this report pretty much matches my view of the game and the stats at the bottom, show that 3-0 was definitely on the harsh side.
SO it is Southend, Colchester and maybe Barnsley for Leeds United next year and not Old Trafford and Anfield - but at least they are more than £1 million richer after collecting the bulk of the takings from Sunday's Coca-Cola Championship Play-off final. What so many people suspected finally came true as in the final game of the season the United team was shown up as not quite good enough yet for the Premiership. Another year and further team strengthening, adding vital extra pace to the side, can put that right and the money from the final can help in that respect. But for the summer it will be a case of what might have been and a big chance missed as the Whites failed to beat a Watford side that was well organised and pacy, but ordinary in ability all the same. It was the biggest game since the UEFA Champions League semi-final against Valencia and United's first senior final of any sort for 10 years since the Coca-Cola Cup. Unfortunately the result was the same as that latter disappointment against Aston Villa, although this 3-0 to Watford was never as emphatic as the score would suggest. There was never that much in it for most of the game and Leeds were bereft of any luck on the day. On small margins football games can sometimes be won. Watford scored their first goal when Jay DeMerit headed in a corner and there was no-one on the line to clear. When Shaun Derry produced an equally good header from a similar corner for Leeds there was a Watford defender, James Chambers, to boot the ball off the line. The second Watford goal came after a huge slice of luck as James Chambers' shot deflected off Eddie Lewis and went into the net after hitting the post, rebounding and hitting goalkeeper Neil Sullivan. Further evidence that it was just not United's day came as Sullivan - who has been so assured in his two years at Elland Road - fatally changed his mind in coming for the 26th minute corner that DeMerit headed in and was in no position to make a save. Yet when his Watford counterpart, Ben Foster, went walkabout as early as the ninth minute he got away with it when Derry's goalbound shot picked up the smallest of deflections and ended up in the side netting not the back of the net. Leeds started well enough, but there was early evidence of Watford's expertise from set pieces and when they struck the crucial first goal from a corner it was always going to be uphill for Blackwell's men. It did not help that he had picked the same negative formation that had seen off Preston in the semi-final at Deepdale with Rob Hulse forced to fight a lone battle up front and it was clear changes would have to be made if the game was to turn around. Hulse got some support for the start of the second half with Robbie Blake brought on for Frazer Richardson, but this combination proved ineffective with both players so out of form and it was Watford who increased their lead on 56 minutes. Again it was a set piece that undid United as the defence failed to cut out a long throw. The ball dropped to the feet of Chambers and via Lewis and Sullivan it somehow ended up in the net. Leeds fans turned up the volume in a bid to boost their team. David Healy - always the man most likely to score for the Whites - was brought on at last and suddenly there was more spark about the side in attack. Three half chances came in the space of five minutes, but somehow you knew it was definitely not their day when Derry's 70th minute effort beat the Watford keeper only to be booted off the line by Chambers. With the game stretched in the closing stages and defenders Sean Gregan and Paul Butler struggling on the heavy pitch Watford put the final nail in the coffin when former Leeds midfielder Matthew Spring sent another former Leeds man, Marlon King, racing into the box and he was brought down by Derry. The result was a penalty confidently put away by Darius Henderson. It was too much for hundreds of United supporters as they immediately left the ground. The vast majority of the 35,000 strong White army stayed, however, and quite correctly applauded the players off at the end. At least Leeds won the battle on the sidelines, both numerically and vocally, their fans bringing great credit to the club with their loud and constant backing almost bringing the famous roof off the Millennium Stadium. While many will want to forget the day and result, it was a terrific experience to be part of such a big occasion in what may well be one of the last major club games to be played at the Cardiff venue. Leeds United 0 Watford 3 (DeMerit 25, Sullivan og 57, Henderson 84, pen) Att: 64,736 Leeds (4-5-1/ 4-4-2): Sullivan; Kelly, Butler, Gregan (Bakke 85), Kilgallon; Richardson (Blake 45), Miller (Healy 62), Derry, Douglas, Lewis; Hulse. Referee: M Dean. Leeds man of the match: Shaun Derry. Shots on target: Leeds 6, Watford 6 Shots off target: Leeds 6, Watford 4 Corners: Leeds 8, Watford 9 Fouls: Leeds 18, Watford 14 _______________________________________________ the Leeds List is an unmoderated mailing list and the list administrators accept no liability for the personal views and opinions of contributors. Leedslist mailing list [email protected] http://list.zetnet.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist
