Mighty Leeds Weblog

Yorkshire Post 3/10/09 Leeds United 0 Charlton Athletic 0: Draw fair result, says Grayson By Richard Sutcliffe at Elland Road A SWIRLING wind may have spoiled League One's match of the day but Casper Ankergren insists Leeds United will not be blown off course in the quest to win promotion. The Elland Road club continue to set the pace at the top of the third tier, sitting three points clear of the chasing pack despite being held to a goalless draw by Charlton Athletic. It was the second time in five days United had been forced to settle for a point on home soil but Ankergren believes the preserving of the only unbeaten record in the country on a day when the side was not at its best shows the mettle of Simon Grayson's squad. The Danish goalkeeper, back in the side in place of the injured Shane Higgs, said: "The weather was a goalkeeper's nightmare. The wind was blowing all over and it was raining as well. It makes it difficult but I feel we dealt with it okay. "We...

Yorkshire Evening Post 2/10/09 Leeds United and council chiefs agree Thorp Arch deal By Paul Robinson Leeds City Council and Leeds United have struck a deal over the future of the club's Thorp Arch training ground. Council bosses last month voted to make an offer to United regarding the purchase of the complex. Now the local authority has announced it has agreed terms with the football club. Subject to due diligence checks, the council will buy Thorp Arch from its current owners, Manchester-based company Barnaway Ltd, then lease it back to the club. United sold the complex to Manchester businessman Jacob Adler in 2004 as they tried to stave off financial collapse. They were given a 25-year lease on the facility as well as an option to repurchase it for a fixed price of about £6m. That option, however, expires on October 10 - and earlier this year concerns were voiced the site could be lost to the club and the city once United's lease runs out in 2029. Leeds approached the counc...

Leedsunited.com 26/9/09 LATE SNODDY WINNER SEALS POINTS AT MK 26 Sep 2009 United stay top with victory at MK Dons... MK DONS 0, LEEDS UNITED 1 (Snodgrass 90) MK Dons: Gueret, Lewington, Doumbe, McCracken, Gleeson, Wilbraham (Ibehre 78), Johnson, Gobern (Leven 45), Puncheon, Powell, Chadwick (Howell 80). Subs: Searle, Partridge, Davis, Swailes. United: Higgs (Ankergren 62), Crowe (Michalik 9), Bromby, Kisnorbo, Hughes (Robinson 55), Snodgrass, Doyle, Howson, Johnson, Beckford, Grella. Subs: Naylor, Prutton, Kilkenny. Referee: A D'Urso Booked: Lewington, Gleeson, Johnson, Doumbe, Powell (MK), Snodgrass (Leeds) Sent-Off:Puncheon (MK) Att: 16,713 (4119 Leeds) Leeds United boss Simon Grayson made two changes from the side which performed heroically against Liverpool in midweek as attentions returned to league action. Striker Luciano Becchio is about to become a father and was replaced by Mike Grella while Leigh Bromby returned in place of Lubo Michalik . MK Dons was the setting for ...

Times 22/9/09 David Ngog crushes Leeds hopes that past glories might be rekindled Leeds United 0 Liverpool 1 Tony Barrett The gulf between the clubs may be greater than ever — their time as rivals competing on an even footing having long since passed — but a match between Leeds United and Liverpool remains one of the most keenly contested in English football. Separated by two divisions but brought together by the Carling Cup, a second-half goal by David Ngog, the Liverpool forward, was all that split the Barclays Premier League title contenders from the Coca-Cola League One hopefuls. “It was as tough a game as we have had all season,” Jamie Carragher, the Liverpool defender, said. “It was a great performance by Leeds and they’ve been a little bit unlucky that we’ve won.” Simon Grayson, the Leeds manager, believed that the match’s outcome was determined by two decisions made by Alan Wiley, the referee. A “goal” by Jermaine Beckford was ruled out for offside, while Wiley took no punitive...

Leedsunited.com 20/9/09 GAFFER - TOP'S THE PERFECT BOOST United boss delighted with pole position... United manager Simon Grayson said going top of League One was the perfect boost for his side ahead of Tuesday's Carling Cup distraction against Liverpool. United warmed up for the sell-out clash with Liverpool by romping to a 4-1 Elland Road win against Gillingham on Saturday. Bradley Johnson scored twice before Jonny Howson and Jermaine Beckford put the seal on United's biggest win so far this season. And with Charlton being hit by a late equaliser at Norwich City, United moved two points clear at the top of the league. "We're delighted to go top," said the manager. "It's still very early days, but it's nice to be there and it's nice to be in front. "The main thing is staying up here and maintaining the standards we have set, and hopefully staying ahead of the pack. "Being top of the league gives us a boost going into Tuesday'...

Yorkshire Evening Post 12/9/09 Spot on Shane saves United By Phil Hay Roots Hall maintained its tight grip on Leeds United on an evening which reminded the club of the resistance League One is capable of mustering. A fixture mooted as the most difficult of their season to date lived up to that billing as Leeds' flawless record of eight straight wins ended in predictable surroundings. Two-and-a-half years and three matches after their first visit to Southend, the club are still awaiting their first victory there. How soon they will return to Roots Hall in the future is a matter of opinion after a draw which took Leeds one point clear at the top of League One last night, comfortably in control of their season and their long-term prospects. Since their descent into League One in 2007, Leeds have been beaten on both of their appearances in Southend, a record that was spoken about repeatedly before last night's match. That United survived the concession of a second-half penalty – sa...

Yorkshire Post 1/9/09 Boyhood fan Bromby can go 'home' to play big part for Leeds United By Ian Appleyard SHEFFIELD United have completed the sale of defender Leigh Bromby to Leeds United with manager Kevin Blackwell admitting that it would have been wrong to stand in his way. Dewsbury-born Bromby, a boyhood Leeds supporter, was frustrated by his lack of opportunities with the Blades after returning for a second spell at Bramall Lane, initially on loan, eight months ago. "Unless it was going to be to the detriment of this football club, I would not deny anyone an opportunity to speak to Leeds United," said Blackwell. "Leigh has found it hard to break into the side because of Matt Kilgallon and Chris Morgan and was getting frustrated." Leeds manager Simon Grayson, who is paying around £300,000 to acquire the 29-year-old, said: "We're delighted to get things agreed with Leigh. "He has good experience in the Championship and he will become a valua...