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Leeds United 1-0 Town - Match Report
Saturday, 24th Sep 2016 17:09

Former Blues loanee Chris Wood’s 35th minute header saw Leeds United to a 1-0 victory over Town at Elland Road. The Whites might have won by a more comfortably margin having come close on a number of further occasions, while the Blues never looked like getting anything from the game once they had gone behind.

Town started with the same XI which began last week’s 0-0 draw with Aston Villa, however, Teddy Bishop and Luke Varney both missed out on places on the bench.

Bishop broke his nose against Villa, while one-time Whites striker Varney suffered a hamstring problem during Monday’s 4-0 U23s victory over Leeds. Andre Dozzell and Josh Emmanuel replaced them among the subs.

Hadi Sacko struck the first shot of the game for the home side in the fourth minute but screwed his effort high, wide and deep into the stand.

Neither side had threatened again before Wood cut in from the left past Christophe Berra and smashed a shot which beat Bartosz Bialkowski but crashed off the post. Kalvin Phillips scraped the follow-up well wide.

On 12 Brett Pitman, again playing as the lone striker with Tom Lawrence in behind him, required treatment for an ankle problem after a strong but fair challenge from Pontus Jansson.

Grant Ward was inches away from putting the Blues in front right on the quarter hour. The former Spurs man hit what’s becoming a trademark shot from the edge of the box which deflected away from the target off Kyle Bartley and appeared to graze the outside of the post on its way wide.

From Lawrence’s resultant corner from the left Berra powered a header over with Wood challenging him.

Pitman was eventually forced off by his earlier injury in the 25th minute with Leon Best taking over.

Two minutes later, Adam Webster played in Ward down the right and the winger sent over a cross which a defender only just managed to divert away from Jonathan Douglas as the former Leeds midfielder looked to volley goalwards.

The Blues had shaded the half but without having been able to create any clear-cut chances, however, on 36 the home side went in front.

Charlie Taylor was played into space on the Leeds left, crossed and Wood rose above Berra to head home his seventh of the season.


Wood, Blues defender Tommy Smith’s room-mate when on international duty with New Zealand, shot over on the turn on 42, then two minutes later Lawrence overhit a Town freekick from just outside the area on the right, which had been won by Best.

There was a scare for the Blues in injury time when Lawrence dallied on the ball inside his area following a Leeds corner but Berra reacted quickly to close down Wood and block his shot.

Up until Wood’s goal, when the one-time Town loanee outmuscled his former team-mate Berra with whom he had spent most of the half battling, the Blues had been on top but without creating a serious chance other than Ward’s deflected effort and Berra’s header from the subsequent corner.

The goal gave the Whites confidence, however, and they were well on top during the spell up to the break.

Six minutes after the restart Lawrence and Ward exchanged passes as the Blues broke from their own half but the ex-Spurs man misread Best’s run and sent his pass beyond the substitute.

Leeds were starting the second half where they ended the first and on 54 Pablo Hernandez sent a low cross-shot in from the right which Bialkowski claimed.

A minute later the Blues’ Polish keeper prevented Wood from scoring his second of the game when he rushed off his line sharply to block from the New Zealander after he had been played in on goal by Hernandez.

Moments later, Webster, who looked to have suffered a knock, was replaced by Josh Emmanuel with skipper Luke Chambers moving into the centre of the defence.

Leeds should have doubled their lead in the 61st minute when Freddie Sears was caught in possession midway inside his own half and Wood was fed with only Chambers and Bialkowski to beat.

The Town skipper stood his ground and blocked the striker’s shot and the ball cannoned across to Sacko, who somehow smashed wide. Bialkowski subsequently left Sears in no doubt of his opinion on the former West Ham man surrendering the ball in such a dangerous area.

The Blues were fortunate still to be only one goal behind having made little impression in the second half with the home side dominating. On 70 Phillips struck a freekick from the left which Bialkowski clawed over.

As the game moved into its final 15 minute Ward limped off and was replaced by Kevin Bru with Lawrence moving up front alongside Best, who had shown his ability in flashes but had largely been peripheral.

Almost immediately Bru was booked for a foul on Stuart Dallas just outside the Town box. While Hernandez prepared to take a freekick he eventually hit straight into the Blues wall, Sacko was replaced by Kemar Roofe.

Town finally started to make some impact as an attacking force in the 80th minute, an Emmanuel cross from the right eventually ending up at the feet of Jonas Knudsen, whose shot deflected wide. In the aftermath of the corner a grounded Berra was booked.

Bialkowski mis-hit a clearance to Wood on 84 but Berra did well to get back and the former Millwall man eventually hit a weak shot through to the Town keeper.

Seconds later, Skuse did well to get back to slide the ball away from sub Alex Mowatt when he otherwise looked to be in on goal.

With three minutes remaining Lawrence won a freekick just outside the Leeds area to the right. Sears, who twice went close to ending his goal drought - now 35 games - with freekicks last week against Aston Villa, this time shot high and wide.

A minute later, a Town throw from the right was cleared out to Lawrence, whose mis-hit shot was flicked towards goal by Bru but home keeper Robert Green was untroubled.

In three minutes of injury time with the Blues pushing virtually everyone forward, Wood was sent breaking away on the Leeds left but failed to find an untracked Mowatt with his cross.

A second Leeds goal continued to look more likely than a Town equaliser in the seconds prior to referee Stephen Martin bringing the match to an end.

The Blues never really got back into the game after going behind to Wood’s goal 10 minutes before the break.

Town were unable to threaten in the second half until the closing stages and even then keeper Green wasn’t required to make a serious save.

Leeds had chances to increase their lead but the Blues’ backline made their usual blocks and Bialkowski his now customary impressive saves, while some of the home side’s finishing could have been more clinical.

Overall, a disappointing result and second half performance in particular - the poorest since the Brentford game - which sees Town drop to 14th ahead of Tuesday’s home game against Brighton and Hove Albion.

Leeds United: Green, Ayling, Jansson, Bartley (c), Taylor, Phillips, O’Kane, Hernandez (Mowatt 82), Dallas (Grimes 86), Sacko (Roofe 77), Wood. Unused: Silvestri, Coyle, Cooper, Antonsson.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Webster (Emmanuel 56), Berra, Knudsen, Skuse, Douglas, Ward (Bru 75), Sears, Lawrence, Pitman (Best 25). Unused: Gerken, Kenlock, Grant, Dozzell. Referee: Stephen Martin (Staffordshire). Att: 22,554 (Town: 902).


Photo: Action Images



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jocasaja added 17:10 - Sep 24
Oh dear !
2

truckerblue added 17:11 - Sep 24
3 words. Pile of sh*t.
12

joepublic added 17:14 - Sep 24
Phil and all at game, please can you let us know how Josh did at rb and luke at cb?

After all it has been such a topic of coversation for ages now.
Cheers
5

midastouch added 17:15 - Sep 24
We came, we saw, we missed the target (again!)

In fact it sounds like we barely had a shot on target!

Lack of goals = worrying times!
14

surgery added 17:16 - Sep 24
Wait for it, all the we love MM brigade will soon be posting accusing everyone else of being not proper supporters or Scummers in disguise. As far as I am concerned they cannot be proper supporters if they are willing to condone this crap.
43

RoyalAscotBlue added 17:16 - Sep 24
Inspirational.
14

multiplescoregasms added 17:16 - Sep 24
Well done to all those that made the trip to Leeds today. Always have my admiration.

So how many goals have we scored so far this season Mr McCarthy and Evans? Looks pretty poor if you ask me. If we don't get a replacement in for Murph in the next transfer window, shame on you.
8

dagenhamtown added 17:16 - Sep 24
In some ways lack of investment from our tight owner means mick can only play with what he has got on the other side mick your time is running out our football again is shocking lack of creativity lack of spark up front and frankly just dire .I do feel slightly sorry for ya but grow a set and tell evans u need cash as this just ain't good enough sad to be a bored frustrated 13 years in lower div fan tonight just crap
9

cornishblu added 17:17 - Sep 24
..."never looked like getting anything once gone behind ....that's because mock has not got a plan b .....but that's classed as moaning ... WAKE UP
15

TractorBoy666 added 17:17 - Sep 24
Blame investment all you like but under McCarthy we are going nowhere with his stubborn, boring tactics. The idea for away games (even some at home) is to sit back and wait for a lucky break, it's sad but true. I'd love to see us have a go at a team but that is hardly ever going to happen under MM unless we are playing a side worse than us. Fed up with the football we have to witness every week but I guess it's here to stay unless actions are taken (won't happen by Evans) useless.
37

carlo88 added 17:17 - Sep 24
At least Best and his impressive tattoos had an airing.
3

northstand78 added 17:17 - Sep 24
Can't wait to hear MM summing up of this one having viewed it through those rose tinted glasses of his....
12

cornishblu added 17:20 - Sep 24
..but instead
Well done lads ....great defensive tactics from Mick , we only lost by one goal..Chambers was different class, it's only one game, move onto the next , so what if it cost £40 a ticket to get in, worth the money ..stop moaning all of you we should be pleased by today's performance ...look at the positives
....wrote that to see if it made me feel any better looking on the bright side

...it hasn't...what a load of drivel to write...but no doubt many of our experts on here will think it's a fair reflection ......UNBELIEVABLE
24

dirtydingusmagee added 17:21 - Sep 24
WOEFUL ! CLUELESS . McCarthy has tunnel vision,never had any plan to win the game from the outset.
28

Gcon added 17:24 - Sep 24
Unleash the doom merchants!
Does sound like we were pants, in fairness
-2

Knightsy added 17:24 - Sep 24
The lack of Goals in Midfield & Upfront is a big problem now.

I just hope Best now gets a run in the side, I hate to say this, but him and Ward are the only ones that will be likely to score in this poor side.

6

TractorWood added 17:25 - Sep 24
Cheers, Phil. First league I've missed this season so very keen to hear about it. The three injuries are a worry especially Ward who has been a revelation this season.

We have only scored more than one goal, once this season. There are serious questions to be answered about our build up play post Murphy and our lack of proven, out and out attacking options is a perennial concern. I hope MM doesn't use the injuries to escape questions on squad depth.

Could be a long season, well done to the travelling faithful.
6

Taricco_Fan added 17:26 - Sep 24
I'm sure we will go on a three game winning streak and all will be well again.

/sarcasm
2

htb added 17:29 - Sep 24
No surprise a typical MM performance sounds like we got what we deserved unlike against Derby. Wish we had Gary Monk as our manager least he tries to get his teams to try and play some football with style.
15

bellazzurri79 added 17:31 - Sep 24
We were woeful.
10

jas0999 added 17:32 - Sep 24
Exceptionally poor result and performance. Typical negative and boring style of play which is sadly bound to push even more fans away from Portman Road. It works occasionally - as at Derby - but even then the end result was further damage to this clubs once great reputation.

Four goals in our last nine matches (all competition) says it all. Very poor. As I have said before, We will of course win a few - some undeservedly; grind out a few draws and also lose a fair amount. It all points to very average. Mid table. Our squad simply isn't good enough and lacks quality.

I still can't understand the decision to sell Murphy without a replacement lined up. I also don't believe the spin and excuses for not signing someone. We gambled on Best/Varney being the answer.

However, that's not really the main problem. It's the style and lack of creativity. Skuse/Douglas rarely works. Chambers isn't a right back. Sears is a striker. It's the same problems week in week out. The manager is yet again letting his ego get in the way of making the right decisions in the best interests of the club. How can folk justify paying £35 to essentially watch paint dry? Equally Evans has much to answer for as the recent transfer window saw more players and thus savings on wages than players signed and a profit in regards to outlay of fees. Not for the first time of course.

This isn't about one loss. This is about dire football, results and lack of entertainment since the back end of 2015. Off the field it's just spin after spin. Where will this end?
41

Rodrigo91 added 17:34 - Sep 24
Shows how poor we are if sh***y Chris wood can score against us!
4

Dissboyitfc added 17:35 - Sep 24
How can anyone continue to defend MM is beyond me. He has done his bit, but he cant take us any further and should do the honourable thing!
30

iaintaylorx added 17:36 - Sep 24
Firstly, when will Mick think off a Plan B, because our Plan A doesn't work - simple as that.
Lets just hope the three injuries aren't bad.
5

Taricco_Fan added 17:38 - Sep 24
The Skuglas midfield partnership has to be broken down. Nothing good ever comes from it. We will struggle for goals with such an obvious lack of invention in the middle of the park.
16


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