Having just got my breath back after the amazing events on 23 v Villa which I
watched on TV I was very grateful to my daughter in law who had offered to take
me and my son to the game on a day when no trains were running and no special
buses either
Words cannot describe how grateful I felt to her afterwards, the thought of
missing that sort of game is awful (I felt really sorry for two of my mates who
had had to leave early due to transport issues -they missed our 2 goals- a
decision made by them before the game)
Anyway on to the game, it is games like this that just make it all worthwhile,
all that pain and suffering gone in an instant. I have lost track of the number
of times over the years when my wife has asked me why I keep doing something
that makes me so miserable so often - well dear, it is for things like yesterday
It was good to see Douglas back in the team and no real surprise that Harrison
kept his place despite his poor performance last time and the fans opinion of
him. However yesterday showed that he does have something to offer as we went
at Blackburn from the off with lots of pace and lovely one touch pass and move
football, it was a real joy to watch. With Klitch seeming to have lost his
scoring ability (he did have quite a few shots yesterday) I do worry a bit
about where our goals are going to come from (Roofe excepted) and despite all
our dominance it took an own goal (created by Harrison) to break the deadlock.
We had lots of shots and half chances either side of this as we brushed
Blackburn aside with a type of fluid football that we have not seen for years,
if ever. It did look as if it would just be a question of how many. Pontus must
have had a great Christmas as he decided to choose yesterday to showcase his
skills with back heels, step over and drag backs worthy of Cruyff himself. One
such drag back nearly led to a brilliant goal, Pontus had the ball as a
Blackburn player came hurtling in, how we laughed when Pontus' skill left him
on his backside and started a move that ended with Alioski running at their
defence and hammering a shot destined for the top corner before the keeper
managed to get a hand to it. Alioski then hit the bar with one attempt and
tried an audacious overhead kick as we totally dominated the game, the only
down side was the fact that it was only 1 0 at half time
Over our half time pint in the freezing Fanzone we felt that Blackburn would be
shell shocked but the instructions from their manager would be to try and keep
it at 1 0 for as long as possible and then hope they could nick one - good plan
but no chance of that was our general opinion.
Then we had just back to our seats when the ball was in our area and the ref
was pointing to the spot - don't know who did what but no Leeds players were
complaining so we assumed it was correctly given. No heroics from BPF this
penalty and suddenly it was 1 1 with only minutes of the second half gone.
However unlike in previous seasons there was no panic either in the stands or
on the pitch as we just carried on as we had first half with Forshaw having
perhaps his best game for us, Roofe running his whatsits off and everyone doing
their bit. Clarke came on and as per usual tormented their defence taking on
and beating the fullback and putting in crosses, but it appeared as if it would
not be our day as the crosses just failed to find a Leeds shirt. Klich and
Douglas both had decent efforts saved or just past the post, what appeared to
be a handball in their area was not given and the clock ticked down.
I said to my mate that even though it was looking like a draw I had had a great
time watching them, they were a real joy and we knew the winning run could not
continue for ever, we then laughingly said that even a defeat would be Ok given
how great we had been!
Then from nowhere a mad last few minutes - first they got a free kick on the
edge of the box , a needless foul really but a long way out and we should be
Ok. The lad hit it well enough but BPF got down and tipped it round the post -
ooops scratch that, that is what he ought to have done,, but instead and not
for the first time, he showed very weak wrists and he just pushed it into the
net. Poor keeping - I do think with the saves he still makes and his overall
understanding of our methods and his contribution to it that he should keep his
place but, like many, I would not be unhappy to see the keeper we are
(hopefully) bringing in in January become number 1.
So despite all our dominance, 2 free shots would be our undoing, except when
the board went up saying 4 minutes we knew all round the stadium that we were
not done yet, we would still create another chance. Lo and behold we were
correct and a cross into the box from Forshaw was flicked on to Alioski who had
a great header saved on the line, the ball fell to Pablo and his shot was also
parried on the line but it fell to Roofe and his shot was also 'c
