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PavlovsCat added 23:02 - Jan 28

Leeds were there for the taking. Decent point on paper, but a player with pace would have upset a shaky Leeds Central defence. Accept MM's point re Hunt, but why's Taylor not getting so much as a sniff now?

Conspiracy theorists?
1


Mullet added 23:35 - Jan 28

Once again to the pocket of humanity which is Elland Rd for Town, albeit a back pocket. A surprisingly large travelling support greeted the boys in red onto a vast and fast playing surface. Earlier rain had given the greenery a gloss while a chill hung in the air.

The hipsters may quibble, but for me Town were retro in their formation. The two changes of Tabb and Anderson meant a 442 in the classic sense with the tactical ornamentation of both changes in their natural roles. Anderson advanced along the touchline while Tabb tucked in.

The first half saw Town start as they meant to go on. To a man we were splendid in our work rate and effort. One touch football and swift movement on and off the ball meant the hosts' fragile form and mindset were tested numerous times. Anderson and Murphy combined well time and again, moving in triangles and tandem to make space and break for each other and those around them.

They say money-men are ruining the game and while McDermott might look and carry himself like an accountant, he also possess the acumen befitting a man in the dugout. With him and Leeds you know what you are going to get. Pace down the wings, counter-attacking and dirty challenges du jour.

One such endeavour down the right from Anderson and Murphy saw the first of many of these dubious tackles. Anderson flawed in thinking he could get away, as he burst through off of Murphy's soft flick. No sooner did he crumple in a heap than Hunt sprung from bench and tracksuit all in one movement to begin to warm up. He's bonkers, he is. With only four minutes on the clock too boot.

Town would have much better possession as shots and crosses were stabbed away from Kenny's goal by players in both colours. At one point Town moved the ball across the midfield three times without a white shirt touching it. All until Tunners' lay-off stopped dead. It wasn't quite total football, but dominant enough to be totally encouraging.

Had the loanee managed to dig the ball from under his feet more often he would have scored at least one tonight. When McG beat his markers to set the youngster through, it was the bounce of the ball which eluded his shooting boot and allowed a blocking foot to come in.

Crosses from the marauding captain, saw Tabb and Murphy react at the back post on more than one occasion. The first saw Saturday's goalscorer fire off the chest of a defender for a weak penalty shout, the second time Kenny blocked repeated chances to carve out an opener.

While Stewart and Kebe caused problems with their pace, they could not find either striker. McCormack rose highest to meet one, but only flicked wide. Diouf showed that whatever he spits now – it isn't venom. Bar the odd handball unseen, he failed to get to grips with much all game. Leeds' best chance of the half came from a short freekick. “Rudi” Austin shot from miles out, unsighted Gerken tipped what a replay showed to be an off target shot, swirling past the post for a corner.

Even in that respect Town outdid the Yorkshiremen. Skuse fired a cleaner more audacious drive. Almost on instinct Berra got something in the way to send it off target. A pity as he was well in the Leeds box.

One did not need the stats in front of them to know town had a much bigger piece of any pie-chart which mattered. However it was to be scant crumbs of comfort when the most important stat remained an anomaly. We went in at half time still level and goalless. There was no shortage of nearly moments, in a game of nearly scoring time and again.

Two bizarre offsides were given which may have yielded a goal. The most ludicrous of which saw a Leeds defender gift a returning McG the ball with clear space between him and the goal. Covering for his colleagues' reactionary error in flagging, the ref sought to distract with fast moving fingers and lots of pointing amid much protest from a livid Ipswich contingent.

The second half saw Town unchanged in every way. Murphy burst clear early on to drill a cross 3 yards from goal. It zipped past all and out for a throw. Tabb showed his worth throughout. It's fair to say his form of late has been sticky. Mock well ye doubters, tonight he was an equal share of a midfield at full footballing tilt. Working his way up and down the pitch and providing cover and ammo for all around.

Too often though appearance remained deceptive as the whole side were just not quite there - runs saw crosses crash of first men, such as when McG beat the onrushing Kenny he failed to get his effort past the meleé of bodies. When corners were won masterfully, Town's expertise from set pieces was wanting. We are very much a side of Micktorian values. Industrious, pragmatic and a little bit misunderstood at times. Footballing graft takes dominion of footballing artistry as McCarthy continues to engineer or assault on the top half.

Town's ascendency would finally pay off in bizarre circumstances. The focal point of so much of our success cut in from the right. Past two defenders, McG sliced a vicious shot at goal. It dipped and bounced causing the side net to ripple from distance. All around went ballistic as Town players celebrated the lead. Kenny had seemingly staggered, stumbled and fumbled towards the ball like a fat kid dropping his chips as it bounced over his hands and into the net. Just desserts for a Town side who had deserved the lead long before.

It would take little time for it to turn sour. Minutes later Stewart burst into the box and was shepherded out to the byline. Both he and Chambers fell to the floor under slippery conditions. The ref pointed to the spot. Much like McG's stunner, the replay must be checked. Town fans remained unimpressed when McCormack soon wheeled away from 12 yards like a chubby spiv, despatching the spot kick straight down the middle of the goal.

McDermott immediately made a double sub, sensing blood and a quick kill as prey became predator just after the hour mark. Replacing attacking duds for fresh legs Leeds were quick to seize a better foothold. Gerken did well to pluck out a vicious Kebe cross which came from some admirable overlapping. He later pushed clear a deflected McCormack shot which looked to loop in.

Town would introduce Nouble after ten minutes of the home side having their tails up. Switching to a definite 443, again Anderson has yet to see out a full game, but today was no comment on the quality of his shift. More of the same please Paul.

The sub ran and ran as you'd expect winning Town precious possession and set pieces, pinning back the “Champions of Europe” as the crowd erupted with no sense of irony or honour, imploring the officials to bend to their every whim.

Skuse received a booking for a cynical shove as Leeds crossed the half way line. Minutes earlier Town had earned a free-kick just outside the box for an identical challenge which went uncarded. The well worked set piece saw Cresswell lay McG a potshot which dropped too close to Kenny. One sensed that the second half which lacked the dizzying, bursts of staccato passing of the first was going to end in similar fashion.

Both sides had tussled all game like two Friday night gladiators in a pub car park. After 75 minutes the effort began to tell as the last quarter of an hour lurched and span between ends and advantage. Neither had much to show for it at the full time whistle besides muddy knees and ruffled hair. Even if Town had deserved the moral victory, a lack of clear chances had undone any hope of taking the win.
8


harlingblue added 00:48 - Jan 29

We scored, they scored, we should have won, but neither conquered? a precis of above?
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