Post by Taxigirl on May 22, 2006 8:12:55 GMT
www.leedsunited.com/report
Venue
Millennium Stadium
Kick-Off Time
21 May 2006 3:00pm
Attendance
64,736
Jay DeMerit, 25
Neil Sullivan,
Darius Henderson, 84 (pen)
The Big Match Build Up
For the biggest game of his managerial career to date, Kevin Blackwell managed to keep his line-up a closely guarded secret and there was no doubt it included one big bonus.
Skipper Paul Butler had been expected to miss the game after tearing a calf muscle ahead of the play off semi-finals so his return for this game, especially with Stephen Crainey missing from the back four, was a huge plus. He returned at centre-half with Matthew Kilgallon going to left back.
Frazer Richardson, scorer of the second goal in the 2-0 win over Preston that got United to the Millennium Stadium, kept his place in the team on the right hand side of midfield.
Upfront Blackwell went with just top scorer Rob Hulse, supported by Eddie Lewis and Richardson from the flanks.
Watford boss Adie Boothroyd had a fully fit squad at his disposal and included two one-time Leeds players in it, Matthew Spring and the Championship's top scorer, Marlon King.
The Match
Watford kicked off and within a minute had the first corner of the game, Malky Mackay's header was diverted behind though for another corner and Leeds avoided an early set-back.
It quickly became clear that neither side would allow the other to boss them about, a number of crunching challenges set the tune for rest of the game. There would be blood, guts and thunder on display.
United's first chance came on eight minutes, the ball falling for Shaun Derry just inside the area and the hit it well, but the slightest of deflections took the ball past the post for a corner that Leeds failed to capitalise on.
Rob Hulse had talked earlier in the week of how he dreamt about scoring a 'worldy' at the Millennium Stadium, but he was well of target with his first chance as he tried to beat Watford keeper Ben Foster from the edge of the area.
Leeds had enjoyed most of the possession but when Watford began to win a succession of corners midway through the half, it was clear the pressure was growing.
The Whites just couldn't get the ball clear and 25 minutes Watford punished them dearly for it.
Ashley Young delivered a ball deep into the area from the left hand corner and USA international Jay Demerit's surging run into the box ended with him sending a powerful header past Sullivan into the top right corner of the net.
United were rocked by the goal and a few nervous minutes followed when it looked like the Hornets might extend the lead, fortunately Blackwell's men managed to regain their composure quickly enough although not before Sean Gregan picked up the first booking of the game for an alleged foul on Darius Henderson.
Matthew Spring was the first Watford player to go into referee Mike Dean's notebook, his foul challenge on Jonathan Douglas brought the midfielder's sparkling run to an abrupt end after Leeds had broken out of their own half on the counter-attack.
Just before half-time Shaun Gregan rose high at the back post to get a header on the end of Eddie Lewis's cross, but the ball found the side netting and a huge groan reverberated around the Millennium Stadium.
There was drama right at the end of the half, deep into extra time, as Rob Hulse found himself being hauled down by Foster inside the six yard box, but the referee insisted he had already blown the whistle for an earlier foul on the keeper.
Then Sullivan fumbled King's low drive but recovered to smother the danger and the final chance of the half came when finally Eddie Lewis hit a 25-yard free-kick just over the top. Leeds had it all to do in the second half.
Kevin Blackwell made one change after half-time, bringing Robbie Blake on and taking Frazer Richardson off. It was hoped Blake's trickery would unlock what had been a rock solid Watford defence.
Leeds though found themselves having to defend their goal heavily and were indebted to Neil Sullivan for a good save after Henderson looked like finding the net with a powerful drive.
With 57 minutes gone though a further disaster befell Leeds. Watford doubled their advantage with a goal that was hard on the Whites.
King hit the ball down into the ground but it deflected off Chambers and looped over Neil Sullivan onto the left hand post and with the worst luck imaginable, the ball hit a helpless Sullivan on the back and went in.
The Hornets had a chance to make it 3-0 with a free-kick on the hour but Ashley Young could only find the Leeds wall.
Just after that Blackwell made his second change of the game, Liam Miller made way for David Healy and Leeds had three strikers on the pitch.
Healy nearly made an immediate contribution, Blake dummied Lewis's pass to allow the ball to run on to the Northern Ireland international, and although the angle was against him, he still fired in a good accurate shot but Foster was equal to it.
The next ten minutes saw Leeds turn up the pressure on the Watford goal to no avail.
First Gregan headed a Lewis cross over from a great position, then after Kilgallon had won a corner with a great run down the left, Derry saw his header from Blake cross cleared off the line. A goal then could have given Leeds a route back into the game.
Leeds kept trying to break Watford down, Lewis had a shot through the crowd that was just held by the keeper but at the other end the Hornets were looking to wrap the game up. Sullivan kept Leeds in it with a great save from Spring's narrow angle drive.
After a frustrating interruption that saw one of the linesmen pick up an injury, Derry went into the book for a challenge from behind on Spring that sent the former United man sprawling to the ground and ended another dangerous Watford attack. Kilgallon prevented a third goal as he headed McKay's shot off the line.
With seven minutes left the Hornets did eventually get their third goal and there was no way back after that.
With Leeds stretched at the back, Derry got the slightest of touches on Marlon King and his former teampmate went down easily, giving Mike Dean no choice but to point to the penalty spot. Henderson put the spot-kick away and United's Premiership dream was in tatters.
MAN OF THE MATCH
THE ONLINE VOTE
16% Matthew Kilgallon
15% Shaun Derry
13% David Healy
11% Gary Kelly
8% Neil Sullivan
7% Eddie Lewis
5% Sean Gregan
4% Steve Stone
4% Rob Hulse
4% Ian Bennett
4% Eirik Bakke
3% Liam Miller
2% Paul Butler
2% Jonathan Douglas
2% Robbie Blake
1% Frazer Richardson
Venue
Millennium Stadium
Kick-Off Time
21 May 2006 3:00pm
Attendance
64,736
Jay DeMerit, 25
Neil Sullivan,
Darius Henderson, 84 (pen)
The Big Match Build Up
For the biggest game of his managerial career to date, Kevin Blackwell managed to keep his line-up a closely guarded secret and there was no doubt it included one big bonus.
Skipper Paul Butler had been expected to miss the game after tearing a calf muscle ahead of the play off semi-finals so his return for this game, especially with Stephen Crainey missing from the back four, was a huge plus. He returned at centre-half with Matthew Kilgallon going to left back.
Frazer Richardson, scorer of the second goal in the 2-0 win over Preston that got United to the Millennium Stadium, kept his place in the team on the right hand side of midfield.
Upfront Blackwell went with just top scorer Rob Hulse, supported by Eddie Lewis and Richardson from the flanks.
Watford boss Adie Boothroyd had a fully fit squad at his disposal and included two one-time Leeds players in it, Matthew Spring and the Championship's top scorer, Marlon King.
The Match
Watford kicked off and within a minute had the first corner of the game, Malky Mackay's header was diverted behind though for another corner and Leeds avoided an early set-back.
It quickly became clear that neither side would allow the other to boss them about, a number of crunching challenges set the tune for rest of the game. There would be blood, guts and thunder on display.
United's first chance came on eight minutes, the ball falling for Shaun Derry just inside the area and the hit it well, but the slightest of deflections took the ball past the post for a corner that Leeds failed to capitalise on.
Rob Hulse had talked earlier in the week of how he dreamt about scoring a 'worldy' at the Millennium Stadium, but he was well of target with his first chance as he tried to beat Watford keeper Ben Foster from the edge of the area.
Leeds had enjoyed most of the possession but when Watford began to win a succession of corners midway through the half, it was clear the pressure was growing.
The Whites just couldn't get the ball clear and 25 minutes Watford punished them dearly for it.
Ashley Young delivered a ball deep into the area from the left hand corner and USA international Jay Demerit's surging run into the box ended with him sending a powerful header past Sullivan into the top right corner of the net.
United were rocked by the goal and a few nervous minutes followed when it looked like the Hornets might extend the lead, fortunately Blackwell's men managed to regain their composure quickly enough although not before Sean Gregan picked up the first booking of the game for an alleged foul on Darius Henderson.
Matthew Spring was the first Watford player to go into referee Mike Dean's notebook, his foul challenge on Jonathan Douglas brought the midfielder's sparkling run to an abrupt end after Leeds had broken out of their own half on the counter-attack.
Just before half-time Shaun Gregan rose high at the back post to get a header on the end of Eddie Lewis's cross, but the ball found the side netting and a huge groan reverberated around the Millennium Stadium.
There was drama right at the end of the half, deep into extra time, as Rob Hulse found himself being hauled down by Foster inside the six yard box, but the referee insisted he had already blown the whistle for an earlier foul on the keeper.
Then Sullivan fumbled King's low drive but recovered to smother the danger and the final chance of the half came when finally Eddie Lewis hit a 25-yard free-kick just over the top. Leeds had it all to do in the second half.
Kevin Blackwell made one change after half-time, bringing Robbie Blake on and taking Frazer Richardson off. It was hoped Blake's trickery would unlock what had been a rock solid Watford defence.
Leeds though found themselves having to defend their goal heavily and were indebted to Neil Sullivan for a good save after Henderson looked like finding the net with a powerful drive.
With 57 minutes gone though a further disaster befell Leeds. Watford doubled their advantage with a goal that was hard on the Whites.
King hit the ball down into the ground but it deflected off Chambers and looped over Neil Sullivan onto the left hand post and with the worst luck imaginable, the ball hit a helpless Sullivan on the back and went in.
The Hornets had a chance to make it 3-0 with a free-kick on the hour but Ashley Young could only find the Leeds wall.
Just after that Blackwell made his second change of the game, Liam Miller made way for David Healy and Leeds had three strikers on the pitch.
Healy nearly made an immediate contribution, Blake dummied Lewis's pass to allow the ball to run on to the Northern Ireland international, and although the angle was against him, he still fired in a good accurate shot but Foster was equal to it.
The next ten minutes saw Leeds turn up the pressure on the Watford goal to no avail.
First Gregan headed a Lewis cross over from a great position, then after Kilgallon had won a corner with a great run down the left, Derry saw his header from Blake cross cleared off the line. A goal then could have given Leeds a route back into the game.
Leeds kept trying to break Watford down, Lewis had a shot through the crowd that was just held by the keeper but at the other end the Hornets were looking to wrap the game up. Sullivan kept Leeds in it with a great save from Spring's narrow angle drive.
After a frustrating interruption that saw one of the linesmen pick up an injury, Derry went into the book for a challenge from behind on Spring that sent the former United man sprawling to the ground and ended another dangerous Watford attack. Kilgallon prevented a third goal as he headed McKay's shot off the line.
With seven minutes left the Hornets did eventually get their third goal and there was no way back after that.
With Leeds stretched at the back, Derry got the slightest of touches on Marlon King and his former teampmate went down easily, giving Mike Dean no choice but to point to the penalty spot. Henderson put the spot-kick away and United's Premiership dream was in tatters.
MAN OF THE MATCH
THE ONLINE VOTE
16% Matthew Kilgallon
15% Shaun Derry
13% David Healy
11% Gary Kelly
8% Neil Sullivan
7% Eddie Lewis
5% Sean Gregan
4% Steve Stone
4% Rob Hulse
4% Ian Bennett
4% Eirik Bakke
3% Liam Miller
2% Paul Butler
2% Jonathan Douglas
2% Robbie Blake
1% Frazer Richardson
