28-07-07: Burnley (a) 0-2 (HT 0-1) Crowd (5,290)

The next pre-season match involved a trip to Turf Moor to take on CCCL team Burnley and the United line-up was now becoming more predictable as Dennis Wise got closer to his likely team. Despite not being able to complete any transfer transactions due to the administration situation, and some players being still being on trial, they lined up: Scott Loach; Frazer Richardson, Matt Heath, Rui Marques, Eddie Lewis; Jonathan Douglas, David Prutton, Alan Thompson, Ian Westlake; Tresor Kandol, Jermaine Beckford. Graham Salibury of Preston was the referee as the game kicked off in front of a crowd of 5,290, which included a large Leeds contingent. Jermaine Beckford, who was probably the pick of the United players, and Tresor Kandol were the two main offenders as United missed too many chances and ex-United winger Andy Gray, son of Frank Gray, and Ade Akinbiyi showed them how to finish clinically to give Burnley a 2-0 victory. Kyle Lafferty warmed Scott Loach’s palms as the keeper saved his early twenty-five yard shot at the second attempt. United responded with an acrobatic overhead kick from Jermaine Beckford and then Tresor Kandol wasted an easy chance as he shot wide. A handball by Matt Heath saw Andy Gray open the scoring from the spot after just fifteen minutes. United replied with a twenty-five yard shot from David Prutton and a Alan Thompson chip, but failed to trouble the keeper. Eddie Lewis took a knock and was replaced by Ben Parker after thirty-two minutes. United were nearly two down when ex-Leeds loanee Steve Caldwell had a clear header at goal but Scott Loach was equal to the task. Burnley made six changes for the start of the second half, Brian Jensen replaced Gabor Kiraly in goal, Alan Mahon came on for Jon Harley, Joey Gudjonsson took over from James O'Connor, John Spicer replaced Chris McCann, Ade Akinbiyi took over from Kyle Lafferty and Wade Elliott from Besart Berisha. Early in the second half Ade Akinbiya missed an easy chance and, not to be outdone, Tresor Kandol missed two at the other end. However, eight minutes into the half Akinbiya atoned to put Burnley two up and only a vital tackle from Matt Heath stopped Andy Gray from making it three. Fabian Delph was given a run after fifty-seven minutes in place of Ian Westlake. There was a triple substitution on sixty-nine minutes as Jonathan Douglas, David Prutton and Alan Thompson made way for Jonathan Howson, Curtis Weston and Sebastien Carole. In the seventy-third minute Burnley made their final change when Jay Rodriguez came on for Andy Gray and the final Leeds change saw Robert Bayly replace Frazer Richardson after seventy-six minutes, with Richard Cresswell, Nick Hamann and Tom Elliott remaining unused on the bench. However, United were unable to get back into the game despite an improved performance when compared to their German/Czech games.

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Sebastien Carole takes on Stephen Jordan: