DOWN AMONG THE DEADMEN

Part 1: Kevin Blackwell - So near and yet so far 2004-06

Part 2: Dennis Wise - An Unwise move 2006-07

Part 3: Gary McAllister - Return of the Mac 2007-08

Part 4: Simon Grayson - A new Dawn? 2008-Current

Part 1: Kevin Blackwell - So near and yet so far 2004-06

2004-2005:

Season Statistics: Games, Results, Appearances, Goalscorers Football League Tables for the Season

Kevin Blackwell: Born 21-12-58 at Luton, had a journeyman career as a goalkeeper with several clubs but never rose to any great heights, in fact he was, in reality, a failure to put it nicely. His career was as follows: 1986-89: Scarborough, where he played forty-four games. 1989-93: Notts County, where he never played a game. 1993-93: Torquay United, where he had eighteen games. 1993-95: Huddersfield Town five appearances. 1995-97: Plymouth Argyle where he played twenty-four games before retiring.

Blackwell worked hard to gain the UEFA 'A' coaching badge and successfully complete the UEFA 'A' goalkeeping course. He was thought to be the first to gain two UEFA 'A' badges in England. He took advantage of what the FA had to offer and gained invaluable experience and it cemented his ideas and helped him structure his sessions better.

He became Sheffield United Coach under Neil Warnock and was accredited with making them a fitter and more mobile squad and brought on several young players. Leeds boss Peter Reid gave Blackwell his big chance after being impressed with the way he helped Sheffield United reach the First Division play-off final and the semi-finals of both the FA Cup and Worthington Cup. The approach from Reid came as a big surprise to Blackwell, as he didn't know Peter Reid and had no connection with him or Leeds United in any way shape or form. He was thought to have been head-hunted, and Reid spoke to quite a few managers and players and who all endorsed Blackwell's ability. He was coach to Reid and then Eddie Gray, before taking over for the last game in the EPL at Chelsea. With a possible takeover of the club, he was embarrassingly made to wait before being appointed Manager on the same day as Alan Smith left for Manchester United!

Considering the clubs financial situation and the consequences of relegation, it came as no surprise that wholesale changes were made to the Elland Road Playing Staff and other football related positions. Gone were the Loan Players: Pennant, Caldwell, Domi, Camara, Sakho, Roque Junior, Olembe, and Chapuis. David Batty retired. Michael Bridges went to Bolton Wanderers, Jason Wilcox to Leicester City, Stephen McPhail to Barnsley, Nick Barmby to Hull City, Dominic Matteo to Blackburn Rovers, Ian Harte to Levante, and Danny Mills to Manchester City, all departing on Free Transfers and Paul Robinson went to Tottenham Hotspur for £1.5 million, Alan Smith crossed the Pennines to Manchester United for £6 million, James Milner went to Newcastle United for £3.5 million, and Mark Viduka departed to Middlesbrough for £4.5million, but in several cases there were hefty settlements to players,who were paid over a period of time.

It could be said that, Juniors apart, Gary Kelly, Michael Duberry, the injured Eirik Bakke, Seth Johnson and Lucas Radebe, and fringe players Matthew Kilgallon, Aaron Lennon, Frazer Richardson, Jamie McMaster, Harpal Singh, Andy Keogh, Simon Johnson, Simon Walton and Martin Woods were at Kevin Blackwell's disposal as the new season commenced.

In came Danny Pugh from Manchester United, Michael Ricketts from Middlesbrough, Jermaine Wright from Ipswich Town, Julian Joachim from Coventry City, Danny Cadamarteri from Bradford City, Paul Butler from Wolverhampton Wanderers, Clarke Carlisle from Queens Park Rangers, Matthew Spring from Luton Town, Neil Sullivan from Chelsea, all arriving on Free Transfers, while Brian Deane, Craig Hignett, Steve Guppy and others came as unattached players. Stephen Crainey came initially on loan from Southampton before United paid a fee of £200,000 for his services. There was a regular stream of players, coming on trial, such as Mark Kinsella, Chris Bart-Williams and Keith Gillespie, but all were ultimately not offered a contract. This would be a regular feature of life at Elland Road in the Coca Cola Championship League and there was also a long succession of players coming in and out on loan.

It therefore, came as no surprise when United fielded seven debutants for the first game in the CCCL against Derby County and this would balloon to twenty-six before the end of the season. This did not include Brian Deane who had already debuted in 1993! So it was that United lined up as Sullivan; Kelly, Duberry, Butler, Kilgallon; Richardson, Wright,Walton, Pugh; Ricketts, Joachim. Radebe came on for Walton, and Deane for Ricketts, while Carson, Crainey and Guppy remained unused on the bench.

Danny Pugh became an instant hit with the fans with a great effort on debut and there were strong games from Walton, Joachim, Sullivan and Richardson, who got the only goal of the game on seventy-two minutes in a hard won victory. Considering that the team had been stitched together in a very short period of time it was an excellent performance against reasonably strong opposition and, apart from rustiness, United played as a unit and looked well drilled, well organized and worked hard for a deserved win.

Butler and Duberry were solid in central defence. Kelly was back to his form of a few years back, while Matthew Kilgallon impressed with his ability to adapt to being played out of position at left back. Behind the defence Sullivan showed that he was probably the best keeper outside of the EPL and Scott Carson must have wondered how long he would have to wait before next featuring in the first eleven. Ricketts caused Derby problems and had several good touches but looked a little out of practice, and it was he who released the impressive Joachim, who set up Frazer Richardson for the winner.

However, it was in midfield where United were strongest, Danny Pugh covered more ground than anyone on the park and was a constant menace down the left flank, while Frazer Richardson did the same on the right and it was fitting that he should be rewarded for his efforts with a superb strike. Wright prodded and probed, while Walton put his height to good effect and generally put his foot in where others did not dare. Considering he was a central defender, he linked up play well and was not frightened to get forward. He tired a little in the closing stages and the evergreen Lucas Radebe substituted on 65 minutes.

Pugh was unlucky twice, Joachim was denied by the keeper but Duberry headed over a fine cross from Wright and Butler volley over from close range. Sullivan had done his job quietly and efficiently even if semi-redundant, but he had to earn his wages in the last minute with a blinding save, as Derby made a last effort to salvage a point. It was early days, but a new chapter had started and it appeared that United could make their presence felt in their new surroundings.

United were unchanged for their first away fixture in the CCCL at Gillingham and again it was Danny Pugh who won the accolades with good support from Sullivan, Kelly and Richardson, but United were given a rude awakening to life on the road in the CCCL with a visit to the Priestfield Stadium which was packed to capacity, albeit with less than 11,000 fans. Gillingham were strong and were willing to fight for everything and what they lacked in skill they made up in effort and honest endeavour. Leeds did show a willingness to match the home team at their own game and enjoyed plenty of possession but after conceding two sloppy early goals they could never recover.

United were rocked by a fortunate strike after only four minutes, when a twenty yard shot from Byfield hit Wright and was deflected out of Sullivan's reach. This was the cue for some sustained Gillingham pressure and the United defence came under attack, not to mention some off the ball niggles. Kilgallon was left clutching his face after Roberts appeared to stick out an arm and Walton was wound up by the experienced Hassenthaler, who came on half way through the first half.

Kilgallon went close for United and forced the keeper to a spectacular save as United assumed the ascendancy. While they were still in with a chance at 1-0 they had too big a mountain to climb after they conceded a silly goal just before half time. There was a lapse of concentration as a throw in was helped on by a chip and the unmarked Agymang pulled the ball back to Roberts, whose shot hit Butler before going in off the post.

After seeming unsettled at the start of the second half, it was to United's credit that they carried on the fight. They were rewarded with Pugh's eightieth minute strike, after substitute Steve Guppy's cross drive could only be parried by the keeper and Pugh was on hand to steer home the rebound. This saw United pressing for an equalizer but they had left it too late. They finished the game in thirteenth place.

Wolverhampton Wanderers were the next opponents at Molineux and were expected to provide United with stiff opposition, as one of the likely promotion candidates. There was a debut for Stephen Crainey at left back in place of Matthew Kilgallon, while evergreen stalwart Lucas Radebe replaced the young Simon Walton in midfield and Brian Deane was given a first start since his return, in place of Julian Joachim as striker. Walton and Joachim dropped to the bench. United were struck a double blow to their already paper thin squad when Duberry was sent off and faced a three match suspension and Lucas Radebe was stretchered off and out for the rest of the season with a ruptured Achilles.

While Radebe's absence was pure bad luck, Duberry's was self inflicted as, after previously being yellow carded for an off the ball infringement with Miller, on the report of a linesman, he was also guilty of leaving a trailing leg, after Miller had got the wrong side of him, and thereferee quickly produce the red card and pointed immediately to the penalty spot with just five minutes to go. This gave Wolves the chance to take full points, but Sullivan crowned a fine individual performance by saving the ensuing kick with a superb save to keep honours even. Sullivan had performed well throughout and although rarely troubled by a strangely tame Wolverhampton attack he was called upon to make two valuable blocks before the penalty save.

Leeds were not much more adventuresome but their defensive efforts, with Butler outstanding against his former club, merited at least a point. United went to Wolverhampton with a team devised to frustrate the home team and this was accomplished with their second clean sheet in three games. Apart from the penalty, United had finished strongly and had three chances to settle the game. Frazer Richardson sent a shot wide after some good approach play and then blazed over as he cut in from the right, before finally right on time Deane sent in a looping header which was goal-bound until cleared off the line by a defender. A draw was a fair result and United remained in thirteenth spot.

There was talk of a Casino being built at Elland Road. With pending changes in the gaming laws. United were one of several clubs who were looking into the possibilities of a new revenue stream. Talks of an American based casino giant taking over the club for £29 million were immediately dismissed by the club.

There was news of the signing of Cameroon international Serge Branco from Stuttgart as United hosted Nottingham Forest. Steve Guppy was given his run on debut in place of the injured Radebe, with Clarke Carlisle also debuting in place of the suspended Duberry, while up front Joachim replaced Ricketts as Deane's strike partner.

United were robbed of a deserved victory as the inexperienced referee awarded Forest a penalty for an obstruction by Guppy on Evans, which the Forest midfielder milked as a penalty, with an exaggerated dive. For much of the contest United had outplayed Forest and created enough chances to have won this game convincingly. United had seventeen shots on goal. Deane, who won everything in the air and had a tremendous game, was unlucky when his downward header bounced over the bar. Joachim's pace worried Forest but, while once unlucky, he should have scored on another occasion but he continued to work hard and would have deserved to open his account on this showing.

Kelly, who kept Forest danger man Andy Reid on a short leash and Crainey who had a fine game at left back stood out for United. Clarke Carlisle had a fine debut and he and Butler were solid in central defence. Guppy's arrival gave Wright a chance to enjoy more freedom in midfield and with Pugh as busy as ever. United dominated the midfield, while Richardson again worked hard Guppy and Crainey linked up well. Crainey did well on the attack and twice scraped the woodwork firstly with a header and then with one of his fine free-kicks.

Pugh missed out with a good header, as did Frazer Richardson with a left-foot curler. Steve Guppy, who was desperate to win a permanent contract, did his chances no harm with a good display, capped off with an excellent header to out-jump the Forest defence at the far post, and convert Frazer Richardson's cross after twenty-five minutes. United didn't sit back but continued to take the game to Forest and were denied on many occasions, while at the other end Sullivan made a couple of stops as Forest made a late rally. United always looked like winners but Evans ran into Guppy in the area and Andy Reid converted despite a valiant attempt from Sullivan, who dived the right way. From that point on Forest retreated into defence and spent the last twelve minutes defending desperately to keep out the all out attack coming from United. The sides remained locked at 1-1 and it was two points lost rather than one gained from United's point of view and they eased up to twelfth place.

Neighbours Huddersfield Town provided the opposition for the First Round League Cup tie at Elland Road and Ricketts was given a chance up front in place of Deane. There was a quality display in central defence from Clarke Carlisle as Huddersfield's Terriers gallantly gave their all in an entertaining and fiercely contested local derby. The defence was the foundation for United's narrow victory with Carlisle and Butler dominant in central defence as were Kelly and Crainey at fullback.

Huddersfield battled hard and enthusiastically but they never looked like breaching the brick wall Leeds defence, as United kept their third clean sheet in five games. Town were much livelier than United but the home team seemed happy to dig in and protect their lead. It would have been nice to see United as more of an attacking unit and neither Ricketts nor Joachim had yet opened his account. Ricketts had a strong tussle with the Town defence and emerged on top and it was he who headed against the Town crossbar before Danny Pugh pounced to force the ball home for the winner after twenty-three minutes. Joachim did not have the same opportunities to shine but his effort deserved more reward than he was presently getting.

Huddersfield had arrived with a defensive plan aimed at frustrating the home side and, apart from an early header, it was half an hour before they emerged as an attacking force. Pugh had already put United ahead and Frazer Richardson had gone close to doubling the lead.

Huddersfield did have some chances, as a header hit the woodwork and Brandon twice found himself in space but wasted the chances and it wasn't until the seventy-first minute that Sullivan was called into serious action, when he reacted quickly to deny Brandon after a defensive error. This brought on Jamie McMaster for Guppy and he made a big impression with a lively display for the last twenty minutes. He almost scored with his first touch, when he forced the keeper to save at full stretch with a pile driver from twenty yards. He continued to taunt and torment and gave Blackwell food for thought but United never really looked like conceding a goal despite four minutes injury time and United progressed safely into the Second Round.

Duberry replaced Carlisle and Ricketts dropped back to midfield to replace Guppy with Deane taking his place as striker alongside Joachim, as United visited Blackwell's former team, Sheffield United, at Bramall Lane. There was no happy return for him as his team was out-thought and out-manoeuvred by Neil Warnock's Sheffield United.

It was a clear indication that Leeds are desperately short of quality players in their squad, with Danny Pugh, Frazer Richardson and Jermaine Wright playing in the midfield engine room and all trying to adapt to playing in an unfamiliar position. On the flanks Ricketts was asked to play wide right and Joachim wide left with Deane left to plough a lone furrow up front. Wright was not accustomed to, or suited to, the holding role in midfield and was much better in his usual role of feeding the strikers and if a good holding player was found it would allow Pugh and Richardson more freedom to express themselves. It would also allow Blackwell to rotate his other young talent such as Aaron Lennon, Simon Walton and Jamie McMaster and give them more opportunities to gain the necessary experience.

Leeds created absolutely nothing at all but for a long time it looked as though Butler and his defence were going to keep another clean sheet and secure a valuable point. It would be unwise to assume that Sullivan and the defence could work miracles every game and when they dipped in this game the Blades were handed the game on a platter.

Duberry was singled out by a section of the travelling fans early in the game and his confidence wilted noticeably. His early booking did not help either and he had a tough afternoon. It turned out to be another Bramall Lane horror show reminiscent of the double Cup exit of just over a season previous and this defeat was just as disappointing.

Sheffield had the better of the first half but only created a handful of decent chances which Leeds dealt with quite comfortably and Sullivan was not seriously extended. Ricketts failed to pick a superbly timed run from Pugh and selfishly opted to shoot instead, while Richardson worked an opening but fired narrowly over the bar. Sheffield finally got the goal they needed just five minutes into the second half. Leeds lost possession and Tonge fed a lovely ball to Ward for the striker to score. It was the end for Leeds as they only came to defend and after Sullivan had made a fingertip save, he was beaten for a second time as Harley curled a free-kick over the wall and past the keeper.

United's only further chance fell to the hapless Duberry who managed to hit the woodwork from just three yards out with twelve minutes to go. The final whistle was sweet relief to Leeds and a dejected team trooped off after suffering their second loss of the season. It was a poor disappointing performance and unless a spark was added it would be mid-table mediocrity or worse rather than being in the chasing pack, as they slumped further to be in sixteenth position.

There had been talk that Blackwell was hot on the trail of Sean Gregan, the West Bromwich Albion holding midfielder, but Leeds were only interested in a loan or free-transfer, whereas the vendors were looking for a substantial fee.

Former Manager Peter Reid brought his new charges, Coventry City, to play his former deputy's Leeds United and it was the apprentice who triumphed over the master and the new boss over the old boss. To be truthful United cruised past Coventry with alarming ease. Clarke Carlisle was back for the out of sorts Duberry and Simon Walton took over from Ricketts in a reshuffled midfield. Blackwell reverted to 4-4-2 and the result was there for all to see. Granted Coventry were not in the same class as Sheffield United but Blackwell's tactics were good enough to beat his former boss this game, if not in the previous one.

Clarke Carlisle stood out for United and each member of the defence was in top form and easily snuffed out the much vaunted Coventry attack. The midfield also played well with Wright, who had a hand in all three goals, and Pugh particularly outstanding. There was plenty of effort up front and it was good to see Joachim finally getting on the score sheet. United won the battle by working hard for each other, biding their time and finishing with a flourish with Coventry running up the white flag long before the final whistle. It wasn't a pretty game to watch but United stuck to their task and, with a renewed steadiness in front of goal, showed that in this form they were more than a match for the supposed better teams in the division.

The cornerstone for the victory was a strong uncompromising defence, a hard working midfield and a good display of natural instincts in front of goal. Leeds were guilty of a couple of early misses but their domination and determination paid dividends just before the break, when a free-kick by Jermaine Wright was met at the far post by Clarke Carlisle who scored with a looping header. His defensive prowess and a well taken goal fully vindicated his recall and could be contrasted to the fortunes of the hapless Duberry who was again the target of the boo-boys as he warmed up on the touchline.

Even Peter Reid was given a standing ovation by the fans as he emerged from the tunnel to take his place in the dugout. It was the only solace he got all afternoon except when he saw his team hit the woodwork and then just after half-time force a diving save from the dependable Neil Sullivan. United and Joachim were rewarded for their endeavours twenty minutes from time, when he was on hand to score from close range after the keeper couldn't hold Wright's strong header. Coventry full back Carey got his marching orders for a second yellow card for a foul on Pugh, who had tormented him all afternoon. The scoring was rounded off just on time when Wright's shot could not be held by the keeper and the impressive Pugh was on hand to tap home the rebound to complete the 3-0 score-line which saw United remain sixteenth in the table.

There were rumours of impending incoming players and an Iraqi takeover offer. Chairman Krasner said no bid had been made but the board would listen to any bids which were in the interests of the club and he further stated the talks for the sale and lease back of Elland Road were well advanced.

It was an unchanged United that made the long journey to Home Park where Plymouth Argyle were the hosts. It was another disciplined performance from every United player, with Jermaine Wright in superb form once again in midfield.

It looked as though all the pieces in the jigsaw were finally being put in place as they made the classic away performance to get their season up and running. The value of the win can be measured by the fact that Plymouth came into the game having only lost once at Home Park in the previous eighteen months. United weathered an early storm and quickly won the battle for the middle of the park and followed that up by playing some of the best football seen from a Leeds side in recent seasons. They passed the ball quickly; their movement was sharp and they created chances in abundance against a side that prided its self on its miserly home record. The foundation was built on a solid back four with Sullivan marshalling it superbly and it never looked like conceding. It had now gone 180 minutes since last conceding, and Plymouth must have though they were running into a brick wall. However, it was the midfield that shone brightest and none more so than Jermaine Wright, who was the driving force behind the victory and now freed from the holding role he showed his attacking prowess and was the moving force in pushing Leeds forward. He was well supported by the lively Simon Walton and busy wide men Richardson and Pugh, who were supplemented by Kelly and Crainey adding their weight with some telling crosses into the box which often caused problems. Big Brian Deane made his presence felt particularly in the air, while Joachim showed quick feet in creating a couple of useful openings.

The attendance of over 20,000 was Plymouth's largest crowd in years and contained almost 1,400 who had made the long trek from Leeds, which meant a twelve hour round trip and they would have been pleased with the Leeds performance; the chances created and would have forgiven them for not winning by a bigger margin.

United recovered from a shaky opening to take control of the game, the onslaught started when Jermaine Wright broke from midfield and embarked on a sixty yard run on goal, which culminated in a shot-come-cross which both Walton and Joachim desperately tried to make contact with on the line. It was the cue for twenty minutes of sustained pressure which culminated in the match winning goal, two minutes before the break. Walton had a shot saved, Deane had an effort blocked by the keeper's legs and Pugh headed wide from the rebound. Wright was the next to go close when he shot over after good build up play.

It looked like more frustration as a Walton pile-driver was blocked but in the ensuing melee Butler rose high to head goalwards as the Argyle defence failed to clear their lines and Marion Keith could only help it into the net, with the United skipper claiming it should have been his goal, and not an own goal. This was immediately followed by Plymouth's only effort of the night as Keith sought to make amends and capitalize on a rare Carlisle miss-header, but Sullivan was equal to the task and pulled off a fine save. United continued to create chances. Joachim twice went close while Matthew Spring came off the bench to make his debut and had a fine dipping effort tipped over the bar by the keeper and Wright and Richardson both had near misses. Just as the game seemed won the referee added five minutes injury time and United had to endure ninety-eight minutes of play before they final could take home the points. The win move United up into the top half of the league to ninth spot and with a game in hand on most teams their chances of improvement looked good.

There was news that Sean Gregan had been signed from West Bromwich Albion for £500,000 rising to a possible £1 million with add-ons, subject to his passing a fitness test.

There was a debut for Sean Gregan in midfield in place of Simon Walton as United travelled to struggling Crewe Alexandra at Gresty Road, looking to add another three points to the recent run of good results. Jermaine Wright was again the fulcrum for United while Sullivan in goal, Butler in central defence and Pugh with both goals also shone in the 2-2 draw. Was it a case of one point gained or two points lost? If you say that Pugh's leveller with only two minutes to go suggests it was a priceless draw you may have a point, but it was also fair to say United should have had them dead and buried long before that! Leeds dominated in terms of possession and created enough chances to win two games but that would hide the fact that they twice had to come from behind to equalize. It was a game that United knew they should have won.

Crewe played pretty football and had two good strikers in Steve Jones and Dean Ashton but United tried to be equally pretty, when they should have opted for a more physical approach. Butler was well known for his physical approach and Sean Gregan was bought to beef up the midfield but, while showing some classy touches, he looked well short on match fitness. His presence allowed Jermaine Wright to play his more natural attacking game and his prompting and probing made him a constant threat and he was unlucky not to open hisgoal-scoring account for United. There was the feeling that Gregan and Wright could become the best midfield pair in the CCCL once they had gelled, but even at its embryo stage the partnership was too much for Crewe and they stroked the ball around at will.

To Crewe's credit they didn't give in. They took the lead shortly after half-time and were resilient enough to bounce back to take the lead again after United had equalized. It was an example of their character in front of a nigh capacity crowd of just over 9,000, which was swelled by 1,588 travelling United fans. Crewe served an early warning of their attacking capabilities to force Sullivan to tip over a Jones header, but United dominated the half and there were chances aplenty. Joachim hit a post and Richardson followed up but had his shot blocked on the line. Richardson also went for power and not precision just on the break and another chance went begging.

Two minutes after the break Carlisle inexplicably handled in the box and although Sullivan guessed the direction of the kick, Ashton's power and precision were too much and it went into the corner of the net. This jolted United into action and they were level six minutes later, after Pugh had shown good anticipation to forced home the rebound after Joachim had hit the underside of the bar, and they still continued to dominate.

With Wright leading the charge and Deane causing the defence all kinds of problems it seemed inevitable that United would go on to win, but after Jones had had one effort disallowed he made no mistake soon afterwards, with only seven minutes left on the clock. The goal clearly rattled United and only a great twenty-five yard shot from Danny Pugh enabled them to again draw level with just two minutes to go.

The draw kept the unbeaten record going but saw United drop to tenth. There was news of the loan of Southampton striker Brett Omerod in time for the next clash with high-flyers Sunderland.

United rang the changes for the Second Round League Cup Tie with Swindon Town, and they lined up: Sullivan; Kelly, Carlisle, Butler, Kilgallon; Joachim, Spring, Gregan, Pugh; McMaster, Ricketts. With Walton replacing McMaster (sixty-one minutes), Cadamarteri for Joachim (seventy minutes), Deane for Ricketts (eighty minutes) with Carson and Duberry unused. United made it four games unbeaten with an unglamourous steamroller victory over plucky Swindon Town.

The visitors could count themselves unlucky as they played some neat football but lacked the killer instinct to get a stranglehold on the game. Matthew Spring made his run on debut for United while Danny Cadamarteri made his debut from the bench. After just nine minutes, it was Kelly's beautifully weighted forward ball that found Ricketts and he in turn advanced forward before delivering a neat finish to give United the lead. The keeper beat away a powerful strike from Julian Joachim and a Kelly cross caused havoc as a Swindon defender headed it on to the bar. Jamie McMaster was unlucky not to get his first goal for the club when, after great work from Pugh, his goal-bound shot hit Ricketts and was hacked to safety. It was a first half which showed United's inefficiency at killing off inferior opposition. There were fine performances by Kelly and Kilgallon, with Spring also impressive, while Gregan moved one match closer to match fitness.

After being cannon fodder in the first half, Swindon came out for the second half meaning business. Parkin fluffed a good chance before Sullivan got down well to a low drive from O'Hanlan. However, although Swindon pressed hard, they did not have the class to penetrate the United rearguard and there were no dramas like the previous season as United eased through 1-0 for their third win in four games and their sixth clean sheet in ten games.

For the Friday night Elland Road encounter with high flying Sunderland there was a debut for loan signing Brett Ormerod, who partnered Brian Deane up front in place of McMaster and Ricketts. Crainey returned at left back in place of Kilgallon, while Richardson and Wright returned in place of Joachim and Spring in midfield. There was a minutes silence prior to the kick-off to mark the passing of former United Manager and Sunderland player Brian Clough.

Captain Paul Butler led by example with good assistance from Clarke Carlisle and Sean Gregan. A disallowed goal and a missed penalty proved costly as United were beaten for the first time in the season at Elland Road. Brian Deane had what looked a perfectly good goal disallowed and Brett Ormerod should have done better with the penalty, but on balance Sunderland were the better team and deserved their victory with the first goal conceded by United in open play this season.

In the eleventh minute Danny Pugh had swung over a corner from the right and Deane rose majestically the head in unchallenged. There looked to be nothing wrong with it, but the referee blew for an infringement by Ormerod on the keeper, but on inspection of the replay it seemed that he had ruled incorrectly. Sunderland had the better of play and Sullivan and Butler denied Elliott while Robinson screwed a shot wide. Carter also went close as Sullivan pushed his powerful shot round the post which the referee inexplicably gave as a goal-kick. The winner came in the sixty-fifth minute when the Leeds defence was caughtnapping at a free kick. Robinson quickly took it to Elliott who held it up for Robinson to drive under the diving Sullivan with the defence in disarray.

With sixteen minutes to go, Ormerod wasted a great chance to draw United level, after ex-United loanee Stephen Caldwell slipped at a corner and by using Carlisle to break his fall he performed a perfect Rugby tackle and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. It was expected that Wright would take the resultant kick but Ormerod, keen to get off the mark, grabbed the ball and his weak kick was easily saved by Poom.

The miss was the final nail in the coffin as Sunderland easily coped with a Leeds Route One tactic of up and under. United were so frustrated at Poom's ability to handle the high ball that Butler showed his exasperation by felling the Sunderland keeper. United had struggled in the middle of the park and in marked contrast to the previous three outings where there had been chances aplenty, it was telling that no real chances had been created. Jermaine Wright had been quiet by his standards and the wide men Richardson and Pugh had little chance to shine and consequently were unable to feed the strikers. Gregan showed signs of gaining match fitness and settling in with a determined effort in which he broke up play well, but in the end there was nothing to show and United slipped to twelfth and would need to improve for their match up with Stoke City if they were not to lose touch with the leading bunch.

United were unchanged for the visit of the highly rated Stoke City, who were safely ensconced in one of the play-off positions in fourth spot. United had Gregan in command of the midfield ably backed up by Wright and Pugh who stood out, while Carlisle was strong in defence and Ormerod always caused problems for Stoke in attack. As a unit they were streets ahead of Stoke and dominated proceedings from go to woe, while Stoke seemed content to sit back and soak up the constant United pressure while hardly venturing into the Leeds half.

The shots on goal told the story, Leeds United eighteen, Stoke City two, with corners ten to one, and it was fair to say that Leeds would have spent seventy of the ninety minutes peppering the Stoke goal but the knock out punch was never delivered. The referee appeared to turn down a cast-iron penalty appeal from Brian Deane late in the game after a clash with Gerry Taggart, but otherwise the referee was quite happy to blow his whistle at regular intervals for petty infringements by Stoke, who used it as a ploy to slowdown the onslaught. Stoke sat so deep that United were able to show they are capable of some neat play on the deck when the opportunity arises. Unfortunately United's quality in the last third was not quite what it should have been and they were unableto find their way past what can only be described as a remarkable rearguard action.

Ormerod was very impressive up front and at times it was a nine man attack that United threw at Stoke, but it was still not enough to gain them the three points that their domination merited. As early as the eighth minute Ormerod was denied by a superb tackle from Taggart and the battering continued incessantly up to the ninety-fifth minute when Deane headed narrowly wide after a pinpoint cross from Ormerod. In between Leeds had shots blocked, knocked the ball wide, sent a couple of shots over the bar and saw at least two kicked off the line with the keeper beaten. Wright was probably the unluckiest in front of goal and was the victim of a double block in the sixtieth minute after De Goey flapped hopelessly at an Ormerod cross. Ormerod showed no fear of running at defenders and was subject to rough house treatment throughout. With Kelly and Crainey prepared to shoot from distance, Carlisle forcing corners and a downward header from Butler was scrambled to safety as the United defence showed that they were trying to get in on the scoring act also. Even with five minutes injury time United still couldn't penetrate the Stoke defence and the game ended 0-0 and United dropped to fifteenth but, goals apart, their confidence was sky high.

Danny Cadamartei was sold to Sheffield United for £50,000 and once again United were unchanged for their visit to Cardiff City in their Ninian Park bear-pit. United emerged with a second 0-0 draw in two games but this time the boot was on the other foot as Cardiff missed a penalty and then hit the bar three times in the second half, as United held on to complete their eighth clean sheet of the season. Played in front of a sell-out 17,000 crowd, 5,000 above their average, Cardiff rose to the occasion and played well above their relegation zone status. The pressure-cooker atmosphere also got to the referee and he handed Cardiff a generous penalty, when McAnuff tumbled under pressure from Crainey. Fortunately Sullivan was equal to the task and was able to save the tame kick with his legs.

While Cardiff employed the big kick at every opportunity, United were content to play controlled football even though there was very little spark. United's wide men struggled against two uncompromising full backs and Ormerod and Deane were well held by the Cardiff central defenders, even though their tactics and tackles were not always legal. A Jermaine Wright corner was flicked on by Brian Deane and Clarke Carlisle's bullet header was somehow cleared off the line, in the best opportunity of the first half. There were few excuses three minutesinto the second half for United failing to take the lead. Danny Pugh found Jermaine Wright with a delightful pass down the left but Ormerod could not apply the finishing touch to his pinpoint cross from close range. This spurred Cardiff to greater efforts and with Carlisle outstanding at the back, with solid assistance from Butler, United did manage to weather the storm but only just, as they were forced to defend deeper and deeper. Parry and McAnuff both went close before Cardiff upped the pace and hit Leeds with the final onslaught. Campbell turned a Perry shot against the woodwork before substitute Jerome repeated the feat, when he smashed a shot against the bar, before McAnuff was the next to rattle the Leeds crossbar. The goalless draw saw United slip to sixteenth position but with only one defeat in seven games the record looked good, if you disregarded that they had managed only seven goals in nine games, and they have failed to score in 270 minutes of football. It was hardly promotion form and a quality striker was clearly a priority.

Kilgallon and Walton replaced the injured Crainey and Wright, while Ricketts was in for Deane up front, for the Elland Road clash with Preston North End. United had already made two bids for David Healy the Preston striker and although they had been turned down there were strong rumours that he was bound for United and that he had made his last appearance for the Lancastrians.

It was surprising that he played, as his appearance in the game was not expected, as it would be his 150th for the club and triggered a £100,000 payment to his former club Manchester United. Not surprisingly he was the centre of attention and after being substituted after seventy-five minutes the Leeds fans chanted his name and bizarrely he responded with a cheeky wave from the dug-out. While he was on the pitch, the diminutive Northern Ireland International striker showed enough quality touches to underline why Leeds are so keen to prise him away from Deepdale.

He was not, however, the star of the show. That accolade rested firmly on the shoulders of Danny Pugh, who is fast becoming a firm favourite with the crowd. Having arrived as a left back, he had adapted well to the wide left midfield role and in the game was once again very impressive and was at the very core of everything that was good about United. He was the danger man with a tremendous individual display, and his probing and intelligent runs were rewarded by scoring the winner after seventy-nine minutes. United had gone fully seven hours since they had last scored and when Pugh rifled home from close range it ended a barren run which had spanned a full 430 minutes.

Ormerod impressed also, being involved in the lead up to the goal,but helimped out of the action after colliding with the goalpost. Ricketts was adisappointment and was replaced by Deane on the hour mark and it was no co-incidence that the new twin spearhead was the impetus for the breaking of the barren run. The squad featured four teenagers, as Aaron Lennon came off the bench and three other players were under the age of 22. Jermaine Wright was sorely missed. Sean Gregan was the only experienced midfielder United had on show, but Pugh and Walton were willing workers and United's biggestthreat. It was they who carved out United's best chance of the first half when Walton broke up play and knocked the ball wide to Pugh but as he sent across a pinpoint cross Walton was unable to direct his header goalwards.

With Gregan being an ex-Preston player there seemed to be some angry verbal exchanges with the Preston bench which resulted in their Assistant Manager being given his marching orders, while on the pitch there were several personal battles and on one occasion two or three players were pushing and shoving even though the ball was not anywhere near. It added an extra edge and both teams had their chances in the second half with Etuhu missing a free header before Ormerod dispossessed a Preston defender and made good ground before laying it on for the impressive Pugh. Even though it wasn't the performance that the fans had hoped for it was three points which took United into tenth positionand extended the defensive non-conceding to 285 minutes, almost five hours since Neil Sullivan was last beaten.

There was further news on the proposed Casino at Elland Road. Stanley Leisure, UK's biggest casino operator, had acquired an option to purchase 2.8 hectares (7 acres) of land next to the Elland Road ground. Should planning permission and government deregulation of the gaming industry follow, it is thought a Las Vegas style Casino would be built by the end of 2007. It would create around 1,000 jobs and cost approximately £125 million to build. United were paid £5 million for the option and their association with the casino ceases with the sale of the land and there is no future profit sharing agreement or any further income to Leeds United once the sale is completed. "We have now received £5m from Stanley Leisure, which means we have managed to reduce Leeds United's debt burden from £103m the day the current board took over, to just over £30m." Mr Krasner said.

For the trip to second placed Reading, United started off unchanged and were off to a flyer as Simon Walton scored in the first minute. Facing a team who were sure to be in with a shout in the final reckoning at the end of the season, a defiant Leeds stood firm to collect a well deserved point from their trip to Madejski Stadium.

Kilgallon stood out in a strong defence in which Sullivan and Carlisle also gave excellent performances. Reading were a lively outfit but United started and finished the stronger of the two teams and could easily have come away with all three points after a spirited performance. The hosts played some very good football and showed all the hallmarks of a team who would be challenging for promotion, but United were able to soak up the pressure and but for a stunning last minute save by the Reading keeper would have won the contest. Ormerod and Ricketts both deserved praise for their work-rate and all out effort. It was Ormerod who created the goal for Walton with a delightful cross after he had made space for himself on the right and Walton could not believe the amount of space he was allowed as he made no mistake with a close range header to give United a shock lead.

It wasn't until just on half-time that Reading were able to level matters and United showed great character by fighting back in the second half. The Reading midfield duo had played together since they were juniors at Arsenal and their understanding showed, while they also had two players on the flanks whoshowed plenty of quality and United spent much of the opening period on the back foot as a result. Kilgallon did extremely well considering he was up against one of Reading's better players and kept him neatly in check, while Kelly made some timely blocks and Carlisle was outstanding as he and Butler stood firm against Reading's strong front pairing. Sullivan was busy throughout and was his usual tidy self. It was not all one-way traffic and Ormerod had a low shot saved, while Ricketts showed great quality in controlling a looping ball from Gregan before firing narrowly wide. It looked like United were going to go into the break in front but luck was in Reading's favour. After Sullivan had done well to parry a close range header onto the post, unfortunately the rebound went straight to Owusu, who grabbed the equalizer. Reading came out firing on all cylinders for the second half and wasted three very good chances before United were able to claw their way back into the game.

Gregan, Richardson and substitute Spring all shot over as Leeds finished strongly, while at the other end Kitson failed to connect with the goal at his mercy. Leeds could have stolen it in stoppage time when Brian Deane met a Danny Pugh corner with a powerful header but somehow Hahnemann, the Reading keeper, reacted quickly to spread himself to beat the ball away. It was a quality save which gained his side a point. The crowd of over 22,000 contained 3,000 of the travelling faithful and they would have been pleased with the point but at the same time disappointed that it was not three as United dropped to thirteenth place, but maintained their run of only one defeat in the last eight games and hoping that the funds can be found to bring in the extra quality that is required for United to mount a serious challenge for promotion.

United were again unchanged as they moved to the south coast to the miniscule Withdean Stadium home of Brighton and they trotted out to the cheers of 600 of their supporters, severely restricted by the less than 7,000 capacity of the ground. Woeful could describe many things about this fixture. The ground, the referee and United's display!

Two controversial dismissals, an own goal and horrendous weather conditions all helped towards Unite's downfall at the worst stadium they will ever have to visit for a League game. The ground could not be blamed for the disastrous defeat nor could it be blamed for the indiscipline showed by certain Leeds players. It was a woefully abject performance by both teams and the normally reliable United defence gift wrapped the three points and contrived to provide Brighton with enough chances to win the game. By the time Clarke Carlisle had headed beyond Neil Sullivan in the fifty-ninth minute United had already made many misplaced passes and hashed clearances to give Brighton chances their play did not deserve. Indeed if Clarke Carlisle had not got the unfortunate touch it is hard to believe that either side would ever have scored.

Late substitute Aaron Lennon did add some life but it was one of those games where the result was inevitable. The referee seemed intent on booking as many Leeds players as he could. Kelly was the first, after Carlisle took a swipe at a Brighton player right under the referee's nose. Sullivan got booked for telling him that he had made a stunning save as the referee pointed for a goal kick. Kilgallon was twice carded and sent off for two fifty-fifty challenges, while Butler managed to earn a yellow and a straight red within a space of sixty seconds apparently for swearing at the lineswoman. It earned him a two match ban and he would be missed, as he was United's best defender by a country mile. Sullivan earned his pay with a couple of fine saves, Walton, Gregan and Ormerod seemed to try, Carlisle, Kilgallon, Richardson, and Pugh were below their usual form and Kelly and Ricketts must have been ashamed to pick up their pay packet! United slipped to seventeenth position and appeared to be well out of contention, but after such a display they must have been watching over their shoulders at the teams below.

United were severely hit by suspensions and injuries and Ormerod was not allowed to play. So a much changed team lined up for the trip along the south coast to Portsmouth. Sullivan; Kelly, Carlisle, Walton, Pugh; Richardson, Gregan, Spring, Simon Johnson; Deane, Joachim. Lennon came on for Joachim on 72 minutes, Keogh made his debut as replacement for Gregan, four minutes from time while Ricketts took Johnson's place a minute later.

The threadbare United restored some pride after the abysmal efforts at Brighton a couple of days before, and tore into a complacent EPL outfit as if they were out to avenge memories of a 6-1 thrashing sustained on their last visit to Fratton Park. When Portsmouth roared into a two goal lead on the half hour the travelling faithful could have been forgiven for thinking that they were in for a repeat. Thankfully they were wrong and Kelly made up for his prevous inept performance by pulling on the captain's armband and giving a fine inspirational performance, to lead by example. He linked up well with Richardson, crossed well and was a constant source of encouragement to the younger players. His only disappointing moment was when he was adjudged to have brought down the Portsmouth player for their match-winning penalty. It could have gone either way but on this night it went against him. Brian Deane was also inspirational and revelled in the stream of crosses and was always a threat, while Gregan provided a calming influence in midfield. Pugh and Walton both playing in their normal positions for the first time and were happy and comfortable after voluntarily playing out of position so long.

Maybe United started too cautiously and paid Portsmouth too much respect as the weakened eleven was subjected to incessant pressure for the first twenty minutes. Sullivan had already pulled off two blinding saves before he was left exposed and Kamara scored from a narrow angle after fourteen minutes. United reorganized themselves and battled their way back into the contest. Deane had a header saved and another went narrowly over the bar as he revelled in a stream of fine crosses from Kelly, while Richardson hammered a low ball across the goal but there was no one to supply the finishing touch. Leeds were playing some nice football with Simon Johnson, Spring and Gregan featuring strongly, but it was the home side that went ahead 2-0 on the half hour with the debatable penalty. But United finished the half strongly and reduced the arrears five minutes before the break. It came from the source they had revelled in all night, as Kelly found space on the right, and Deane met the cross to head home his first goal since returning to Elland Road, to bring United back into the game. The tall striker also had the ball in the net again early in the second half only to be ruled out by the linesman's flag. Leeds continued to press and Richardson was incheswide, Simon Johnson forced the keeper to a desperate save and Taylor seemed to handle in the box when pressured by Richardson. Ricketts and Keogh were thrown on as United employed four strikers in an effort to improve the score-line but it was to no avail and United went down 2-1 but could not have fought harder.

There was a fine debut for David Healy, who made his debut after being finally signed from Preston North End for a reported £650,000. He replaced Julian Joachim to partner Brian Deane in the strike force, while Kilgallon returned to central defence after suspension with Walton moving back into midfield at the expense of Spring. The League leaders Wigan Athletic proved to be a class act with Bullard and Mahon running the show from midfield. The quality that oozed through the Wigan team as they eased to victory showed exactly what it takes to mount an effort at CCCL level and was a lesson for all those connected with Leeds United and gap between the haves and have nots was glaringly apparent.They showed all the hallmarks of a team destined to lift silverware and take the quantum leap into the EPL.

Leeds were far from disgraced, but were just simply outclassed by their ruthless opponents. United more than matched them in the first half but twoquick-fire goals early in the second half settled the match as a competition.The United weaknesses were clearly exposed. But, the Wigan midfield was much more expensively assembled and clearly had far more experience than their United counterparts. Only Gregan was able to match them in the experience stakes, while Richardson and Walton are playing out of position and still learning their trade, and Simon Johnson had never played left midfield before.

Healy and Deane linked up well, with Healy quite happy to act as provider when needed. Kilgallon, playing for the first time this season in his preferred central defensive position, was outstanding in defence, with good support from Clarke Carlisle, and they snuffed out the dual threat of Ellington and Roberts, who were the league's most prolific scorers, so they can take great heart from their efforts. Although out of position, Simon Johnson was the pick of the midfield and combined well with Healy to give the Irish striker the chance to test the keeper. Gregan was fairly ineffective after coming off second best in a challenge from McCulloch on the half hour and was nursing a hip injury for the rest of the match. The incident caused a flair up with Carlisle getting booked and he was fortunate to stay on the pitch minutes later when he hauled back Roberts. Wigan seemed to be content to shoot from distance and this proved no problem to a goalkeeper of Sullivan's calibre.

Wigan took the lead almost immediately as the second half started, when Alan Mahon pounced with a lethal left foot strike after some neat build up which saw Leeds caught short. United replied with Healy being denied by a superb save by Filan, but the visitors showed their strength on the counter attack and hit Leeds with a sucker punch. Roberts fed the impressive Bullard and with Pugh and Kelly chasing shadows, Bullard took it on before delivering a lethal finish past a helpless Sullivan. A quality finish and a signal of their clinically execution of the difference in class, as United now occupied sixteenth spot, and bizarre as it may seem in terms of where the two teams were two years ago they were now far behind the likes of Wigan in terms of financial muscle.

Off the field there was movement in the financial field as a USA based consortium of Nova Financial Partners and Sebastien Sainsbury were reported to have made a bid to take over the club, while present incumbents headed by Chairman Gerald Krasner say they have yet to see the colour of their money, while there was talk of yet another consortium waiting in the wings. Should the US bid prevail it was mooted that they would be making money available to Kevin Blackwell to bolster his team.

The apparent shambles that is fast becoming Leeds United transferred itself on to the pitch as United turned on an unacceptably bad performance against Burnley at Elland Road, who had started the evening in a lower position than them.

Watched by the would-be new Chairman Sebastien Sainsbury they could hardly have inspired his confidence in them. Even anyone not having football knowledge would have known that the product would be hard to market and in a store would probably rot on the shelf. The incumbent board appeared to have little confidence in him, and his US backing team, putting their money where their mouths were, and were presently negotiating with a local consortium led by Norman Stubbs.

Butler returned to central defence with Kilgallon moving to left back and Pugh up to left midfield, with Simon Johnson being omitted. Joachim replaced Richardson at right midfield while Jermaine Wright was fit again and replaced Walton. It was worrying that the result was achieved with what was, on paper, possibly United's strongest team. The team looked a shadow of the side that had ground out a series of good results at the start of the season and it was hard to imagine that a much weaker team had fought so hard to give the League's best team a real run for their money only a couple of days previously.

Only Jermaine Wright, Julian Joachim and David Healy showed any fight and came out of the game with any credit. It all should have been so different, when United got off to the best possible start as Jermaine Wright celebrated his return by scoring after only 12 seconds, with Kilgallon's long pass being knocked on by Healy, for Wright to lash the ball out of the reach of the Burnley keeper. Unfortunately the rest of the United team were just not at the races and the performance was undoubtedly the worst of the season.

There was barely ten minutes on the clock when Clarke Carlisle had an aberration and sold Neil Sullivan short with a back pass. Sullivan did his best to rescue the situation but to no avail. United seemed to go to pieces and constantly gave the ball away cheaply with misplaced passes and aimless balls forward and it came as no surprise that Burnley took the lead on the half hour. Burnley whipped the ball into the box and after Sullivan could only parry a header, Richard Duffy slotted the ball in from the narrowest of angles. The second goal did spark Leeds momentarily into life and Deane had a couple of headers saved, Joachim hit the woodwork and Wright had an angled drive saved by the keeper. Blackwell tried to change things around by going to three at the back, but Leeds could never get back into the contest and were lucky that Burnley did not increase their lead as they contrived to miss three excellent second half chances. The final whistle was greeted by boos and jeers from some supporters who had come to expect better than being humiliated by the likes of Burnley on their own pitch and found United in eighteenth place and struggling.

John Oster had been signed on loan from Sunderland and he went straight into the team in place of Kilgallon, playing on the right flank, with Healy on the left flank and Pugh dropping to left back for the visit to Deepdale and David Healy's quick return to play against his former employers, Preston North End.

United completed the double over their Lancastrian foes and, unrecognizable from embarrassing defeats to struggling Brighton and Burnley, turned on a power performance and give their most comprehensive display of the season to overwhelm the home team.

They produced a scintillating first half performance and were deservedly 3-0 to the good at the break. Two goals came from David Healy, less than two weeks after leaving Preston, and his contribution was outstanding as Leeds played the ball on the deck and moved it quickly. But it was not just the David Healy show, as there were outstanding displays all across the park. The back four were solid and formed the foundation which saw the midfield and forward line run riot. Gregan, a former Preston favourite, was given a standing ovation by the crowd as he took the field and was at the hub of a stronger, more experienced, United midfield, which allowed Wright and Walton to be more adventurous and it had been no coincidence that Jermaine Wright played far better when Gregan was behind him and it was he who ran the show in midfield. His passing and vision was excellent and it was he who created two of the four United goals.

Deane's height was used to good effect with Oster and Healy working the flanks to give United width. Two of the goals were from set pieces and straight from the training ground. The first came after just twelve minutes when Deane stooped at the far post to head home a Wright corner. Three minutes later it was 2-0, Pugh delivered a free-kick deep into the Preston box and, with Carlisle unsettling the Preston defence, Healy pounced to shoot the loose ball past the keeper. Leeds were playing superb football and went close as Deane headed a pinpoint Wright cross inches over. It got even better as, with Wright again thearchitect; he played a long ball forward to Healy who showed great composure to hold off a defender before delivering another lethal strike, just prior to the break.

Preston came out fired up for the second half and Cresswell reduced the arrears after fifty-four minutes but United weathered the storm and came back to grab a fourth after seventy-two minutes, when Oster's deep cross was beautifully laid back by Deane for Walton who scored from close range. Leeds United fan Cresswell did get a second for Preston seven minutes from time but it was too little too late and United cruised to a well deserved victory which saw United move up to fifteenth place.

After the game there was an embarrassing Radio spat between a present Director, Melvin Helme, and the would be future chairman Sebastien Sainsbury the gist of which was put up or shut up as the protracted talks were inconclusive.

It was reported on Friday 12th November that the club had announced that negotiations for the takeover by the American-backed consortium had ended after a 1pm deadline had passed and that Elland Road was to be sold under a sale and lease back deal. Mr Krasner also revealed that the club's board was in "advanced discussions" with a local consortium. United called a press conference at Elland Road that afternoon to clarify the latest developments in the Sainsbury takeover saga. A joint announcement by the club and Nova Financial Partners earlier in the week had stated that proof of funding had been established. Leeds's urgency for completion was prompted by the need to pay back the latest instalment of the loan owed by the current board to Jack Petchey, or trigger a £2 million penalty clause.

Mr Krasner said: "Leeds United can confirm that current negotiations for a takeover of the club have ceased with Nova Financial Partners. We can also confirm that today we are in the final stages of completing the sale and lease back of Elland Road." Mr Krasner, who said the sale of Elland Road should be finalised later that day, would not say how much the deal was worth but confirmed that it meant the loan owed by the board to Jack Petchey would be paid off in full. The Leeds board, fearing that the Nova deal might not go through, had also been in talks with a local consortium believed to be headed by local businessman Norman Stubbs. Mr Krasner said: "We are in advanced discussions with a local consortium which we hope to finish over the coming weeks."

United unsurprisingly were unchanged for the visit to Portman Road, home of second placed Ipswich Town.United could have won and should have drawn but lost 1-0, as a single scrappy goal settled an encounter which Leeds dominated for long periods and turned in a performance which made a mockery of the huge difference between the two teams in the league table. At the end of the game Ipswich shared top spot with Wigan and were undefeated in ten games, while Leeds sank to nineteenth and had won just one game of the last five. It would have been hard for a neutral to decide which was the side riding high in the League and which was on its knees at the bottom, but Leeds, apart from a twenty minutes spell in the second half either side of the decisive goal dominated the contest. They created plenty of opportunities, particularly in the first half and their display could have been said to be better than their display in the same stanza at Preston given the relative positions of Preston and Ipswich. The vital difference was that they hit the net three times at Preston but in this case could not register a legal score. A couple of marginal offside decisions proved decisive, while the Ipswich keeper made several good saves to thwart them.

Gregan was in fine form and was United's outstanding player but there was a subdued and substandard display from Jermaine Wright on his first return to his former club, which was marked by a rough ride from his former fans who turned on their former favourite. It clearly affected his play and while keeping Ipswich danger-man Horlock relatively quiet for long periods he made a rash challenge on Wilnis, as his frustrations got the better of him, and he was replaced by Joachim after seventy-four minutes. Gregan broke up play well and his distribution was first class. He was the platform on which Leeds built attack after attack. David Healy and John Oster were again key figures on the flanks, causing trouble throughout, while Walton provided good support down the middle for Brian Deane. It was the positive approach shown by United and if it could be repeated they would collect more points than they would drop. Indeed it took only fifty-five seconds before they had the ball in the net, but the effort was ruled offside. Gregan started the move which Deane knocked on and Healy showedgreat natural instinct to rattle the ball wide of the keeper. The dreaded flag was up in the air again moments later when Walton and Oster combined to send Healy en route for goal. Oster had an effort beaten away by the keeper, who was again on hand to stop a looping header from Gregan from finding the net. Ipswich offered little in reply and it was 35 minutes before Sullivan was called into action as Bent headed straight into his hands.

Ipswich switched tactics in the second half to match those of Leeds and with three up front they had their best spell, which featured the only goal of the game. There was a bad misunderstanding between Kelly and Carlisle, and Bent took advantage to score the only goal of the game, six minutes into the second half. Sullivan made a valiant attempt to stop it and it was debatable whether he had control of the ball when Bent kicked the ball out of his hands. The goal rattled Leeds and it took them a while to regain their composure but could have stolen the game as substitute Joachim headed down a Pugh corner, but after a neat turn, Deane was unable to apply the finishing touch from close range and the keeper spread himself well to save.

United were again unchanged, despite rumours that they were in the market for Crystal Palace midfielder Shaun Derry, for the visit of Queens Park Rangers to Elland Road. The hapless visitors went away on the receiving end of a 6-1 drubbing. It was a result that has been long coming after some fine performances for little reward against classy opposition. Brian Deane, who had spent much of the season ploughing a lone furrow up front for scant reward, was finally rewarded for his perseverance, while his team-mates also rose to the occasion by turning in their most complete display to date. It was a surreal afternoon, Deane even had a further goal disallowed and had picked up the match ball by half-time with his first hat-trick in a Leeds shirt, but it should not have been surprising given the United recent performances.

United now had quality in abundance and though consistency would be the key, they had now strung together three consecutive displays where they had looked lively, inventive and creative. Quite rightly, Deane would take the plaudits for his goal-scoring feat, but the other scorers Healy and Wright also turned in high-quality performances. Healy’s finish for the first goal on nine minutes was pure class. Wright got the third goal after twenty-three minutes and it was fitting reward for his tenacity after a substandard performance at Ipswich and he revelled in the open spaces of Elland Road and with his neat touches and quick-thinking he was back to his best. Oster had really impressed in the three games since arriving on loan and had provided the width required for United to play with a three pronged attack. He had the rare ability to beat his man for pace and skill and if he progressed at present rate he would no doubt be signed permanently. Walton and Gregan were also key players as United pummeled high flying Rangers into submission.

Complete team performances are rare, but this was just about as good as it gets. After conceding a goal in less than two minutes Leeds went on the rampage and rattled five past their bewildered opponents before half time. When Healy produced an exquisite finish after good work by Kelly and Deane to level the scores no one would have suspected the massacre that was to follow. United went ahead on thirteen minutes when Walton back-heeled to Wright and Deane was on hand to convert the cross from close range. Ten minutes later Deane headed towards the box and a Rangers defender could only help it towards goal and Wright reacted quickly to poke the ball home at the second attempt. Rangers were in disarray and United were on the warpath and wrapped up the game with two goals in a minute just before half-time. The first came when Deane finished off a move involving Oster and Wright and then the big striker completed his hat-trick by converting a Kelly cross.

The second half was always going to be an anti-climax and when Healy missed a penalty following a foul on Walton it seemed the crowd's cries of "We want six" were going to be ignored. But Deane answered their call when he was on hand to capitalize on a defensive error. The result could have been wider but 6-1 was good enough as United edged up into seventeenth position.

Once again United were able to field an unchanged team for the visit of Watford to Elland Road. The expected deal for Shaun Derry fell through, embarrassingly after United had paid for his medical, and there was talk of boardroom unrest but potential investor Norman Stubbs is due to return from a Caribbean holiday and things could be resolved. After the run of good form culminating in the 6-1 thrashing of Queens Park Ranger expectations were high and it was once again the case of "after the Lord Mayor's Show" as United were lucky to scramble a 2-2 draw. United twice came from behind but it was a game that neither teams deserved to lose. United played some good football at times but paid a heavy price for their generosity after twice handing Watford the lead.

After nine minutes no one picked up Dyer as he headed in at the far post and in the seventy-first minute the visitors second was right out of the "how not to defend" manual. Pugh sold Gregan short with a bad pass which left him in difficulties, he compounded the problem by trying to play a shocking back pass to the keeper which hit Butler and was cannoned straight into the path of Dyer, who did not look a gift horse in the mouth. In Gregan's defence it was his only mistake in an otherwise good personal performance as he patrolled in front of the back four, in a game where the forwards took the eye and defences looked anything but stable. United were very generous in the firsttwenty minutes and allowed Watford to create several good chances, and before the goal Sullivan had already pulled off a fine save to deny Chambers and after the goal made a fine stop from close range to thwart Dyer. Midway through the half United came to life and equalized on twenty-one minutes as Deane held up a long ball from Butler and Wright was on hand to thump the ball home. Deane was again the key figure but unlike in the previous fixture he was unable to get his nameon the score-sheet. Oster was the chief provider with a stream of crosses and Wright turned in his usual impressive, hard working performance to be the pick of the Leeds team.

In the first half Gregan went close as the keeper pushed his effort over the bar but the second half was not so impressive with Healy having a header brilliantly saved by the keeper before Dyer was handed the gift wrapped goal with less than twenty minutes to go. It looked as if Watford would take the full points but three minutes before the final whistle the industrious Wright sent a pinpoint cross for Clarke Carlisle to head in at the far post to give United a deserved draw. It moved them up to fifteenth on the ladder.

There were two team changes for the visit to Millmoor and bottom of the table Rotherham United, who were still looking for their first win after twenty games. Kilgallon replaced Pugh at left back and Ricketts came in for Deane up front.

The turmoil off the field continued with Sebastien Sainsbury returning to make a bid of his own, but like his bid with the American Consortium the Directors thought it was "A Mickey Mouse" bid and placed no faith in it, they seemed more interested in the Norman Stubbs bid. A tirade from Gerald Krasner was seen live on Sky prior to the kick off when he was interviewed on the matter. He was very scathing in his appraisal of the bid and said they were wasting his time as they could not be relied on. Not the sort of thing to fill the fans with expectation of future stability. So not only did they become the victims of the first side to lose to Rotherham but became the unwanted victims of yet another smear campaign after Sebastien Sainsbury reappeared with rank bad timing to make yet another of his offers to "buy" the club. The off field uncertainty, created by a man who had already broken promise after promise, was bad enough,but the result was just plain embarrassing.

It was made worse as Leeds totally outplayed Rotherham for the majority of the game and yet failed to beat a team that was within four games of gaining the unwanted mantel of the Football League's all time record for consecutive games without a victory. Rotherham showed why they had such a bad record and really didn't look capable of stopping the run and in truth United should have won by an avalanche of goals. They battered Rotherham from the off and could have been 3-0 up before the crowd had time to sit down. Clarke Carlisle hit the woodwork three times in the first six minutes and such was United's speed of the early passing and movement that it looked like there could only be one outcome. Carlisle limped off in the fifteenth minute he was replaced by Richardson who took the left back spot with Matthew Kilgallon taking the vacant spot in central defence, but still United attacked incessantly and it was men against boys.

David Healy was the standout and never stopped, while Simon Walton was always a problem bursting forward from midfield. Kelly and Oster linked up well and Rotherham simply could not handle the constant surge forward. However United couldn't maintain that pace and after not being able to score before the hour mark anxiety set in. The speed and intensity waned although Healy was still threatening. Ricketts slowly drifted out of the clash and as the clock wound down Leeds became increasingly sloppy in possession and started to give the ball away and the amount of pressure on the Rotherham goal subsided. Ricketts should have converted a Healy centre and there was no one on hand to put in an Oster cross. The longer it went the more worried United and their fans became.

After seventy-seven minutes the inevitable happened. The Leeds defence allowed Barker to back heel across goal in a rare Rotherham attack and McIntosh was on hand to rifle the ball home from close range. United then responded by throwing men forward. Joachim came on for Walton and Butler pushed up as they became increasingly desperate as Rotherham got every player back in defence. The final whistle came and a broken and despondent United trooped off with heads bowed and totally demoralized. They slipped to sixteenth.

Deane returned in place of Ricketts as United faced Leicester City at Elland Road and once again there was another match where they promised much but achieved little. The off field problems and uncertainty, the talk of takeovers, cash flow and potential administration seemed to not only affect the players but also the fans mindsets as the fans, albeit a minority, turned on the players and vented their anger at another show of how to lose a football match without really trying.

They had plenty of possession, plenty of effort, domination in patches against a very average side but ended up once again with nothing to show for their efforts. Two soft goals gifted victory to Leicester and they tumbled to their fourth home defeat of the season. Leicester took the lead two minutes into the second half when United had several chances to clear their lines and failed to do so and paid the price. There appeared to be a blatant hand ball by a Leicester player, which was missed by the referee, but that could not be offered as an excuse for bad defending. The second goal was even more calamitous. An innocuous cross from Gillespie was met by Kelly, who, instead of clearing, headed it past his surprised keeper to score a goal that most strikers would have been proud of. That was in the seventy-seventh minute and it killed off the game for United and the fans voiced their disapproval of the woeful defending. Just as at Rotherham they had played some neat football early on, carved out good openings, failed to take any of them, then lost their grip and became anxious and finally conceded goals from defensive failures and became more desperate and wilder in their attempts to retrieve the game. As they chased the game Healy and Oster had to drop deeper and deeper in search of the ball and Deane, who missed one gilt-edged chance in the second half, was left to plough a lone furrow upfront. The more the game wore on the more the midfield struggled and as Gregan started to struggle so did his collegues as most moves had started with him. Healy had gone close in the first half but the Leicester defence marshalled by Dion Dublin held the United forwards in check. Healy was also unlucky to have the ball in the net after nineteen minutes but it was ruled out for offside. The keeper also made a blinding save to deny Oster. United also had two penalty appeals turned down. Several headers went narrowly wide and Carlisle had a header blocked on the line and Butler also went close. It mattered little as the scoreboard said 0-2 and United slipped to nineteenth on the ladder.

With takeover and investment talks moving at a slow pace D-Day was looming ever closer for the Elland Road club. The next crucial date was 15th December 2004 when £ 1 million was due to the Inland Revenue. If United failed to meet the payment the Inland Revenue could be able to consider their options and could take the first steps of putting the club into administration. This would have entailed issuing a statutory notice of non-payment followed by a formal winding up petition against the club. The whole procedure could take up to eight weeks and there would have to be proof to the courts that the club could not pay its debts. Leeds still owed the Inland Revenue £4 million in staggered payments and administration could lead to the restructuring of that and other debts. Creditors usually favour a period of administration as they usually feel they have more chance of getting their money back.

Elland Road had been sold to Jacob Adler and was subject to a twenty-five year leaseback agreement, under the terms of the agreement the club had to pay the first three months rent upfront. Unless an investment deal was struck soon the spectre of administration was an issue that would not leave Leeds United alone, and, while ever it remained a possibility the uncertainty would remain with the club.

Bricks and Mortar had been sold, training pitches had been disposed of on a sale/leaseback basis, staffing had been reduced, costs had been slashed and many players had been offloaded. Most of the money raised had gone in servicing debt, particularly after the long-term season ticket did not find popularity. Since then United had been at a virtual standstill. They were currentlyin talks with one group of investors in the hope of avoiding administration. The Norman Stubbs Consortium, the group closest to completing a deal, were determined to come up with a rescue passage. They were in the throes of questioning the club's financial position before formalizing the offer. The Accountants were expected to play a key role as it would not make sense to "throw good money after bad" from the investors' point of view. It could cost £10 million to safeguard the long-term future of the club, which had no tangible assets. United insisted that the deal was making progress and remained confident about their chances of securing the investment.

The American Consortium of Nova initially offered a way out, until they failed to offer firm proof that they had the £25 million available to pump into the cash deficient club. London-based Sebastien Sainsbury was still hovering in the background amid claims that he was about to launch a rescue bid, but the entrepreneur might have found that, even if he conjured up the funds, £25 million may not have been enough to achieve his aims of buying back Elland Road and Thorpe Arch and still have had left enough disposable cash to lift the business.

Chairman Krasner was defiant that Leeds wouldn't fall into administration but unless a substantial investment was secured in the near future the consequences were dire. Should administration happen the scenario was that Leeds would lose ten points, in accordance with the new Football League Rules, and the club would be immediately plunged into a relegation battle. The administrators would assume control of the club, the first step being a creditors' meeting to discuss the proposals under which the club have been placed in administration. The ultimate aim of the administrators would be to sell the club as a going concern, providing the majority of the creditors approve the proposals. The administratorwould be responsible for the day-to-day running of the club, coupled with the search for investment to safeguard the longer term future of the business. Administration would continue for as long as the courts believed it was necessary.

Kilgallon moved across to replace Carlisle in central defence with Richardson coming in at left back while Pugh replaced young Walton in midfield for United's visit to the Boleyn Grounds at Upton Park, home of West Ham United. There was a late, late penalty from David Healy to secure United a point with almost the last kick of the game. It was only justice as United had previously seen two blatant penalties waved away. Equally West Ham could have felt aggrieved once and for once luck shone on United. The goal was just reward for United who had been more than a match for a team who occupy the upper echelon of the league and were being strongly tipped for promotion. It was vital that after winning only two from ten and losing two on the trot that United restored their fortunes before the Christmas games. United stuck to the system that had won against Queens Park Rangers and Preston North End and served them well against Ipswich, Watford and Rotherham and here again they looked strong and took the initiative.

Danny Pugh had a cross deflected to safety and Healy saw a shot parried by the keeper before being thwarted again by the keeper as he tried a chip. Brian Deane also had a good opportunity when he took advantage of a poor back-pass but his curling chip shot hit the top of the bar before bouncing to safety. Danny Pugh was hauled down by Anton Ferdinand just on half-time but the first blatant penalty was not acknowledged by the referee. At the other end Harewood miscued a header which cannoned off Kilgallon for Chadwick to score from close range after fifty minutes. Leeds played good football and made good build-ups on the floor rather than looking to the aerial presence of Deane. However as the game progressed the familiar anxiety set in, as Deane fired wide from close range after good work by Healy. They were denied a penalty when McMaster's cross was clearly handled by Powell in the box. Again the referee didn't see the incident. The Leeds players were about to complain to the referee when Healy took a tumble under pressure from Lomas and the referee pointed to the spot. It was just reward as Kilgallon stood out in defence ably assisted by Butler while Gregan, Pugh and Healy were the pick of the rest. United's position improved slightly to eighteenth as a result.

United were unchanged for the visit of Millwall to Elland Road and let a valuable win slip from their grasp. Jody Morris, who had failed to score in an eight month stint with United, wrecked United's hopes when he stepped up to convert a penalty with three minutes to go. To make matters worse he went on a long celebratory run taunting the home crowd with his hand cupped to his ear, in clear reference to the hostile reception he had received on his Elland Road return. It created a volatile atmosphere and later there were clashes in the streets between rival fans and police, as sounds of hatred filled the streets around the ground. It was an ill-deserved goal, as Leeds had been by far the better team, but as usual had failed to deliver the knock out blow. It was once again the old familiar scenario of Leeds dominating and then throwing the game away late in the game after they became frustrated by their inability to convert their many chances.

John Oster, who was by far United's best player, had given them the lead two minutes before the break with his first goal for the club. David Healy, Brian Deane and Frazer Richardson all went near to getting the crucial second goal but either could not hit the target or were thwarted by the keeper. Millwall were a physical side, who passed the ball well but they were totally unable to exert either of those skills on a game in which they were clearly second best. Butler and Kilgallon were buttresses in defence while Gregan had a good game in front of the back four. Kelly and Richardson often pressed forward and caused problems while Danny Pugh was his usual busy self in midfield, but Wright looked tired and jaded and was United's weak link. Oster caused mayhem all game and he was the main danger to Millwall while Healy posed problems on the left and Deane was his usual aerial presence while Sullivan had little to worry about in goal.

In the second half Oster had a low drive saved, Healy had a shot on the turn which flew narrowly wide while Richardson hit a curling shot from 25 yards which was diverted for a corner. The penalty was the killer as Ifill took a tumble in the box under pressure from Kelly. After United profiting from a fifty-fifty decision at West Ham this week it was their turn to accept the referees fine line decision that had dire consequences.

The goal was greeted by groans from the frustrated home crowd and United had now won only two of the last thirteen League matches and with Gregan and Walton picking up their fifth bookings the side was likely to be depleted in the near future, but they were six points above the drop zone and ten off the play-off spots in nineteenth position, but anything could happen, in a Division where each team could defeat the others on a given day. Nothing could be taken for granted.

United travelled to the Stadium of Light for their encounter with high-flying Sunderland, without the services of the suspended Gregan and Walton and on loan Oster unable to play against his present employers, with Lennon and Spring deputizing. After weeks of playing well and not getting the results United were finally rewarded with a 3-2 victory. Although threadbare and young United showed more enterprise and ability than their hosts and for the first time in weeks they got the result their endeavours deserved. They also won against the odds and again suffered on the wrong end of a dubious penalty.

Aaron Lennon gave United the lead on the half hour when he scored his first senior goal converting coolly after good work from Deane and Healy. The penalty came just two minutes before half time when Spring was adjudged to have pushed Whitehead. Spring certainly raised his hand but Whitehead seemed to go to ground far too easily. So it was all square at the break, but United had been by far the better team. It came as no surprise when Deane rose majestically to head home a Healy cross just on the hour mark. It was a fitting reward as he was a constant cause of panic for Sunderland with ex-Leeds player Caldwell and Breen just unable to cope with his presence. Paul Butler and Matthew Kilgallon were dominant at the back and it was fifty-three minutes before Sunderland threatened the Leeds goal from open play. Kelly and Richardson were strong at the back and Jermaine Wright adapted well to Gregan’s position just in front of the back four and Pugh and Spring were industrious in the box-to-box midfield work. Out wide Lennon and Healy had far too much pace for the sluggish Sunderland backs and were always dangerous but Deane was the star and a nightmare for the Sunderland rearguard.

All in all it would be unfair to single out any players as it was United's most complete performance of the season. Joachim came on as substitute for Lennon after seventy-eight minutes and was soon in the action and put the icing on the cake when he hammered home after good work by Wright. Ricketts replaced Deane with four minutes to go and there was also a debut for Martin Woods who replaced Healy almost on full time. Arca converted a curling free-kick deep into injury time but the score flattered Sunderland who were by far the inferior team. So at last United had achieved an outstanding victory, which only served to emphasise the relative closeness of the Division where form changed on a week to week basis, but for now it edged United up to sixteenth place.

Gregan was back in place of Spring in his usual position in front of the back four with Wright pushing further up in midfield as United completed a double over Plymouth Argyle at Elland Road.It was their first home win since November and gave them the maximum six points from the Christmas fixtures.

The 34,500 crowd was swelled by 1,500 Plymouth fans that, incredibly, had made the long journey from Devon and they urged their favourites on but while some might argue they deserved something for their gutsy performance it was fitting that United should get the points as they had not profited from several recent good performances. Having said that, the United performance was nowhere near the class which they had shown in those previous encounters and they had to scrap and slug their way and it was a reward for them and their fans that the emerged victorious.

There were times when the midfield struggled and lost possession in vital areas, but they stuck at it and in the end prevailed as they showed character and will to win in abundance. Plymouth flooded the midfield with five men and this made it difficult for United to get their 'Sunderland aces' wing combination of Lennon and Healy and aerial threat Deane into the game. It did not make for pretty viewing and the first half ranked with the worst for the season.

United's hopes sank as the injured Deane did not reappear after the break and was replaced by the diminutive Joachim. It was one of those games where you wonder if a goal will ever come. It did in the first minute of the second half as Richardson fed Healy and his low cross was bundled into the net by hapless defender Gilbert and served to ease the tension. Danny Pugh, who had crawled out of his sickbed to turn in another hard-working performance, played in Healy, who in turn played an inch perfect pass for the arriving Jermaine Wright, who had timed his run to perfection to beat the off side but watched in amazement as his shot hit the inside of the post and bounced to safety. The near miss seemed to stir Plymouth and it was United's turn to defend as Argyle surged forward in search of an equaliser. United, with Wright and Pugh dropping back to supplement the defence ensured that Argyle found the route to goal securely locked. With memories of conceding a late goal against Millwall still fresh in their memories United did not panic and were rewarded with an excellent goal from Healy, who latched on to a long through ball and being played onside by an injured prostrateArgyle defender he scored with a sublime chip from 30 yards just before full time. Six minutes into injury time Plymouth reduced the arrears but it came too late and United moved up to fourteenth place nine points off the play off spot and nine above the drop zone. Butler was a rock in defence but all the defence had good games in another all round team performance.

So ended a year, that United would sooner forget, whether it be on or off the field, unfortunately the instability off the field had also been reflected by inconsistent performances on it. Truly it was a year to forget.

There was a debut for loan signing from Leicester City, striker Nathan Blake, in place of the injured Brian Deane and a place on the substitute bench and an half hour run for Icelandic international signing Gylfi Einarsson, who has had to wait since October for his clearance from Norwegian club Lillestrom, against Crewe Alexandra at Elland Road. Any hope of stringing together a reasonable run was spoilt as the visitors went away 2-0 victors leaving United to ponder why once again they had lost a match which they had dominated.

Crewe packed their midfield and frustrated United but it was the home team that dominated and had the bulk of the chances. Aaron Lennon seemed to carry all United’s attacking hopes on his young shoulders, as Healy and Blake were largely subdued. There were several scouts at the game and it could not have done his future playing prospects any harm, but it does raise the spectrum of losing young stars like himself, Simon Walton, Frazer Richardson, Danny Pugh, Matthew Kilgallon and even Scott Carson who may be sold to ease the financial burden. Lennon was the only danger Crewe faced and he time and again breezed past Crewe defenders only to see no takers for his crosses or the keeper equal to his shots on goal. In fact Crewe were deeply indebted to their keeper, Clayton Ince, who was their star performer and saved them on countless occasions.

Crewe opened the scoring in the sixteenth minute when Lunt, who had a fine game in midfield, sent a corner right on to the head of the unmarked Dean Ashton who had the space to convert at the near post. It was a bad goal to give away but Leeds rallied. Healy had a shot deflected to safety, Pugh volleyed wide and Lennon had a shot saved by the keeper as Crewe pulled nine and ten players back to defend their lead with disciplined defence. Lennon again went close after the interval and Pugh almost got on the end of one of the youngsters crosses, but it was Crewe who scored next and it just about killed off the game as a contest. The home defence failed to deal with an Ashton flick-on from a Lunt free-kick and Rivers made no mistake as he rammed the ball into the net.

Lennon, Kilgallon and Richardson attempted to inject some life to the later proceedings but even the introduction of Einarrson had no effect on the Crewe defence or the score-sheet. Einarsson replaced the ineffective Pugh on sixty-two minutes and Wright, who also had had a shocker, was finally replaced by Walton after seventy-two minutes. To make matters worse Paul Butler received his second yellow card of the day when he hauled down Varney and the consequent red meant that he would miss the next two games. Simon Walton rattled the bar in the dying moments and Healy forced Ince to a last-minute save to keep his goal intact as United stayedfourteenth but had again lowered their flag to inferior opposition.

United fielded their youngest side yet, as some changes were forced and others were positional, as they visited Highfield Road, home of Coventry City. Gary Kelly was replaced by Simon Walton, with Richardson switching to right back and Pugh going to left-back and Walton into his place in midfield. Clarke Carlisle came into central defence for the suspended Paul Butler. They finished the festive season on a high note with another fine victory, as United completed another double at their expense.

After their poor showing against Crewe the strikers and midfield had plenty to prove, and this they did with a much enhanced performance. Blake and Healy buzzed with renewed vigour and each was rewarded with fine strikes. The only downside was the dismissal of Clarke Carlisle after being twice debatably shown a yellow card. His dismissal sparked a desperate rearguard action in the last few minutes as Coventry searched for an equalizer. United dictated play for three-quarters of the game and were far more convincing winners than the 2-1 score-line suggested.

Sullivan was almost redundant; the central defensive partnership of Carlisle and Kilgallon was tremendous while Richardson and Pugh were neat and tidy and snuffed out any threat down the flanks. Gregan was commanding in front of the back-four. Walton worked tirelessly, and he and Wright showed neat touches. Lennon was very tricky on the right and seemed to cause all teams trouble with his pace and crosses. Blake was a strong presence and became a firm fan favourite when, in the twenty-eighth minute, he hit a real net-buster to open the scoring with his first goal for the club. He was so pleased with the strike that he wanted to hug everyone in the ground but the referee booked him before he had completed the first few rows. The referee had a penchant for flashing the yellow cards at any remote opportunity, and this was to be Carlisle's problem later in the game, as he booked players with little provocation, but gay abandon. United doubled their lead after the hour mark as Healy struck. Blake and Richardson were involved in some lovely build-up play before Wright intelligently fed Healy who cut inside a back-pedalling defender and bent a left-footed shot beyond the reach of the diving keeper.

This raised chants from the home crowd for the dismissal of their former Leeds boss Peter Reid. Not content with that they greeted the introduction of former Coventry favourite Julian Joachim for Blake in the seventy-eighth minute by vicious booing, which he answered in the best possible way, with two superb runs just to show what he is capable of. The home fans did respond when in the late flurry they had a glimmer of hope when they scored eight minutes from time after a corner was not cleared. The glimmer became larger as Carlisle was sent off two minutes later and United hung on grimly for the remaining six minutes and the inevitable injury time and Sullivan finally had to earn his wages with a fine save in the dying minutes.

It was United's third double of the season, a rare occurrence in recent seasons, but they stayed in fourteenth position and were happy to get three wins out of the last four.

In the FA Cup there was a visit to St Andrews to play EPL Club Birmingham City in the Third Round Tie. With the absence from suspension of both Butler and Carlisle, there was a return to the team for Michael Duberry, and Gary Kelly also returned with Richardson switching to left back and Pugh dropping to the bench. United slipped quietly out of the competition at the first hurdle for the third time in four years after failing to recover from a string of early set backs. They gifted two early goals and were never in the race after that, and try as they may, it was men against boys. The youngsters gave all they had and substitute Danny Pugh, Richardson and Kilgallon all had fine games against far more experienced opponents. The damage was done early in the game and by the time Duberry had limped out of the game after twenty-two minutes they were already 2-0 down and had to make their second reshuffle as Blake had already ruptured a hamstring and been replaced by Joachim minutes earlier, and now Pugh took Duberry's place as Gregan was pulled back into central defence with Pugh in midfield. United had hardly settled down before they found themselves chasing the game. Heskey tookadvantage of the Leeds defence being all at sea to chip Sullivan in the eleventh minute.

The second soon followed when Duberry, who had been recalled from a loan spell at Stoke City, was dispossessed in the middle of the field and Birmingham had a clear path to goal. It was to be Duberry's final game for Leeds and on his woeful presence in this game and his previous effort at Sheffield United he would not be missed. Although United battled well and often tested the Birmingham keeper there was always the impression that the hosts always had something in reserve and in the end, while Leeds possessed the hardest workers,Birmingham had the extra class that decided the tie. It was a different Leeds after the departure of Duberry as his replacement Danny Pugh totally revitalized United and maybe he was out to prove that he should have been in the starting eleven.

Healy, Kilgallon and Walton all had chances in the first half while the Birmingham Keeper Taylor pulled off a stunning double save to deny Richardson and Joachim early in the second half. He also stood tall to block a Lennon volley on the hour mark, but United were made to pay for their profligacy when Morrison provided Carter with the chance to score his second five minutes later. Later Wright and Lennon both went close but it was always going to be a bridge too far and Birmingham ran out 3-0 winners but the score flattered them.

Butler returned from suspension in place of Duberry, Joachim took the place of the injured Blake and Pugh regained his midfield spot as Gregan was ill and Wright slipped back into Gregan's place in front of the back four as United entertained Cardiff City at Elland Road. There was also a place on the bench for loan signing Leandre Griffit from Southampton, but he did not get a run.

It should have been a routine victory against a team sitting in the bottom four but it ended with United clinging on to secure a point. United ripped Cardiff apart for almost half an hour with some very entertaining football but then slowly lost their way as the game progressed and another controversial penalty handed Cardiff the opportunity to score a deserved equalizer. Simon Walton scored his first ever League goal at Elland Road after just fourteen minutes when he finished off a lovely move involving both Lennon and Healy and Leeds were in early control. That was as good as it got and, after threatening a rout and playing some great football, United slowly found themselves pegged back in a game they should have gone on to dominated. Wright, Pugh and Walton gradually lost the midfield and faded badly, while Lennon too was clearly not up to it and was replaced by Carlisle after 57 minutes. Six minutes earlier, Cardiff had drawn level from the penalty spot. It came in controversial fashion as Langley nudged the ball too far past Sullivan and then took a tumble over the keeper's body and hit the deck. Thorne gratefully accepted the gift and scored from the spot. It changed the complexion of the game and United really lost the plot from there on and it was only the visitors who looked capable of claiming the three points. Thorne had a couple of attempts to test Sullivan, Collins went close from a set piece and Inamoto brought out the best in Sullivan with an audacious chip from distance. United were solid in defence throughout and they formed a wall which never looked like being breached and the fans were left to ponder whether it had been a valuable point gained or two precious points dropped as United maintained fourteenth spot.

There was talk of administration and the possible deduction of ten points which, if implemented, would put United right in the relegation dogfight. On the financial front there was talk of Alan Leighton emerging as a key figure in the Leeds United rescue bid. While some might view this akin to putting Dracula in charge of the Blood Bank there was talk of him being part of the Norman Stubbs consortium according to some sources. Leighton supposedly tabled a bid for the club eleven months previous and this would be his second time of stepping out of the shadows to mount a rescue package for United. He had been Deputy Chairman under previous regimes and was seen to be just as deeply implicated in the financial mismanagement as Ridsdale and others even more so when taking into account his fiduciary duty to maintain a watch over his co-directors. Leighton was involved during the clubs heady days of just three years ago but stepped down the previous December supposedly to mount a rescue bid. It never eventuated and some thought that it was mainly a cover to backslide away from the crisis in the same way as his former Co-Directors. The Stubbs consortium met to decide if they would press ahead with their investment package. The group had completed the due diligence procedure but were concerned about the club's precarious financial position and whether £11 million would be enough to secure the long term future. Leighton was one of four investors in the group, who would be putting their own money in and the meeting was expected to prove crucial in deciding the club's future. Experts in the field were reported to have warned the group against investing and if they proceeded they could need the assistance of the main creditors to ease the burden. The current debt stood at around £25 million but would rise again should there be any default on any further payments. Payments due to the Inland Revenue for PAYE and VAT were overdue. Indeed the Inland Revenue could have put a winding-up order on the club after it defaulted on a £1.2 million payment during the previous month. The American Bondholders were thought to be due for a payment in the next month. Leeds had appealed to former managers and players, who were owed money to come to a revised agreement in order to help the investment procedure. It was believed that United still owed £8 million in football debts. The Stubbs consortium could also have sought the backing of leading figures in the city in the hope of securing further investment to bridge the gap between their ready cash and the amount required. Failure to come to an agreement within the next forty-eight hours would have left the club on the brink of administration. Chairman Gerald Krasner had admitted that the prospect of calling in the administrators was a real threat if an investment deal could not be secured, but it was also thought that they could still have kept the wolves from the door. The current board signed a "whitewash agreement" when they took control of the club undertaking that the club would remain solvent for a minimum of twelve months. Some financial experts believed that, without further investment, administration was inevitable. Administration would have seen the club docked ten league points under the new League rules and this would have put United deep in the relegation battle as they would have slipped into the bottom three should the deduction have become fact.

One week previous, Sainsbury, who was believed to have investors ready to back a £25 million takeover of the Championship club, had said: "I can confirm a meeting took place last Thursday with Ken Bates during which a potential investment was discussed". Bates had added: "I have been linked with so many clubs and if they were all true it would take it up to thirty-eight. I cannot help what these people say. It is utter rubbish."

So maybe Mr Sainsbury was more than a little surprised when Bates swiftly moved in to make a bid which the Leeds Board accepted while disregarding the other bids from himself and other consortiums. Ken Bates, the former owner of Chelsea, made a remarkable return to football as chairman of Leeds United, insisting that he wanted to lead the club back to their former glories and relished "one more challenge".

Bates, 73, bought a fifty per cent stake in the club for £10 million. He headed a four-strong board which also included Peter Lorimer, the Leeds legend, who continued in his role as director and point of contact for the fans. The takeover should have eliminated the threat of administration for Leeds, who were top of the Premiership as recently as three years previous. Bates ended a ten-month exile from football after leaving Chelsea, which he had sold to Roman Abramovich for £17 million. Bates said "I'm delighted to be stepping up to the mantel at such a fantastic club. I recognise Leeds United are a great club that have fallen on hard times.We have a lot of hard work ahead of us to get the club back to where it belongs in the Premiership and with the help of the fans, who have stuck by the club through thick and thin, we're going to do everything in our power to ensure that happens. Our first task will be to put short, medium and long-term plans in place to secure the financial future of the club and thesewill include buying back, in due course, Elland Road and Thorp Arch. Fans could then ensure that no would-be property developer will be able to end the playing of football at Elland Road."

Former chairman Gerald Krasner was forced to sell Elland Road and the Thorp Arch training ground last year to Manchester-based property developer Jacob Adler to ease the club's debts. Leeds were eight points off the play-offs but Bates did not want promotion in the current season. "I'm not sure whether getting to the play-offs is realistic or not but I wouldn't like us to get promoted this season" he said. "If you go up too soon you only come down again. Maybe if we can win promotion in the next couple of seasons, establish ourselves in the Premiership, get a top six place and go back into Europe." Bates also reassured Manager Kevin Blackwell about his future; saying "He has got a contract until the end of next season, so I'll tell him to go out and prove himself. He has had a difficult job to do. I'm not looking to bring anyone in and I will help him however I can."

Bates also paid tribute to Krasner and his fellow directors who had assumed control in March 2004. "Gerald Krasner and his team have performed miracles by reducing the club's debts from £103 million a year ago to a present figure of £21 million. Obviously, everything has had to be sold," Bates added. "Though the old Board have done eighty per cent of the work they needed someone else to finish off the job. We have bought the shares in the club for a nominalconsideration and now it's a question of working capital. It's no exaggeration to say Leeds are very hard up. It's going to be a tough job and the first task is to stabilise the cash flow and sort out the remaining creditors. But there is light at the end of a very long tunnel. For the past year it has been a matter of fire-fighting - now we can start running the club again. Among the existing debts are £8 million owed to former managers and players.

"This is a good day for Leeds United which dispels all the rumours," said Blackwell, who was appointed last May. "What I will say is that I've just started building something here and I hope I get a chance to finish it." So hopefully there had now been a return to stable financial responsibility and the Manager, Coaching Staff, and players could concentrate on football.

Ken Bates ushered in a new Elland Road era by declaring: "Today is the first day of a new Leeds United." The former Chelsea Chairman staved off the threat of administration when his United rescue package was finalised in the early hours of today. Bates becomes United Chairman with immediate effect and former Chelsea Finance Director Yvonne Todd, his lawyer Mark Taylor and Elland Road legend Peter Lorimer are all on the new-look Board. Bates said: "Today is the first day of a new Leeds United. I'd ask people not to expect miracles. I'm promising nothing, but will work hard to achieve. There's a lot of hard work to be done and I'm looking forward to it. I am delighted to be stepping up to the mantle at such a fantastic club. I recognise that Leeds United is a great club that has fallen on hard times. We have a lot of hard work ahead of us to get the club back to where it belongs in the Premiership and with the help of the fans, who have stuck by the club through thick and thin, we are going to do everything in our power to ensure that happens. Our first task will be to put plans in place to secure the financial future of the club and these will include buying back, in due course, Elland Road and Thorp Arch. We will also be looking at ways in which the fans can control the football pitch itself. Fans could then ensure that no would-be property developer will be able to end the playing of football at Elland Road. The previous directors, including Chairman Gerald Krasner, have all stepped down, but have pledged their assistance during the handover." The departing board members were understood to have left around £4.5m in loans in the club to ease the process. Krasner said: "This deal was done for the benefit of the football club. We sat down with Mr Bates and he never wavered. He behaved like a true football man. I'm sure when the fans learn of his long-term plans they will see this was done for Leeds United."

Bates's takeover was believed to have taken less than seventy-two hours. Krasner and fellow director Melvyn Levi met him in London on the Monday afternoon when the outline of a deal was thrashed out. The remainder of the board threw their weight behind the bid at a series of meetings yesterday. They also considered two other offers, one of which was a revised bid by Leeds-based businessman Norman Stubbs. Although his consortium had been in discussions with the club's major creditors, they were pipped to the post when Bates firmed up his bid. Bates, whose first chairmanship was at Oldham in 1965, inherited a club with debts of around £20m and he was quick to pay tribute to the work of the outgoing board. His arrival will put an end to speculation that United are about to slip into administration.

The new era was marked by a rare piece of good fortune as Leeds faced Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium.

A shocking own goal by Wayne Thomas completed a day of celebration for United as the rejuvenated club continued their climb up the Coca Cola Championship League table. The single goal victory came less than thirty-six hours after Ken Bates had stepped in to secure the club's longer term future. Bates was not on hand to see the win but it is just as well as he would not have been impressed with the first forty-five minutes, which was about as bad as any half can get. It was far different in the second half when United showed character and determination as they took their game to a higher level by taking a positive approach.

4,000 fans had made the trip and they were extremely vocal and played no small part in inspiring their favourites to victory. Only forty-eight hours before, the players had been told the club did not have the finance to pay their wages, yet a new owner emerged from the shadows and in a whirlwind couple of days the whole outlook had changed again.

There was a return for the influential Sean Gregan, restored to his position in front of the back four, as Wright was pushed up from Gregan’s position to replace Walton. Carlisle took over from Kilgallon in central defence and Deane replaced Joachim up front. There was a place on the bench for Paul Harrison, on loan from Liverpool as part of the deal which took Scott Carson to them for £1 million.

The first half was no spectacle in terms of entertainment and the number of United attacks could be counted on one hand. In contrast Stoke created three excellent opportunities and tested Neil Sullivan a few times from close range. Stoke were physical and direct and tested the Leeds defence early on, but once Butler and Carlisle had gained their composure there was never any chance of them scoring. Kelly and Richardson shutdown any trouble down the flanks, while Neil Sullivan was in top form in goal and starred as he kept a clean sheet. Lennon struggled throughout and seemed to be unfit and was replaced by Joachim at half time, and he showed a greater willingness to run at the Stoke defence. Danny Pugh got himself embroiled in an ugly incident, where punches were thrown and several players were involved in scuffles. Leeds were rewarded for their dogged fight twenty minutes from time when Lady Luck at last shone on United. David Healy whipped in a cross from the right, Thomas, who was under no pressure, took a swipe at it and somehow the ball swung goal-wards and left a scrambling keeper with no chance as it spun into the net. United pulled down the shutters and held on to take a vital victory. The win took Leeds up to eleventh in the table.

Joachim and Ricketts replaced Lennon and Deane as United visited the resurgent Derby County at Pride Park. Statistically Derby County had not beaten United in any game for eighteen years but two second half goals left United wondering of what could have been as the record came to an end. After battling for 60 minutes United were beaten at their own game as Derby twice scored on the breakaway to win 2-0, but there could be little to complain about by United. They had battled hard for a good hour but were under heavy pressure and something had to give, but they were certainly second best and Derby look like a good bet for at least a play-off position. They had improved a lot since being defeated at Elland Road in the opening fixture and were well organized, hard working and played good football.

United found them hard to handle and could not impose themselves on the game, despite a strong spell early in the second half. At times possession was squandered too easily and this meant that Derby resumed their siege of the Leeds goal. The United defence had looked uncharacteristically suspect particularly with an offside trap that was out of sync. With the defence under pressure it meant that both Gregan and Wright were back to supplement it and the midfield suffered accordingly. Sullivan, who played with a suspected broken thumb, pulled off two stunning early saves while Butler was resolute in central defence and managed several crucial challenges. Derby, who looked good going forward, looked vulnerable at the back but although United had some periods of possession they were unable to profit. Ricketts clattered the Derby keeper after twenty seconds and it set the tone for the match, and Pugh and Gregan were not taking prisoners in midfield.

Healy tested the keeper in the opening period, Gregan had a shot deflected over the bar and Pugh put a header wide after great work by Wright and Joachim. Derby were content to pepper Sullivan from distance, which caused him little discomfort and half-time came goalless. United finally threw off the shackles and had a purple patch for fifteen minutes after the interval. They nearly had a repeat fluke own goal when Johnson sliced a Healy cross inches wide of his own goal. Carlisle had an appeal for a penalty for handball turned down, while Healy saw a shot saved at the second attempt by the keeper. Unfortunately United failed to capitalize on their superiority and were caught on the break and Smith held off the challenge of Richardson and Sullivan coolly slot it home. Once behind Leeds relied more on graft than craft and while creating a couple of half chances they were ineffective and the introduction of Leandre Griffit for his debut in place of Joachim after 65 minutes, the replacing of Ricketts by Deane four minutes later, or Walton replacing Wright after 75 minutes, were not able to produce the required result. It came as no surprise that once again Derby scored when a shot was deflected off Richardson and beyond the reach of the stranded keeper and, despite four minutes injury time, Derby ran out worthy winners but United remained in eleventh spot.

Bates met the fans. His intention from the outset was not to please everyone, and he may have entered the bear pit of last night's fans forum expecting to please no-one. But as he rose to a standing ovation "the likes of which are no longer distributed freely at Elland Road" at the end of an enthusiastic but constructive verbal joust, he may have felt that an early battle in his long war had already been won. The brash and thorough control he exerted on the Press hours earlier was evident again, mixed in with a sense of humour which wasappreciated by most. Criticism of him would be acceptable, he told a busy if not full banqueting suite, provided those firing shots could accept a volley in return, and the crowd was happy to play by his rules. Alongside but largely in the shadows sat out-going Chairman Gerald Krasner and Bates' wife Suzannah, whose shy reluctance could not have differed more from her husband's brimming confidence. They were hungry, Bates joked, "and I noticed there's a chip shop over the road", but in truth he was happy to be feasting once more at the table of top-level football. In his own words, it is what he does best.

Bates spoke at length about his immediate plans, indulged in complete silence broken only by the occasional laugh. "All mobile phones off, thank you," he immediately ordered, and a shaven-headed fan whose ringtone later broke his chain of thought was asked: "Are you going to give us a cabaret? Oh, and get your hair cut." The mood was barely dampened by his occasional slip of the tongue which saw the mouth say Chelsea when the brain was thinking Leeds, an indication of how much his work and achievements at Stamford Bridge still dominate his thinking. The rows of supporters in front of Bates were more concerned with the substance of his takeover than his quality of public speaking. "You've had so many false starts over the years and you're sick of it," he said, summing up in one sentence the mood of the forum. "But there will be changes and some will affect the fans. Any change pleases A, and upsets B. All I ask of you is to put Leeds United first and be part of the team that's going to put Leeds United back where it should be." His authority over the floor was unyielding and carefully-constructed points were repeatedly met with a demand to "just ask the question". Those questions ranged from the sceptical to the quietly optimistic: Bates was asked directly whether Krasner had "backed the right team" on this occasion after involving Geoffrey Richmond during his own takeover last year, to which he replied: "The proof of the pudding is in the eating; wait until you've had a few mouthfuls." He also resisted attempts to discover the identity of United's other shareholders, and immediately dismissed the increasingly fashionable option of adding asupporter to the board. But as often as he could, Bates was happy to reassure his new followers. Manager Kevin Blackwell's job was safe, he repeated, and no players would be sold without his agreement. The supporters have heard that several times before and Bates wisely added: "Unless we're being offered silly money, in which case make sure we get as stupid a deal as possible." The issue of selling the Elland Road pitch and the name of Leeds United Football Club to supporters was also raised briefly, although most were happy to accept that Bates needed more than six days in charge to finalise the scheme. And, as is United's way, there was bad news as well. Bates admitted that the club were heading for a £6 million loss next year, a shortfall of around £120,000 a week, and warned that season ticket prices were unlikely to remain static. Discussions over the buy-back of the Thorp Arch complex revealed that the club would not be able to repurchase the first-team training pitch, although Krasner claimed it would "have no detrimental effect" on the academy. As he rose to dismiss hiscongregation, Bates was met with a spontaneous round of applause which developed into a standing ovation from many. He seemed genuinely touched and said: "Let's look forward, have some fun and enjoy ourselves. That's what football's all about." It was the perfect antidote to the poison of finance, which the supporters are so weary of listening to. Above all they flocked to Elland Road in search ofhonesty, and Bates could hardly have been more frank when he said: "We won't tell you what we want to do; we'll do it and then tell you what we've done." In the afternoon Bates was Cilla Black, and by night he took the form of Frank Sinatra. He'll do it his way.

Ken Bates did not get the result he had hoped for at his first game he was able to view his new club. Walton, Einarsson, on debut, Lennon and Deane were in for Wright, Pugh, Joachim and Ricketts as United took on Brighton at Elland Road.

Lennon gave a superb display while Kelly and Carlisle stood out in defence but Butler was not his normal self and Gregan was strangely off beam while Deane seemed lost up front. It was the usual familiar script as United started off like a house on fire, were the better team, then could not provide the killer punch, lost control and finished up hanging on desperately to save the game. It took a defender to show the forwards how it was done when two minutes before half time Clarke Carlisle was given a second bite at the cherry by the Brighton defence and he accepted it with a clinical finish into the roof of the net. Either side of the interval Gylfi Einarsson and Paul Butler wasted heading chances by directing them into the arms of the keeper when it seemed easier to score. Walton wanted one too many touches after a good run earned him a chance. Brian Deane screwed horribly wide from a good position. Healy was thwarted by a last ditch-tackle. Gary Kelly had an acrobatic lob brilliantly scooped away by the keeper.

Aaron Lennon led the Brighton left side defenders a merry dance with his pace and trickery and turned on a one man show of outstanding brilliance, particularly in the first half. Not for the first time he was watched by EPL scouts and it seemed just a matter of time before he made the inevitable advance up the ladder of fame. He left to a standing ovation on seventy-eight minutes to be replaced by Matthew Spring, while Eirik Bakke came on for Simon Walton with two minutes to go, for his first game after long-term injury and he took the field also to a standing ovation. He quickly made his mark on the game with a thundering challenge on Carpenter which got him a yellow card and he must have had visions of getting the red card, which saw the end of Oatway's participation in the game only moments previous, for kicking out at Walton. The arrival of Spring saw United go 4-4-2 with Healy the additional central striker and he conjured up a great chance to put the match beyond doubt but Brighton raced to the other end and got the equalizer as Butters scored with a towering header with nine minutes left on the clock. The 1-1 draw kept United in eleventh spot.

There was a debut for loan signing Michael Gray from Blackburn Rovers, who had been taken on board for the rest of the season, at left-back in place of Frazer Richardson, while Jermaine Wright returned in place of Simon Walton, as United took 4,000 fans with them to Turf Moor to meet Burnley.

Gray had a fine debut and looked a class act, subduing former Leeds loanee John Oster and making telling runs down the left flank. Gregan bossed the midfield and Healy was always a threat up front. There was a first United goal for Icelandic International Gylfi Einarsson, who scored the winner when he powered in a bullet header from an excellent Lennon cross after sixty-six minutes. The goal secured the three points to keep United on the fringe of the promotion race, and was a fine finish to a neat move but it was more significantly a just reward for United's overall supremacy against a team undefeated at home for three months and had not even conceded a goal since the first week in November. United had several good chances to take the lead before they scored and were full value for their win. For eighty minutes they showed all the hallmarks of a good side but had their usual failure of not being able to score.

They were safe as houses in defence, worked like terriers in midfield and created enough chances to have won the game easily. Yet they spent the last ten minutes defending desperately after the all too familiar nerves crept into play. The late onslaught started when Clarke Carlisle needlessly conceded a penalty, by bundling over Ian Moore, to hand Burnley their first chance of the game. Neil Sullivan pulled off his third penalty save of the season. It finished when he again denied the taker Ian Moore, as he pulled off a brilliant one handed save. It was United's fourth away win in five outings.

In the first half Healy had fashioned a couple of half-chances and had the ball in the net in the fortieth minute when he met a Lennon cross but was ruled off-side. He really ran the Burnley defenders ragged and Sinclair succumbed to his frustrations and got himself sent off after seventy-eight minutes for kicking Einarsson with the ball twenty yards away, while Healy also caused Cahill nightmares and the youngster was lucky not to see red when he wrestled Healy to the ground after thirty-eight minutes and, being the last defender, was lucky the referee showed amazing leniency and only produced a yellow. Deane went close as the keeper tipped a header over the bar, while Gregan was wide with another attempt. In the second half there was desperate defending from the hosts and Deane was wayward with an effort, before Lennon tied the Burnley full back in knots to deliver the cross for Einarsson to power home. Even after the missed penalty United still pressed and Lennon was only denied by a last ditch tackle and substitute Danny Pugh was foiled by the keeper from close range. There was three minutes of stoppage time but United won through to rise to tenth spot on the ladder within striking distance of the play off spots and there was talk of a three month loan deal for Rob Hulse the West Bromwich Albion striker, who watched from the stands and would have been impressed by what he saw.

The loan acquisition of Rob Hulse was duly completed and he took his place in the line up as striker in place of Brian Deane, in an otherwise unchanged line-up for the visit of fourth placed Reading to Elland Road.

There was a two goal debut for him and he looked the final piece in the jigsaw puzzle as for the first time since defeating Queens Park Rangers 6-1, United had the game wrapped up long before the customary late-game palpitations were due. On this form United were good contenders for a play-off spot and Reading were dead and buried with still 30 minutes to go. Hulse can rightly take the plaudits for his strikes but it was as good a team performance as you are likely to see. Healy had a superb game on the left and he and Hulse were given licence to press forward on the back of the efforts of the midfield three who took a firm grip and snuffed out anything that Reading had to offer. Gregan was a towering presence in the middle of the park and Wright and Einarsson cover plenty of ground as they overcame the Reading midfield, which is widely regarded as the best in the League. Reading arrived in fourth spot and are not there by fluke, but in this game they were clearly second best and were overran by a United team desperate to put on a good performance in front of their own fans and restore some pride at Elland Road. They had won only one of the last seven games at home and only five victories all season.

There were a couple of early scares, as Reading showed their quality with two good moves, but United gradually gained the upper hand. Healy and Lennon both went close before Hulse forced a stunning save from the Reading keeper after a good cross from Kelly. The keeper again had to be alert to deny Lennon as United began to stamp their authority on the game. The opening goal came after thirty-six minutes when Healy latched on to a through ball and showed good body strength to hold off three challengers to slip the ball under the keeper. Hulse could have made it 2-0 soon after the break but failed to hit the target and Reading almost equalized as Sullivan, who had not had much to do, was deceived by a cross from the right leaving Les Ferdinand a clear cut chance right in front of goal, but fortunately for United he volleyed over the bar and that was the last trouble Reading caused the United defence. United replied almost immediately with Hulse getting his first on fifty-six minutes after good lead up from Gregan and Healy for Wright to tee him up to lash the ball home from the edge of the box. It was a quality goal and a quality build up. It was a memorable goal but his second, seven minutes later, was even better. Healy knocked the ball forward and Hulse escaped the clutches of his marker and the Reading offside trap to rifle the ball in from thirty yards. It was the strike of a confident striker and belied the fact that he had played little competitive football for nearly nine months, and showed he had an eye for goal and made him an instant hero with the fans. It was threatening to become a rout but the traditional late lapse gave the visitors a goal. Sullivan twice made blocking saves and then kept out a header towards his own goal by Gary Kelly, but there was little he could do as a low cross was back-heeled in by Owusu but as it came in the eighty-ninth minute, it was little other than a consolation, as United maintained tenth spot.

Shaun Derry was finally signed on a free transfer from Crystal Palace and replaced Einarsson in an otherwise unchanged team for the visit to second placed Wigan Athletic at the JJB Stadium. To say that United were totally and utterly outplayed and outclassed would be an understatement such was the one-sided nature of the contest. From the first moment to the last Wigan ran the game and the only positive that United could extract from the game, apart from Sullivan's heroics between the posts, was that the hosts didn't take all their chances or it would have been a cricket score. United were very relieved to leave the JJB Stadium with just a three goal defeat because it could easily have been 8-0.

In front of their best crowd of the season, boosted by 5,000 travelling Leeds fans, Wigan were simply supreme in every department as their Manager later observed it was their best display of the season. United could not cope with their pace and movement. Their prolific strike duo of Jason Roberts and Nathan Ellington gave the Leeds defence a physical nightmare, while their midfielders were allowed to roam free in support of their front runners as United failed to pick up the runners from midfield and the end product created a very one-sided contest. It was men against boys. Having won four of the previous five games United arrived full of confidence and feeling that they were more than a match for anyone, but for the first time this season they were seriously outclassed by a side which showed more fight and quality on the ball. Defensively Leeds were a bag of nerves and in midfield only Gregan emerged with any credit.

They were opened up for the first time after only ten minutes when Teale was allowed to cross for Ellington to tap in from close range. It set the tone and Leeds were constantly chasing shadows. Roberts scuffed a shot at Sullivan, then shot over, had another effort superbly blocked by Sullivan and then had a goal disallowed for offside. He also twice teed up McCulloch but he was equally wasteful in his finishing. Bullard should also have scored in the early period, but Sullivan recovered well to make yet another super save.

Feelings within the United team were running high and Gregan and Kelly were seen in an angry exchange and it was said that others were confronting each other during the interval break. It must have had some effect as United started the second half better and Hulse appeared to have been brought down in the penalty area but the referee waved play on and so Leeds' last chance of equality passed and Wigan soon resumed their ascendancy. An unmarked McCulloch headed in a Bullard corner for them to go 2-0 up after fifty-six minutes. United went to 4-4-2 but to no effect, apart from Richardson and Healy combining to create a chance but then it was back to Wigan dominance. Roberts held off Kelly and Richardson to hit the inside of the post and then, moments later, he was denied once again by Sullivan. Mahon eventually wrapped up the game in the seventy-fifth minute with a repeat solo effort similar to the one he scored at Elland Road in the reverse fixture. It was the first time that Leeds had conceded three in the CCCL but it could have been eight, as United came crashing down to earth but they still maintained tenth spot.

Kilgallon came in for Carlisle and Walton replaced Wright as United entertained sixth placed West Ham United at Elland Road. New boy Shaun Derry stole in four minutes from time on his home debut to score the goal which gave United a deserved win. The intervention of the classy midfielder came just as it looked like being the too familiar story for Leeds, after surrendering the lead on home turf for the fourth time in seven games.

As usual United had looked the better team until they they scored, then came the wobble, the customary equalizer and the tense finale when the opposition look to cash in on their brief spell of domination. Cardiff, Brighton and Millwall have all profited similarly but this time Derry popped up to finish off a lovely move to secure a merited victory.

Putting things in perspective, West Ham did not have a look in until the hour mark as United showed no hangover from their Wigan drubbing. The game was won in midfield with Gregan, Walton and Derry outstanding. Kelly had a good game at right back and linked up well with the outstanding Aaron Lennon, who shone brightest of all on the right flank. Gray and Healy also worked well together down the left and it was from the flanks that United's supply line came. Gregan was again boss of the midfield and the United midfield stamped their authority on the contest. The West Ham central defender MacKay was a stumbling block and their keeper Bywater was kept busy with a stream of crosses and it was surprising that the teams went to the break on level terms.

It only took six minutes of the second half before United took a deserved lead. Lennon was the provider when he skated round his full back to deliver a pinpoint centre for Hulse to hammer home from close range, as he got hid third goal in his third appearance. It was a fitting reward for United's enterprise and should have been the cue for them to go on and put the game beyond West Ham's reach. Apart from a long range speculator from Williams, West Ham had not had a shot at goal and had virtually not had a look in.

However, as usually happens when United score at home, it was the away team that raised their game and started a period of domination. Williams served notice by rattling the crossbar, but the warning wasn't heeded and he got West Ham back in the game on sixty-eight minutes with a delightful looping shot.United started to sit deeper as the Hammers continued to press and after Sullivan had denied Etherington, Sheringham fired wide with the goal gaping. Lennon responded for Leeds but the keeper was equal to the task, while at the other end Etherington hit the post for a second time. It was Derry, though, that had the last word as he s howed remarkable coolness to round of a lovely move involving Danny Pugh and David Healy as United remained in tenth spot, but only six points away from fourth spot. The game was watched by United's second biggest homecrowd, 34,115, bettered only by the Christmas fixture with Plymouth Argyle. Best of all was at Sunderland's Stadium of Light for the Boxing Day fixture which pulled 43,253.

They played before one of the smallest crowds, when they visited The New Den home of Millwall when there were only 11,510 patrons, including 2,005 of the travelling faithful. Kevin Pressman had arrived on a free from Leicester City and Marlon King on loan from Nottingham Forest and both took their place on the bench, while the run on side remained unchanged. The two teams started the game level on points, with Millwall just ahead on goal difference in nineth spot. Rob Hulse scored the equalizer to make his tally four in four games and a draw was acceptable to both teams as they edged to within three points of the play-off positions. The 1-1 draw was probably a fair result from a game which promised so much but delivered so little. Millwall had the better of the first half, while Leeds shaded the second. Both teams failed to create enough chances and when Hulse levelled the scores with twelve minutes to go both teams seemed more than happy to settle for a draw.

Millwall were strong, direct and physical, while Leeds played the neater football but failed to make their possession count. Shaun Derry was United's most creative influence and Aaron Lennon was impressive and tricky but did not see enough of the ball to make a telling influence. Hulse was United's other key man and he was rewarded with a excellent goal when, after a good knock down by Butler, he swivelled to produce a fine shot on the turn to give the keeper no chance. United would have been disappointed not to get on level terms much sooner as they were by far the better team in the second half, conversely Millwall would argue that they let a lead slip and dropped two points on home soil. They had taken the lead after seventeen minutes after Leeds had threatened to dominate the early exchanges. Marshall, the Millwall keeper had to be smart to save from his own fullback who headed a Lennon cross goal-ward. Michael Gray curled a free-kick just wide and Lennon had another cross deflected into the arms of the keeper as United temporarily bossed the proceedings.

It was the home side that took the lead in lucky circumstances. Quigley returned a corner back across the six yard box and the ball was diverted after it hit Robinson leaving Sullivan stranded. The goal gave Millwall confidence and they pressed forward, often with four strikers. Dichio had a strong presence and tested Butler and Kilgallon to the fullest while livewire winger Simpson brought out the best in Michael Gray. There were few chances but both teams had shouts for a penalty waved away. In the second half Kelly had a terrific effort saved by the keeper, while Hulse tried his luck from distance. Millwall had a couple of good efforts with Quigley heading wide from close range and Sullivan saving well from Sweeney. United switched to 4-4-2 when they introduced Marlon King for Simon Walton on the hour. King ran well and made a promising start in a Leeds shirt, but with Millwall defending with ten men behind the ball United could not find a way through, until Hulse produced his natural goal scoring instincts to finally beat the Millwall defence. Seth Johnson entered the fray in the eighty-fourth minute when he replaced Healy and straight away produced a crunching tackle to signal his arrival and dispel fears of his fitness. The game droned on and very little peace was disturbed as the security operation was mounted to keep both sets of fans out of harms way and the game and the operation finished quietly, as United slipped into nineth spot.

Jermaine Wright stood in for Shaun Derry as United's only changed for the visit of Gillingham to Elland Road. Gillingham were third from bottom and deep in relegation worries fourteen points worst off than United, who must have been expecting easy pickings. However, just like in the second fixture of the season, United were knocked out of their stride by Gillingham's robust approach. It was a game to forget in more ways than one.

United were once again indebted to Rod Hulse for his fifth strike in as many games to salvage some pride from the torrid encounter. When all else had failed he showed good old fashioned striking instinct to capitalize on an error to ensure United had something to show for their efforts against gutsy opponents. It took a fifty-eighth minute melee to wake United into life and prior to that Gillingham had had it all their own way and were good value for their lead. They were physical, defended stoutly, were well organized at the back and hit United on the break. United played at a slow tempo, their midfield never got to grips and, with the exception of the odd Lennon sortie, offered little attacking threat. Hulse was lively when given the chance but Healy was starved of service and given little chance to shine against a defence which his pace and guile should have ripped apart. United]s predictable approach was food and drink to the solid Gillingham rearguard. Gillingham didn't show much threat either until the fortieth minute when Flynn found himself unmarked in the box with all the time in theworld but shot straight at Neil Sullivan. It should have been a warning, but Gary Kelly, who had a nightmare game, hauled down Henderson on the edge of the box moments later and from the resulting free-kick Flynn rolled the ball to Hope and his shot took a wicked deflection off the wall to beat Sullivan. Gillingham would have gone to the break 2-0 up had not Sullivan denied Mamady Sidibe from closerange. After the break they again wasted another clear cut chance when Jonathan Douglas headed straight at Sullivan when he had the time to pick his spot.

Tempers had been simmering and Gregan had been on the end of an horrendous tackle from Jonathan Douglas in the first half and just before the flare-up United had been denied a clear cut penalty after Simon Walton had been fouled by Nyron Nosworthy and the decision simply poured fuel on to the fire that was always threatening to rage.

Henderson and Gray clashed in a push and shove in front of the dugout and before long players from each side traded punches before almost every player, several substitutes and members of both management teams were involved in the melee. After the dust settled the two original protagonists were sent off and the game recommenced. Kelly had been replaced by Richardson. He was a vast improvement over the woeful Kelly and Marlon King replaced the equally ineffective Wright and Leeds began to look more cohesive.

Hulse and Healy failed to connect with a Lennon cross and Kilgallon had a header kicked off the line. Predictably Gillingham packed their defence but were still quick on the counter attack and Flynn showed great anticipation but failed to connect with a cross from Southall. United were well in the ascendancy and Hulse finally levelled the scores with nine minutes remaining. Substitute Marlon King again looked lively and supplied the cross and Hulse profited from a mix up between the keeper and a defender to score.

United dominated the remainder of the game and Healy went close to claiming the winner, but Gillingham stood firm to take a well deserved point in their battle against relegation. United once again left it too late and slipped down to tenth but more importantly almost out of contention for a play off spot, although there is still a mathematical possibility.

Richardson came in for the suspended Michael Gray and Danny Pugh replaced Sean Gregan in midfield with Jermaine Wright taking on the anchor role for the visit to second bottom Nottingham Forest's City Ground in another fixture United were expected to win.

In the end United had to thank the safe hands of Neil Sullivan for their collecting of the single point. He saved his fourth penalty of the season and his ability, and the inability of the forwards to score, contrived to produce the goal-less draw. The dour scoreless draw realistically consigned United to another season of CCCL football while virtually condemning Forest to the lower divisions.

It was a very poor performance by United and only the 1-0 defeat at Brighton had been worse. The penalty United conceded was their tenth of the season and although Sullivan had saved four of them it made poor reading as a statistic. Sullivan was one of the few United players who could hold their head high in a poor team performance. Danny Pugh, who returned on the left of midfield, contributed strongly and was head and shoulders above any other Leeds outfield player. Lennon could have contributed but once again he received poor or no service. Hulse and Healy too received scant service, but that cannot excuse the fact that there was no shot on goal other than a deflection which the Forest keeper saved with ease.

An injury to Frazer Richardson in the eighth minute and saw the arrival of Clarke Carlisle and a reshuffle in the United defence with Kilgallon going to left-back. Butler led his defence well and they were solid. The midfield was poor, although Pugh shone and Walton got stronger as the game wore on, but United failed to get on top of a team that had been decimated by injuries and even at full strength were one of the worst in the league.

Leeds had the bulk of possession but they were as wasteful as they have been all season. It was Leeds' inability to keep possession of the ball that led to Forest having several first half chances. Curtis tested Sullivan after he ran through the midfield unchallenged, and Perch tried his luck from distance after a poor clearance. He also put an effort wide after Thompson had been allowed to run through the open spaces of the United midfield while Taylor headed wide. Carlisle had a couple of headed half chances for Leeds. The second half soon saw Taylor almost give Forest the lead when his shot cannoned off the post with Sullivan beaten.

United went on to dominate the second half but the Forest keeper was hardly tested. Seth Johnson was introduced for the ineffective Wright in the sixty-sixth minute but it was the Forest substitution that almost changed the game. Commons, who did not start as he was not fully fit with flu, soon tested Sullivan with a pile-driver of a free-kick and almost immediately he was brought down by Kelly for a blatant penalty. He dusted himself down and stepped up to take the penalty but Sullivan made the vital save. The game droned on and not even seven minutes of injury time could change the outcome. They remained in tenth position, but were left wondering why they have been unable to beat any of the bottom eight clubs apart from Coventry.

There was a break in fixtures and United played a friendly against Gary Kelly's home town team Drogheda United. Julian Joachim scored in a 1-1 draw.

United had signed Ian Moore from Burnley for £50,000 and Keeper Sasa Ilic on a free from Aberdeen and while Moore made his run on debut Ilic was on the bench for the home clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers. The team was hardly recognizable from the Nottingham Forest fiasco and lined up as follows: Sullivan; Walton, Butler, Kilgallon, Pugh; Derry, Johnson, Moore, King; Lennon, Hulse. Einarsson replaced Johnson after seventy-three minutes, Healy replaced Hulse after seventy-four minutes and Spring came on for King after eighty-five minutes leaving Ilic and Carlisle unused on the bench. With Richardson injured, Kellyunavailable with flu and Gray suspended, United had to play Simon Walton at right back and Danny Pugh at left back which in turn further depleted the midfield and it was lucky that Derry and Johnson were available after injury and Moore was purchased from Burnley, came in on the right flank to become the twenty-seventh player to make his debut for Leeds in the season and Marlon King lined up on the left side of midfield with Lennon pushed up just behind Hulse in attack. Waltonadapted well to his new role, as he had done to the various positions he had beenasked to play. King also excelled and was a key man, Johnson showed good form, although a little rusty after his long lay off, but it was Derry who took the honours for Leeds with a tremendous performance in midfield.

Although the team and system was unrecognizable from Nottingham Forest, again only one point accrued and for the fourth successive match United dropped two points. Derry stood head and shoulders above the rest and totally bossed the midfield and Paul Ince, but sadly no one else could raise their game to the same heights and neither goalkeeper was truly tested.

Both sides had enough possession to produce something meaningful, but all too often the attacks broke down and clear cut chances were few and far between. King had an opportunity in the first half after the keeper made a hash of clearing and Wolves tried shooting from distance with Ince putting one over the bar.

The opening goal, which came after forty minutes was the first real effort on target. Naylor whipped in Wolves' first corner of the game and Carl Cort eluded the Leeds defence to stoop and head past Sullivan. On balance it was an undeserved lead and Hulse twice had a couple of half chances to restore parity before the break. In the fiftieth minute a Wolves defender's backchat saw the referee march a free-kick a further ten yards forward and up stepped Shaun Derry to place a delightful curling shot over the wall and though Oakes seemed to have it covered he must have lost its flight as he flapped helplessly as it nestled into the net.

It should have been the cue for Leeds to go on and win but they didn't and Wolves almost grabbed the full points late on when Miller had a shot blocked, a Seol cross deceived everyone and missed, Miller hit a post and Naylor went close from a free-kick. So the points were shared and both teams looked forward to life in the CCCL for another season as United dropped to twelfth spot.

On the day of the game with Sheffield United Ken Bates outlined his thoughts on the future of Leeds United and in particular his attitude to Season-ticket holders.

Bates: You'll get what you pay for: A twenty-five per cent increase in the cost of Leeds United season tickets has caused uproar. But here, in an exclusive interview with YEP Sports Editor Phil Rostron, Chairman Ken Bates defends the steepness of the rises and expands upon his plans to restore Premiership football to Elland Road.

Ken Bates was unrepentant about a season ticket price hike that had stunned Leeds United fans, save the manner in which it was presented. The United faithful were reeling from a twenty-five per cent increase in the cost of watching their team and the chairman conceded: "It may have been delivered in a more appropriate way, but those shortcomings are something to learn from next time. We have inherited an old system."

Taking stock of the outpouring of grief since last week's announcement, Bates says: "The fact is that it's four price rises in one. Previous regimes made a mess of their price-fixing strategies and now, really, it's pay-up time." And despite the furore season ticket renewals are simply pouring in and exceed £100,000 in just two days.

"To those who have complained, where possible we are contacting them to talk through the situation. The current financial state of play at the club is that £6m is owed to former players, agents and managers. Outstanding PAYE/VAT is £3m. Former directors' loans, due in 2009, total £4m. There are currently four players still at the club who take over fifty per cent of the total salary bill, which is still nearly £12m a year. Due to the sale and leaseback of Thorp Arch and Elland Road we now pay £1.7m a year in rent. That is the burden that the club has to carry before even starting to spend money on players, refurbish the shabby stadium and start to move forward. By the way, I don't take anything in salaries or fees as a consultant, so none of your money is going into my pocket. My question is simple: how would you solve the problem. It is not acceptable to say there must be some other way. Tell us what it is."

"All constructive suggestions will be welcome and given serious consideration, although I suspect they will be few and far between. I have been encouraged by the response of our corporate members and sponsors. Many who, for whatever reason, were reluctant to support the previous regime are coming back in droves. To clear up some misunderastanding on the family section, this has not been abolished but reduced and moved to the wings of the East Stand. Season ticket holders in blocks L30, 31 and 32 are being relocated to blocks L28, 29, 33, 34 and 35 at family prices. It seems to me that it is only reasonable that fans paying full price should have the better seats. Due to the decrease in capacity we are asking those single adults who have held a season ticket in the family section to relocate. Displaced season ticket holders in the East Upper will be given first choice of a relocated seat from May 16 and when the refurbishment is completed will have first refusal of their former seat.

Bates says of the previous board: "They were great at fire-fighting, but they spent too much time at that and did not identify the underlying problems, which were the losses. We have stabilised the losses, improved the organisation, tackled the season ticket issue, rationalised the staff with an awful lot of people gone or going, improved inter-departmental relations from a situation where the left hand didn't know what the right hand was doing and still found time to strengthen the team with the likes of Michael Gray, Rob Hulse and Shaun Derry. But we have a cost base that we can't get away from. The Inland Revenue, who were going to bust the club on January 24, have agreed to be paid in instalments.Maybe fans should look at the fact that there have been no price rises for a considerable time, but that hasn't stopped costs from going up. Electricity, Gas, Water, Diesel, Fuel, Telephones, Council Tax and National Insurance have all gone skywards, then there are the players' wages under contractual obligations. People going on holiday have to pay more for the pleasure yet despite all these things they think their football club can just stand the burden. It can't."

"I've phoned sixty or seventy people personally over the past three days and we haven't had one knock-back yet. I've been talking them through it. One old lady said that her first reaction had been disgust, outrage and a determination never to set foot inside Elland Road again but that she'd sat down with her family, had a cup of tea, talked about it and concluded that she would, after all, be coming back." "You know, if you want a club, you've got to pay for it. And you get what you pay for. The first of the benefits for fans in return for their increased season ticket prices is the knowledge that their club will survive. Secondly, we are spending money on improving facilities. As we speak there are architects and quantity surveyors going round looking at the possibilities." "The real problem is change. And if you make a change somebody is going to moan because their nose has been put out of joint. You know...the 'I've always sat here' type. There have been people sitting in the family section who have no right to be there. Thirty-five year-old divorced men with no kids. The fact is that there is now some structure to it. The best seats in the house will go to those who are paying the highest prices." Bates is targeting the Premiership but is making no promises. "Never make promises, just deliver is my motto," he says. "A referee's offside decision in the last game of the season can cost you. But that's football. Look at West Brom against Everton on Sunday. Everton were denied two clear penalties and those decisions could cost the club £20m if they prevent them from making Europe. What I can tell you is that next season's squad will bear more of a resemblance to this season's squad than this season's does to last season's. I think Kevin Blackwell has done a marvellous job. In July he started with one player, Gary Kelly, and has built a team. I don't believe that. We were in the relegation places at Christmas and since then have risen to the dizzy heights of ninth. Obviously it took Kevin time to put together a squad. Now we're a comfortable twelfth having lost three matches in twenty. We've drawn too many. Of course I want Premiership football, but I want to get up there and stay up there. I was terrified when people started talking about the play-offs and being the third team to gain promotion this season. We'd go up and come straight back down again. We would be humiliated. We haven't got the money to buy a Premiership team and the team we have here would struggle to win a game in the Premiership.I don't want to build a dream and wake up to find it's a bloody nightmare. We don't want overpaid, under-performing, lazy, overweight prima donnas. We want players who are skilful, have a lot of guts, are fit and want to win. I'm not going to say people who want to kiss the badge, because that has been devalued. We've identified our shopping list, but can we afford them? I've been in the game for forty years now and I've never named player targets for the simple reason that it alerts the opposition, who might have more money than you." Modern-day Chelsea may provide the glamour in English football but it was a different story when Bates took over. "The average gate was 12,000 and the similarity with Leeds was that five per cent of the tickets were complimentaries. The ground was apalling, they had a poor team and there were no training facilities. Middlesbrough got 350 acres for £800,000 and you wouldn't get a house for that money in London. So you can imagine how difficult it was to find a training ground. The piece of land that I identified out near Heathrow airport is the one that Roman Abramovich is now working on, so I did all the work and he's getting the glory. Never mind. Such is life. I had John Prescott turning down one potential site because he ruled that the referee's whistle might disturb the mourners at the adjoining cemetery. We wasted two years on that project." "When Abramovich does build his training ground I hope it's as good as the one we have here at Leeds. It's superb. But we had a hooligan problem, poor supporter facilities, low prices and plenty of fiddles going on. It took time to sort it out. But I was 51 then, I'm 73 now. I haven't got time to mess about. New Stadium? No. It would cost a bomb and the fact is that Leeds United's name stinks in the financial world. They were doing alright until Peter Ridsdale bought his goldfish. That was at a time when I was doing £120m in securitisations and was 80 per cent there when Leeds screwed it up. The attitude in the finance world now is, 'Football? You must be joking. Leeds told us it was a safe bet and we lost £60m.' It will be a long time before the American institutions get involved again." So Bates has a clear message for United fans who want a return to the Premiership and it's this: Put up and shut up.

Those words must have been cold comfort to the many thousands of United fans contemplating how they would be able to afford their Season Tickets and after the game with Sheffield United at Elland Road they would have being seriously questioning the capability of this team to go within a bull’s roar of ever seriously laying claim to EPL status, as once again they were given a football lesson by a far superior outfit.

Healy replaced Moore with Lennon reverting to his accustomed role on the right flank. The final result was an acute embarrassment for any Leeds United fan and to the team and Management staff if they had any feelings apart from numbness after being humiliated by their biggest defeat in the CCCL and more unforgivable it was at home to their nearest and most bitter CCCL rivals. Elland Road had not witnessed such an emphatic defeat since Liverpool triumphed by the same score in the days of David O'Leary in February 2002.

Embarrassment and humiliation seems to go hand in hand with this fixture in recent times and for the fourth time in three years United collapsed against the Blades in a dramatic and humbling fashion. Leeds were outplayed, out-thought and out-fought by their local rivals with too many players having off days and apart from a twenty minute spell in the second half when the game was already lost beyond recall, Leeds came a distant second to Sheffield. Leeds plotted their own downfall and handed the visitors three goals on a silver platter and it could have been a larger margin had they taken all of their chances. The last of the goals came after Paul Butler had suffered a sickening injury when he collided with keeper Neil Sullivan, and was out cold for fully two minutes and was taken to hospital for observation. Poor Simon Walton had a torrid time playing out of position at right back and was at fault for both Sheffield first half goals and was substituted six minutes before the break by Sean Gregan, who quickly collected his twelfth booking of the season for chopping down Tonge within a minute of his arrival and then pushing Harley. He at least showed fight but the game was lost before his arrival and only Aaron Lennon seemed to be interested in restoring some pride but he fought a lone battle as his collegues went missing in action. Healy looked uneasy in his role behind lone striker Hulse who in turn was not involved enough. The midfield was simply non-existant as Sheffield played neat football with pace and movement which was too much for Leeds to cope with.

Webber got the first in the second minute when he left Walton and Butler standing to score with a neat finish inside Sullivan's near post. It was a goal that rocked Elland Road and Webber passed up two more good chances before Leeds-born Nick Montgomery made it 2-0 as he scored from close range after a corner was not cleared. Hulse rattled the woodwork in response just before half-time but seventy-five seconds after the break ex-Leeds player Andy Gray marked his first return since leaving Elland Road by scoring with a superb strike from the edge of the box. This was the cue for a Lennon led Leeds revival and incredibly they created seven chances in twenty minutes but were unable to improve the score-line. Lennon could have won a penalty, Moore headed across goal, Johnson was denied by the keeper and then flicked the rebound wide, Healy had a low shot blocked, and Pugh went close with a fine effort. After seventy-three minutes Butler and Sullivan were involved in an horrendous mix-up and Gray scored at the second attempt. Unites remained in twelfth spot but their supporters aired their displeasure at the increased season ticket prices and the woeful performance.

Kelly returned at right back for Walton, Carlisle deputized for the injured Butler in central defence, while Gray returned after suspension to replace Pugh at left-back and Gregan replaced King in a reshuffled midfield as United visited Watford at Vicarage Road, and came away with full points after a vastly improved performance.

The 2-1 scoreline did not do justice to United's superiority and if they had taken all their chances it would have been a much wider margin. Watford could equally claim that only abbrilliant performance from Neil Sullivan denied them victory. Leeds again started slowly and looked nervous in central defence and it took them a long time before they imposed themselves on a side low in confidence and self-belief. It was only the second time that Kilgallon and Carlislehad played together and an early lack of understanding showed before they both settled down. Sean Gregan was also below par for much of the first half but he supplied the cross for Rod Hulse to open the scoring and looked stronger after that. Goalkeeper Neil Sullivan again took the plaudits, fully illustrating why he had been elected player of the year, with three tremendous reaction saves late in the game, but there were several others who deserved recognition fora good performance. Gary Kelly took the captain's armband and led byexample from the back with a strong and effective display on the right with Michael Gray also in good form on the left. Johnson and Derry did well in midfield as did Gregan after a slow start. Up front Rod Hulse took a terrible buffeting from the Watford defence but came back for more and never took a backward step. Demrits dismissal was for two needless fouls on the striker but his defensive partner Cullip could consider himself fortunate that he remained on the field, as on balance on accumulated attempts to maim Hulse he was the bigger offender. It was disappointing that David Healy had to leave the fray so early in the game with ankle ligament damage. His departure did pave the way for Ian Moore to play for over an hour and he linked up well with Hulse and was unfortunate not to score. Marlon King who replaced Lennon for the last twentyminutes and more also showed plenty of quality in his play. King, Moore, Johnson and Hulse all went close in the closing stages and created several openings. King was inches wide, Hulse put one over the top from close range, Johnson had a couple of shots blocked and Moore twice came within inches.

The pressure came after Watford had been reduced to ten men in the fiftieth minute, but prior to that it had been a close competition. Watford had started well profiting from some early mistakes and tested Sullivan early on, but Leeds created some good openings and took the lead after twenty-six minutes. Gregan played a lovely ball through the middle and Hulse's stooping header went over the keeper and into the net. Gray went close as he tested the keeper from distance, while Johnson had a go from a free-kick. Watford were handed an easy route back into the game four minutes before the break, they were given thefreedom of the penalty area and they scored after Sullivan had parried the first attempt. Leeds responded and, after the dismissal of DeMerit, took control. Moore and Johnson went close to getting the winner before it came from the unlikeliest of sources. Kilgallon sent in a long high ball from the left of the box and picked out Carlisle at the far post and he made no mistake with his far post header on sixty-seven minutes. Hulse and King went close later but it was Watford who carved out the best chances in the late exchanges, but it was Sullivan who earned his wages with three good saves to deny them. The win was their first inseven matches and took them back to tenth spot.

Gregan dropped back into defence to replace Kilgallon, with Einarsson taking his place in midfield, while Marlon King started upfront in place of the injured Healy, as United visited Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road in search of another double.

United had been cruising with Sullivan not having been called on to make a save of note and seemingly on course for the double before the referee showed Shaun Derry a red card and completely changed the game. Rangers had had plenty of possession but had rarely troubled United. The dismissal was a stupid, senseless incident and all those involved should be kicking themselves. Derry should not have raised his hand, Gallen should have kept his mouth shut and the referee should have exercised better judgment rather than being influenced by the crowd and other players. It all arose over Gallens complaint that Derry hadn’t put the ball out of play quick enough as a Rangers player lay injured and escalated from there. It changed the course of the game as it gave Rangers the impetus they needed to go on and snatch a draw. They made the most of their superior numbers and put pressure on United and eventually went on to equalize with four minutes to go, as Gallen forced Sullivan to make his first save after gliding through the Leeds defence but, after beating the ball away the Leeds keeper could do nothing as he tucked away the rebound. Normally it would have been just reward for a Rangers side that showed more ambition in the second half but, up to the dismissal United had weathered the storm and appeared to be heading for a hard-fought away success. The numbers were actually evened up in stoppage time when Adam Miller was sent off for the second yellow card for a foul on Hulse, but the game was over by then.

Rangers also claimed a penalty in the first half after Gary Kelly had hauled down hauled down Marc Bircham but the referee did not agree. Kelly and Gray were effective on the either side while Gregan was his usual solid self and Carlisle made some vital clearances in central defence and Leeds never had to rely on Sullivan to bail them out.

In midfield Seth Johnson had his best game since his return and it was fitting that he opened the scoring in the twenty-fourth minute with his first goal for eighteen months, as Rangers failed to clear a corner and he volleyed home from the edge of the box and Leeds were good value for their lead at half time. Hulse should have increased the lead on the hour but shot straight at the keeper. After the dismissal and Gallen's equalizer, Gallen almost won the game for Rangers, but Sullivan pulled off a world class save to tip the ball on the post and safety. The draw kept United in tenth spot ahead of Rangers and Stoke City on goal difference.

Kilgallon returned to central defence and Gregan returned to midfield in place of the suspended Derry, while Richardson and Spring replaced Lennon and Johnson in midfield. While Moore was preferred to King upfront as United took on third placed Ipswich at Elland Road. The draw was not the result Ipswich had been looking for and results elsewhere meant that Sunderland were champions and Wigan and Ipswich were locked in a struggle for second spot and automatic promotion.

United were more than worthy of a point against the team that had led the League throughout January and February and given the possession they enjoyed were unlucky not to take the maximum points. United were better in all departments and were far more positive than their highly credentialed opponents and on the rare occasions Ipswich threatened the United defence was magnificent. Kelly and Gray were towers of strength in the full back spots and Kilgallon oozed class in central defence with Carlisle, and they handle the twin threat of Bent and Kuqi with ease. Sean Gregan had an excellent game in the middle of the park and Matthew Spring marked his Elland Road debut with a goal and Frazer Richardson adapted to the right flank well. Hulse was superb up front, had a fair and clean battle with the Ipswich central defenders and was unlucky not to get his name on the score-sheet.

Ipswich stuck to their pretty passing principles throughout but even when they stepped up a gear they were unable to get the winner their position required. Their best chance fell to Tony Currie's nephew Darren who side-footed wide in the last minute from what could only be described as "a sitter". Ipswich had taken the lead after eleven minutes in United's only defensive lapse, when Horlock found Kuqi in space and his miss-hit shot deceived Kelly and Sullivan. Not to be outdone, United came straight back and equalized through Matthew Spring, when he powered a header home from a pinpoint Richardson centre.Many thought two goals in a minute was the cue for a goal-feast but they were disappointed, but both sides had their chances in an evenly fought contest. Horlock volleyed over from distance and Magilton found Kuqi unmarked but he was unable to control it.

United were more ambitious and some fine build up play saw Richardson find Einarsson but he was foiled by the off-side flag. Gray was knocked to the floor in the Ipswich box but the referee ruled in the negative, while Naylor had to be alert to react quickly to a Moore cross with Hulse poised at the far post. There was disappointment for Leeds when Walton, who had just come on for Einarsson, fell with no one near him and had to be stretchered off with a hamstring injury.

His departure allowed Jermaine Wright a twenty minute run against his former team and his introduction almost had an immediate impact. With the boos of the away fans ringing in his ears Wright broke from midfield and fed Moore, who played a neat ball through to the onrushing Hulse, but his powerful finish was rule out by the offside flag. Ipswich did press after that but it did not alter the scoreline and the 1-1 draw saw United drop to twelfth.

United were unchanged for their final away fixture against Leicester City at the Walker Stadium in what turned out to be a typical end of the season game with United showing little interest in the outcome as there was nothing but pride to play for. Unfortunately Leicester were not of like mind and showed plenty of pride and should have been more than 2-0 up at the break such was their dominance. It was a poor way to finish what had been a fine away campaign for United and had there been anything at stake it would have ranked with their worst of the season.

Leicester scored twice in the opening half to put the game beyond United's reach and it was as well that United upped their involvement in the second half or a much larger defeat would have ensued. In fact United were the better team in the second half but they were unable to find a finishing touch. Rod Hulse uncharacteristically missed two half-chances and Marlon King missed a penalty but if United had got back in the game and any share of the points it would have been unfair to the hosts.

Apart from Neil Sullivan who pulled off a couple of vital reaction saves no one stood out in what was a very much below-par performance. Lennon, who had been left on the bench because of tiredness, did inject some life into proceedings after his introduction on the hour mark. But that aside, the travelling 2,400 had little to cheer and would have left the Walker Stadium feeling short changed, as the one time encouraging campaign has disintegrated from a position of play-off possibilities to one of a succession poor results and the end of any interest in the promotion outcome and the best they could now hope for was eleventh.

Dion Dublin headed in from a corner in the sixth minute and only Sullivan's reflexes stopped it from being 2-0 inside ten minutes. Williams spurned a great opportunity and Connelly headed against the crossbar from two yards and Carlisle threw his body in the way to deny Dublin a certain goal from the rebound. It was after thirty-nine minutes that Leicester finally doubled their tally when Hughes gifted Connelly an easy goal and that effectively was game over. In the second half Walker denied Kilgallon, Hulse couldn't find a finishing touch after good work by Lennon, who also played in King, but he was crowded out. Walker denied King again after good work from Kelly, but even after Spring had gained a dubious penalty, King could not beat Walker from twelve yards. United did have another penalty appeal turned down but were unable to make their possession count and the away campaign ended on a disappointing note and United dropped to fourteenth position.

Sean Gregan moved back into defence in place of Clarke Carlisle and Danny Pugh was given the left back spot in place of Michael Gray. There was a return for Aaron Lennon for Richardson; Wright took Gregan's spot in midfield, while Marlon King took Einarsson's midfield spot as United entertained Rotherham United at Elland Road in the season's final fixture.

Rotherham had long been relegated from the CCCL but United had pummelled them for 180 minutes without being able to find the net. United bettered their Millmoor tally of hitting the woodwork, when they managed to achieve the feat on four separate occasions but they were again left cursing the Miller's luck and failed to sign off on a winning note. The only difference from the Millmoor encounter was that Sullivan was forced to make two good saves and only a dreadful finish from Proctor ensured the visitors three chances counted for nothing. There was little doubt of who were the better team but even so Leeds were unable to finish the season on a high note.

United had the better of a scrappy opening and chances galore went begging. Pollitt saved from Hulse after thirty-two seconds and that set the tone for the contest. Hulse put another over the top, Pollitt denied Lennon, and Spring hit the outside of the post when clean through. Hulse hit the post at the start of the second half, Pollitt pushed a Spring shot on to the woodwork, and Marlon King, in his last loan period game, rattled the upright after more good approach play. United were far more creative and Ian Moore impressed with his workrate and effort in the dual striker role. He was unselfish, industrious and playing alongside a natural striker had his best game to date. Lennon stood out with his creativity and ran the Rotherham defence ragged. As at Millmoor, it took Rotherham over an hour to muster anything of note but when they did it tested United. YEP player of the year Neil Sullivan, showed his quality by denying McLaren and Proctor with two superb saves. Proctor was guilty of heading wide with the goal at his mercy and when he did get the ball in the net four minutes from time his effort was ruled out for offside. Gavin Rothery did not get a run from the bench but there was a rousing reception as Danny Pugh made way for Lucas Radebe, who strode on to the pitch one last time for United and was handed the Captain's armband by Gary Kelly. Due to a pitch invasion on the final whistle there was no customary lap of honour from the team and the 0-0 draw was United's eighteenth draw of the season which highlights the difference between promotion and a midtable fourteenth which was United's final position. United announced the signing on a permanent basis of Rod Hulse from West Bromwich Albion for £800,000.

In the season United finished fourteenth and used thirty-seven different players on the pitch in all competitive games. Healy led the League scorers with seven, followed by Hulse and Deane with six and Danny Pugh with five. Deane and Pugh also scored in the League Cup. Neil Sullivan was ever-present with 46 appearances, followed by Gary Kelly 43, Paul Butler 39, Sean Gregan 34(1), Danny Pugh 33(5), Jermaine Wright 33(2),Clarke Carlisle 29(6),Frazer Richardson 28(10), David Healy 27(1), Matthew Kilgallon 26, Brian Deane 23(8) and Simon Walton 23(7).

2005-2006:

Season Statistics: Games, Results, Appearances, Goalscorers Football League Tables for the Season

For United’s second season in the second tier, albeit grandiosely referred to as the Coca-Cola Football League Championship, it looked like another season of consolidation rather than an all-out assault to regain Premiership status. After plummeting the depths in the past few seasons fans in general seemed to accept that there would be no miracles on the horizon and the close season saw the disappearance of another jewel, in the form of Aaron Lennon, being snapped up by Tottenham Hotspur for a giveaway £800,000. He was later to impress in the Premiership and gain selection for the England World Cup squad.

Others taking the exit door were Simon Johnson to Darlington, Julian Joachim to Boston United, Martin Woods to Sunderland and Paul Keegan to Drogheda United, all on free transfers. Seth Johnson was offered a settlement on his excessive wages and was declared a free agent and rejoined Derby County. Aidan Boothroyd, newly appointed as Watford Manager, returned to Elland Road to take Clarke Carlisle, for £100,000, Matthew Spring, for £150,000 and out of time loanee, Marlon King. All players had shown reasonable form but could not find a regular place at Elland Road.

Gary Kelly apart, United off loaded their last overpaid relic of a bye-gone “Dream-time” when Eirik Bakke was loaned to Aston Villa for the season. There were loans too for the seemingly out of favour Michael Ricketts, who was loaned to Cardiff City and then Burnley, and Jermaine Wright who went firstly to Millwall and then Southampton.

Incoming loan players were Jonathan Douglas from Blackburn Rovers for the full season and Liam Miller from Manchester United from the end of October and eventually for the rest of the season, while late in the season Danny Graham came in from Middlesbrough.

Coming in permanently were Goalkeeper Ian Bennett from Birmingham City, USA International Left Winger Eddie Lewis from Preston North End and ex-England midfielder Steve Stone from Portsmouth, all on free transfers. England under-21 left back Dan Harding came in from Brighton at a fee decided by tribunal. Robbie Blake joined from Birmingham City for £800,000.

Early into the season Richard Cresswell cost £1,150,000 from Preston North End. Angolan International defender Rui Marques joined on a free from CS Maritimo, but could not secure a place and was loaned out to Hull City. Australian International midfielder Joel Griffiths was the subject of a long drawn out transfer procedure with Swiss club Neuchatel Xamax, but finally joined late in the season for £150,000, while the promising young striker Jermaine Beckford was also a late signing, from non-League Wealdstone for £50,000.

There were several pre-season friendlies against what can be best described as mediocre opposition, with the glaring exception of Glasgow Celtic, all were against clubs not expected to tax United too much.

It came as some surprise, therefore, when Norwegian Second Division outfit FK Haugesund emerged 1-0 victors in the first game of their two match Norwegian tour. Kevin Blackwell was able to pick from strength with only Sullivan, Stone, Blake, Moore and Walton unavailable. He opted for almost two complete teams in each half. The first half featured Bennett; Kelly, Butler, Kilgallon, Crainey; Wright, Bakke, Johnson, Pugh; Hulse (Sandos sub 37 mins), Healy. While the second stanza featured Bennett; Richardson Carlisle, Gregan, Harding; Spring, Derry, Einarsson, Lewis; Ricketts, Sandos.

There were impressive debuts for Eddie Lewis and Daniel Harding, who forged a strong left flank in the second half, but Stephen Crainey and Danny Pugh were also almost as impressive in the first half. Eirik Bakke and Seth Johnson, too, impressed after long layoffs.

The first half was marred by an injury to Rob Hulse, who was forced out of the game after a reckless challenge. Angolan international Freddy Sandos replaced him for the rest of the game, but enthusiasm apart failed to impress. United went behind to a sloppy goal fifteen minutes into the second half and from then on there was lots of niggling and Shaun Derry and Michael Ricketts were involved in spats with their opponents. Matthew Spring went close for Leeds and Shaun Derry twice created chances which were spurned by his collegues.

In the second game of the tour there was a deserved victory over Stavanger IF 2-0. Blackwell gave all fit players, except Gylfi Einarsson a run, Ian Moore replacing Rob Hulse in the starting XI, which was Bennett; Kelly, Butler, Gregan, Harding; Wright, Derry,Bakke, Lewis; Moore, Healey. At half time Kelly, Gregan, Bakke and Moore were replaced by Richardson, Kilgallon, Johnson and Sandos, while on sixty-two minutes Butler, Harding, Derry and Lewis were replaced by Carlisle, Crainey, Walton, and Pugh. Finally after seventy minutes Wright and Healy made way for Spring and Ricketts.

Gary Kelly’s pinpoint cross enabled Eirik Bakke to open the scoring early in the first half and Matt Spring scored with aplomb in the final minute, after being set up by the energetic Freddy Sandos, who apart from forcing the keeper to a great save also provided Michael Ricketts with a golden opportunity to score but he still contrived to miss from close range with the goal at his mercy. Former United favourite Alf Inge-Haaland made a twenty minute guest appearance for the hosts.

For the trip to Darlington, who included ex-Leeds players Clyde Winjhard and Simon Johnson, Manager Kevin Blackwell gave a start to Robbie Blake and a first run on for Gylfi Einarsson. The starting line up was Bennett; Kelly, Butler, Gregan, Crainey; Wright, Derry, Bakke, Johnson; Healy, Blake. It took Robbie Blake just six minutes to open his account, taking a pass from David Healy, he held up the ball well before creating space for himself and shooting low past the diving keeper. Richardson and Einarsson replaced Kelly and Blake after fifty-five minutes, followed by Walton for Wright seven minutes later, Kilgallon for Butler on seventy minutes, Pugh for Bakke twelve minutes later and Ricketts replaced Healy for a token last three minutes. Harding, Carlisle and Wilberforce remained unused on the bench.

United travelled to Parkhead for the most testing of their pre-season friendlies to face Glasgow Celtic and emerged with a creditable 0-0 draw. Paul Butler was instrumental in marshalling the back four, which enabled Ian Bennett to keep his third consecutive clean sheet. Gary Kelly and Daniel Harding looked the part as the full backs and Sean Gregan played well alongside his skipper in central defence, while Matthew Kilgallon showed he was equally reliable when given his chance. Shaun Derry again ran the midfield with good support from wingers Jermaine Wright and Eddie Lewis and Eirik Bakke did his chances no harm, while up front Robbie Blake and David Healy, who took a knock on the ankle, combined well in the absence of Rob Hulse.

Frazer Richardson and Matthew Kilgallon replaced Gary Kelly and Sean Gregan after sixty-seven minutes, before Michael Ricketts was given a run in place of Robbie Blake five minutes later. On the seventy-seven minute mark there was a triple substitution with Matt Spring, Stephen Crainey and Gylfi Einarsson replacing Daniel Harding, Eirik Bakke and David Healy. Clarke Carlisle and Danny Pugh replaced Paul Butler and Eddie Lewis six minutes later, while Simon Walton came on for Jermaine Wright for the final five minutes. Seth Johnson remained unused on the bench.

Blundell Park Cleethorpes was the next venue, as Grimsby Town hosted United in their penultimate pre-season friendly. After a defensive mix-up, featuring Clarke Carlisle and Matthew Kilgallon, had allowed the home team to take a thirteenth minute, a left foot rocket from Frazer Richardson nine minutes later earned United a 1-1 draw. The run on side was Bennett; Richardson, Carlisle, Kilgallon, Crainey; Wright, Derry, Einarsson, Lewis; Blake, Ricketts, with Wright, Lewis and Blake leaving proceedings after sixty-five minutes in favour of Spring, Walton, Pugh and the livewire teenager Ian Morris.

Grimsby almost won the game but ex-United left back Tom Newey was thwarted by the diving Ian Bennett from the penalty spot in the second half, but it would have been rough justice as United squandered several chances and were the better side on the night.

United’s final pre-season game took them to Oakwell to play neighbours Barnsley and another workmanlike performance saw them emerge 2-1 winners, although two seemingly perfectly good goals were disallowed and many other chances were created. Sullivan returned for the second half and seemed to be hard pushed to displace Ian Bennett, who started the game as first choice keeper. Paul Butler and Sean Gregan again forming the central defensive pairing, while Gary Kelly and Daniel Harding appeared to have cemented their hold on the full back slots, it seemed as if the defence had picked its self, as Fraser Richardson and Matthew Kilgallon remained unused on the bench. Jermaine Wright and Eddie Lewis appeared to have made the wing positions their own, while midfield anchorman Shaun Derry was a certainty with Eirik Bakke getting the nod to complete the midfield. In the absence of the injured Rob Hulse, David Healy and Robbie Blake had staked their claim to the striker roles. Indeed they combined well to score the goals which gave United victory.

David Healy opened the scoring just after the half hour mark, soon after having an even better effort disallowed. Robbie Blake added the second in the second half after an hour and was unlucky to receive an offside flag for an equally impressive goal moments later, while Eddie Lewis also hit the bar and shot narrowly wide. There was a standing ovation for Eirik Bakke when he was replaced after seventy minutes as a precaution after receiving a knock. He was soon followed by Daniel Harding, as during the later stages the United defence seemed to be too clever and were caught out as Barnsley got a consolation goal.

United were off to their usual winning start to the new campaign, having not lost an opening day fixture since their St James’s defeat by Newcastle United in their promotion year, which commenced in August 1989!

It was a fine all-round display by United who showed no sign of nerves and put together a convincing comprehensive performance where there were no weak links, indeed, apart from a twenty minute spell after half-time, United totally dominated proceedings.

A major disappointment was the crowd of only 20,440, United’s lowest opening day attendance for forty-four years and the lowest first game attendance since 1986. The line up was as expected: Sullivan; Kelly, Butler, Gregan, Harding; Wright, Derry, Bakke, Lewis; Blake, Healy. Michael Ricketts came on for Robbie Blake after seventy-six minutes and Frazer Richardson replaced Jermaine Wright for the last ten minutes. Bennett, Einarsson and Kilgallon remained unused on the bench.

Shaun Derry bossed the midfield and was the United star, with Gary Kelly, Eirik Bakke, Eddie Lewis and David Healy also outstanding. United played neat football, were solid in defence and were rarely troubled by a Millwall side, which showed plenty of fight in the second half. They resisted the chance of sitting back and inviting pressure after taking the lead on twenty-eight minutes. Millwall failed to clear an Eddie Lewis corner and David Healy pounced to volley home before keeper Marshall could react. United won the game in the middle of the park with Eirik Bakke playing his first game in eighteen months. He was here, there and everywhere winning tackles and making his presence felt as he pushed forward. Meanwhile, the immaculate Shaun Derry won everything that came his way, was neat and tidy in his distribution, and never put a foot wrong. Up front, Robbie Blake and David Healy combined well and worked their socks off. Indeed, the two diminutive forwards only lacked the height but never the determination, as they would not let themselves be out-muscled by the Millwall central defence.

Millwall came at United after the interval and, after Dan Harding had been dispossessed as he hesitated in clearing, Don Hutchinson rifled an unstoppable equaliser from twenty-five yards, just on the hour. The goal triggered United into action and seventeen minutes from time Eirik Bakke was hauled down by Elliott and David Healy scored from the resulting penalty. Michael Ricketts replaced Robbie Blake with fourteen minutes to go. Probably in an effort to provide more weight and directness in attack, and aimed at getting a third to put the match beyond doubt, but it proved unnecessary. Overall Manager Blackwell must have been pleased with the result and the performance, even though David Healy and Sean Gregan picked up yellow cards for foul play.

United were unchanged for the visit to Cardiff City’s Ninian Park for their first away trip of the season. They took the lead after twenty-two minutes when Gary Kelly and finally David Healy combined well to provide Robbie Blake with the opportunity to score his first League goal for Leeds. For a long time it looked to be good enough to provide United with only their second league victory at Ninian Park in 84 years, as they dictated play for the first hour. However the curse of Ninian Park struck again as Jason Koumas marked his home debut with an exquisite thunderbolt to produce a wonder-strike from distance, as the Leeds defence back-pedalled and held off him. Worse was to follow when in the sixty-seventh minute Matthew Kilgallon was adjudged to have deliberately handled in the box and Purse converted the resulting penalty to become the third person to open his club account on the night.

United could count themselves unlucky in having two goal disallowed for off-side, while David Healy shot over after being put through by Eddie Lewis and Jermaine Wright similarly failed to hit the target, all before Cardiff had equalised. Sean Gregan had looked as solid as a rock alongside the impressive Paul Butler and neither had been troubled before Cardiff’s first goal. Few would have realised that the skipper was playing with a pain-killing injection, but he had to give it second best at half time as the pain took over. Matthew Kilgallon took his place, and though he was an extremely competent performer, the nous and experience of the skipper was sorely missed as Leeds started to crumble.

While the spine of the United team had looked good in the first half, with Eirik Bakke and Shaun Derry again combining well in the middle of the park, and Gary Kelly again excelling at right back with Eddie Lewis again posing a major threat down the left flank, it began to creak in the second half as Cardiff slowly got back into the game, as United squandered several easy chances to increase their lead. When Cardiff equalised, the lively David Healy, who had formed a very potent attack with Robbie Blake, was replaced by Michael Ricketts but it mattered little. Cardiff soon took the lead from the spot after a hand ball, which hardly seemed justified, especially as United had an even more blatant hand ball in the Cardiff box, when Bakke’s shot was clearly stopped from crossing the goal-line by a defender’s hand. There were also a few ugly incidents. Derry and Harding were exchanging words in the last few minutes as the game went from United’s grasp, much to the delight of the home crowd, who plumbed the depths with several unpalatable chants. Paul Butler and Shaun Derry picked up yellow cards. A game United should have won but didn’t enforce their advantage and paid the price.

Ian Bennett made his debut in goal, while Michael Ricketts was preferred to David Healy, who dropped to the bench, where he joined Frazer Richardson, Gylfi Einarsson, Matthew Spring and Matthew Kilgallon for the visit to Kenilworth Road home of newly promoted Luton Town, who had got off to a flyer by winning both games against former EPL duo, Southampton and Crystal Palace. Luton played a neat brand of football moving the ball quickly and were obviously riding on the crest of a wave. They created a couple of chances but thecentral defence of Paul Butler and Sean Gregan were in top form andkept them scoreless. United also had their chances but the two defenceswere generally in command. Former United Junior Warren Feeney linkedwell with his striking partner but could not break the United rearguardwith Ian Bennett commanding his area well. It was just as well theywere in commanding form as Gary Kelly and Dan Harding struggled to copewith Luton’s fast raiding wingers. Eddie Lewis had a good second halfwhen his crosses were a cause of danger to the Luton defence. WhileRobbie Blake worked hard up front, it was a mystery why Michael Ricketts was preferred ahead of regular scorer David Healy. There was a marked improvement after Healy came on for Robbie Blake in the sixty-seventh minute, quickly followed three minutes later by Frazer Richardson replacing the ineffective Jermaine Wright in midfield while Gylfi Einarsson came on for the equally ineffective Michael Ricketts on seventy-four minutes.

United lacked potency in midfield and although Eirik Bakke did have a couple of half chances and Shaun Derry just failed with a header early on, generally there was little creativity particularly in the first half. Bakke did manage to put Ricketts in the clear but the chance went begging as the striker side footed wide with only the keeper to beat. Luton were happy to hang on for the point to maintain pole position in the Division, as Leeds finished the stronger of the two teams, and United too were happy to gain a point at the expense of the leaders.

United made several changes for the visit of expected high flyers Wolverhampton Wanderers, Frazer Richardson was preferred to Jermaine Wright and Gylfi Einarsson took over from Eirik Bakke in midfield, while there was a welcome return of Rob Hulse in place of Michael Ricketts as striker. The bench was Neil Sullivan, Matthew Kilgallon, loan signing Jonathan Douglas, David Healy and Michael Ricketts. Another poor attendance, 21,229 (including 2,000 Wolves fans), were treated to a fine performance from United against a side which had only suffered one defeat since Glenn Hoddle had taken over in December of the previous year. United took their chances well and defended superbly in the first half when put under pressure by the lively visitors, who proved to be best team United had encountered since Wigan gave them a lesson several months previously. Indeed they were always a threat until United put the game beyond doubt on the hour mark.

United were off to a flyer as Eddie Lewis opened his goal-scoring account after only eight minutes, but it was hard going from there on as Wolves threw everything at them. It was more about the superb performance of Paul Butler, who repelled his former team-mates as the defensive lynchpin, and the outstanding goalkeeping skills of Ian Bennett. Gary Kelly was composed at right back and Frazer Richardson covered acres of ground defensively and in trying to get forward, while Sean Gregan and Daniel Harding both had fine games in defence. In midfield Shaun Derry had to do the work of two as Gylfi Einarsson struggled to cope in the first half, but improved as the game progressed. Miller rattled the United bar and Ricketts put an easy chance over the bar as Wolves took the ascendency and tested the United defence to the full and were lucky to make it to half time still clinging on to their slender lead.

Manager Kevin Blackwell bolstered the midfield and on fifty-seven minutes he gave a debut to Jonathan Douglas in place of Robbie Blake. Rob Hulse popped up to grab the second after sixty minutes and Wolves, having thrown everything bar the kitchen sink at United, visibly wilted and seemed to concede that they would not get one goal never mind the two then required to put them on level terms. Rob Hulse had battled hard and it was fitting that he was on hand to finish off a Gary Kelly free-kick, which had been nodded on by Gylfi Einarsson, for him to slide the ball past the keeper. He left to a standing ovation as he was replaced by Ricketts after seventy-five minutes and David Healy was given ten minutes in place of Einarsson as United sought to press home their superiority.

United entertained Oldham Athletic in the Carling Cup First Round and gave chances to a few non-regulars. Hulse, Lewis, Derry, Kelly and Butler were rested and there was a debut for Rui Marques and chances for Richardson, Kilgallon, Crainey, Pugh and Ricketts. The line-up was Sullivan; Marques, Gregan, Kilgallon, Crainey; Richardson, Douglas, Einarsson, Pugh; Healy, Ricketts. Robbie Blake replaced David Healy for the last nine minutes while Bennett, Harding, Wright and Moore were unused on the bench. It gave Danny Pugh a chance to show his talents, as he and Sean Gregan stood out for United. There were eight changes from the team that beat Wolverhampton Wanderers and first half goals from Michael Ricketts and Frazer Richardson were enough to give United an easy victory against mediocre opposition, who never looked like seriously challenging the hosts.

Stephen Crainey and Danny Pugh formed a formidable left side partnership while Matthew Kilgallon and David Healy showed their worth with good performances. Michael Ricketts had his best game for the club to date, while Jonathan Douglas and Gylfi Einarsson bossed the midfield. Rui Marques had a nervous start and Neil Sullivan had little to do. United’s opener came after twenty minutes when Sean Gregan’s powerful header fell for Michael Ricketts, who held off a challenge to score. Four minutes later it was all over as David Healy showed good touch to tee-up Frazer Richardson, who rifled the ball home, as United kept their third consecutive clean sheet and the 14,970 crowd went home happy.

For the visit to Norwich City’s Carrow Road, United reverted to their regular XI of Bennett; Kelly, Butler, Gregan, Harding; Richardson, Derry, Einarsson, Lewis; Healy, Hulse. New signing Richard Cresswell debuted from the bench, replacing David Healy after seventy-four minutes, while Jonathan Douglas came on for Rob Hulse for the final ten minutes. Neil Sullivan, Robbie Blake and Matthew Kilgallon were unused substitutes.

The victory eased United into equal second on the ladder and showed that they were going to be a force to be reckoned with in the season’s fight for promotion, as Rod Hulse scored his eighth goal in fifteen appearances to give United full points with a typical striker’s effort and one that any predatory goal-poacher would have been proud of. From an Eddie Lewis corner, Frazer Richardson returned a far post cross which was met by Paul Butler, who headed down for Rob Hulse who hammered the ball home from point blank range. It was no more than he deserved as he had hit the bar with a header in the first half, narrowly failed to latch on to a fine Gylfi Einarsson knock down, and seconds before his goal had almost succeeded in breaking through a crowd of defenders. Partnering the hard working David Healy for the first in the season, he showed that his physical presence would trouble many future opponents. The introduction of £1 million signing Richard Cresswell, showed that United with have plenty of physical presence whenever either is around. While Rob Hulse starred and David Healy was not far behind, it was a total team performance as they played as a unit and showed a strong work ethic. Eddie Lewis and Dan Harding linked well down the left, with Lewis showing great touch and Harding had his best game to date, subduing thealways dangerous ex-United speedster Darren Huckerby. Shaun Derry was again magnificent in midfield, while Gylfi Einarsson worked hard to provide the link to the front-line and was particularly strong in the air. Frazer Richardson covered acres of ground down the right flank both in attack and helping Gary Kelly, who continued his fine seam of good form and again caused trouble from set pieces. Paul Butler and Sean Gregan once more were immense in defence and Matthew Kilgallon must have been wondering if he would ever get a start, such had been their combined contributions in the season to date. Ian Bennett was commanding in goal and kept his third clean sheet for the season as United were in charge except for ten minutes either side of half-time.

Due to international commitments of both teams the next fixture, the home clash with Crystal Palace, was postponed and it created a match in hand, which was not played ultimately until late March, which meant that United and Palace were always a game in hand against their rivals throughout that six month period.

United were unchanged, as fresh from leading Northern Ireland to a famous victory over England by scoring a spectacular winner, David Healy almost single-handedly pulled United back from the brink of defeat in their home fixture with Brighton & Hove Albion. He scored twice and then figured strongly in a third, when United made a dramatic late comeback after conceding for a third time. Healy could have had a hat-trick in the first fifteen minutes, but scored twice in the second half and it was his shot that led to Jonathan Douglas scoring a late equaliser. It was a breathtaking contest which Leeds should have on, could have lost, but ultimately achieved an honourable draw. United conceded three goals at home for only the second time since relegation from the EPL. While they stretched their unbeaten run to five games, it was incredible that a normally shot-shy team like Brighton were the ones to break the run of clean sheets by United and it must be said that the game would have been approached as a home banker on recent form. While Leeds were stretched on occasions by the speedy visitors, they created enough chances to have won the game at a canter.

The goalkeeping heroics of Henderson, the on loan Republic of Ireland under 21 International from Aston Villa, and the woodwork, thwarted United many times, as David Healy, on three occasions, Rob Hulse twice, Eddie Lewis, and Einarsson had to cut short their goal celebrations, all in the first twelve minutes! Brighton absorbed the onslaught and on twenty-eight minutes broke at pace with Seb Carole leaving the Leeds defence floundering and his cross was knocked in by Leon Knight. It could have been worse as Hammond headed over just before half time when it seemed easier to score. The pace of Seb Carole and Leon Knight was causing the United defence all kinds of problems and shocked silence greeted their second goal seven minutes into the second half. Knight made the running for Carole to shoot through the legs of Daniel Harding and past the unsighted keeper and it seemed as though United might crumble. That could have been the case in previous seasons but not in the current one.

United brought on Jonathan Douglas for Frazer Richardson and Richard Cresswell for Rob Hulse after fifty-seven minutes. David Healy led the revival as he scored twice in five minutes, starting in the sixty-fifth minute, when Jonathan Douglas showed good vision to get the ball beyond the defence and provide David Healy with the sort of ball he thrives on for him to make no mistake. Douglas again figured in the second as he found Paul Butler who nodded down for Healy to hammer home. The game had been turned on its head and United seemed firm favourites to win and with Robbie Blake coming on for Eddie Lewis with ten minutes to go it seemed only a matter of time. But just three minutes later Brighton again broke and the hapless Sean Gregan deflected Knight’s cross past his bewildered keeper. Ian Bennett had stood no chance with any of the three strikes and yet had not had to make another save. Right on time justice was done as Robbie Blake got the ball into the danger area and David Healy’s blocked shot fell for Jonathan Douglas who delightedly drilled the ball home. Shaun Derry, Eddie Lewis, and Rob Hulse, all shone for Leeds as did substitutes Jonathan Douglas and Richard Cresswell but the stand out was David Healy and at the end of the day United found themselves in seventh spot.

For their visit to Hillsborough to meet near rivals Sheffield Wednesday, United shuffled the pack with Stephen Crainey replacing Dan Harding, while Ian Bennett, Frazer Richardson and Rob Hulse took the places of the promoted Neil Sullivan, Jonathan Douglas and Richard Cresswell, on the bench, as United once more showed poor derby form and allowed the home team to record their first victory of the season. Wednesday fully deserved their victory and Kevin Blackwell must have wondered what had gone wrong with his team who had previously looked the part of promotion candidates. United were never in the game until the final twenty minutes when they threw caution to the wind in a vain effort to compensate for the sloppy goal, which had been conceded after only eight minutes. Fortunately Wednesday failed to take advantage of a succession of gifts that could have put the game far beyond United’s reach and it was seventy-six minutes before the Owls’ keeper was called upon to make a save. The equaliser never came as United put on Frazer Richardson after sixty-seven minutes for Gylfi Einarsson, who had a nightmare and was totally ineffective, followed by Robbie Blake for David Healy four minutes later and after a further four minutes Rob Hulse came on for Richard Cresswell. Frazer Richardson started to make inroads down the right flank, while Jonathan Douglas moved into the middle and United had some modicum of success in gaining control of the midfield.

After Shaun Derry had failed to clear, United had conceded a free-kick which Eagles drifted over the watching wall and past a stunned Neil Sullivan and things didn’t improve as they should have gone two down after fifteen minutes but somehow the Wednesday skipper managed to put the ball wide from close range. United did get the ball in the net as Eddie Lewis played David Healy in, only for the flag to go up for offside. David Graham also missed a golden opportunity when he elected to pass to an offside colleague when he had a clear pass to goal. Neil Sullivan kept United in the game with two stunning saves. David Healy slashed one effort wide before substitute Robbie Blake had a shot deflected to safety, and then Shaun Derry played in Frazer Richardson for him to allow Gary Kelly to cross for the lively substitute Rob Hulse to force the Wednesday keeper to a terrific save. It wasn’t all one-way traffic as Brunt forced Sullivan to pull off another super save as he shot from distance. United tried their hardest in the final minutes but Wednesday deservedly held on to take the points and United dropped to tenth in the standings.

A visit to Loftus Road to meet Queens Park Rangers was next on the agenda and Rod Hulse replaced Richard Cresswell, who took his place on the bench, where Danny Pugh and Ian Moore sat instead of Frazer Richardson and Robbie Blake. Shaun Derry was Man of the Match with Eddie Lewis also outstanding, but there were no poor players for Leeds, only a poor referee who did his utmost to be the centre of attraction and the game suffered accordingly. His persistent whistling for petty fouls, particularly in the first half hour ruined the game as a spectacle. The sending off of David Healy on sixty-five minutes was a travesty and by then he had already dished out five yellows without much valid reason in four cases, in what had been a quiet game, but it exploded after Healy’s dismissal and strangely only resulted in a further one yellow, to Shaun Derry.

United were well on top but the stop start of the first half hour only served to stop them from asserting this superiority. Early in the game Jonathan Douglas was played in by the impressive Eddie Lewis, but somehow managed to put his low cross over the bar from close range. Lewis was always a threat and Healy and Douglas combined well while Rob Hulse was always a menace in the box. Shaun Derry again proved that he was no only a fine protector of the back four but his vision and distribution were vital to United’s attacking build up. In general it was a total turn around from their inept display at Hillsborough and the team closed down well and fought for everything, and, when in possession, played neat football to created some decent chances. On forty minutes Gary Kelly sent over a free-kick from the left and Rob Hulse was left enough space to hammer the ball home from close range and he could thank poor marking by the Rangers defence for this goal which couldn’t have come easier. It was no more than United deserved and they set out to try for a second. Gylfi Einarsson had one header blocked on the line, while David Healy and Rob Hulse caused havoc as Shaun Derry sprayed the ball around.

Healy was dismissed for a spat in back-play with Bircham, who had spent most of the game winding up the United players and had been very lucky not to be shown a card for an horrendous challenge on Einarsson moments earlier, and seemed the oppressor in the spat as he appeared to elbow Healy. The sending off prompted a melee between the two teams and not only reduced United to ten men but allowed Rangers back into the game and forced them to defend for the rest of the game. Richard Cresswell replaced Rob Hulse for the last twenty minutes. However, United were strong in defence and hung on for a deserved win.

United were still on the road, this time to Millmoor to face Rotherham United in the second round of the Carling Cup, which prompted a few changes to the team. Frazer Richardson for Gary Kelly, Matthew Kilgallon for Paul Butler, Ian Moore for Shaun Derry, Danny Pugh for Eddie Lewis and Richard Cresswell for the suspended David Healy. Shaun Derry was rested to the bench, where he was joined by Ian Bennett, Eddie Lewis, Daniel Harding and Rui Marques. It proved to be a comfortable 2-0 victory, with Richard Cresswell crowning a fine performance with both goals and forming a dangerous twin spearhead with Rod Hulse. Millmoor was a desolate place with building still going on and parts of the ground unavailable for spectators resulting in a sell-out 5,445 crowd which included 1,000 from Leeds. Matthew Kilgallon had a good game alongside Sean Gregan in the back four, while Ian Moore and Danny Pugh both gave good accounts of themselves on the flanks with Richard Cresswell deservedly getting both goals and Frazer Richardson did his regular first team aspirations no harm. United were well in control at the back and Neil Sullivan was virtually redundant, while Jonathan Douglas and Gylfi Einarsson got through a lot of work and bossed the midfield. Richard Cresswell opened the scoring in the nineteenth minute when he took advantage of poor defending to ram the ball home. Eight minutes later, after Rod Hulse had pressured the keeper, Cresswell was again on hand to double his tally and put the tie out of Rotherham’s reach. United completed their sixth clean sheet in ten games and easily progressed to the next round.

It was back to the League for the home fixture with Ipswich Town and back to the now usual team of Sullivan; Kelly, Butler, Gregan, Crainey; Douglas, Derry, Einarsson, Lewis; Hulse, Cresswell. Richardson, Blake, Moore, Bennett and Kilgallon occupied the bench. Shaun Derry was again United’s best performer as he battled alone in midfield with scant support from the rest and yet United dominated possession, created enough chances to have won two games, missed a penalty and could feel aggrieved that they had shown enough killer instinct to have won the game easily. It was Ipswich that scored twice from far fewer opportunities and took full points for their 2-0 victory as United slumped to their first home defeat of the season.

Ipswich had not won in weeks and looked likely to continue their poor run until Parkin put them ahead after almost half an hour. United were unable to benefit from their domination of possession and compounded this by giving away two easy goals. As against Brighton a fortnight previous they were caught on the break twice as fast breaking forwards took advantage of United’s vulnerability against swift breaks, and their inability to kill off the challenge from inferior teams has already lost them vital points. Inconsistency seemed to be the problem and a defence which boasted six clean sheets in eleven games was again caught napping, with both goals very preventable and the chance of joining the top flight of promotion contenders was lost. The first goal conceded came after almost half an hour’s sustained pressure from United, when a long ball over the top found Bowditch in acres of space on the right wing with plenty of time to pick out Parkin on the near post and he bundled the ball home. The second twenty minutes from time came when Garvan lobbed the ball over the back four and found Parkin who again took advantage of the static defending. It was the sign of surrender as heads noticeably went down and there was never any question of the repeat of the recovery from a two goal deficit as was the case against Brighton.

There were few bright spots for United, as only Shaun Derry could have held his head high, although Eddie Lewis had a good first half and Richard Cresswell and Rob Hulse gave it their all. There was little creativity from midfield with Gylfi Einarsson and Jonathan Douglas sadly out of touch and lacking the quality to open up the Ipswich rearguard. Rob Hulse forced the keeper to a fine save and Eddie Lewis hit a post, but when Richard Cresswell failed to score from the spot it was clearly not going to be United’s day. Manager Kevin Blackwell sought to change things with the introduction of Frazer Richardson for Gylfi Einarsson on the hour and then Robbie Blake for Gary Kelly thirteen minutes later, before giving Ian Moore his chance in place of Rob Hulse with nine minutes to go. It was all to no avail.

There was a slight shake-up for the visit of Derby County in the following midweek as Frazer Richardson took Jonathan Douglas’s place on the right of midfield as he was switched to central midfield in place of Gylfi Einarsson, who took Richardson’s place on the bench, in an otherwise unchanged team. Rob Hulse completed his first hat-trick as a United player when he hit the net three times in twelve minutes in the first half to ensure that finally United turned their dominance into three points. All three goals were typical goal-poachers strikes and Eddie Lewis and substitute Robbie Blake were prominent in the victory and the three strikes. The American winger followed up his fine game against Ipswich with a stream of crosses and was again the supplier in chief to the United strike force. He made the opening for the first goal, after thirty-two minutes, as he made the running before Robbie Blake supplied the pass for Rob Hulse to open up his account from close range. Five minutes later Lewis got behind the defence and squared for Hulse to rise and nod the ball home. Just before half-time it was again Lewis who was the provider when his pot shot was not held by the keeper and Hulse was on hand to force the ball home.

Things had not look good for United as Richard Cresswell was forced to leave the field after only twenty-seven minutes with a shin injury, but the advent of Robbie Blake as his replacement saw the opening up of the Derby defence and their keeper becoming nervous to the extent that he could be faulted for all three goals. Derby played neat football but Seth Johnson was totally outplayed in midfield as Shaun Derry and Jonathan Douglas took a firm grip with Frazer Richardson and particularly Eddie Lewis always a threat, as both ploughed up and down the wings to good effect. The defence was solid even though Sean Gregan conceded his second own goal in three home matches and Stephen Crainey looked to be lacking in confidence and made way for Matthew Kilgallon with five minutes to go, while Ian Moore was given a run for the last quarter of an hour giving hat-trick hero and man of the match Rob Hulse a welcome rest. The win took United up to sixth spot and only four points adrift of third place.

For the visit to fellow promotion hopefuls Watford at Vicarage Road there was a place for midweek substitutes Matthew Kilgallon, who replaced out of form Stephen Crainey and Robbie Blake, who replaced the injured Richard Cresswell, leaving a place on the bench for David Healy and Danny Pugh. Eddie Lewis was clearly feeling the injury which had caused him to be in doubt right up to kick-off time and was but a shadow of his normal self and had to be substituted after sixty-six minutes by Danny Pugh. Another of United’s better players in their midweek win Robbie Blake also struggled and was replaced by David Healy less than ten minutes into the second half. Midweek hero Rob Hulse had a torrid time and was locked in a dire struggle with Doyley with no quarter asked or given. It was never going to be pretty as Watford’s route one tactics and dour defending meant it would never be a game for the purists as defences dominated, with Gary Kelly and Paul Butler outstanding for United.

The two midfields cancelled each other out, but it was United who had the better chances and the least luck, as Rob Hulse’s shot hit both posts without crossing the line, which was as close as either side got to breaking the impasse, although United had two claims for a penalty turned down as first Spring was given the benefit of the doubt after four minutes and then MacKay twenty minutes later. Watford enjoyed a minor spell of pressure in the first half but the United defence stood firm. Neil Sullivan was tested on a couple of occasions but generally it was a dour boring affair and both teams were glad to see the final whistle with their goals rarely threatened. Both teams were seemingly happy to have gained a point rather than having conceded full points to their fellow rival for promotion. The pitch was not a good advertisement for the grounds man’s prowess and it reduced even good players to the ranks of honest toilers in a very forgettable game with a predictable outcome.

A Visit to Turf Moor for the first Roses battle of the season with Burnley saw a recall for Dan Harding at left back with Matthew Kilgallon taking a place on the bench instead of Danny Pugh. In a spiteful match that culminated in Shaun Derry being attacked in the tunnel by a Burnley player after the final whistle, United took the points with a fine 2-1 triumph. The game was won in the midfield with Shaun Derry, as usual, showing the way with Jonathan Douglas and Eddie Lewis both outstanding, and Frazer Richardson also playing his part. Gary Kelly and Paul Butler shone in defence but Sean Gregan was not at his best, while Dan Harding seemed quite comfortable as he eased himself back into the first team. Up front Rob Hulse and Robbie Blake toiled manfully.

United were the better team throughout and always looked the likely winners, but when Sean Gregan conceded a penalty, on the hour, in the second half, Burnley took the lead against the run of play. Akinbiyi had beaten Gregan in an aerial challenge and on escaping his clutches was unceremoniously upended by the defender on the bye-line for an undeniable penalty. Chances to that point had been few and far between but Robbie Blake should have done better as he side-footed wide after being put through by Rob Hulse but at half time the smart money would have been on a single goal away win.

On the half hour Shaun Derry had been booked for a late challenge on Branch, who took no further part in the game. Sinclair clattered Robbie Blake from behind and was lucky not to see red as was Harley for hauling down David Healy. Sean Gregan and Rob Hulse also saw yellow, as did Hyde for Burnley.

Kevin Blackwell responded to going behind by throwing on David Healy, in the sixty-ninth minute, in place of the hard-working Frazer Richardson and two minutes later he was involved in rounding Harley and being unceremoniously hauled to the ground. Eddie Lewis stepped up to send a beautiful curling free-kick past the Burnley keeper. The celebrations had hardly ceased when four minutes later Lewisskipped past two defenders on the left to send over a perfect cross for Rob Hulse to rise and head home the winner.

With three minutes to go Ian Moore came on for Rob Hulse and a minute later Gylfi Einarsson was on for Robbie Blake. Shaun Derry went close to making it three but was denied by the keeper and Ian Moore was clearly impeded in the box in the last minute but the referee, who had a poor game and contributed to the atmosphere by his ineptitude, failed to give the penalty. The travelling faithful gave the team and Kevin Blackwell a rousing reception at the end of the game.

There was an unchanged team for Southampton’s visit to Elland Road and they were able to cement fourth spot with another 2-1 victory. It was not an easy victory and United spent a lot of time on the receiving end, as Southampton’s pace and adventure pegged them back for long periods and it was to the teams credit that they were able to secure the win, even though it was due to Southampton’s inability to finish rather than United’s dominance or even any semblance of being the better team, but on balance it could have been more as United hit a post and Niemi made a brilliant save early on. It was a fine game of football which kept the crowd on the edge of their seats and fully entertained.

Leeds set the tone with two superb early goals. They set off like a house on fire and could have scored very early when Frazer Richardson sent across a perfect ball for Rob Hulse to force Niemi into a brilliant save from a point-blank header, and it was after only eleven minutes that Gary Kelly similarly got down the right wing and crossed for Rob Hulse to rise and place his header to perfection and give Niemi no chance of saving. Soon afterwards Eddie Lewis rattled the post with a curling free-kick but on nineteen minutes the second goal arrived and it was one from the picture book. Shaun Derry and Rob Hulse were both involved in the build up and Robbie Blake opened his Elland Road account with a superb curling shot. It was a wonderful piece of magic and must surely have boosted Blake’s confidence. At this point it looked as if it would be a run away victory, but Southampton soon came into the game and the sixteen year old Theo Walcott, who had already been wasteful when given a great chance to give his side the lead, left Paul Butler struggling in his wake and despite a valiant attempt by Neil Sullivan, his point blank save was only good enough to push it on to the post and it crept into the net in the twenty-fifth minute. Comparisons were being made of his pace and stature being similar to Aaron Lennon and others were likening his striking ability to Wayne Rooney, but there was little doubt that he was an outstanding talent and heading for the big time. He was quite wasteful, however and put another effort over the bar and Leeds went into the half-time break marginally in front on the judge’s scorecard.

In the second half and particularly the last half hour it was all Southampton as they dominated the midfield and cut the United defence to ribbons. Kevin Blackwell saw the way the United defence was struggling with Paul Butler and Sean Gregan all at sea against the pace of the Southampton attackers and Dan Harding was also finding it hard to cope. He withdrew Sean Gregan and introduced Matthew Kilgallon after fifty-six minutes and United, while still struggling against the Southampton attack’s pace and movement, held firm. David Healy replaced Robbie Blake after sixty-five minutes and Gylfi Einarsson replaced Frazer Richardson ten minutes later, but the changes were only cosmetic and replacing tired legs. In the outfield only Eddie Lewis and Robbie Blake and to a lesser extent Rob Hulse, Shaun Derry, Jonathan Douglas and Gary Kelly could have been happy with their performances and if not for a superb display in goal by Neil Sullivan the game would have been easily lost, as he proved himself to be Mr. Reliable with a string of fine saves to make him United’s man of the match.

Not unpredictably United kept the improving Matthew Kilgallon in their run on eleven with Sean Gregan taking his place on the bench against run-away leaders Sheffield United in the next game at Elland Road. United secured a share of the points and held the League leaders to their first draw of the season. United further cemented fourth spot on the ladder when a wonderful Frazer Richardson goal was cancelled out by a strike from Kabba as the two White Rose rivals put on a great display of football and a draw was a fair result although Warnock would have been the happier of the two managers by preserving the status quo, with Sheffield maintaining their twelve point advantage, having lost only two of their fourteen games to date. Paul Butler led by example and never gave the Sheffield striker Shipperley a kick and when substituted after sixty-five minutes he had made no contribution to the game whatsoever. He was ably supported by Matthew Kilgallon who totally justified his selection with an impeccable display while Shaun Derry was in charge in midfield. In fact, Jonathan Douglas apart, the whole United team were on song. Robbie Blake and Rob Hulse both gave their all and, in the only real chance for Leeds in the first half, Rob Hulse headed wide of the post, with an effort that he would usually have converted after a Robbie Blake cross had been deflected into his path. Although at the other end the superb Neil Sullivan did make one fine save from Kabba.

Leeds deservedly took the lead after fifty-three minutes when Robbie Blake did well to jink his way free and set up Frazer Richardson on the edge of the box for the midfielder to rifle in a pile-driver of a shot, which gave the keeper no chance. It looked as though it would be the winner, but sixteen minutes later with United uncertain whether to go for an emphatic victory or defend their slender lead, Kabba caught the defence in a moment of hesitancy and grabbed the equalizer. Robbie Blake always looked capable of winning it for Leeds and it was a surprise to see him replaced after sixty-five minutes, even though David Healy was always capable of achieving the same effect. Gylfi Einarsson replaced Frazer Richardson two minutes later and Ian Moore replaced Jonathan Douglas with seven minutes to go, but although Leeds finished the stronger of the two teams they were unable to produce the second goal and honours finally finished even with little to choose between the two sides. Indeed, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Derby County and Southampton had all given United more trouble than the run away leaders.

For the Carling Cup Third Round tie with Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park United rested a few tired players and lined up as follows: Sullivan; Richardson, Butler, Kilgallon, Harding; Moore, Einarsson, Gregan, Pugh, Healy; Blake; with Douglas, Lewis, Hulse, Bennett and Walton on the bench. The team said that key players were rested and that progress was not anticipated and the weekend game with Reading was of more importance, and so it proved.

United showed little ambition with a makeshift midfield of five and a lone striker. They paid the price for their lack of ambition, because despite plenty of hard work they never looked like causing an upset. Blackburn should have had the tie wrapped up by half time but poor finishing kept Leeds in the game. It was very one-sided with United defending for almost the entire game with Robbie Blake unable to get control of the ball and the two Blackburn centre backs were able to push the ball forward with monotonous regularity and Ian Moore and David Healy looked exactly what they were, two strikers playing on the wings of midfield and were rarely in the game either. Sean Gregan and Danny Pugh tried hard enough but just could not cope and consequently the back four were under constant pressure and despite dogged resistance the result was inevitable.

Sullivan watched Kuqu shoot wide, pushed an in-swinging Pederson corner over the bar and saved two from Pederson and Dickov all before the end of thirty minutes. He then pushed a Savage free-kick over the bar while Todd contrived to head over from close range with the goal at his mercy. Blackburn were short of spark and ideas but the advent of Bellamy at half-time changed matters, as he created all the three goals in the final thirty minutes. On the hour he played in Emerton who lashed the ball past Sullivan. The goal prompted Leeds to go 4-4-2, Jonathan Douglas replaced Sean Gregan and quickly Eddie Lewis replaced Danny Pugh with David Healy pushing up to join Robbie Blake up front.

It was too late and Bellamy worked a perfect cross for Dickov to convert with ease. This prompted the appearance of Rob Hulse for Robbie Blake and there were ironic cheers as he had a pop shot from distance for United’s only shot on goal all night. Gylfi Einarsson made a two footed lunge at Savage and was red carded and not unsurprisingly Blackburn added their third in the last minute as Bellamy played a one-two with Neill, who was allowed to race through the defence to score with ease. Leeds deservedly lost the tie and were eliminated from their first competition of the year.

United reverted to the normal formation for the visit to Madejski Stadium, home of undefeated front runners Reading, with no changes from the team that had performed so well against leaders Sheffield United. Sixty-sixth minute substitute, David Healy, scored his sixth goal of the season after seventy-five minutes to equalize a sixty-third minute goal by Reading to give United a deserved point. The draw took Reading to eighteen games undefeated while United extended their unbeaten League run to six games. Before the introduction of Healy United had defended stoutly with Matthew Kilgallon being outstanding in defence but Neil Sullivan, Gary Kelly, Paul Butler and Daniel Harding all give first class displays to keep United in the game. The midfield four were disappointing, with Shaun Derry well below his usual form, as Reading showed why they usually dominate the midfield and take command of matches. Rob Hulse and Robbie Blake had little opportunity to show their full capabilities but foraged well to compensate for the lack of creativity from the midfield.

United had threatened briefly in the first half but Reading had by far the better of the first stanza and pressed on in the second to deservedly take the lead just past the hour mark. They had thrown everything at United and gone close on several occasions before Gunnarson picked up the ball on the edge of the area to shoot through a crowd of players with Neil Sullivan unsighted. Kitson had a chance to kill off the game two minutes later but his header failed and the game changed with the introduction of David Healy. He was not frightened to run at the home defence and they were soon in retreat. He created a good opportunity for Jonathan Douglas but he made a hash of his chance to equalise. Healy would not be denied and duly got United on level terms. It was Reading who were left praying for the full-time whistle as United threw on Ian Moore for Frazer Richardson but ultimately justice was done and the spoils were shared.

United retained their finishing eleven, with Frazer Richardson and Robbie Blake dropping to the bench for the trip to Gresty Road and Crewe Alexandra in what looked like an easy game against one of the cellar-dwellers with only two victories to their name. Leeds went from heroes to zeros in turning on their worst performance of the season. In the end only a Paul Butler own goal separated the two teams but that did not tell the full tale as if Crewe had won by five or six they wouldn’t have been flattered, but they squandered chance after chance or were frustrated by a series of fine saves by Neil Sullivan, the only United to emerge with any credit. Incredibly United were in the competition right up to the final whistle but it would have been a travesty had they got anything from the encounter.

It was a thoroughly inept performance from Leeds, Jonathan Douglas had a very poor game and he and Shaun Derry were way below par and the team suffered accordingly. Only Paul Butler and Matthew Kilgallon in defence, and Rob Hulse up front, showed any effort and United were once again deeply in debt to Neil Sullivan for keeping them in the game. There did not seem to be one United outfield player capable of stopping Crewe’s neat simple approach play. Only the home team’s lack of finishing power saved Leeds from a drubbing as Crewe were unable to increase their lead after Butlers’ seventh minute blunder. Kevin Blackwell made his usual substitutions to try and pep things up with Robbie Blake on for David Healy after sixty-five minutes, Frazer Richardson for Ian Moore seven minutes later and finally Danny Pugh for Dan Harding with nine minutes to go. Robbie Blake had a couple of half chances, Rob Hulse shot over the bar, Frazer Richardson had a shot scrambled off the line and Gary Kelly skimmed the bar from outside the box in the last minute. Had it gone in it would have been a travesty and it seemed funny that United were sat in fifth spot with a game in hand on third place Watford, who they only trial by three points, while Crewe seem virtual relegation certainties but would have been glad of the three points that kept them in contact with fellow strugglers.

Kevin Blackwell responded to United’s poor recent midfield performances by taking Liam Miller on loan from Manchester United. He went straight into the team for the home fixture with Preston North End at the expense of Jonathan Douglas who dropped to the bench, while Frazer Richardson took the place of Ian Moore, who also dropped to the bench, and Danny Pugh missed out altogether. In a game which was very poor considering both teams hold pretensions of promotion but both had to play second fiddle to the referee D’Urso, who blew his whistle at the least opportunity and ruined any chance of the game reaching any great heights or having any free-flowing rhythm.

The two teams would next meet in the last game of the season and United’s inconsistency meant that both teams would join another ten teams with the potential to make the play-offs but both would have to improve on this performance to win that play-off, as Reading and Sheffield United already appeared to have booked their places to the Premiership even at that early stage of the season. After seven games in twenty-one days there were claims of the team being jaded but it held little water as the same conditions applied to all clubs in the League.

Rob Hulse played carrying an ankle knock and did his best but David Healy did not seem interested against his former team-mates and Eddie Lewis was equally insignificant. With Shaun Derry again off the pace and Frazer Richardson making no impact, Liam Miller, while making a bright start, made little impact, but the midfield was often by-passsed. D’Urso was soon in on the act as he ruled out a header from David Healy in the fifth minute, apparently for a push. Rob Hulse showed a willingness to chase lost causes and got in a couple of headers but was well shackled by the Preston defence as Leeds showed little imagination or variation. There were no goals from Rob Hulse, Robbie Blake or David Healy, or any flash of brilliance from Eddie Lewis, and Shaun Derry had little influence on the midfield, all of which had been deciding factors in previous games. Matthew Kilgallon and Paul Butler were strong and resolute in defence and Neil Sullivan was as reliable as ever, but better opposition would have punished Leeds for their worst home performance of the season to date. D’Urso managed to find thirty-three fouls and book five players and totally ruined the game as a spectacle.

There was a welcome break from the League competition and United took a trip across to France to play Amateur team Rodez, where a Danny Pugh goal was enough to ensure victory. It gave Blackwell a chance to give his fringe players a game leaving the same eleven intact for the full game. It was Ian Bennett; Frazer Richardson, Rui Marques, Sean Gregan, Stephen Crainey; Nick Gray, Gylfi Einarsson, Simon Walton, Liam Miller, Danny Pugh; Robbie Blake.

For the trip to St Mary’s, home of Southampton, the regulars were all back, with Robbie Blake getting the nod over David Healy in the starting eleven and the Irish International took his place on the bench, alongside Jonathan Douglas and Ian Bennett with Danny Pugh and Simon Walton, who were preferred to Sean Gregan and Ian Moore.

This was in many ways a watershed for United, as it showed them at their best and worse, but more than anything it showed that all things are possible, not matter what the odds. It was a comeback of unimaginable proportions, the like of which is seldom seen. United scored four goals in the space of fifteen minutes and no-one watching the game in the seventieth minute would have dreamed that Southampton, already three goals to the good, would do anything but increase their lead, such was their dominance and Leeds’ ineptitude.

Southampton had never looked in any kind of trouble and their midfield had so dominated the game that they seemed capable of scoring at will against a team that showed little skill or fight. Marian Pahars, who had returned to first team duties after a long lay off, gave the Saints the lead after twenty-seven minutes, with a goal straight from the training ground. Eight minutes later his fellow midfielder Nigel Quashie doubled the lead after Theo Walcott had tied Matthew Kilgallon in knots. The third followed on the stroke of half-time when Daniel Harding resorted to stopping a header with his hands and Quashie converted from the spot. Three up and in total dominance, Southampton must have been contemplating a cricket score in the second half. Fortunately, for United, Pahars was feeling the effects of his recent lack of match practice and he did not come out for the second half and Dennis Wise was also quickly withdrawn. Neil Sullivan kept Leeds in the game with two stunning saves as United still failed to cope.

After sixty-seven minutes David Healy was thrown into the fray in place of Frazer Richardson. To that point Leeds’ display had been as bad as Southampton had been good, but with Healy pushed up front, Liam Miller started to come more into the game as Healy showed more invention, something that had been sadly lacking in United’s game to that point. Suddenly docile players found energy and fight, and slowly the tide turned as Healy and Blake found holes in the Southampton rearguard. Four minutes after Healy’s arrival, skipper Paul Butler headed home a Gary Kelly corner and with almost twenty minutes left it seemed little more than a consolation goal. Even when the hard working Robbie Blake scored a second six minutes later, there seemed little immediate trouble. However it must have sent shockwaves through the Saints defence, who became visibly drained of confidence as United started to exert pressure. Higginbotham particularly looked decidedly uncomfortable and it was he that handled a David Healy shot. The confident Ulsterman made no mistake from the spot to level with still six minutes left. United were not happy to accept a draw and close up shop, they just kept on attacking! Rod Hulse got in the act after a quiet day as he unselfishly pulled the ball back for the charging Liam Miller, who took it in his stride, to lash it past the keeper for United to take an unbelievable lead and steal the points with four minutes to go.

It was a vital win which kept United well in touch with the leaders rather than sinking as low as tenth, which is what was on the cards with twenty minutes left. David Healy was a total revelation, Paul Butler was strong throughout, Liam Miller raised his game with a storming finale and Neil Sullivan kept United from capitulation with a couple of brilliant saves when needed. Robbie Blake worked tirelessly and Shaun Derry got stronger as the game progressed. After being totally outplayed for almost seventy minutes, there was a purple patch for the final twenty minutes! A brilliant comeback and congratulations were in order on a fabulous result, but despite everything it would have been unwise to disregard their truly awful display for the majority of the game. It did give hope for what could be achieved when the team play to their strengths and give their all. It gave hope for the rest of the season as it was against a team who had such a strong home record.

Burnley were the next visitors to Elland Road, and, not surprisingly, David Healy remained in the run-on team at the expense of Frazer Richardson, who dropped to the bench, where Sean Gregan took the place of Simon Walton. Robbie Blake had his best game to date and fully deserved his goal to cap an impressive display. Paul Butler and Matthew Kilgallon were sound at the heart of the United defence, while Dan Harding was exposed at times against a lively young winger, while Gary Kelly’s game improved after half-time and Neil Sullivan had little to do. Shaun Derry and David Healy worked hard in midfield, where Liam Miller and Eddie Lewis were below par and Rob Hulse had a frustrating evening up front. While not a convincing display, United were easily the better team and cemented a top six place and edge past their opponents.

It was good to see back to back wins against a team that had won their last four, as after being unable to gain the ascendancy in the first half, they stepped up a gear and had enough quality to overcome a worthy opponent. Matthew Kilgallon rattled the underside of the bar with an excellent header as early as the fourth minute, but United failed to create another chance in the first half hour, while at the other end Neil Sullivan made a good block from O’Connor and Sinclair headed over, Dyer had a shot deflected wide and McGreal headed wide, as Burnley looked a better team than the one United had beaten at Turf Moor a few weeks previously. They looked like a team who had won seven of their last nine games and if they had prevailed they would have jumped to fourth place.

United always seemed to have something spare and United sent them a warning in the shape of a Derry-Lewis move which ended in Eddie Lewis hitting the side-netting, but with David Healy moving up from right midfield to make a three pronged attack with Robbie Blake and Rob Hulse. Three minutes into the second half Rob Hulse had a goal disallowed for offside. Liam Miller soon went close as he played a quick one-two with Robbie Blake but his shot was blocked. It fell to David Healy to give United the lead from the spot after fifty-five minutes, as he kept his nerve to slot home his third penalty of the season. Burnley had a reply disallowed for taking a free-kick too quickly, but Robbie Blake did not make the same mistake when presented with a free-kick on the edge of the Burnley box, after seventy minutes. Burnley resorted to niggles and fouls and the usual yellow cards followed as United sent on Frazer Richardson for David Healy with ten minutes left, while Jonathan Douglas and Danny Pugh played the last minute in place of Paul Butler and Gary Kelly, but by then the game was beyond the men from Turf Moor.

Paul Butler missed the away trip to the Den and Sean Gregan deputised, with Gary Kelly taking the captain’s armband. Simon Walton took Sean Gregan’s place on the bench where Ian Moore replaced Danny Pugh. United completed the double over Millwall and made it three games on the trot with maximum points. It came in the form of a last minute strike from David Healy and United triumphed over a relegation candidate after previously dropping points to cellar dwellers too often for comfort in the season to date. The win meant that United had gained an incredible seven points, on one-time runaway leaders Sheffield United, in the last three games played in the space of a week. However, they still trailed the now second-placed club by ten points, but were well entrenched in the play-off places.

They dominated the match from start to finish and it wasn’t until the eighty-second minute that Neil Sullivan was called upon to make a save. Gary Kelly led by example and was United’s stand out performer, closely followed by David Healy, Rob Hulse, Robbie Blake and Eddie Lewis. Indeed all players played well and, after Shaun Derry succumbed to an injury, Jonathan Douglas performed well for all but the first thirty-seven minutes. Manager Blackwell opted for a 4-3-3 formation and it gave Gary Kelly the chance to get up and down the right wing and his crosses were a constant cause for panic in the Millwall rearguard. With Eddie Lewis in fine form on the left, there was a plentiful supply to the forwards with David Healy meriting his winner and his co-strikers Robbie Blake and Rob Hulse were unlucky not to figure on the score-sheet. The defence was totally unruffled and the midfield of Jonathan Douglas, Liam Miller and Eddie Lewis was in complete control.

Only the woodwork and some fine saves by the Millwall keeper kept Leeds from being out of sight by half time, as Eddie Lewis and David Healy both hit the post and the keeper denied both David Healy and Jonathan Douglas with first class saves. United kept pounding away at the Millwall defence in the second half and the keeper again denied Douglas, David Healy’s goal-bound shot hit the grounded Hulse, while the unfortunate Hulse only produced an air-swing when given a chance, all be it from a tight angle. It seemed as if United had been repulsed, but in the third minute of injury time David Healy’s powerful shot was deflected past the wrong footed keeper to give United a deserved winner. So for the first time in three years United had won three on the trot and the traveling faithful were rewarded with yet another away win.

The win was not without its costs as Shaun Derry, Jonathan Douglas and Sean Gregan were all unavailable for United’s home encounter with Leicester City. Captain Paul Butler returned in place of Sean Gregan, Simon Walton had his first run of the season in place of Shuan Derry, while Danny Pugh and Stephen Crainey took the place of Jonathan Douglas and Simon Walton on the bench. United triumphed 2-1 and moved into third place, their highest position since relegation with their fourth consecutive win. On the pitch United looked a far better side than a month previous while off the pitch there was news from Chairman Ken Bates of more financial stability.

Manager Kevin Blackwell again opted for a 4-3-3 formation and United carried on where they had left off against Millwall and played good attacking football. With Robbie Blake, Rob Hulse and David Healy playing up front United looked capable of scoring goals as they created more and more chances with the attacking formula. Gary Kelly had a licence to get up and down the right flank and the midfield men were encouraged to press forward and have a go themselves, while defensively the three front-runners were the first line of defence as they closed down and chased. The more attacking and adventurous formation produced a better type of football and entertainment for the watchers. The game was helped as a spectacle by the willingness of Leicester to attack and make the game free-flowing rather than adopt the regulation nine-man defence often preferred by visitors to Elland Road.

Neil Sullivan was forced to make two early saves and this set the tempo of the game, but United soon settled and looked dangerous themselves, as Eddie Lewis skimmed the crossbar after good approach play and Rob Hulse headed just over. Hulse had the ball in the net after fifteen minutes but his celebrations were cut short by the offside flag. It was hammer and tongs for the first half until United finally broke the deadlock four minutes before half-time. It was a routine straight from the training ground, with a rehearsed move from a free-kick in which Eddie Lewis played a back-heel for David Healy to pick his spot. It was only justice as United had been denied a penalty, after a handball had been missed by the referee, for the first of many mistakes he made to change the course of the match.

In the second half Rob Hulse headed against the crossbar before Leicester started to get the upper hand in the possession stakes, but United never looked in serious trouble. In defence Paul Butler and Matthew Kilgallon were commanding and in midfield Simon Walton broke up the play very well and United never looked like conceding a goal, until the referee gave a penalty to Leicester after the clumsy Rob Hulse had brought down Gudjonnson. It was a foul but contact was clearly made outside the box. It mattered little as Gudjonnsen equalized from the spot after sixty-nine minutes. He made amends a few minutes later, when he gave Matthew Kilgallon the benefit of the doubt, as he appeared to be in an offside position, when he netted after Robbie Blake fashioned an opening for him. Leicester defender, McCarthy, was so incensed by the decision that his protests earned him a red card. It was a rare piece of luck but Leicester pressed for the equalizer and, after sending on Frazer Richardson for Simon Walton after eighty-four minutes and Ian Moore and Danny Pugh for David Healy and Robbie Blake after eighty-nine minutes, the referee indicated there would be six minutes of stoppage time. Fortunately they hung on and put more pressure on Sheffield United as they extended their winning sequence to five games.

Sean Gregan was back in place of Simon Walton for the visit of Cardiff City and Walton dropped to the bench, where he and Jonathan Douglas replaced Frazer Richardson and Stephen Cairney. Hopes had been high after the good recent form and points accumulation that Cardiff would prove to be an easy win, as on paper it was less of a challenge than recent games. It came as a great surprise when United turned on their worst display in a long time and the players seemed like strangers to each other. It had seemed that they had, after the Southampton come-back, at last found the level of consistency required to mount a serious promotion challenge. It all went wrong right from the first whistle as it soon became apparent that they lacked any spark, the tempo was slow and they never managed to raise it. The midfield was totally ineffective and their poor form meant there was only ever going to be one outcome. It was a rare occasion when all eleven players were off-form at the same time. Paul Butler and Matthew Kilgallon were the only two who could hold their heads high. Gary Kelly managed a couple of good crosses, while Rob Hulse twice got himself into positions where he should have threatened the goal.As a team, Manager Kevin Blackwell’s summation of “Rubbish” was not far from the truth and he also claimed it was their worst performance of the season, although some could argue the Crewe performance was equally as dire.

Cardiff opted for the packed midfield to stifle United and like it often does at Elland Road there was no answer as the 4-3-3, so effective in recent weeks, could not give the width required to cause Cardiff any problems, even though their wing backs seemed slow and cumbersome they were never put to the test. Jason Koumas was the best player on the park and it was he who scored the deciding goal after being upended on the edge of the box by Sean Gregan. He arose to dust himself down and beautifully curl the ball round the wall to give Neil Sullivan no chance, on the half hour mark. It was a goal worthy of winning any match. United rarely looked like scoring, although Robbie Blake was wrestled to the ground early in the second half and Eddie Lewis went close with a header in the dying minutes. Kevin Blackwell rang the changes as Danny Pugh replaced Dan Harding after fifty-six minutes, while Jonathan Douglas replaced the ineffective Sean Gregan after sixty-nine minutes, and Ian Moore came on for Robbie Blake seven minutes later, but none were able to spark any life into a totally drab and uninspiring performance by the home team, who missed a great chance to improve their position as others faltered.

Simon Walton and Richard Cresswell were called up to replace the absent Gary Kelly and Rob Hulse, while Shaun Derry returned from injury to replace Sean Gregan, who dropped to the bench, in midfield as United travelled to Molineux for the game with Wolverhampton Wanderers. United suffered their second consecutive 1-0 defeat against a team that seemed to be there for the taking. United just could not muster any chances of note and their once comfortable position in the play-off zone came under threat, with fifth place Stoke City, United’s next opponents, only two points adrift and Wolves jumped to sixth spot with their first win in five games.

It was quite apparent that, while United were well organized and defensively sound, there was still a glaring lack of quality and creativity in the opponent’s one third of the field. The work-rate was also acceptable, and David Healy in particular grafted well and offered a glimmer of hope. However, to win games there must be an ability to open up the opposition and Leeds managed it only once in the whole game and as an attacking threat were a non-event. Richard Cresswell returned after a long lay-off and looked unfit and tired quickly, while Shaun Derry, who also was returning after injury looked very rusty in midfield. Paul Butler was commanding against his old club in central defence and was ably abetted by Matthew Kilgallon, while up front David Healy gave his all. Sullivan had to be on top form in goal and made a fine save to push the ball onto the woodwork and away to safety.

Early in the game Matthew Kilgallon did well to get in a header from an Eddie Lewis cross, but it was saved by the Wolves keeper, who also thwarted David Healy’s follow up. Later Liam Miller played in the impressive David Healy but Matthew Kilgallon failed to get a touch on his tantalizing cross. That was all United had to offer and Wolves’ response was immediate as they rattled the bar from distance and forced Neil Sullivan to a fine save from the follow up, then three minutes later they got the goal that won the game. Naylor, who had been a worry with his runs down the left flank, sent across another probing cross and Soel totally miscued his far post finish but unfortunately for United it fell kindly for Ganea to score from close range. United introduced Ian Moore for the tiring Richard Cresswell after sixty-eight minutes and Dan Harding made way for Jonathan Douglas with five minutes to go, but to no avail. There was plenty of huffing and puffing by United but their cause was not helped by Simon Walton being dismissed for a second yellow with seven minutes to go and Liam Miller’s yellow a few minutes later was his fifth and meant he missed the game at home to Coventry City.

There was plenty of Christmas cheer for United’s Boxing Day home game with Coventry City, as they ran out easy 3-1 victors. Gary Kelly made a welcome return at the expense of Simon Walton at right back, with Jonathan Douglas replacing the suspended Liam Miller. Rob Hulse, Frazer Richardson and Jermaine Wright took their place on the bench in place of Ian Moore, Jonathan Douglas and Sean Gregan. The best crowd of the season, 24,291, was on hand to see United get back into winning form. After two consecutive defeats United were under pressure to perform. season by any stretch of the imagination, they did improve their game and their quality overcame a team that played well above their lowly League position. It was a question that United scored three quality goals as opposed to Coventry’s one, but the fact that the visitors hit the woodwork five times indicated that United did not have it all their own way.

United played the better football but Coventry were direct and posed a threat from dead-ball situations. The long ball down the middle was tailor-made for Paul Butler and his dominance was the foundation of United’s win. However Jonathan Douglas, Matthew Kilgallon, Gary Kelly and Dan Harding all made decisive challenges. Despite a viral infection, Shaun Derry shone in midfield until he was given the job of man-marking Hutchinson late in the game. While upfront David Healy and Robbie Blake, both playing in the wide roles, put in long stints while Richard Cresswell took his goal well. After thirty-four minutes Cresswell caused consternation in the Coventry defence, as David Healy sent over a looping cross, and the ball fell kindly for Jonathan Douglas to gleefully volley home from close range. Coventry responded by pressing forward and United were not allowed to go into their shell and sit back on their lead. McSheffrey forced Neil Sullivan to push the ball round the post. Eddie Lewis was back to thwart a Coventry shot after they had hit the inside of the post and then they clipped the woodwork again from a set piece.

Half-time brought no respite for United as Coventry again pressed forward from the second half whistle and after going close on several occasions the equalizer, which had always seemed immanent, duly came on the hour mark as Hutchinson unleashed a venomous strike from twenty-five yards out which left Sullivan grasping at thin air. The goal stung United out of their lethargy and they were back on level terms after only ninety seconds, as David Healy delivered a pinpoint cross for his comrade in arms, Robbie Blake, to lash the ball home. United finally put the game beyond the visitors as with ten minutes to go Robbie Blake again figured prominently, breaking from the halfway line and feeding the onrushing Richard Cresswell, who scored with aplomb with a fantastic angled shot. With victory seeming assured United threw on Rob Hulse for Robbie Blake, but were given a scare as Paul Butler tangled with McSheffrey in the box and from the resultant penalty the Coventry striker added to Coventry’s woe by hitting the bar. With the miss went any chance they may have had of salvaging a point. Frazer Richardson replaced David Healy on the full-time mark as United shored up their three points.

Manager Kevin Blackwell kept faith with the same eleven for the visit to the Britannia Ground, home of Stoke City, with Liam Miller getting the nod over Jermaine Wright on the bench. United could thank their solid defence, in which Matthew Kilgallon, Paul Butler, Gary Kelly and the penalty-saving king, Neil Sullivan, excelled. Despite Stoke being the more dominant team, United maintained their 100% record at the Britannia Ground a far cry from their poor record at Stoke’s former home venue of the Victoria Ground. They took the best of their few chances, while Stoke’s attack foundered on the rock that was the United defence. After winning there the previous season with a lucky own goal, United again rode their luck as, apart from missing a penalty, the former Leeds misfit Michael Duberry answered everyone’s prayers in the dying moments when it was he that was presented with an open goal, but managed, as only he could, to hit the crossbar with a chance that would have been a schoolboy’s dream.

Stoke had all the early pressure and dominated for long periods in the first half and United were glad to go to the break on level terms. Referee Halsey had been very heavy on both sides as the game was punctuated by fouls and needless stoppages and United would have been glad when he didn’t reappear after the break as a result of an accidental collision with Robbie Blake. United had suffered from lack of width as they played 4-3-3 and David Healy played just behind the front two of Robbie Blake and Richard Cresswell, in a tactical change in the secondhalf. Eddie Lewis was restricted in his movements and Stoke were able to pour forward down the flanks but Dan Harding put up a good defence, albeit being given little protection, and United had their only period of ascendancy.

In the first half Jonathan Douglas twice shot wide, Paul Butler had a volley stopped and Richard Cresswell had a point-blank header deflected but, after Gallagher had twice shot wide early in the second stanza, United took command for a while. Richard Cresswell was thwarted by the keeper after being supplied with a good cross from Dan Harding and again it was Cresswell who could not find space to maneuver after good play by Robbie Blake. David Healy made way for Liam Miller after sixty-six minutes, which saw Eddie Lewis given a more advanced role as an orthodox winger and it paid almost immediate dividends. Jonathan Douglas delivered a cross from the right and Eddie Lewis got behind the Stoke defence to sweep the ball home for his third of the season with twenty-one minutes to go.

United then proved that they are capable of grinding out away results, but not without a bit of good fortune, as Stoke threw everything but the kitchen sink at them in one prolonged final assault and Sullivan pulled off a fine save from Bangoura before pushing a Sigurdsson shot round the post. Stoke really should have won the game in the last few minutes but for Duberry’s amazing miss. They also were presented with a penalty in the first half when their man mountain defender Sibide allowed pint sized Gary Kelly to “push” him over the box in a scramble after Neil Sullivan had spilled a routine shot. Justice was done when Sullivan saved the resultant penalty from Gallagher. United nevertheless got full points which saw them back in third place with a seven point cushion in the playoff places.

Liam Miller was preferred to David Healy, who dropped to the bench, and Stephen Crainey came in for Dan Harding for the final game of 2005 as United entertained Hull City. Jonathan Douglas netted both goals as United won in a canter and the score flattered Hull in what was one of United’s easiest wins of the season. Hull started in a flurry but after thirty minutes United started to totally dominate and in truth it could have been a cricket score. Matthew Kilgallon was a stand out in a dominant defence although Stephen Crainey looked understandably rusty after his long absence, but it was in the midfield that the foundation for the easy victory was made, with Shaun Derry, Jonathan Douglas and Liam Miller in exceptional form, while Robbie Blake was again in top form up front in tandem with Richard Cresswell and Eddie Lewis.

With Rob Hulse and David Healy restricted to the bench it was obvious that United had the depth and quality to make a determined push for promotion, as they extended their run to seven wins out of the last nine matches. Liam Miller had his best match since joining the club on loan, and with Shaun Derry showing his class and Jonathan Douglas in full flight and rewarded by two goals, it was not surprising that Eddie Lewis used to the freedom to skip down the touchline and send across a string of tantalizing crosses. Robbie Blake missed two chances but showed great touches in an outstanding performance, while in defence Neil Sullivan earned his wages with two fine saves and Gary Kelly and Paul Butler kept up their recent good form.

Jonathan Douglas’ first strike came in injury time in the first half and sent the visitors in with heads bowed and United had the ascendancy. They should have been ahead after 29 minutes when Richard Cresswell dispossessed a Hull defender to set Robbie Blake up with a clear run on goal, but the Hull keeper spread himself and Blake was denied a golden opportunity. Moments later Blake was again played in by a Gary Kelly cross but was unable to apply a finishing touch. In reply Hull hit the crossbar and after Paynter had firstly been stopped by Matthew Kilgallon he was also thwarted by a fine save from Sullivan but that was the end of the threat from Hull. A good ball out of defence by Matthew Kilgallon found Robbie Blake and he showed great skills to feed Jonathan Douglas, who made no mistake to register his second goal in three games. In the second half United were denied what appeared to be a blatant penalty, as a Hull defender clearly handled and it was highlighted by the big screen replay. They were not relieved for long as Richard Cresswell got in a header which was blocked and his follow up shot hit the bar but Jonathan Douglas was quickest to react and scored from close range to increase the lead in the fifty-sixth minute.

From there on it was United playing keep ball and denying Hull any possession without exerting themselves. Richard Cresswell almost added a third as he had the ball in the net with a looping effort, but Robbie Blake was adjudged to have been offside. Rob Hulse and David Healy replaced Richard Cresswell and Robbie Blake with just over ten minutes left and there was time for Healy to chip over with the Hull keeper in no-man’s land. Two minutes later Danny Pugh was given a run for the tiring Stephen Crainey. It was a merited 2-0 victory to make it three from three in the Christmas period with the prospect of more from the visit to Plymouth Argyle quickly following.

Unsurprisingly United were unchanged for the visit to Plymouth Argyle at Home Park. They kicked off the New Year with their fourth consecutive win and made it eight from the last ten as they appeared to have found the consistency required to mount a serious assault in the promotion stakes.

Plymouth started the game confidently befitting a team that had been undefeated in their last four games, but after weathering early pressure United took control. Eddie Lewis was the architect of victory and was well supported by top displays from Robbie Blake, Richard Cresswell and Liam Miller but in truth this was a fine team win with no apparent weak links. While Leeds took time to settle and Plymouth attempted to move the ball quickly and had similar opportunities, they never really troubled United. Matthew Kilgallon made a couple of timely clearances, but keeper Neil Sullivan had little to do. Leeds could have had their noses in front before half-time with Eddie Lewis running the show down the left and Richard Cresswell and Robbie Blake showing some deft touches and Blake was unlucky not to give them the lead just on half-time when his powerful shot was deflected narrowly wide.

The 1,161 travelling faithful roared them on and the break came with the distinct possibility of a seventh away victory of the season. Indeed it only took seven minutes after the break for Richard Cresswell to score his first away goal for Leeds. Liam Miller’s low shot was pushed onto the post and scrambled away for a corner. Gary Kelly’s corner was not properly cleared. Eddie Lewis gained possession on the edge of the area and his shot was deflected in by the predatory Cresswell. Eight minutes later it was 2-0 and game over, as Robbie Blake was rewarded for his hard work as again Eddie Lewis sped down the left flank to send a tremendous cross for Blake to lash it home at the far post. It could easily have been more as both Cresswell and Blake forced the Argyle keeper to fine saves while Lewis had an effort blocked by a defender. United still hadn’t finished and threw on Rob Hulse for Robbie Blake with eight minutes to go, and after Liam Miller had been brought down in the box, it was Hulse who grabbed the ball first and easily scored his first goal since October. United had emerged as the only team likely to challenge Sheffield United, whose lead had now been trimmed to a manageable eight points, for the automatic second place promotion place.

Rob Hulse was preferred to Richard Cresswell, who dropped to the bench where Simon Walton replaced Frazer Richardson for the visit to Wigan Athletic’s JJB Stadium for their Third Round FA Cup clash. There was a large contingent of the travelling faithful, 3,700, who packed one end of the ground and gave a huge vocal backing to their favourites, who were riding the crest of the wave and were now able to measure their progress against an EPL team, who had won the CCCL at a canter the previous year and were now well positioned in the upper echelons of the Top Division. An eighty-eighth minute equalizer gave United a well deserved draw and matched their opponents in most departments.

The first half was fairly uneventful but Wigan took a surprise early second half lead through David Connelly. United took the match to Wigan and ultimately it was Rob Hulse who stabbed the ball home just before the final whistle after United had what seemed a good shout for a penalty for handball turned down. It was the kind of game that either side could have won. Each could have claimed to be the better team and both had plenty of chances to do so. For Leeds Paul Butler and Matthew Kilgallon were resolute in defence while Gary Kelly raided well on the right flank and Stephen Crainey had his best game to date at left-back. Shaun Derry shone in front of the back four, which gave Liam Miller and Jonathan Douglas the chance to get forward and support the hard working Robbie Blake and Eddie Lewis, while Rob Hulse led the line well in a hard physical battle with the Wigan defence.

Jonathan Douglas went close early on and was twice thwarted by the Wigan keeper, but for the home team McCulloch wasted a good headed chance and also spooned a good chance straight into Neil Sullivan’s hands, while Robbie Blake had a good shot blocked early in the second half. Then Connolly passed the ball into the net after good work from McCulloch to give Wigan the lead. Liam Miller only just failed to chip the keeper and Robbie Blake almost played in the onrushing Jonathan Douglas. United went gung-ho putting on David Healy for Robbie Blake after sixty-eight minutes and Richard Cresswell for Jonathan Douglas eleven minutes later. With ten minutes to go Wigan should have sealed it but Connolly wasted two easy chances in a minute and they were left to rue it as Leeds finished the stronger of the two teams as they pressed for the equalizer and Rob Hulse scored with a typical finish to take the tie to a replay at Elland Road.

Richard Cresswell for Rob Hulse, who dropped to the bench, was the only United change as they visited cellar-dwellers Brighton & Hove Albion at their miniscule Withdean Stadium. For the second season since relegation United tasted surprising defeat on the south coast and the record shows they have failed to beat the perennial relegation candidates in four attempts since leaving the EPL. United had never looked like winning and the 2-1 defeat brought to an end their proud recent record. The fact that there was little difference between the playing surface and the local beach could not be offered as an excuse.

Carole and Hart, the two Brighton front men, caused the United defence all kind of problems and it seemed all at sea in the first half an hour, when the midfield was over-run and allowed Brighton to attack at will. Brighton’s back four were simply not tested enough but looked suspect. United played the neater football but failed miserably in the final third, where Richard Cresswell ploughed a lone furrow as the midfield failed to give good service, and even when Rob Hulse was brought on for Liam Miller after sixty-nine minutes, there was no noticeable improvement. Initially Leeds took the offensive with the wingers making good progress and it was almost ten minutes before Brighton had possession and Paul Butler had already failed with a header.

Brighton soon took control and Hart was unlucky when he saw his deflected shot loop over the stranded Sullivan but inches over the bar. Soon after, they could have been 3-0 up, with a little luck. Hammond headed against a post, neat play saw Reid ghost in behind the Leeds defence to shot home untracked on the ten minute mark and that was quickly followed by Hammond not accepting a very easy chance, as he shot wide from close range. The Leeds defence was looking very brittle with Paul Butler and Matthew Kilgallon very shaky, uncertain and unsettled. However United took to the attack and dominated the closing stages of the half. Robbie Blake had the Brighton keeper at full stretch to keep out his shot, while Richard Cresswell headed over and then had a shot deflected over the bar. They were given a lifeline when referee gave them a debated and generous penalty, when he adjudged Lewis to have been fouled by Reid in the box. Robbie Blake duly stepped up and converted via the inside of the post. This was much to the annoyance of the home team and its supporters who contested the decision vociferously.

Brighton defended like demons and broke quickly in attack, but it seemed that there was going to be a 1-1 stalemate and United were made to pay for their lack of attacking ideas and ability, as Brighton took the lead with ten minutes to go. Reid, who seemed well off-side, got behind Eddie Lewis and, with the Leeds defence static and in unison with an unsuccessful appeal, Hart strode on to the resultant cross to smash it past the helpless Neil Sullivan. The introduction of David Healy for Robbie Blake and Danny Pugh for Eddie Lewis two minutes either side of the Brighton winner made no difference. Richard Cresswell and Rob Hulse both headed over in the final minutes but the result seemed inevitable and Leeds had lost the impetus in their chase of second place Sheffield United. They will pray that Brighton can soon find an alternative venue to replace the nightmare that is Withdean, but it seems that the aberration is not confined to Brighton as United have been beaten three times in five visits to relegation candidates this season.

United were without Shaun Derry for the FA Cup Third Round Replay with Wigan Athletic at Elland Road and Simon Walton deputized. David Healy and Rob Hulse were preferred to Robbie Blake and Richard Cresswell up front, with Gylfi Einarsson filling the vacancy on the bench. It was a classic FA Cup Tie and it was a pity that there had to be a loser as the teams traded goals with gay abandon with Leeds three times regaining parity in the playing time of the match. The crowd was on their seats for the whole game and there were none taking an early mark such was the suspense and intensity of the game. It was 2-2 at full-time, 3-3 at the end of extra time and it was finally settled on penalties, 4-2 in the visitors. Leeds, and indeed Wigan, could hold their heads high and well deserved the standing ovation that both teams received at the final whistle and no doubt the viewers were equally enthralled by the televised thriller, which had everything that an FA Cup tie could produce.

Matthew Kilgallon was magnificent at the heart of the defence, while Rob Hulse was equally outstanding upfront with David Healy, who provided the goals. Liam Miller also emerged with credit, getting forward often and always in the thick of the midfield battle. Wigan took the lead after twenty-three minutes when, after a quick attack, Johanesson took advantage of a fine display of Jason Roberts’ skill, which resulted in the ball coming back right into his path, after it had rebounded off a post. The Leeds three-man midfield was increasingly finding it difficult to cope with the darting quick movements of their Wigan counterparts, so it came as quite a surprise and a tribute to their resilience when they levelled five minutes before the interval as Rob Hulse headed the ball over the line but it was somehow it was scrambled clear even though the TV replay showed it was probably over the line, but David Healy made sure it counted as he forced it home from close range.

Wigan were back in front again early in the second half as Jason Roberts again showed his skills, this time on the edge of the box, before lashing a thunderbolt past the groping Neil Sullivan. Right on cue United roared straight back and, after Leeds-born defender Matt Jackson had handled in the box, David Healy stepped up to convert the penalty for his and Leeds’ second. With a couple of minutes to go United sent on Gylfi Einarsson for Liam Miller, quickly followed by Richard Cresswell for Eddie Lewis but before he left, Liam Miller hit the underside of the bar with a sizzling volley, while at the other end Sullivan made two fine saves to keep the scores level before Wigan again took the lead thirteen minutes into extra time, and again it was Jason Roberts who was involved. The tiring Simon Walton gave away a free-kick which Kavanagh took quickly and caught the Leeds markers napping to pick out Roberts who rose to head his second and Wigan’s third goal of the night.

15,000 Leeds supporters urged United on with the chant of “Attack, Attack, Attack” and attack they did, and with five minutes left they again equalized from a most unlikely source. Gary Kelly had not scored since netting in a Cup–tie at Crystal Palace way back in 2003, but after the Wigan defence failed to clear properly and from the edge of the box he delivered a superbvolley to give the keeper no chance. It was only Kelly’s fourth goal ever for Leeds and it sent the game to penalties. The usually reliable David Healy inexplicably sent the first penalty over the bar, but Richard Cresswell and Robbie Blake made sure of theirs before Rob Hulse smashed the fourth over the bar too and with Wigan’s Bullard, Teale and Roberts all converting, it was left to Kavanagh to put it beyond United’s grasp as he made it an unassailable 4-2. There was no disgrace in losing this Cup-tie by such a slender margin and it now left United with just the League to concentrate on.

Sean Gregan was recalled to the heart of the United defence with Matthew Kilgallon not even making the bench, while Shaun Derry returned at the expense of Simon Walton, who dropped to the bench, while up front Robbie Blake and Richard Cresswell were rotated with David Healy and Rob Hulse, who was rested for the visit of neighbours Sheffield Wednesday to Elland Road. Eventually United won easily but with no goals until the sixty-ninth minute, the final result came as something of a surprise. However after dominating in terms of possession United were well worth the victory in the dour derby.

Sheffield Wednesday came into the game on the back of three consecutive victories but had clearly come with the intent of getting a 0-0 draw with the possibility of stealing a 1-0 win, if they got lucky. They did achieve their objective for two-thirds of the game as their defence held firm against almost constant Leeds pressure. Wednesday’s negative approach made for poor entertainment but as soon as Paul Butler opened the floodgates they had little option but to chase the game and United capitalized on the space created. Strangely, Wednesday claimed that they had scored moments before Butler’s strike, when the solid defender was on hand at the other end to scramble a header clear with the visitors claiming the ball had crossed the line. It was Wednesday’s only chance. Stephen Crainey and Sean Gregan both had good games in defence and the United midfield dominated for the whole game with Richard Cresswell and Eddie Lewis particularly outstanding up front. In a disappointing opening spell United created several chances, with Sean Gregan having a shot blocked; Jonathan Douglas a header saved by the keeper and Eddie Lewis had an effort blocked after some intricate approach play. Before the half-time break Jonathan Douglas had sliced wide and Sean Gregan shot over.

Just past the hour mark David Healy came on for Robbie Blake and was soon in the heart of the action. Jonathan Douglas did well to hook the ball back after a Paul Butler header drifted wide and the captain made no mistake with his header which easily beat the keeper. A second goal was not long coming as Richard Cresswell headed home a Gary Kelly corner on eighty-one minutes. Two minutes later Simon Walton came on for Liam Miller and was instrumental in United’s third. He picked up a beautifully flighted ball down the left wing from Stephen Crainey and his cross was lashed into the net by the enthusiastic Richard Cresswell, in stoppage time. The win maintained United’s ten point advantage on their play-off spot but plunged Wednesday just two points off the relegation zone.

Rob Hulse was back in place of Robbie Blake, who dropped to the bench at the expense of Gylfi Einarssen as United visited their early season conquerors Ipswich Town at Portman Road. David Healy’s individual brilliance had turned games United’s way at Burnley, Reading and Southampton and made Ipswich the fourth as he came off the bench to score from the spot to gain United a share of the points. It was a decision hotly contested by Ipswich who claimed it was a ball to hand situation, but as with Jackson in the recent clash with Wigan Athletic, there was clear indication of the defender raising his hands unnecessarily and the referee had no hesitation in awarding the penalty, two minutes from time. It had looked as if United were going to finish up 1-0 down after failing to capitalize on their sizeable amount of possession, so justice was done.

United had started brightly with Rob Hulse having a shot parried, Liam Miller a low drive saved, Shaun Derry screwed a shot wide and Rob Hulse had a fine header saved just on half time. Gary Kelly was eager to get forward and the defence, with Stephen Crainey looking more confident with every game, looked solid. Once again United paid the penalty for standing appealing for off-side as the Ipswich keeper punched clear a Rob Hulse header and the home team broke at pace with Haynes taking advantage of the static defence to easily beat Neil Sullivan. The same player should have doubled their lead minutes later when he turned Paul Butler inside out but his shot did not match his approach work and it hit the bar and bounced clear.

David Healy was introduced in place of Liam Miller just before the hour mark and Richard Cresswell was allowed to go back to his more familiar role of down the middle striker, as United changed formation to 4-4-2 with Healy and Lewis down the flanks and a twin strike-force of Cresswell and Hulse. It was the signal for United to go on all out attack for the last half hour. Supple, the Ipswich keeper, showed his class with another superb reaction save to again thwart the unlucky Rob Hulse, after he had been put through by a superb ball from Eddie Lewis. Jonathan Douglas then had a goal-bound shot deflected as the pressure from United mounted. A David Healy solo effort was stopped by an Ipswich defender throwing his body in the way. Then there was the penalty for United to level after fully two minutes protest from the Ipswich team. Understandably there was four minutes of stoppage time and Ipswich were quick to appeal for a hand ball as Sean Gregan hacked the ball clear, however, the final chance fell to Leeds but, after being played in by Rob Hulse, David Healy was stopped by an offside flag. With Palace losing to Preston and Cardiff also drawing with Millwall, the promotion situation remained same as United maintained their ten point advantage over the seventh placed Welshmen.

David Healy replaced Rob Hulse in the starting line up for the home encounter with Queens Park Rangers as the United supporters were hoping for a repeat of the previous season’s 6-1 thrashing. QPR had to field a patched up eleven due to injuries and five players were on debut, including goalkeeper Phil Barnes on temporary loan from Sheffield United. It was small wonder that the QPR Manager labelled his team “Queens Park Strangers” and it was Barnes’ indecision and lack of understanding with his co-defenders that gifted United their lead just before half-time as Richard Cresswell back-headed a Lewis free-kick. It was Lewis that shone for Leeds but it wasn’t until seven minutes from time that Paul Butler got his second goal in consecutive home matches to seal the victory. Eddie Lewis supplied the final pass for both goals and he in turn was freed by a wonderful pass from Stephen Crainey for the second.

From the very first minute it was Eddie Lewis that looked the most dangerous player on the pitch and Richard Cresswell and Paul Butler were able to feed off his quality deliveries. Prior to Cresswell’s strike the QPR defence were lucky to scramble a Lewis cross away for a corner with Cresswell waiting to convert. He also brought out the best in the QPR keeper, but he was not alone in keeping up a supply of quality crosses as Gary Kelly, who was in a rich vein of form, played his part from the right. Lewis caught Barnes in two minds for the first goal and the keeper came off his line too late as Cresswell read the situation perfectly to beat him to the well flighted ball to back-head over the stranded Barnes. QPR never really threatened and the game was as good as won.

Liam Miller made good use of the space offered and caused problems in the second half, with Jonathan Douglas looking equally at ease while Shaun Derry hardly had to break a sweat in the anchor role. Barnes redeemed himself in the second half with a good save from Liam Miller, but was left exposed again as Richard Cresswell wasted a free header from another Eddie Lewis cross. Robbie Blake came on for the hard working David Healy after seventy-two minutes followed six minutes later by Rob Hulse for Richard Cresswell. It was Rob Hulse who came within inches of adding to the lead after Barnes had denied Lewis with a save at full stretch and Cresswell had not been too far away. United made certain of the points after a fantastic ball down the left from Stephen Crainey found Eddie Lewis and his cross was headed home by the onrushing Paul Butler with seven minutes remaining. The win kept United in touch with Sheffield United, who they trailed by eleven points while it took them three points clear of fourth placed Watford.

It was Robbie Blake and Rob Hulse up front in place of David Healy and Richard Cresswell, who were both rested as a precaution, and Ian Moore and Gylfi Einarssen took their place on the bench for the visit to Pride Park home of Derby County. United missed a golden opportunity to further close the gap on Sheffield United as they threw away two points to their inferior low-placed opponents. Derby were fighting for their championship survival and defended as if their lives depended upon it and did it by fair means or foul. Kevin Blackwell bemoaned the referee spurning United’s appeal for at least two penalties. Rob Hulse and Robbie Blake both appeared to have been unfairly impeded in the first half, while substitute Ian Moore went down under pressure from a Derby defender late in the game, and even the defender thought he was lucky to get away with it. United should not have needed to bemoan decisions that were not given as they dominated the first twenty minutes and the Derby defence looked decidedly suspect, but Derby battled back using effort rather than skill to nullify the superior United.

The Derby defence always looked vulnerable and it was hard to understand why Rob Hulse was left to plough a lone furrow down the middle while Robbie Blake and Eddie Lewis hugged the touchlines. It remained that way for the entire match as Ian Moore replaced Robbie Blake with twenty minutes to go and merely duplicated what Blake had been doing previously. Eddie Lewis and Gary Kelly tried hard to provide Rob Hulse with service but there was simply no one around to pick up the scraps when he managed to get a vital touch. United were nowhere near their best, but have played worse and still won convincingly in the season to date. They should have been one up in the first ten minutes but Robbie Blake’s goal-bound effort was somehow deflected over the bar and later in the half Paul Butler forced the Derby keeper to a fine save, both chances were provided by the in-form Eddie Lewis.

United passed the ball around with ease but could not convert their approach play into goals and were lucky that on loan striker Danny Graham, from Middlesbrough, was unable to get power into his header and Sullivan saved with ease, but on fifty-four minutes. The same player was gifted the best chance of the match but failed to beat the keeper when he was clear through on goal. Leeds were equally inefficient as both Rob Hulse and Liam Miller wasted good chances. With Watford beating Sheffield United in the previous game, they had drawn level with United and had then easily won to take them two points clear, while Sheffield United had also dropped two points. The two points lost at Pride Park had cost United dearly. With a game in hand United would have been in a strong position if had they got full points.

For the vital home clash with fellow promotion chasers Watford, United’s run on eleven remained the same but Richard Cresswell and David Healy replaced Ian Moore and Danny Pugh on the bench. It was Robbie Blake who led the United charge with a well-taken second half brace, which sent Watford to their first defeat of the year, United back into third spot and reduced the deficit on Sheffield United to just nine points, as they split the points in their top of the table clash with Reading, and Leeds still had that game in hand! Blake took the man of the match award and United fully merited their victory even though they were assisted by two Watford players receiving their marching orders.

Watford had taken the lead five minutes before half time and their goalkeeper was the first to see the red card after he brought down Rob Hulse in the penalty box just on the hour mark. The second dismissal involved Darius Henderson, who started the all-in Elland Road brawl when he clashed with Michael Gray when playing for Gillingham in the previous season, inexplicably he elbowed Sean Gregan in the face right in front of the referee, just two minutes later. The referee had blown a cantata all night and did his best to ruin the flow of the game by his constant whistling for petty infringements. Even with nine men Watford worked hard and it was never easy for United who took a massive confidence boost for the promotion run-in. Originally employing the 4-3-3 formation, with Robbie Blake roving infield rather than operating solely down the right wing, United changed to 4-2-2 with Blake joining Rob Hulse in a twin striker role at the start of the second half. They took the game to Watford and in the opening twenty minutes of the second half their play was a joy to watch as they put the Watford rearguard under constant pressure as Jonathan Douglas and Eddie Lewis pushed down the wings in a four pronged attack.

Watford had scored four goals in each of their last three games and it was a credit to the Leeds defence that, apart from a stunning free-kick, they posed little threat to Neil Sullivan in goal. Robbie Blake went close in the first half when he forced the keeper to tip over his rasping shot. Watford employed route one tactics and the keeper was the usual launching pad and they took the lead with a terrific curling free-kick after Sean Gregan had fouled Marlon King on the edge of the box. United ended the first half peppering the Watford goal and continued their pressing as Robbie Blake had a goal disallowed for offside just two minutes into the new half. They carved up Watford time and time again and were denied a penalty as Rob Hulse was wrestled to the ground by two defenders but there were no doubts moments later as the keeper brought him down as he rounded him. Foster was sent off and Robbie Blake converted to make new keeper Chamberlain’s first action to pick the ball out of the net. Henderson joined Foster in the dressing room two minutes later and United carried on battering the nine-man Watford and chances came and went as the moments ticked by. United sent on David Healy and Richard Cresswell for Jonathan Douglas and Rob Hulse after seventy-four minutes and it was the substitutes who combined to provide the chance for Robbie Blake to hammer home with just nine minutes left. Elland Road erupted on the final whistle and again as the Sheffield United result was announced. After such an outstanding performance United were on the crest of a wave.

Eirik Bakke made a rare appearance in place of Shaun Derry, while Ian Moore replaced Richard Cresswell on the bench, as the rejuvenated United visited the Walker Stadium to take on Leicester City. Once again United gave away two points to an inferior team and, while the point further cemented their play-off position, it was hard to believe that it was the same team that had so convincingly stopped Watford’s long unbroken winning streak and the supporters had every reason to expect more.

United were poor from the off and were behind after only five minutes when Eirik Bakke conceded a free-kick on the edge of the box. Gudjonsson’s kick was deflected and there was Hulme to take advantage of some sloppy defending and marking to squeeze the ball justinside the post. As against Watford United were handed the numerical superiority as Leicester skipper, Patrick McCarthy, for the second time in the season received his marching orders when he pulled down Rob Hulse in the area and was adjudged to be the last man in the defence after only ten minutes. Robbie Blake stepped up and fired home the equalizer to bring United level. United pressed home their advantage and soon Robbie Blake was narrowly wide, Stephen Crainey tried his luck from distance, while Rob Hulse failed to take advantage of a great through ball from Eirik Bakke and fired weakly at the keeper.

United seemed strangely lethargic and the midfield struggled to get any control on the game and as a result the service to the forwards was poor. With Leicester still keeping two forwards in their attack it gave United the numbers in midfield to have taken control of the game but the wingers failed to exploit the situation. The introduction of David Healy for Eirik Bakke after fifty-six minutes did help but it took the injection of Ian Moore’s pace to liven things up when he replaced Robbie Blake after seventy-one minutes. He became United’s biggest threat in the last twenty minutes as they finally got on top, but it was too little too late and the game fizzled out to a dull draw and United’s dismal record at the Walker Stadium continued. United dropped to fourth place and were now eleven points behind Sheffield United, albeit with a game in hand.

David Healy kept his position at the expense of Eirik Bakke, who dropped to the bench where new signing Joel Griffith replaced Simon Walton, as Gary Kelly celebrated his five-hundredth Leeds appearance in the home game against Luton Town. United reverted to 4-4-2 after the miserable display at Leicester and two goals in five minutes in the second half ensured that he was able to celebrate his milestone with a victory, as Jonathan Douglas just shaded him for the man of the match award. His forty-ninth minute strike was coupled with a close range strike from Eddie Lewis soon after to keep alive United’s faint hope of automatic promotion, although the visitors did stage a late comeback to have United hanging on desperately in the end as they hung on to win 2-1 and extended their winning home run to six. The result took United to within eight points of second placed Sheffield United and with a game still in hand the race was once again opened.

United were lucky not to have a penalty awarded against them before Jonathan Douglas had opened the scoring as Sean Gregan clearly handled inside the Leeds box but the referee ruled it was ball to hand and United broke away to score at the other end. It was a pivotal moment but Luton could look back and regret not having capitalized on three good chances in a dour opening period when United had the best of the possession but yet Luton had created those chances. Coyne headed a free-kick over the bar from close range after ghosting in at the far post unmarked, Foley then headed over from within the six yard box and Brkovic made a hash of his chance when well placed. United’s best chance of the half came from David Healy’s cross but the keeper stopped in from reaching the waiting Rob Hulse. The Hatters must have been kicking themselves in the break for not making their chances count as after the break United stepped up a gear and twice scored early in the second half.

Jonathan Douglas, who started in midfield for the first time since the loss to Crewe in November, was involved in both attack and defence as he worked tirelessly and it was fitting that it was he who opened the scoring with a fine goal after good work by Robbie Blake and Rob Hulse. Eddie Lewis doubled the lead moments later when he slid in to convert an angled cross from Hulse. It looked all over, but Luton staged a grandstand finish in the last ten minutes of the match and penned United back in their own area. Vine had a shot deflected wide and Howard saw a free-kick stopped by the wall before Luton got their consolation as Howard out-jumped Douglas to score with six minutes left.

Things started to look ominous for United and Neil Sullivan came to United’s rescue with a reaction save to deny Howard with just two minutes left when it seemed Howard was sure to score. Luton defender Davis got his marching orders after his second yellow card with a minute or so left,to make it four sending offs in the last three games by United’s recent foes. Eirik Bakke had come on for David Healy after seventy minutes while Ian Moore had replaced Robbie Blake with two minutes to go but neither had much effect. The fixture ended with Gary Kelly charging down the middle of the park in a vain attempt to round his day off with a rare goal, but it was not to be.

Shaun Derry was back in place of David Healy, who dropped to the bench with Danny Pugh as they were preferred to Joel Griffiths and Gylfi Einarrson, for the visit to his old club Crystal Pace at Selhurst Park in a vital clash by two of the Championship’s promotion candidates. United fired a warning to all the potential candidates with their best performance of the season, in which they were magnificent from the first minute to the last as they cut Sheffield’s lead to just six points. On the form showed in this match United proved that they could be more than capable of producing a finish that would see them overhaul Sheffield United and take the second direct promotion spot. United had played well enough all season to be in the top six the whole season but the win at Crystal Palace was the best performance by a United side in Kevin Blackwell’s reign and for several seasons prior. This was an all round team performance in a game that just had to be won if they were to maintain their second spot aspirations.

The foundations for the success were laid in the best midfield performance of the season. Shaun Derry broke up play superbly in the anchorman role while Liam Miller and Jonathan Douglas were simply magnificent. Douglas was in everything all afternoon from testing the Palace keeper twice in the first five minutes to making last ditch goal-saving tackles in the last few minutes. Miller had his best game for the club and had a hand in both goals. He was also responsible for many of the United attacks with quick thinking, intelligent passing and the ability to break quickly were vital. The United trio totally outplayed their Palace counterparts and apart from the final minutes totally dominated. Gary Kelly and Stephen Crainey snuffed out any threats down the flanks and Paul Butler and Sean Gregan were solid and uncompromising in central defence where England‘s World Cup hopeful, Andy Johnson, was made to look mediocre. Neil Sullivan was largely unemployed but was called upon to make several good saves in the dying stages. Upfront Robbie Blake and Eddie Lewis were sharp and always a threat, while Rob Hulse’s hard work and effort were important in the fine victory.

United were fast out of the blocks and tore into Palace from the off with their keeper soon called upon to save twice from Jonathan Douglas. He first palmed away a looping header for a corner and this time Douglas stooped low to head into the corner but the keeper somehow clawed the ball to safety. Eddie Lewis volleyed wide as United pressed for a goal. It came after thirty-three minutes as Liam Miller carried the ball from deep to serve Rob Hulse out wide, with his back to goal he did well to get his cross in and after a Palace defender missed his clearance, Robbie Blake sneaked in to get the decisive touch. The second and decisive goal came eight minutes into the second half with Liam Miller again the provider with a delightful cross from the right, after good work from Gary Kelly and Jonathan Douglas, and Hulse was on hand to stab the ball home from close range.

United had dominated the game for over an hour and, from a team who rarely drop points at home, it was only to be expected that they would at sometime rally. In the last twenty-five minutes they started to get back into the game and Neil Sullivan showed his worth with two fine saves and United got defenders back in numbers to defend stoutly as the need arose. The home team also failed to put shots on target which eased the problem for United, but Palace eventually got their names on the score sheet as McAnuff scored with a pile-driver deep into injury time. It was too little too late and United had their destiny in their own hands with a game in hand and still having to play their bitter rivals Sheffield United.

United were unchanged other than Matthew Kilgallon replacing Danny Pugh on the bench for their home game against Norwich City and the anticipation of further progress in the chase for promotion. With Sheffield United seemingly wilting under the pressure the fans were eager to roar United on. With nine games still to go promotion was well within their grasp provided they could maintain their recent consistency. It was a day of mixed fortunes and emotions, as United dominated the game for long periods but in the end were lucky to get a point in injury time. However they were left ruing their inability to get full points as the news filtered through that the Blades had been defeated and ultimately United were only five points behind and so it was a good day but it could have been far worse or much better depending on the way United’s fortunes changed in that day as the story unfolded.

United had been so much in control that by half-time and 1-0 up it seemed just a formality that full points would be assured. Unfortunately United eased up, took their foot off the accelerator and allowed the Canaries back into the game and before they knew where they were they were it was 1-2 and staring defeat in the face. They equalized with almost the last kick of the game and thankfully did not finish up empty-handed.

Leeds had controlled the opening stanza and Robbie Blake was denied with a couple of early saves by the Norwich keeper. The inevitable opener came after twenty minutes when Robbie Blake fed Eddie Lewis, who showed great trickery to lay the ball in the path of Rob Hulse, who had timed his run to perfection as he picked his spot with the visitors appealing in vain for offside. It looked like the start of an avalanche but nothing eventuated apart from a brilliant save by the Norwich keeper, who managed to dive full length to push the ball round the post from Hulse’s fine header just four minutes before half-time. It was a vital save and kept the Canaries in the game.

The PA system had announced that Sheffield were losing and all seemed well as United returned for the second half but Norwich returned rejuvenated for the second half and United started to look uncomfortable as the Norwich forwards started causing the Leeds defence problems. Neil Sullivan made a good save to deny Docherty from close range, but United did not heed the warning and allowed Simon Charlton to put in a cross from deep and Hughes ran untracked to rifle home the equalizer after fifty-seven minutes. It gave Norwich more confidence and should have increased their lead afterwards when McVeigh wasted a great opportunity after Huckerby had taken on the defence and pulled the ball back to him. Inexplicably United failed to learn by their good fortune and it was the same pair who combined in identical fashion a minute later for McVeigh to make sure and give Norwich the lead with a quarter of an hour left on the clock.

The goal woke United from their nightmare and but they could not gain any advantage from 15 minutes of basically route one football which was playing right into the hands of the visitors defence and the United fans were starting to accept another disappointment. Deep in injury time United were awarded a free kick on the edge of the Norwich box and Eddie Lewis stepped up to curl the ball round the static Norwich keeper to gain United a surprise share of the points and the crowd erupted as confirmation came through that Sheffield United had been defeated by Coventry City.

United travelled to in-form Coventry City at the Ricoh Arena, with Matthew Kilgallon replacing the suspended Sean Gregan and Gylfi Einarsson took his place on the bench. United managed a point and with Sheffield United once again being defeated, this time at Norwich, it took them to within four points and a game in hand with a fixture between the two protagonists still to come. Coventry had beaten Sheffield United at the Ricoh Arena the previous week and had only suffered one defeat in the last eight home fixtures, yet Leeds never really looked like losing the fixture but after conceding a goal in the first half hour, they went in at half time 1-0 down without really troubling the Coventry keeper but nevertheless after playing some decent football. However Coventry too had played well and on balance deserved their lead which came from a well worked opening which was finished sublimely by McSheffrey. Matthew Kilgallon was looking decidedly rusty and McSheffrey led him a rare old dance and was unlucky not to have scored more. Hutchinson had had a strong free-kick pushed on to the bar by Neil Sullivan and McSheffrey again broke free but could not apply the finishing touch. The half ended with Paul Butler in a blazing argument with the referee, who was escorted from the pitch.

In the second half Leeds made two chances for Jonathan Douglas who was firstly denied by a defender’s legs after good approach play and then he headed over from a tight angle after a pinpoint cross from Eddie Lewis. Liam Miller got back into the game with a series of good runs and the quiet Robbie Blake was replaced by the livelier David Healy on the hour mark. Eddie Lewis also started making headway down the left flank and the hardworking Rob Hulse had a header cleared off the line and quickly missed two more reasonable chances to equalize. Ian Moore came on for Jonathan Douglas with fifteen minutes to go and it was he who provided the cross for Eddie Lewis to hook the ball goalwards and a defender handled to give David Healy the chance to hold his nerve after two minutes of arguments and clinically put the ball out of the keepers reach with just two minutes left on the clock.

It was the vital catch up home game with Crystal Palace next and David Healy was preferred to Robbie Blake while new boy Jermaine Beckford took Gylfi Einarsson’s place on the bench. The balance of power swung again in the race for promotion as United missed a glorious chance to turn up the heat on the rest of the field. They were defeated 1-0 by the visitors to remain four points behind Sheffield and now a point behind Watford with Palace only four points adrift and all teams having played 39 games.

It was United’s first home defeat of the year and suddenly the key to automatic promotion was no longer in their hands as the well drilled Palace team pulled themselves back into the equation and there was a complete role reversal from the game at Palace less than three weeks previous. While United had the lion’s share of the ball they did little with it and were a shadow of the side that had looked such a force in the promotion stakes. Their persistence with the long ball up the middle to Rob Hulse became repetitious and played right into the hands of the Palace defence as it became more and more predictable. Palace rarely left their own half during the second half and yet Leeds could only manage one attempt to cause the Palace keeper concern and it fell to Matthew Kilgallon, who had arrived unmarked at the far post to meet an Eddie Lewis free-kick but could only head straight into the keeper’s hands. There were good efforts from Gary Kelly and the hard tackling Shaun Derry, who started with a series of ball winning tackles against one of his former teams, but received little or no support in midfield with Liam Miller in particular going AWOL.

United were fortunate that they did not go in at the interval at least three goals in arrears had it not been for Neil Sullivan who three times saved well from the Palace strikers but could do little about the deciding goal just two minutes before the interval, when Paul Butler was left stranded as the rest of the defence chased shadows and McAuff was left alone to pick his spot. United did have a couple of attempts on goal as Gary Kelly tried his luck from distance but the keeper got his fingertips to it and then Jonathan Douglas headed wide from a Kelly free-kick. Rob Hulse had a couple of headers off target but had poor service with the wingers operating too wide and only Jonathan Douglas getting forward from midfield.

Robbie Blake replaced the ineffective David Healy just past the hour and striker Jermaine Beckford was introduced at the expense of full back Stephen Crainey with just short of a quarter of an hour to go, while Eirik Bakke was on for Jonathan Douglas for the last five minutes. All was in vain, as although Beckford added pace his best effort just squirmed past the upright, but he was also adjudged offside even if he had hit the target. United threw five men forward and even when Palace won a corner they only sent up two players for it. Palace were the best team to play at Elland Road in the season and looked well capable of going on a run to overtake United, Watford and maybe even Sheffield. It was only United’s second defeat since the turn of the year and while they were quite capable of carrying on in their previous good form they would have to create more chances and convert them if they were to do so.

Sean Gregan was back from suspension to relegate Matthew Kilgallon back to the substitute’s bench where Joel Griffiths got the nod over Ian Moore and Eirik Bakke as United greeted Stoke City at Elland Road. Once again United failed to score and slipped up as Sheffield United won to increase their lead to six with six games left to play. They had now gone 340 minutes since a goal was scored from open play and frustration showed no sign of ending against Stoke as the familiar pattern of dominating possession but being unable to convert the good approach play into chances or goals against a team who came to defend and rely on a chance breakaway to maybe steal the points.

Kevin Blackwell had changed his tactics and reverted back to 4-4-2 with David Healy partnering Rob Hulse upfront and even had two strikers and the attack-minded Joel Griffith on the bench and, although all got a run, with Jermaine Beckford on for David Healy after sixty-three minutes, Robbie Blake for Jonathan Douglas five minutes later and finally Joel Griffiths for Eddie Lewis with a little over a quarter of an hour to go, none could raise any hope let alone trouble the scorers. While no one could fault Rob Hulse or David Healy for effort they did not receive the service they needed as United failed to put it together in the final third of the pitch. It was disturbing that no one had the ability to open up the Stoke defence and their central defence of Hill and Duberry had a relatively easy afternoon with surprisingly little pressure. Leeds had only one decent shot on goal and that came from full back Stephen Crainey who unleashed a dipping shot from distance which skimmed the bar, while Rob Hulse had two downwards headers which went wide.

Stoke were no better and were restricted to one header that went wide and a speculative shot from distance which caused Neil Sullivan no discomfort. Sean Gregan made some timely tackles early on and was outstanding on his return to the team. United’s best move of the second half came when Shaun Derry released Rob Hulse, who back-heeled into the path of Liam Miller, but the Stoke defence closed him down before he could get in a shot. The introduction of Jermaine Beckford and Joel Griffith did inject a little pace and urgency into the United attack, but although they did show touches of promise there was little else. Stoke almost stole the points but Neil Sullivan saved the day with a fine stop. The final whistle was greeted by a chorus of boos, but other results, Sheffield apart, favoured Leeds and they finished the day joint third.

It was Robbie Blake for David Healy in the run on side with new loanee Danny Graham and fit again Frazer Richardson taking the places of Jermaine Beckford and Joel Griffiths on the bench as United travelled to Hull City for their April Fool’s day encounter at the KC Stadium. It saw United’s pretension to challenge Sheffield United for the automatic promotion spot disappear, although still mathematically possible. On the bright side they only required two more points to ensure their play off position but having now gone five games without a win and three without a goal and it was now 430 minutes since the last goal from open play and 272 minutes since they found the target at all. Disturbing facts but reflecting their abysmal current spell which did not bode well for the play-offs.

Against the lowly Hull City they seemed disinterested and it was the home team that took the game to United and it was apparent from the clash of the two attacks and defences what the outcome was going to be. At one end the burly Parkin gave the stout Paul Butler and Sean Gregan their most testing physical encounter of the season, while at the other end the Hull central defence was under no pressure from Rob Hulse, who was well shackled and outnumbered. United did create chances but failed again to severely test the opposition’s keeper. Paul Butler fired over with the goal at his mercy and later Liam Miller failed to hit the target when given an easy chance. United started well enough and kept possession very well but as soon as they arrived in the last third of the pitch the moves petered out. Eddie Lewis had forced the Hull keeper to push his early free-kick round the post, but United were lucky not to have been behind at the half-time break after Parkin had the ball in the net, but, despite Crainey having headed it into his path, he was adjudged off-side. They could also thank Neil Sullivan for thwarting two commendable attempts on goal by the Hull attackers and right on half-time he foiled Parkin.

There was still hope for given their ability to improve in the second half and their ability to win away from home, but Hull stuck to their task well and denied United the space in midfield. Green shot over for Hull while Parkin and Fagan continued to cause the United defence problems. At the other end Jonathan Douglas hooked a chance over the bar and Liam Miller fired wide after being set up by Robbie Blake. It all went wrong for Leeds in the seventy-sixth minute as Green found space on the right and Parkin muscled himself into position to head in at the far post. United immediately threw on David Healy and Danny Graham for Liam Miller and Eddie Lewis followed three minutes later by Frazer Richardson for Robbie Blake but they still didn’t manage any real urgency until the final few minutes when David Healy sent a free-kick narrowly wide and Rob Hulse shot over, after good work by Danny Graham, but it was too little too late and the poor run now stood at five games without a win. Manager Kevin Blackwell must have wondered what had caused the wheels to fall of a machine that not so long ago had realistically threatened automatic promotion, while at that moment they would not have fancied their chances in the play-offs on current form.

Frazer Richardson and David Healy were preferred to Liam Miller and Eddie Lewis and Jermaine Beckford was on the bench for Danny Graham as United entertained Plymouth Argyle at Elland Road. Even though they gained a point that ensured a play-off spot, United had now gone over six hours without a goal and four complete games and the crowd mocked them with chants of “Premier League, You are having a laugh”. And even “You’re not fit to wear the shirt” was heard directed at players who only a few weeks previous had been hailed as conquering heroes. The cold hard facts were that they finished the game nine points adrift of Sheffield United and the final outcome would now be decided once and for all in two games time when United were due to visit Bramall Lane. After United’s fine win at Crystal Palace at the start of March, when hope sprung eternal, United had slowly sunk further and further behind in the promotion race and that euphoria has been totally eroded. Indeed since that game United had scored but one goal from open play and that was over eight playing hours previous. Even worse, they were not creating chances to even look like scoring and had amassed a paltry four points from the last eighteen contested. The lack of confidence and conviction was very apparent in the game and no-one would have realized that the fans were aware that their team had reached the play-offs for the first time since 1987.

The crowd particularly targeted Rob Hulse and Stephen Crainey for their abuse, and while Hulse was not at his best, but playing through the pain barrier for the good of the team, Crainey was sound in defence and did little wrong. United enjoyed virtually all the play but the fact was that the Argyle keeper was only called upon to make two saves in the entire game, such was their lack of inventiveness and cutting power. Gary Kelly had tried his luck from distance and Robbie Blake curled a free-kick wide, while Rob Hulse shot wide with Robbie Blake better placed. David Healy went closest when he fired past the post just before half time. Gary Kelly had been playing even though suffering from flu and, after thirty-six minutes, he was replaced by Jermaine Beckford, who showed some neat touches, and it was he who eventually tested the Plymouth keeper after eighty minutes with a low drive. Four minutes later the keeper pulled off a fine block from a Robbie Blake free-kick, but David Healy had hit the side-netting, Jonathan Douglas had headed an Eddie Lewis corner wide, while the out of form Hulse was crowded out after being released by Beckford. It was the kind of chance that Hulse would have put away with ease earlier in the season.

Plymouth had little to offer, and Paul Butler and Sean Gregan had their forwards in their pockets, while Frazer Richardson showed up well after dropping back to take the place of the flu-stricken Gary Kelly. Neil Sullivan had to make one save and watch a header sail over the bar, but otherwise he was totally untroubled. It was United’s sixteenth clean sheet of the season but, apart from the non-stop effort of Shaun Derry in midfield and the promise of Jermaine Beckford up front, there was no indication of any attacking capabilities from United as the introduction of Eddie Lewis for David Healy midway through the second half and Liam Miller for Jonathan Douglas, with fifteen minutes to go, showed no improvement and United now faced an Easter double header against the top two teams, Reading and Sheffield United, low on confidence and with little to play for except pride.

For the Easter Saturday visit of runaway leaders Reading, United rang the changes with Matthew Kilgallon, Eirik Bakke and Liam Miller replacing Sean Gregan, Frazer Richardson and Robbie Blake(a flu victim), while the bench comprised Ian Bennett, Danny Pugh, Danny Graham, Ian Moore and Jermaine Beckford. There were plenty of good points to come out of the game as United found that Reading’s style of play was more to their liking than the massed defences of relegation-threatened opponents They put on a performance which must have not only pleased their supporters but scared their play-off rivals, as they produced an outstanding display against the team that had only lost two games all season and were only two points from a century of points. They would have fully merited a well-earned win, but a lucky goal five minutes from time gave the visitors an unwarranted share of the points. The leveller not only extended United’s winless streak to seven games but almost ensured that United could not catch Sheffield United for the second spot. On the positive side it did ensure that the goal drought had been ended which was probably more psychologically important than the fact that Leeds were denied victory at the death.

Rob Hulse got the goal two minutes into the second half, a full 409 minutes since David Healy scored at Coventry City in mid-March and the relief was enormous. It was no more than United deserved and it should have been enough to secure United full points, but Reading, who had not had a shot on target up to that point, snatched a share of the spoils when Ingimarsson headed a Gunnarsson cross back across goal and Kitson, clearly in an offside position, got a touch to steer the ball goalwards and Hunt somehow bundled the ball over the line. An ear-piercing “We are Leeds” was the crowds immediate response and although the lead had been lost the crowd did not let it upset atmosphere. The crowd had laid the platform for the display by giving Kevin Blackwell a standing ovation as he took his place on the touchline. It was the Leeds faithful at their very best and the almost 25,000 crowd cheered their team on as an almost surreal atmosphere of peace and harmony returned to the stands and confidence came flooding back on the field.

Shaun Derry was immaculate in midfield and turned on a superb performance in the middle of the park as he snuffed out the forward runs of Harper and Sidwell, usually Reading’s most dangerous players, and also showed the attacking side of his game by being responsible for creating United’s goal. He was ably assisted by Eirik Bakke and Liam Miller and just like in the game at Palace, when the engine room was able to function, United fired on all cylinders and become a very dangerous team. Liam Miller made several good runs and was much more mobile than of late, but it was Eirik Bakke, starting only his fourth game of the season, who showed enough quality to suggest he might be a key figure in the final run in. Matthew Kilgallon made a good return and he and Paul Butler kept the dangerous Reading strikers quiet. Gary Kelly and Stephen Crainey gave nothing away and got in several telling crosses, with Crainey being particularly dangerous. With Robbie Blake a flu victim, Jonathan Douglas was pushed up wide right to join the hard working David Healy and Rob Hulse in a three pronged attack. Healy was seen tackling back and making challenges by his own corner flag, while Hulse was responsible for a clearing header over his own bar and then almost snatching a goal at the other end as Leeds broke quickly from the resulting corner.

There were many encouraging signs to be found and the only downside was that full points were not achieved. Reading keeper Hahnemann had to be alert to save from Shaun Derry, Jonathan Douglas and Rob Hulse, while Eirik Bakke was only inches over when he tried to delicately chip the keeper and Healy had a shot from halfway which drifted wide of the mark with the keeper stranded. There were chances aplenty created by Leeds while Reading could only muster three. Reading’s style of play obviously suited Leeds as they came trying to win rather than defending in depth and it clearly favoured United who had only lost once against top six opposition in eight games. If that record could be maintained it would bode well for the play-offs.

After their sterling display against the League leaders it was understandable that United maintained an identical line-up for their Easter Tuesday encounter with second placed Sheffield United at Bramall Lane, which had rarely been a happy hunting ground recently and had been the scene of several embarrassing Cup exits in recent years. The game finished all square at 1-1 and Sheffield’s fans celebrated their automatic promotion, while Leeds left quite happy with their performance and it boded well for the play-offs. The draw extended United’s good performances against the top six sides in which they had only lost one of the nine encounters thus far in the season and if they had shown a better nose for goal they could have been celebrating a rare “derby” victory. Sheffield could have argued the same as had they taken their chances during a twenty-five minute spell of domination in the first half the result could well have gone their way.

Both sides felt they each had a good claim for a penalty rejected. Eirik Bakke was clearly upended in the box in early play, while Kebba felt he should have had a penalty after a challenge from Stephen Crainey late in the game. The speedy Sheffield wingers exposed United’s defence and they were in front after only ten minutes as Eirik Bakke headed a corner past his own keeper. Sheffield were rampant and Neil Sullivan, Stephen Crainey, Gary Kelly and Paul Butler all made timely blocks, while Kebba twice tested Sullivan. The keeper also saved from Akinbiyi in a one-on-one situation. United had weathered the storm and came back to score with a fantastic individual goal from David Healy. He showed great control to leave several Sheffield defenders in his wake before unleashing an unstoppable shot which gave Kenny, the Sheffield keeper, no chance. Gary Kelly had featured in a succession of poor tackles and after the goal he went over the top on a Sheffield defender. There were some embarrassing scenes as Warnock started to vent his anger at the Leeds players and coaching staff, before the referee banished him to the Stands. Shaun Derry was again United’s lynchpin and best player, while Liam Miller made some good runs. Rob Hulse held the ball up well and went close on a couple of occasions. Eirik Bakke lost control of the ball when closing in on goal and Kenny got down well to deny Liam Miller. Ian Moore replaced David Healy with eleven minutes left, and Danny Pugh was on for Eirik Bakke a minute later, as United tried to turn their domination into goals. It was not to be and in the end a draw was a fair result for both teams.

The on-loan from Middlesbrough Danny Graham replaced Rob Hulse and Eddie Lewis was back in place of Jonathan Douglas, while there was no place for Ian Bennett, Danny Pugh and Jermaine Beckford on the bench, which featured Ian Moore, Steve Stone, Robbie Blake, Sean Gregan and Jonathan Douglas for the last home game of the season against Crewe Alexandra. The game marked Kevin Blackwell’s one hundredth game in charge and fittingly it ended the barren run which has set in since he signed his new contract in early March. It came from a rare David Healy header seventeen minutes before time. There was also the added boost of long-term injury-strickened former England International Steve Stone at last able to make his debut and playing for the final twenty-nine minutes, after replacing Liam Miller. He showed good touches and finishing the game strongly and without any after effects. The final pecking order in the play off race had still not been finalized, with Palace seemingly favourites for the sixth spot and with Preston dropping two points at Hull, United moved into fourth spot.

Leeds made very heavy weather of beating a team that had long been doomed to relegation in one of the most one-sided games you were likely to see. It was almost shots in as Crewe were absolutely awful in the first half as Leeds mounted attack after attack and it was truly amazing that they had nothing to show for it as half-time came with the score still 0-0. Danny Graham limped out of the game after forty-two minutes to be replaced by Ian Moore, but he had been guilty of missing the two decent chances that had come Leeds’ way. He headed wide after an Eddie Lewis cross found him at the near post and then failed to beat the keeper in a one-on-one situation as the keeper beat it out to Liam Miller, who had his shot blocked by a defender on the line. There were other chances as Shaun Derry, Stephen Creaney, David Healy, Eddie Lewis and Eirik Bakke all went close in the one way traffic, with the Leeds defence merely onlookers. Robbie Blake replaced Eddie Lewis after sixty-six minutes and the onslaught continued unabated until finally YEP player of the year Gary Kelly crossed from the right for David Healy to head home the winner. Again Shaun Derry was United’s star with his non-stop tackling and passing which has enabled Eirik Bakke and Liam Miller to get forward. Bakke’s suspect hamstring was a worry as the midfield was now starting to look dangerous and the general confidence of the team was returning even though the goals are not coming in torrents. United had to visit Deepdale for the final fixture knowing that whatever the result they would be involved in the play-offs in the ensuing week against an opponent as yet unknown but more than likely it would be three games against Preston North End in very quick succession!

For the final game of the League fixtures with Preston North End at Deepdale, Kevin Blackwell fielded a very under-strength team in an effort to conceal his likely team and plans for the play-offs. It was Neil Sullivan; Frazer Richardson, Sean Gregan, Matthew Kilgallon, Danny Pugh; Simon Walton, Steve Stone, Jonathan Douglas; David Healy, Robbie Blake, Ian Moore; with Ian Bennett, Jermaine Beckford, Joel Griffiths, Dan Harding and Gylfi Einarsson on the bench. Steve Stone played a full game while Simon Walton, Danny Pugh and Ian Moore had rare starts.

While this was a typical end of season game with nothing really to play for Ian Moore ran well and caused problems, Danny Pugh was sound defensively, Simon Walton covered acres in midfield and Frazer Richardson showed good touches at right back. Preston were uncompromising and physical in defence and their big men made size count against the smaller lightweight Leeds attackers. Sean Gregan and Matthew Kilgallon were solid in defence for United, who seemed to take the game as a training session. Preston threatened to run United ragged in the early stages, with their midfield trio controlling the game, and it gave United a sample of what might be likely in the play-offs. Jarrett was particularly dangerous and it was a trip on him by Matthew Kilgallon on the edge of the box that led to Preston’s opening goal seven minutes before the break. Dichio had played on, but when he made a hash of his attempt on goal the referee called play back for the free-kick. Stock curled a beautiful shot round the poorly constructed wall leaving Neil Sullivan no option but to pick the ball out of the net. It was no more than Preston deserved as they had been good value for their 1-0 lead on the break.

After fifty-two minutes Jermaine Beckford came on for Ian Moore and fourteen minutes later Joel Griffiths replaced Robbie Blake. Simon Walton headed into the side-netting after ghosting in at the far post from a Danny Pugh corner, but that apart it was not until the final minute that Beckford tested the Preston keeper. By that time it was all done and dusted and fourth place had already gone to Preston when, after Dichio had fired over from close range, former Leeds loanee Brett Ormerod made sure with thirteen minutes left. Frazer Richardson had done well to make a headed clearance but it fell to Ormerod who, after a couple of ricochets in the six yard box, forced the ball home from close range to clinch the game for Preston. With the game won Preston took their foot off the pedal and Leeds came more into the game but both teams were glad to hear the final whistle and put an end to the necessary evil and no doubt would come back with a bit more fire and purpose in the two games scheduled for the following week when one team would get to the Final and the other could start making plans for the following season.

The season which had seen its ups and downs, with a reasonable but inconsistent start which was kicked into motion with the fine come from behind win at Southampton which seemed to give the team the self belief and confidence to take off on a good unbeaten run which saw them challenging and with a game in hand always well placed but just a little out of touch with the two runaway leaders. After two consecutive defeats in early December they stuttered but recovered well to go on another unbeaten run culminating in a fine win at Crystal Palace and the very real prospect of overtaking Sheffield United for the second spot and automatic promotion. Unfortunately after that the wheels fell off and the season stuttered to an unsatisfactory end with only one victory in ten matches and that being against a side that was already relegated. However fifth position meant that they were only three games away from promotion and having an excellent record against their possible opponents on paper their prospects were good.

So it was that United entertained Preston North End at Elland Road in the first of the home and away knock out ties for the right to play the winner of Watford and Crystal Palace in the final playoff decider in Cardiff on the twenty-first of May 2006. United were almost at full-strength, with only captain Paul Butler unavailable, as they lined up with Neil Sullivan; Gary Kelly, Sean Gregan, Matthew Kilgallon, Stephen Crainey; Liam Miller, Shaun Derry, Eirik Bakke; David Healy, Rob Hulse, Eddie Lewis; while the bench comprised Ian Bennett, Jonathan Douglas, Steve Stone, Robbie Blake, Richard Cresswell. It proved to be a very even contest with both sides claiming they could have won but Preston’s fans and management went further claiming that they held the high ground as a result of a 1-1 draw on foreign territory and in the Manager’s words it was “job done” as he and his supporters went over the top in celebrations at the final whistle.

There was a lot of hammer and tongs football as befitted such an important match and this included several nasty, niggling, time wasting incidents and gamesmanship, mostly from Preston but their organization and determination was also apparent. The match officials were far too over officious and the game suffered accordingly. It was United who started brightly and made all the early running and had an early claim for a penalty turned down. After Nugent had failed to keep his nerve when given an easy chance from a corner in the seventh minute, but even before that United had a claim when Matthew Kilgallon was floored by the Preston defender Mawene in what appeared to be a definite penalty. Kilgallon also hit the woodwork with a powerful header from an Eddie Lewis corner and David Healy had a free-kick blocked. Then Liam Miller had two chances in quick succession, first he was denied by a smart save from Nash, the Preston keeper, and then McKenna pulled off a superb tackle to stop his progress on goal. It was all Leeds but the luck wasn’t with them.

Preston came out of their blocks quickly in the second half and it was they who now applied all the pressure. Again Nugent was allowed to have easy access to the goal, as he picked up the ball unchallenged before going on a mazy run and holding off four United players to shot home, after only three minutes of second half action. It was a bad goal to concede by a defence which had looked virtually impregnable. With the Preston defence looking equally impregnable and uncompromising it was hard to see where United could get back on level terms let alone establish a home leg lead. Preston continued to press for a second and O’Neil shot wide and Alexander missed a good chance when he fired across the face of goal. At the other end Eddie Lewis had another shout for a penalty turned down before Brett Ormerod was denied by Neil Sullivan to keep United in the game. Steve Stone replaced Eirik Bakke after fifty-eight minutes and fourteen minutes later Robbie Blake was sent on in place of David Healy.

United had now taken up the initiative and were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box. Eddie Lewis delivered one of his trade mark set piece kicks towards the Preston goal and Alexander could only help divert it further to leave his keeper stranded as the ball nestled in the net for the equalizer. Two minutes later Lewis fed Rob Hulse but his further progress was halted by the offside flag. Richard Cresswell was sent on for Shaun Derry as United pressed for the lead with Sean Gregan being unable to accurately direct his header from a Robbie Blake free-kick into the goal. Richard Cresswell received an elbow to the face and an all-in melee of twenty-one players ensued before peace was restored and Cresswell somehow received a yellow card, presumably for retaliation. Right on time United were indebted to Stephen Crainey for pulling off a last-ditch block on Dichio and the game ended in a deserved draw. United had been roared on by a 36,000 crowd and it certainly helped them lift their game and, while there would only be 2,800 cheering them on at Preston, if United can lift accordingly in the same way as their fans, then the tie would still be wide open, as the two teams were well matched and the result would count on the luck of the bounce or the whim of a referee.

United decided there was little to lose in the return leg and went for all-out attack, chosing not to have a keeper on the bench and restoring Frazer Richardson and Jonathan Douglas for David Healey and Eirik Bakke who dropped to the bench. Once again Captain Paul Butler was unavailable and United’s aggressive outlook paid dividends and, after a night of high drama, they claimed the spoils of victory with gripping, terrific performance to eliminate Preston North End from any further participation in the play-off procedure. Rob Hulse and Frazer Richardson got the goals that counted. The game was full of extremely physical and tense combat and even had a thirty-four minute interval due to a power failure. Preston had a goal disallowed and with United 2-0 up and coasting they had two players sent off, Stephen Crainey and Richard Cresswell, and both would miss the final in Cardiff against Watford.

After the scenes at Elland Road and their insistence that it was a ”job done”, the home announcer said “welcome to our penultimate game before we reach the Premiership” which only served to provide the encouragement that United needed to make them eat their words. The tactic of playing Frazer Richardson in an attacking role on the right was a master stroke, for not only did he curtail the Preston left back Alexander from making runs, but he played a big part in United’s attacking movements. Neil Sullivan was also a key man in dictating the pace of the game but was also at his agile best to keep a clean sheet. Sean Gregan and Matthew Kilgallon were outstanding at the heart of the defence while Gary Kelly and Stephen Crainey were strong in their defensive duties and managed to get up and down in the support and building of the attacks. Shaun Derry was solid and ferocious in the midfield anchor role while Liam Miller showed neat touches and good movement, but it was Jonathan Douglas who really caught the eye and was seemingly everywhere. Up-front Rob Hulse threw off his shackles and matched the two Preston defensive heavies literally punch for punch as their battle often teetered on the edge and several times threatened to boil over. Down the flanks Frazer Richardson and Eddie Lewis initially nullified the attacking moves of the Preston full-backs but later played their parts to the full as United’sattacking options increased with their grip on the game in a team performance not seen since their inspirational win at Crystal Palace.There was an enthralling opening to the game which saw the challengescome thick and fast and Rob Hulse and Davis clashed as early as the thirteenth minute in what was a sample of the personal battles being fought all over the pitch which continued throughout the game.

The blackout came just at the right time as it served to dampen the tempers and short fuses which had been lit just prior to the break when eighteen players were involved in a melee after Matthew Kilgallon had clashed with Nugent in the United penalty box. After the break it was United who came out firing on all cylinders and twelve minutes into the second half Rob Hulse gave United a well deserved lead as he headed home from a corner and to seal an obviously well-rehearsed move. Given United’s usual ability to preserve a one goal lead, particularly away from home, it looked as though Hulse’s strike would have won the game but just four minutes later they made doubly sure. Liam Miller was the architect, setting up Rod Hulse, with a fine pass before the big striker played in Frazer Richardson, who calmly picked his spot and made no mistake to fire the ball home.

With the game seemingly won, Preston were thrown a lifeline as Stephen Crainey, who had already been booked for needlessly kicking the ball away, received a second yellow for a dubious foul on Nugent and got his marching orders. Frazer Richardson duly dropped back to left back and Neil Sullivan was called upon to make two superb reflex saves to deny McKenna and Dichio as Preston tried to get back in the game and take advantage of United’s reduced numbers. With eleven minutes to go, Richard Cresswell came on to replace Rob Hulse, who left the field to a standing ovation from the Leeds fans, and he was twice booked in mysterious circumstances and United were down to nine men deep into injury time. Steve Stone had been sent on in place of Eddie Lewis with three minutes of normal time left. Mears then headed home a goal and Preston thought they had a lifeline until the referee saw the linesman’s flag raised for offside and their celebrations were quickly cut short. When the referee blew the final whistle after more than six minutes of time on, the United team and travelling fans were in raptures as they celebrated their victory in a game that had all the elements of what is good, bad and ugly, but United had proved they were the better side on the night and fully deserved to progress to the play-off final in Cardiff and they could head there with every confidence after such an emphatic display and victory.

The interest in United was intense as the mad scramble for the prized tickets took place. All of a sudden there were 40,000 fans that were lucky enough to get a ticket, and many thousands who were not so fortunate. Then there were the millions who watched the game on TV.

I was one of the fortunate 40,000, thanks to a long time friend and United fanatic, to whom I am eternally grateful. I could write a book on the story of the intrigues which took place before I finally had the prized piece of paper in my hand. We were on the road before the sparrows were awake and were soon joined by the exodus of United fans which came from all corners of the globe and clogged every motorway and by-way heading for the capital of the principality. The day was similar to my first taste of a major final at the country’s finest venue (1965 Liverpool at Wembley, after nearly 20 years of supporting mediocrity!). The dark clouds had gathered and the heavens had opened. Fortunately the Millennium was much more modern and its retractable roof ensured that at least the supporters would not get soaked to the skin as was the case in 1965! Cardiff was also inundated by the invading hordes, from Watford and Leeds, but thankfully there was no trouble between the fans but rather much bonhomie and friendliness was soon apparent.

The scene was set for the return to the EPL of one of its best supported teams. Unfortunately the team did not turn up, but rather a pale imitation of the team that had comeback so valiantly against all the odds at Southampton, played Crystal Palace off the park in their own backyard and prevailed in the physical battle at Deepdale.

The team that took the field showed several changes from their Deepdale triumph. Captain Paul Butler had recovered from injury and took the place of the suspended Stephen Crainey, with Matthew Kilgallon switching to left back. The suspended Richard Cresswell could not take his place on the bench and Manager Blackwell went for safety first, and included keeper Ian Bennett in his stead.

It was a disastrous day for United and their expectant fans. They had no arguments. They were outplayed, outfought and totally outthought by a Watford team who were better in all departments. The display was much at odds with their performance at Preston when they were strong, robust, physical and clinical. None of those qualities were apparent, but rather they lacked any creativity or invention in midfield and Watford dominated this area for the whole match and their quick and inter-changeable forwards pulled the United rearguard all over the park and created holes at will. There had been a glimpse of hope early in the game as Shaun Derry had a shot deflected to safety by a Watford defender and it set the tone of the game as United failed to capitalize on early match nerves, and a suggested instability in the Watford defence, but it soon passed and with it any chance that United may have had of prevailing and it was soon the Leeds defence that looked vulnerable.

It came as no surprise when DeMerit powered in to head home a corner in the twenty-fifth minute, with Rob Hulse holding his head in his hands for not tracking him. Shaun Derry did try hard in midfield but Frazer Richardson was not the success he was at Preston and was replaced by Robbie Blake at the start of the second half, while both Liam Miller and Jonathan Douglas were anonymous and United seemed to be seeing their hopes go down the drain by half-time as they surrendered the midfield. Rob Hulse was hauled down by the Watford keeper just before half-time but the fans hopes were dashed as the referee called the ball back for a previous infringement by a United player.

With the introduction of Robbie Blake, he went up to join the attack as Kevin Blackwell changed from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2, but it made little difference and United were lucky not to go two behind early in the second half. Ex-Leeds striker Marlon King played in Darius Henderson, but, with another ex-Leeds player Matthew Spring running into space, his final pass was poor and the chance was lost. The warning was not heeded and in the fifty-seventh minute Watford doubled their lead as Chambers turned Eddie Lewis in the box and hisshot looped off the winger’s boot and onto the post before rebounding off the diving Neil Sullivan and into the net. Maybe a lucky goal butno more than Watford deserved and it finished the game as a contest.

United visibly wilted and despite the efforts of Paul Butler, Sean Gregan and Shaun Derry to breathe life into the United effort they got little response. It was as if Leeds had hoisted the white flag, even though there was half an hour remaining. David Healy, a somewhat surprise omission from the team to date, came on for the ineffective Liam Miller and he did test the Watford keeper with a low drive. Sean Gregan headed over the bar, Eddie Lewis tested the keeper with a skimming shot and Shaun Derry, United’s best player by a country mile and one of the few seeming to care, had an header cleared off the line and must have known it was not going to be his day. At the other end MacKay had an header cleared off the line before the Shaun Derry was adjudged to have unfairly brought down Marlon King in the area, with six minutes to go, and Darius Henderson put the final nail in United’s coffin by converting the resultant penalty. It was all over and even Shaun Derry conceded it was all over and the clock was wound down as Eirik Bakke relieved Sean Gregan from further suffering for the last five minutes.

United’s pain was there for all to see and the final ceremony was played out to banks of unoccupied seats at the Leeds End as the Leeds players held their heads in shame. It was painful to watch and the disappointment set in as once again I realized that Leeds had faltered at the last hurdle in another quest for some glory and a Radio Aire/Leeds interviewer stuck his microphone in front of my mouth and asked the immortal moronic question “How do you feel”. I suppressed the urge to strangle the life out of him for posing such an unfeeling and imbecilic question and said “I have supported Leeds for so long that I am used to failure at the last hurdle. I feel, now, that this is just the most recent in a long line of such disappointments which started for me at Wembley in 1965 and have continued with monotonous regularity culminating with today’s abject disappointment. I am as usual uncomfortably numb”

And then there was the four hour journey to reach the outskirts of Cardiff before encountering further congestion on the Motorways clogged by equally disappointed Leeds fans. I was thankful that my friend drove the whole way to his home where we arrived at 1.00am and ultimately I arrived “home” in Leeds at 4.00am and got some shuteye before facing the journey back to Oz. Happy Days! So came down the curtain on a season which had several times promised so much and yet finished with nothing. Some things never change.

United had finished the season in fifth spot with 78 points from their 46 games. They had used 29 players in all competitions. Gary Kelly and Paul Butler headed the appearances in the League with 44, followed by Eddie Lewis 42(1), Neil Sullivan 42, Jonathan Douglas 32(8), Rob Hulse 32(7) with Robbie Blake 31(10) the only players to start more than 30 times. David Healy managed 24(18), and it was he who led the scorers with 12 in the league and 2 in the cups and play-offs, along with Rob Hulse with an identical record, with Robbie Blake running them close with 11, all in the league.

2006-07:

Season Statistics: Games, Results, Appearances, Goalscorers Football League Tables for the Season

After going so close to obtaining promotion back into the EPL via the play-off Final, United were installed as early favourites for promotion by the bookmakers. The supporters looked to see some impetus from the management that might give them encouragement in their belief that a return to former greatness was imminent.

On the positive side there was the return to full fitness for Steve Stone and Eirik Bakke, to bolster the hole left in midfield by the departure of loanees Liam Miller and Jonathan Douglas.

Danny Graham had departed before the previous season’s end and soon other more permanent team members were on the way out. Prolific goal-scorer Rob Hulse departed for Bramall Lane in exchange for an initial £2.2 million which could rise to £3 million if certain events took place. He was soon joined by deputy goalkeeper Ian Bennett for an undisclosed fee and having no cover for either it was seen as a backward step. Especially as United had also allowed Danny Pugh to go to rivals Preston North End for £ 250,000 and Simon Walton to join Charlton Athletic for £ 500,000, both good young players thought to have a promising future at Elland Road. It was understandable that Michael Ricketts and Jermaine Wright were allowed free transfers to Southend United and Southampton respectively, as neither had showed any inclination to merit their supposedly high wages. Australian Joel Griffiths was also allowed to leave on a free transfer and returned to his homeland.

David Livermore was signed from Millwall for £400,000 on 21st July and then departed for Hull City for the same amount on 1st August, leaving the supporters mystified. According to Manager Blackwell he really wanted Kevin Nicholls from Luton Town but when he seemed unavailable he bought Livermore. Nicholls was duly bought for £ 750,000 and Livermore, being surplus to requirements, was sold. Daniel Harding, who was thought to have a bright future when purchased, was allowed to leave on a free and in part exchange for Ipswich Town’s Ian Westlake. Sebastien Carole came in on a free from Brighton and Hove Albion while Hayden Foxe was also added on a free from Portsmouth after a lengthy trial period.

There were several emerging juniors and Jonathan Howson, Robert Bayly, Simon Madden, Jonathan Lund, Danny Rose, Sam Hird and Gavin Rothery were all given shirt numbers in the squad. There were further loan players brought in to give temporary cover for the deficiencies in the squad. Geoff Horsfield came in on six months loan from Sheffield United, Tony Warner was loaned by Fulham initially for a month but then extended to end of the year. Right on the closing of the transfer window, Jonathan Douglas finally signed a three year deal and he joined from Blackburn Rovers for an undisclosed fee, while Eirik Bakke was paid up and he left for his homeland with SK Brann. Now all the big earners had departed, except for Gary Kelly. Promising young full-back Ben Parker and the young Jermaine Beckford were loaned out to Bradford Park Avenue and Carlisle United respectively to gain first team experience.

At the end of Kevin Blackwell’s reign there were further loans of Alan Wright from Sheffield United, Adam Johnson from Middlesbrough, both for a month as successive successors tried to plug the perceived gaps.

United kicked off the pre-season with a tour of Norway featuring two games against FK Sparta Sarpsborg and Sandnes Ulf. For the first game they lined up with Bennett; Richardson, Fox, Parker, Harding; Stone, Bakke, Einarsson, Carole; Beckford, Blake. After seventy-three minutes Gary Kelly, Paul Butler and Matthew Kilgallon replaced Frazer Richardson, Hayden Foxe and Ben Parker in defence while Joel Griffiths replaced Steve Stone in midfield and Rob Hulse and David Healy replaced Jermaine Beckford and Robbie Blake as the strike force.

There was a goal and a fine performance from Eirik Bakke to impress Manager Blackwell, who would have been pleased that Steve Stone came through his seventy-three minute outing to confirm his return to full fitness. There were debuts for Sebastien Carole, Ben Parker and Hayden Foxe, and it was the speedy Frenchman who was fouled for Eirik Bakke to score from the spot in the second half but United were denied victory by a late goal. It was Eirik Bakke that set up Robbie Blake for the best chance of the first half but his shot was parried by the keeper. Blake’s strike partner Jermaine Beckford also passed up two reasonable chances before United finally took the lead five minutes before the interval, when Frazer Richardson made a good foray down the wing and his dangerous cross was deflected into the goal by a defender. Robbie Blake was once again denied by the keeper after the interval, before the hosts drew level with a soft goal. United’s defence failed to repel a long goal-kick and a Sarpsborg substitute clipped a tidy finish beyond Ian Bennett to equalise. Eirik Bakke restored United’s lead from the spot midway through the second half but once again the United defence failed to protect their advantage and Sarpsborg equalised late in the game. David Healy came close to grabbing the winner in the dying minutes, while at the other end United had to thank Dan Harding for making a goal-line clearance as the game finished level at 2-2.

There was a 2-1 victory for United in their final game of the tour at Sandnes Ulf. They lined up Sullivan; Kelly, Butler, Kilgallon, Parker; Stone, Einarsson, Bakke, Harding; Hulse, Healy. After sixty-eight minutes Hayden Foxe replaced Matthew Kilgallon in defence, Frazer Richardson and Sebastien Carole came on for Steve Stone and Eirik Bakke in midfield, while Jermaine Beckford and Robbie Blake took over from Rob Hulse and David Healy in attack. The game against the second division team was played in pouring rain and the conditions and the wet ball made it difficult for both teams.

There were several very physical challenges and both Steve Stone and David Healy felt the full force of an over enthusiastic defender before the home team took the lead after twenty minutes. Ben Parker was robbed in a crunching tackle on the halfway line and Kiehl gave Sullivan no chance with a fine shot. United clawed their way back and both Dan Harding and Matthew Kilgallon were denied by the home keeper. Eirik Bakke was again in top form and he soared to head home a superb Gary Kelly cross to equalise right on half-time. Robbie Blake got the winner just eight minutes after coming on as a substitute, when he coolly slotted home from close range after a good build up.

United’s first pre-season friendly on home soil saw them defeated 2-1 by League Two Hartlepool United at Victoria Park. Manager Blackwell was not perturbed as he was giving a chance to several trialists and new signings. There were games for trialists Robbie Elliott of Newcastle United and Mark Fotheringham, formerly of Celtic and Dundee, and new signing David Livermore from Millwall. The line up was Sullivan; Kelly, Foxe, Butler, Elliott; Stone, Fotheringham, Bakke, Livermore; Healy, Blake. Jermaine Beckford replaced Robbie Blake at half time, Sean Gregan was on for Paul Butler on the hour mark, Joel Griffiths came on for Mark Fotheringham thirteen minutes later and finally it was Frazer Richardson who replaced David Livermore twelve minutes before the end, leaving Ian Bennett and Ben Parker unused on the bench.

Steve Stone crowned a fine display by getting United’s goal on the hour, but Hartlepool were already two goals to the good by then, with young Hartlepool striker James Brown getting both. Stone formed a good partnership with Gary Kelly down the right flank while on the left David Livermore made a steady but unspectacular start. Behind him Robbie Elliott had a similar game but had a couple of efforts on goal. Scotsman Mark Fotheringham was a little more impressive on the right of central midfield, where he was paired with Eirik Bakke, and it was he who set up United’s only goal.

United dominated possession in the early part of the game with neat football and their passing and movement was good. David Healy and Robbie Blake linked up well in attack and with the rest of the team, but there was no end product. Healy was marginally wide after he executed a fine turn and shot after fourteen minutes and a quarter of an hour later Robbie Elliott volleyed straight at the keeper after a cross from Gary Kelly. While Leeds were pretty, it was Hartlepool who were the more effective in the box and ex-Leeds player Mark Tinkler crossed for James Brown to coolly pick his spot after fifteen minutes to give Neil Sullivan no chance.

After the introduction of Jermaine Beckford, David Healy again came agonisingly close with a superb header from a Gary Kelly cross after fifty-one minutes with the home keeper pulling off a superb save as he dived low to save at his left-hand post. It was, however, Hartlepool that increased their lead four minutes later as former Owl’s protege Ritchie Humphreys’ free-kick was headed home by the ever alert Brown at the far post. United responded on the hour with Robbie Elliott releasing Mark Fotheringham down the left and his cross was pushed out by the keeper, but only as far as Steve Stone who drilled the ball home right in front of the travelling faithful. They should have levelled nine minutes from time as Frazer Richardson found Steve Stone, but his cross was met by Joel Griffiths whose header was wide from six yards. One minute before time a Robbie Elliott screamer from twenty yards was acrobatically tipped over by the home keeper to leave the home team the victors 2-1.

Things did not improve as United were again beaten 2-1 at Glanford Park by Scunthorpe United in their next pre-season friendly. United lined up Sullivan; Kelly, Butler, Gregan, Parker; Richardson, Bakke, Livermore, Carole; Beckford, Blake. French trialist Embelle Garra replaced Jermaine Beckford for the second half, while Bennett, Griffiths, Rose, Morris, Bayly, Hird and Howson remained unused on the bench. Once again it was a sad disappointment for Manager Kevin Blackwell, as although Robbie Blake gave United the lead five minutes before the interval, Scunthorpe hit back and equalised within a minute, and then got what proved to be the winner seven minutes into the second half. United had made a good start but Jermaine Beckford had twice strayed offside to spoil promising moves. Eirik Bakke was very unlucky after only six minutes, when after good work by Robbie Blake he saw his low shot beat the keeper but hit the foot of the post and rebound to safety. Bakke also had a good chance to equalise in the seventy-fifth minute but shot wide from near the penalty spot.

There was a visit to Notingham Forest’s City Ground for United’s penultimate pre-season friendly and there were more Leeds debutants as goalkeeper Darren Ward managed three minutes, Jonathan Howson was introduced in the last minute, Robert Bayly was given 16 minutes and Ian Morris played the whole of the second half. Worryingly new signing Kevin Nicholls was injured in training and was out for several weeks and he joined Richard Cresswell, David Livermore, Stephen Crainey and Shaun Derry who were all unavailable from injury and Eirik Bakke and Neil Bennett, who were withdrawn due to injury in the match. The line-up was Sullivan; Kelly, Butler, Kilgallon, Harding; Carole, Bakke, Stone, Lewis; Moore, Healy. Ian Morris and Sean Gregan replaced Eddie Lewis and Matthew Kilgallon at half time, Ian Moore made way for Jermaine Beckford after fifty-five minutes, Robbie Blake replaced David Healy on the hour, Robert Bayly replaced Steve Stone after seventy-four minutes, Darren Ward replaced Neil Sullivan for the last three minutes and Jonathan Howson replace Eirik Bakke in the final minute.

While the 3-2 victory was a welcome relief, it solved no problems, as many likely first team players were not available, and two others left the field injured. Sullivan’s injury appeared serious enough to doubt his fitness for the CCCL kick off with Norwich City and after the departure of able deputy Ian Bennett, Manager Blackwell may have to turn to on loan keeper Darren Ward, who was available on free transfer from their opening opponents. A very patched up under done outfit seemed to be Kevin Blackwell’s only likely option for United’s first League game since the play-off.

United started off in 4-4-2 formation with Steve Stone partnering Eirik Bakke in central midfield, with Sebastien Carole to the right and Eddie Lewis returning on the left. With Ian Moore and David Healy the two pronged attack, the attacking formula paid off as United swept into the lead after only three minutes. Moore found Steve Stone with a beautifully weighted pass and he took it to the bye line before splitting the Forest defence for David Healy to side-foot home from close range. Healy threatened to double United’s lead after another clever pass from Ian Moore gave him the chance to angle the ball across the face of the Forest goal. Forest went close as they shot narrowly wide and they finally equalised four minutes before half time. Sean Gregan had replaced Matthew Kilgallon at half-time and the defence hadn’t had time to settle before Forest took the lead two minutes after the break, when a cross from the left evaded United’s static markers and Holt crashed a powerful header past Neil Sullivan.

Leeds pulled themselves level on the hour mark with a piece of magic from Eirik Bakke. After a free-kick had been awarded in United’s favour he quickly picked up the ball and, before the keeper could get his wall set, he calmly planted the ball into the far corner of the unguarded net. Forest continued to look the more dangerous of the two teams and wasted several good opportunities before United clinched the game eight minutes from time. Again it was Eirik Bakke involved as he attempted to test the Forest keeper from distance, but the ball cannoned of a defender and nestled in the back of the net past a bemused keeper. Unfortunately the game finished with Neil Sullivan limping off followed by Eirik Bakke with a suspected knee injury.

United’s final hit out was a testimonial for Grimsby Town Manager Graham Rodger at Blundell Park. It provided Kevin Blackwell an opportunity to give a few fringe players and trialists a run. Darren Ward had a full game in goal, while there were trials for Carl Asaba from Sheffield United, former Fulham and Marsaille defender Jerome Bonnissel, ex-Cologne defender Roland Benschneider and Frenchman Embelle Garra got a second run. Youngsters Simon Madden, Bailey Camfield, Sam Hird, Scott Gardner, Robert Bayly, Jonathan Howson and Ian Morris were all given a run. The line-up was Ward; Richardson, Bonnissel, Gregan, Benschneider; Einarsson, Asaba, Bayly, Lewis; Beckford, Moore. Scott Gardner replaced Carl Asaba at half time while Sam Hird and Embelle Garra replaced Gylfi Einarssen and Ian Moore on fifty-six minutes, Simon Madden and Ian Morris were on for Frazer Richardson and Eddie Lewis after sixty-five minutes, while Bailey Camfield replaced Jerome Bonnissel on seventy-seven minutes and Jonathan Howson was on for Embelle Garra after eighty-four minutes. Mark Wilberforce was the unused keeper.

Eddie Lewis was United’s saviour as he netted seven minutes into the second half to equalise Grimsby’s ninth minute strike. Youngster Mark Wilberforce was left on the bench as Darren Ward was given the full ninety minutes to impress Manager Blackwell. Gylfi Einarrson had an early chance to equalise but guided a close ranged header wide of the goal, while Jermaine Beckford saw his shot beaten away by the Grimsby keeper shortly afterwards. Ward was given a chance to shine when he proved himself equal to Rankin’s twenty-sixth minute shot but then United started to take command and United saw a shot cleared off the line and Carl Asaba watched his shot blocked. The equaliser came from Frazer Richardson’s persistence and it allowed Eddie Lewis to beat the keeper after fifty-two minutes, but Ward still had a further chance to impress Kevin Blackwell, as he again denied Rankin in the dying minutes and so the score was locked at 1-1.

Kevin Blackwell frantically sought to bolster his depleted team and brought in goalkeeper Tony Warner on loan from Fulham and striker Geoff Horsfield on loan from Sheffield United, while Eirik Bakke was deemed fit to play and for their opening game against Norwich City at Elland Road the team that took the field was: Warner; Kelly, Butler, Kilgallon, Crainey; Stone, Derry, Bakke, Lewis; Healy, Horsfield. Seb Carole replaced David Healy after sixty-nine minutes, Ian Westlake was on for Eirik Bakke after seventy-seven minutes, Ian Moore replaced Stephen Crainey for the last five minutes, while Sean Gregan and Robbie Blake were unused on the bench.

Neil Sullivan had failed a late fitness test on a dead leg and Tony Warner took his place in goal and was one of for players making their debut for United. Geoff Horsfield joined him in the run on XI while Ian Westlake and Sebastien Carole debuted from the bench. Not for the first time United were indebted to David Healy’s striking ability, as he got the only goal of the game from the penalty spot four minutes before the end of the first half. However, it was the defence that shone with Matthew Kilgallon just being pipped by goalkeeper Tony Warner and striker David Healy for man of the match. Warner was kept busy as Norwich started quickly and in the seventh minute Earnshaw picked up a terrible intended back-pass by Shaun Derry only to be foiled by the onrushing keeper, who made and impressive and vital save to keep the scoresheet blank.

Starting in a 4-4-2 formation United made the early running and tested the Norwich rearguard. So it was they that had the majority of possession in the first half hour but gradually the Norwich midfield led by Etuhu started to get on top and the fast raiding Earnshaw and Huckerby’s speed started to cause the United defence all kinds of problems. Earnshaw was particularly dangerous and only three fine saves by Tony Warner and a post stopped him from getting a deserved goal. His seventh minute effort was followed by a header going narrowly wide, and a snatched effort missed the target after he had dispossessed Paul Butler. The United captain struggled to cope all game and, after a crude tackle on a Norwich forward, the ball broke for Earnshaw to rifle a fine shot past the diving Tony Warner only to see it rebound off the inside of the post.

Manager Blackwell had seen enough and went to a 4-3-3 formation with Steve Stone on the right of midfield and David Healy wide right and Eddie Lewis wide left of the front three. The three man midfield suited Shaun Derry and he came more into the game. This paid dividends as Steve Stone played in David Healy who coolly beat the keeper only to be pulled up for being marginally off-side. Healy also had another shot saved by the Norwich keeper but finally got his revenge after Steve Stone had been blatantly tripped in the area and he step up to convert the resultant penalty four minutes before half-time.

Norwich continued to press after the break and Earnshaw was twice denied by reflex saves from Tony Warner. At the other end, Geoff Horsfield managed to miss from a yard out after Steve Stone had expertly guided Stephen Crainey’s cross-field pass across the face of goal. Earnshaw had one final effort to get on the scoresheet but three minutes from time his shot crashed against the outside of Tony Warner’s right-hand post. Other than that, although being second best for several periods of the game United showed commendable control to ensure that their record of being unbeaten in the opening fixture since 1989 remained intact.

United were unchanged for their visit to Loftus Road to meet expected strugglers Queens Park Rangers. It was a game that they were expected to win, did all the work, dominated for long periods and in the end failed in their mission for full points and the home team stole their point as United bemoaned dropping a couple. While United had been fortunate to get full points at home to Norwich, they could be understandably disappointed at not gaining a maximum against a team that should have been buried in a landslide such was United’s dominance. United were just not ruthless enough to put the game, which was theirs for the taking, beyond doubt rather than having to settle for a 2-2 draw. This could only have pleased the QPR Manager, while leaving Kevin Blackwell very frustrated and annoyed.

The overall quality of performance by United fuelled the thought that they would again be amongst the leaders in the charge for the EPL, but the result sowed the seeds of disillusionment at having thrown away two points that at a later stage in the season could prove very valuable. Kevin Blackwell again chose 4-4-2 as his starting formation but quickly changed to a five man midfield and it seemed at this early stage of the season that a single spearhead was his preferred option. QPR started very well for such a poorly credentialed team but Blackwell’s tactical response quickly swung the game in United’s favour. The home team created two chances in the first four minutes but both were wasted. A lack of communication between Tony Warner and Matthew Kilgallon gave them the first chance but the QPR attacker scuffed his shot, then the same player found Tony Warner alert to the danger to save his low shot after he had been gifted a chance after running into a huge gap left by Paul Butler and Matthew Kilgallon. The onslaught was brief and the reshuffle saw a tightening in defence. United took command of the midfield and soon created their own chances. An Eddie Lewis corner gave David Healy the chance to get in his shot which cannoned off the QPR keeper in the nineteenth minute, and this was followed eight minutes later by Healy forcing the keeper to show good reactions to save once again. Ian Westlake replaced Eirik Bakke after five minutes of the second half, while Sebastien Carole came on for David Healy after seventy-seven minutes. Seven minutes later Ian Moore was introduced in place of Geoff Horsfield. Steve Stone had his best game to date for Leeds and he and David Healy were the two outstanding performers and the main source of danger for QPR. It was Stone who was involved with both United’s goals. After sustained pressure, it was from Stone’s cross in the sixty-fourth minute, that Healy directed hisheader over the QPR keeper only to see it cannon off the underside of the bar, but the ball bounced kindly and Eddie Lewis was able to volley home into the unprotected net. The goal should have been sufficient for United to kill off the game, but ten minutes later a contentious penalty conceded by Stephen Crainey for a push in the back of the QPR winger Ainsworth, saw Rowland step up and beat Tony Warner from the spot to put the hosts back on level terms. United’s response was quick and to the point, it only took a minute before a Steve Stone lob was dropped over the home defence and straight into the path of Geoff Horsfield who took one touch before volleying into the QPR net, with the goalkeeper given no chance. Once again it should have been game set and match but once more the United defence made a gift in injury time as a cross looped over Stephen Crainey’s head and Ainsworth took the ball to the bye-line before centring for Baidoo to side-foot home, with little or no opposition from the United defence.It could have been worse, as QPR might, and should, have stolen the points as they finished as if it was a cup-tie and this produced two excellent chances for Jones, but thankfully for United he declined them both. So United in the end were thankful for a point, but for the first twenty-five minutes of the second half United had so dominated the proceedings that Tony Warner did not have any work to do before being confronted by the penalty, that was when they should have made their dominance count and put the game beyond the grasp of the home team. On the balance of the two games to date four points was probably a fair reflection and well within expectations of averaging two points per game to attain promotion.

Ian Westlake took the place of Eirik Bakke with Frazer Richardson filling the vacant spot on the bench as United visited Selhurst Park for the away fixture with Crystal Palace and memories of United’s fine performance in the same fixture in the previous season, filled them with an expectation of a similar performance. Neither team seemed to be of the calibre they both produced last season, and both looked below the benchmark expected of teams pushing for promotion. In a game that could have gone either way, neither team deserved to win but United’s chances received a severe blow with the sending off of Geoff Horsfield after only fifteen minutes. Once more Kevin Blackwell could feel aggrieved at not getting any points after battling right until time on for injuries before conceding that all important goal. Even with only ten men for the majority of the game United would not have been lucky if they had taken full points. Eddie Lewis was denied by a post with the best of the chances that fell United’s way. It was a ridiculous sending-off not that it wasn’t merited, but that it was such a stupid act for the loan player to commit, and it couldn’t have enhance his chances of a permanent contract as it cost United this game and meant he would be suspended for several games as a consequence. The ball was running out of play far from Horsfield’s feet when he ran into the back of the defending Hudson and reacted by flattening the Palace player by the swinging of an arm. While Horsfield felt he had been hard done by, the mere fact that he raised and swung an arm was sufficient to get him a red card in the view of the officials. Palace had been given a numerical superiority and United had little choice to play only David Healy up front, where he was left to fight a lone, unassisted battle against the Palace defence. Shaun Derry did strive manfully and was the pick of the engine room of both sides and he made many telling passes while anchoring the midfield. United were cursing their luck at not being in front at the interval as in the twenty-second minute Eddie Lewis had clipped the woodwork in an incisive raid by United, when David Healy’s cross found him in space at the far post, after hitting the post the ball fell kindly for Healy but his shot was saved by the goalkeeper’s legs. The chance was one of several that fell to Healy in the first half but none were in the easy category. After the interval, Palace introduced Freedman and began to look more menacing as he caused immediate consternation in the United defence and Cort was left with an easy header which he failed to take advantage of. It did signal a change in the game, whereas in the first half the Leeds defence coped easily with the Palace attack, now they lost control of the game as the opposition superior numbers began to tell. Amid the pressure United did manage a few sorties and Shaun Derry had the chance to open the scoring when presented with a free header from a Steve Stone corner after fifty-eight minutes, but he headed over and with that missed chance United’s hopes of winning disappeared. Tony Warner parried Kennedy’s goal-bound effort two minuteslater before watching a Cort header narrowly go over the bar and from then on the United keeper was constantly involved in stemming the tide for the rest of the game. Frazer Richardson was sent on in place of Eddie Lewis after seventy-five minutes and a minute later Ian Moore replaced David Healy, while Sebastien Carole took the place of Steve Stone right on full-time, but none were as successful as the Crystal Palace seventy-third minute substitution which saw the introduction of Clinton Morrison, and it was he who added to United’s woes. After another Tony Warner save from Freedman with three minutes to go it looked as if United had survived, but Morrison used his strength to hold off Matthew Kilgallon and his volley from six yards crashed into the back of the United net with virtually the last kick of the game deep into injury time for the only goal of the game.

Robbie Blake replaced the suspended Geoff Horsfield, while there were places on the bench for Eirik Bakke and Jermaine Beckford at the expense of Ian Moore for the visit of high-flying Cardiff City to Elland Road. The 1-0 defeat was soured even more by a verbal joust between Ken Bates and Peter Ridsdale, the rival chairmen. Ridsdale seems incapable of grasping the fact that his regime created the sorry demise of the club and yet he still claims to be a Leeds fan while having a celebratory wine to toast their defeat.

United had gambled on the fitness of Steve Stone, but it was a gamble that failed as he broke down after only half-an-hour and had to be replaced by Eirik Bakke. He had been influential to that point but he pulled up in obvious pain after making a tackle in his own box and it was plain to see that he could not continue, and was replaced two minutes later. United did have several chances to take the lead, but the referee was unmoved by Stephen McPhail’s bringing down of Ian Westlake in the box seven minutes before half-time, while he also gave the benefit of the doubt to the Cardiff defender, Darren Purse, who seemed to divert a goal-bound shot from Eirik Bakke, with more than a hint of hand-ball, during first-half injury time. The chance had fallen to Bakke from an Eddie Lewis corner and this seemed the most likely avenue for producing a goal for United, as his delivery from dead ball situations was excellent. It was from such source, after twenty-one minutes, that Matthew Kilgallon had the best chance to score, but he couldn’t direct his header into the net and it finished in the empty South Stand. Cardiff were equally wasteful with Chopra heading wide when well placed, just prior to the interval.The second half developed into a grim battle, with both David Healy and Robbie Blake testing the Cardiff keeper. After sixty-eight minutes Jermaine Beckford replaced Blake and added a little more impetus, soon firing into the side-netting as the United’s performance gathered momentum. The game seemed to be drifting to a scoreless draw when Matthew Kilgallon needlessly lost possession on the edge of the Cardiff box and City broke away for Flood to get beyond the Leeds defence for Chopra, who had anticipated his run and crosswell, to return the ball to the far post for Flood to slide in and score, withonly six minutes remaining. Blackwell threw on Seb Carole for Eddie Lewis buthe failed to trigger any inspiration as once more United did not seem to havethe answers when the questions were asked in the final minutes of matches, eventhough Cardiff were reduced to ten men with the late sending off of Darren Purse. It seemed as if the skill had deserted Leeds and while the effort was thereand indeed at least ten chances were created, but none were of sufficient effect that scoring was a formality and so the win took Cardiff into joint topspot and the Leeds players left the field to a chorus of booing by the barely18,000 crowd, which had witnessed their latest capitulation as they sank to eighteenth position with four points from four games. Their enthusiasm had been dampened by the heavy rain and another mediocre performance which had seen them concede defeat at the death for the third consecutive game.

It was the First Round Carling Cup Tie against Chester City next on the agenda at Elland Road, as United finally scored and got back to winning ways. As usual there was a run for a few of the fringe players as United lined up: Sullivan; Richardson, Gregan, Foxe, Crainey; Carole, Bakke, Lewis, Westlake; Blake, Beckford. Ian Moore replaced Jermaine Beckford after seventy-five minutes and David Healy and Matthew Kilgallon were on for Robbie Blake and Hayden Foxe with a minute to go, while Jonathan Howson and Danny Rose remained unused on the bench. There were just over 10,000 on hand to witness what could best be described as an uninteresting match, as United’s performance was only as good as it was necessary to win, which says little, as Chester, not so unpredictably, came to stop United scoring and very little else. It was United’s fifth game in seventeen days and Manager Blackwell resisted the temptation of leaving out more of his regulars as the alternatives were not available. Considering that in the past United had twice fallen to their Division Two opponents in giant–killing acts, they had to treat them with respect to avoidanother banana-skin embarrassment. With Chester employing five at the back and four across the midfield and one token plodding striker it was little wonder that the game was just an exercise in attack and defence, with United lacking cohesion to break down the Chester defence particularly in the first half. Robbie Blake had two long range efforts which were ineffective and Jermaine Beckford was dwarfed by three Chester central defenders as he struggled in his role of main strike-force. Beckford started the second half in more positive vein and saw a strong shot whistle past the post in the first minute after the break. Eirik Bakke was the man to break the deadlock after twelve minutes of thesecond half as everyone was starting to get visions of a penalty shootout asthe only way to break the deadlock. The goal came from a frantic scramble in the Chester box and it was typical of the game in general. Seb Carole had won possession in Chester’s half and his clever pass created space for Robbie Blake to press into the box, where his shot rebounded to Eddie Lewis, whose shot was diverted by a Chester defender onto a post for Bakke to stab the rebound into the net for his first goal for United in thirty months. There were good performances from Hayden Foxe, in his first competitive game since 2003, who was solid in defence and also went close with two headers, while Eirik Bakke continued his good form from the game with Cardiff. Frazer Richardson and Ian Westlake both threatened the Chester goal, while Seb Carole hit the post as United sought to put the game beyond doubt. At the other end Chester had their only chance of the match, when Gregg Blundell found himself onside and unmarked with only Neil Sullivan to beat, but he lost his composureand hooked a woeful effort wide of the goal. It was still too close for Kevin Blackwell to throw on Jonathan Howson and Danny Rose and in the end David Healy and Matthew Kilgallon were thrown on in the last minute purely as a time-wasting device. However, United progressed to meet Barnet in Round Two, which was the object of the exercise.

Sheffield Wednesday were only one point and two places above United as they played host to the White Rose Derby at Hillsborough. United reverted to their now normal line-up of Warner; Kelly, Butler, Kilgallon, Crainey; Carole, Derry, Westlake, Lewis; Healy , Moore and the bench comprised, Sullivan, Foxe, Richardson, Blake and Beckford. Eirik Bakke was not included and it seemed that he had a clause in his wage contract that rewarded him for appearances. The chairman felt it was time that Bakke moved on as he was too expensive to play and had played his last game for Leeds. He returned to his home country with Brann, before the window closed, after negotiating a settlement for his contract to be paid out. Sean Gregan had been picked for the game, but a family illness caused his withdrawal and Ian Moore moved into the starting XI instead of the bench. A David Healy penalty ensured that United took full points to give them seven points from five games, which while not spectacular, kept them well placed in a solid position. United took their time to settle and for the first twenty minutes looked a very disorganized team. They allowed Wednesday to dominate the midfield with their superior numbers, but Wednesday did not make the most of their period of dominance and it was costly as they faded in the second half. Tony Warner was kept busy throughout the first half, saving a free-kick from Brunt and watched shots from Burton and O’Brien skim past th e posts. He was well beaten seven minutes before the interval by a looping cross from the right which struck his far post, but Burton lifted his shot from the rebound over the bar from the six yard mark. United had clawed their way back into the game and started to get on top inthe first twenty minutes of the second half and this produced the move that led to United winning the match. Seb Carole, who had had a quiet first half, started to show his speed and skill to leave the Wednesday full back struggling to keephim under control and when Ian Moore found him in space in the box after fifty-five minutes, he tested the Wednesday keeper, who could only parry his shot away from goal. Eddie Lewis snapped up the loose ball but saw his shot headed clear. United should have scored a minute later when Paul Butler got in his cross but it flew between Shaun Derry’s legs four yards out from goal and another chance went begging. United were now applying sustained pressure and it paid off in the sixty-sixth minute when an innocuous ball from Stephen Crainey was allowed tosqueeze through the Wednesday defence and David Healy timed his run well to take the ball in his stride and bear down on goal. He was met by the Wednesday keeper on the edge of the box and brought down. The referee had no hesitationin pointing to the spot and brandishing a red card at the crestfallen keeper. There was some debate on whether the tackle took place inside the area, or if any contact had been made and it was five minutes before Adamson took his place between the Wednesday posts. David Healey just waited patiently and, without batting an eyelid, dispatched the ball perfectly into the far left hand corner of the net to give United the points. Manager Blackwell sent on defender Hayden Foxe to replace Seb Carole in the eighty-first minute and, instead of pressing for a second, invited Wednesday to equalise if they could. However, Wednesday’s pressure amounted to nothing and even with five minutes added for stoppages they never looked like scoring.United’s ranks looked threadbare with Bakke on the way out, the impressive Warner due to return to Fulham, and not being able to provide one midfield replacement player on the bench and the Transfer Window set to close on 31st August.

To solve their midfield problems, United went to Blackburn Rovers and brought back Jonathan Douglas, who had had a successful loan period in the previous season, while they finally persuaded Fulham to extend the loan of Tony Warner, until the new year after seemingly having signed up the Charlton Athletic keeper Andersen on loan for the rest of the season, but then preferring the Warner option. Meanwhile Eirik Bakke had packed his bags and returned to his homeland. So for the home game against Wolverhampton Wanderers, United had Jonathan Douglas in midfield instead of the injured Shaun Derry with Steve Stone and Sean Gregan on the bench in place of Frazer Richardson and Hayden Foxe, from the team that had won at Hillsborough.

United put on a fine performance but both teams lacked the finishing power needed and Wolves won 1-0 for the fourth time in the season, to illustrate that goals were always at a premium when they were playing. It took a goal of sheer brilliance to decide the game deep into injury time, as substitute Jay Bothroyd rifled home a drive from twenty-five yards in the “goal of the season” category. United could well complain that they were the better team and deserved the points, but they failed to convert one of the seventeen chances that they created or were presented with. They had only scored once at home in the three games to date and only three times from open play in the seven matches to date.

The United defence looked impressive while Ian Westlake shone in midfield and Seb Carole was another driving force. If Seb Carole had scored from an easy chance in the thirty-eighth minute, it would possibly have opened up the floodgates, but he pushed the ball straight at the Wolves keeper when the goal beckoned. Ian Moore had released Jonathan Douglas, who took the ball to the by-line and after he pulled the ball back David Healy could not make contact and it left Carole with the simple task of putting the ball into either corner of the net, but he hit the keeper, who had gamble in going to ground and spreading himself. Carole would have merited a goal, as he was United’s best player on the day.

As early as the sixth minute, Paul Butler was just wide as his curling shot left the Wolves keeper flat-footed and then the custodian was on hand to produce a commendable save from Ian Moore nine minutes later. Twice in the second half the Wolves centre back was fortunate to be on the line to save with the keeper beaten. David Healy and Ian Moore both put in plenty of effort but were thwarted by Wolves tall and uncompromising defence. Tony Warner was forced into a fine save in the first minute of the second half, before Eddie Lewis beat the keeper with a curling free-kick, but unfortunately it also passed the post as well. Jermaine Beckford was on for Ian Moore after seventy-eight while Steve Stone replaced Eddie Lewis five minutes later. Stone was unlucky not to score two minutes after coming on, but that was the last of United’s chances and a 0-0 draw seemed immanent. However, not for the first time, United were undone in the final minutes. In this season alone, they had lost five points in the final ten minutes and the latest two to be lost happened in the ninety-second minute. Bothroyd, who had come on as a half-time substitute, seemed to have strayed into an off-side position early in the move but there was no flag and he was there to finish the move by collecting the ball and angling across to the right-hand corner of the United box, which left him with a very narrow angle to shoot at the United goal, but his shot was sweet and straight as an arrow and beat Tony Warner for pace and accuracy. It was a great goal with which to win any game but it was the only time Warner had looked like conceding and United could only have themselves to blame with all the possession and chances they had.

Surprisingly after his performance against Wolves, Seb Carole was dropped to the substitutes’ bench in favour of Steve Stone with Geoff Horsfield returning from suspension to replace Ian Moore for the visit of Sunderland to Elland Road. There was a place on the bench too, for Kevin Nicholls but none for Neil Sullivan and Jermaine Beckford. Sunderland had had a terrible start to the season already having been knocked out of the Carling Cup by Bury and had lost their first four league games, which had caused Niall Quinn to step aside as manager and bring in the untried Roy Keane. However, the new manager had produced a turn around, and Sunderland registered their third consecutive victory and thoroughly deserved their emphatic 3-0 victory.

Former United loanee Liam Miller returned to his home ground of the previous seasonto give Sunderland a deserved lead, after United had kept them out for almost half-an-hour. Robbie Elliott, who had featured as an Elland Road pre-season trialist, started the move by carrying the ball deep into United territory before laying it off to Wallace who in turn found Miller unmarked to beat Tony Warner with a low drive. Warner kept United in the game by saving Kavanagh’s goal-bound shot eight minutes before the interval, but could do little to stop him six minutes later, when he again was put through to double the visitor’s lead. There was a call for Blackwell’s resignation from an isolated section of the crowd, as their frustration with United’s performance and the season’s results showed. Indeed they had already lost as many games at home as they had for the whole of the previous season and they were in a relegation position for the second tier for the first time in almost half a century!

Paul Butler played with an injury for the whole game and struggled to cope, while Steve Stone and his fifty-fourth minute replacement, Seb Carole, both lacked fitness. Kevin Nicholls came on with United trailing 2-0 as he replaced a tired Eddie Lewis at half time, even though he was not match fit such was United’s lack of fully-fit players. With the transfer window now closed and loan players at a premium there seemed little chance of things improving in the short-term. Nicholls had only been on the pitch a couple of minutes when Sunderland got their third goal to put the game totally beyond United’s grasp as Robbie Elliott scored with a blistering drive which gave Tony Warner no chance. No blame could be placed on the United keeper as he was their man of the match.

After the third goal Sunderland shut up shop and invited United to stop them from keeping a clean sheet. Robbie Blake, who had replaced David Healy after sixty-three minutes, had one worthwhile effort which curled wide with eight minutes left but otherwise the Sunderland defence never looked like being breeched. While United’s performances may not have been relegation class, and there could easily have been far more points on merit, the simple facts were that United were struggling and in the relegation zone no matter what!

Badly in need of a confidence boost, United next faced a trip to the Ricoh Stadium, home of Coventry City, and the midfield was almost totally changed. There was a return for Sean Gregan in place of Jonathan Douglas, while Kevin Nicholls was given the nod over the less than match fit Steve Stone and Seb Carole came in for Eddie Lewis. The replaced players all dropped to the bench.

United lost their third league game on the trot and were left last but one on the ladder just one point above bottom club Queens Park Rangers, with only seven points from eight games and scoreless in those three games and, with games on the horizon against some of the front runners, the position looked as if it would get worse before it got better.

Despite Coventry’s present good form United were hoping that their past record against them would stand them in good stead, as they were undefeated in the last fourteen encounters between the two clubs. They had done the double in their first year after relegation and a win at home and a draw away in the ensuing season. However, they went into the game low on confidence and it showed in their play in the first half, but overall they created enough chances to have won the game easily. David Healy hit the crossbar after only eight minutes and once again the old problem of the inability to score goals once again manifested itself and, just as in the game against Wolves, they were left to rue the misses. Healy’s chance came from a quick counter attack started by a throw from Tony Warner to Ian Westlake after a corner and his deep cross found Healy, who had timed his run to perfection, but unfortunately his header beat the keeper but skimmed off the bar to safety.

The Coventry winner came after twenty-six minutes as their midfield cut a swathe through the United ranks resulting in the ball being headed into the path of their strong midfielder Tebb, who had stood out as their best player, and he broke into the United box and with Tony Warner bracing himself for the expected shot, he spotted Stern John unmarked on eight yards out and he buried the pass into the United net.

Ian Westlake had fought well in midfield but Sean Gregan never settled and Stephen Crainey was nervous at left back and it came as little surprise that Manager Blackwell shuffled his pack, replacing Gregan with Jonathan Douglas at half-time. It had an immediate effect as United started to get back into the game as they started to function more effectively. Ian Westlake soon had a shot punched out by the keeper and a well-timed pass from David Healy, a couple of minutes later, was wasted by a poor touch by Geoff Horsfield. At his best Horsfield would have scored easily but his lack of match practice due to a four match suspension showed, as did the lack of confidence which currently grips United. Steve Stone replaced Seb Carole after sixty-nine minutes as United kept up the impetus.

Kevin Nicholls had a busy full debut and went close with a curling shot and both David Healy and Robbie Blake, who had replaced Ian Westlake for the last six minutes, might easily have snatched an equaliser as United tried to capitalise on their superiority in the late second half. Blake’s opportunity came deep in injury time when he curved Steve Stone’s cross past the post. Nevertheless, United were indebted to Tony Warner for two outstanding saves that kept United in the game.

The final whistle was greeted by a chorus of chants for the removal of the Manager and, while recently luck had not been on his side, the side’s dismal record could not fail to indicate that warning signs were clear for all to see.

For the Carling Cup Second Round clash with Barnet at Elland Road, United took the field with Sullivan; Kelly, Kilgallon, Foxe, Crainey; Stone, Douglas, Nicholls, Lewis; Horsfield, Blake with Moore, Derry, Howson, Westlake and Carole on the bench. The 3-1 victory turned the corner for United in many ways. Being their first win since Hillsborough on 27th August, the first goal since Healy’s penalty in the same game and their first home win since beating Chester in the first round of the Carling Cup one month previous, when they last scored from open play. Robbie Blake had settled the United’s nerves with a goal in the seventh minute, when he latched onto a Gary Kelly through ball to beat the Barnet keeper with ease.

United’s injury situation worsened with Geoff Horsfield picking up a hamstring injury and being replaced by Ian Moore seven minutes before the interval. While on the bright side Shaun Derry came on for Kevin Nicholls for his first run since his hernia operation, after sixty-five minutes. There was also a run for Jonathan Howson, who replaced Steve Stone for the last quarter of an hour.

For Ian Moore it proved also to be the end of the drought as he scored his first goal for United after forty-five appearances and nineteen months since arriving from Burnley. His goal after fifty-five minutes could not have been simpler, as Hayden Foxe headed on Eddie Lewis’s corner for Robbie Blake to flick the ball goalwards and Ian Moore was on hand, just one yard out, to lash it past the keeper for a poacher’s dream. He must have wondered if all his Christmas’ had come at once as it took him less than twenty minutes to register his second. It was a goal of true quality with Robbie Blake again prominent as he his run dragged the Barnet defence out of position and this left Moore in plenty of space for him to hammer a sweet finish beyond the keeper from the edge of the box.

Barnet had tried to make the game more entertaining by introducing two strikers for the second half and one of them, Kandol, forced Neil Sullivan to make a save but the visitor’s few attacks proved to be rare irritations to the United defence. The ease of the situation allowed Manager Blackwell to introduce the nineteen year old Jonathan Howson for his debut, and he almost scored with his first touch and later tested the Barnet keeper with a powerful shot in injury time. The visitors did get on the scoreboard after a deflection from a corner, but United were good value for their victory with Robbie Blake and Ian Moore the outstanding performers as they progressed to the third round with ease.

Unfortunately for Kevin Blackwell it proved to be his last game in charge, as his contract was cancelled on 20th September 2006. His record was P 115 WH 26 DH 19 LH 12 FH 76 AH 54 WA 18 DA 18 LA 22 FA 52 AA 63

He had taken over as manager of Leeds United in 2004, after initially being coach under Peter Reid and Eddie Gray. After relegation from the Premier League, he was given the unenviable task of rebuilding Leeds' team after huge debts forced the jettisoning of its highly paid stars. He was forced to make a record number of signings for the club in 2004-05. He focused on value for money, buying players that, while talented, had not made the highest grade. Although early results were poor, perhaps affected by boardroom turmoil that saw the new board struggle to put the club onto a sound financial footing and in time led to its takeover by Ken Bates, Blackwell led the side to challenge for the playoffs, before a run of draws slowed progress, leaving Leeds in mid-table.

Blackwell had been seen as a temporary appointment; perhaps to be replaced by a more glamorous name, but his success in stabilizing the team, and his initial popularity with fans, led Bates to suggest that he had a long term future at the club.

In the summer of 2005 Blackwell was giving financial backing and bought some high profile players for the new season. Proven strikers Richard Cresswell, Rob Hulse and Robbie Blake gave Blackwell plenty of firepower up front, while International winger Eddie Lewis arrived to supply the ammunition. Once again Blackwell had convinced in-demand players to join Leeds. Blackwell's shrewd tactics away from Elland Road and attacking style at home (where nine out of ten matches were won) proved very effective and, by the end of February, Blackwell had guided Leeds to third spot. This almost guaranteed a play off spot, with automatic promotion remaining a possibility. He was rewarded by Ken Bates with a new three year contract. Unfortunately, the Leeds team then produced some distinctly average performances and had to settle for their play-off place. This made a lot of Leeds fans disgruntled and many blamed it on Blackwell using the same tactics week in week out, with teams being able to predict this and counteract them.

Blackwell took his Leeds team into the Championship playoff final, after beating Preston North End 3-1 on aggregate. However Leeds lost the final 3-0 to Watford on 21st May 2006. A string of bad results followed in both pre-season and the start of the championship season 2006-07 and on 20th September 2006 his contract as Leeds United manager was terminated. As Blackwell left the club, Leeds were lying twenty-third in the table, with seven points from eight games.

There was then a period when indecision reigned, as Ken Bates had dismissed Kevin Blackwell without having a suitable replacement. He went for the cheap and easy option, handing the reins to coach John Carver and it was he who led United into their next home game against high flying Birmingham City at Elland Road. Given recent results United approached the game with trepidation as the visitors came into the game as joint leaders of the competition, ten points and twenty positions better off than United and the new acting Manager stuck with the strongest available, tried and true team of Warner; Kelly, Butler, Kilgallon, Crainey; Douglas, Derry, Nicholls, Lewis; Horsfield, Healy. Sullivan, Foxe, Westlake, Stone and Moore were on the bench.

John Carver had promised a reaction from United and so it was that they shook off their inertia and showed what they were capable of as they took the game to Birmingham and against all the odds emerged 3-2 victors, and deservedly so. Was it beginner’s luck or the emergence of a new Messiah? Only time would tell but for now the fans were ecstatic with the change of fortune and Kevin Blackwell was soon forgotten. Whether John Carver could keep it up would be the test, as only consistently good performances would get United out of their current predicament, but the first step had been taken and United pushed their points into double figures and moved up to eighteenth, two points above the drop zone and six points short of a playoff spot!

The crowd of 18,898 went home happy, having been treated to an exciting, value for money match and while Birmingham Manager Steve Bruce would not accept that his side were outclassed, they had come close to being overrun in the first half and were clinging on desperately with ten men when they finally conceded the winning goal. It certainly was an enthralling battle between two sides that were expected to be frontrunners for promotion in the betting prior to the start of the season and the visitors were quoted as saying if they did not get automatic promotion they would have underachieved.

The win ended a sequence of three successive defeats in the league and stopped United from going bottom, which is what would have been the case had United lost. David Healy’s sixth minute searing volley gave United an early lead and marked the first goal from open play at Elland Road in the season and Leeds, for the first time for many months, looked like a team capable of scoring at will. Bruce claimed that had they not had a player sent off with almost twenty minutes left, they would have won the game. The truth was that they were lucky to have even been in touch by the interval.

Birmingham had struck first with McSheffrey’s twenty yard shot hitting the post in the fifth minute, but there was a fast retort as David Healy gave United the lead in the next minute, as Eddie Lewis’ free-kick eluded the defence and fell for the unmarked Healy to volley home at the far post. The fans were quick to acclaim their heroes with enthusiasm, but were soon rocked, as the visitors equalised, after only thirteen minutes. The City centre back was up helping in attack when he found himself with the ball in the United box and he hit the ball first time onto the post, but unfortunately for United and the unsighted Tony Warner the ball rebound onto the keeper’s back and rolled into the net. The own goal could have sapped United’s confidence but instead they roared back on the attack immediately. Jonathan Douglas made inroads down the right flank to feed Geoff Horsfield, who was felled by a rash challenge in the box. Up stepped David Healy to score with all the assurance of a regular penalty taker to send the Birmingham keeper the wrong way and United were back in the lead.

Shaun Derry and Matthew Kilgallon both should have added to the goal tally before half time but United’s ability to create chances was as encouraging as the score-line. Geoff Horsfield appeared to have increased the lead, when he shot home from a Kevin Nicholls flick in the seventieth minute, but he fell foul of the linesman’s flag. Birmingham lost Damien Johnson as a result of an appalling aerial challenge which flattened Ian Westlake, who had replaced Eddie Lewis in the sixty-ninth minute, four minutes later and the straight red card brought Birmingham to life. Bendtner left Stephen Crainey and Matthew Kilgallon standing as he cut inside and beat Tony Warner as he shot low to his left. On another day this could have knocked the stuffing out of United, but this was not one of those days and after Ian Moore had replaced Geoff Horsfield in the seventy-seventh minute, United’s tireless perseverance was rewarded just eight minutes later, as Steve Stone, who had replaced the impressive Shaun Derry four minutes earlier, turned up on the right wing to deliver a cross of Premiership quality, which had a Birmingham defender stretching, and caused him to divert the ball into his own net.

It was a fine performance by United as all the players rose to the occasion and proved equal to the challenge of one of the best teams in the league. Shaun Derry, after a lay off for an hernia operation, stood out in his best game of the season, reminiscent of some of his displays as United charged up the league in the previous season. With Kevin Nicholls improving with every game, and Geoff Horsfield and David Healy always looking dangerous, it boded well for United to improve their lowly position and return to a position to which the fans are more accustomed and happy with.

West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns was always going to be a daunting proposition, and United were pleased to name an unchanged team after their impressive performance of the previous week. Unfortunately the win against Birmingham, which had suggested that everything in the garden was rosy, turned out to be a one off and Manager Carver was brought down to earth with a resounding thud. It could have been so different, as things started out entirely in United’s favour. With the score at 0-0 and thirty-three minutes gone, the Baggies defender Paul McShane committed a professional foul on Geoff Horsfield in home team’s box and not only was he red-carded but he also conceded a penalty. Up stepped David Healy, who had already gained United six points so far in the season with his unerring accuracy from the spot, to fulfil the fans dreams, but instead hit the advertising hoardings well wide of the West Brom goal. Even allowing for that miss the odds should still have been on United with their numerical superiority, but it did not excuse it.

It was a battle of the stand-in managers, with Nigel Pearson stepping up temporarily to fill the shoes of the recently sacked Bryan Robson, while John Carver was into his second game as acting boss. The Leeds boss must have wondered where was the width in midfield provided in abundance by Jonathan Douglas and Eddie Lewis in his first match. He must also have wondered what had happened to his formerly reliable back four which had been so niggardly for his predecessor.

The Leeds defence was pierced at will by the Baggies and conceded four goals (against ten men!) which had not happened since Sheffield United had achieved the feat in April 2005. United were still getting over the penalty miss when West Brom took the lead after thirty-nine minutes. Tony Warner misjudged a Koumas corner for Albrechtsen to have a free header and Warner could only watch as it beat Gary Kelly at the back post. Worse was to come in the second half, after Steve Stone was introduced after the break for the injured Gary Kelly and Ian Westlake was on after Kevin Nicholls was stretchered off eight minutes later, and the defensive frailties were exposed even further.

Kamara, an half-time substitution, doubled the lead twenty minutes into the half. After Carter had run unchallenged into the United box, he squared a low diagonal pass for his team mate to score with ease. Fourteen minutes later Kamara collected the ball inside the United half and ran at Paul Butler, who backed off the speedy striker. He reached the area still confronted by three defenders in front of him, but his acceleration took him past Butler and Kilgallon to leave Kevin Phillips with an easy task to score. United’s defence was in total disarray having lost Kelly and Nicholls and deprived of their normal formation, but to everyone’s amazement, they finally made the numbers count as they staged a come back in the last ten minutes to give the travelling faithful visions of a Southampton-like comeback.

Ten minutes after Ian Moore had replaced Eddie Lewis on seventy minutes United staged their come back as, with away fans streaming out of the ground, Geoff Horsfield reduced the lead by turning Perry before firing past the keeper. Then, almost immediately, got in an header which came back off the post to leave Steve Stone with a simple finish to score his first United goal. It was one-way traffic and United pressed for an equaliser, but two minutes into injury time they fell for the sucker punch. Kamara used his speed and exploited the United all out assault when he latched onto Phillip’s quick pass to send him on his way towards goal and, as Tony Warner advanced to counter the danger, he coolly lobbed the ball over him and into the empty net to settle the contest once and for all.

Gary Kelly had recovered in time for the visit of Stoke City to Elland Road and a challenge from a team lower in the table than themselves, but Kevin Nicholls had not, and was replaced by Ian Westlake. Tony Warner paid the price for conceding four goals and was replaced by Neil Sullivan, who got his first league game of the season. The on-loan Alan Wright was given his debut at the expense of Stephen Crainey. Richard Cresswell made his come-back from injury with a place on the bench along with Tony Warner, Hayden Foxe, Steve Stone and Robbie Blake.

It was the first of two games at home against teams who at the kick-off started with similar or less points in the league as United and should have been a good guide to their current ability. That being the case they were in for a rude awakening as Stoke, who had only managed a single victory all season, steamrollered them in an emphatic 4-0 home reversal, which had the warning bells ringing load and long. Instead of posing the question “can we make up the six points to get into the play-offs”, the result left the fans asking the question “do we have the quality to stave off relegation”, as the grim reality of United’s rapid decline sank home. Indeed, in answer to the second question, after eleven games and only three victories and seven losses grave doubts had to exist, as they seem to have lost all sense of direction.

The crushing defeat was a result of persistent and familiar failings, which had been the case under Kevin Blackwell and, if anything had worsened under John Carver. United had shown a commitment to attacking and entertaining football in the three games under the acting manager but with the defence haemorrhaging goals at an alarming rate the hole needed to be plugged. While United had been getting their fair share of possession, they had not looked like a team capable of converting that possession into goals, moreover, they had also shown a distinct lack of confidence and character. This was well illustrated as soon as Stoke went two up, the heads drooped and defeat meekly accepted.

Stoke’s record before this game was truly abysmal, but they had picked up Salif Diao and Rory Delap on loan and with Lee Hendrie, another quality EPL player loaned from Aston Villa, they started the game confidently. It only took seven minutes for Hendrie to make his quality count. Matthew Kilgallon was fortunate to remain on the pitch when he was the last line of defence and he pulled down a Stoke forward on the edge of the box. He was punished with only a yellow but United were punished with a goal as Hendrie lifted a delightful free-kick over the wall and beyond the groping Neil Sullivan. The keeper was repeatedly exposed by his uncertain defenders and Stoke should have been further in front before United had their first threat on the Stoke goal in the twenty-third minute. David Healy crossed for Geoff Horsfield to force the Stoke keeper to make a brilliant parry, unfortunately Eddie Lewis’ shot from the rebound failed to get through a crowd of players and the keeper was able to regather the ball. Three minutes later Geoff Horsfield was withdrawn due to a hamstring injury and Richard Cresswell was given plenty of time to impress as he came on for his first run of the season.

Stoke forward Pericard should have doubled their lead just before the break as he slipped his marker only to head a wonderful chance wide from a Delap cross, and the signs became increasingly ominous as the Stoke full-back Higginbotham dropped a free-kick onto the United bar soon after the resumption. Five minutes later Stoke doubled their lead when Griffin’s raking shot beat Neil Sullivan at the near post as United visibly started to fall apart. This prompted Manager Carver to make a double substitution, as he threw on Steve Stone for Ian Westlake and Robbie Blake for David Healy, but they had hardly got on the pitch when more inept defending allowed Higginbotham to convert a gift free header from a Hendrie corner.

The angry reaction of the crowd told the team and acting manager of their disapproval and an ironic cheer came as Jonathan Douglas sent in a wayward shot fifteen minutes from time as the home crowd start to leave in droves. The ones who remained were subjected to more humiliation as a lucky penalty taken by Robbie Blake was saved by the Stoke keeper and, to make matters worse, Fuller stepped off the bench to curl home another delightful goal in the dying seconds. The quality of the finish showed the difference between the two teams. Stoke were classy and ruthless. Leeds were uninspired and just plain toothless. They fell to twenty-second, only two points above the bottom club but with seven defeats in eleven matches they were now anchored in the relegation zone.

For the second of the crunch games, against Leicester City at Elland Road, the injured Geoff Horsfield and Alan Wright were replaced by Richard Cresswell and Stephen Crainey, while new loan signing from Middlesbrough, Adam Johnston, debuted in preference to Eddie Lewis and Ian Moore got the nod over Ian Westlake. Frazer Richardson got a place on the bench alongside Tony Warner, Hayden Foxe, Robbie Blake and Ian Westlake.

United sank to their eighth defeat in twelve games with another less than inspiring performance against mediocre opposition, which, when considering that this was almost the same team that won through to grace the Millennium Stadium, with a one off chance of attaining EPL status only the previous May, was hard to digest such a sudden fall from grace. Even worse were the facts that they had already lost more games on home soil than they lost in the entire previous season, when, at the same stage, they had accumulated twenty-one points to sit in fourth position. It was little wonder why the fans found it hard to accept the sudden fall from grace and vented their anger accordingly.

There was a return of a little heart and endeavour to their play but as Leicester deservedly left with all the points it proved beyond any doubt that the rot had well and truly set in. The defeat culture had taken root and it would be hard to shake.

Leicester approached the game cautiously and allowed United to take the initiative and boss the possession, but, after failing to capitalise on the situation, United fell behind to a vicious shot from Danny Tiatto on the half hour. The crossbar, the post and Neil Sullivan stopped them from increasing their lead until ten minutes from time when they finally got through to put the game beyond United’s reach. And another team who were previously struggling for form were allowed to gel so convincingly at Elland Road, which is no longer a fortress nor as intimidating as it used to be.

For the first thirty minutes United had by far the better of the play but had nothing to show for it, while Leicester who seemed to have come to defend did have two efforts that sailed harmlessly over the bar. It all changed with Tiatto’s goal, as he lost Shaun Derry and scored with a fine shot into the roof of the net from distance. It was soon followed by a woeful attempt from a Leicester forward who lobbed the ball high over the goal with only Neil Sullivan to beat, while another effort looped onto the crossbar minutes before the break.

In the second half Shaun Derry was soon called on to clear off the line and after fifty-three minutes United’s chances were lessened as Matthew Kilgallon saw red as he brought down a Leicester forward just outside the box. From the resulting free-kick Neil Sullivan made a great save to push the shot onto the post and behind for a corner. United sacrificed David Healy for defender Hayden Foxe to fill the gap left by Kilgallon and Neil Sullivan immediately pulled off another fine save to keep out a low shot. Robbie Blake replaced the ineffective Cresswell after seventy-one minutes and four minutes later United were denied an equaliser, as the striker’s header clearly crossed the line on the action replay but when your luck is out, these decisions tend to go against you! United’s performance with ten men deserved better, but Leicester got their second in a breakaway before Paul Butler reduced the arrears from a Gary Kelly cross with four minutes to go. Unfortunately, even with five minutes of injury time that was all they could muster, after Ian Westlake had been thrown on for Adam Johnston at the end of normal time and United slumped to twenty-third, just one point above bottom club Hull City.

Hayden Foxe came in for the suspended Matthew Kilgallon and Ian Westlake for Ian Moore, while Robbie Blake was preferred to David Healy up front as United travelled to Luton Town at Kenilworth Road, while Healy, Moore and Lewis joined Warner and Richardson on the bench.

It was now five weeks since the departure of Kevin Blackwell, and still United’s inadequate performances continued unabated with further humiliation in the shape of another thrashing, this time to the tune of 5-1 and they now had won only five out of twenty-six matches since the former Manager was handed a new contract in March 2006. Once again the total capitulation and lack of fight or pride was clearly apparent as the white flag was run up early in the second half to disgrace the club and the 1,800 travelling fans as they were again used as cannon fodder by the opposition. Luton were unbeaten at home, but the lack of fight ensured their easiest victory of the season.

Luton were ahead after just twelve minutes as Hayden Foxe lost possession to former United junior Warren Feeney, who set up Edwards to beat the advancing Neil Sullivan. Foxe made amends only five minutes later as he rose to head home an Adam Johnson corner to put United on level terms. That was the way it stayed until fifty-five minutes had elapsed, with United having looked reasonably secure apart from a couple of minor scares and shared the possession evenly. Ian Westlake and Jonathan Douglas in particular took the attack to the home team, but it all changed ten minutes into the second half as the home team regained the lead, with Warren Feeney again featuring with the cross that was chested in by a team mate. Sixty seconds later Edwards delivered for Vine to set up Bell, who forced the ball past Neil Sullivan. United threw on David Healy for Robbie Blake in the sixty-third minute and tried to rally with Paul Butler and Richard Cresswell both having headers blocked on the line, but the flurry was short and up went the white flag. After seventy-two minutes Eddie Lewis and Ian Moore were thrown on for Ian Westlake and Richard Cresswell but to no avail, as Heikkinen got the fourth with a simple header and United’s defence was again decimated when Vine’s cross was run in by the unmarked Edwards, who beat Neil Sullivan from eight yards, as Luton went nap.

With an abysmal record of one win and four losses in his five games in charge and seven for and a colossal seventeen against John Carver fell on his sword and Ken Bates was forced to act. He ultimately went to Swindon Town and paid up former Chelsea players Dennis Wise and Assistant Gus Poyet’s contracts and they watched from the stands as reserve team coach David Geddis piloted United for the Third Round Carling Cup tie with fellow cellar dwellers Southend United who were on equal points but a better goal average and one place above the next to bottom United.

The Leeds line-up, which was picked by Dennis Wise but managed by David Geddis, was, Warner; Kelly, Butler, Kilgallon, Crainey; Douglas, Westlake, Richardson, Lewis; Moore, Healy. Sullivan, Carole, Cresswell, Bayly and Blake were on the bench. Wise was left with no disillusions about the scale of the challenge he had accepted after another dismal performance in which Southend exposed all United’s weaknesses and deficiencies. Inept passing, suicidal defending and an acute lack of confidence figured high on the long list he had to tackle.

After Wise had delivered motivational words of encouragement to his new team, he left the running of the team to David Geddis while he and assistant Gus Poyet observed the match from the stands and duly noted the lack of quality displayed by Leeds in every quarter of the field. He must have observed the crying need for new blood, for although the team must have known that this was their audition to impress their new manager, there were few individual performance of skill, character or desire that would have caused a ripple of recognition. It would have been safe to assume that the axe would be hanging over several players who had consistently failed to perform. It would have been equally obvious that Wise would need the financial backing of Chairman Ken Bates in the January transfer window if the squad was going to be improved. It transpired that the victory in this tie drew the plum fixture of the next round with a home tie with Manchester United, but at this juncture it was more important to succeed in the CCCL rematch of the two teams at Elland Road on the following weekend, but for now, United spurned the chance of the rich pickings of the next round with another woeful display which sacrificed the possibility of the large financial prize.

Southend came to into the match with an abysmal record away from Roots Hall. In six games they had only managed to earn two points and score only two goals in the process, but like too many previously struggling teams they found their feet at Elland Road and dominated United as if they were world-beaters. Leeds produced four shots on goal compared to the visitor’s ten.

Southend had the added handicap of having their striker Billy Painter stretchered off as early as the twenty-second minute, but they overcame that disruption to stagger Leeds with two goals in three minutes. The porous nature of United’s backline was exposed in the thirty-third minute when a long clearance caught Stephen Crainey out of position on the left side of the defence. Simon Francis collected the loose ball in the United box and a desperate challenge from Crainey brought him down. Hammell sent Tony Warner the wrong way from the spot and United were in arrears. The second goal was even worse as a cross from Francis should have been an easy clearance for Matthew Kilgallon, but the out-of-form defender’s delay in clearing allowed Gutteridge to block it. The rebound fell kindly for Hooper who gleefully hammered the ball goal-wards with a powerful shot which found the net through Tony Warner’s arms. United replied just before the break through Ian Moore who finished off a swift attack which had sparked off a mass scramble in the Southend goal area by stabbing the ball home, but that glimmer of hope faded as the home team reverted to type after the break.

United’s inability to maintain possession for any meaningful length of time allowed Southend to dominate the midfield and Tony Warner came to United’s rescue after a mistake by Butler allowed Hooper an unopposed run on goal in the fifty-ninth minute. The keeper was helpless to intervene when another Southend attack found the United backline AWOL and although Crainey managed to block their first shot on goal the ball fell kindly to the unmarked Hooper to score with ease after sixty-four minutes. The game was lost. Richard Cresswell came on for Stephen Crainey in the sixty-ninth minute, and in a double substitution Robert Bayly was given his debut as he replaced Eddie Lewis. Robbie Blake was thrown on for Ian Moore with three minutes left, but it was all too easy for Southend as apart from Tony Warner, Gary Kelly and Ian Moore United had shown little fight or enthusiasm, with Paul Butler, Matthew Kilgallon, Stephen Crainey and David Healy all inept and anonymous. Dennis Wise had witnessed the all too regular scenario first hand and he must have departed certain in the fact that he faced a monumental challenge to motivate and give confidence to a team that had totally lost any confidence they once had and he would have to ring the inevitable changes to make it possible.

Photographs of the era:

Teams:

2004-2005

Back Row: Steve Agnew (Reserve Team Manager), Harvey Sharman (Physio), Harpal Singh, Martin Woods, Jamie Winter, Martin Hodge (Goalkeeping Coach), Scott Carson, Jamie McMaster, Paul Keegan, Simon Johnson, Allan Sutton (Physio), Bruce Craven (Masseur).

Middle Row: Sean Hardy (Kit Manager), Dean Riddle (Fitness Coach), Matt Spring, Steve Guppy, Brian Deane, Matthew Kilgallon, Michael Ricketts, Michael Duberry, Simon Walton, Clarke Carlisle, Craig Hignett, Seth Johnson, Aidy Boothroyd (First Team Coach), Dave Hancock (Head Physio).

Front Row: Aaron Lennon, Jermaine Wright, Frazer Richardson, Lucas Radebe, Kevin Blackwell (Manager), Paul Butler, Sam Ellis (Assistant Manager), Gary Kelly, Danny Pugh, Danny Cadamarteri, Julian Joachim.

2004-2005: Juniors

Back Row: Simon Madden, Ben Parker, Sean McDaid, Mark Wilberforce, Brenton Leister, Bailey Camfield, Gavin Rothery.

Middle Row: Gary Worthington (Coach), Robert Bayly, Jonathan Howson, Aaron Lennon, Phil Stansfield, Ryan Serrant, Donna Gormley (Physio).

Front Row: Kevin Smith, Craig Steins, Neil Thompson (Coach), Ian Morris, Greg Abbott (Coach), Steven McKeown, Simon Walton.

2005-2006

Back Row: Martin Hodge (Goalkeeping Coach), Rob Hulse, Clarke Carlisle, Michael Ricketts, Ian Bennett, Neil Sullivan, Matthew Kilgallon, Danny Pugh, Simon Walton, Harvey Sharman (Physio).

Middle Row: Dave Hancock (Head Physio), John Carver (Head Coach), Dean Riddle (Head Fitness Consultant), Eirik Bakke, Frazer Richardson, Shaun Derry, Dan Harding, Gylfi Einarsson, Seth Johnson, Jermaine Wright, Darren Mowbury (Performance Analysist), Sean Hardy (Kit Manager), Alan Sutton (Physio).

Front Row: Robbie Blake, David Healy, Eddie Lewis, Sean Gregan, Sam Ellis (Assistant Manager), Paul Butler, Kevin Blackwell (Manager), Gary Kelly, Steve Stone, Stephen Crainey, Ian Moore.

2005-2006

Back Row: Martin Hodge (Goalkeeping Coach), Rob Hulse, Clarke Carlisle, Michael Ricketts, Ian Bennett, Neil Sullivan, Matthew Kilgallon, Danny Pugh, Simon Walton, Harvey Sharman (Physio).

Middle Row: Dave Hancock (Head Physio), John Carver (Head Coach), Dean Riddle (Head Fitness Consultant), Eirik Bakke, Frazer Richardson, Shaun Derry, Dan Harding, Gylfi Einarsson, Seth Johnson, Jermaine Wright, Darren Mowbury (Performance Analysist), Sean Hardy (Kit Manager), Alan Sutton (Physio).

Front Row: Robbie Blake, David Healy, Eddie Lewis, Sean Gregan, Sam Ellis (Assistant Manager), Paul Butler, Kevin Blackwell (Manager), Gary Kelly, Steve Stone, Stephen Crainey, Ian Moore.

2006-2007

Back Row: Dean Riddle (Head Fitness Consultant), Frazer Richardson, Dan Harding, Matthew Kilgallon, Neil Sullivan, Sean Gregan, Jermaine Beckford, Ian Moore, Darren Mowbury (Performance Analyst).

Middle Row: Sean Hardy (Kit Manager), Martin Hodge (Goalkeeping Coach), Harvey Sharman (Physio), Richard Cresswell, Kevin Nicholls, Gylfi Einarsson, Rui Marques, Shaun Derry, Eirik Bakke, Alan Sutton (Physio), Dave Hancock (Physio), Carl Serrant (Fitness Coach).

Front Row: Robbie Blake, Steve Stone, David Healy, Paul Butler, John Carver (Assistant Manager), Kevin Blackwell (Manager), David Geddis (Reserve Team Manager), Gary Kelly, Seb Carole, Eddie Lewis, Stephen Crainey.

2006-2007

Back Row: Jonathan Douglas, Eddie Lewis, David Healy, Hayden Foxe, Jermaine Beckford, Rui Marques, Shaun Derry, Geoff Horsfield, Stephen Crainey, Paul Butler, Neil Sullivan, Gylfi Einarsson, Tony Warner, Frazer Richardson.

Front Row: Ian Westlake, Gary Kelly, Robbie Blake, Ian Moore, Matthew Kilgallon, Seb Carole.

Players/Managers:

Kevin Blackwell: Manager, Eirik Bakke , Jermaine Beckford , Ian Bennett , Nathan Blake , Robbie Blake , Paul Butler , Danny Cadamarteri , Clarke Carlisle Sebastien Carole , Stephen Crainey , Richard Cresswell , Brian Deane , Shaun Derry , Jonathan Douglas , Michael Duberry , Ugo Ehiogu , Gylfi Einarsson , Hayden Foxe , Danny Graham , Micky Gray , Sean Gregan , Joel Griffiths , Leandre Griffit , Steve Guppy , Dan Harding , Paul Harrison David Healy , Craig Hignett , Geoff Horsfield , Jonny Howson , Rob Hulse , Sasa Ilic , Julian Joachim , Adam Johnson , Seth Johnson , Simon Johnson , Gary Kelly , Andy Keogh , Matthew Kilgallon , Marlon King , Aaron Lennon , Eddie Lewis , David Livermore , Rui Marques , Jamie McMaster , Liam Miller , Ian Moore , Kevin Nicholls , Brett Ormerod , John Oster , Kevin Pressman , Danny Pugh , Lucas Radebe , Frazer Richardson , Michael Ricketts , Danny Rose , Gavin Rothery , Armando Sa , Matthew Spring , Steve Stone , Neil Sullivan , Simon Walton , Tony Warner , Ian Westlake , Jamie Winter , Martin Woods , Michael Woods , Alan Wright , Jermaine Wright .

Part 2: Dennis Wise - An Unwise move 2006-07

2006-2007:

Season Statistics: Games, Results, Appearances, Goalscorers Football League Tables for the Season

Dennis Wise had watched from the stands along with his Assistant Gus Poyet as United had stuttered to an ignominious exit from the Carling Cup against a team that were deep in the relegation mire but had made Leeds look decidedly second best and it did not bode well for the chances of the new Manager and his former Chelsea team-mate and now his Assistant. He went back to his Chelsea roots and tried to mow the meadow as he scythed through the United team unfortunate to have played in the Carling Cup encounter in the previous midweek. New loan signing, Graham Stack, replaced Tony Warner, who in turn dropped to the bench at the expense of Neil Sullivan. Wise probably recalled his skirmishes with Gary Kelly during his playing days and gave the United stalwart the benefit of the doubt at Right Back, but Stephen Crainey was not so lucky as Eddie Lewis assumed his USA team role at Left Back, dropping back from his recent United role of Left-Winger. Central Defenders Paul Butler, who lost the Captain’s armband, and Matthew Kilgallon both survived the axe, although more likely because there was just no-one to take their places. Frazer Richardson lost his spot in Right midfield and replaced Sebastien Carole on the bench as Ian Moore was given a chance to show his paces in midfield rather than as an out-and-out striker. Shaun Derry was installed as captain, in Kevin Nicholls' absence, and took over from Ian Westlake, who dropped to the bench in place of Rob Bayly, while Jonathan Douglas was another to escape the chop and held his position in midfield with loanee Adam Johnson returning and taking the Left Wing spot vacated by Eddie Lewis. Richard Cresswell swapped his place on the bench for the chance to partner David Healy up front and Robbie Blake maintained his place on the bench joined by Hayden Foxe, who replaced Cresswell as a substitute. The effect was what Wise and the faithful fans had been hoping for and the team that had conceded seventeen goals in the previous CCCL encounters kept a clean sheet and climbed from their worst-ever League position of twenty-third to twenty-first as Ian Moore repeated his performance of the previous Wednesday to score the first after forty minutes and Robbie Blake, who had replaced David Healy on the eighty minute mark, finally put the game beyond doubt two minutes before the end of normal time. Adam Johnson and Ian Moore were lively early on and the left winger went close after being set up by Shaun Derry, while Ian Moore was probably United’s best player until he had to go off with a back injury and was replaced by Frazer Richardson on the hour mark. The defence was much sounder than of recent times and Paul Butler stood out despite taking an heavy knock early on. Johnson made the running for the first goal getting possession deep in his own half and making progress before sending a perfectly weighted pass to Ian Moore who made his run in the centre-forward area and taking the ball in his stride before adeptly beating the advancing keeper. United missed Moore after he had to leave the field, and Graham Stack was called upon more than once to save United as Southend came more into the game, but needlessly picked up a yellow card for time-wasting. However Robbie Blake made sure of the points as he scored with a superb free-kick from twenty-yards, one minute after Ian Westlake had replaced Adam Johnson. While Wise would have been happy to start with a win, it was obvious that there was still a lot of work to be done.

After the Lord Mayor’s show came Deepdale and Preston North End gained sweet revenge for United’s play-off semi-final win of the previous season and none of the three ex-Preston players in the Leeds ranks could have been proud of their performances. Wise stuck with the same formation with Ian Westlake filling in for the suspended Jonathan Douglas and Geoff Horsfield taking his place on the bench. The United’s midfield was totally over-run by their Preston counterparts with ex-United man Danny Pugh having a hand in most of their goals. United’s inability to gain possession or retain it for any length of time meant that the defence was deluged by the ever pressing Preston attack. It was a surprise that it took Preston almost twenty minutes to open their account as Pugh fed David Nugent on the right wing and he centred to Stack’s near post and Danny Dichio stepped in to glance a clinical header past Stack as the rest of the Leeds defence stood leaden footed. The second wasn’t long coming as David Nugent hopelessly outpaced Paul Butler to cross for Danny Pugh to slide the ball into the net, just two minutes later and the game was over as a contest. Graham Stack prevented it from becoming a rout with fine saves from Chris Sedgwick and Sean St Ledger before the interval, but was fortunate not to concede a penalty as Pugh appeared to be fouled three minutes after he had scored his goal. However, there was little he could do as David Nugent, tapped in a third after fine work from Simon Whaley. This prompted Wise to throw on the cavalry, in a death or glory attempt, as Robbie Blake and Geoff Horsfield replaced the ineffective Ian Moore and Adam Johnson after forty-nine minutes as he desperately tried to hope that his four man forward line could get Leeds back into the game. There was no threat to Carlo Nash in the Preston goal, although Shaun Derry did produce United’s first attempt on goal after fifty-seven minutes. David Healy had received terrible abuse from his former supporters and he did quieten them briefly as he headed a Richard Cresswell cross into the net with ten minutes to go, but Preston responded with a fourth as Lewis Neal’s shot took a wicked deflection to leave Stack helpless. Shaun Derry headed against the bar in injury-time but apart from Graham Stack, who was blameless for any of the goals, Wise would not have been happy with the performances of any of his outfield players.

For the weekend visit to Oakwell, Wise went to 4-3-3 as Jonathan Douglas returned to midfield after suspension in place of Adam Johnson, who dropped to the bench, and Robbie Blake was pushed up front in place of Ian Moore, while Geoff Horsfield started in place of Richard Cresswell who took his place on the bench, along with Gylfi Einarsson. United approached the game against one of the few teams lower than themselves in the CCCL with a degree of optimism, in the knowledge that a win would take them out of the relegation zone for the time being. It was one of the games they were capable of winning and should have won, if they had taken the chances that were on offer to them, but in the end they conceded full points to the home club, who were not the better team. They fell to their seventh defeat in eight games and remained entrenched in the drop zone as they slipped to twenty-third with the worst goal difference in the Division. Graham Stack was at fault after half-an-hour when he punched a lofted free-kick straight from Michael McIndoe straight to the feet of Martin Devaney who quickly put it in the net. In recent times that would have been a sign for running up the white flag but for the first time in the season United hit back after going in arrears and had their noses in front by the break and deservedly so. Shaun Derry arrived at the far post to head home Robbie Blake’s corner to score his first goal of the season to level the scores a minute before the interval and right on half-time Robbie Blake collected a pass from Eddie Lewis to produce a clinical finish as the travelling faithful gave voice to their new found elation. Barnsley had had a chance to score between the two United goals as Marc Richards missed an easy chance from four yards. United replaced Geoff Horsfield with Richard Cresswell on the hour mark but as the game wore on the lack of numbers in the United midfield began to show and Barnsley started to take advantage down the flanks. Michael McIndoe equalised after sixty-five minutes as the pace of Daniel Nardiello, who had replaced the ineffective Marc Richards, began to show up United’s defensive frailties. It was Nardiello who also created the winning goal, leaving Paul Butler and Matthew Kilgallon in his wake before teeing up Brian Howard to score the winner five minutes later, and was unlucky not to get on the scorecard himself as his lob later bounced off a post. Wise threw on Adam Johnson for the fading Ian Westlake and Gylfi Einarsson for Jonathan Douglas, but it was too late and United slumped to another demoralising defeat.

Wise persevered with his 4-3-3 system but once more rang the changes. Graham Stack and Tony Warner kept their goalkeeping positions, but Matthew Kigallon was the only defender to retain his position. The injured Gary Kelly, the axed Paul Butler and Eddie Lewis were replaced by Hayden Foxe, Matt Heath and Stephen Crainey, with Eddie Lewis moving forward to left midfield in place of Ian Westlake, who dropped to the bench. Shaun Derry and Jonathan Douglas both retained their midfield spots and Robbie Blake and Geoff Horsfield were rewarded for recent displays by retaining their forward roles but David Healy was also discarded and Richard Cresswell was given a run in his place. Adam Johnson was joined on the bench by Ian Moore and Jermaine Beckford but there was no place for Gylfi Einarsson and others. There had been talk of a large broom sweeping clean the United deadwood with Sean Gregan and Paul Butler high on the list of likely suspects and the idea that Alan Smith might return on loan received a mixed reception and not much enthusiasm from Smith. Wise had made it known that he was not impressed by the lack of physical fitness of his new charges and had put Robbie Blake on a diet and hinted that others would follow Gregan and Butler. Blake underlined his worth to the team with two goals to make it four from four games since his reinstatement in the team. There were reflections of the humiliating loss to Colchester in the FA Cup almost thirty-five years previous as United faced the Armistice Day clash with trepidation as their opponents were not far from having play-off aspirations. They began quietly but upon finding there was little to worry about in the opposition as Robbie Blake missed a relatively easy chance by heading wide with only the keeper to beat. He soon made amends when he received the ball near the half-way line and after being allowed to advance unimpeded, he beat one defender before crashing the ball past Aidan Davison in the Colchester goal, after thirty-six minutes. United easily held on to their lead, with just one flutter as Colchester failed to take advance of an easy headed chance a minute before the break. Three minutes into the second half United had their two goal lead and a stranglehold on the game as Eddie Lewis’ perfectly flighted cross was met by a perfectly-timed run from Richard Cresswell as he headed in unopposed at the far post. United put the game firmly out of Colchester’s grasp when Cresswell was fouled by John White in the box and Robbie Blake stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way from the spot, after just fifty-three minutes. Ian Moore came on for Geoff Horsfield after sixty-three minutes, Ian Westlake replaced Eddie Lewis on seventy-six minutes and Jermaine Beckford was a token replacement for Richard Cresswell on the final whistle. With the game won United relaxed their grip on the game and Colchester went close on several occasions and with luck could have made a comeback in the last half-hour, but with Shaun Derry leading by example in midfield and Robbie Blake scoring twice it would have been an injustice to United in what was a fine all-round performance but with Hull City surprisingly beating Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southend United equally surprisingly holding Preston North End United did not really benefit from the win but moved above Barnsley into twenty-second spot and no longer had the worst goal difference in the Division.

With Southampton providing the opposition in the second of the back-to-back home fixtures and their record being on a par with Colchester there were high expectations of another United victory and another leap up the table. Wise kept faith with his team with only David Healy returning for the injured Richard Cresswell, even the bench remained intact. However those hopes and aspirations once more floundered as United’s flaws and inconsistencies once more reared their ugly head. It wasn’t that United were inferior to Southampton, and indeed they remained in the game for all but the last fifteen minutes, it was just that their inability to capitalise on their chances and the defence’s inadequacies let in another three goals which resulted in another depressing result and the realisation that they and three other teams were starting a mini-league of their own adrift from the other twenty team who soon would have no thoughts of relegation. Yet for sixty-nine minutes the result had hung by a thread of Grzegorz Rasiak’s thirtieth minute header and even then the visitors had been flattered by that lead. In fairness to United, they had virtually dominated the first half and had a tight grip on the start of the second half. United had started the game in a hurry and they peppered the Saints’ goal, with Robbie Blake leading the charge. His well judged through ball after three minutes saw Geoff Horsfield get in a powerful shot which went narrowly the wrong side of the upright. Four minutes later Blake provided the pass for defender Matt Heath to commit a glaring miss from less than six yards. After fifteen minutes, the sustained United pressure saw keeper Kelvin Davis pull off a fine save to tip over David Healy’s goal-bound shot. Then came the inevitable goal from the visitors totally against the run of play, and even that could not abate the United pressure as Eddie Lewis saw his free-kick cleared off the line and Robbie Blake hit a low shot into the side-netting as the interval approached. The pressure did not relent after the restart as Blake again was just wide and Ian Moore, who replaced Geoff Horsfield after fifty-five minutes, saw a goal-bound effort blocked inside the six yard box. Unfortunately the sustained United storm ran out of momentum and Southampton took advantage of it. Columbian substitute John Viafara, who had replaced an ineffectual Wright-Phillips in the sixty-fourth minute, turned Stephen Crainey five minutes later and sent a low cross to the far post where Rudi Skacel slid the ball in. It was obvious from the run of the game that United were never going to pull back the two goal deficit and it came as no surprise when Skacel turned provider when his corner found Rasiak as the United stood transfixed as he nipped in to glance a header past the helpless Graham Stack. There was no point in arguing that the score was not a true reflection of the game, the fact was that United were twenty-second in the CCCL and five points adrift from the twentieth team.

Nobody would have been looking forward to the long trip to Devon, to face a Plymouth side with a higher league position than United’s most recent opposition, but once again the Elland Road enigmas proved just how inconsistent they could be with a fine 2-1 victory against the odds as Wise reverted to 4-4-2. Ian Westlake and Ian Moore got the nod over David Healy and Geoff Horsfield, who dropped to the bench where Sebastien Carole and newcomer Tresor Kandol replaced returned loanee Adam Johnson and Jermaine Beckford. Five successive away defeats, and three months since their last full points away from home was achieved, was an adverse prospect for United’s longest trip away from home. Ian Moore, for once, produced an effective display and was instrumental in both United’s goals. Only three minutes had elapsed when he won the ball in the air to allow Eddie Lewis to get in his cross and, as the Plymouth defenders followed him to the near post, Robbie Blake was left unmarked at the far post and scored with ease. Moore was unlucky not to get his name on the scoresheet after twelve minutes when he hit he crossbar following Matt Heath heading down for him to get in his shot. The home team was particularly aggressive and the foul count against them escalated and they were lucky to get away with an ankle-tap on Ian Westlake in the box soon afterwards. However with Leeds dominating the midfield it was against the run of play when the Pilgrims equalised. Matt Heath was a fault as he needlessly conceded a free-kick and an hesitant Graham Stack was not blameless as Bojan Djordjic scored with a close-range header to send the teams in level at the break. Just on the hour it was Ian Moore who beat the Argyle offside trap and found Eddie Lewis in space and the winger went on to beat the keeper, Luke McCormick, and put the ball in the net to give United a deserved lead. Predictably Argyle threw everything they had at United in response and Eddie Lewis was to thank for clearing off the line from Lilian Nilis’ header and Graham Stack redeemed himself with a fine low save from substitute Nick Chadwick. Tresor Kandol replaced Robbie Blake after sixty-eight minutes and contributed well up front but it was the United defence that held firm, despite four minutes of injury time, to get the full points and push United up a place to twenty-first.

A midweek trip across the Pennines to Turf Moor was the game on United’s agenda and they paraded new loan signing Ugo Ehiogu in place of Matthew Kilgallon in an otherwise unchanged squad. United faced another daunting task against a team from the higher echelons of the League with a good home record, but buoyed by their weekend win against the odds came into the game with renewed confidence and more than held their own for fifty-two minutes until it became an uneven contest following the dismissal of Hayden Foxe. Booked in the first half for a foul on Steve Jones, Foxe lost his footing and pushed the ball away with his hand and was unlucky to get another yellow and instant dismissal. By the seventieth minute United were two down and the game had gone. United carved out few chances but had contained Burnley with ease prior to Foxe’s departure. However Stack had watched well beaten as a shot from Steve Jones narrowly missed the target and then he tipped over from the same player but apart from a parry to a Wade Elliott free-kick had little else to do prior to the two sides going into the break goalless. Ehiogu was calm and confident in the United defence which easily repelled all Burnley had to offer to that point. United did have their chances and both fell to Ian Moore but he shot straight at Burnley keeper Danny Coyne with his first chance and sliced badly wide with his second. Foxe’s departure caused a radical rethink to the United team with Jonathan Douglas dropping to full back, Ian Moore filling-in in midfield and Robbie Blake being taken off to leave his replacement Tresor Kandol as United’s lone attacker. The impressive Steve Jones beat Jonathan Douglas on the right and crossed into the goalmouth, where Matt Heath could only partially clear straight to the feet of Gifton Noel-Williams, who gave Graham Stack no chance. Two minutes later ex-United man Andy Gray turned quickly on the edge of the box to beat Stack with a low shot into the corner of the net. Strangely it was Leeds who dominated the remaining twenty minutes, when all the pointers had indicated an imminent avalanche of goals, and it was a great forty-yard pass from Stephen Crainey that found David Healy, a seventy-second minute substitute for Ian Moore, and the Irish international beat keeper Danny Coyne with a shot from outside the box which seemed to take a deflection off Jon Harley. United dropped to twenty-second but looked forward to the next game with Barnsley at Elland Road after two good performances on the road against better opposition.

It was back to 4-3-3, with Jonathan Douglas dropping back and replacing the suspended Hayden Foxe at right-back and Tresor Kandol being promoted from the bench and given his run-on debut up front. The not quite match-fit Fraser Richardson and Jermaine Beckford were on the bench as Geoff Horsfield dropped out. It was a Yorkshire derby that was as enthralling as it was entertaining but could not hide the deficiencies of both teams. All the goals were scored in a breathless first half and illustrated the attacking intent of both teams but in the end said more about their lack of defensive ability rather than the quality of their attack. All four goals stemmed from errors and lapses and illustrated the task of both managers to try to escape the bottom three with such leaking defences. As at Oakwell, despite the addition of Ugo Ehiogu and his class and organisational ability, the Leeds defence had no answer to the pace of Leon Knight and Daniel Nardiello, who led the Barnsley attack brilliantly and was rewarded with both goals. With Gary Kelly still injured and Frazer Richardson still not match-fit, Wise had chosen to replace the suspended Hayden Foxe with midfield-man Jonathan Douglas. It was not that he did not do an adequate job but more that his presence was missed in midfield where United found it hard to retain possession. Nardiello had opened the scoring as early as the third minute, when he got the ball from a throw-in on the left before strolling past Shaun Derry, dummied his way past Ugo Ehiogu and drilled a low shot past Graham Stack into the corner of the net. It did not take United long to reply as Tresor Kandol equalised after eight minutes following total confusion in the Barnsley defence. Neil Austin headed a Jonathan Douglas cross high into the air in front of the Barnsley goal, Keeper Nick Colgan collided with centre-back Paul Reid and Kandol was left with the simple task of heading into an empty net. From then on United carried the greater threat as Robbie Blake twice went close and Eddie Lewis clipped the outside of the post after thirty-five minutes. However, instead of taking the lead United conceded another soft goal as Nardiello struck a minute later. Taking a long ball from Neil Austin in his stride, wrong footed both Stephen Crainey and Matt Heath as he turned inside, Ehiogu attempted to block the ball with Graham Stack out of position but it flew past him and into the far corner of the net. As the first half went into stoppage time Ehiogu took advantage of the two extra minutes to put United on level terms. Ian Westlake took advantage of slack marking to cross to an unmarked Shaun Derry, who headed back across the goal and Ehiogu was equally free to head past Colgan from close range. In the second half chances were still plentiful and Ian Westlake saw a volley turned behind by Colgan while at the other end Stack made an alert save from Leon Knight and Paul Hayes. The game was into its last quarter when United thought they had gained full points. Matt Heath leaped to head home an Ian Westlake corner at the near post, the referee signalled a goal, the Barnsley players accepted it without dissent, but the linesman advised the referee there had been a foul and the goal was disallowed and United had to settle for a point. After twenty-one games United had twenty points and remained in twenty-second place, two behind Barnsley, three more than Hull City and eight more than the seemingly doomed Southend United.

Fourth-placed Derby County with Ex-United midfielder Seth Johnson were the next visitors to Elland Road and United welcomed by Hayden Foxe from suspension which allowed Jonathan Douglas to move into his normal tole in midfield in place of Ian Westfield, while up front David Healy replaced Ian Moore who dropped to the bench, where young Jonathan Howson was given a space at the Jermaine Beckford. Derby opened the scoring in the ninth minute and from there on there was an air of inevitability about the result. The Leeds midfield of Shaun Derry, Jonathan Douglas and Eddie Lewis was overrun by Derby even though Lewis was probably United’s best player but Seth Johnson ran the midfield and Derby had outstanding players in Darren Moore, Jon Stead and Giles Barnes. David Healy went close with a volley after seven minutes but that was all the shots United could muster in the first-half. Hayden Foxe provided Healy with the chance but while not letting the side down, it was apparent that he was a central defender playing out of position and that Leeds would benefit from the return of injured Gary Kelly and Frazer Richardson who were specialists in that role. The latter was being eased back into match action due to his ham-string injury and remained unused on the bench. The Derby goal came because Jon Stead was allowed too much room by a hesitant defence and his cross to the back post was headed home by Giles Barnes past a flailing Graham Stack after he had lost his marker, Stephen Crainey. With Johnson in charge derby dominated the first half and squandered several chances. After the break it was a different matter as United played with more determination and Eddie Lewis went close after good work by Shaun Derry and Robbie Blake. Blake also went close but shot into the side-netting, however, the best chance fell to David Healy just before being substituted by Ian Moore in the sixty-seventh minute. A determined run from Blake took him deep into the Derby box and he unselfishly pulled the ball back to Healy from the by-line but the Irish Striker ballooned the ball high into the Kop. Had he scored it would have been a platform for a United victory but it served to revitalise Derby and they went close to doubling their lead with two minutes to go but Steven Jones rattled the bar with Stack well beaten. Leeds, however, had one final chance as Matt Heath got in a header from an Eddie Lewis cross and it flew towards the top corner, but Derby keeper Stephen Bywater reacted brilliantly to turn the ball wide. United remained in twenty-second spot with twenty points after twenty-two games of the forty-six already gone.

Portman Road was the venue for United’s next game which marked the halfway point of the season. Ipswich were hovering just above the relegation zone and a win by United could have dragged them into the mire. Ugo Ehiogu was unavailable due to injury and that gave Hayden Foxe a chance to play in his normal position as Frazer Richardson was deemed fit enough to resume at right back. Eddie Lewis dropped back to replace Stephen Crainey to accommodate the return of long-term injured captain Kevin Nicholls, while Ian Westlake returned to midfield at the expense of Robbie Blake as Leeds reverted to 4-4-2 with Ian Moore taking over up front from David Healy, who dropped to the bench, where Geoff Horsfield and Matthew Kilgallon found a place as Jonathan Howson was omitted. Former United players Dan Harding, at left back, and Simon Walton, on loan from Charlton Athletic, and on the bench greeted their former team-mates. The returning skipper provided the bite in midfield and was the games outstanding player and covered the pitch tirelessly until six minutes from the end when he was shown the red card and saw him suspended for three games. The sending-off followed a confrontation with several Ipswich players following Nicholls' challenge on Danny Haynes. Nicholls had been booked for a clumsy tackle on Alan Lee sixty second earlier and when he caught Haynes with an elbow the challenge looked innocuous and accidental but on the linesman’s advice the referee produced a straight red. It seemed a little harsh as Owen Garvan escaped without caution for poleaxing Nicholls in the ensuing melee, while Alan Lee was not sent off for a blatant elbow on Hayden Foxe halfway through the second half. The events of the eighty-fourth minute overshadowed a forgettable game between two mediocre sides. Sylvain Legwinski drove a long range effort straight into the arms of Graham Stack midway through the first half as both teams seemed intent on not losing, rather than winning the encounter as neither side seemed committed to pushing players forward. United’s defence looked confident and the new pairing of Matt Heath and Hayden Foxe repelled Ipswich without breaking a sweat until injury-time in the first half which produced the only goal of the game. Leeds should have been in front by then as Tresor Kandol wasted a fine chance after a Jonathan Douglas pass found him totally unmarked. He was unable to control the ball quick enough and the Ipswich defence were given time to put pressure on him and he fired tamely wide from ten yards. Kandol’s miss was swiftly followed by Gavin Williams’ match-winner which resulted from a hopeful long ball upfield headed on by Alan Lee which Williams’ quickly controlled before volleying it past Graham Stack. United had their chances to reverse the score-line in the second half as Tresor Kandol missed twice in five minutes. The first was from a gift by Lewis Price who miscued his punch from a Kevin Nicholls free-kick and it went in the air and fell conveniently on Kandol’s head, but he only managed to steer the ball wide of an unguarded net. Five minutes later Ian Moore’s lay-off created another opening for Kandol but the keeper reacted well to push the shot round the post. That was as near as United came, but it could have been different if Sebastien Carole had squared the ball to an unmarked David Healy, who was ready to tap the ball into an empty net had Carole not chosen to try to beat the keeper himself from a narrow angle and succeeded only in hitting Price. United had now dropped to twenty-third with twenty points from twenty-three games.

United entertained fellow-strugglers Hull City, hoping that full points would see them leapfrog the Humber-siders on the League ladder. Tony Warner stood in for the injured Graham stack and his place on the bench was taken by Neil Sullivan. Ugo Ehiogu returned to central defence in place of Hayden Foxe in an otherwise unchanged defence, while Jonathan Howson was given his first League start of the season as he replaced the suspended Kevin Nicholls in midfield and Robbie Blake took over from Ian Moore up front and the latter replaced Geoff Horsfield on the bench. Ex-United striker Michael Bridges replaced another ex-United player in Nick Barmby, who was injured. With both sides in the bottom three the game was never going to be a classic and both sides played as if neither was prepared to lose and Hull in particular pulled most of their players back into their own half at the first sign of a United attack. Leeds created the better chances in a dour first half with Jonathan Douglas having an angled shot blocked by Michael Turner, Robbie Blake was just wide with a shot from the right and Tresor Kandol had a header brilliantly tipped over by Boaz Myhill. Bridges did create a chance for himself with some deft footwork but couldn’t supply the finishing touch and in the second half Jonathan Howson also controlled the ball well in the box but shot straight at the keeper. So for the third game on the trot Leeds remained goalless and failed to overtake their visitors and remained in twenty-third position with twenty-one points after twenty-four games.

For the Boxing Day clash at the stadium of Light against promotion hopefuls Sunderland, United rested Jonathan Howson to the bench and welcomed Hayden Foxe back at right back with Frazer Richardson pushing up into midfield, while Jermaine Beckford came in for Robbie Blake and David Healy replaced Sebastien Carole on the bench. United faced two former loanees in the shape of central defender Steve Caldwell and midfield-man Liam Miller. There was little doubt that United put up a gallant fight and held Sunderland until the sixty-fifth minute but the lack of trouble that United created to the Sunderland defence always meant that one goal was going to be good enough for the home team to gain full points. Tresor Kandol and Jermaine Beckford posed no threat to the Sunderland keeper Darren Ward who was virtually redundant and this meant that Sunderland could push up and attack incessantly with no fear of a counter attack. While the commitment and resilience of the Leeds defence merited a point Sunderland deserved the full pints for their patience and attractive football. United weathered the storm extremely well in the first half and deserved to go to the break on level terms as Sunderland had only created one clear cut chance as Stephen Elliott got in a shot at the near post but Tony Warner was alert and equal to the challenge as he pushed it round the post. The second half saw the Sunderland dominance reap its reward after Liam Miller and Darryl Murphy both went close before David Connelly turned quickly in the box to create enough space to get in a shot which flashed past Tony Warner and into the net. United did finally trouble Darren Ward and under pressure he failed to claim a high ball but Frazer Richardson was unable to capitalise on it. In Grant Leadbitter Sunderland had the best player on the field and it was fitting that he should put the game beyond recall nine minutes from the end after a fine run by Darryl Murphy and a neat bit of play from Dwight gave him the space to get in his shot from eighteen yards for a classy finish. Late in the game Matthew Kilgallon, who had come on for United after seventy-two minutes in a triple substitution with David Healy and Ian Moore replacing Ugo Ehiogu, Shaun Derry and Jermaine Beckford, made two outstanding blocks to keep United’s goal intact, but unfortunately had to limp out of the action after injuring himself in the second challenge. There was further bad news at full-time when results elsewhere showed an unexpected Barnsley victory over Burnley which meant they were now five points behind their Oakwell rivals and had failed to score in the last four games, and remained on twenty-one points in twenty-third position after twenty-five games.

Jonathan Howson was restored to the team with Frazer Richardson reverting to right back with Hayden Foxe dropping out, and the ineffective Tresor Kandol and Jermaine Beckford found themselves on the bench with Ian Moore and David Healy pressed into service in attack. There was a place on the bench for Rui Marques, for the injured Matthew Kilgallon, and Sebastien Carole as deputy to Howson, as United visited the Potteries and Stoke City. After their humiliating 4-0 home defeat earlier in the season United were not relishing the visit and went behind after just twelve minutes, when Lee Hendrie curled a corner high into the box and Tony Warner watched helplessly as Mamady Sidibe rose above a static defence to head home. This resulted in a more attacking United and Jonathan Douglas got in a dipping volley which almost crept under the Stoke crossbar just two minutes later. A sustained United attack left them short in numbers at the back when a quick counter-attack spearheaded by Lee Hendrie saw Darel Russell fail to get any power into his shot and Warner collected untroubled. However, despite this period of sustained pressure Leeds were unable to equalise as long range efforts from David Healy and Eddie Lewis were easily dealt with by Steve Simonsen, but such was United’s dominance that the sent wave after wave of attacks towards the Stoke goal and should have had a reward in the thirty-seventh minute when the referee failed to punish Carl Houfkens who climbed all over David Healy in the Stoke box. The pressure eventually told just four minutes before half-time when David Healy’s deep cross from the right wing left Simonsen badly exposed and Ian Moore ran in at the back post to leap above his marker to head home a thoroughly deserved equaliser and the teams went in on level terms at the half-time break. Lee Hendrie had struggled with an injury in the first half and was replaced by Patrick Berger at the start of the second half. The Czech International soon made his presence felt and on fifty-eight minutes he restored Stoke’s lead with a shot from eighteen yards which deflected off Ugo Ehiogu’s head and into the United net. It was a sad reward for Ehiogu, who had brought a new solidarity to the United defence and it was more than United could cope with and it became impossible when Richardo Fuller put Stoke further ahead in the seventy-sixth minute after he shot into an empty net after a mix-up between Warner and Ehiogu allowed the ball the run to him and presented him with an unmissable opportunity. United had broken the goal drought but had failed to arrest their losing streak and they remained in deep trouble on twenty-one points from twenty-six games and second from the bottom and becoming increasingly isolated from safety.

New Years Day saw the visit of Coventry City to Elland Road and it was hoped that 2007 would bring a change of fortune for United. Neil Sullivan was given back his position as United’s No.1 after some recent unconvincing performances by Tony Warner, who dropped to the bench. There were sweeping changes in the back four where new loan signing Robbie Elliott took over from Eddie Lewis who was pushed up into midfield at the expense of Ian Westlake who dropped to the bench. Hayden Foxe was paired with Rui Marques in central defence as Ugo Ehiogu’s loan spell had expired and Matt Heath was left out. There was a welcome return of Kevin Nicholls from suspension and he took his place in midfield as Wise switched to 4-3-3 and Jonathan Howson dropped to the bench and Shaun Derry was also omitted, while up front Robbie Blake returned after injury to join David Healy and Ian Moore in the three pronged attack. The five men on the bench were Tony Warner, Sebastien Carole, Jonathan Howson, Ian Westlake and Tresor Kandol. For once United were able to convert their superiority into points, but it was due more to the totally inept display by Coventry, who gave an abysmal performance, rather than United blowing away the opposition. On the evidence of their performance Coventry must come into serious consideration for the drop and the win gave United renewed hope. United’s performance was all it needed to be to overcome such poor opposition They started off at a quick pace and the onslaught could have seen the game over by half-time had United hit the net rather than the woodwork. Robbie Blake and Eddie Lewis both saw free-kicks rebound from the crossbar, after David Healy had given United a fifteenth minute lead and when Adam Virgo equalised for the visitors just before half-time after indecision in the United defence, all the United pressure had been for nothing and Coventry went in at the break undeservedly on level terms. United started the second half just as they had done in the first half and pulverised Coventry for the first ten minutes or so with intense pressure. It did have the desired effect as Eddie Lewis got in a clever pass to David Healy whose shot rebounded of the Coventry keeper, Andy Marshall, and Jonathan Douglas placed the ball into an empty net as he followed up on fifty-three minutes. Coventry immediately threw on Leon McKenzie and Dele Adebola and it was United’s turn to defend grimly for the last half hour. However the Coventry attack lacked cohesion and Neil Sullivan only had one moment of trouble when he was beaten by a Kevin Kyle header but it flew wide and United finished in front with their first win in eight games. It was a vital win in a vital game but results elsewhere saw Southend United, Hull City and Queens Park Rangers also win as United remained last but one with twenty-four points from twenty-seven games, but at least the losing streak had been arrested.

There was a visit to the Hawthorns as a break in the struggle for points in the CCCL in the Third Round of the FA Cup. Once more there were wholesale changes which heralded the return of Captain Kevin Nicholls from suspension and the inclusion on the bench of new signings Tore Andre Flo and Armando Sa on the bench along with junior keeper Jonathan Lund. The full line-up was: Neil Sullivan; Rui Marques, Matt Heath, Hayden Foxe, Robbie Elliott; Jonathan Howson, Kevin Nicholls, Eddie Lewis; Robbie Blake, Ian Moore, David Healy. Jonathan Lund, Armando Sa, Shaun Derry, Ian Westlake and Tore Andre Flo were on the bench. Some may say that the defeat was a blessing in disguise as it left Dennis Wise and his team with nothing to concentrate on except avoiding relegation. The financial gains from a good Cup run could not be ignored but the odds of achieving that were always stacked high and now United’s season is restricted to nineteen vital games which will decide their destiny. Two of their rivals, Southend United and Barnsley, were both involved in draws which meant extra midweek games and the possibility of injury and fatigue, something which United would not have to contend with. That was of little consequence to the two thousand faithful who made their second trek of the season to the Hawthorns and watched as United capitulated almost as soon as the game had started. United were two goals in arrears after less than fifteen minutes and both were due to woeful defending. West Brom opened the scoring in the seventh minute and were virtually assured of a place in the Fourth Round when their lead was doubled eight minutes later. The first was due to the creativity of Jason Koumas, whose dangerous cross forced Robbie Elliott to head over his own bar in the sixth minute. From the ensuing corner Neil Clement swung the ball towards the back post, where a poor clearing header gifted Paul McShane the opportunity to sweep the ball into the net from six yards. For the second, Russell Hoult drove a long clearance towards the edge of United’s box and Matt Heath’s poor positioning saw the ball bounce into the path of John Hartson. The striker found himself clean through with only the keeper to beat and his low shot slipped through Sullivan’s legs and into the net. The home side pressed their advantage further as Hartson headed a Clements cross wide from six yards in the eighteenth minute and then the Welsh striker was thwarted by a brilliant one handed save by Neil Sullivan. United’s response was spirited and committed as Robbie Blake twice tested Russell Hoult with goal-bound volleys and Kevin Nicholls was also denied by a brilliant save from the keeper as his shot was curling just inside the post. United made a triple substitution for the start of the second half, as debuts were given to Tore Andre Flo and Armando Sa, and Shaun Derry replaced Ian Moore, Matt Heath and Jonathan Howson respectively, all of whom had struggled in the first half. Armando Sa slotted into the right back spot and Rui Marques moved to central defence. Tore Andre Flo did get a chance to put his name on the scoresheet in the eighty-second minute after Eddie Lewis had found him just four yards out with a fine cross, but the keeper made an instinctive parry and it seemed United were destined to remain goal-less as Derry had missed a golden opportunity only four minutes earlier. Two minutes after Flo’s miss, West Brom got their third as a Jason Koumas cut-back was forced over the line by Kevin Phillips. The score-line flattered the home team and justice was done when Robbie Elliot’s cross forced Paul Robinson to turn the ball into his own net under pressure from Flo in injury time.

After their defeat at the Hawthorns in the Cup the same two teams met again in the League a fortnight later at Elland Road. New loan signing Alan Thompson came straight into the team in midfield replacing Jonathan Howson who dropped to the bench. Armando Sa and Tore Andre Flo were both given run on debuts as Sa replaced Rui Marques, who moved into central defence at the expense of Matt Heath, who also dropped to the bench, at right back and Flo replaced Ian Moore in attack. In a 4-4-2 system Robbie Blake dropped back into midfield and Shaun Derry, Jonathan Lund and Ian Westlake all lost their place on the bench to Ian Moore, Tresor Kandol and Gylfi Einarsson. Despite new players being brought in United’s situation had shown no signs of improvement and the stuttered to yet another defeat as their lack of quality was cruelly exposed. United were beaten by two two first half goals from Diomansy Kamara and great strike from Jonathan Greening. Tore Andre Flo got United and himself off to a great start with a goal in the third minute. Indecision by Paul McShane allowed a loose ball to reach Eddie Lewis. His shot was partially blocked by Russell Hoult and from the rebound David Healy had a shot kicked off the line by Curtis Davies. Robbie Elliott collected the ball and swung over a cross which allowed Flo to glance a header past the keeper. It looked as though the Baggies abysmal away record was going to benefit United, but they were level within four minutes and home and dry by half time, and it was really an inspired display by Neil Sullivan that stopped a rout. Their 3-1 interval lead was threaten sporadically after United’s other debutant, Alan Thompson, also got his name on the scoresheet with a typical classy free-kick in the sixty-sixth minute, as the introduction of Ian Moore and Tresor Kandol for Robbie Blake and Robbie Elliott in the fifty-seventh minute had the right effect and pepped up United’s performance. Thompson was taken off after eighty-three as his fitness ran out and Gylfi Einarsson replaced him, but his goal had temporarily lifted United but they were unable to get the goal to share the points and they remained on twenty-four points in twenty-third position but had now played twenty-eight games.

Suspensions and injuries meant that United were without the services of Tore Andre Flo, Robbie Elliott, Kevin Nicholls, Hayden Foxe, Graham Stack, Ian Moore, Shaun Derry and Richard Cresswell for their visit to the KC Stadium, home of relegation rivals, Hull City. Matt Heath came into the team for Hayden Foxe in central defence, while Eddie Lewis dropped back from midfield to cover for Robbie Elliott at left-back. Frazer Richardson was back, on the right side of midfield, to replace Robbie Blake, who dropped to the bench. Jonathan Howson and Jonathan Douglas replaced Kevin Nicholls and Eddie Lewis in midfield, while Tresor Kandol benefited from Tore Andre Flo’s absence. Stephen Crainey, Gylfi Einarsson, Sebastien Carole and teenager Tom Elliott joined Robbie Blake on the bench. The Tigers had been in a good vein of form in recent times and started off with an attacking 4-3-3 system, but it was Alan Thompson who went closest to scoring as a typical thirty-yard free-kck looked to be creeping inside the post until keeper Boaz Myhill acrobatically tipped the ball round the post. And United started to control the game and well merited their taking the lead as Matt Heath guided Thompson’s well flighted free-kick past the keeper from six yards with the Hull keeper flat footed. However, a new ground record crowd of 24,311 were subdued by United’s strike but they had something to cheer as City fought back and a Dean Windass free-kick just cleared the bar and Matt Heath all but conceded an own goal. Then, deep into first half injury time, Dean Marney’s free-kick bounced awkwardly in front of Neil Sullivan and ricocheted off his body and Nicky Foster rifled in a shot from eight yards. Dean Windass had a goal disallowed for offside two minutes into the second half and then Tresor Kandol was brought down after fifty minutes. As he had done in the previous game against West Bromwich Albion, Alan Thompson scored with a a free-kick of sheer class which this time gave the keeper no chance as it arced perfectly into the top corner to give United the lead. Surprisingly Hull did not mount any sustained pressure in the remaining forty minutes although Substitute Stuart Elliott put a fierce volley inches wide in the eighty-first minute but good defending by Leeds saw that this was the nearest them came. Results elsewhere meant that United’s 2-1 victory was no sufficient to avoid Southend going above them on goal difference and they slumped to the bottom position, twenty-fourth with twenty-seven points from twenty-nine games.

United again had to travel after the midweek away game at Hull, down to East Anglia to Carrow Road to face Norwich City in another vital clash. Eddie Lewis and David Healy were unavailable and Kevin Nicholls came into the midfield as several players moved positions to accommodate him and Robbie Blake moved from the bench to striker in Healy’s place and there was no place on the bench for Stephen Crainey, Gylfi Einarsson and Sebastien Carole as new goalkeeper Casper Ankergren, Ian Moore, Hayden Foxe and Ian Westlake were there alongside the teenager Tom Elliott. After the high of the midweek win United looked to build on it and for the best part of an hour it looked as if they were going to achieve their objective as they took the lead after twenty minutes when Jonathan Howson scored his first senior goal. Norwich had predictably started strongly but their effort was not sustained as Leeds repelled them with ease, even though ex-United striker Darren Huckerby was denied a goal by an offside flag. Up to the twenty minute mark United had conceded the midfield to Norwich but a long free-kick from Neil Sullivan was flicked into the box by Tresor Kandol and the alert Robbie Blake ceased the loose ball and was left to beat David Marshall in the Norwich goal from an acute angle, he took the option of pulling the ball back into the six yard box and Jonathan Howson swept the ball into the net. It was then a question that neither team could mount any danger on the opposing goal but United were always mindful that a Norwich breakaway might leave their defence exposed and so neither team over-stretched themselves in attack. With the game almost in its last third, however Norwich got the break they needed and United feared. Youssef Safri swung a cross into the six-yard box and Rui Marques did not get any distance on his headed clearance. The vastly experienced Dion Dublin found the ball bounced nicely for him to hammer the ball into the net from the edge of the box and Norwich were level. Leeds should have regained the lead almost immediately but Robbie Blake and Tresor Kandol were guilty of missing easy chances. The Canaries were not so wasteful and Darren Huckerby punished his old club with a goal twelve minutes from time. United failed to press home their advantage from a corner and Norwich gained possession and Lee Croft brought the ball out of defence and found Huckerby with a cross-field ball and it was the former Leeds speedster against Frazer Richardson. It was no contest as with a quick sidestep he beat his marker and accelerated into the Leeds box and his low left-footed shot easily beat Neil Sullivan to nestle in the far corner of the net. Not much later Sullivan could only watch helplessly as Huckerby almost repeated the feat but this time the ball ricocheted to safety of a post. So United failed to build on their midfield win and remained bottom of the League and three points adrift, with twenty-four points from thirty games.

The home game against the struggling Crystal Palace was yet another must win game as United needed to string together a succession of victories if they were to have any chance of avoiding relegation and, after several games against fellow strugglers and the prospect of a few more to come, it was getting to be crunch time down at the bottom. There was a debut for on-loan, from Danish club Bromby, goalkeeper Casper Ankergren and Eddie Lewis returned and took his place at left back with with Neil Sullivan and Armando Sa dropping to the bench. With Alan Thompson picking up a knock in training there was a return for Ian Westlake and Robbie Blake dropped back to the right of midfield as Jonathan Howson was rested to the bench and Ian Moore was brought into the team as striker in his place as Richard Cresswell returned from injury to start from the bench as teenager Tom Elliott lost his place in the squad. After the game there was stories from Dennis Wise of a “mole” in the squad who had leaked information to Crystal Palace, but just who it was and what had been leaked remained a mystery but he did make the statement that the player would never play again for the club, which only added to the intrigue for those who were interested. Whatever was said might not have foreseen Alan Thompson being injured in Friday’s training and the players were seemingly unconcerned and went out and did the business. United were very slow out of the blocks and were sloppy in midfield, slow and ponderous in attack and lacking in making anyone available to give the person in possession of the ball any reasonable options. It gave Palace the upper hand and they soon carved out chances and, fortunately for United, Casper Ankergren was equal to the task making several fine saves as United continued to labour for the first twenty minutes. It all changed as Leeds gained their first corner shortly before the half hour mark after an Ian Moore effort was deflected behind. Robbie Blake sent over a low bouncy cross and it missed everyone in the crowded box and Matt Heath met it with his head at the far post after had sneaked in undetected by Palace’s static defenders. It was a goal which came from poor Palace defending rather than the quality of the cross but it transformed United and they started to play with a semblance of confidence and they created two more good chances before half-time. Ian Moore’s flicked header from a Robbie Blake corner was goal-bound until a reaction save from Palace keeper Gabor Kiraly denied him but Tresor Kandol headed over when it seemed easier to score. After half-time it was noticeable that neither Ian Moore nor Tresor Kandol posed any threat to the goal and the part fit Richard Cresswell was called on to replace Kandol after sixty-eight minutes. It had the desired effect as just four minutes later, the former Preston striker received the ball in the centre-circle and, seeing Robbie Blake in space on the right, released him with a fine pass and he ran on goal to beat the keeper after a couple of deflections and a favourable bounce. United should have closed out the game but instead allowed Palace to get back into it and were again indebted to Casper Ankergren for two fine saves from Carl Fletcher and Shefki Kuqi. Inevitably a goal came with eight minutes left as Leon Cort climbed highest to head in Mark Kennedy’s cross. Robbie Blake left the field with three minutes left to a standing ovation and extra defender Hayden Foxe bolstered the already well performing Matt Heath and Rui Marques in central defence. Once more a win made no difference to United’s standing and they remained bottom with thirty points from thirty-one games.

Not many were expecting much change from a visit to Cardiff as United had not won there in twenty-three years and the home team had only lost twice in seventeen games in the season to date. Armando Sa replaced Frazer Richardson at right backing an otherwise unchanged team but Graham Stack replaced Neil Sullivan and David Healy filled the vacancy left by Sa. United would be wondering why they conceded all the points to a team that missed a second half penalty and finished the game with nine men. When Leeds could only muster three shots on goal in the whole match and the goal they conceded was a fine strike from Michael Chopra, but the problem was that they had no one likely to duplicate his effort and they relied totally on the long ball finding the head of Tresor Kandol and it was easy meat for the Cardiff defence, even though United did dominate the game territorially. Robbie Blake’s first effort on goal managed to slice into touch for a throw-in and set the tone for United for the match. Cardiff belied their lofty League standing and their general play was of such poor standard that it allowed Leeds into a game that Cardiff should have won at a canter on paper. Chopra tested Casper Ankergren with a low shot as early as the seventh minute and Ian Moore should have opened the scoring when Rui Marques headed down just five yards out but his weak touch went straight into goalkeeper Neil Alexander’s hands. Rui Marques and Jonathan Douglas collided in midfield and Marques had to be substituted four minutes before the break while Douglas returned to the fray with his head heavily bandaged. It was then that Copra produced a fine shot to beat Ankergren from a free-kick on the edge of the box. He went close to doubling the lead as his glancing header was just wide of the post in first-half injury-time. United tried to add power to their attack by the introduction of David Healy and Richard Cresswell in place of Ian Westlake and Robbie Blake, but it had no great effect. Michael Chopra earned his marching orders after sixty-five minutes after leaving Hayden Foxe bloodied with an elbow to the face. Tresor Kandol was fortunate to stay on the pitch and lucky that his