Well the unbeaten run goes on and this time with our first away win in for ages
- so 3 more valuable points in what was a very strange game in many ways.
As expected it was business as usual with the team selection with Dickinson in
to replace the suspended Beckford. The question beforehand was can we cope
without him ? Well the answer was an empahtic(ish) yes, as a 3 goal in 6
minutes blitz ended the game on the half hour mark. The game had started OK
with us looking the brighter team and Dickinson had decent attempt and Snoddy
casuing them problems, then came what may have been the turning point and for
once strange officiationg went our way. Snoddy and one of their players were
running for the same ball, Snoddy seemed to pull him back a bit and he then
tripped Snoddy up , a bit of a melee ensued and ended with a undeserved free
kick to us (should have been theirs) and then a red card was brandished to the
Crewe player, presuambly for something he said (see it is not just Beckford
!!). We then all discussed the old 'it is harder against ten men' adage - total
nonsense, I have never ever seen a manager
only send out ten men to make it harder for the opposition !. We decided the
best idea was to keep the ball, pass it around and play with patience and hoped
that the huge turn out of Leeds fans would be patient if we did not score
before half time. We need not have worried, within a few minutes a neat passing
move found Kilkenny unmarked just outside the area and he hit a low shot right
into the bottom corner - a good strike (even if not as spectacular as his last
one). Pretty much straight after that the (once again) impressive Snodgrass
beat two men and chipped it to the far post where Becchio does what he does
best - head it in at the back from a yard out - That pretty much ended it as a
contest but better was to come when Snoddy went on another run and powered into
the area where instead of passing to the unmarked Dickinson on the penalty spot
for a tap in he chose to go it alone and smashed it in himself. 3 - 0 and still
20mins of the half to go.
We continued to press and only good keeping kept the score down . At half
time I said I would like to see Lubo given a run out (in place of Naylor) -well
be careful what you wish for ! He did come on in place of Rui and it is clear
that he has not improved - they got a corner and just like under Macca, Lubo
was beaten in the air and the Crewe forward headed home - there were about 6
players all going for it so I would need to see it again before blaming Lubo
but he was one of the 3 Leeds players who went for the ball (with Naylor and i
think Douglas). The game continued much as before with us still creating but
not finishing. Grella came on for the tiring Dickinson who had not had a bad
game - and again looked lively but then they struck again - the ball was
cleared by one of our defenders who was then taken out long after the ball was
cleared but the ref had already turned away and missed it - thats how late it
was ! The ball then came back into the
box and after a bit of ping pong it fell to their striker who poked it home 3
-2 and the nerves were jangling a bit. Their keeper then made another good save
but was outdone by a flying save from Casper who turned a good shot round the
post and we clung on the the victory.
Overall a satisfing day out and result, but of course at 3 up against ten men
so much more was expected second half and we failed to deliver so there was
also a sense of disappointment too.
For me Kilkenny - rejuvenated under Grayson - and Snodgrass were the best
players. Lubo is not good enough and we need Naylor to stay fit. Once we are
safe for the play offs I would rest Delph for a couple of games too.
But going into the 'business end of the season' things generally are looking
good even if second place is beyond us.
Dave
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