The Lads travelled to West Yorkshire, as in a packed Elland Road put in a defensive shift that wouldn't have been out of place at the Alamo. Well, not really, as while Leeds managed 13 corners to our 2 and 12 shots to our 6, Patto only had one save to make while the unsteady Leeds keepers had to make 3. Goalless again but a performance to be proud of.
We were into the ground early to take advantage of the rather smart Howard lounge and the best football scran I've had in years. Shame it's named after Wilkinson.
Patterson
Pembele Hume O'Nien (c) Ballard Styles
Ekwah Neil
Rigg Bellingham Clarke
..and a bench of Bishuuurrrp, Alese, Roberts, Hemir, Mundle, Ba, Aouchiche, Hjelde and Dack.
For what I assume we're contractual reasons, we played in our pink and purple kits, attacked the end to our left and Leeds kicked off as their pre-match singalong CD went on for longer than a Methven Megamix. The opening period was mostly Leeds, and they win the first of their numerous corners after ten minutes, followed quickly before a second. As we struggled to get a grip of the game, Jobe couldn't hold the ball up when we did get it forward and the anticipated flick to Rigg didn't materialise.
When young Chris did get forward, he laid it to Pembele but Clarke's header from the cross went over. As we protected Patto from having to make saves, Ballard was booked on 23. An O'Nien tackle broke up a Leeds attack at the expense of another corner. Rigg had a chance, but fired over before Clarke danced into the Leeds box for Meslier (sp) to spoil things by saving. Ballard was on about 1.5 yellows by then.
Despite the home side dominating possession, we kept them away from Patto, and Clarke had another saved after Pembele and Jobe combined to set him up just outside the area. There was a token single added minute then we had the break to consider things. We'd countered the home side's dominance with some determined defending and actually had the better chances - so we fans were happy, until they put the sprinklers on and gave us a shower. It's been hoying down all week, man! No need.
No changes for the second half, and it was much the same except we got into our stride much quicker than in the first. O'Nien was booked for a perfectly good tackle on half way, probably because of the way he flew in, but we still spent most of the first five minutes in their half. Ten minutes in, Rigg was booked for a pull when chasing back down our right and was subbed in favour of Roberts soon after. This led to a dropping off of pace in our midfield, but Paddy replaced this with his more typical carrying of the ball down the right.
More Leeds corners followed, but we didn't even need Patto to get involved as Ballard and Luke dealt with them. Clarke won a corner in our left but Leeds broke and Jobe was booked for ending it a yard outside our box. Another yellow from a card-happy ref. A dangerous place for a free, but they fired it wide if Patto's right hand post.
In the half hour that followed, there were several very soft decisions in the home side's favour, and with 22 to go Pembele was replaced by Alese, with big Aji becoming the third centre half and Hume going to the right. At ling last came a yellow for the home side as Roberts was halted on the correct of their box. Paddy took it himself, but Meslier palmed away the curling effort.
Leeds screamed for a penalty as a corner came in and a hand slapped the ball - I thought it was a Leeds hand, others an O'Nien hand - but if it was Luke, somebody gave him a huge leg up. Most importantly, the ref didn't even flinch.
As Leeds won another corner, three added minutes were announced, we cleared it, then roared as Neil urged us in after winning us a goal kick. The added time was up as Patto lined it up, but we brought on Hemir for Jobe to add an unnecessary extra minute to proceedings.
The final whistle was greeted with a massive roar and a rousing chorus of "Leeds, Leeds are falling apart again." Our players saluted our fans, we applauded them, Luke hoofed the march ball into the stand before giving his customary clenched -fist "come on!" You can't help but love the fella.
Man of the Match? Some said Pembele and Styles looked lost, but I thought the former helped us out if defence well while the latter did an incredible job considering he was marking someone a foot taller at corners. Clarke was dangerous, and the Neil/Ekwah partnership eventually got to grips with the centre. However, for marshalling a largely rearguard action with such efficiency that Patto had only a single save to make, it goes to O'Nien. Come on! Rarrrr!
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