show his quality. I do worry though that it will just show that the lower league is his level, hope I am wrong. With the game pretty much won - although Newport never gave up and created a few more chances that Green saved or just went wide plus Ayling cleared another off the line - TC gave us what we wanted and sent on Saiz. The crowd greeted him as the new Messiah and he lived up to the billing - little turns and flicks that lifted the whole quality of the game. He also got his name on the score sheet - controlling the ball with one touch and smashing it home with the next.
To emphasise our new bag of riches, TC also gave Alioski a run out, and he also, did not disappoint. Running at and beating players , firing a great free kick at pace into the keepers hands, and doing 6 step over, dummy things - real piss taking. It shows his confidence is building although I think he needs a goal fairly soon. To round the night off and to, hopefully help his confidence going forward , Vieira also scored with his shot going in off the post. So. overall a very convincing scoreline if not a convincing performance. I am not sure what good things TC learned (he got confirmation that Stokes and Gomes are not ready for the first team and that Klitch needs to get fitter) but a hat trick can only help Roofe and a goal for Saiz will help confirm his status as the new hero (I jokingly said he will be off in the January window - hope it is a joke) and a goal for Vieira can only do him good - he needs to score more. I paid a big price for the game, watching the second half in agony after losing my oramorph ! The bottle fell out of my pocket, probably in the Duncan, so some alki or similar in their clientele may have had himself a good night - luckily it was only half full and only a 100ml bottle ! Dave _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: https://mailman.gn.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email [email protected] FLAME WARS 'R US
