Leedsunited.com 11/8/07
THREE POINTS PROVED
TRANMERE 1 (Greenacre 21), UNITED 2 (Heath 55, Kandol 89)
Tranmere: Coyne, Stockdale, Chorley, Goodison, Sherriff, Shuker (Curran 83), Jennings, McClaren, Davies, Zola, Greenacre (Taylor 81). Subs: Tremarco, Kay, Achterberg.
United: Ankergren, Richardson, Heath, Marques, Lewis, Weston (Flo 76), Hughes, Thompson, Westlake, Kandol, Beckford (Howson 90). Subs: Carole, Parker, Elliott.
Booked: Stockdale, Chorley, Goodison (Tranmere), Kandol, Beckford, Thompson, Westlake.
Att: 11,008 (2,004 Leeds)
With the off-field drama firmly out of the way United finally opened up the League One season looking to make up a 15-point deficit following the Football League's decision to impose a sanction on the club, following the administration procedure.
Dennis Wise was able to make some late moves in the transfer market and he handed debuts to Curtis Weston and Andrew Hughes, while Casper Ankergren, signed in the week, and new skipper Alan Thompson also returned to senior action with the club.
Tore Andre Flo was a surprise addition to a young substitutes bench that included teenagers Jonny Howson and Tom Elliott.
United were backed by a tremendous following and, attacking their goal in the first half, Tranmere had the first shot when Calvin Zola fired wide from distance.
United's first chance came on eight minutes when Thompson whipped over a corner from the right and, arriving at the far post, Tresor Kandol headed wide of the mark.
It was a lively atmosphere at Prenton Park and that contributed to a fast-paced opening. The home side looked to move the ball quickly, but United were more than willing to scrap out the early exchanges and Jermaine Beckford was only denied a run on goal when Robbie Stockdale stuck out a hand on the edge of the box.
Ankergren was called into action to deny Chris Shuker after a moment of hesistancy at the back, but Chris Greenacre fired the rebound wide when Tranmere threatened again.
However, disaster struck for United on 21 minutes. This time Greenacre made no mistake when he arrived at the back post to convert a cross from the Tranmere left, much to the delight of an already fired-up home support.
In reply, Beckford shot wide after some good build-up play, but the Tranmere centre-backs stood firm as United looked for a route back before the interval.
United's best football so far came early in the second half when, after playing their way from one box to the other, Beckford won a free-kick on the edge of the Tranmere area when his run was blocked.
The resultant free-kick was deflected through the wall for a corner and United were able to apply some pressure.
Moments later, referee Lee Mason awarded another free-kick on the edge of the box and Matt Heath arrived with perfect timing to head home a superb Thompson delivery.
United continued to play some good football, and when Kandol fired an effort narrowly wide of goal, Beckford was unfortunate not to get a touch.
Tempers flared on 73 minutes when the referee booked two players from each side after an altercation involving Kandol and Beckford, and Tranmere defenders Ian Goodison, and Ben Chorley.
And on 76 minutes, Wise made his first substitution when he introduced Flo in place of Weston to boost his side's attacking presence.
As the game entered its closing stages and United looked to force a winner, Tranmere goalkeeper Danny Coyne saved a Kandol header at the second attempt, following a good cross from Ian Westlake.
Eddie Lewis also delivered a good cross from the left, but Beckford was unable to get in a shot when well-placed in the box.
With three minutes remaining, Tranmere had an opportunity to steal the points when Steve Davies sent a free-kick fizzing over the bar.
But it was United who scored a dramatic goal with less than 90 seconds remaining. Kandol was the man who got on the end of an Andrew Hughes cross and bundled the ball home from close range.
The striker celebrated with a cartwheel, the away support went ballistic, and the volume levels rose as the fourth official signalled five minutes of added time.
United had the ball in the net again during stoppage time - Beckford lifted the ball over an advancing Coyne - but an offside flag ensured the celebrations were short-lived.
The last rites were played out to the sound of the Leeds fans chanting "we're gonna win the league" as the climb to recover the 15 points started in earnest.
THREE POINTS PROVED
TRANMERE 1 (Greenacre 21), UNITED 2 (Heath 55, Kandol 89)
Tranmere: Coyne, Stockdale, Chorley, Goodison, Sherriff, Shuker (Curran 83), Jennings, McClaren, Davies, Zola, Greenacre (Taylor 81). Subs: Tremarco, Kay, Achterberg.
United: Ankergren, Richardson, Heath, Marques, Lewis, Weston (Flo 76), Hughes, Thompson, Westlake, Kandol, Beckford (Howson 90). Subs: Carole, Parker, Elliott.
Booked: Stockdale, Chorley, Goodison (Tranmere), Kandol, Beckford, Thompson, Westlake.
Att: 11,008 (2,004 Leeds)
With the off-field drama firmly out of the way United finally opened up the League One season looking to make up a 15-point deficit following the Football League's decision to impose a sanction on the club, following the administration procedure.
Dennis Wise was able to make some late moves in the transfer market and he handed debuts to Curtis Weston and Andrew Hughes, while Casper Ankergren, signed in the week, and new skipper Alan Thompson also returned to senior action with the club.
Tore Andre Flo was a surprise addition to a young substitutes bench that included teenagers Jonny Howson and Tom Elliott.
United were backed by a tremendous following and, attacking their goal in the first half, Tranmere had the first shot when Calvin Zola fired wide from distance.
United's first chance came on eight minutes when Thompson whipped over a corner from the right and, arriving at the far post, Tresor Kandol headed wide of the mark.
It was a lively atmosphere at Prenton Park and that contributed to a fast-paced opening. The home side looked to move the ball quickly, but United were more than willing to scrap out the early exchanges and Jermaine Beckford was only denied a run on goal when Robbie Stockdale stuck out a hand on the edge of the box.
Ankergren was called into action to deny Chris Shuker after a moment of hesistancy at the back, but Chris Greenacre fired the rebound wide when Tranmere threatened again.
However, disaster struck for United on 21 minutes. This time Greenacre made no mistake when he arrived at the back post to convert a cross from the Tranmere left, much to the delight of an already fired-up home support.
In reply, Beckford shot wide after some good build-up play, but the Tranmere centre-backs stood firm as United looked for a route back before the interval.
United's best football so far came early in the second half when, after playing their way from one box to the other, Beckford won a free-kick on the edge of the Tranmere area when his run was blocked.
The resultant free-kick was deflected through the wall for a corner and United were able to apply some pressure.
Moments later, referee Lee Mason awarded another free-kick on the edge of the box and Matt Heath arrived with perfect timing to head home a superb Thompson delivery.
United continued to play some good football, and when Kandol fired an effort narrowly wide of goal, Beckford was unfortunate not to get a touch.
Tempers flared on 73 minutes when the referee booked two players from each side after an altercation involving Kandol and Beckford, and Tranmere defenders Ian Goodison, and Ben Chorley.
And on 76 minutes, Wise made his first substitution when he introduced Flo in place of Weston to boost his side's attacking presence.
As the game entered its closing stages and United looked to force a winner, Tranmere goalkeeper Danny Coyne saved a Kandol header at the second attempt, following a good cross from Ian Westlake.
Eddie Lewis also delivered a good cross from the left, but Beckford was unable to get in a shot when well-placed in the box.
With three minutes remaining, Tranmere had an opportunity to steal the points when Steve Davies sent a free-kick fizzing over the bar.
But it was United who scored a dramatic goal with less than 90 seconds remaining. Kandol was the man who got on the end of an Andrew Hughes cross and bundled the ball home from close range.
The striker celebrated with a cartwheel, the away support went ballistic, and the volume levels rose as the fourth official signalled five minutes of added time.
United had the ball in the net again during stoppage time - Beckford lifted the ball over an advancing Coyne - but an offside flag ensured the celebrations were short-lived.
The last rites were played out to the sound of the Leeds fans chanting "we're gonna win the league" as the climb to recover the 15 points started in earnest.
