When does a draw feel like a win?
This was a satisfactory and deserved result against a decent, confident, if not
exactly massively inspired Leicester. We had the better chances (at least 4
goal-scoring possibilities) to their one or two. Leicester were fantastically
well organised, if we'd had their back 5 behind our midfield and forward lines
all season we'd have been miles ahead by now.
Grayson's first starting XI was: Ankergren, Richardson(c), Sheehan, Marques,
Michalik, Prutton, Douglas, Delph, Robinson, Becchio, Beckford.
The first thing that was a noticeable change from Leeds was more aggression -
we were generally quicker to close down, get challenges in and hassle - Douglas
and Delph leading the way on this - for the first 60 minutes Douglas'
application and energy were excellent - Marques was also back closer to what
we'd come to expect, thundering into tackles, not letting his men shrug him
off, winning a lot in the air.
The second immediate change is that the team are clearly being told to get the
ball forward, much faster than previously. Not necessarily via the long ball
every time - although the long ball certainly did come into it quite a bit. The
long ball may prove a bit of a problem if we over rely on it, because Becchio
can't do much with it and while he is six foot plus, that simply isn't
Beckford's game. If we do persist in than side of things then I predict a long
run in the team for Showunmi or Kandol. Third division centre halves will lap
up that kind of game all day.
These two changes put us more on the front foot. There was still obvious
nervousness when Leicester got corners or free kicks around the box - and
Caspar flapped at a couple and the defence got itself in knots over another one
or two - but these things will take a while to sort out. The real battle for
this game took place in midfield - their defence was clearly comfortable with
Becchio and the "just back from injury" Beckford, while our defence just about
mopped up what Leicester threw at them, although it was often thanks to last
ditch tackles and interceptions, but nevertheless they held more or less
steady. The midfield saw our guys getting through a hell of a lot of work,
Robinson somewhat less so than the others, it almost goes without saying. But
the other 3 really grafted - and they needed to because Leicester's midfield
were dictating the pace of play for quite a while. We tried to hold a high line
which Leicester tried to exploit by lifting
the ball over the top for pacy wingmen to get after. Fortunately if Richardson
or Sheehan didn't get there, then Douglas or Marques did.
After 20 minutes or so, Robinson crossed from the left, Prutton flicked on and
Becchio was unfortunate to hit the post from inside the 6 yard box - the ball
cannoned away off the inside of the post across goal to safety. You got that
kind of "here we go again" feeling. Not long after that Fryatt made a strong
run left to right across midfield, evading a couple of tackles and slid the
ball to Oakley who steadied himself and shot home from the edge of the box -
low and hard into the bottom corner. At least it wasn't from a corner. For the
next 15 or 20 minutes there was definite tension on the pitch with Leeds passes
going astray - and some disgraceful barracking from so-called "supporters"
amongst the 33,500 who just seemed intent on giving our players a hard time.
Richardson, Ankergren and Beckford in particular copping for some nasty
stuff...it doesn't do them any good, really does it?
But we finished the half strongly with Richardson having a shot from distance,
after a good run, turned around the post, Delph forcing a save, and Beckford
for once breaking free of his marker and thrashing a shot across goal from 14
yards, in the inside right position.
The second half started with Becchio being put through by a great ball on the
inside right channel, he took one touch - when he could have hit it - he took
another - the angle was getting tighter and the defenders closing in - finally
he spooned a shot horribly up and over the bar from quite a tight angle with
about 3 defenders on him. Beckford standing still on his own waiting for the
cut back - a bad miss and a bad waste of an opportunity. On 60 minutes Grayson
made a change, taking the hard working Prutton off and bringing on Hughes. An
odd change to my mind. We continued to have possession without really getting
through to the danger areas. Leicester continued to look comfortable enough and
like they had the possibility of getting a break away goal. In the space of
five minutes 3 good moves all ended in frustration as the killer ball landed at
Hughes' feet - who credit to him, was in the right place, but lacked the
quality to do anything with it.
One in particular was when their keeper for once was caught out of position
and flapping and the ball fell to Hughes on the edge of the box - it would have
taken a good finish to score but it wasn't impossible, but unfortunately Hughes
put it in the Kop.
With 15 minutes left Howson and Snodgrass came on for Douglas and Robinson.
This proved to be inspired as Howson gave us a 15 minutes cameo of last
season's gem - controlled aggression and driving midfield play. Several times
he and Delph carved openings, forcing Leicester further back. Until the two
linked again just after the 4th official had indicated 4 minutes time added on,
a neat interchange on the edge of the Leicester box lead to Howson clipping a
lofted cross to the back post, which seemed at first to have just drifted
beyond everyone, until Snodgrass came in round the back and sidefooted home
from 3 yards. The players go mental in front of the Kop - the Kop goes mental
right back at them. Snodgrass gets a booking for his celebration. In the
remaining 3 minutes Leeds looked for a winner, but that would have been greedy.
ANKERGREN - some worrying flaps and losses in concentration - especially one
where he fannied about with the ball too long and nearly gave it to their
CForward - but on the whole a better bet than Lucas
RICHARDSON - I get sick of the barracking this guy gets - he's workmanlike and
he makes some fluffs - but he has lifted the team several times this season
with crosses for goals and he never gives less than 100% - name a better RBack
on our books...
SHEEHAN - a steady efficient game
MARQUES - in the first half in particular he earned his wage in a way that far
too few of our defenders have this season - beginning a return to form?
MICHALIK - did some OK stuff but there is still something worryingly not right,
not there about him - its like he isn't always switched on
PRUTTON - unless injured, I think it was a tough call to substitute him - got
through a lot of work, without producing anything earth shatteringly good
DOUGLAS - everywhere for 60 minutes - with Marques, really kept them at arm's
length
DELPH - much more grit than we've come to associate with him, some nice touches
as well
ROBINSON - really really anonymous
BECCHIO - really bloody awful
BECKFORD - not fit - but still enough to cause a few headaches - played much
closer to Becchio and the team looked better for it
--------------
SUBS
Hughes - loads of running and tackling - almost zero skill on the ball
Howson - made a huge difference - if Johnny could play like this for 90
minutes, every week, he'd be first name on the sheet
Snodgrass - some nice touches, and an equalising goal - 15 minutes well spent
young man
-----------------
crowd - 33,500 - noisy buggers - loads from Leicester - just like old times
-------------
ref - joker - culminated a top game by turning swiftly into the on-rushing
Hughes, catching him squarely with an elbow in the chops - causing play to be
stopped and the physio brought on because it was a head injury - took Hughes
several minutes to recover, meanwhile the crowd was chanting "off off off" at
the ref...
-------------
Grayson - nice first point - good spirit and fighting to the end...lets hope
its the start of a beautiful thing.
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