The Observer | Sport | Davis shows the way as Leeds start to run out of time
Amy Lawrence at Loftus Road
Sunday March 14, 2004
The Observer
Fulham were showboating in the end and there could be no more crushing sign of Leeds United's dwindling survival hopes than that. The Yorkshiremen's mini-revival was all too easily halted by a Fulham team who, frankly, could afford to be incredibly wasteful in front of goal and still win at a canter. The chink of light at Elland Road looks decidedly dimmer.
A three-match unbeaten sequence had bred confidence, but this was a thump in the kidneys. 'We need a bit more than a mini-run now,' said understandably dejected Eddie Gray. 'But we cannot let this result get to us. Although we're running out of matches, I've still got belief that those players in the dressing room can get us out of trouble.' Given the fact he has barely any others to call upon, he has no option but to depend on a group who must pick themselves up in time to compete more aggressively with Manchester City next weekend.
In the first half there was little to choose between the teams, but once Fulham stepped up a gear after the break Leeds were a sorry second best. Although Mark Viduka and Alan Smith plainly possess Premiership quality and Paul Robinson has performed heroically in horrible conditions, in between Leeds looked lightweight.
Fulham showed no mercy. Smartly crafted goals from Sean Davis and Luis Boa Morte confirmed their first win in five matches and it was a demonstration of the feelings they have for Chris Coleman that they increased the quality of their performance to welcome him back from two weeks in hospital with septicaemia.
On a strong course of antibiotics for another six weeks, Coleman jested that there would be no celebratory beer. But there was no disguising his delight to be back: 'I have to be careful and I've explained to the doctors that it is impossible for me to stay relaxed - even at 2-0 up with a minute to go they hit the bar and my heart was racing - but I should be back to normal in the next couple of weeks.'
Back in business now, Coleman has his eye on beating last season's points total of 48 and seeing where they go from there. Europe? 'It suits us that people are not talking about it. We'll just keep going about our job quietly,' the Welshman pointed out. They went about their job with impressive commitment here, pressing Leeds until the beleaguered visitors could withstand it no more.
Leeds's most positive period came either side of half-time, when Smith and Viduka, aided by the promptings of young winger Jermaine Pennant, began to force Fulham on to the back foot. But, with Zat Knight marshalling the home defence with aplomb, there was limited end product for Leeds. 'We didn't test their goalkeeper as much as we should,' Gray lamented. With one of their more promising efforts Didier Domi struck a clean volley but Edwin van der Sar was able to tip it away.
Conversely, at the opposite end Robinson was overworked and underprotected, with explosive bursts from Boa Morte and Steed Malbranque causing particular distress. 'It was only a question of time before we scored,' said Coleman. Robinson produced an instinctive dou ble save to deny Mark Pembridge's double header, before rightly looking accusingly at his defence as Barry Hayles had time to measure a free header. He missed, only delaying the inevitable.
With 20 minutes to go Davis broke from midfield to demonstrate how to finish ruthlessly. It was an excellently constructed goal, built on a a clever one-two with Malbranque, and the Englishman planted the ball past Robinson with aplomb.
Leeds' faint hopes were extinguished when Pembridge found the excellent Knight on the right of the box and the centre-half chipped delightfully for Boa Morte to nod home nine minutes from time. Simon Johnson rattled the bar seconds from the final whistle but, in truth, the game was up by then anyway.
The home fans sang for Chrissie Coleman and he clapped his admirers with gratitude. A pleasant day all round for Fulham. Desperate for Leeds.
Amy Lawrence at Loftus Road
Sunday March 14, 2004
The Observer
Fulham were showboating in the end and there could be no more crushing sign of Leeds United's dwindling survival hopes than that. The Yorkshiremen's mini-revival was all too easily halted by a Fulham team who, frankly, could afford to be incredibly wasteful in front of goal and still win at a canter. The chink of light at Elland Road looks decidedly dimmer.
A three-match unbeaten sequence had bred confidence, but this was a thump in the kidneys. 'We need a bit more than a mini-run now,' said understandably dejected Eddie Gray. 'But we cannot let this result get to us. Although we're running out of matches, I've still got belief that those players in the dressing room can get us out of trouble.' Given the fact he has barely any others to call upon, he has no option but to depend on a group who must pick themselves up in time to compete more aggressively with Manchester City next weekend.
In the first half there was little to choose between the teams, but once Fulham stepped up a gear after the break Leeds were a sorry second best. Although Mark Viduka and Alan Smith plainly possess Premiership quality and Paul Robinson has performed heroically in horrible conditions, in between Leeds looked lightweight.
Fulham showed no mercy. Smartly crafted goals from Sean Davis and Luis Boa Morte confirmed their first win in five matches and it was a demonstration of the feelings they have for Chris Coleman that they increased the quality of their performance to welcome him back from two weeks in hospital with septicaemia.
On a strong course of antibiotics for another six weeks, Coleman jested that there would be no celebratory beer. But there was no disguising his delight to be back: 'I have to be careful and I've explained to the doctors that it is impossible for me to stay relaxed - even at 2-0 up with a minute to go they hit the bar and my heart was racing - but I should be back to normal in the next couple of weeks.'
Back in business now, Coleman has his eye on beating last season's points total of 48 and seeing where they go from there. Europe? 'It suits us that people are not talking about it. We'll just keep going about our job quietly,' the Welshman pointed out. They went about their job with impressive commitment here, pressing Leeds until the beleaguered visitors could withstand it no more.
Leeds's most positive period came either side of half-time, when Smith and Viduka, aided by the promptings of young winger Jermaine Pennant, began to force Fulham on to the back foot. But, with Zat Knight marshalling the home defence with aplomb, there was limited end product for Leeds. 'We didn't test their goalkeeper as much as we should,' Gray lamented. With one of their more promising efforts Didier Domi struck a clean volley but Edwin van der Sar was able to tip it away.
Conversely, at the opposite end Robinson was overworked and underprotected, with explosive bursts from Boa Morte and Steed Malbranque causing particular distress. 'It was only a question of time before we scored,' said Coleman. Robinson produced an instinctive dou ble save to deny Mark Pembridge's double header, before rightly looking accusingly at his defence as Barry Hayles had time to measure a free header. He missed, only delaying the inevitable.
With 20 minutes to go Davis broke from midfield to demonstrate how to finish ruthlessly. It was an excellently constructed goal, built on a a clever one-two with Malbranque, and the Englishman planted the ball past Robinson with aplomb.
Leeds' faint hopes were extinguished when Pembridge found the excellent Knight on the right of the box and the centre-half chipped delightfully for Boa Morte to nod home nine minutes from time. Simon Johnson rattled the bar seconds from the final whistle but, in truth, the game was up by then anyway.
The home fans sang for Chrissie Coleman and he clapped his admirers with gratitude. A pleasant day all round for Fulham. Desperate for Leeds.
