leedsunited.com 15/9/10
YOU LET THESE PEOPLE DOWN...
Leeds United manager Simon Grayson told his players they had let themselves and the near 7,000 travelling fans down after Tuesday's 5-2 hiding at Barnsley.
United were backed by what could be the biggest away support for a league game in this country this season, but after scoring an early goal, Grayson's men went on to slip to a 5-2 defeat at Oakwell.
What frustrated the manager more than the margin of the defeat was the manner of the defeat and the late capitulation that saw Barnsley emerge runaway winners from a game that Leeds could have taken something from with 25 minutes remaining.
"it was hugely disappointing," said the United boss. "We were on the wrong end of a 'doing.'
"We'd started well enough, got early goal which gave us a platform and we looked comfortable in the first half.
"But we didn't use the conditions as well as we could. We made some wrong decisions and that contributed to their first goal and that gave them a lift.
"The way we went to pieces in the second half was hugely disappointing. We lost our hunger and desire. You want to harry and hassle and they did it better than us."
Barnsley's equaliser just before half-time had prompted claims for a handball by the United defence, but Grayson was in no mood to look for excuses.
"Goals change matches," he said. "The lad has handballed it. Whether he's meant it or not I don't know, but we made too many mistakes, and if you make too many mistakes you get punished.
"At 1-1 we had a few balls in their box, then they went down the other end and scored, and from there we capitulated.
"We looked out on our feet with 15 minutes to go because we kept giving the ball away. When you do that and lose the ball, all your energy goes trying to get it back."
The manager was bitterly disappointed, given the size of the following Leeds took to Oakwell. And, while many headed for the exits following Barnsley's fifth goal, the fans had been outstanding throughout, and those that remained were equally defiant.
"They are unbelievable," said Grayson of the travelling support. "How our fans can cheer our players off amazes me after that.
"We bring 7,000 which is huge and they were still singing and cheering. For me, the players let themselves down and let the fans down.
"We'd won three games on the trot and this is a reminder that you can't take any game lightly. We haven't as a staff, but we took the wrong decisions nine out of 10 times."
Bradford Telegraph and Argus 14/9/10
Leeds United pay for woeful defending
By John Wray »
Barnsley 5, Leeds United 2
Leeds United's kamikaze defending saw their three-match winning run end in embarrassing fashion at Oakwell tonight in the npower Championship.
Despite the encouragement of an early goal by Jonny Howson, Leeds fell apart, especially in the second half, and suffered a 5-2 thrashing in the first of three successive Yorkshire derbies.
It was Leeds' first five-goal concession since their FA Cup first-round replay at Northampton Town in November, 2008, in Gary McAlister's reign.
After developing a habit of falling behind, Leeds drew first blood inside the first three minutes - to the delight of their 6,700 travelling fans.
Barnsley failed to clear Neil Kilkenny's low corner and Howson's shot from just inside the penalty area brought his second early goal of the campaign, following his second-minute effort in the Carling Cup win over Lincoln City last month.
Leeds' only change was the return of Lloyd Sam in place of Sanchez Watt, who dropped to the bench, while Barnsley gave a debut to Scotland international striker Garry O'Connor, on loan from Birmingham.
A gusting wind made controlled passing difficult but Adam Hammill caused a 17th-minute scare for Leeds by firing into the side-netting after Max Gradel lost possession.
Leeds captain Richard Naylor, given a vote of confidence by manager Simon Grayson before the game, headed over Barnsley's bar when unmarked, but as the Tykes recovered from a slow start, Andy Gray brought an excellent save from Shane Higgs, again deputising for injured Leeds keeper Kasper Schmeichel.
There was nothing Higgs could do to prevent a 42nd- minute equaliser from O'Connor after Leeds' Argentine defender Federico Bessone gave the ball away inside his own penalty area, allowing Hammill to make progress and cut the ball back for O'Connor to find the bottom corner.
Grayson was furious with his former Swansea left back for the costly lapse in concentration.
Andrew Hughes replaced Bessone three minutes into the second half but Barnsley took a 49th-minute lead when more poor defending saw Paul Connolly and Higgs fail to deal with Hammill's ball to Jim O'Brien, who had a simple tap-in.
Worse was to follow in the 65th minute when Barnsley's Uruguayan Diego Arismendi latched on to a corner and scored from a tight angle.
With Leeds in disarray, Neill Collins put through his own goal, and a minute later Hammill struck his side's fifth goal on 83 minutes.
Substitute Davide Somma collected his fourth goal of the season for Leeds four minutes from the end but it was too little too late.
* Robert Snodgrass and Billy Paynter continued their recovery from injury by playing a full 90 minutes in a Leeds side which defeated Middlesbrough Reserves 3-1 behind closed doors today. Recent signings Amdy Faye and Ramon Nunez also completed the full game, Nunez scoring one of the goals and Mike Grella netting the other two.
leedsunited.com 14/9/10
UNITED CRASH TO DEFEAT AT OAKWELL
BARNSLEY 5 (O'Connor 42, O'Brien 50, Arismendi 65, Collins OG81, Hammill 82), LEEDS 2 (Howson 3, Somma 87)
United manager Simon Grayson made just one change from the side which beat Swansea at the weekend, Lloyd Sam returning in place of Sanchez Watt.
Leeds were being backed by over 6,700 fans at Oakwell for the first Yorkshire derby of the season and were in fine voice even before the game kicked-off.
There was an inspiring atmosphere for Grayson's side and those travelling 1000s were rewarded inside the opening three minutes. Neil Kilkenny sent over a corner from the right and Jonny Howson smashed the ball home for the opening goal.
It was a great start for United and Barnsley, rocked by the goal, were on the back foot during the early moments, but proceedings soon became a little scrappy.
The hosts had to clear another corner inside the opening 20 minutes and it was on the break that they had their first shot on goal, an effort from distance fizzing wide of Shane Higgs' upright.
But United responded with an advancing run from Bradley Johnson which led to Barnsley clumsily conceding a corner. From the set-play, Richard Naylor headed over the top.
It wasn't the most entertaining opening half-hour in terms of football played with a downfield wind not helping, but while Leeds looked to move on the break, the home side had been restricted to very little.
A mistake by Barnsley goalkeeper Luke Steele on 33 ,minutes almost allowed Sam an opportunity from distance, but the keeper recovered his ground and the United man screwed his shot wide.
United goalkeeper Higgs was called upon for the first time properly moments later when former United youngster Andy Gray steered a low shot towards goal.
But it was Leeds who almost fashioned out another decent opening before the break. Johnson delivered a low cross for Luciano Becchio after some great build-up play, but Steele covered well to thwart the striker.
And it was swiftly 1-1 as Barnsley came straight down the other end and scored. Garry O'Connor was the goalscorer when he lashed the ball home from the edge of the box after Adam Hammill stayed on his feet under pressure and managed to deliver a pull-back for the Barnsley debut man.
Leeds almost carved out an opening at the start of the second period when Sam whipped in a cross from the right. The ball flew across the face of goal and Johnson's return was just too powerful for Becchio to turn home.
Grayson also made a change inside the opening five minutes of the second half, Andrew Hughes replacing Fede Bessone, but Barnsley swiftly had their noses in front. A quick break saw a cross bundled across goal and Jim O'Brien was able to convert an easy chance to make it 2-1.
United came straight back, Gradel winning a corner, and from Kilkenny's delivery, Naylor forced Steele into making a good low save.
Before the hour Grayson made his second change, Ross McCormack replacing Johnson, to move alongside Becchio in the front-line, Gradel dropping back into midfield.
The home side were really pressing, though, and Higgs made an important block to deny Gray on the hour-mark.
When Leeds cleared the corner and moved the ball quickly, McCormack won a free-kick on the edge of the box which he took himself and grazed the bar with.
But it was 3-1 in the 65th minute. A corner was hit deep and Deigo Arismendi hit a superb finish back across goal to put the home side firmly in command.
Grayson immediately brought on Davide Somma for Sam and switched his formation to a 4-3-3.
But it was Higgs who was called into action again when he got down well to beat away an opportunist effort from distance from the impressive O'Connor.
Leeds did start to rally, but it was turning into one of those evenings where the ball was lost at a vital time or a wrong option was taken.
When things did fall into place and Somma latched onto a cross-field ball, he was denied by the advancing Steele who made a good block.
But it was effectively game over in the 82nd minute when Neill Collins turned a cross beyond Higgs. And, if there were any doubts, Hammill wrapped up the win less than 60 seconds later with a well-struck shot for Barnsley's fifth of the night.United did pull a goal back four minutes from time when Somma showed his class with a great finish to make it 5-2.
YOU LET THESE PEOPLE DOWN...
Leeds United manager Simon Grayson told his players they had let themselves and the near 7,000 travelling fans down after Tuesday's 5-2 hiding at Barnsley.
United were backed by what could be the biggest away support for a league game in this country this season, but after scoring an early goal, Grayson's men went on to slip to a 5-2 defeat at Oakwell.
What frustrated the manager more than the margin of the defeat was the manner of the defeat and the late capitulation that saw Barnsley emerge runaway winners from a game that Leeds could have taken something from with 25 minutes remaining.
"it was hugely disappointing," said the United boss. "We were on the wrong end of a 'doing.'
"We'd started well enough, got early goal which gave us a platform and we looked comfortable in the first half.
"But we didn't use the conditions as well as we could. We made some wrong decisions and that contributed to their first goal and that gave them a lift.
"The way we went to pieces in the second half was hugely disappointing. We lost our hunger and desire. You want to harry and hassle and they did it better than us."
Barnsley's equaliser just before half-time had prompted claims for a handball by the United defence, but Grayson was in no mood to look for excuses.
"Goals change matches," he said. "The lad has handballed it. Whether he's meant it or not I don't know, but we made too many mistakes, and if you make too many mistakes you get punished.
"At 1-1 we had a few balls in their box, then they went down the other end and scored, and from there we capitulated.
"We looked out on our feet with 15 minutes to go because we kept giving the ball away. When you do that and lose the ball, all your energy goes trying to get it back."
The manager was bitterly disappointed, given the size of the following Leeds took to Oakwell. And, while many headed for the exits following Barnsley's fifth goal, the fans had been outstanding throughout, and those that remained were equally defiant.
"They are unbelievable," said Grayson of the travelling support. "How our fans can cheer our players off amazes me after that.
"We bring 7,000 which is huge and they were still singing and cheering. For me, the players let themselves down and let the fans down.
"We'd won three games on the trot and this is a reminder that you can't take any game lightly. We haven't as a staff, but we took the wrong decisions nine out of 10 times."
Bradford Telegraph and Argus 14/9/10
Leeds United pay for woeful defending
By John Wray »
Barnsley 5, Leeds United 2
Leeds United's kamikaze defending saw their three-match winning run end in embarrassing fashion at Oakwell tonight in the npower Championship.
Despite the encouragement of an early goal by Jonny Howson, Leeds fell apart, especially in the second half, and suffered a 5-2 thrashing in the first of three successive Yorkshire derbies.
It was Leeds' first five-goal concession since their FA Cup first-round replay at Northampton Town in November, 2008, in Gary McAlister's reign.
After developing a habit of falling behind, Leeds drew first blood inside the first three minutes - to the delight of their 6,700 travelling fans.
Barnsley failed to clear Neil Kilkenny's low corner and Howson's shot from just inside the penalty area brought his second early goal of the campaign, following his second-minute effort in the Carling Cup win over Lincoln City last month.
Leeds' only change was the return of Lloyd Sam in place of Sanchez Watt, who dropped to the bench, while Barnsley gave a debut to Scotland international striker Garry O'Connor, on loan from Birmingham.
A gusting wind made controlled passing difficult but Adam Hammill caused a 17th-minute scare for Leeds by firing into the side-netting after Max Gradel lost possession.
Leeds captain Richard Naylor, given a vote of confidence by manager Simon Grayson before the game, headed over Barnsley's bar when unmarked, but as the Tykes recovered from a slow start, Andy Gray brought an excellent save from Shane Higgs, again deputising for injured Leeds keeper Kasper Schmeichel.
There was nothing Higgs could do to prevent a 42nd- minute equaliser from O'Connor after Leeds' Argentine defender Federico Bessone gave the ball away inside his own penalty area, allowing Hammill to make progress and cut the ball back for O'Connor to find the bottom corner.
Grayson was furious with his former Swansea left back for the costly lapse in concentration.
Andrew Hughes replaced Bessone three minutes into the second half but Barnsley took a 49th-minute lead when more poor defending saw Paul Connolly and Higgs fail to deal with Hammill's ball to Jim O'Brien, who had a simple tap-in.
Worse was to follow in the 65th minute when Barnsley's Uruguayan Diego Arismendi latched on to a corner and scored from a tight angle.
With Leeds in disarray, Neill Collins put through his own goal, and a minute later Hammill struck his side's fifth goal on 83 minutes.
Substitute Davide Somma collected his fourth goal of the season for Leeds four minutes from the end but it was too little too late.
* Robert Snodgrass and Billy Paynter continued their recovery from injury by playing a full 90 minutes in a Leeds side which defeated Middlesbrough Reserves 3-1 behind closed doors today. Recent signings Amdy Faye and Ramon Nunez also completed the full game, Nunez scoring one of the goals and Mike Grella netting the other two.
leedsunited.com 14/9/10
UNITED CRASH TO DEFEAT AT OAKWELL
BARNSLEY 5 (O'Connor 42, O'Brien 50, Arismendi 65, Collins OG81, Hammill 82), LEEDS 2 (Howson 3, Somma 87)
United manager Simon Grayson made just one change from the side which beat Swansea at the weekend, Lloyd Sam returning in place of Sanchez Watt.
Leeds were being backed by over 6,700 fans at Oakwell for the first Yorkshire derby of the season and were in fine voice even before the game kicked-off.
There was an inspiring atmosphere for Grayson's side and those travelling 1000s were rewarded inside the opening three minutes. Neil Kilkenny sent over a corner from the right and Jonny Howson smashed the ball home for the opening goal.
It was a great start for United and Barnsley, rocked by the goal, were on the back foot during the early moments, but proceedings soon became a little scrappy.
The hosts had to clear another corner inside the opening 20 minutes and it was on the break that they had their first shot on goal, an effort from distance fizzing wide of Shane Higgs' upright.
But United responded with an advancing run from Bradley Johnson which led to Barnsley clumsily conceding a corner. From the set-play, Richard Naylor headed over the top.
It wasn't the most entertaining opening half-hour in terms of football played with a downfield wind not helping, but while Leeds looked to move on the break, the home side had been restricted to very little.
A mistake by Barnsley goalkeeper Luke Steele on 33 ,minutes almost allowed Sam an opportunity from distance, but the keeper recovered his ground and the United man screwed his shot wide.
United goalkeeper Higgs was called upon for the first time properly moments later when former United youngster Andy Gray steered a low shot towards goal.
But it was Leeds who almost fashioned out another decent opening before the break. Johnson delivered a low cross for Luciano Becchio after some great build-up play, but Steele covered well to thwart the striker.
And it was swiftly 1-1 as Barnsley came straight down the other end and scored. Garry O'Connor was the goalscorer when he lashed the ball home from the edge of the box after Adam Hammill stayed on his feet under pressure and managed to deliver a pull-back for the Barnsley debut man.
Leeds almost carved out an opening at the start of the second period when Sam whipped in a cross from the right. The ball flew across the face of goal and Johnson's return was just too powerful for Becchio to turn home.
Grayson also made a change inside the opening five minutes of the second half, Andrew Hughes replacing Fede Bessone, but Barnsley swiftly had their noses in front. A quick break saw a cross bundled across goal and Jim O'Brien was able to convert an easy chance to make it 2-1.
United came straight back, Gradel winning a corner, and from Kilkenny's delivery, Naylor forced Steele into making a good low save.
Before the hour Grayson made his second change, Ross McCormack replacing Johnson, to move alongside Becchio in the front-line, Gradel dropping back into midfield.
The home side were really pressing, though, and Higgs made an important block to deny Gray on the hour-mark.
When Leeds cleared the corner and moved the ball quickly, McCormack won a free-kick on the edge of the box which he took himself and grazed the bar with.
But it was 3-1 in the 65th minute. A corner was hit deep and Deigo Arismendi hit a superb finish back across goal to put the home side firmly in command.
Grayson immediately brought on Davide Somma for Sam and switched his formation to a 4-3-3.
But it was Higgs who was called into action again when he got down well to beat away an opportunist effort from distance from the impressive O'Connor.
Leeds did start to rally, but it was turning into one of those evenings where the ball was lost at a vital time or a wrong option was taken.
When things did fall into place and Somma latched onto a cross-field ball, he was denied by the advancing Steele who made a good block.
But it was effectively game over in the 82nd minute when Neill Collins turned a cross beyond Higgs. And, if there were any doubts, Hammill wrapped up the win less than 60 seconds later with a well-struck shot for Barnsley's fifth of the night.United did pull a goal back four minutes from time when Somma showed his class with a great finish to make it 5-2.
