What an amazing end to a fairly odd season. As I said I went to the game not expecting it to count for anything but hoping that the players would perform in such a way as to keep the fans behind them. Due to the full house I ended up arriving 3 minutes into the game, just in time to see Norwich flash a shot just past the post and these set the scene for the first 40minutes, as our rock solid defence just melted away and Norwich played with such skill and flair we wondered how they were not being promoted. They destroyed us and we were lucky that we did not go 5 or 6 down, so dominate were they and so lax were we at the back. It really was awful and fans (presumably the ones who had booked tickets for the play off party) left the ground before half time. Those that remained were very disgruntled especially the big lad near me who was giving the team dog's abuse . We gave the Norwich midfield the run of the park and stood back as their player got the ball walked foraward and then lashed a shot past Green. We had been talking beforehand how we really lack a midfield player who can take a long shot a la Mowatt, and how this meant both a lack of goals from midfield and made us easier to defend against. At 0 1 we were trying to recall if we had won a game this year from that position but before we could recall any such victory Norwich cut us open beating our attempt at an offside trap and bang it was 0 2. We were pretty certain that we have not come from 2 down to win and then after two narrow escapes, one a missed sitter, it was game over 0-3 and we were being given ther runaround. My worst fears had come true - we were being shown up and the fans reacted badly with lots of abuse and boos.
Then it all changed, the ineffective Dallas went down the wing and put in a lovely cross that fell to Wood and he 'thighed ' it in - another great finish and another example of how important Wood is - what a season he has had. So 1 3 at half time and me and my mate recalled the Derby 4 3 game when Bowyer got the winner - could thi team repeat that amazing come back ? Well they tried and almost made it. Second half we were a team transformed as O'Kane showed he should have played more, and Viera and Roofe showed what they are capable of. Hernandez also decided he should pull his finger out and come to the party. His corner resulted in a mad scramble that ended with Bartley inching the ball home. Then a free kick on the edge of the box and Herndandez fired it home - great finish. Norwich were on the ropes and were time wasting and commiting foul after foul trying to disrupt our rythmn. A bad tackle ended in a red card for one of them and then the board went up for 6 minutes injury time - could we get the goal that could keep the season alive ? No we couldn't but not for lack of trying - we gave it everything but unfortunatley so did Norwich as they were determined to hang on for a point. We came close especailly a cross into the box that Bartley met but could not get it on target. The final whistle went and the crowd rose to salute the efforts of the team, not just for the Norwich game but for the whole season, a season when we regained a lot of fans and , more importatnly, our respect. In the end a very poor start to the season, a bad spell just at the wrong time, and possibly a lack of a plan B, meant that we just missed out on the play offs but overall it has been a good season, the best for ages. So that is it for another year and the big question is can we build on it ? Will Monk sign, can we keep Bartley, Jansson and Wood. If we do keep these four then next season could be ours especially if we make a few wise additions Dave _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email leedslist-unsubscr...@gn.apc.org MARCHING ON TOGETHER
