Post by Taxigirl on Nov 2, 2005 9:33:20 GMT
www.leedsunited.com/report.asp?fxid=278241&clid=2&title=Matchreport+Crewe%20Alexandra+vs+Leeds%20United&navlid=matches
Venue
Gresty Road
Kick-Off Time
01 November 2005 7:45pm
Attendance
7,220
Pre-match
United boss Kevin Blackwell made two changes to the side that drew with Reading at the weekend.
Ian Moore was given his first league start of the season in place of Frazer Richardson who was rested and left on the bench.
David Healy returned to the forward line to partner Rob Hulse for only the fourth time this season, with Robbie Blake dropping to the bench.
The Match
Leeds had the worst possible start to the game, so bad they can count themselves lucky that they were only one goal down and not three in the opening ten minutes.
The defence was all at sea as Crewe came out of the blocks early and set about carving United open.
The home side wasted their first clear cut chance when Steve Jones played a great one-two with skipper Kenny Lunt to go clear of Kilgallon and Butler, but Sullivan stood up well and made the save.
Less than a minute later the Railwaymen did take the lead - but in bizarre fashion as Paul Butler found the back of his own net. A throw in was lobbed in long by Michael Higdon into the area, looking unlikely to cause any problems, but Kelly tried to clear but managed to head the ball over a helpless Neil Sullivan and into his own net.
The Whites were clearly rattled by the gaffe and Crewe nearly took advantage once more, Sullivan had to block another Jones drive to prevent another quick goal.
As the defence looked quizzically at each other, Crewe continued to threaten and Stephen Foster was left unmarked as he met a corner from the left but thankfully couldn't keep his header down.
Leeds only real response in the first 20 minutes came when Moore shrugged off the challenge of defender Darren Moss to get goalside but couldn't beat Crewe keeper Ben Williams with the shot, firing straight at him.
On 28 minutes Leeds passed up a great opportunity to equalise when and Eddie Lewis corner ran right through the penalty area but was missed in the by Paul Butler and then Ian Moore at the back post.
On the half hour Crewe striker David Vaughan's first touch let him down otherwise the home side would have been clean through on goal again.
David Healy had been restored to the starting line-up after his impact as a substitute against Reading, but even he found the first half frustrating, seeing Williams in the Crewe goal turn away his shot from eight yards after a deflected Derry effort fell into his path.
Crewe were on a high, and when Gary Roberts let rip with a shot from 35-yards it was evident they felt confident of atoning for their earlier misses and adding to the score. Roberts shot was fortunately just high.
Half time was a chance for Blackwell to get the players in and try and settle them down with the encouragement being that despite everything they were still only a goal down.
A minute into the second half and Leeds attempts to get back in the game saw Eddie Lewis booked for diving as he went to ground looking for a penalty. Crewe saw Vaughan booked shortly afterwards for a pull back on Kelly.
Healy was the next United man to be booked after a late challenge on Anthony Tonkin that had the crowd baying for a red card. Yellow was fair.
Kilgallon was one of the few Leeds players who was having a reasonably good game, he save the Whites again when Jones pace took him clear of Harding but the York born defender managed to get back and throw himself in the way of the shot.
Just after the Crewe could count themselves desperately unlucky when Higdon had a shot come back off the post and then Jones saw the rebound blocked on the line by Eddie Lewis.
Healy's night lasted just 65 minutes before he left the field dejected, his final touch being a shot that went wide of the right hand post, and Robbie Blake replaced him.
Ian Moore went off on 72 minutes, replaced by Frazer Richardson, possibly feeling a little hollow after not making the most of his best chance to impress from a first start this season.
Blake's first chance since coming on saw him head a good cross from Harding wide of the left hand upright. It didn't look as if anything would go for Leeds on the night.
Still Crewe looked the better side and were only denied a second goal with 12 minutes to go when Gary Kelly headed clear off his own line from Lunt. Hulse then shot wide at the other end.
Two minutes later and another calamity at the back saw Jones force Sullivan into another excellent save but the danger wasn't over as the loose ball came back off Butler and was headed goalwards. Fortunately Kilgallon was back to head clear.
Danny Pugh came on with nine minutes remaining for Dan Harding, and Leeds would need a repeat of his heroics of last season when he scored twice if they were to live up to expectations from this game.
It nearly happened for Pugh too, he surged forward and played Lewis clear down the left and then the USA winger turned the ball back across the face of the penalty area where Pugh met it well but still couldn't beat Williams in the Crewe goal. Blake then finished the move with a shot wide.
Kelly drove one over late on and it was clear United had just about given up hope on this one.
And so it proved to be a third defeat on the road for Leeds, and one that was hard to comprehend after the fine performances that preceded it.
Venue
Gresty Road
Kick-Off Time
01 November 2005 7:45pm
Attendance
7,220
Officials
Referee
Trevor Kettle
Crewe Alexandra
Starting XI
1Williams, Ben
2Moss, Darren
6Foster, Steve
16Walker, Richard
3Tonkin, Anthony
7Lunt, Kenny
4Jones, Billy
21Roberts, Gary
11Vaughan, David
9Jones, Steve
19Higdon, Michael
Substitutes
13Tomlinson, Stuart
18McCready, Chris
17Rivers, Mark
20Johnson, Eddie
32Rodgers, Luke
Leeds United
Starting XI
1Sullivan, Neil
2Kelly, Gary
6Butler, Paul
26Kilgallon, Matthew
23Harding, Daniel
20Douglas, Jonathan
21Derry, Shaun
11Lewis, Eddie
22Moore, Ian
10Hulse, Rob
9Healy, David
Substitutes
13Bennett, Ian
12Pugh, Danny
8Gregan, Sean
15Richardson, Frazer
28Blake, Robbie
The online vote
40% Daniel Harding
16% Robbie Blake
12% Matthew Kilgallon
7% Neil Sullivan
4% Gary Kelly
3% Shaun Derry
2% Rob Hulse
2% Danny Pugh
2% Paul Butler
2% Eddie Lewis
2% Ian Moore
2% David Healy
2% Ian Bennett
2% Frazer Richardson
1% Jonathan Douglas
1% Sean Gregan
Venue
Gresty Road
Kick-Off Time
01 November 2005 7:45pm
Attendance
7,220
Pre-match
United boss Kevin Blackwell made two changes to the side that drew with Reading at the weekend.
Ian Moore was given his first league start of the season in place of Frazer Richardson who was rested and left on the bench.
David Healy returned to the forward line to partner Rob Hulse for only the fourth time this season, with Robbie Blake dropping to the bench.
The Match
Leeds had the worst possible start to the game, so bad they can count themselves lucky that they were only one goal down and not three in the opening ten minutes.
The defence was all at sea as Crewe came out of the blocks early and set about carving United open.
The home side wasted their first clear cut chance when Steve Jones played a great one-two with skipper Kenny Lunt to go clear of Kilgallon and Butler, but Sullivan stood up well and made the save.
Less than a minute later the Railwaymen did take the lead - but in bizarre fashion as Paul Butler found the back of his own net. A throw in was lobbed in long by Michael Higdon into the area, looking unlikely to cause any problems, but Kelly tried to clear but managed to head the ball over a helpless Neil Sullivan and into his own net.
The Whites were clearly rattled by the gaffe and Crewe nearly took advantage once more, Sullivan had to block another Jones drive to prevent another quick goal.
As the defence looked quizzically at each other, Crewe continued to threaten and Stephen Foster was left unmarked as he met a corner from the left but thankfully couldn't keep his header down.
Leeds only real response in the first 20 minutes came when Moore shrugged off the challenge of defender Darren Moss to get goalside but couldn't beat Crewe keeper Ben Williams with the shot, firing straight at him.
On 28 minutes Leeds passed up a great opportunity to equalise when and Eddie Lewis corner ran right through the penalty area but was missed in the by Paul Butler and then Ian Moore at the back post.
On the half hour Crewe striker David Vaughan's first touch let him down otherwise the home side would have been clean through on goal again.
David Healy had been restored to the starting line-up after his impact as a substitute against Reading, but even he found the first half frustrating, seeing Williams in the Crewe goal turn away his shot from eight yards after a deflected Derry effort fell into his path.
Crewe were on a high, and when Gary Roberts let rip with a shot from 35-yards it was evident they felt confident of atoning for their earlier misses and adding to the score. Roberts shot was fortunately just high.
Half time was a chance for Blackwell to get the players in and try and settle them down with the encouragement being that despite everything they were still only a goal down.
A minute into the second half and Leeds attempts to get back in the game saw Eddie Lewis booked for diving as he went to ground looking for a penalty. Crewe saw Vaughan booked shortly afterwards for a pull back on Kelly.
Healy was the next United man to be booked after a late challenge on Anthony Tonkin that had the crowd baying for a red card. Yellow was fair.
Kilgallon was one of the few Leeds players who was having a reasonably good game, he save the Whites again when Jones pace took him clear of Harding but the York born defender managed to get back and throw himself in the way of the shot.
Just after the Crewe could count themselves desperately unlucky when Higdon had a shot come back off the post and then Jones saw the rebound blocked on the line by Eddie Lewis.
Healy's night lasted just 65 minutes before he left the field dejected, his final touch being a shot that went wide of the right hand post, and Robbie Blake replaced him.
Ian Moore went off on 72 minutes, replaced by Frazer Richardson, possibly feeling a little hollow after not making the most of his best chance to impress from a first start this season.
Blake's first chance since coming on saw him head a good cross from Harding wide of the left hand upright. It didn't look as if anything would go for Leeds on the night.
Still Crewe looked the better side and were only denied a second goal with 12 minutes to go when Gary Kelly headed clear off his own line from Lunt. Hulse then shot wide at the other end.
Two minutes later and another calamity at the back saw Jones force Sullivan into another excellent save but the danger wasn't over as the loose ball came back off Butler and was headed goalwards. Fortunately Kilgallon was back to head clear.
Danny Pugh came on with nine minutes remaining for Dan Harding, and Leeds would need a repeat of his heroics of last season when he scored twice if they were to live up to expectations from this game.
It nearly happened for Pugh too, he surged forward and played Lewis clear down the left and then the USA winger turned the ball back across the face of the penalty area where Pugh met it well but still couldn't beat Williams in the Crewe goal. Blake then finished the move with a shot wide.
Kelly drove one over late on and it was clear United had just about given up hope on this one.
And so it proved to be a third defeat on the road for Leeds, and one that was hard to comprehend after the fine performances that preceded it.
Venue
Gresty Road
Kick-Off Time
01 November 2005 7:45pm
Attendance
7,220
Officials
Referee
Trevor Kettle
Crewe Alexandra
Starting XI
1Williams, Ben
2Moss, Darren
6Foster, Steve
16Walker, Richard
3Tonkin, Anthony
7Lunt, Kenny
4Jones, Billy
21Roberts, Gary
11Vaughan, David
9Jones, Steve
19Higdon, Michael
Substitutes
13Tomlinson, Stuart
18McCready, Chris
17Rivers, Mark
20Johnson, Eddie
32Rodgers, Luke
Leeds United
Starting XI
1Sullivan, Neil
2Kelly, Gary
6Butler, Paul
26Kilgallon, Matthew
23Harding, Daniel
20Douglas, Jonathan
21Derry, Shaun
11Lewis, Eddie
22Moore, Ian
10Hulse, Rob
9Healy, David
Substitutes
13Bennett, Ian
12Pugh, Danny
8Gregan, Sean
15Richardson, Frazer
28Blake, Robbie
The online vote
40% Daniel Harding
16% Robbie Blake
12% Matthew Kilgallon
7% Neil Sullivan
4% Gary Kelly
3% Shaun Derry
2% Rob Hulse
2% Danny Pugh
2% Paul Butler
2% Eddie Lewis
2% Ian Moore
2% David Healy
2% Ian Bennett
2% Frazer Richardson
1% Jonathan Douglas
1% Sean Gregan