Post by Taxigirl on Mar 14, 2006 9:58:09 GMT
www.leedsunited.com
United winger Eddie Lewis says promotion is now in Leeds' own hands after his late equaliser against Norwich.
Leeds nearly blew their big chance to close the gap on the second placed Sheffield United after they threw away their first half lead handed to them by Rob Hulse and found themselves 2-1 down with quarter of an hour to play.
Meanwhile the Blades were slumping to a 2-0 defeat away at Coventry and it looked as if Leeds would let a great opportunity to take advantage slip until Lewis was given the chance to try his range with a 25-year free-kick right at the end of normal time.
The USA international curled the ball over the wall into the top right hand corner of the net to send Elland Road wild, and although he didn't immediately realise the full significance of his goal, Lewis is confident it will prove to be another massive point for Leeds.
"I was happy with the goal," he said, "it was a decent free kick but most of all securing a point and continuing to make up ground on second place was the most important part.
"I came in feeling a bit disappointed that we had let two points slip away but a few of the guys were very positive and I didn't realise at the time that Sheffield United had lost.
"It's now in our hands for the first time and we are continuing on this unbeaten run."
If Leeds continue to keep pace with Sheffield United and win their game in hand over Crystal Palace next Tuesday it would set up a mouth-wateringYorkshire derby with more than just pride at stake when the Blades host United at Bramall Lane next month.
Lewis admitted that, having been largely in control of the first half, Norwich's second half revival shocked his team-mates and it was not a great performance - but it was a one off.
"They got after us right from the start of the second half and it took a while for us to adjust. We lost our shape a little bit and a few of the guys were panicking on the ball and maybe we went too direct to early and that allowed them to control the game.
"But it hasn't felt like we were on the wrong side of things for a while, and that's a good thing because we have done well all season to stop that type of play and hopefully we can just get back to the standard we have shown all season at Coventry next week.
"We are making up ground and have put things in our own hands now, plus we have the guys in this squad to see us through to the end."
The free-kick was Lewis's fifth goal of the season, his second in the last three games, and he was in little doubt it ranked as one of his best.
"There was a chance of going around the outside of the wall but there was a guy positioned there who could have stopped it so it was left to me to go over the wall and fortunately it came good.
"It's generally a sign of a decent free kick if the keeper is left standing but I just wanted to make sure I didn't overhit it.
"Anytime you score goal and it means something then it gives you a great feeling. Hopefully I can get a few more like that this season."
United winger Eddie Lewis says promotion is now in Leeds' own hands after his late equaliser against Norwich.
Leeds nearly blew their big chance to close the gap on the second placed Sheffield United after they threw away their first half lead handed to them by Rob Hulse and found themselves 2-1 down with quarter of an hour to play.
Meanwhile the Blades were slumping to a 2-0 defeat away at Coventry and it looked as if Leeds would let a great opportunity to take advantage slip until Lewis was given the chance to try his range with a 25-year free-kick right at the end of normal time.
The USA international curled the ball over the wall into the top right hand corner of the net to send Elland Road wild, and although he didn't immediately realise the full significance of his goal, Lewis is confident it will prove to be another massive point for Leeds.
"I was happy with the goal," he said, "it was a decent free kick but most of all securing a point and continuing to make up ground on second place was the most important part.
"I came in feeling a bit disappointed that we had let two points slip away but a few of the guys were very positive and I didn't realise at the time that Sheffield United had lost.
"It's now in our hands for the first time and we are continuing on this unbeaten run."
If Leeds continue to keep pace with Sheffield United and win their game in hand over Crystal Palace next Tuesday it would set up a mouth-wateringYorkshire derby with more than just pride at stake when the Blades host United at Bramall Lane next month.
Lewis admitted that, having been largely in control of the first half, Norwich's second half revival shocked his team-mates and it was not a great performance - but it was a one off.
"They got after us right from the start of the second half and it took a while for us to adjust. We lost our shape a little bit and a few of the guys were panicking on the ball and maybe we went too direct to early and that allowed them to control the game.
"But it hasn't felt like we were on the wrong side of things for a while, and that's a good thing because we have done well all season to stop that type of play and hopefully we can just get back to the standard we have shown all season at Coventry next week.
"We are making up ground and have put things in our own hands now, plus we have the guys in this squad to see us through to the end."
The free-kick was Lewis's fifth goal of the season, his second in the last three games, and he was in little doubt it ranked as one of his best.
"There was a chance of going around the outside of the wall but there was a guy positioned there who could have stopped it so it was left to me to go over the wall and fortunately it came good.
"It's generally a sign of a decent free kick if the keeper is left standing but I just wanted to make sure I didn't overhit it.
"Anytime you score goal and it means something then it gives you a great feeling. Hopefully I can get a few more like that this season."