Whites Keep Up The Pressure: Palace 1 Leeds 2
leedsunited.com
Goals from Robbie Blake and Rob Hulse gave United another great away win and more importantly moved them to within six points of second place with a game in hand and Sheffield United to play. It's all on!
Pre-Match
United boss Kevin Blackwell made just the one change to the side that beat Luton the previous week, and it meant a return to the side for Shaun Derry.
Derry, besides coming back into the side after serving his one match suspension, was returning to Selhurt Park for the first time since leaving Crystal Palace to join the Whites.
David Healy dropped down to the bench to resume his now familiar role of super-sub and was joined there by Eirik Bakke, who has started just the one game since his return from a loan spell at Aston Villa.
Palace were able to include England striker Andy Johnson, who was looking to prove a point after being left out of the most recent squad.
The Match
Leeds enjoyed an encouraging start to the game, putting plenty of pressure on the Palace goal inside the first five minutes.
Their first chance came through good work by Liam Miller on the deadball line after he won the corner that eventually created an opening for his fellow Irish international Jonathan Douglas. Gary Kelly swung in the cross and the Blackburn man's header was only just cleared off the line by Palace keeper Gabor Kiraly, who got down quickly to get a hand to the ball.
Clinton Morrison might have forced a save out of Neil Sullivan but he missed the shot completely and Leeds survived. They escaped again when Michael Hughes squared the ball across the face of the six yard box and Leeds looked stretched with a number of Palace players looking to knock the ball home, but fortunately the offside flag was up.
Then Kelly's quick corner eventually fell for Eddie Lewis but the American's shot swerved wide of the left hand post. Leeds had showed their intent though and were getting closer with every attempt.
The breakthrough finally came on 33 minutes and it was good to see The Whites punish a side on the break so decisively - just as they had been so many times last season.
The superb Miller, no doubt buoyed after his goal for the Republic in midweek, broke away after dispossessing Andy Johnson, set Rob Hulse away, and despite the close attention of the giant Darren Ward, managed to cut the ball back across the face of goal to Robbie Blake who smashed it home from two yards out.
It was a simple but effective move that deserved to finish in a goal, and with it Blake joined David Healy at the top of the United goalscoring charts on 11. A nice way to celebrate his 31st birthday!
Palace were stunned by the goal and their response lacked a cutting edge as the Leeds defence did their job well.
Eddie Lewis had a clear header three minutes before the end after meeting Kelly's cross but put it wide from five yards out. It was another great chance gone begging.
At half time Kevin Blackwell would have been delighted to see his side well in control of the game and having taken the advantage, all that would be required was for them to build on their lead.
And Leeds did just that six minutes into the second half with a goal similar to the first.
The hard-working Douglas combined with Miller, he got behind the Palace back four and delivered another perfect ball across the face of goal where Hulse got to the ball and smashed it against the underside of the bar and in.
The goal also put Hulse on 11 for the season and there's a fascinating battle going on amongst the strikers to be top dog. It was Hulse's first goal since January 7th, when he scored against Wigan and his last league goal was five days previous to that against Plymouth, also away.
Leeds had given themselves a two-goal cushion and they looked like only extending their lead more with the hosts looking already beaten.
Palace made two changes shortly after the goal, Iain Dowie feeling he couldn't let things continue as they were any longer, and on came Aki Riihilahti and Mikele Leigertwood with less than an hour played.
Neil Sullivan was forced to make his first save of the game on 65 minutes when Leigertwood went for goal with an ambitious strike from 35-yards out. It was a good effort from the youngster but Sullivan was not caught out.
Sullivan suddenly found himself a lot busier than he was in the first half as the other substitute, Finnish international Riihilahti also hit a shot goalwards, and again the former Scotland keeper made the save look comfortable.
Palace enjoyed their best spell of the game for 15 minutes after the hour mark, managing to put the pressure on Leeds and coming close as Shaun Derry flung himself in the way of a shot from Clinton Morrison, blocking it at the expense of a corner. Leeds though managed to survive that crucial period and eat up valuable time on their way to another three points.
Jobi McAnuff might have given the Eagles a goal to get back into the game with but his shot was straight at Sullivan from a good position on the edge of the area.
Danny Pugh and David Healy were given five minutes before the end when they came on for Eddie Lewis and Robbie Blake respectively.
Leeds had managed to keep Andy Johnson quiet for most of the game and when he screwed a shot horribly high and wide over the bar, it summed up Palace's afternoon.
Then, with the 90 minutes up, out of nowhere the hosts got a late goal to put themselves back in with a chance of earning a point from the game.
McAnuff cut inside from the right flank and hit a left footed drive from the edge of the penalty area that saw Sullivan finally beaten to set up a nervous final few minutes of extra time.
Rob Hulse could have made absolutely sure of the three points when he went clear but Kiraly pulled off the save and Leeds had a bit of defending to do as Palace sensed they weren't beaten yet.
Leeds though had done enough to earn themselves another great away win and the final whistle was greeted with some relief.
It turned out to be a pivotal result for Leeds with Watford having lost to Derby meaning the Whites regained third place in the table, and with Sheffield United having dropped two points the night before with a draw against the bottom side Crewe, it left them just six points adrift of the Blades with a game in hand and a game to come against the Blades.It has set up one of the most exciting finishes to a season in years for Leeds, and it could yet be United's year.
leedsunited.com
Goals from Robbie Blake and Rob Hulse gave United another great away win and more importantly moved them to within six points of second place with a game in hand and Sheffield United to play. It's all on!
Pre-Match
United boss Kevin Blackwell made just the one change to the side that beat Luton the previous week, and it meant a return to the side for Shaun Derry.
Derry, besides coming back into the side after serving his one match suspension, was returning to Selhurt Park for the first time since leaving Crystal Palace to join the Whites.
David Healy dropped down to the bench to resume his now familiar role of super-sub and was joined there by Eirik Bakke, who has started just the one game since his return from a loan spell at Aston Villa.
Palace were able to include England striker Andy Johnson, who was looking to prove a point after being left out of the most recent squad.
The Match
Leeds enjoyed an encouraging start to the game, putting plenty of pressure on the Palace goal inside the first five minutes.
Their first chance came through good work by Liam Miller on the deadball line after he won the corner that eventually created an opening for his fellow Irish international Jonathan Douglas. Gary Kelly swung in the cross and the Blackburn man's header was only just cleared off the line by Palace keeper Gabor Kiraly, who got down quickly to get a hand to the ball.
Clinton Morrison might have forced a save out of Neil Sullivan but he missed the shot completely and Leeds survived. They escaped again when Michael Hughes squared the ball across the face of the six yard box and Leeds looked stretched with a number of Palace players looking to knock the ball home, but fortunately the offside flag was up.
Then Kelly's quick corner eventually fell for Eddie Lewis but the American's shot swerved wide of the left hand post. Leeds had showed their intent though and were getting closer with every attempt.
The breakthrough finally came on 33 minutes and it was good to see The Whites punish a side on the break so decisively - just as they had been so many times last season.
The superb Miller, no doubt buoyed after his goal for the Republic in midweek, broke away after dispossessing Andy Johnson, set Rob Hulse away, and despite the close attention of the giant Darren Ward, managed to cut the ball back across the face of goal to Robbie Blake who smashed it home from two yards out.
It was a simple but effective move that deserved to finish in a goal, and with it Blake joined David Healy at the top of the United goalscoring charts on 11. A nice way to celebrate his 31st birthday!
Palace were stunned by the goal and their response lacked a cutting edge as the Leeds defence did their job well.
Eddie Lewis had a clear header three minutes before the end after meeting Kelly's cross but put it wide from five yards out. It was another great chance gone begging.
At half time Kevin Blackwell would have been delighted to see his side well in control of the game and having taken the advantage, all that would be required was for them to build on their lead.
And Leeds did just that six minutes into the second half with a goal similar to the first.
The hard-working Douglas combined with Miller, he got behind the Palace back four and delivered another perfect ball across the face of goal where Hulse got to the ball and smashed it against the underside of the bar and in.
The goal also put Hulse on 11 for the season and there's a fascinating battle going on amongst the strikers to be top dog. It was Hulse's first goal since January 7th, when he scored against Wigan and his last league goal was five days previous to that against Plymouth, also away.
Leeds had given themselves a two-goal cushion and they looked like only extending their lead more with the hosts looking already beaten.
Palace made two changes shortly after the goal, Iain Dowie feeling he couldn't let things continue as they were any longer, and on came Aki Riihilahti and Mikele Leigertwood with less than an hour played.
Neil Sullivan was forced to make his first save of the game on 65 minutes when Leigertwood went for goal with an ambitious strike from 35-yards out. It was a good effort from the youngster but Sullivan was not caught out.
Sullivan suddenly found himself a lot busier than he was in the first half as the other substitute, Finnish international Riihilahti also hit a shot goalwards, and again the former Scotland keeper made the save look comfortable.
Palace enjoyed their best spell of the game for 15 minutes after the hour mark, managing to put the pressure on Leeds and coming close as Shaun Derry flung himself in the way of a shot from Clinton Morrison, blocking it at the expense of a corner. Leeds though managed to survive that crucial period and eat up valuable time on their way to another three points.
Jobi McAnuff might have given the Eagles a goal to get back into the game with but his shot was straight at Sullivan from a good position on the edge of the area.
Danny Pugh and David Healy were given five minutes before the end when they came on for Eddie Lewis and Robbie Blake respectively.
Leeds had managed to keep Andy Johnson quiet for most of the game and when he screwed a shot horribly high and wide over the bar, it summed up Palace's afternoon.
Then, with the 90 minutes up, out of nowhere the hosts got a late goal to put themselves back in with a chance of earning a point from the game.
McAnuff cut inside from the right flank and hit a left footed drive from the edge of the penalty area that saw Sullivan finally beaten to set up a nervous final few minutes of extra time.
Rob Hulse could have made absolutely sure of the three points when he went clear but Kiraly pulled off the save and Leeds had a bit of defending to do as Palace sensed they weren't beaten yet.
Leeds though had done enough to earn themselves another great away win and the final whistle was greeted with some relief.
It turned out to be a pivotal result for Leeds with Watford having lost to Derby meaning the Whites regained third place in the table, and with Sheffield United having dropped two points the night before with a draw against the bottom side Crewe, it left them just six points adrift of the Blades with a game in hand and a game to come against the Blades.It has set up one of the most exciting finishes to a season in years for Leeds, and it could yet be United's year.
