Beckford's double strike helps Leeds turn tables
Anna Kessel at Elland Road Sunday November 18, 2007 The Observer In the eyes of their supporters, Leeds sit at the top of League One, 12 points clear of the nearest opposition. In reality, their 14th win of the season has elevated them to only fourth place, but in case anyone had any doubts, the match programme stuck doggedly to the their version of affairs. The 'real' league table, as they call it, continues to be the holy reference for Leeds fans this season. On the day that former chairman Peter Ridsdale launched his autobiography detailing his role in the recent torrid history of the club, Dennis Wise's side continued to chip away at the 15-point deficit with which they started the season. Whichever table you look at, the truth is Leeds have outperformed every other club in the league this season. Their goal difference of +19 reveals a near immaculate run of results. Yesterday afternoon Swindon faced a former manager in Wise - whom Leeds poached just over a year ago. There was added incentive then for the visitors to try to derail the hosts, and good timing it was too. Leeds had had a difficult week, losing to Bury in the League Trophy - their first home defeat in eight months - travelling 1,200 miles to play three games and adjusting to the arrival of new personnel. Dave Bassett has replaced Gus Poyet. Leeds looked likely to drop points. Swindon meanwhile, just three points below them and with financial crises of their own, looked desperate to bag some. Leeds last played Swindon in a league game back in November 1993. Then both clubs were in the newly formed Premiership and the home side overcame the visitors 3-0. How far these two have sunk since. Still, with the atmosphere at Elland Road undiminished from more illustrious times, with attendances hovering around 30,000, only the standard of play provided a clue that this match was being played in the third tier of English football. Both teams started brightly, attacking from the whistle. Leeds' Jermaine Beckford sent in a pinpoint cross to reach Tresor Kandol in the box. A decent chance followed for Craig Easton, Billy Paynter had a shot and Swindon's top scorer Simon Cox came closest as Paynter laid the ball off for him to hammer goalward. At the other end, goalkeeper Peter Brezovan twice stretched to tip close efforts over the bar. But despite holding the in-form team of the league, Swindon were frustrated and conceded two yellow cards and a penalty - David Prutton's ball hit Hasney Aljofree's raised arm inside the box - in the first half. Beckford jumped at the chance to add to his goal tally and thundered the ball into the roof of the net. Leeds hadn't looked like taking the lead, but, just like that, they were ahead. Swindon returned from the break ready to do battle and promptly levelled the score after less than two minutes of play - Cox's superb cross setting up defender Lee Peacock for the goal. It was only Leeds' fifth league goal conceded at home this season. Momentarily, Leeds looked lost for a response. Beckford, who disappointed in the FA Cup tie away to Hereford 10 days previous, was gifted an opportunity to reclaim the lead, but the Leeds striker could muster only a weak shot. He didn't dwell on the miss though, and when Kandol laid on an insightful pass, Beckford happily volleyed home - his 10th league goal this season. Swindon thought they might have pulled one back when Cox bundled the ball in past Casper Ankergren on the line, but the linesman's flag had long been up for offside. The visitors couldn't see beyond their own annoyances and a busy referee handed out a total of seven yellow cards as Swindon lunged and shoved at their opponents. With Swindon already concerned over injuries and finances, the bookings did not come as welcome news. The coach Paul Sturrock railed against the transfer embargo currently placed on the club over £900,000 of unpaid debts. 'Who'd be a Swindon manager?' he said. 'Tomorrow I will have to go cap in hand to our new owners. I would be mortified if we went tumbling down the league due to our financial situation.' Wise was unsympathetic. 'We've all been there, stop crying Paul, please. I'm pleased with the result today because it was a tough game. It's lovely. We've got ourselves in a really good position - now it's just whether we can stay there.' Whatever the Leeds supporters' summer grumbles about Wise and chairman Ken Bates, if the current team carry on in this vein, the United faithful will surely be enraptured. _______________________________________________ the Leeds List is an unmoderated mailing list and the list administrators accept no liability for the personal views and opinions of contributors. Leedslist mailing list [email protected] http://list.zetnet.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist DELETE THE FOOTERS WHEN REPLYING YOU LAZY SODS!!!! DELETE THE FOOTERS WHEN REPLYING YOU LAZY SODS!!!!
