This was as comprehensive and deserved a victory as the score suggests. We were "at it" (a technical term used by football experts) right from the first whistle, pressing Carlisle all over the pitch, never letting them settle and harrying them into mistakes. Whenever we had the ball we used it well and quickly creating many dangerous situations. We had a goal disallowed after their keeper dropped the ball from a corner and somebody walloped it in, a foul we couldn't see from our end. Then they hacked Howson down just as he was getting ready to shoot and the keeper, at full stretch to an excellent Snoddy free-kick failed to hold it and Becchio was there to turn it in. We continued to dominate and created several chances which we failed to take. Becchio shoved it wide when it looked easier to score after a superb run and cross by Snodgrass and Gradel tormented the life out of them, tackling, harassing, dribbling, harrying the defenders into mistakes and it seemed only a matter of time before the second goal came. This is Leeds though and of course Carlisle equalised. A free-kick, superbly delivered by that man Ian Harte and clinically finished by whoever.
Order was restored just after half time but I bloody missed it having queued for the whole of half-time just to buy a bloody drink. The boy Sean said Gradel did a bit of fancy work on the edge of the area, then slipped the ball out to Bromby who crossed for Grade, all 5ft 2 of him, to out jump everybody and head in. Five minutes later it was 3-1 and virtually game over. He ball was hit to Gradel in the centre circle and his superb flick on found Becchio steaming through and outpacing the defence t go one-on-one with the keeper. I really wasn't expecting him to finish it but he did with some style. We made and missed a few other chances, they came back into it a little bit forcing one good save out of Higgs and one bit of a scrambled effort which he cleared up himself and it was job done. This was a thoroughly professional performance in all areas of the team with no weak link showing at all and if we can keep it up we will be very close to the top two at the end. Gradel was the undoubted star again and I feel it is fair to say that he has revitalised our season since he made the starting line up. His enthusiasm, work ethic and tackling have rubbed off on the rest of them and they are all playing like demons. Add to that his skill on the ball and his trickery (overdone a little at times, but he's only young) and you have almost the complete package. I hope he can keep it up. Two great new chants from last night: "Luciano, Lucianooo, cost less than Berbatov but scores more goals" and "Jan the third, remember the date we beat the club we fucking hate. We knocked the Scum out the FA Cup, we're super Leeds and we're going up". Oh and another one for the Carlisle fans - "Did you cry, did you cry, did you cry at Wemberley, did you cry at Wemberley?" _______________________________________________ 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 and the hardest time in a sailor's day is to watch the sun as it sails away
