Post by Taxigirl on Mar 21, 2006 9:37:53 GMT
www.leedsunited.com
Venue
Ricoh Arena
Kick-Off Time
18 March 2006 3:00pm
Attendance
26,643
Gary McSheffrey, 26 David Healy, 88 (pen)
Pre-Match
United boss Kevin Blackwell was forced into making one change to a line-up that has served him so well over the past few games. Sean Gregan's suspension meant Matthew Kilgallon was given the chance to come back into the side after his recent injury problems and establish himself again at Gregan's expense.
That one change excluded, it was the same 16 players who had helped Leeds on their way to a run of nine games unbeaten.
Coventry were without midfielder Dennis Wise, also suspended, whilst former Scotland international Don Hutchison was aiming to prove that lightning does strike thrice with another goal this season against the Whites. The midfielder scored a great volley against Leeds on the opening day of the season playing for Millwall and then an even better goal for the Sky Blues at Elland Road.
The Match
Aside from an Eddie Lewis header that flew over the bar and a Gary McSheffrey shot from a corner that did likewise at the other end, neither side produced a decent chance in the opening ten minutes of this game.
It wasn't until the 12th minute that Leeds started to find their stride with a move that very nearly produced the opening goal. Derry's crunching tackle midway inside the United half saw Leeds gain possession, Liam Miller was released and he slipped the ball forward for Rob Hulse to hit inside the area but the shot went wide.
Leeds were generally in control of the game in the early stages, just searching for the final ball that would produce the breakthough but they were nearly undone on the counter-attack when right back Andrew Whing got in behind the back four.
Sullivan came out for the cross but couldn't keep hold of the ball which fell for Adebola to try and hook goalwards, and fortunately Paul Butler was well placed on the line to head clear. It was a heart in mouth moment for the United fans massed behind Sullivan's goal.
United survived again when Don Hutchison nearly made it three spectacular goals in a season against them. He took a free-kick on the right hand edge of the area and smashed his ferocious drive against the top of the bar.
Leeds' good spell came to nothing though when Adebola's strength saw him outmuscle the defence and he was able to put a pass through for McSheffrey and the young striker simply slipped the ball past Sullian to give the home side the lead.
Straight after Jonathan Douglas nearly brought United back on level terms when he went through to meet Robbie Blake's pass but City keeper Marton Fulop came out well to produce the block with his legs.
Things nearly got worse for Blackwell's men when McSheffrey was allowed to keep running towards goal, Kilgallon appeared to be cautious about making the tackle and eventually the Sky Blues No.10 found himself with just Sullivan to beat but his shot was woefully wide.
Just before the break Hutchison had another go at keeping up his good record against the Whites, and he was close again, his shot only just clearing the bar.
McSheffrey was booked just before the break after sticking out a boot to bring Gary Kelly's run to an end.
At half time there was certainly plenty United would have to improve on if they wanted to get back in the game.
Leeds came out strong at the start of the second half and Rob Hulse was unlucky not to earn them an equaliser in the first three minutes of the half.
First he met Kelly's cross but Coventry skipper Robert Page managed to block his goalbound header on the line and then after the striker met Eddie Lewis's cross with a good header but it hit the top of the crossbar and went behind for a goal kick.
Leeds kept Coventry under pressure though, winning corner after corner and firing in shot after shot towards goal. They were knocking on the door but no-one was letting them in.
Blackwell made his first change on the hour mark, David Healy came on for Robbie Blake in the hope of changing the outcome of yet another game for United in his role as super-sub.
The first moment of inspiration came from Liam Miller. The Irish midfielder turned his marker inside the centre-circle and made thirty yards to the edge of the area where he unleashed a powerful shot only to see Fulop make an inspired save, turning the ball away from goal.
Healy's first shot on goal was 12 minutes after he came on, and straight at the keeper for an easy save. Rob Hulse came close again with another header after flicking on Miller's delightful chipped pass but again the keeper was equal to it.
Ian Moore came on with just over 15 minutes to play for Jonathan Douglas as Blackwell changed the system to 4-4-2.
United had looked doomed to defeat, whatever they tried just didn't seem to come off and the ideas were running out but then, with five minutes left, they got a reprieve.
Lewis tried to chip the ball in from the left edge of the penalty area and full-back Whing stuck out an arm - handball was called straight away by the United players and the linesman agreed with their calls
Healy stepped up to take it, and despite Coventry keeper Fulop doing his best to try and put him off, slotted it calmly past him to level the scores.
Leeds then kept up the pressure on the Sky Blues goal, a constant bombardment in search of the winning goal but in the end they were forced to be content with the point. It is though a point closer to second place.
Venue
Ricoh Arena
Kick-Off Time
18 March 2006 3:00pm
Attendance
26,643
Officials
Referee
C Oliver
Coventry City
Starting XI
1Fulop, Marton
2Whing, Andrew
4Page, Robert
20Shaw, Richard
3Hall, Marcus
22Hutchison, Don
8Doyle, Michael
11Scowcroft, James
10McSheffrey, Gary
14John, Stern
9Adebola, Dele
Substitutes
13Ince, Clayton
5Williams, Adrian
24Impey, Andy
29Thornton, Kevin
12Morrell, Andy
Leeds United
Starting XI
1Sullivan, Neil
2Kelly, Gary
6Butler, Paul
26Kilgallon, Matthew
3Crainey, Stephen
20Douglas, Jonathan
21Derry, Shaun
17Miller, Liam
11Lewis, Eddie
28Blake, Robbie
10Hulse, Rob
Substitutes
13Bennett, Ian
16Einarsson, Gylfi
19Bakke, Eirik
9Healy, David
22Moore, Ian
MAN OF THE MATCH
The online vote
44% Ian Bennett
25% David Healy
9% Liam Miller
4% Matthew Kilgallon
3% Rob Hulse
3% Gary Kelly
2% Eddie Lewis
2% Shaun Derry
2% Eirik Bakke
2% Neil Sullivan
1% Stephen Crainey
1% Jonathan Douglas
1% Gylfi Einarsson
1% Ian Moore
1% Paul Butler
0% Robbie Blake
Venue
Ricoh Arena
Kick-Off Time
18 March 2006 3:00pm
Attendance
26,643
Gary McSheffrey, 26 David Healy, 88 (pen)
Pre-Match
United boss Kevin Blackwell was forced into making one change to a line-up that has served him so well over the past few games. Sean Gregan's suspension meant Matthew Kilgallon was given the chance to come back into the side after his recent injury problems and establish himself again at Gregan's expense.
That one change excluded, it was the same 16 players who had helped Leeds on their way to a run of nine games unbeaten.
Coventry were without midfielder Dennis Wise, also suspended, whilst former Scotland international Don Hutchison was aiming to prove that lightning does strike thrice with another goal this season against the Whites. The midfielder scored a great volley against Leeds on the opening day of the season playing for Millwall and then an even better goal for the Sky Blues at Elland Road.
The Match
Aside from an Eddie Lewis header that flew over the bar and a Gary McSheffrey shot from a corner that did likewise at the other end, neither side produced a decent chance in the opening ten minutes of this game.
It wasn't until the 12th minute that Leeds started to find their stride with a move that very nearly produced the opening goal. Derry's crunching tackle midway inside the United half saw Leeds gain possession, Liam Miller was released and he slipped the ball forward for Rob Hulse to hit inside the area but the shot went wide.
Leeds were generally in control of the game in the early stages, just searching for the final ball that would produce the breakthough but they were nearly undone on the counter-attack when right back Andrew Whing got in behind the back four.
Sullivan came out for the cross but couldn't keep hold of the ball which fell for Adebola to try and hook goalwards, and fortunately Paul Butler was well placed on the line to head clear. It was a heart in mouth moment for the United fans massed behind Sullivan's goal.
United survived again when Don Hutchison nearly made it three spectacular goals in a season against them. He took a free-kick on the right hand edge of the area and smashed his ferocious drive against the top of the bar.
Leeds' good spell came to nothing though when Adebola's strength saw him outmuscle the defence and he was able to put a pass through for McSheffrey and the young striker simply slipped the ball past Sullian to give the home side the lead.
Straight after Jonathan Douglas nearly brought United back on level terms when he went through to meet Robbie Blake's pass but City keeper Marton Fulop came out well to produce the block with his legs.
Things nearly got worse for Blackwell's men when McSheffrey was allowed to keep running towards goal, Kilgallon appeared to be cautious about making the tackle and eventually the Sky Blues No.10 found himself with just Sullivan to beat but his shot was woefully wide.
Just before the break Hutchison had another go at keeping up his good record against the Whites, and he was close again, his shot only just clearing the bar.
McSheffrey was booked just before the break after sticking out a boot to bring Gary Kelly's run to an end.
At half time there was certainly plenty United would have to improve on if they wanted to get back in the game.
Leeds came out strong at the start of the second half and Rob Hulse was unlucky not to earn them an equaliser in the first three minutes of the half.
First he met Kelly's cross but Coventry skipper Robert Page managed to block his goalbound header on the line and then after the striker met Eddie Lewis's cross with a good header but it hit the top of the crossbar and went behind for a goal kick.
Leeds kept Coventry under pressure though, winning corner after corner and firing in shot after shot towards goal. They were knocking on the door but no-one was letting them in.
Blackwell made his first change on the hour mark, David Healy came on for Robbie Blake in the hope of changing the outcome of yet another game for United in his role as super-sub.
The first moment of inspiration came from Liam Miller. The Irish midfielder turned his marker inside the centre-circle and made thirty yards to the edge of the area where he unleashed a powerful shot only to see Fulop make an inspired save, turning the ball away from goal.
Healy's first shot on goal was 12 minutes after he came on, and straight at the keeper for an easy save. Rob Hulse came close again with another header after flicking on Miller's delightful chipped pass but again the keeper was equal to it.
Ian Moore came on with just over 15 minutes to play for Jonathan Douglas as Blackwell changed the system to 4-4-2.
United had looked doomed to defeat, whatever they tried just didn't seem to come off and the ideas were running out but then, with five minutes left, they got a reprieve.
Lewis tried to chip the ball in from the left edge of the penalty area and full-back Whing stuck out an arm - handball was called straight away by the United players and the linesman agreed with their calls
Healy stepped up to take it, and despite Coventry keeper Fulop doing his best to try and put him off, slotted it calmly past him to level the scores.
Leeds then kept up the pressure on the Sky Blues goal, a constant bombardment in search of the winning goal but in the end they were forced to be content with the point. It is though a point closer to second place.
Venue
Ricoh Arena
Kick-Off Time
18 March 2006 3:00pm
Attendance
26,643
Officials
Referee
C Oliver
Coventry City
Starting XI
1Fulop, Marton
2Whing, Andrew
4Page, Robert
20Shaw, Richard
3Hall, Marcus
22Hutchison, Don
8Doyle, Michael
11Scowcroft, James
10McSheffrey, Gary
14John, Stern
9Adebola, Dele
Substitutes
13Ince, Clayton
5Williams, Adrian
24Impey, Andy
29Thornton, Kevin
12Morrell, Andy
Leeds United
Starting XI
1Sullivan, Neil
2Kelly, Gary
6Butler, Paul
26Kilgallon, Matthew
3Crainey, Stephen
20Douglas, Jonathan
21Derry, Shaun
17Miller, Liam
11Lewis, Eddie
28Blake, Robbie
10Hulse, Rob
Substitutes
13Bennett, Ian
16Einarsson, Gylfi
19Bakke, Eirik
9Healy, David
22Moore, Ian
MAN OF THE MATCH
The online vote
44% Ian Bennett
25% David Healy
9% Liam Miller
4% Matthew Kilgallon
3% Rob Hulse
3% Gary Kelly
2% Eddie Lewis
2% Shaun Derry
2% Eirik Bakke
2% Neil Sullivan
1% Stephen Crainey
1% Jonathan Douglas
1% Gylfi Einarsson
1% Ian Moore
1% Paul Butler
0% Robbie Blake