Like most if not all leeds fans this was THE game I was most looking forward to, in the end a bit of a non event My day started OK, train full of them, one group very giddy pushing their way on to get a table together and very excited- we just laughed when the loudest of them all opened his 0% alcohol free Guinness. The journey was quiet , but as is the normal case on a football train, the chants started as soon as we left the trian, for once I was able to join in with the Manchester chants as they sing la la la not wank wank wank , my son especially loves this song and always directs it at me ( he's from Salford ) so it was nice to sing it .However in around 10 seconds they reverted to Turkey chants ( as my lad pointed out to one of the myriad of coppers " that's now illegal, feel free to use your truncheon" Before anyone gets on their high horse re Turkey songs as we came out of the station , still in amongst scum fans , a mob came flying out of the black Prince, all pulling up their buberry scarves to cover their faces and they immediately shouted Munich - a row of police and the usual invisible barrier kept the two sets apart So on to the ground a couple of pints in the freezing cold in the fans zone with a huge police drone hovering overhead, then into the nice and warm Revie bar to watch their fans licking the bus windows and giving v signs and throat cutting gestures as the buses came past , our fans inside the bar replying in kind - all Pantomime stuff The cold, the early kick off and a poor game led to not bad but not the best atmosphere especially considering the opposition and it was a tame first half, DCL skimming the post with a glancing header, Perri pulling off a great save . They had the ball in the net but the flag was up well before he shot. Second half was more of the same, we huffed and puffed and gave it everything but lacked a bit of class and composure ( would Ampadu have provided that) they showing the odd bit of skill to suggest they may be the better team but not really doing anything either . A drab game really. Fair play to both Justin and Bornauw the 2 "new players" who both looked good, albeit we did wonder if Bogle would have provided more going forward if fit.Then the 5 minutes that were memorable, Brendy, having yet another good game and slowly convincing the doubters ,nipped in ahead of the defender, stealing the ball and bearing down on goal,I wanted the chasing defender to trip him, thinking we had much more chance of scoring from a penalty than Brendy scoring..Oh ye of little faith,he only went and placed it across the keeper and into the corner of the net- a sublime finish. The roof came off ER as we celebrated ( 2 scum fans later said the goal celebration was as loud as anything they've heard)Could this really be our day, 3 possible as all other results went our way? 3 pts v scum ? 3pts that would make the gap so large we almost guarantee safety?Of course not, we are leeds and don't get nice things, we had barely calmed down when a pass split our otherwise solid defence and then Perri came out but stopped and was totally in no man's land as the ball hit our net - his fault and it undid his earlier good work.That 5 mins was pretty much it , their centre forward missed a sitter , piroe had his chance of a Premier league goal and leeds united immortality but his shot curled over.In the stands we varied between we can still win this to ,shit we are going to lose as the game ground to a halt, with a decent point,probably the correct result given the game,but dreaming what might have been. I had arranged to meet 2 mates from Manchester after the game and after some discussion as to where best to go ( moot Hall being immediately discounted ) I suggested the regent ,on kirkgate, a good old fashioned boozer,a decent way away from the train station and police/ hassle and as I said "not really a football pub" When we went in, first time in over 12months I was surprised ( but not as surprised as my mates who thought we'd set them up) to be met with a huge " notorious service crew" flag and pictures / flags/ scarves all over the walls - almost a copy of moot Hall. As they said no pubs in Manchester have that a out of football decorThey agreed draw was fair, game was shit, atmosphere was decent ( especially when we scored )but nothing like the old days, that the West Stand was 50years out of date and worst stand they've been in for years (they also bemoaned the fact that they decided to change barrels at half time so getting a drink then was a non starter)By the time we rolled back to the station everything was done and dusted and all fans and police had gone home.So a great day out, 3 great minutes of football, a poor game but a point better than before kickoff and a point better than forest,Burnley, West ham and Bournemouth. The players looked all in and Wednesday at Newcastle will be very hard but they are giving it everything and giving themselves a fighting chance Come on you whites Manchester Dave living in Salford :-) _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: https://mailman.gn.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email [email protected]
Find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/leedslist/ Rest In Peace Steve "Score one, score one more!" Gillen.
