Leeds Blog 10 A week with two defeats
Use our rumours form to send us leeds transfer rumours.
A week with two defeats
So 2 games in 4 days result in no points, did we deserve any? Yes is the answer, at least a draw in both, but two very different games.
At Reading we more than matched them and kept their crowd quiet for 96 minutes, but it wasn't to be. A 97th minute winner is always hard to take, but I imagine that's what Brighton felt at Elland Road. It was an even match and a draw would have sent both sets of fans home in agreement that it was a fair result, even if Jason Pearce was a whisker away from nicking the win with a header from a free kick in the 94th minute. 4 minutes of injury time were shown and after Pearce's near miss I felt that was full time and even made my way to the end of the aisle in readiness for the drive home. A further 3 minutes were played which resulted in a second bookable offence for Warnock which lead to the free kick and yet again another Le Fondre winner! Warnock should have stayed on his feet, but he will be the first to admit that and after all, we all make mistakes! Warnock came in for some criticism after the game and this week, but other than that error and a few minor one's previous, I think he has had a solid start to the season. It was a hard game in terms of a stand out Man of the match winner as both sets of players cancelled each other out, but the two I picked out were Luke Varney and Jason Pearce. Varney never stopped running and attacking up until the point he was substituted for Matt Smith, his presence was clearly missed when he left the pitch and Pearce had another solid game, impressing once again at the back and if only his header was an inch to the right he would have scored the match winner. Therefore I have chosen Luke Varney which will surprise a few people as I have openly criticised him in the past for well bellow par-performances, but he is getting better for Leeds United. So, some may say 3 points lost, I would say at least a point lost but it wasn't to be and we left the Madejski with nothing other than someone that Reading really would prefer over who they have and that someone is Brian McDermott.
Onto the Lancashire version of the Dingles today and hopes were high for a winning return at Elland Road, a win would put us all in good spirits for the trip to Newcastle, but most of all a position in the top 6 would be ours.
I moved from the North stand today as I brought my son along in what I hoped would be a happy end to the week, was it do be? No is the answer and a very organised Burnley team punished us in what has to be our worst first half performance of the season so far. They were better in most areas and wanted it more, My Dyche has clearly got them playing for him. 2 mistakes from Leeds gave Burnley a 2-0 lead at half time, but from where I was sat it looked like a penalty to Leeds on the stroke of half time that wasn't given. If it wasn't a penalty then a yellow card should have been given for diving! A first half with little positives other than Sam Byram being back in the team and Aidy White back in his natural position.
The second half was much better and Leeds bossed it, but unable to find the breakthrough that they needed with an in form Tom Heaton making sure we couldn't find a way back in. He was in outstanding form, but could do nothing with substitute Matt Smiths header from a free kick. With 15 minutes to go plus a long period of injury time surely Leeds could get back into it? Unfortunately not, but it wasn't for not trying. A very good keeper made sure of the away result and once again our lack of quality up front saw us bow out with no points. A draw would have been a fair result, but Burnley took their chances and they are clearly above Leeds in the League on merit and not by luck.
Positives from today was Sam Byram playing an hour before being replaced by Green. Diouf being back in the team and showing glimpses of quality that we clearly need, Matt Smith scoring at Elland Road where once again the 26,000 fans were brilliant and finally a solid performance from Aidy White and he gets my Man of the match. There will be a lot of negativity about after these two losses, but this is not an overnight success plan that we are watching, it's a work in progress 2-3 year plan that we must give Brian McDermott and GFH the time to make things happen.
We move on to our Cup game against Newcastle next where I am sure Gary Speed will be a big part of the game and get the respect he deserves from both sets of fans.
Good Luck Leeds
OOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHH Gary Gary, Gary Gary Gary Gary Gary Speed.
MOT
@LeedsEditor AKA Ed013
25 September 2013
God bless you Gary, you are a true legend! Please shine abit of fortune our way tonight against Newcastle! X {Very nice comment, Gary Speed = Legend. Ed013}