Not going to get churlish about anything on this one - for us right now a win is a win is a win and 3 desperately needed points - not even the fact that my head nearly got panel beaten into some weird shape by the right old hail storm that happened about 1.45 today on my way to the pub - I needed a large whiskey to recover. We were a lot better than a very poor Coventry team who still managed to give us a real battle for the equaliser for the last 15 minutes or so when we started defending the 18 yard line once again. The first shock was the utterly bizarre team sheet - Sullivan, Richardson, Foxe, Rui Marques, Elliott, Douglas, Nicholls, Lewis, Blake, Healy & Moore. Where was Derry? Howson (bench)? Crainey? How injured are Kelly and Killa really? Was it true that Wise had told Horsefield to naff off back to Sheff Utd when he came in and asked for Christmas off? Who the hell is Elliott? Had they suddenly found Rui Marques down the back of the sofa or something? Torre Andre Flo? But after the initial "what the f***" kind of reaction the team settled down and within 2 minutes Douglas had stolen the ball from their dithering left back, charged down the wing and sent in a low cross in Healy's direction that the keeper did really well to claw off his toe end at full length about 8 yards out from his goal. Coventry had a couple of decent attacks which called on a decent save or two from the new slim-line Sully - one in particular was an excellent close range save which just parried the ball all the way across the goal and around the other post through a packed 6 yard box. The game then settled down to a good deal of pressure from us, a lot of corners - the star at this time was Nicholls, who was everywhere. He was getting tackles in, breaking down their moves, setting ours on their way and really bossing midfield. And the team was "together" - working as a unit, supporting and moving into space, making covering tackles - it warmed the heart of this old cynic. After 20 minutes or so a corner from our right was flicked beyond the back post where Healy collected with a defender in attendence, he moved the man around a little before hitting a low shot across goal into the far corner - to my mind the defender was too easily beaten by the shot, but full-marks to Healy. For the next 20 minutes we really pressed - Nicholls blasted close but over from 25 yards - Moore was away twice only to be hauled down twice - each time resulting in a yellow card for their defender and a free kick for us from which first Blake and them Lewis saw good efforts bounce back off the cross-bar (both times over the heads of the Leeds players following in). Blake's might have taken a slight deflection on the way through. Coventry were rocking. Then suddenly they came down our end - as had happened a couple of times in the previous couple of minutes Douglas didn't give Frazer any help and he was left with 2 on 1 - the crosses started coming in, and after a bit of pinball around the box the ball came to their forward out on the left corner of the box. He controlled and volleyed a cross-shot which another forward prodded home unchallenged 6 yards out. Foxe completely lost him. Just on half time. We came out looking like we meant business in the second half - then there were several injuries the game got broken up and all momentum was lost. Almost out of nowhere Lewis picked up the ball in our half and ran 40 yards before slipping a ball through the middle to where Healy was moving into the box between the 2 CHalfs, one touch and a scuffed shot half-smothered by the keeper, it fell to Douglas who scuffed the thing just inside the post from 6 yards. Brilliant. For most of the rest of the half we moved gradually further and further back - Nicholls waned - Sullivan made several very important saves - Richardson went off injured, Westlake came on so Lewis dropped to LBack and all our back 4 moved across one leaving Marques at RBack. With about 10 minutes to go Kandol and Howson came on - scandalously Kandol was getting booed before he even touched the ball - for Blake and Moore. I'm not sure that Howson touched the ball but he did kick a couple of their players. By this time we had lost shape and were simply hanging on. SULLIVAN - my MOTM - we wouldn't have won the game with out his saves - he looks fitter and more interested - his kicking is still woeful though RICHARDSON - solid - supported the attacks well - could really have used some cover at times ELLIOTT - very steady debut indeed - lloked comfortable - good positioning, tackling and intercepting - plus a couple of decent balls out of defence FOXE & RUI MARQUES - only 1 game but is this the best CHalf pairing we've had all year? Both did well in the air and covered the ground pretty well DOUGLAS - our worst player - lost the ball an awful lot - but did score the winner NICHOLLS - best out field player - keep it up - good passionate captain's performance - faded badly but then he is short of match practice LEWIS - some decent stuff - quietly efficient BLAKE - bit of a nothing game today - unlucky with his free kick HEALY - much more interested than of late - movement and caused problems - well taken goal - couple of other decent efforts MOORE - all effort no real clear cut chances ------------- subs Westlake - did little more than shore up the left side in front of Lewis Howson - good reception - not sure that he actually got a foot on the ball Kandol - booed and jeered - which is not deserved - still I hope we don't sign him. -------------
_______________________________________________ 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 'I am in shock,' said Ferguson.
