Diary of a Leeds Fan (21/10-27/10/17)

Saturday 21/10

Bristol City v Leeds

Team News: Stuart Dallas absent from the travelling squad due to a bereavement. Pennington, Vieira and Alioski come in to the starting eleven, Jansson, Roofe and Hernandez drop to the bench.

Team: Lonergan, Ayling, Jansson, Cooper(c), Berardi, O’Kane, Phillips, Vieira, Alioski, Siaz, Lasogga.

The Game

A first half brace from Samuel Saiz did the damage, with Pierre-Michel Lasogga adding the third as both teams ended the game with ten men.The away side have now climbed above City in the Sky Bet Championship, in a game which was witnessed by nearly 25,000 fans.

Leeds were ahead inside four minutes after Samuel Saiz saw his shot deflect beyond Frank Fielding, Flint's attempted clearance was charged down and the ball rebounded to Pierre-Michel Lasogga. He drifted into the area, held the ball up before superbly laying it off to Saiz, whose effort found the back of the net, via a deflection. Siaz grabbed his second on fifteen minutes, following up when Alioski’s initial shot was saved by Fielding.

Bristol were stunned but just a minute later O’Dowda managed to swing a cross in from the left-hand side and Reid connected with a header which went just wide of Andy Lonergan’s goal.

Leeds looked to add a third immediately after the restart with Pierre-Michel Lasogga in among the chances for the visitors, Fielding got down well to deny him first, before the striker somehow poked a stretched shot wide with the goal gaping. Flint then blocked another Lasogga effort just moments later while at the other end, Hegeler rose to meet a Brownhill cross which was placed into the hands of Lonergan.

The Whites striker did add a third on 68 minutes after he towered above home defence to head in a Kalvin Phillips corner. Game over.

Tempers flared as the game entered its final ten minutes, Bristol City substitute Matty Taylor went down after a ‘altercation’ with Gaetano Berardi who was given his marching orders from referee Langford after allegedly headbutting the City substitute, then Taylor was also sent off in the aftermath for the initial challenge on Berardi, both benches became involved with words exchanged by several players.

City missed a late chance for a consolation goal as Leeds ran out worthy winners.

Three and easy. Siaz (2) and Lasogga give Leeds three points.

Post Match:

Thomas Christainsen dedicated the win to Stuart Dallas after his bereavement. Christainsen said that the team made a ‘point’ in how they can play, said also the intensity was higher today. "We were much more aggressive, we knew we faced a strong team and perhaps that helped. Being brave was one of the things we had to do, believing in ourselves. We've sometimes thought too much about the opponent."

Christainsen did not see the incident leading to Berardi’s sending off and asked the referee why he sent him off, referee told him it was for retaliation, head-butting Taylor over a challenge.

Very happy with the team’s display after a few bad results.

Lee Johnson: "As much as I'd like to say we deserved to win, we didn't. Right from the off." He also commented that Ronaldo Vieira “ran the show”

The Sky Bet Championship result of the day was judged as Leeds’ 3-0 victory at Bristol City.


Sunday 22/10

Andrew Butterwick’s reflections on a superb performance and another win at Ashton Gate.

http://leedsfan.blogspot.com/2017/10/bristol-city-v-leeds-utd-21st-oct-2017.html

As always a ‘gem’ of a blog and hopefully the journey home was a very happy one.

Social Media was full of praise for Coops and Pennington, Samuel Siaz, Ronaldo Vieira and Kalvin Phillips (how attitudes change, week to week on certain players), Thomas Christainsen again back in place as the messiah chosen to take the team back to the promised land.
Andrew Butterwick put it perfectly in his blog “a week being a long time in politics ...it’s a lot longer in football !”


Monday 23/10

Heidi Haigh celebrated the release of her new book ‘The Sleeping Giant Awakens, Leeds United 2016/17’ with a very happy trip to Bristol.

http://www.followmeandleedsunited.co.uk/bristol-city-away-21st-october-2017

Heidi’s book is now available on Amazon and will be in the club shop by the end of the month, priced very reasonably at £12.99.

Definitely worth a read. Thanks HH.

Kalvin Phillips vs. Bristol City:
78% pass acc.
41 touches
5 crosses
4 chances created
2 tackles won
2 blocks
2 interceptions
1 assist
Stats by @LUFCDATA

FA confirms a three-match ban for Gaetano Berardi. He will miss the Leicester, Sheffield United, Derby County games.

Thomas Christainsen looks ahead to the Carabao Cup tie at Leicester City: “Our last game we were very good. A lot more intensity”, less than impressed with the ‘bumpy’ flight home to Leeds / Bradford airport “I was afraid”

On Vieira: “A good example to others currently out of the side”.

Both League and Cup are as important to the club. Mentioned that if players disagree with being dropped or need to talk “his door is always open”

Players not considered for the Carabao Cup tie, Stuart Dallas (bereavement), Berardi(suspended), Ekuban(injury). Borthwick-Jackson is included into the squad.

Very upbeat Head Coach.


Tuesday 24/10

This Day in 2000-
Who can forget this game, when we were literally a minute from beating the mighty Barcelona at Elland Road. I missed the game as I was on holiday in Spain but was sat in a Spanish bar full of Barcelona fans and nearly went through the bar roof when Lee Bowyer scored, later my head was in my hands when Rivaldo equalised in late in added time.

Proud and very drunk night.

The FA has overturned the red card shown to Matty Taylor (Bristol City) on Saturday. Wrongful dimissal appeal upheld, 3-game ban withdrawn.

Leicester City v Leeds
Carabao Cup 4th Round

Team News: Ten changes, only Kalvin Phillips keeps his place from the team that started at Bristol City.

Team: Wiedwald, Anita, Jansson, Shaughnessy, Borthwick-Jackson, Klich, Phillips, Hernandez(c), Cibicki, Roofe, Grot.

The Game

Leeds went out of the Carabao Cup after they were beaten 3-1, the score says little of the very good first half performance in which they took the lead, with Mahrez and Vardy introduced in the second half the obvious class the Premiership side had at it's disposal was just too much for Thomas Christainsen’s ‘second eleven’.

In a open first half, Leeds had a early opportunity to take the lead through Jay-Roy Grot, his shot though was saved by Hamer, the rebound was hammered to safety. They did though get the opener on twenty six minutes, a superb strike from captain-for-the-night Pablo Hernandez, his ‘shimmy’ beat the defender’s around himself and he beat Hamer with a sublime shot, the lead was to last four minutes, Iheanacho beating Wiedwald easily with a low shot into the corner of the net, worse could have followed but Gray’s effort hit the bar late in the half.

Pablo kisses the armband after the opening goal.

Ayling replaced Borthwick-Jackson after the break and Vurnon Anita swapped over to left back. Leicester had the greater possession but did little to trouble the Leeds keeper until the a minute after Slimani missed a gift of a chance that Albrighton set up for him, this time Gray beat the Leeds defensive line to slide a ball to the Slimani who beat Jansson to the ball and slid it into the net, worse was to follow with only two minutes left, Mahrez cut in from right wing and finished the game with a smart finish that ended inside Wiedwald’s far post.

Thomas Christainsen may be relieved that he can concentrate solely on the Championship now, at least until the draw is made for the third round of the FA Cup!

Post Match

Thomas Christainsen: “We knew about Leicester’s quality and I’m very proud and happy with the performance. Unfortunately we couldn’t keep the lead until half-time, the players are disappointed to be out of the cup after arriving so far but they are realistic about who we played against. For me, I cannot complain in any sense, obviously it (promotion) was our goal from the beginning of the season.

"I want to compete in all competitions, but now we’re out of one of them, it gives even more focus on the special one that is the Championship.”

Michael Appleton: “They are up there for a reason and they will certainly finish in the top six in my view. Their supporters are something else, it’s the type of club that probably deserves to be in the Premier League, just on its fan base alone."


Wednesday 25/10

David Watkins reviews the cup defeat at Leicester City

http://dlw100.wixsite.com/leedsunited/leicester-city-oct-24-2017

Thank you David, no disgrace loosing to them with our ‘second team’ on duty. At least we have one this season!

Pontus pens a new deal

Pontus Jansson has become the latest Leeds United player to extend their stay at Elland Road, by putting pen to paper on a new five year deal. Swedish international Jansson joined the Whites from Italian outfit Torino on loan at the beginning of the 2016/17 season, before the deal became permanent over the summer.

The 26-year-old has made a total of 47 appearances for Leeds, scoring three goals and has become a key figure at the heart of the Leeds defence.

The centre back Jansson joins a long list of Thomas Christiansen's squad to commit their future to Leeds with the likes of Eunan O’Kane, Stuart Dallas, Kalvin Phillips, Gaetano Berardi, Ronaldo Vieira, Conor Shaughnessy, Liam Cooper and Luke Ayling all signing new long term contracts this summer.

Jannson's new deal will expire at the end of the 2021/22 season.

Chris Wilder on being back in the Championship: “We just really enjoy being in the Championship. The games have been brilliant for everyone, both the people who have played and the staff. It was hard going to Middlesbrough (on the second Saturday of the season) because they are a good side and nothing has changed (in any of the subsequent games), but it is something we are enjoying. How can it be a slog when you have been out of it for six years? It can’t be a slog at any time, there are going to be periods when you are struggling, but the Championship is there to be enjoyed.”


Thursday 26/10

Ronaldo Vieira: “It's a sell out but our fans are always great anyway, home or away, I hope they can be the 12th man for us.”

Thomas Christainsen’s look at tomorrow’s ‘six pointer’ with Sheffield United. On Stuart Dallas “This is a situation that nobody wants to go through but he is strong, he knows what to do and he has good people around him, especially Liam Cooper who takes good care of him. They are very good friends and this is important for him to have this kind of support.” Dallas is available for the game but Cameron Borthwick-Jackson is out with injury with Caleb Ekuban, Gaetano Berardi is suspended. Very happy that Kalvin Phillips didn’t get booked in midweek, one more booking and he will be suspended for reaching five yellow cards.

He (Christainsen) said “It was important that Kalvin didn’t see any yellow cards. It was one of the biggest problems or issues in the game but he passed through it very well.” On the game, Christiansen in no doubt that tomorrow is a key game. “If we lose we are seven points behind Sheffield United, at this stage it’s too much.”

Preview

A game as big as they get in the Championship, fourth placed Leeds face third placed Sheffield United. Throw in that it’s West versus South Yorkshire and a full house, you’ve got a cracker of a game to watch.

Sheffield are in great form, four wins and only two defeats has put the promoted ‘Blades’ in a great position after thirteen games. They have a well respected manager in Chris Wilder and in the position they are in through hard work and a team that has a lot for Leeds to worry about, Billy Sharp will no doubt want to ‘put one one over’ his past employers after a not so successful spell at Leeds.

Leeds, after a morale boosting victory over Bristol City will hope to cut the gap to one point if they get the three points. Only change I’m expecting in the team is Vurnon Anita to replace the suspended Gaetano Berardi, but with Sheffield playing three at the back, Christainsen may also match them, employing wing backs. If that is so Alioski is well versed in the position for his national side.

With both teams in the top six, expect a tight game. Leeds with a massive crowd behind them hopefully will just have enough to beat their South Yorkshire rivals. Leeds 2-1.

A interesting week with a superb win at Bristol, followed by a defeat in the cup at Leicester. More good signs behind the scenes with a improved contract for Jansson and lets all give a cheer to Toby tomorrow night, the young boy deserves the best. Let’s give him a night he and his family never forget.

MOT

By Keith Ingham