That was truly, truly awful. We couldn't pass, couldn't tackle, couldn't do anything right in a first half that was as bad as anything I've seen them produce in a long time. Wallsall were stronger and quicker and seemed to want it a lot more than we did. Fortunately they were also shite going forward so didn't trouble us too much. We did manage to create a couple of chances, one fell to Becchio who tried a volley that ballooned into the South Stand when he had time to take a touch. Oh, sorry, that's Becchio, he doesn't so "a touch". By the time his third touch had brought it under control it would've been too late so a volley was probably his best option even though his chances of scoring with it were probably less than zero.
The other chance was the only decent bit of football from either side in the first half, some neat build up play ending with Beckford creating space for Johnson to hit a good left foot shot which their keeper saved well. Straight after half time they produced their only bit of decent attacking play, crisp passing creating space for one of their guys to hit a shot into the bottom corner of the goal from the edge of the penalty area. Where was a midfielder tracking back to deny him the space you might ask. Same fucking place they were for most of the game. La La Land! The game meandered on much as it had done in the first half though now they had a lead to protect Wallsall's running and tackling had an extra intensity. Then, out of the blue, we equalised. After seeing the re-run on the big screen I felt that McSheffery had seen the keeper edging towards the middle in readiness for the cross and deliberately gone for goal but I was in a minority of 1 there. Having seen McSheffery later shank several crosses from similar positions for goal kicks I tend to the view that the majority were probably right, it was a fluke. We did pick our game up a bit after that. Grella and Gradel came on to inject a bit of pace and effort and we certainly looked the side more likely to get the winner until disaster struck. A deep cross from the right found a man unmarked at the back post (thank you Mr. Crowe) and Casper saved his effort well at the expense of a corner. The corner came over, there was a bit of a scramble, the linesman started flagging vigourously and we all thought, good, there's been a foul , until we saw the Wallsall players tearing towards the dug out celebrating. A scruffy goal to settle a drab scruffy match and we got what we deserved - fuck all. Casper - not much to do, no chance with the first goal, no idea if he'd any chance with the second 6 Crowe - absolute garbage. Sometimes makes up for his lack of defensive quality with his attacking wing back play. Last night he was shite at both ends of the field. 0 (and that's being generous) Naylor - not his usual commanding self 3 Bromby - marginally better than Naylor 4 Lowry - Not sure about this lad at all . He'd have been better sticking to his painting 2 Snodgrass - his usual infuriating self, a mixture of good, bad and indifferent 4 Killkenny - not one of his better games but did show some quality at times 5 Johnson - a pale shadow of the player who was banging in the goals from left midfield earlier in the season 3 McSheffery - More Blue Square Premiership than Premiership at times last night apart from superb/flukey goal (delete as appropriate) 4 Becchio - pretty bad 2 Beckford - Any class we showed last night usually involved him at some point. Failed to create any chances for him to convert or miss but he got involved and generally looked good but perhaps slightly off the pace due to his recent injury 6 Grella - worked hard, some neat touches but no end product 5 Gradel - when he realises that he's allowed to pass or cross the ball BEFORE he's beaten the entire opposition side three times then he might be a good player, until then..... 4 Howson - Tried hard, started to look more like his old self 5 Crowd - shite. Small and quiet. I know it's disappointing when we're not creaming the opposition, but we too have a part to play and booing and jeering when things aren't going well don't help. It's games like last night when we can lift the team and help them to start playing better. The first home defeat for a year and we reacted like a child who's had its favourite toy taken off it. Like the players, we must do better on Saturday. _______________________________________________ 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 www.leedslist.net
