Mail 2/10/11
Leeds 1 Portsmouth 0: Pugh on target as Grayson's troops extend unbeaten run
Danny Pugh marked his second home debut for Leeds with a goal as Simon Grayson's men finally put their defensive frailties to one side to beat Portsmouth.
United's defence is notoriously porous and arguably cost them promotion last season, while it has been little better this time around, with a number of combinations failing to return a clean sheet prior to today.
But Grayson stumbled across the right formula this afternoon - although Greg Halford did go close to scoring for Pompey - and Pugh's 14th-minute header, his first since returning to the club from Stoke after five years away, helped extend Leeds' unbeaten run to four games.
They are now perched just outside the play-offs - having played a game fewer than everyone else - but the situation is not so pleasant for Portsmouth.
Last-minute losers against Peterborough in midweek, they have still to win away from home and have just nine points from their 10 games so far, with only the dire form of the likes of Bristol City, Coventry and Millwall keeping them out of the drop zone.
Leeds' defensive record over the last 18 months has been so poor that even chairman Ken Bates voiced concerns about it in midweek, and Grayson's response was to recall the previously-ostracised full-back Paul Connolly for a first appearance in a month.
Portsmouth also made a change on the back of recent performances, with goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown's blunder against Peterborough seeing him lose his place at the expense of Stephen Henderson.
Grayson's decision to extend an olive branch to Connolly was vindicated early on, with his more experienced presence allowing Scotland winger Robert Snodgrass, no longer having to lie deep with rookie Tom Lees, to flourish.
Everything Leeds did early on went through Snodgrass, and his ninth-minute cross laid on the first opportunity, with Joel Ward digging the ball out as Andy Keogh looked set to pounce.
Snodgrass then skipped past Tal Ben Haim and worked his way into the box to produce a cutback that looked to have allowed Ross McCormack to score for the seventh league game in a row Greg Halford's block sent the ball behind.
Portsmouth put the subsequent corner straight back out for another one and from it, Pugh struck. Having scored five goals inside a month of signing for the club in 2004, the home fans were well aware of his prowess in the area, and he displayed it once more as he lost Halford eight yards out and headed in Snodgrass' centre.
Leeds continued to impress after the goal, with Snodgrass driving just wide of the post after a 60-metre run on the back of Andy Lonergan's quick throw, before the same player worked an angle for Pugh who saw an effort blocked by Halford.
Despite his inconsistencies in his own box, Halford's presence caused mayhem at the opposite end not long after, with his header from Liam Lawrence's free-kick forcing Lonergan into a wonder save, while he hit the bar on the follow-up.
Jason Pearce then cleared a McCormack cross from under his own bar, and although Lonergan had to beat away a Halford free-kick, Leeds remained in control through to the break - but Portsmouth looked decidedly livelier after it.
Ward's ball in behind caught the home defence napping and Lonergan had to be alert to save at the feet of David Norris, while some good tracking from Aidy White stopped Lawrence from fashioning an opening.
Leeds were feeling the tension of having failed to score a second when on top, and Halford's ability to get on the end of almost every ball played into their box added to their worries, with Darren O'Dea deflecting one of his efforts behind.
At the other end, substitute Mikael Forssell was denied a clinching second by Henderson's flying save, but even though Lonergan had to scramble to tip over a Halford cross, Leeds held on without extending their advantage.
Sporting Life 1/10/11
GRAYSON'S CASE FOR THE DEFENCE
Simon Grayson hopes the penny has finally dropped with his Leeds players after they beat Portsmouth 1-0 at Elland Road, keeping a first clean sheet of the season in the process.
Danny Pugh's first-half header on his second home debut for the club helped United extend their unbeaten run in the npower Championship to four games, but it was at the other end of the pitch where Grayson got the most satisfaction, with the latest in a long line of cobbled-together back fours finally keeping the opposition score at nil.
Last weekend's 3-3 draw at Brighton - Leeds had led 2-0 but had to score an injury-time equaliser - prompted Grayson to make a rare public criticism of his defenders, and he was joined in midweek by outspoken owner Ken Bates who also demanded better than 15 goals conceded in eight games.
And after bringing back the previously-ostracised full-back Paul Connolly for a first appearance in a month and moving rookie Tom Lees into his more natural central position, the Whites managed to heed their warnings, leaving Grayson a happy man.
"One or two of them were on their last warnings after last week," he said of his players.
"I criticised the back four and I don't normally do that, but I felt it was time that people took responsibility for what's happened and they responded in the right manner.
"It was a good performance from us, I'm delighted that we kept a clean sheet for the first time this season.
"The players have taken on board what we have worked on this week.
"When they were called on the defenders defended and the goalkeeper made some good saves. We're trying to get the right balance between attacking and defending and we're delighted to keep the clean sheet.
"You have to be able to see stages of a game through and be determined and professional. We've probably been a bit naive, going gung-ho for the next goal, but we needed to be professional and we were."
Portsmouth have picked up just nine points from their 10 games this season, but despite improving on a torrid first-half performance after the break, they were unable to find a way past Andy Lonergan.
And despite enjoying the better of the possession in the second half, Pompey were unable to create the chances they did in the first - Greg Halford hitting the bar also forcing a stunning save out of Lonergan - and manager Steve Cotterill felt his side showed signs having played three games in eight days.
"In the second half, we were much improved," he said.
"In the first half we looked like it was our third game in eight days and they looked fresher than us for not playing in midweek.
"But the way we played in the second half makes it harder to understand why we were so lethargic in the first.
"It was the first goal we've conceded from a set-piece, and if someone loses their man there is not a lot you can do."
Leeds 1 Portsmouth 0: Pugh on target as Grayson's troops extend unbeaten run
Danny Pugh marked his second home debut for Leeds with a goal as Simon Grayson's men finally put their defensive frailties to one side to beat Portsmouth.
United's defence is notoriously porous and arguably cost them promotion last season, while it has been little better this time around, with a number of combinations failing to return a clean sheet prior to today.
But Grayson stumbled across the right formula this afternoon - although Greg Halford did go close to scoring for Pompey - and Pugh's 14th-minute header, his first since returning to the club from Stoke after five years away, helped extend Leeds' unbeaten run to four games.
They are now perched just outside the play-offs - having played a game fewer than everyone else - but the situation is not so pleasant for Portsmouth.
Last-minute losers against Peterborough in midweek, they have still to win away from home and have just nine points from their 10 games so far, with only the dire form of the likes of Bristol City, Coventry and Millwall keeping them out of the drop zone.
Leeds' defensive record over the last 18 months has been so poor that even chairman Ken Bates voiced concerns about it in midweek, and Grayson's response was to recall the previously-ostracised full-back Paul Connolly for a first appearance in a month.
Portsmouth also made a change on the back of recent performances, with goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown's blunder against Peterborough seeing him lose his place at the expense of Stephen Henderson.
Grayson's decision to extend an olive branch to Connolly was vindicated early on, with his more experienced presence allowing Scotland winger Robert Snodgrass, no longer having to lie deep with rookie Tom Lees, to flourish.
Everything Leeds did early on went through Snodgrass, and his ninth-minute cross laid on the first opportunity, with Joel Ward digging the ball out as Andy Keogh looked set to pounce.
Snodgrass then skipped past Tal Ben Haim and worked his way into the box to produce a cutback that looked to have allowed Ross McCormack to score for the seventh league game in a row Greg Halford's block sent the ball behind.
Portsmouth put the subsequent corner straight back out for another one and from it, Pugh struck. Having scored five goals inside a month of signing for the club in 2004, the home fans were well aware of his prowess in the area, and he displayed it once more as he lost Halford eight yards out and headed in Snodgrass' centre.
Leeds continued to impress after the goal, with Snodgrass driving just wide of the post after a 60-metre run on the back of Andy Lonergan's quick throw, before the same player worked an angle for Pugh who saw an effort blocked by Halford.
Despite his inconsistencies in his own box, Halford's presence caused mayhem at the opposite end not long after, with his header from Liam Lawrence's free-kick forcing Lonergan into a wonder save, while he hit the bar on the follow-up.
Jason Pearce then cleared a McCormack cross from under his own bar, and although Lonergan had to beat away a Halford free-kick, Leeds remained in control through to the break - but Portsmouth looked decidedly livelier after it.
Ward's ball in behind caught the home defence napping and Lonergan had to be alert to save at the feet of David Norris, while some good tracking from Aidy White stopped Lawrence from fashioning an opening.
Leeds were feeling the tension of having failed to score a second when on top, and Halford's ability to get on the end of almost every ball played into their box added to their worries, with Darren O'Dea deflecting one of his efforts behind.
At the other end, substitute Mikael Forssell was denied a clinching second by Henderson's flying save, but even though Lonergan had to scramble to tip over a Halford cross, Leeds held on without extending their advantage.
Sporting Life 1/10/11
GRAYSON'S CASE FOR THE DEFENCE
Simon Grayson hopes the penny has finally dropped with his Leeds players after they beat Portsmouth 1-0 at Elland Road, keeping a first clean sheet of the season in the process.
Danny Pugh's first-half header on his second home debut for the club helped United extend their unbeaten run in the npower Championship to four games, but it was at the other end of the pitch where Grayson got the most satisfaction, with the latest in a long line of cobbled-together back fours finally keeping the opposition score at nil.
Last weekend's 3-3 draw at Brighton - Leeds had led 2-0 but had to score an injury-time equaliser - prompted Grayson to make a rare public criticism of his defenders, and he was joined in midweek by outspoken owner Ken Bates who also demanded better than 15 goals conceded in eight games.
And after bringing back the previously-ostracised full-back Paul Connolly for a first appearance in a month and moving rookie Tom Lees into his more natural central position, the Whites managed to heed their warnings, leaving Grayson a happy man.
"One or two of them were on their last warnings after last week," he said of his players.
"I criticised the back four and I don't normally do that, but I felt it was time that people took responsibility for what's happened and they responded in the right manner.
"It was a good performance from us, I'm delighted that we kept a clean sheet for the first time this season.
"The players have taken on board what we have worked on this week.
"When they were called on the defenders defended and the goalkeeper made some good saves. We're trying to get the right balance between attacking and defending and we're delighted to keep the clean sheet.
"You have to be able to see stages of a game through and be determined and professional. We've probably been a bit naive, going gung-ho for the next goal, but we needed to be professional and we were."
Portsmouth have picked up just nine points from their 10 games this season, but despite improving on a torrid first-half performance after the break, they were unable to find a way past Andy Lonergan.
And despite enjoying the better of the possession in the second half, Pompey were unable to create the chances they did in the first - Greg Halford hitting the bar also forcing a stunning save out of Lonergan - and manager Steve Cotterill felt his side showed signs having played three games in eight days.
"In the second half, we were much improved," he said.
"In the first half we looked like it was our third game in eight days and they looked fresher than us for not playing in midweek.
"But the way we played in the second half makes it harder to understand why we were so lethargic in the first.
"It was the first goal we've conceded from a set-piece, and if someone loses their man there is not a lot you can do."
