Cup Run
Some signs of hope.
After hearing the team I spent the next 5 minutes trying to work out who was
playing where. It seemed to be;
Sully
Marques, Foxe, Heath, Elliott
Blake, Nicholls, Howson, Lewis
Healy, Moore
Which you might think is a bit too full of lightweight attacking players and
short of strong defensive players (especially midfielders) and youd be right.
For most of the first half we had short spells of tidy little passing football
in their half without ever really getting a shot in. However, I thought they
were going to score everytime they got the ball.
Our midfield was largely non-existant and West Brom kept spreading it wide
where neither full-back had much cover so Kamara and Koumas were doing much as
they like. Marques in particular was getting skinned too easily. Strangely the
2 goals in the first 15 minutes didnt come this way. The first one arrived
from a corner that flew across the face of goal and was stabbed home via a
deflection at the far post. The second one from a goal-kick where Hartson
simply held off the defender and ran through on his own to score. Hartson
largely murdered our centre-backs and had a header well saved by Sully and put
another wide of the post.
Youd have though Wise and Poyet might have known its a good idea to have
some midfielders.
At least they tried to change it second half and made 3 changes, Sa, Derry
and (Aunt) Flo coming on for Heath, Howson and Moore, with Marques switching
back to centre-back. And you know what we actually played pretty well. Suddenly
with Derry next to him, Nicholls started to control the game, Lewis, Blake and
Healy got plenty of ball in good positions and we made chances. Derry headed
straight at the keeprr from 6 yards, Flo hit it straight at him sliding in on
the end of a Lewis cross, Nicholls miskicked another chance and Healy and Flo
both let defenders catch up with them when seemingly clean through.
Ok we were still vulnerable on the break and they scored again and hit the
bar but we were easily the better team and played as well as we have for a
couple of months and actually deserved our goal, bundled in by god knows who
after Flos shot had looped up off the keepers legs.
Sully 6 Not a lot of chance with goals 1 very good save.
Marques 6 Tried to support from right-back but struggled when WBA had time
to run at him looked a bit better in the middle.
Foxe / Heath 5 No real confidence in either of them.
Elliott 6 Stuck at it but reduced to fouling Kamara when he couldnt keep
up with him.
Lewis 7 Got in lots of good positions but never really got the delivery
right, at least was trying to cover back.
Nicholls 8 Storming second half loved it when he jumped into the crowd to
wrestle the ball of the stewards this guy wants to win.
Howson 5 Bit lost in the middle not sure we can play him and Blake
together.
Blake 6 Nice touches, but a bit wasteful and a defensive liability
Healy 6 Does appear to be trying a bit more, like Lewis got in good
positions without achieving much.
Moore 6 No better or worse than the others.
Subs
Sa 6 Long way away but looked comfortable enough one crucial sliding
tackle from behind where it was penalty otherwise.
Derry 7 Helped balance the team.
Aunt Flo 6 Nice touches and should have scored, but not really fit often 30
yards behind when Lewis, Healy were looking to cross it.
Wise 5 3 for picking the wrong team, 7 for realising and correcting it.
Leeds crowd supported team well despite the inevitable defeat a good
turnout especially considering the Baggies barely bothered.
Matt
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'I am in shock,' said Ferguson.
