Leeds – A Game To Forget

Passion, excitement, buzz – all words that we felt before hand but afterwards all that remained was depression. From an encounter that had promised so much, it was only Leeds who were smiling at the end of the game.

We were playing against the worse defence in the league and our Yorkshire rivals. Phil Brown said his team we waiting to be let loose, but the delayed kick-off must have confused them. With the match being put back fifteen minutes due to crowd congestion, the match kicked-off at 8 p.m. By 10p.m it was only the crowd size that Tigers fans will remember the game for – a new record Hull City attendance at the KC of 24,311.

Hang on, there are two things. The name of referee Phil Joslin will also live long in the memories. Where do these guys come from? From the first minute of the Yorkshire derby, you knew it was one of those games. After seven or eight stoppages within the first five minutes of the game, the match was never going to flow, and it never did. To make it worse, we had two linesmen who were always ten yards behind play, but we’ll come to them later.

Dean Windass made his second home debut in-front of a standing ovation but all his performance showed was that himself and Jon Parkin can’t play alongside together. Against WBA on Saturday, one must be dropped, or both.

From the start, Leeds United looked more assured as City were timid. It was of no real surprise that Leeds took the lead mid-way through the first-half. A free-kick delivered by Alan Thompson caused confusion between the City defence and Bo Myhill and defender Matt Heath nipped in to prod the ball home to send Leeds into the lead. What followed was of no surprise either.

|From the twenty-fifth minute, Leeds were time-wasting. Neil Sullivan took an eternity over every goal-kick whilst Leeds players feigned injury right, left and centre. More annoyingly, City had now decided to play football and were pressing at the Leeds backline. Why had we waited to go behind before doing so?

Dean Marney and Ryan France were both pushing forward as Leeds struggled to get out of their own half. Apart from several goal-line scrambles, the ball wouldn’t enter the Leeds net. Finally, after yet another scramble, Nicky Forster was able to prod home from close range, atoning for his earlier miss when he saw his free header go past the post from only six yards out.

With only a minute of injury-time left, City had equalised and Leeds had stopped time-wasting. Not for long.

The second-half started with Jon Parkin breaking fee on the half-way line. A glance at the linesman and the flag remains down. He’s through on goal, into the box and as he strikers the ball into the net past a diving Neil Sullivan, screams of ‘Goal’ go up as the same time as the flag.

‘What!’ many fans ask, as the linesman flags after the ball goes in the net rather than the minute Parkin touched the ball on the half-way line. Two minutes later and a dubious free-kick given away by Michael Turner led to what proved to be the winner, Alan Thompson curling the ball into the top corner of the net.

I’m not sure what it is but i can’t be the only one that gets the feeling we are going to concede every time someone has a free-kick on the edge of our area. it always happens and you always feel it before hand – why can’t Bo realise this?

The time-wasting soon commences again with Leeds players being knocked over more so by the wind than by a City challenge. The referee stops the game at every incident, halting any build up of potential momentum.

From being a side that had conceded the most goals this season, the defence stood resolute under pressure. A Stuart Elliott volley went inches wide after he was introduced into the game whilst Forster wasted a glorious chance only minutes from time, allowing the defender to make a challenge rather than scoring the equalising goal.

When Leeds did venture into the City half, Kandol wasted a chance clean through on goal. The fact he was offside when the ball was played almost epitomised the officials overall performance.

The match finished with David Healy suffering a serious arm injury to go with Flo’s broken foot suffered before the game. Leeds had taken all three points, but with Barnsley, Southend and Coventry all winning, City’s place in the Championship became less secure.

The only plus point of the night apart from the attendance, Leeds united were sent to the bottom of the Championship, and we can claim we put them there despite losing the game. A small thing to take heart from, but we’d all rather have the three points.

Player Ratings

Bo Myhill – 6
Somehow he hasn’t worked out where the free-kick is going yet. Since every other fan in the stadium knows, perhaps we should all point at the corner of the goal it is going in so he has a clue for once.

Sam Ricketts – 6
His place may be under threat following the signing of Nathan Doyle last night. Not very impressive in recent games.

Andy Dawson – 6
He had the ball so may times yet did so little with it apart from the ball down the line which got predictable after the third time of doing it. Gave the ball away far too cheaply rather than keeping possession. Panic from the back spread through the rest of the team.

Michael Turner – 7
He`s improved a lot in recent weeks and he had another good showing. Unfairly penalised for the free-kick that lead to the goal but the most solid defender on show Tuesday night.

Damien Delaney – 6
Too lazy at times when in possession led to him giving the ball away. His overhead kick would have been spectacular but not at his best.

Ian Ashbee – 5
Rarely found another amber shirt but his desire was always there. That can never be questioned, Just an off-day for the Tigers captain, but please don’t have another one.

Dean Marney – 5
The player should be banned from all free-kicks, or just hand the ball to the keeper for his goal-kick as the ball only ever ends up in the stand. Let Dawson or Livermore deliver the crosses into the box.

Rysn France – 6
Not a natural position but he tries his best. Some strong running but we need john Welsh back as soon as possible as France is not a long-term solution.

Dean Windass – 5
The praise at the beginning had turned to moans at the end. The player was viewed by many as being too slow but apart from one or two nice passes, it was true. His partnership with Jon Parkin will have hopefully lasted only one game.

Jon Parkin – 5
Doesn’t move, doesn’t head – what does he do. He has good control but often that is lacking. His goal was taken well but the offside flag cut celebrations short. He needs to get into better physical shape if he wants to stay at this club.

Nicky Forster – 7
The striker was the pick of a poor bunch. His performances have been good recently but he must find the back of the net more regularly.

Stuart Elliott
Not too involved but was very unlucky with a volleyed effort that went inches wide.

Michael Bridges
Good to see him back and many fans would want to see him playing on Saturday instead of Windass.
Not on long enough to change the game but his pace would have been a useful asset had he started the fixture.