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Healy on target to end year on a highLeeds United 2
Plymouth Argyle 1
Richard Sutcliffe
DAVID HEALY ended what can otherwise only be described as an 'Annus Horribilis' for Leeds United with a spectacular 35-yard winner to seal a second double of the season.
It has been a wretched 2004 for everyone at Elland Road with the year ending as it began – United facing an uncertain future due to their precarious financial position. The past 12 months have also seen Leeds surrender their Premiership status, wave goodbye to the last of the star players that reached the Champions League semi-finals, as well as sell their ground and training ground to stave off possible meltdown.
United did, however, round off 2004 with an important victory over Plymouth to chalk up a back-to-back wins for only the third time in 12 months. Kevin Blackwell's side may have been slightly fortunate to take the points against a visiting side who played the better football but in Healy United have unearthed a true gem.
He may not have had his best 90 minutes in a Leeds shirt – though the sponsors did name the Northern Ireland international as man of the match.
But when it mattered, Healy duly delivered. It was his drilled cross from the left flank just 49 seconds into the second half that Plymouth defender Peter Gilbert turned into his own net for the opening goal.
Then, with just a minute remaining and with Leeds fans anxiously waiting for the final whistle Healy struck with a contender for 'goal of the season'. With Argyle defender Matthias Doumbe playing him onside, Healy collected a long clearance from the United defence midway inside the visitors' half. He looked up, saw goalkeeper Rowain Larrieu six yards off his line and unleashed an unstoppable shot from 35 yards that flew into the net.
Manager Blackwell is udelighted with Healy and said: "I still cannot believe I got him here in the first place. I thought that some Premiership club would have come in. That goal was Premiership finishing, he has a real eye for a goal."
Healy has recently been used on the left of Blackwell's preferred 4-3-3 formation that switches to 4-5-1 when defending. But the Leeds manager could be tempted to move Healy up front when Crewe visit Elland Road on New Year's Day in place of Brian Deane, who came off with a suspected dislocated shoulder and could be out for a month.
There is no doubt Leeds will have to improve hugely on this showing against in-form Crewe with Plymouth's midfield allowed far too much freedom to dominate for lengthy periods.
Argyle did pull a goal back five minutes into stoppage time through Steve Crawford to cause a few anxious looks at watches by many in the season's best crowd of 34,496. But Leeds held on to add Plymouth to Preston on the list of sides they have done the double over this season.
Blackwell said: "That is the worse we have played in nine or 10 games and I said to the players at half time 'I am just glad it is still 0-0'. We have had so much bad luck this season, is was nice to receive some good fortune at last."
Maybe United's fortunes have bottomed out and 2005 will turn out to be the club's 'Annus Mirabilis' when the sharp decline of recent years is finally halted.
Leeds United: Sullivan; Kelly, Butler, Kilgallon, Richardson (Carlisle 80); Wright, Gregan, Pugh; Lennon, Deane (Joachim 46), Healy.
Plymouth Argyle: Larrieu; Connolly, Doumbe, Wotton, Gilbert; Hodges; Norris, Adams (Evans 66), Gudjonsson, Capaldi (Friio 52); Keith (Crawford 78).
Referee: G Salisbury (Lancashire).

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