ICF's Leeds report

[It's Character Forming]

So an unchanged side on a perfect spring evening. From the off Leeds (and the home fans) were clearly well up for it and we had the rare experience of a side pushing on to City and noise from the home support. but with no real threat (bar set pieces) until very late in the game.

At the far end City had some great openings on the break which we wasted with some very poor crosses/passes, Redmond and Dorrans the main culprits. a chance fell to Howson in the box at a narrow angle but his shot was weak.

So the first 30 minutes saw a lot of midfield battling but little end product. Then a perfect pass (sorry didn't catch who played it) found Howson in the box who headed it up and managed to get it under control, and with his back to goal on the 6 yard line he was flattened. Dorrans penalty hit the bar and bounced down and out. A couple of minutes later a sweeping move saw the ball pulled bAck to Wes but he blazed the ball a couple of yards over.

At the far end Leeds only threatened from free kicks, mostly pretty doubtful. One was bizarrely awarded when Ollsson and an attacker were running onto a through ball which was safely going out; they came together and the ref gave Leeds a free kick. Later Olsson was clearly bundled over and got a yellow for "diving".

Leeds first threat on goal came after 35 minutes when a free kick was whipped in dangerously and a defensive header looped just over the bar.

So the half closed at 0-0.

 

[It's Character Forming]

So onto the second half and with Leeds midfield tiring they were pressing less and City were creating real openings, with Dorrans put in on the left more than once and sending low crosses zipping across the box; a couple were cleared into prime BJ territory .... Also Redmond was looking more effective partly by keeping his passing more straightforward and not trying to do as much.

Finally one of those moves saw the ball played across by Redmond (a nice simple ball weighted perfectly) to, inevitably, Jonny Howson in the middle of the box and with close control he finished with the outside of his right boot similar to his goal vs Forest.

We (the fans) went crazy but Leeds piled on the pressure for 5-10 minutes. Fortunately Ruddy was looking like a rock, fielding crosses or punching effectively. One chance from a corner was blocked a couple of yards wide and City began to reassert some control but with a lack of urgency to get a second which worried me (remembering becchio's equalizer last time we were here - at least there was no risk of him scoring tonight...).

As the clock ticked down to 80 minutes AN decided to freshen us up with E Bennett for Wes, which tightened up our right flank once he got into the game and soon after Hooper for Redmond (who'd been more effective in the second half but was tiring) - Hooper helped with keeping possession.

The last 5 minutes of normal time saw real Leeds pressure and real threat for the first time, one corner bobbled dangerously in the box before it was hacked clear and soon after another corner was only headed to the edge of the box where a striker hit a firm drive right at the bottom left and I thought Leeds had equalized but somehow Ruddy managed to push it around the post - a save every bit as important as the goals in winning this game for us.

City at last reasserted control with Jerome tiring to keep the ball by the corner. 3 added minutes was announced and Jerome chased a lost cause near the corner and powered past the defender. His cross was played back to Dorrans (I think) to finish from just inside the box with help again from a deflection, and that was game over with delirious scenes for the travelling fans.

The Leeds fans were already dribbling away and we stayed behind to applaud our team, a great turnout by the away fans on a school night and another quality away win by city.

Leeds did well in midfield especially first half but suffered from a total lack of quality up front. V glad we didn't transfer Becchio back (if that was ever an option).

So with wins also for Bournemouth and Boro we have to see which Forest team turns up against Watford tomorrow and Friday vs Boro is now beyond supermassive....

 

[morty]

Cheers for that! Was dithering about going, and didn't in the end, wish I had!

I'll be there Friday though, which will be of Biblical proportions, especially if Watford win tonight!

How did Redmond look? I was at Bolton and thought he was much improved.

 

[It's Character Forming]

Wish I could go Friday!

Redmond was poor first half, often in a good position to cross and wasted it by crosses straight out of play etc . Dorrans also guilty.

2nd half much improved and of course he setup the first goal, kept it simpler and was much more effective as a result. Sensible to sub him when we did tho as Hooper was effective when he came on.

 

[morty]

It sounds very similar to the Bolton game, we didn't quite tick, and stutterred on occasions. But in the grand scheme of things we have come back from two pretty tough away games with maximum points.

Will be interesting to see how we look at home on Friday, I hope Alex really has the side fired up and we look a bit more confident and assured.

Yes, its great that we have so many options.

 

[It's Character Forming]

I think we certainly looked motivated last night and it was good preparation for Friday in that Leeds didn't sit back off us as most teams have this season, so hopefully whether Boro come out and play, or sit back, we'll be prepared.

And as you say, 6 points from those two games is excellent.  Beforehand I thought we'd probably get a win and a draw.

 

[Canaryboy]

Dorrans was poor in the first half I thought, several misplaced passes / sloppy pieces of play, and the penalty miss of course. He had a good second half though. 

Missed Bradley Johnson's bite in that first 45 minutes.