Post by Taxigirl on Nov 7, 2005 10:12:02 GMT
www.leedsunited.com
Venue
Elland Road
Kick-Off Time
05 November 2005 3:00pm
Attendance
22,289
Pre-match
United boss Kevin Blackwell gave Liam Miller his debut in midfield, just 24 hours after the Irish international arrived on loan from Manchester United.
Miller's inclusion saw another loan signing, Jonathan Douglas, drop down to the bench. There was one further change with Ian Moore also dropping out of the starting XI and Frazer Richardson returning to the right wing.
With David Healy and Eddie Lewis starting there were two former Preston players up against the former club, whilst Sean Gregan, who once captained the Lilywhites, was on the bench.
The Match
Kevin Blackwell's decision to throw Liam Miller straight into the thick of the action barely 24 hours after his arrival at Elland Road may on the face of it appeared bold (Remember Roque Junior!), but straight away the Irishman showed why it was no gamble.
With four minutes on the clock he spotted the space in midfield and lifted the crowd at Elland Road with a great run that saw him make 50-yards as he skipped past Brian O'Neil and Claude Davis before playing a perfect ball to David Healy.
It didn't end in a goal but it was exactly the type of positive running and imaginative play that Leeds had been lacking.
Healy did get the ball in the goal from the corner but his headed effort was chalked off for a push on the defender.
Dan Harding was given a stern ticking off for bringing down David Jones midway inside the United half, and Preston's Chris Lucketti received the same treatment when he sent Eddie Lewis tumbling.
Preston were forced into an early change after just quarter of an hour when David Jones picked up a knock and was replaced by David Nugent, a change which forced the visitors to play with two men upfront.
The visitors enjoyed a good spell midway through the half but thankfully were not able to hurt United with their possession.
Paul McKenna forced Sullivan into a save when he got in a good position on the right hand side of the area, his shot was comfortable for Sullivan though.
Then Leeds had Butler to thank for some good defending as he kept Nugent on a leash and prevented him from getting clear inside the 18-yard box.
The comedy moment of the game came when David Healy and referee Andy D'Urso collided on the half hour, sending the man in black crashing to the ground on his backside. The referee saw the funny side of it but he wasn't amused when Gary Kelly put in a late tackle on Callum Davidson and the yellow card came out for the United man.
Leeds were creating little and allowing Preston to see too much of the ball. Butler was forced to put a low cross into the box behind for a corner before Patrick Agyemang could tap in.
Miller was still busy and he might have done better with his next chance wehn he shot straight at the keeper from 25 yards out.
Preston had Chris Sedgwick booked for a foul on Dan Harding just before the break.
At half-time there was much both sides had to do to raise the entertainment value of this game.
Two minutes after the break Eddie Lewis was brought down on the edge of the area in a challenge that earned Preston skipper Chris Lucketti a yellow card. Miller lined up the free-kick but put it over the top.
Straight after Leeds missed another good chance when Gary Kelly swung in a great cross for Rob Hulse to meet smack back in the middle of the penalty box, but he put his header well over.
Preston were still having their moments though, Sedgwick should have done better when a mistake in the United back four presented him with a great chance to score ten yards out, but again the ball sailed over the crossbar.
Just after the hour mark David Nugent was booked for hauling down Frazer Richardson as the winger tried to get clear.
Lewis was barracked throughout by the Preston fans but he nearly shoved their taunts down their throats when he set Healy up, but Lucketti got back to make a saving tackle on the Northern Ireland striker.
Preston remained bright and full of attacking intent and only Neil Sullivan prevented them from going ahead when Nugent got clear and shot from 20-yards, Sullivan though managed to push the ball away.
Blake won a free-kick just outside the penalty area with eight minutes remaining but he couldn't break the deadlock with a shot that deflected wide for a corner. The substitue was unlucky not to make amends with his second chance from the corner as Derry headed it down into his path and he swivelled before getting the shot away, but Carlo Nash made his first real save of the game.
United escaped once again when Hill put in a great ball across the face of goal that Nugent met with only a soft glancing header wide. It was a glorious chance.
Miller came off just before the end to good applause and was replaced by Ian Moore with Blackwell increasing his attacking options to try and nick a winner late on.
Douglas had a shot late on when Hulse chested the ball back down to the Blackburn man, but he too couldn't change the outcome of this game, ending in a 0-0 draw.
The online vote
36% Ian Bennett
33% Liam Miller
16% Matthew Kilgallon
3% Neil Sullivan
2% Rob Hulse
2% Gary Kelly
2% David Healy
1% Paul Butler
1% Frazer Richardson
1% Shaun Derry
1% Eddie Lewis
1% Sean Gregan
0% Daniel Harding
0% Robbie Blake
0% Jonathan Douglas
0% Ian Moore
Venue
Elland Road
Kick-Off Time
05 November 2005 3:00pm
Attendance
22,289
Pre-match
United boss Kevin Blackwell gave Liam Miller his debut in midfield, just 24 hours after the Irish international arrived on loan from Manchester United.
Miller's inclusion saw another loan signing, Jonathan Douglas, drop down to the bench. There was one further change with Ian Moore also dropping out of the starting XI and Frazer Richardson returning to the right wing.
With David Healy and Eddie Lewis starting there were two former Preston players up against the former club, whilst Sean Gregan, who once captained the Lilywhites, was on the bench.
The Match
Kevin Blackwell's decision to throw Liam Miller straight into the thick of the action barely 24 hours after his arrival at Elland Road may on the face of it appeared bold (Remember Roque Junior!), but straight away the Irishman showed why it was no gamble.
With four minutes on the clock he spotted the space in midfield and lifted the crowd at Elland Road with a great run that saw him make 50-yards as he skipped past Brian O'Neil and Claude Davis before playing a perfect ball to David Healy.
It didn't end in a goal but it was exactly the type of positive running and imaginative play that Leeds had been lacking.
Healy did get the ball in the goal from the corner but his headed effort was chalked off for a push on the defender.
Dan Harding was given a stern ticking off for bringing down David Jones midway inside the United half, and Preston's Chris Lucketti received the same treatment when he sent Eddie Lewis tumbling.
Preston were forced into an early change after just quarter of an hour when David Jones picked up a knock and was replaced by David Nugent, a change which forced the visitors to play with two men upfront.
The visitors enjoyed a good spell midway through the half but thankfully were not able to hurt United with their possession.
Paul McKenna forced Sullivan into a save when he got in a good position on the right hand side of the area, his shot was comfortable for Sullivan though.
Then Leeds had Butler to thank for some good defending as he kept Nugent on a leash and prevented him from getting clear inside the 18-yard box.
The comedy moment of the game came when David Healy and referee Andy D'Urso collided on the half hour, sending the man in black crashing to the ground on his backside. The referee saw the funny side of it but he wasn't amused when Gary Kelly put in a late tackle on Callum Davidson and the yellow card came out for the United man.
Leeds were creating little and allowing Preston to see too much of the ball. Butler was forced to put a low cross into the box behind for a corner before Patrick Agyemang could tap in.
Miller was still busy and he might have done better with his next chance wehn he shot straight at the keeper from 25 yards out.
Preston had Chris Sedgwick booked for a foul on Dan Harding just before the break.
At half-time there was much both sides had to do to raise the entertainment value of this game.
Two minutes after the break Eddie Lewis was brought down on the edge of the area in a challenge that earned Preston skipper Chris Lucketti a yellow card. Miller lined up the free-kick but put it over the top.
Straight after Leeds missed another good chance when Gary Kelly swung in a great cross for Rob Hulse to meet smack back in the middle of the penalty box, but he put his header well over.
Preston were still having their moments though, Sedgwick should have done better when a mistake in the United back four presented him with a great chance to score ten yards out, but again the ball sailed over the crossbar.
Just after the hour mark David Nugent was booked for hauling down Frazer Richardson as the winger tried to get clear.
Lewis was barracked throughout by the Preston fans but he nearly shoved their taunts down their throats when he set Healy up, but Lucketti got back to make a saving tackle on the Northern Ireland striker.
Preston remained bright and full of attacking intent and only Neil Sullivan prevented them from going ahead when Nugent got clear and shot from 20-yards, Sullivan though managed to push the ball away.
Blake won a free-kick just outside the penalty area with eight minutes remaining but he couldn't break the deadlock with a shot that deflected wide for a corner. The substitue was unlucky not to make amends with his second chance from the corner as Derry headed it down into his path and he swivelled before getting the shot away, but Carlo Nash made his first real save of the game.
United escaped once again when Hill put in a great ball across the face of goal that Nugent met with only a soft glancing header wide. It was a glorious chance.
Miller came off just before the end to good applause and was replaced by Ian Moore with Blackwell increasing his attacking options to try and nick a winner late on.
Douglas had a shot late on when Hulse chested the ball back down to the Blackburn man, but he too couldn't change the outcome of this game, ending in a 0-0 draw.
The online vote
36% Ian Bennett
33% Liam Miller
16% Matthew Kilgallon
3% Neil Sullivan
2% Rob Hulse
2% Gary Kelly
2% David Healy
1% Paul Butler
1% Frazer Richardson
1% Shaun Derry
1% Eddie Lewis
1% Sean Gregan
0% Daniel Harding
0% Robbie Blake
0% Jonathan Douglas
0% Ian Moore