AMAZING!
4.31pm: Saints 3 United 04.46pm: Saints 3 United 4
Blackwell: It has to be the most dramatic game I've ever seen
By PAUL DEWS
Yorkshire Evening Post
LEEDS UNITED boss Kevin Blackwell hailed his side's stunning 4-3 success at Southampton as the most dramatic game he has ever seen.
Blackwell's side were dead and buried at 3-0 down with 20 minutes remaining, but they staged an amazing fightback to win 4-3 after
scoring all four goals in the space of just 15 minutes.
The recovery ranks as one of the greatest in United's history – loan man Liam Miller bagged the dramatic winner – and Blackwell was almost speechless.
"It's up there with the top victories I've been involved in because at 3-0 down nobody could see us winning that game," said Blackwell.
"I remember a night with Sheffield United against Leeds when we were 1-0 down with two minutes to go and we won 2-1.
"That was some night, but Saturday was a lot more dramatic because the comeback had to be longer and stronger.
"It was pure entertainment at the end – but it doesn't do anything for managers' hearts.
"Not one person left the stadium and they couldn't because it was just pure theatre."
Blackwell said the final flurry summed up the togetherness in his camp and was quick to pay tribute to the character shown by his troops.United were three goals down at half-time and, until Paul Butler popped up to score a 71st minute header, there was no suggestion that Leeds would take anything from the game.
"I sent the lads out at half time and said you've got yourselves in the mire now get yourselves out of it," said Blackwell.
"Not many teams will come back from that sort of situation. We were not playing well and at 3-0 down you couldn't be any lower, but they've shown unbelievable team spirit.
"We are frustrated because we feel this is a good side, but we don't feel they know how good they can be.
"They weigh the opposition up without getting on with their own game.
"What went wrong in the first half? Everything went wrong. We turned up!"
Blackwell's joy was tempered by the opening 70 minutes during which his Leeds side looked like they were simply happy to make up the numbers.
"I didn't make any changes at half-time," said the manager. "I know when you work with people everyday you believe in what they can do and how they're doing it, but when you are losing 3-0 and not playing well it's a kick in the wotsits.
"I have said we will get more belief and understanding in the second half of the season and certainly they've shown the ingredients every team needs to have around the promotion places, and that's spirit. We had that in abundance.
Target
"We've been in the top four or five most of the season and I just want them to go home now and try and bang three or four wins together.
"That's the target now."
Blackwell and United owed a debt of gratitude to substitute David Healy who again came off the bench to inspire Leeds towards their stunning finish.Healy turned the game at Reading last month when he scored the equaliser in a 1-1 draw and, after being involved in United's first two goals at Southampton, he bagged the leveller again on Saturday.
"It's never easy coming on as a sub, but sometimes you get lucky and come on and do something that changes the game," said Healy. "The gaffer wants people to come on off the bench and make an impact. We got lucky Saturday because we got a goal early on when I came on and from there on they took their foot off the gas and we caught them out. The gaffer's been on all week about how we haven't scored enough goals, so there's four there, and they were all spread around the team and that's good for the team. It's only one game and we only get three points for coming back from 3-0 down, but we have another game tomorrow night and have to get the three points there and kick on."
4.31pm: Saints 3 United 04.46pm: Saints 3 United 4
Blackwell: It has to be the most dramatic game I've ever seen
By PAUL DEWS
Yorkshire Evening Post
LEEDS UNITED boss Kevin Blackwell hailed his side's stunning 4-3 success at Southampton as the most dramatic game he has ever seen.
Blackwell's side were dead and buried at 3-0 down with 20 minutes remaining, but they staged an amazing fightback to win 4-3 after
scoring all four goals in the space of just 15 minutes.The recovery ranks as one of the greatest in United's history – loan man Liam Miller bagged the dramatic winner – and Blackwell was almost speechless.
"It's up there with the top victories I've been involved in because at 3-0 down nobody could see us winning that game," said Blackwell.
"I remember a night with Sheffield United against Leeds when we were 1-0 down with two minutes to go and we won 2-1.
"That was some night, but Saturday was a lot more dramatic because the comeback had to be longer and stronger.
"It was pure entertainment at the end – but it doesn't do anything for managers' hearts.
"Not one person left the stadium and they couldn't because it was just pure theatre."
Blackwell said the final flurry summed up the togetherness in his camp and was quick to pay tribute to the character shown by his troops.United were three goals down at half-time and, until Paul Butler popped up to score a 71st minute header, there was no suggestion that Leeds would take anything from the game.
"I sent the lads out at half time and said you've got yourselves in the mire now get yourselves out of it," said Blackwell.
"Not many teams will come back from that sort of situation. We were not playing well and at 3-0 down you couldn't be any lower, but they've shown unbelievable team spirit.
"We are frustrated because we feel this is a good side, but we don't feel they know how good they can be.
"They weigh the opposition up without getting on with their own game.
"What went wrong in the first half? Everything went wrong. We turned up!"
Blackwell's joy was tempered by the opening 70 minutes during which his Leeds side looked like they were simply happy to make up the numbers.
"I didn't make any changes at half-time," said the manager. "I know when you work with people everyday you believe in what they can do and how they're doing it, but when you are losing 3-0 and not playing well it's a kick in the wotsits.
"I have said we will get more belief and understanding in the second half of the season and certainly they've shown the ingredients every team needs to have around the promotion places, and that's spirit. We had that in abundance.
Target
"We've been in the top four or five most of the season and I just want them to go home now and try and bang three or four wins together.
"That's the target now."
Blackwell and United owed a debt of gratitude to substitute David Healy who again came off the bench to inspire Leeds towards their stunning finish.Healy turned the game at Reading last month when he scored the equaliser in a 1-1 draw and, after being involved in United's first two goals at Southampton, he bagged the leveller again on Saturday.
"It's never easy coming on as a sub, but sometimes you get lucky and come on and do something that changes the game," said Healy. "The gaffer wants people to come on off the bench and make an impact. We got lucky Saturday because we got a goal early on when I came on and from there on they took their foot off the gas and we caught them out. The gaffer's been on all week about how we haven't scored enough goals, so there's four there, and they were all spread around the team and that's good for the team. It's only one game and we only get three points for coming back from 3-0 down, but we have another game tomorrow night and have to get the three points there and kick on."
