http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/Sodje-promises-Leeds-will-sweep.5252909.jp
Published Date:
11 May 2009
By Richard Sutcliffe
at The New Den
SAM SODJE is adamant Leeds United will "outplay" Millwall and overcome a
one-goal deficit in this week's play-off semi-final second leg to reach
Wembley.
The Elland Road club are behind at the halfway stage of the tie after
Neil Harris took advantage of a slip by United captain Richard Naylor to
score the only goal of a sometimes fiery first leg in south London.
It means the advantage is slightly with the Lions ahead of Thursday's
return leg but Sodje, who overcame dislocating his shoulder during the
second half to finish the game, believes Kenny Jackett's side are in for
a torrid evening in Yorkshire.
The Nigerian international, comfortably Leeds's most impressive
performer at The Den, said: "I am so positive because I feel they have
missed a chance to get to the final. We will definitely do it now. We
will outplay them.
"I think we are a better side and that is why we can keep our heads up.
We will be feeling good on Thursday.
"We are not going to batter them, we are going to outplay them."
Sodje joined Leeds on loan from Reading on the final day of the transfer
window and has proved to be an important signing by Simon Grayson.
Alongside Naylor, he has formed a solid partnership that helped ensure
United qualified for the play-offs by finishing fourth.
Being one place higher than Millwall in the final league table ensured
the second decisive leg would be played at Elland Road and with the game
having sold out last week, Sodje believes the 37,000 crowd will be a
huge plus in Leeds's favour as they look to reach Wembley for a second
successive season.
The on-loan defender said: "The atmosphere at Elland Road will be even
better than what Millwall managed. To be honest, I expected the
atmosphere (at The Den) to be better than it was. It was nothing.
"Their fans did get behind them and gave them a push, but when it comes
to our place,
Millwall can expect a big atmosphere.
"There was a big fuss about this game but, no disrespect to Millwall, we
should be able to get them to Elland Road and outplay them."
Sodje was certainly in the wars on Saturday with the powerfully-built
defender suffering an Achilles strain in the first half before then
dislocating his shoulder after the break.
Manager Grayson joked afterwards how Sodje had "clearly been watching
Lethal Weapon and copied how Mel Gibson pops his own shoulder back into
place" before going on to praise his willingness to put himself through
the pain barrier.
The Leeds manager also added that the defender had to be seen as a doubt
for Thursday's return, though the player himself was quick to insist
there was no way he would be absent.
Sodje said: "I will be fine for the second leg. Even if I have to play
on one leg, I will play on Thursday. There is no way I am going to miss
this game.
"The shoulder popped out in the second half but I just popped it back
in. I have had the injury before so I knew what to do.
"It did hurt but that is football. It is done now and I feel okay."
Asked about what Millwall were expecting in the return leg at Elland
Road, goalscoring hero Harris said: "We are halfway through the tie and
it will be extremely hard on Thursday. We have a long way to go before
we can talk about Wembley.
"We have to work as hard as we did in the first leg and perform like we
did."
Sodje may have been dismissive of the atmosphere generated at The Den
but there was little doubt that the home fans made plenty of noise in
support of their team.
That was, however, slightly marred by the mini-pitch invasion that
followed Harris's goal when two Lions supporters squared up to Casper
Ankergren.
One appeared to throw a missile at the Leeds goalkeeper before leaving
the field. Referee Clive Oliver is likely to include the incidents in
his report to the Football Assolcation, though afterwards Grayson was
keen to play down the affair.
The United manager, who travelled to London on Friday separately from
his players due to the bug that struck him down last week, said: "When
the opposition score at home, there is always going to be a bit of
exuberance but it was taken care of quickly.
"It was maybe a stupid thing to do and I expect the man who did it won't
now be coming to the game on Thursday. Or any other games in the near
future.
"To be honest, I would not like to mess with Casper because he is a big
lad."
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