Well that's three straight wins to them, and each time we have been much the better team - this reflects more on how generally poor Town are than how good we are. But its a real pain in the arse to have them singing "can we play you every week" as we leave.
The only change was the FA enforced Beckford for Becchio. With Grella getting a place on the bench. It was a rough and tumble local derby, a load of dubious stuff let go by the ref, a load of robust stuff thrown in by both teams. Precious little skill on either side. We were exactly what we all feared when we lost Beckford - toothless, static and more or less pedestrian, no penetration - the only speed in our team came when Delph or Robinson ran with the ball. Town were much better in the first half than they were in the second. They came out of the traps really up for it and we had all on holding our side up. The defence came under a lot of pressure. Dickinson was run absolutely ragged by their fast right winger - to be honest he didn't even look like a third division defender in this game. He had no idea where to be when this kid had the ball, whether to step up, close him down, move him down the outside, or backpeddle - whatever he did the kid beat him. Meanwhile in the middle Marques spent the first twenty minutes trying to get to grips with their centre forward who was big strong and good in the air. After a while Rui got on terms but it was a close run thing when the guy almost broke through once or twice. Meanwhile we had almost nothing to offer going forward. Snodgrass had the occasional flash but it came to nothing. We had one good opening before they scored, when a crossfield ball and a neat bit of play between Trundle and Snodgrass left Snod through on goal on the right of the box, but his shot was comfortably saved. Town came down the right, for once Dickinson was in the prime position for the bouncing ball, but he dallied and the winger nipped in. This brought some last ditch tackling which conceeded a corner, on their right. Swung in - free header for the big centre half around 7 or 8 yards out, dead centre - he buried it. Caspar no chance. Dreadful defending. 15 minutes gone. Robbo was furious and did loads of shouting at our defence. His blood was obviously up cos a minute later when we got a free kick but their fellow wouldn't return the ball, Robbo did everything but deck the guy. The ref stepped in and had a word. The next 10 minutes were scrappy to say the least. As the half wore on we had a couple of very good efforts - Robbo took the ball down the left, cut inside (as he did every single time) and hit a bullet that rose, beating the keeper, but coming back off the bar. The second came shortly after that (I can't remember who took the shot) made the keeper make a smart save after a good move. The truth was that Town were much more resolute in getting the challenges in in midfield. We were lightweight there. Delph was trying and he did the tracking and covering but we hardly ever got him on the ball. Douglas was almost invisible. Robbo and Snodgrass had a few flurries but they really weren't involved in the mix. Apart from our being outfought in the middle the second problem was the complete lack of options for the man on the ball. The forwards moved with all the grace, speed and enthusiam of two of the bigger lumps at Stonehenge. It was embarrassing how often and how quickly the ball bounced back off those two. Yes Becchio won a few in the air (a few more than Trundle) but to what effect? Where the ball goes off his head is anyone's guess. At the end of the half their right winger went down injured and didn't come out for the second. This was a big let off for Dickinson. Grayson really must have given them a rocket at half time. We reckoned we'd have Howson on sharpish to beef up the middle - taking Becchio or Trundle off and push Snodgrass up front. Within five minutes we'd taken Hughes off (he had been shite - but I don't know if he was injured) with Howson coming on and Douglas moving to right back - where to his credit he looked more comfortable than Hughes. He did at least support down the right and get some decent crosses in. Howson and Delph now pushed Huddersfield back just by being more athletic and eager. They both got stuck in. 10 minutes after coming on Howson missed our best chance when he got up unmarked 8 yards out to head Douglas' cross wide, from the centre of the goal. Bad miss - should have scored. People were getting itchy about Delph and Robbo trying to do too much on the ball but there was nothing in front of them. I admit to getting the same way about Snodgrass and his inability to put a cross in first time, or after he's beaten his man, instead having to go back and have two or three more efforts at going round his man...before losing it...but that's crossing the thing - you want it in the box where stuff happens, not being dragged back and forth under your heel and other cute tricks EVERY TIME. We increased the pressure, a dead ball by their box resulted in a downward header from Naylor which came out off the far post. This was on about 75 minutes and you began to think it was never going to happen. Soon after we took Trundle off and brought Grella on. He never really got much of a look in. He looked like a boy amongst men. Like a young Alan Smith. We had another couple of half chances, we huffed and puffed around the box. Had a shout for a penalty. Town had spent the whole half doing all the time wasting they could. They could have had a second right at the death when they worked a good one-on-one for one of their lads but Caspar pulled off a really good save. In the last 5 minutes we took Rui off and put Lubo on up front. Aimed loads of balls at him but I don't think he won any. We hit the wood work twice. Their keeper was man of the match. They get the three points. Job done FA. ANGKERGREN - didn't do too much wrong - decent saves, came for a few crosses and got them - reasonable distribution. HUGHES - played one of his usual, straight to touch balls, and the crowd sang "that is why you're staying down" - we joined in MARQUES - had a tough game against a big strong forward, but he got stuck in and gave as good as he got NAYLOR - again the pick of the back 4 - solid, dogged, covered other's lapses pretty well - unlucky not to score DICKINSON - nowhere at all in the first half - ripped to shreds by their winger - was lucky the guy was injured at half time and so had less to struggle against - distribution still woeful all match SNODGRASS - one of our better hopes going forward - couple of half chance - but bloody infuriating in his unwillingness to CROSS THE BLOODY THING DOUGLAS - much more influential when at right back - which is odd - never got to grips with the Town midfield in the first half DELPH - one man centre midfield for 50 minutes - some nice touches but guilty of ove indulgence (understandable given that there was nothing happening in front of him) ROBINSON - this really seemed to matter to him - loads of effort - similar problem to Delph in that there was often nowhere to go with the ball...should go down the outside sometimes, even if only for a different view TRUNDLE - barely noticed him - bollocks really BECCHIO - noticed him loads - still bollocks though - as the ball bounced of him again and again...he really put loads of effort in but is that enough...I mean if I got called up I'd try really hard... Subs Howson - made a big difference - put us ten yards further forward - should have scored Grella - barely got a kick Michalik - last throw of a dice -------------- 20 000 - only there to watch the Leeds - but did they care..? ----------- Ref - rubbish... -------------- Grayson - its not as easy as it looks is it... _______________________________________________ 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 Sorry Macca - it's the curse of Bates old lad
