Leeds United The Fightback Is On
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Leeds United: The Fightback Is On
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In a week where English prowess in the Champions League is likely to dominate the headlines - with the former Newton Heath and Arsenal both thrashing their European counterparts - it was an equally flattering display that brought a smile to the faces of Leeds fans everywhere.
Tuesday night saw Leeds United’s first three points since they brushed aside Oldham in February and the team’s biggest win in the league since the four-nothing drubbings of Yeovil and Bristol Rovers in October.
Grayson’s charges found some of the wining mentality that took them to the pinnacle of League One for much of the season so far and the fight back was led by Robert Snodgrass, who rallied the troops declaring the previous outings’ dropped points a failure. And it was Snodgrass who drew first blood at Prenton Park with a beguiling free kick that flummoxed a box full of players and bounced into the Tranmere goal after nine minutes. Further Tranmere infractions helped Leeds double the lead seven minutes later when McSheffrey’s bursting run ended in a tumble and Beckford coolly deposited a penalty kick far into the corner of the opposite net.
Despite a determined equaliser from the hosts Leeds were pulling away when Jermaine Beckford’s exquisite cross was met by the diving head of Luciano Becchio to make it 3-1. It was a breaking move from midfield and showcased the deadly precision that Leeds has been missing in the last couple of months. The fourth was equally deadly as Beckford ran on to a trademark long ball and finished with a fine lob over the oncoming keeper.
The performance was one to smile about on Wednesday morning and hopefully shows signs that Leeds have what it takes to be battling for the Championship rather than the second automatic promotion spot.
The weekend wasn’t quite so rosy but the fight back was visible in Leeds’ first half display against Brentford at Elland Road.
Having not played a midweek game, a rejuvenated Leeds side were quick out of the blocks playing some of their most fluent high-tempo football seen in weeks at Elland Road. Snodgrass and McSheffrey were looking particularly dangerous on the flanks and the only thing lacking in a first-half that the Whites dominated was a bulging net, as Leeds should have been at least a couple of goals up at the break. Beckford in particular was guilty of missing a host of chances.
It looked as though Leeds were going to pay for their lack of killer instinct in front of goal when Ben Stevens stabbed home the opening goal on the hour, as the tension that has blighted the Whites in recent week returned. Leeds continued to press and eventually they made one of their chances pay when McSheffrey kept a cool head in front of goal to present Beckford with one of the easiest goals he’s scored this season, slotting past Brentford’s highly-rate on-loan Arsenal ‘keeper Wojciech Sczcesny who had made a number of key saves throughout the match.
Despite the late introduction of Paul Dickov for his Leeds debut, United failed to find a winner and despite their improved performance this game went down as another two points dropped and was greeted by a smattering of boos among the Elland Road faithful.
The flicker of hope was alive though and Tuesday’s away win was proof that this Leeds team ‘still have it’. The mini-season for the title is well and truly alive.
Leeds fan Joe Mewis runs football history website On This Football Day and Elland Road regular Mark Fletcher runs beer reviews website Real Ale Reviews
Posted on Thursday 11th March 2010
Joe Mewis & Mark Fletcher
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