A hard won victory against an in-form team. All we can ask for at the moment. This was better than last week's win against Plymouth which was frankly, lucky. At least here we more or less deserved the win on the basis of the play and chances created over the course of 90 minutes.
In the first half we were much the better of the two teams without being totally dominant. We had several chances apart from the goal - Healy missed a couple, Richardson volleyed against the bar from 30 yards out with the keeper beaten, another header shortly after the goal (Cresswell, Heath or Ludo?) from which we really should have scored, plus a decent effort from a free kick by Thompson (may have been early 2nd half this one) which the keeper saved. These were all the result of the continuation of the good habits learned recently - passing and moving, making space, good closing down of the opposition. At this point the defence looked composed, the midfield in charge and the forwards lively. The goal was one of those training ground exercises. Left footed corner in-swinging from the right, given enough loft by Thompson so that the keeper couldn't cut it out, dropping at the far post where Heath beat their guy to it in the six yard box and headed downwards powerfully. Well taken. The second half we either deliberately fell further back, were pushed further back by a better and more determined Burnley, or we just tired and allowed them back into. Whatever was the reason we spent most of the half on the back foot, defending our 18 yard line. We did a pretty good job of it but that doesn't mean it was any easier to watch. Not sure that I remember Caspar having too much to do. ANGKERGEN - a solid performance without ever really being called on to do much apart from one decent job of coming out quickly to close down a forward who was coming through. RICHARDSON - solid - unlucky with the long shot - caught wrong side once or twice but nothing serious GRAY - has really plugged the gap on the left. Defends well, tenaciously. Uses the ball well. Frequently links well with Lewis HEATH - good goal and a solid performance. Still don't think he's one of our best two CHalfs (or even much of a footballer) but then you don't change a team making the kind of progress that ours has made in recent weeks. MICHALIK - another no-nonsense display. Rugged would be a good word. BLAKE - looks odd man out on the wing - doesn't get involved and doesn't get the ball much KISHISHEV - agains quietly keeping our midfield ticking over - good link play - particularly with Thompson - and does a lot of work tracking back and covering for teammates. THOMPSON - pure quality on the ball - sluggish at covering the ground - still not match fit, apparently, but worth the gamble. LEWIS - is a different player again with Gray behind him. Really gets forward and causes problems CRESSWELL - huge amounts of running about and effort, but to what end? HEALY - controlled and influential performance. Could have done better with a couple of chances. ------------ All-in-all - going to the wire... _______________________________________________ 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 it's a God awful small affair
