Post by Taxigirl on May 6, 2006 6:43:40 GMT
www.leedsunited.com/report
Venue
Elland Road
Kick-Off Time
05 May 2006 7:45pm
Attendance
35,239
Referee
Phil Crossley
Eddie Lewis, 74
David Nugent, 48
Pre-Match
Kevin Blackwell had made sure he gave nothing away in the meaningless encounter between the two sides six days before this big showdown.
Having rested eight players at Deepdale, it was no surprise that most of them came back into the side for this massive game. Eddie Lewis, Shaun Derry, Rob Hulse, Stephen Crainey, Gary Kelly, Eirik Bakke, and Liam Miller were all back.
Leeds had though been rocked in the build up by the loss of skipper Paul Butler with a torn calf muscle. That saw Matthew Kilgallon and Sean Gregan become the key men at the back.
On the bench there was a suprise return for Richard Cresswell, just back from a knee ligament problem and that took the Preston old-boy connection in the Leeds squad to four. Steve Stone was also back on the bench after playing a full game against the Lillywhites at the weekend, his first for the club.
The Match
The sold out signs went up at Elland Road for the first time in two seasons and the capacity crowd made for a memorable atmosphere, easily rivalling the great European nights the stadium has enjoyed.
Leeds dominated the early stages and never allowed Preston to settle on the ball.
Gary Kelly was fouled five yards out from the penalty area by Brett Ormerod and he brushed himself off to take the free-kick, which saw United gain their first corner as it went out off Youl Mawene.
The pressure continued as Leeds peppered the box with low crosses, Lewis getting involved early on, but Preston had men back and one way or another were able to prevent United from getting into a good scoring position.
On seven minutes though David Nugent sent Leeds a warning shot as he fired over after a free-kick was played low across the box to the England under-21 striker.
Leeds came closest to opening the scoring on 21 minutes when Matthew Kilgallon hit the woodwork.
The defender rose well at the backpost to meet Kelly's corner, getting real power behind his downwards header, but it cannoned back off the left hand post with Carlo Nash in the Preston goal seemingly beaten.
Eirik Bakke was let off with just a warning after a foul on Brian O'Neil, another bad challenge though and he was due a yellow card.
Preston again tried to set up their top marksman Nugent with a low ball into the area from another corner on the half-hour, fortunately Leeds had plenty of bodies in the box to block his shot and the follow-up but it was clear he would have to be watched carefully.
Two minutes later and Eddie Lewis' run was brought to an end with a crude challenge to give him the chance to try his luck from a central position, 20 yards out.
Whilst Elland Road expected the American to take it, David Healy ran up instead and smashed it into the wall. It was a golden opportunity missed.
Lewis, Kelly and even Healy were managing to get plenty of balls into the Preston box, but with seven men packed in there at times the yellow shirts seemed to be everywhere. Leeds were going to have to find another way to unpick the lock.
Leeds had barely settled down in the second half when they were stunned by a David Nugent wonder goal.
The Preston man came up with a special solo goal as he collected the ball on the left hand edge of the penalty box, took the ball past Gregan, held off Kelly, nudged it past Kilgallon and rolled it into the back of the net with Sullivan barely a yard away from him.
It was a real set-back for the Whites and one they somehow had to recover from to give themselves a decent chance in the second leg at Deepdale.
Five minutes after the goal, Eddie Lewis appeared to be hacked down by Tyrone Mears with the ball at his feet as he ran into the area. It looked a certain penalty but Phil Crossley was quick to wave away United's appeals.
Straight after that disappointment, Eirik Bakke was booked for a foul on Mears and before the hour was up found himself being replaced as Blackwell brought on Steve Stone to provide more crosses into the area.
Right on the hour Healy created an opening for Miller on the edge of the area but Nash was able to get firm hands behind the midfielder's strike.
Robbie Blake came on for Leeds with just over quarter of an hour left, it was David Healy who made way as Blackwell freshened up his attack.
On 74 minutes, a foul on the edge of the area presented Leeds with another chance from a set-piece. Who else other than former Preston favourite Eddie Lewis to take it? The USA international stepped up and curled it home, just beating Claude Davis in the air as the ball found the top corner.
That brought Elland Road alive again and the decibel count rose higher than it has ever been for the past three seasons at least, maybe more.
The goal had the effect of rejuvenating the Whites, they nearly made it 2-1 straight after the goal when Lewis broke down the left hand side and chipped the ball into the middle for Hulse but the striker had just strayed offside.
Leeds started the game with three former Preston players and finished the game with three Preston old-boys as Richard Cresswell came on for Shaun Derry with just over ten minutes left to play. Cresswell was straight in there, winning a free-kick with his first touch
The game was marred by a mass confrontation on the pitch after a spat between Cresswell and Alexander started it all off. It saw yellow cards for Claude Davis and Cresswell when everything had eventually settled down and the referee had restored order.
The hold up contributed to five minutes of extra time for Leeds to try and gain an advantage going into Monday's second leg but they needed to put the ball in the right areas.
What followed was frustrating though. Crosses sailed aimlessly into the penalty area where they were plucked out of the air by a grateful Nash.
Leeds, as is typical, must get through to the final the hard way, away rom home.
MAN OF THE MATCH
The Online Vote
36% Eddie Lewis
14% Gary Kelly
10% Eirik Bakke
10% David Healy
7% Matthew Kilgallon
6% Sean Gregan
4% Liam Miller
4% Shaun Derry
2% Stephen Crainey
2% Neil Sullivan
2% Rob Hulse
2% Steve Stone
1% Ian Bennett
1% Richard Cresswell
1% Robbie Blake
0% Jonathan Douglas
Venue
Elland Road
Kick-Off Time
05 May 2006 7:45pm
Attendance
35,239
Referee
Phil Crossley
Eddie Lewis, 74
David Nugent, 48
Pre-Match
Kevin Blackwell had made sure he gave nothing away in the meaningless encounter between the two sides six days before this big showdown.
Having rested eight players at Deepdale, it was no surprise that most of them came back into the side for this massive game. Eddie Lewis, Shaun Derry, Rob Hulse, Stephen Crainey, Gary Kelly, Eirik Bakke, and Liam Miller were all back.
Leeds had though been rocked in the build up by the loss of skipper Paul Butler with a torn calf muscle. That saw Matthew Kilgallon and Sean Gregan become the key men at the back.
On the bench there was a suprise return for Richard Cresswell, just back from a knee ligament problem and that took the Preston old-boy connection in the Leeds squad to four. Steve Stone was also back on the bench after playing a full game against the Lillywhites at the weekend, his first for the club.
The Match
The sold out signs went up at Elland Road for the first time in two seasons and the capacity crowd made for a memorable atmosphere, easily rivalling the great European nights the stadium has enjoyed.
Leeds dominated the early stages and never allowed Preston to settle on the ball.
Gary Kelly was fouled five yards out from the penalty area by Brett Ormerod and he brushed himself off to take the free-kick, which saw United gain their first corner as it went out off Youl Mawene.
The pressure continued as Leeds peppered the box with low crosses, Lewis getting involved early on, but Preston had men back and one way or another were able to prevent United from getting into a good scoring position.
On seven minutes though David Nugent sent Leeds a warning shot as he fired over after a free-kick was played low across the box to the England under-21 striker.
Leeds came closest to opening the scoring on 21 minutes when Matthew Kilgallon hit the woodwork.
The defender rose well at the backpost to meet Kelly's corner, getting real power behind his downwards header, but it cannoned back off the left hand post with Carlo Nash in the Preston goal seemingly beaten.
Eirik Bakke was let off with just a warning after a foul on Brian O'Neil, another bad challenge though and he was due a yellow card.
Preston again tried to set up their top marksman Nugent with a low ball into the area from another corner on the half-hour, fortunately Leeds had plenty of bodies in the box to block his shot and the follow-up but it was clear he would have to be watched carefully.
Two minutes later and Eddie Lewis' run was brought to an end with a crude challenge to give him the chance to try his luck from a central position, 20 yards out.
Whilst Elland Road expected the American to take it, David Healy ran up instead and smashed it into the wall. It was a golden opportunity missed.
Lewis, Kelly and even Healy were managing to get plenty of balls into the Preston box, but with seven men packed in there at times the yellow shirts seemed to be everywhere. Leeds were going to have to find another way to unpick the lock.
Leeds had barely settled down in the second half when they were stunned by a David Nugent wonder goal.
The Preston man came up with a special solo goal as he collected the ball on the left hand edge of the penalty box, took the ball past Gregan, held off Kelly, nudged it past Kilgallon and rolled it into the back of the net with Sullivan barely a yard away from him.
It was a real set-back for the Whites and one they somehow had to recover from to give themselves a decent chance in the second leg at Deepdale.
Five minutes after the goal, Eddie Lewis appeared to be hacked down by Tyrone Mears with the ball at his feet as he ran into the area. It looked a certain penalty but Phil Crossley was quick to wave away United's appeals.
Straight after that disappointment, Eirik Bakke was booked for a foul on Mears and before the hour was up found himself being replaced as Blackwell brought on Steve Stone to provide more crosses into the area.
Right on the hour Healy created an opening for Miller on the edge of the area but Nash was able to get firm hands behind the midfielder's strike.
Robbie Blake came on for Leeds with just over quarter of an hour left, it was David Healy who made way as Blackwell freshened up his attack.
On 74 minutes, a foul on the edge of the area presented Leeds with another chance from a set-piece. Who else other than former Preston favourite Eddie Lewis to take it? The USA international stepped up and curled it home, just beating Claude Davis in the air as the ball found the top corner.
That brought Elland Road alive again and the decibel count rose higher than it has ever been for the past three seasons at least, maybe more.
The goal had the effect of rejuvenating the Whites, they nearly made it 2-1 straight after the goal when Lewis broke down the left hand side and chipped the ball into the middle for Hulse but the striker had just strayed offside.
Leeds started the game with three former Preston players and finished the game with three Preston old-boys as Richard Cresswell came on for Shaun Derry with just over ten minutes left to play. Cresswell was straight in there, winning a free-kick with his first touch
The game was marred by a mass confrontation on the pitch after a spat between Cresswell and Alexander started it all off. It saw yellow cards for Claude Davis and Cresswell when everything had eventually settled down and the referee had restored order.
The hold up contributed to five minutes of extra time for Leeds to try and gain an advantage going into Monday's second leg but they needed to put the ball in the right areas.
What followed was frustrating though. Crosses sailed aimlessly into the penalty area where they were plucked out of the air by a grateful Nash.
Leeds, as is typical, must get through to the final the hard way, away rom home.
MAN OF THE MATCH
The Online Vote
36% Eddie Lewis
14% Gary Kelly
10% Eirik Bakke
10% David Healy
7% Matthew Kilgallon
6% Sean Gregan
4% Liam Miller
4% Shaun Derry
2% Stephen Crainey
2% Neil Sullivan
2% Rob Hulse
2% Steve Stone
1% Ian Bennett
1% Richard Cresswell
1% Robbie Blake
0% Jonathan Douglas