Leeds United 1-2 Brighton & Hove Albion
Went to the game and also went to the LUST march before hand too. I don't lie so I'm gonna come out and say that although I hate Ken Bates, we're achieving nothing. Yes the club needs investment but we have a good Championship squad with players that are more than capable of performing at the top level.
Before the game I was talking to a friend and I bet that score would end up 0-0 or something like that. He reckoned Brighton would steal a 1-0 win. We went to the game with the tirade of Leeds fans claiming they'd simply had enough.
The game started well, Becchio had an early header which glanced wide, which I thought he could've done better with. The rest of the half was pretty forgettable. There were few chances and the only real highlight I found was Clayton's brilliant lunge on a Brighton player. Loved it, great tackle and escaped without a red which I was surprised at.
The second half began and after the dull first half maybe this was the chance where we could see what Redfearn is capable of in the dressing room. Maybe he could spark change and get the team going. Both teams came out in better spirits. It was pretty even, Leeds attacking one minute, Brighton the next. In a game of few chances misses became unbearable to watch, Becchio missing a golden opportunity to poke home from a yard, only to be denied by Joe Mattock. Keepers made some good saves at either end. Adam Smith blazed the ball over the bar after being fed the ball by Snodgrass. This was also a good chance where he could've taken more touches I think.
Brighton drew first blood when a corner wasn't dealt with and Craig Mackail-Smith was grateful to receive the ball a yard from goal to tap home and give the seagulls the lead. Moments later Leeds equalised. A corner came in from Robert Snodgrass and Becchio jolted to the near post and steered the ball with his head to the far post. How could you score a header like this and miss a tap-in from a yard? That's the kind of player Becchio is these days I guess.
Redfearn didn't make a substitution until his opposite number Gus Poyet had made all his allowed changes. It seems, like Grayson, Neil didn't have much faith in his bench either.
Both sides pushed but karma hit. All the late goals we'd scored in the past few weeks had caught up to us and without a serious warning, Alan Navarro turned and took a hopeful strike. Straight past Lonergan who I didn't think was too ready for it. It even looked like it went under him. Heartbreak in the last minutes. Fans dived for the exits and Elland Road turned into an eerie place.
The final whistle blows and the Leeds fans, yet again get on Bates' back, as though he was playing. I understand that he doesn't invest but the players were capable of winning and failed. It was like our fans were just eager to blame someone else like children. Like it wasn't fair because everyone else gets money and we don't. We should accept there isn't going to be change until change is announced. Until then we should get behind the team properly and stop blaming Bates. It's getting old and it's sort of like our comfort blanket. If all else fails, blame Bates. Should be our motto.
Now, for the ratings of individuals :
Andy Lonergan - Made some good saves, never agreed with captains being at the back of the field in goal. Although who else could take the armband? O'Dea? Could've done more for both goals and made a very dodgy save in the first half - 6/10
Danny Pugh - Probably the best player on the pitch, for Leeds anyway. Had a quiet game, but that's because he didn't make any mistakes. Looked solid, couldn't have asked for much more, maybe needs to be a bit more adventurous and get forward a bit though - 7/10
Darren O'Dea - Had an okay game, made a mistake or two but got his head to quite a lot - 6/10
Tom Lees - Tried to get his head to everything at either end as always and had a solid game at the back - 6/10
Adam Smith - First time I've watched this kid and was pleasantly surprised. Did well all over and got forward quite a bit. Linked well with Lees just inside him and Snodgrass just in front of him. Fair play to the guy, he felt with Kazenga LuaLua extremely well and kept him quiet before he got subbed. Hope to see more of him- 7/10
Aidy White - Didn't turn up and looked like a fish out of water in the winger position. Didn't get a lot of the ball and didn't mark anyone too well, leaving Pugh to pick up the pieces. Poor game for Aidy - 5/10
Fabian Delph - Some great tackles went in, some brilliant skills were on show and some sensible football was played. However, there was no creativity. I watched him and he impressed me, but when he had the ball there were so many opportunities to feed the two strikers and the two wingers. Lacked that edge but overall he was good - 7/10
Adam Clayton - Looked jaded, but in some good tackles and did well in centre-mid with Delph. In need of a rest though and is missing Howson. Fair game. - 6/10
Robert Snodgrass - Had a very quiet first half and didn't do much in the second bar the assist. Looked tired also but he is our talisman we can't do without. Hope he's on it for Tuesdays game at Coventry - 6/10
Ross McCormack - Never got a chance, big penalty shout involving him as he looked to be body-checked in mid-air. Didn't get service he needed and with that probably had a poor game. Not his fault really - 5/10
Luciano Becchio - Although he scored, he is becoming a donkey. Get someone else in, Nunez, Forsell or just someone! Annoying me a lot - 6/10
Subs:
Andros Townsend and Ramon Nunez came on in the last few minutes and didn't have time to get going really. Would like to see Nunez play more behind the striker. The striker being Ross. Townsend, played well against Burnley but he's too greedy and doesn't really play with a team as I saw at Crystal Palace.
Anyway, I'll wrap up there.
iAdios!
