Leeds ran out 2-0 winners of a wind affected game at Elland Road this evening. Once again Town must reflect on more errors at the back, but in truth the Blues created little of consequence despite the odd decent passing move in midfield.
Town lined up as predicted by TWTD this morning; Bent dropped to the bench while Alun Armstrong and Marcus Stewart started up front, although Stewart spent a lot of time dropped into midfield. At the back Town reverted to a central three with Hermann Hreidarsson in the middle of John McGreal and Mark Venus. Fabian Wilnis returned at right wing-back while Jamie Clapham started on the other side. Matt Holland, Jim Magilton and Finidi George started in midfield. George Burley again preferred Andy Marshall to Matteo Sereni in goal.
The game was a scrappy affair with the wind preventing either side from playing attractive football. It would take three or four attempts to get the ball under control at times while both keepers had to respot the ball several times for each goalkick, initially to boos from the Leeds fans, although they eventually realised that Marshall wasn't deliberately wasting time. Plastic bags and assorted rubbish flew about the pitch throughout.
Largely due to the wind the opening was a midfield dominated affair. The nearest to goal action came in the sixth minute when John McGreal got a foot in front of Viduka as he ran into the penalty area.
The first serious effort came from Robbie Fowler in the 16th minute. The ex-Liverpool man tried to chip Andy Marshall from 35 yards, but the Town keeper had little trouble.
Town were having possession, but their moves were breaking down before they could get into the Leeds area. The wind was probably more towards the Town goal than the Leeds in the first half, although it was making the ball swerve in every direction at some point or other.
Andy Marshall made another save on 19 as Gary Kelly was found unmarked on the right of the Town penalty area. The Irishman hit a shot across Marshall which the keeper parried away. Smith failed to get to the rebound and the danger was gone.
On 26 Kewell had a freekick charged down by Marcus Stewart after McGreal had harshly been penalised for a foul on Viduka.
Within a minute Marshall was off his line quickly to clear the ball ahead of Viduka, who was causing Town more problems than anyone else.
Two minutes later Town had their first serious chance. A deep Jamie Clapham cross towards Finidi George was put out for a corner. Venus's kick found Hermann Hreidarsson who headed wide.
Chances were few for either side, but on 41 Armstrong hit a shot which was charged down just in side the Leeds area.
The half ended with both sets of fans reasonably happy with their sides. Town had defended well and had passed OK in midfield at times. A greater steeliness than Saturday had been on display, however the Blues were not creating too much. The wind, though was not helping at all.
George Burley made no changes at half-time, the side lining up with the same formation. Quickly, the good work from the first half was undone as Leeds went ahead within 15 seconds of the half beginning.
The ball was pumped forwards, McGreal cleared unconvincingly to the edge of the area where Fowler picked the ball up. The England international hot a weak speculative shot goalwards which Marshall ought to have dealt with easily. However, the keeper went to ground too quickly and the ball bounced over him and into the net. The wind and the uneven surface may have had a lot to do with it, but it was still a poor error from Marshall.
On 55 Leeds had an appeal for a penalty as Smith went down as he ran into the area past McGreal. Dermot Gallacher waved the appeals away.
As the hour approached Town started to drag themselves back into the game. First Magilton had a shot deflected wide, then Holland. From the resulting corner Hermann Hreidarsson had a header cleared off the line, but the ref's whistle had gone for pushing.
Alun Armstrong was close to getting on the end of a Jamie Clapham cross after a fine run forward from the increasingly marauding Mark Venus. Jim Magilton had another shot a minute later, but Martyn had little trouble.
David Batty received a yellow card for a late tackle on Fabian Wilnis on 66. Two minutes later John McGreal also entered the book, although he looked to have won the ball from Viduka.
Andy Marshall went some way to atoning for his earlier error in the 69th minute when he saved from Viduka as the Australian ran in on the right hand side of goal and hit a shot form virtually point blank.
Town's best opportunity on the night came on 75. Matt Holland hit an Alun Armstrong lay-off well, but just by the post. Within a minute though Leeds had a penalty.
It was another defensive error, again with the wind perhaps to some degree to blame. Jamie Clapham tried to head the ball back to Andy Marshall but the ball fell short and Mark Viduka nipped in. The keeper caught the striker and the ref pointed to the spot. Town fans were worried that Marshall might get a red card, but Mr Gallacher showed him only a yellow. Ian Harte, the anti-hero from the Town-Leeds game at Portman Road last season, stroked the ball home.
George Burley immediately switched his attackers with Pablo Counago and Marcus Bent coming on for Stewart and Armstrong.
Fabian Wilnis, probably Town's best player on the night, found his way into the book on 80 for a foul on Leeds sub Robbie Keane. The Dutchman didn't look convinced by the decision.
With four minutes later Finidi George was replaced by Tommy Miller. The Nigerian had shown some neat touches in a game where it was difficult to show too many skills.
On 88 Robbie Fowler had a golden opportunity to score a third for Leeds as he was left totally unmarked in the penalty area. Fowler was given an age to decide where to put the ball, although it actually took him a while to get the ball under control. When he did get to hit a shot his effort was blocked on the line by Hermann Hreidarsson and cleared.
Late on John McGreal hit a curling, swerling cross shot on to the roof of the net and Venus had a powerful shot saved by Martyn.
The Blues were better than on Saturday, although that wasn't difficult. There was a greater positivity, but there were two poor errors at the back which led to the goals, admittedly in difficult circumstances. Up front again chances were rare while Matteo Sereni must hope to get a start next week at Blackburn, a game looking ever more important in deciding Town's future.