Jer-maine Beck-ford, Jer-maine Beck-ford, Jer-maine Beck-ford, Jer-maine
Beck-ford
Jer-maine Beck-ford, Jer-maine Beck-ford, Jer-maine Beck-ford, Jer-maine
Beck-ford
Really going to miss singing that and watching him play and score for us !!
He proved all his (many) critics wrong yet again by doing what he does best -
scoring goals. We needed to win, so we needed to score and so Grayson did what
anyone who knows anything would have done, he recalled the player who "only
scores goals" and even better he made him captain.
Pre match as Rich says the usual match pubs were full - full of fans who had
maybe forgotten where Elland Road was - and the atmosphere was buzzing, a
combination of hope, expectation and fear. We managed to keep our minds off the
game at least for a bit by arguing about the election but however heated that
got at the forefront of our minds was the fact that the biggest game at home
for years was near. I offered my mates the do you want to win 4 -0 at a canter
or need a last minute goal - maybe even coming from behind (how prescient was
that !) - they all, to a man chose the easy 4 -0.
With Naylor a surprise injury based omission and Snoddy relegated to the bench
to allow Max to move to right midfield to accommodate Becks, we started
brightly, Max in particular looking up for it and causing havoc with his direct
running. His first two crosses however failed to find their target and we
continued to press with the crowd really getting behind the team and panic and
worry being kept to a minimum. A hurried desperate clearance inside the 6 yard
box showed that they were not just going to roll over (football wise that is)
then what we all wanted happened - a ball over the top found its way to
Beckford and he scored - well some of us thought he had, I had seen the flag go
up and knew it would not count. I turned to my son and some of other lads
behind me who were still celebrating and when I turned back it was to see a ten
man fracas. No-one really seemed to have seen what happened and then we saw the
ref pull out a red card - for one of
their players who seemed to be the main instigator we thought, but no it was
for Mad Max, who then totally lost it and had to be restrained by Doyle and
captain Beckford and dragged off the pitch. I dont' really recall the rest of
the half .We tried to convince ourselves that it is 'harder to play against
ten' - even though I tend to shout at the TV when a manager comes out with that
one "well why don't you ever start with ten men then ". We did in the end
decide that provided we did not go a goal down it could still turn out all
right. Famous last words since almost straight from the start we watched as a
ball was hit too far by the winger who had skinned Hughes, and 2 defenders
stood and watched it go harmlessly out of play - except it didn't and the
forward kept it in and put it back ac cross to the man who turned and scored.
The unthinkable had happened. We all knew that Millwall were winning and so
only a win would do but our confidence on and off
the pitch was starting to waver. Then for once,the team actually showed some,
bottle \ character \ guts \ nerve or whatever you call it and began to play
well again. Doyle having his best game for ages, Kilkenny pulling strings and
Becchio working his socks off and throwing himself to the floor over and over
again but generally getting the free-kicks. Half and hour to go and the season
depending on it- enter Johnny Howson "Oh great here comes our saviour- just
what we need" said a certain sarcastic know nothing stood at my seat (I.e ME) I
did follow that up with "remember Carlisle away Johnny" and suddenly the game
changed. Howson was the player we know he can be but so seldom has been this
year and he drove us forward, then a ball by Johnson was laid back by Becchio
right into the path of Howson who struck it beautifully into the corner. We
went mental - but still had it all to do. As the roof threatened to come off ER
the keeper caught an easy high
ball into the area but as he threw it out Capt Jermaine jumped up and
deflected it to Johnson - his cross come shot hit a defender and bobbled
towards Beckford - time stood still as Beckford pounced and with a finish only
he could have made he hit it home. Absolute pandemonium ensued as we all went
crazy - years of frustration and near misses was nearly over. We continued to
press and watched as the clock slowly ticked down. A header from Bromby hit the
post and we all wondered if that would come back to haunt us. We looked OK and
Watt and Snoddy come on to run down the clock. The scoreboard showed the 90mins
was up but no-one had seen the board so we did not know how long was going to
be played. We just hoped and prayed and shouted for the final whistle and
eventually it came. Some of us danced and shouted and screamed for joy - others
sat with their head in their hands with tears of joy, it was very emotional.
Despite pleas to keep off the pitch
thousands ran on and why not. Howson, Johnson and Hughes were carried shoulder
high, loving every minute of it. Eventually the pitch was cleared and the
players led by Paddy with the mic singing the worst version of na na na na
Leeds are going up. Then Naylor and Gradel got it and sang Marching on together
as the players began a lap of honour. This was spoilt by some idiots deciding
to go back on the pitch and spoil it for the rest of us.
We left all singing back to the buses and back to town to have a few more
beers and celebrate for a few hours..On my way home I even ended up in the
White Rose bar at the station on my own when I saw my train was 20mins away and
the bar was full of fans still singing and celebrating and I just had to join
them.
What a day.
Too early to be arguing over who should stay who has to go etc. Lets just enjoy
the moment for the next few days. But a special mention to Andy Hughes - a
limited footballer but a genuine bloke - if I was a player I would want to be
like him - loving every minute of being at Leeds United.
And finally whether he stays or in fact does leave us a great big Thank you to
Jermaine Beckford - whithout him it would not have been possible. The winner at
scum and the winner when it really counted yesterday and 25 in the league in
total
Jer-maine Beck-ford, Jer-maine Beck-ford, Jer-maine Beck-ford, Jer-maine
Beck-ford
Jer-maine Beck-ford, Jer-maine Beck-ford, Jer-maine Beck-ford, Jer-maine
Beck-ford
Dave
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