Leeds United August Review

Russ Vernon sums up up the first month of Lufc's season. 



Leeds United’s 2015/16 campaign got underway at Elland Road against Burnley and a lot of media outlets were writing the club off, claiming recently relegated Burnley had the upper hand. That changed when Mirco Antenucci had hit home a fantastic curler to give Leeds the lead. With just a few minutes to go it looked like Leeds were going to upset the odds and claim their first win, in steps ex-Leeds striker Sam Vokes, who had other ideas as he headed home an equaliser to give Burnley a share of the spoils.

Leeds’ 2nd game of the season was in the Capital One Cup against Doncaster. It started well for United and certainly midfielder Lewis Cook, who after 14 minutes had got his 1st senior goal for the whites. With his head still in the clouds, Cook lunged at a Doncaster defender and was subsequently shown his first senior red card just after the half-hour mark. Andy Williams scored from the spot after Wootton had stupidly brought down Cedric Evina in the area. For the rest of the game Leeds defended very well and took Doncaster all way to extra time, but were unfortunate to lose 4-2 on penalties after no winner could be found inside the extra 30 minutes.

Leeds’ 3rd game of the season saw a visit to the Madjeski Stadium to take on Reading. In a game BBC Radio Leeds commentator Noel Whelan thought we should have won, it seemed Reading were there for the taking. Leeds were held to a 0-0 bore draw.

Leeds’ 4th game of the season saw Leeds travel to Ashton Gate to take on Bristol City. It looked like Uwe Rosler’s men were going to pick up their first three points of the season when Mirco Antenucci scored from the spot and Chris Wood scored his first goal for the club, doubling the lead. Late goals from Kieran Agard and Aden Flint meant Leeds had to continue their search for their first win of the season.

Leeds’ 5th game of the season saw the first Yorkshire Derby in the shape of South Yorkshire's Sheffield Wednesday coming to Elland Road. Marco Matias fired the visitors into the lead with a fantastic goal, which Sheffield Wednesday held until just after the hour mark. Then summer signing Stuart Dallas took it past the visitors left back before playing a superb ball across to Chris Wood, to score his second goal in two games.

Leeds’ 6th and final game of August saw the club take on Derby County at the iPro Stadium. Going into the game Leeds hadn’t won at Derby since 2002, but that all changed. Tom Adeyemi opened the scoring three minutes before half-time with his first United goal and it looked like Leeds were going to get their first win since 2002. Just two minutes after the restart Derby were level through a great striker by Chris Martin and it looked like Leeds & Rosler were having to go into the international break still looking for their first win of the season. With two minutes to go, Cook turned away from Jeff Hendrick and played a great ball to Chris Wood, who then turned on the edge of the box and gave ex Leeds keeper Scott Carson no chance, handing Leeds their first win of the season and a first win at Derby since 2002.

All in all I think it was a successful month for Leeds United. They remained unbeaten in the league heading into the international break and with that all important first win of the season,  I feel if Leeds hadn’t got that first win some of the fans would be wondering if Rosler would remain in charge, especially with trigger happy chairman/president Massimo Cellino at the helm. 


By Russ Vernon