All Square: Derby 0 United 0
leedsunited.com
Leeds earned a point from a goalless draw at Pride Park but it wasn't a satisfying one for United as they had enough good chances to take all three.
Pre-Match
United boss Kevin Blackwell was forced to make changes to his forward line after injury and suspension hit his plans for this game.
He knew last week David Healy would be unavailable after picking up his fifth booking of the season and an automatic one match suspension, but injury dealt his other striker from the last game against Queens Park Rangers a cruel blow.
Richard Cresswell is understood to have gone down with a knee injury in training and was not even able to make it onto the subs bench.
That meant a start for Rob Hulse and Richard Cresswell together, the only changes to the side from that win over Rangers. Worryingly both had been pre-match doubts earlier in the week.
Derby tried and failed to sign a striker in time for the game as caretaker manager Terry Westley looked to strengthen his squad for their fight against relegation.
The Rams were also missing their Johnson's. Former United midfielder Seth and defender Michael to be precise, both of whom underwent knee operations in midweek and are key players at Pride Park.
The Match
Rob Hulse was nearly in on goal with less than 20 seconds played as Leeds stole the ball from Derby and Liam Miller threaded a pass forward for Hulse to get on the end of, the pass just had a bit too much pace for the striker and Lee Camp was quickly out to make the save.
Stephen Crainey found himself in trouble with the referee three minutes into the game when he slid in for a challenge on Rams winger Richard Jackson a bit early and ended up sliding into the player and clattering him around the ankles. Fortunately referee Phil Down realised it was just a case of misjudgment and not dangerous play from the Scot who was let off with just a ticking off.
United created their best early chance on ten minutes and came desperately close to opening the scoring. Eddie Lewis delivered a hanging cross to the back post which Derby watched go over their heads and could not have expected Robbie Blake to come steaming in and meet it with a firm volley.
Blake's shot was heading for goal but came off a Derby player and looped over the crossbar. It could have been one of the goals of the season.
Four minutes later and Hulse was left in agony after a cynical challenge from Pole Tomasz Hajto. Kevin Blackwell was furious with the tackle and appeared to suggest that the yellow card the defender received was lenient to say the least. Hulse returned to the action five minutes later.
Derby's first real chance - as Rob Hulse stepped back on after treatment - saw a dangerous cross from one time United target Tommy Smith fall dangerously inbetween the Leeds defence and Sullivan but Morten Bisgaard somehow failed to get a touch.
The home side threatened again a minute later with Danny Graham's low cross into the middle of the 18-yard box looking perfect for someone to get a toe end on the ball and turn it home but Barnes missed it with Kelly applying the pressure.
Rob Hulse and Robbie Blake were both on the receiving end of some heavy treatment inside the area, pushed and shoved from pillar to post, but no penalty - especially for one blatant push on Hulse - was forthcoming.
Derby's first real chance - as Rob Hulse stepped back on after treatment - saw a dangerous cross from one time United target Tommy Smith fall dangerously inbetween the Leeds defence and Sullivan but Morten Bisgaard somehow failed to get a touch.
The home side threatened again a minute later with Danny Graham's low cross into the middle of the 18-yard box looking perfect for someone to get a toe end on the ball and turn it home but Barnes missed it with Kelly applying the pressure.
Paul Butler scored in two of United's last three games and he nearly made it three in four when he met a corner from Lewis with a firm header, but Camp held onto his attempt well. Tommy Smith was the second Derby player booked when he showed dissent after a free-kick decision went against him.
Blake was brought down by Bolder 25-yards out to give Lewis a chance to test Camp in the Rams goal with the free-kick. Lewis managed to curl it past the wall but the keeper was equal to the shot.
Derry's shoulder charge on Hajto just before the break earned him a yellow card.
No changes for either side at half-time, Leeds were looking for another Plymouth-type performance but the Rams proved to be more stubborn resistance.Ten minutes into the half and Hajto's challenge with Hulse on the edge of the Derby area earned United a free-kick. Kelly swung the ball into the six yard box and Hulse's header was just a yard over the crossbar.
A slip at the back let the home side in for their best chance of the game. El-Hamduoui's pass saw Graham put through with just Sullivan to beat and United's No.1 earned his corn for the week with a great block at the expense of a corner.Gary Kelly evened up the bookings with a challenge on Barnes, the defender picking up his second yellow card in consecutive games and seventh of the season.
United missed a glorious chance with 66 minutes gone when Lewis broke down the left and with Blake, Hulse and Miller in lose support they had a man advantage but the final shot from Miller was straight at the keeper. With 20 minutes left Blackwell made his first change, bringing Ian Moore on for Robbie Blake. Former Burnley striker Moore had the opportunity to make a name for himself.
At this point Leeds were dominant and a goal looked as if it was on its way, and it should have been 1-0 to the visitors when Miller cut the ball back to Douglas inside the box but the Blackburn man could only clip the ball wide.
Moore was full of running and caused the Derby defence a few problems as he snaked his way into the box. When Hajto brought his run to an end with what appeared to be a foul his appeals for a penalty were just waved away.
Leeds were breaking forward time after time but just couldn't manufacture a good final ball capable of finding the back of the net. Danny Pugh replaced Eddie Lewis with two minutes of time left but it was too late for him to have much impact on the game as the final whistle followed soon after with neither side having done enough to make a late breakthrough.
leedsunited.com
Leeds earned a point from a goalless draw at Pride Park but it wasn't a satisfying one for United as they had enough good chances to take all three.
Pre-Match
United boss Kevin Blackwell was forced to make changes to his forward line after injury and suspension hit his plans for this game.
He knew last week David Healy would be unavailable after picking up his fifth booking of the season and an automatic one match suspension, but injury dealt his other striker from the last game against Queens Park Rangers a cruel blow.
Richard Cresswell is understood to have gone down with a knee injury in training and was not even able to make it onto the subs bench.
That meant a start for Rob Hulse and Richard Cresswell together, the only changes to the side from that win over Rangers. Worryingly both had been pre-match doubts earlier in the week.
Derby tried and failed to sign a striker in time for the game as caretaker manager Terry Westley looked to strengthen his squad for their fight against relegation.
The Rams were also missing their Johnson's. Former United midfielder Seth and defender Michael to be precise, both of whom underwent knee operations in midweek and are key players at Pride Park.
The Match
Rob Hulse was nearly in on goal with less than 20 seconds played as Leeds stole the ball from Derby and Liam Miller threaded a pass forward for Hulse to get on the end of, the pass just had a bit too much pace for the striker and Lee Camp was quickly out to make the save.
Stephen Crainey found himself in trouble with the referee three minutes into the game when he slid in for a challenge on Rams winger Richard Jackson a bit early and ended up sliding into the player and clattering him around the ankles. Fortunately referee Phil Down realised it was just a case of misjudgment and not dangerous play from the Scot who was let off with just a ticking off.
United created their best early chance on ten minutes and came desperately close to opening the scoring. Eddie Lewis delivered a hanging cross to the back post which Derby watched go over their heads and could not have expected Robbie Blake to come steaming in and meet it with a firm volley.
Blake's shot was heading for goal but came off a Derby player and looped over the crossbar. It could have been one of the goals of the season.
Four minutes later and Hulse was left in agony after a cynical challenge from Pole Tomasz Hajto. Kevin Blackwell was furious with the tackle and appeared to suggest that the yellow card the defender received was lenient to say the least. Hulse returned to the action five minutes later.
Derby's first real chance - as Rob Hulse stepped back on after treatment - saw a dangerous cross from one time United target Tommy Smith fall dangerously inbetween the Leeds defence and Sullivan but Morten Bisgaard somehow failed to get a touch.
The home side threatened again a minute later with Danny Graham's low cross into the middle of the 18-yard box looking perfect for someone to get a toe end on the ball and turn it home but Barnes missed it with Kelly applying the pressure.
Rob Hulse and Robbie Blake were both on the receiving end of some heavy treatment inside the area, pushed and shoved from pillar to post, but no penalty - especially for one blatant push on Hulse - was forthcoming.
Derby's first real chance - as Rob Hulse stepped back on after treatment - saw a dangerous cross from one time United target Tommy Smith fall dangerously inbetween the Leeds defence and Sullivan but Morten Bisgaard somehow failed to get a touch.
The home side threatened again a minute later with Danny Graham's low cross into the middle of the 18-yard box looking perfect for someone to get a toe end on the ball and turn it home but Barnes missed it with Kelly applying the pressure.
Paul Butler scored in two of United's last three games and he nearly made it three in four when he met a corner from Lewis with a firm header, but Camp held onto his attempt well. Tommy Smith was the second Derby player booked when he showed dissent after a free-kick decision went against him.
Blake was brought down by Bolder 25-yards out to give Lewis a chance to test Camp in the Rams goal with the free-kick. Lewis managed to curl it past the wall but the keeper was equal to the shot.
Derry's shoulder charge on Hajto just before the break earned him a yellow card.
No changes for either side at half-time, Leeds were looking for another Plymouth-type performance but the Rams proved to be more stubborn resistance.Ten minutes into the half and Hajto's challenge with Hulse on the edge of the Derby area earned United a free-kick. Kelly swung the ball into the six yard box and Hulse's header was just a yard over the crossbar.
A slip at the back let the home side in for their best chance of the game. El-Hamduoui's pass saw Graham put through with just Sullivan to beat and United's No.1 earned his corn for the week with a great block at the expense of a corner.Gary Kelly evened up the bookings with a challenge on Barnes, the defender picking up his second yellow card in consecutive games and seventh of the season.
United missed a glorious chance with 66 minutes gone when Lewis broke down the left and with Blake, Hulse and Miller in lose support they had a man advantage but the final shot from Miller was straight at the keeper. With 20 minutes left Blackwell made his first change, bringing Ian Moore on for Robbie Blake. Former Burnley striker Moore had the opportunity to make a name for himself.
At this point Leeds were dominant and a goal looked as if it was on its way, and it should have been 1-0 to the visitors when Miller cut the ball back to Douglas inside the box but the Blackburn man could only clip the ball wide.
Moore was full of running and caused the Derby defence a few problems as he snaked his way into the box. When Hajto brought his run to an end with what appeared to be a foul his appeals for a penalty were just waved away.
Leeds were breaking forward time after time but just couldn't manufacture a good final ball capable of finding the back of the net. Danny Pugh replaced Eddie Lewis with two minutes of time left but it was too late for him to have much impact on the game as the final whistle followed soon after with neither side having done enough to make a late breakthrough.
