This was a much better performance, back to doing what we did so well in the early part of the season. Much less hoof ball, much more getting the ball down and passing it. White was a refreshing addition to the midfield, his pace and direct running causing them problems right up to his substitution and Snodgrass was brilliant on the other wing, creating havoc in their defence whenever he got the ball.
Whilst Brighton had goal-less draw written all over it until the dodgy penalty it always felt like we would score at some point in this game. We didn't create too many clear cut chances in the first half, Beckford putting a shot on the turn about a foot wide being about the nearest we came to scoring, their dogged and at times illegal defending restricting us, but we kept plugging away and eventually broke the deadlock ten minutes into the second half when Beckford created himself some space for a shot, the keeper dropped it and Becchio was on hand to score. Ten minutes later he timed his jump to perfection to meet an exquisite Snodgrass cross and it was all over bar the shouting. They did come on to us a bit after that but to no avail. Casper made a good save, the only one he had to make and we escaped a penalty shout when Mad Max, who'd replaced White, dived in but the ref wasn't one for giving penalties as he'd totally ignored Becchio being flattened as he burst into the area in the first half. He was another of the total arseholes we keep being sent who put my blood pressure up several notches with his general incompetence. 4 yellow cards in the first 24 minutes, all for something and nothing whilst worse thuggery went unpunished, then nothing for ages as they kicked lumps out of us. Casper - only one save to make, made it 7 Hughes - great game both in defence and attack. With all his limitations he's the best right back we've got 8 Naylor - much more assured than of late and they got no change out of him 7 Kisnorbo - the defence is much more stable with him back. I feel more clean sheets coming on 8 Lowry - much better game last night. He's beginning to settle in 7 Snodgrass - he sometimes frustrates me when wastes opening his talents have created by choosing the wrong pass or crosses poorly but not last night. Man of the match by a country mile for me and close to the perfect display 9 Howson - not one of his better games. Odd flashes of his old self but a lot of the game seemed to pass him by in the second half 6 Doyle - did OK, mixed it well with their mid field, generally used the ball well 7 White - great hour's work. Pace, direct running, clever on the ball, this lad has got the lot and I look forward to seeing him develop into a quality winger as he grows and strengthens 8 Beckford - typical Beckford performance. Got clogged a lot, moaned a lot about being clogged a lot, put out some lovely passes to his wingers in our build up play and made a goal for Becchio with the help of their keeper 7 Becchio - love him or loathe him he brings something to the team that wasn't there on Saturday when he was on the bench. He didn't win all his headers when the ball was hoofed up front but he was a nuisance to defenders all the time and prevented them getting clear headers in. His first touch is still putrid part from once last night when he controlled it perfectly first time and was so shocked he knocked it out of play with his second touch. Was right on hand to capitalise on the keeper's error and took his second goal well 8 Mad Max - if he spent as much time looking for a good pass or cross as he does looking for a chance to create himself a shooting opportunity he'd be one hell of a player 6 The performance warmed us up on a cold, cold night and we all went home happy. Big, big game coming up on Saturday and we really owe those twats one after the last few times we've played them. I can't wait. _______________________________________________ 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
