Diary of a Leeds Fan (20/02-26/02/17)

Monday 20/2

Heidi Haigh's superb blog on the weekend's game at Ipswich Town

http://www.followmeandleedsunited.co.uk/ipswich-town-18th-february-2017

Definitely a glass half empty result, not the best performance Heidi or the rest of the travelling fans have seen.

Stuart Dallas expects Leeds to push on after the weekend's draw at Ipswich, he said there were 'tired legs' at the end of the game as Leeds settled for a point. He added that the mentally within the squad never changes despite recent setbacks "Obviously we want to win games but if you can't you make sure you don't lose and we showed again that we've got great a great determination."

Leeds United under 23's 1 Huddersfield Town under 23's 1

Stokes with the Leeds goal in the first half, Huddersfield replied in the last minute through Dyson.


Tuesday 21/2

Sixteen years ago: Leeds thrash Anderlecht 4-1 away to qualify for the Champions League Quarter Finals, Smith(2), Viduka, Harte(pen) the Scorers.

Also on this day in 2004, one of the greatest players ever to wear a Leeds shirt passed away.

He was nicknamed 'The Gentle Giant'.

327 games
157 goals

Club record of 42 league goals in a season.

John Charles in the first version of the now famous white shirt.

Gone but will never be forgotten.

Owen Coyle sacked as Blackburn Rovers manager, he lasted eight months.

Division One here they come!


Wednesday 22/2

Tony Mowbury appointed Blackburn Rovers manager, good luck you'll definitely need it! A very quick appointment.

By @LUFCDATA

Points won by Leeds United: Last four seasons.

2016-17 (33 games): 58
2015-16 (46 games): 59
2014-15 (46 games): 56
2013-14 (46 games): 57

Impressive


Thursday 23/2

Kyle Bartley: "It's a very big game, a local derby, we are all looking forward to it. But it's three points at the end of the day." He added that he'd be interested in a permanent move to Leeds if Swansea allow him to leave.

Ain't nobody like Kyle Bartley"

Garry Monk's look ahead look ahead to the 'six pointer' against Sheffield Wednesday: Saturday will be too soon for Charlie Taylor to return, Lewie Coyle out also Witt a foot injury, reiterated that in all the games they've (the squad) competed very well, "Wednesday are a good side but we remain focused on ourselves, the squad is a very young group who have done incredibly well and still want to improve, whatever the occasion it's eleven versus eleven on a grass pitch with one ball, playing each game as it comes and are ready or this one, ended with this about the expected near sell-out crowd Monk on the crowd expected: "I think it's fantastic, it just shows the growth that we have had this season."

A Happy, Confident Monk.

Claudio Ranieri is sacked as Leicester City manager, 298 days after winning the Premier League.
Just unbelievable !!

Loyalty in football is an empty word.


Friday 24/3

Last five home games vs SW

Leeds 1 Sheff Wed 1 Champ Aug 15
Leeds 1 Sheff Wed 1 Champ Oct 14
Leeds 1 Sheff Wed 1 Champ Aug 13
Leeds 2 Sheff Wed 1 Champ Apr 13
Leeds 2 Sheff Wed 3 Champ Mar 07

Preview

Thirteen games remain this season and they won't come much bigger than the one that happens this weekend. Sheffield Wednesday, before their home defeat to Brentford had been on a very impressive, winning run.

Both teams sit fifth and sixth in the Championship with forty eight points each, with the same goal difference, Leeds claim the higher place due to goals scored.

Garry Monk must decide if to recall captain Liam Bridcutt, a second half substitute for Ronaldo Vieira in midfield alongside Eunan O'Kane with Pablo Hernandez in his favoured 'number 10' role.

Charlie Taylor is training again but not ready to be considered, Lewie Coyle out with a foot injury.

Local 'derbies' are hard to call but with the gap to seventh now only six points after Fulham's win at Bristol City both teams know that a defeat will mean the gap will close even more if Fulham and Norwich win their games at the weekend.
There is more at stake than just local pride.

Leeds have not hit the 'heights' since the Derby County game at Elland Road and it will need a performance akin to that to claim the three points on Saturday, I think they will. Leeds 2-1.


Saturday 25/2

Leeds v Sheffield Wednesday

Team News: Two Changes, Liam Bridcutt and Souleymane Doukara replace Ronaldo Vieira and Stuart Dallas.

Team: Green, Ayling, Bartley, Jansson, Berardi, Bridcutt, O'Kane, Sacko, Hernandez, Doukara, Wood.

The Game:

Leeds started on the front foot and Chris Wood had a early chance, gifted to him by Sasso, soon after the same Wednesday player nearly gave the visitors a undeserved lead when he headed wide. Leeds got the early breakthrough they needed when talismanic 'goal machine' benefitted from hesitation from Sasso to beat Westwood with a deft shot after superbly controlling the ball in the penalty area. It was no less than the home side deserved, It was his twentieth Championship goal of the season.

A great advert for Championship as play went from end to end. 1-0 at the break, the only downside was Pontus Jansson picking up his thirteenth booking of the season, two more and the popular defender will miss three games.

Early in the second half Leeds look to have been denied a 'stonewall' penalty after Hutchinson upended O'Kane inside the penalty box, within minutes the referee, much to the disgust and dismay of both fans and Leeds players awarded Wednesday a penalty after Doukara was adjudged to have held back Hutchinson in the area, Rhodes, a former Leeds nemesis (he always scores against us) stepped forward but Rob Green stepped up and superbly saved the ten million pound striker's penalty.

Leeds introduced Roofe, Vieira and Dallas to add fresh legs to the team, Sheffield were beginning to dominate proceedings but not for the first time this season white shirted bodies were thrown in front of every effort Wednesday could manage.
The roar at the end of full time would have been heard in the city centre.

Without doubt this was a massive win and supporters and players celebrated this together as one, I know there are many more games and minutes to go but I felt if Leeds had lost this confidence could have been shaken, but when it mattered they stood tall. A great victory.

Chris Wood nets his 20th Championship goal of the season.

Post Match:

Garry Monk: "We were playing a very good side in Sheffield Wednesday and I thought they put some pressure on us but we dealt with it extremely well. I can't remember them having any shots on goal apart from the penalty, that is very pleasing. The pressure that's there to win these types of games with both teams on the same points and a derby game, I thought we handled the presume really well today and I'm very pleased with the players."

An extremely happy Monk

Carlos Carvalhal: "That we didn't win wasn't because we didn't try, because we didn't fight or create chances, it was circumstances in the game. We missed a penalty, that is a part of the game. We win together and lose together and the responsibility is mine."

One cameraman, two heroes.


Sunday 26/2

Andrew Butterwick reviews a very important three points and a superb display by the men in white.

https://leedsfan.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/leeds-utd-v-sheff-wed-25th-feb-2017.html?m=1

As always forever in your debt. Thank you.

As week's go pretty good, four points and yesterday's performance was akin to the one against Derby County.

Onwards and Upwards.

By Keith Ingham