Post by Taxigirl on Feb 15, 2006 9:27:28 GMT
www.leedsunited.com/report
Venue
Elland Road
Kick-Off Time
14 February 2006 7:45pm
Attendance
22,007
Robbie Blake, 60 (pen), 81
Ashley Young, 40
Pre-Match
Kevin Blackwell kept with the same XI that drew with Derby County at Pride Park four days previous, and that meants that despite being available again after serving a one match suspension, David Healy was again to play the role of super-sub.
The only changes were on the bench where Danny Pugh and Ian Moore, both of whom looked lively when they came on at the weekend, dropped out of the 16 altogether. Healy and, despite having suffered a cartilage injury that will require surgery, Richard Cresswell came in.
Watford's selection was missing two former United players - Matt Spring and Clarke Carlisle - whom under the terms of their transfer to Vicarage Road in the summer were not allowed to feature against their old club
The Match
United were presented with a chance to test Watford keeper Ben Foster inside the first minute after Rob Hulse was pulled back just five yards short of the penalty area.
Robbie Blake fired in the resulting free-kick but was just over with the striker having not yet set his sights.
It was the visitors who applied most of the early pressure, King in particular was probing a handful and Gary Kelly looked set to have a busy night with Ashley Young seeing plenty of the ball on the left wing.
Watford made strong claims for a penalty after ten minutes when Gregan appeared to put an arm around Marlon King as the ball came to him inside the penalty area. The centre-half was doing what is diplomatically called 'using his experience'.
James Chambers picked up the first yellow card of the evening for a late tackle on Liam Miller shortly afterwards.
United's first real chance came just before the quarter hour mark when Eddie Lewis' cross missed Hulse at the near post but fell right at Jonathan Douglas's feet barely four yards out, bounced off his shins and went wide.
They had another eight minutes later when Eddie Lewis met Kelly's corner with a downwards header that just Douglas couldn't quite get a touch to and the ball sailed wide of the right hand post.
The Kop were singing Sean Gregan's praises after he made a great tackle right on the edge of the area to take the ball off King just as the striker was getting ready to side-step him and make it 1-0 to the visitors.
And Watford could so easily have taken the lead after some slack defending at a corner saw Alhassan Bangura left totally unmarked at the back post and fortunately his header was straight at Sullivan.
Leeds were still coming under some strong pressure from the hornets when Blake turned his man on the edge of the area and then saw his cross-cum-shot turned over the top by Foster in the Watford goal.
Kelly's right wing cross eight minutes before the break nearly produced a goal. It passed over the heads of Husle and Douglas and was eventually met by Lewis, but the USA international could not get any power behind his header to trouble Foster.
Gregan's attempt to stop King again on the edge of the penalty area led to trouble. He conceded a free-kick and from it Young just swept the ball into the top left hand corner of the net.
Sullivan had no chance as Young got plenty of pace behind his shot and Watford, two points ahead of the Whites before this game, had a priceless lead.
Leeds tried their best to get back into the game before the break; Lewis stuck a sweet shot from the edge of the area but Foster managed to turn it over the top and then from his corner Gregan hit the top of the crossbar with a powerful header that he stooped down low to get to.
It had certainly been an entertaining first half but at the end of it the scoreline was worrying for an anxious Elland Road crowd.
Right at the start of the second half Robbie Blake found himself goalside after Lewis flicked on Kelly's deep cross and he finished it well but his joy was short-lived as the flag had been up for off-side.
Almost straight afterwards Watford too had the ball in the back of the net again, but this time too the offside flag was up after Darius Henderson finished well past Sullivan.
Sean Gregan's hopes of avoiding a yellow card went west after he was picked up by referee Michael Jones for a foul on King. Booking number nine of the season for the defender.
Leeds were working the ball well in the second half and their patience was rewarded.
It was a mistake in the Watford defence the led up to the goal. Hulse was onto the backpass in a flash and looked to take the ball around the keeper Foster, out came the arms and the United man went tumbling to the ground for an obvious penalty.
The referee had little hesitation in pointing to the spot and showed the hapless keeper the red card.
Watford sacrificed Eagles to bring substitute keeper Alec Chamberlain, the 41-year-old, to face the penalty.
Robbie Blake made no mistake with the spot-kick, stepping up and blasting it into the far left hand corner of the net.
Leeds were back in the game and looking hungry for the win.
Right on the hour mark the game turned nasty and Watford found themselves two men down.
Darius Henderson jumped into Gregan with an elbow and caught the defender right in the face. It was close to GBH and despite Henderson's protestations and pointing out his ripped shirt, he had to walk.
It was now a case of Leeds doing whatever they could to break down the nine men and get the three points. Shaun Derry was first to try but his shot took a deflection into Chamberlain's arms.
Gary Kelly nearly struck a spectacular goal as he came steaming into the area and hit a first time volley just a yard over the crossbar.
Kelly then delivered a free-kick long into the area that was met by Paul Butler at the back post but he just couldn't divert it goalwards.
Blackwell made a double substitution with quarter of an hour left to try and force the win. Jonathan Douglas and Rob Hulse made way for David Healy and Richard Cresswell as Blackwell added to his attacking options.
With just under nine minutes to play Leeds finally got the breakthrough.
It came from Lewis's ball for Cresswell that Demerit failed to cut out and Cresswell took it to the six-yard box, squared it for Healy and his shot was blocked but the loose ball fell nicely for Blake to blast in with as much power as he put behind his penalty.
Elland Road rose together and there was an element of a collective sigh of relief in the celebrations as the nine men were finally beaten.
MAN OF THE MATCH
The online vote
51% Robbie Blake
6% Ian Bennett
4% Sean Gregan
4% Rob Hulse
4% Neil Sullivan
4% David Healy
4% Gary Kelly
3% Eddie Lewis
3% Liam Miller
3% Paul Butler
3% Shaun Derry
3% Stephen Crainey
3% Jonathan Douglas
3% Simon Walton
2% Gylfi Einarsson
1% Richard Cresswell
Venue
Elland Road
Kick-Off Time
14 February 2006 7:45pm
Attendance
22,007
Robbie Blake, 60 (pen), 81
Ashley Young, 40
Pre-Match
Kevin Blackwell kept with the same XI that drew with Derby County at Pride Park four days previous, and that meants that despite being available again after serving a one match suspension, David Healy was again to play the role of super-sub.
The only changes were on the bench where Danny Pugh and Ian Moore, both of whom looked lively when they came on at the weekend, dropped out of the 16 altogether. Healy and, despite having suffered a cartilage injury that will require surgery, Richard Cresswell came in.
Watford's selection was missing two former United players - Matt Spring and Clarke Carlisle - whom under the terms of their transfer to Vicarage Road in the summer were not allowed to feature against their old club
The Match
United were presented with a chance to test Watford keeper Ben Foster inside the first minute after Rob Hulse was pulled back just five yards short of the penalty area.
Robbie Blake fired in the resulting free-kick but was just over with the striker having not yet set his sights.
It was the visitors who applied most of the early pressure, King in particular was probing a handful and Gary Kelly looked set to have a busy night with Ashley Young seeing plenty of the ball on the left wing.
Watford made strong claims for a penalty after ten minutes when Gregan appeared to put an arm around Marlon King as the ball came to him inside the penalty area. The centre-half was doing what is diplomatically called 'using his experience'.
James Chambers picked up the first yellow card of the evening for a late tackle on Liam Miller shortly afterwards.
United's first real chance came just before the quarter hour mark when Eddie Lewis' cross missed Hulse at the near post but fell right at Jonathan Douglas's feet barely four yards out, bounced off his shins and went wide.
They had another eight minutes later when Eddie Lewis met Kelly's corner with a downwards header that just Douglas couldn't quite get a touch to and the ball sailed wide of the right hand post.
The Kop were singing Sean Gregan's praises after he made a great tackle right on the edge of the area to take the ball off King just as the striker was getting ready to side-step him and make it 1-0 to the visitors.
And Watford could so easily have taken the lead after some slack defending at a corner saw Alhassan Bangura left totally unmarked at the back post and fortunately his header was straight at Sullivan.
Leeds were still coming under some strong pressure from the hornets when Blake turned his man on the edge of the area and then saw his cross-cum-shot turned over the top by Foster in the Watford goal.
Kelly's right wing cross eight minutes before the break nearly produced a goal. It passed over the heads of Husle and Douglas and was eventually met by Lewis, but the USA international could not get any power behind his header to trouble Foster.
Gregan's attempt to stop King again on the edge of the penalty area led to trouble. He conceded a free-kick and from it Young just swept the ball into the top left hand corner of the net.
Sullivan had no chance as Young got plenty of pace behind his shot and Watford, two points ahead of the Whites before this game, had a priceless lead.
Leeds tried their best to get back into the game before the break; Lewis stuck a sweet shot from the edge of the area but Foster managed to turn it over the top and then from his corner Gregan hit the top of the crossbar with a powerful header that he stooped down low to get to.
It had certainly been an entertaining first half but at the end of it the scoreline was worrying for an anxious Elland Road crowd.
Right at the start of the second half Robbie Blake found himself goalside after Lewis flicked on Kelly's deep cross and he finished it well but his joy was short-lived as the flag had been up for off-side.
Almost straight afterwards Watford too had the ball in the back of the net again, but this time too the offside flag was up after Darius Henderson finished well past Sullivan.
Sean Gregan's hopes of avoiding a yellow card went west after he was picked up by referee Michael Jones for a foul on King. Booking number nine of the season for the defender.
Leeds were working the ball well in the second half and their patience was rewarded.
It was a mistake in the Watford defence the led up to the goal. Hulse was onto the backpass in a flash and looked to take the ball around the keeper Foster, out came the arms and the United man went tumbling to the ground for an obvious penalty.
The referee had little hesitation in pointing to the spot and showed the hapless keeper the red card.
Watford sacrificed Eagles to bring substitute keeper Alec Chamberlain, the 41-year-old, to face the penalty.
Robbie Blake made no mistake with the spot-kick, stepping up and blasting it into the far left hand corner of the net.
Leeds were back in the game and looking hungry for the win.
Right on the hour mark the game turned nasty and Watford found themselves two men down.
Darius Henderson jumped into Gregan with an elbow and caught the defender right in the face. It was close to GBH and despite Henderson's protestations and pointing out his ripped shirt, he had to walk.
It was now a case of Leeds doing whatever they could to break down the nine men and get the three points. Shaun Derry was first to try but his shot took a deflection into Chamberlain's arms.
Gary Kelly nearly struck a spectacular goal as he came steaming into the area and hit a first time volley just a yard over the crossbar.
Kelly then delivered a free-kick long into the area that was met by Paul Butler at the back post but he just couldn't divert it goalwards.
Blackwell made a double substitution with quarter of an hour left to try and force the win. Jonathan Douglas and Rob Hulse made way for David Healy and Richard Cresswell as Blackwell added to his attacking options.
With just under nine minutes to play Leeds finally got the breakthrough.
It came from Lewis's ball for Cresswell that Demerit failed to cut out and Cresswell took it to the six-yard box, squared it for Healy and his shot was blocked but the loose ball fell nicely for Blake to blast in with as much power as he put behind his penalty.
Elland Road rose together and there was an element of a collective sigh of relief in the celebrations as the nine men were finally beaten.
MAN OF THE MATCH
The online vote
51% Robbie Blake
6% Ian Bennett
4% Sean Gregan
4% Rob Hulse
4% Neil Sullivan
4% David Healy
4% Gary Kelly
3% Eddie Lewis
3% Liam Miller
3% Paul Butler
3% Shaun Derry
3% Stephen Crainey
3% Jonathan Douglas
3% Simon Walton
2% Gylfi Einarsson
1% Richard Cresswell