08-11-05: Rodez Aveyron (a) 1-0 (HT 0-0) Crowd (700)

Danny Pugh scored the winner in a deserved success against the French Amateur side. There was a poor crowd of only seven hundred, which, considering there was a contingent of about three hundred from Leeds, was extremely disappointing. However the inclement weather did little to encourage the locals to venture out nor did it help the standard of football that was served up. The game was more of a goodwill gesture between the two clubs, with United being the beneciaries of superb training facilities and a four day break from Thorp Arch, while the players were ambassadors of a well known football club venturing into the south-west corner of France on a goodwill mission. Pugh converted a routine chance at the far post after Nick Gray had done all the hard work with a long run down the right flank and his cross found the former Manchester United winger in perfect position to turn his perfect cross past the home keeper Erwan Pujol, leaving the custodian helpless. Kevin Blackwell took the oppurtunity to give some of his fringe players a run, in what was a very low key friendly which, for Leeds, was not meant to be taxing nor strenuous. All went to plan until a second half substitute caused problems by kicking Pugh, then clashing with Einarsson, wrestled the ball from Crainey and could not be convinced to calm down by Blake. In the end common sense prevailed and the French bench withdrew him after just three minutes on the pitch. The hosts played twenty-two players in all but the Leeds coach left his starting eleven on the pitch for the whole game. Sean Gregan led the team and Robbie Blake was left to plough a lone furrow in attack as Simon Walton was given an experimental role of midfield anchorman. Liam Miller was the outstanding Leeds player playing a role that was reminiscent of Lee Bowyer in his heyday. On a freezing night, with a gale-force wind blowing, he was one of the few able to master the conditions and provided the highlight of the game when he collected a ball inside his own half and rounded two players before successfully taking on two more and going on a fifty yard dribble which was ended by an excellent diving save by the French keeper. The game had got off to a good start and the home side almost took a surprise lead when David Joseph was denied first by Ian Bennett and then by Rui Marques as he twice went close, but after that United were hardly extended. The Rodez Substitutes were: Victor Canivenq, Amadou Anglade, Gregore Ursule, Michael Bessaque, David Merdy, Jocelyn Bruel, Fabrice Pereira, Jeremy Lecouty, Gillaume Lanneu, Florent Rech, Nicolas Bayod, Miguel Pacois. Referee: M. Auriac.

Programme

Match Report: Courtesy Mark Ledgard