Sport
Smith's winner fires Leeds survival fight
Leeds United 3 Leicester City 2
By Phil Shaw
06 April 2004
Leeds certainly know how to put their followers through the emotional mangle. Two goals in three minutes early on should have been the basis for a handsome win for the Premiership's second-bottom club last night, yet Leicester scored twice within the same timescale late in the game and looked certain to leave Elland Road with at least a point.
They reckoned without the indomitable Alan Smith. With four minutes left, the England striker scored to take the home team level on points with 18th-placed Leicester. Leeds being Leeds, however, almost inevitably there was a dark side to their success. Mark Viduka, who had earlier struck a stunning goal, was sent off in stoppage time and now misses the relegation six-pointer against Portsmouth a fortnight on Saturday.
Indeed, when Leeds go in search of their first back-to-back victories this season away to Blackburn next weekend, they will do so in the knowledge that a caution for Smith would also put him out of Pompey's visit. If their acting manager, Eddie Gray, is to steer his beloved club away from relegation, he will clearly have to do it the hard way.
This game at least showed that the players, many of whom are unlikely to feature on a drastically reduced wage bill next season, have not given up the fight. As in a number of Leeds' modest tally of wins, notably at home to Fulham and Manchester City, they prevailed in the closing stages just when they appeared to have squandered a promising position.
"We had to win, but then we need to win them all at home and try to pick up something on our travels," Gray admitted. "Viduka was silly but we have to live with it."
Micky Adams, the former Leeds player who now manages Leicester, conceded that Leeds initially "wanted it more", but added defiantly: "There's no talk of going down in our dressing-room."
Three years ago to the day, Gray was David O'Leary's No 2 as Leeds basked in the glory of a 3-0 drubbing of Deportivo La Coruña in the Champions' League quarter-finals. On that occasion, Rio Ferdinand claimed the final goal. This time, with nerves jangling for altogether different reasons, another central defender set Leeds on their way.
Michael Duberry had been recalled when Gray decided to switch Dominic Matteo into midfield, where he was hugely influential. In the 11th minute, Duberry announced his return by converting a sharp downward header from Gary Kelly's cross after Leicester had cleared a near-post corner only as far as Seth Johnson.
Leicester waited in vain for an offside flag, and were soon looking forlornly to Mike Dean's assistant again as Leeds doubled their lead. This time Didier Domi's centre was helped on by the head of Jermaine Pennant and by Smith's chip. The ball broke to Viduka and the Australian's overhead kick tore past the goalkeeper, Ian Walker.
Sensing that Leeds were still far from comfortable defensively they have now failed to keep a clean sheet for 14 matches Adams sent on a third striker, Paul Dickov, as early as the 37th minute.
The ploy belatedly began to reap dividends in the 77th minute, when the unmarked substitute took Marcus Bent's pass and angled his shot beyond Paul Robinson. Leeds were suddenly in disarray and 90 seconds later they stood off as Muzzy Izzet bludgeoned the equaliser from 25 yards.
Smith's timely intervention, following James Milner's cross and a chested lay-off by Viduka, lifted Leeds again and ended Leicester's unbeaten run of six games. Viduka, who had been cautioned for fouling Matt Heath, then tarnished a fine display by kicking the ball away, a moment of churlishness that may yet come back to haunt Gray.
Leeds United (4-4-2): Robinson 7; Kelly 6, Caldwell 6, Duberry 6, Domi 5; Pennant 7, Seth Johnson 6, Matteo 8, Milner 7 (Harte, 88); Smith 7, Viduka 7. Substitutes not used: Carson (gk), Radebe, Lennon, Simon Johnson.
Leicester City (4-4-2): Walker 7; Scimeca 5, Dabizas 5, Heath 4, Thatcher 4; Scowcroft 6, Izzet 6, Freund 6 (Nalis, 76), Guppy 5 (Dickov 7, 38); Ferdinand 6 (Canero, 76), Bent 7. Substitutes not used: Coyne (gk), McKinlay.
Referee: M Dean (Wirral) 7
Smith's winner fires Leeds survival fight
Leeds United 3 Leicester City 2
By Phil Shaw
06 April 2004
Leeds certainly know how to put their followers through the emotional mangle. Two goals in three minutes early on should have been the basis for a handsome win for the Premiership's second-bottom club last night, yet Leicester scored twice within the same timescale late in the game and looked certain to leave Elland Road with at least a point.
They reckoned without the indomitable Alan Smith. With four minutes left, the England striker scored to take the home team level on points with 18th-placed Leicester. Leeds being Leeds, however, almost inevitably there was a dark side to their success. Mark Viduka, who had earlier struck a stunning goal, was sent off in stoppage time and now misses the relegation six-pointer against Portsmouth a fortnight on Saturday.
Indeed, when Leeds go in search of their first back-to-back victories this season away to Blackburn next weekend, they will do so in the knowledge that a caution for Smith would also put him out of Pompey's visit. If their acting manager, Eddie Gray, is to steer his beloved club away from relegation, he will clearly have to do it the hard way.
This game at least showed that the players, many of whom are unlikely to feature on a drastically reduced wage bill next season, have not given up the fight. As in a number of Leeds' modest tally of wins, notably at home to Fulham and Manchester City, they prevailed in the closing stages just when they appeared to have squandered a promising position.
"We had to win, but then we need to win them all at home and try to pick up something on our travels," Gray admitted. "Viduka was silly but we have to live with it."
Micky Adams, the former Leeds player who now manages Leicester, conceded that Leeds initially "wanted it more", but added defiantly: "There's no talk of going down in our dressing-room."
Three years ago to the day, Gray was David O'Leary's No 2 as Leeds basked in the glory of a 3-0 drubbing of Deportivo La Coruña in the Champions' League quarter-finals. On that occasion, Rio Ferdinand claimed the final goal. This time, with nerves jangling for altogether different reasons, another central defender set Leeds on their way.
Michael Duberry had been recalled when Gray decided to switch Dominic Matteo into midfield, where he was hugely influential. In the 11th minute, Duberry announced his return by converting a sharp downward header from Gary Kelly's cross after Leicester had cleared a near-post corner only as far as Seth Johnson.
Leicester waited in vain for an offside flag, and were soon looking forlornly to Mike Dean's assistant again as Leeds doubled their lead. This time Didier Domi's centre was helped on by the head of Jermaine Pennant and by Smith's chip. The ball broke to Viduka and the Australian's overhead kick tore past the goalkeeper, Ian Walker.
Sensing that Leeds were still far from comfortable defensively they have now failed to keep a clean sheet for 14 matches Adams sent on a third striker, Paul Dickov, as early as the 37th minute.
The ploy belatedly began to reap dividends in the 77th minute, when the unmarked substitute took Marcus Bent's pass and angled his shot beyond Paul Robinson. Leeds were suddenly in disarray and 90 seconds later they stood off as Muzzy Izzet bludgeoned the equaliser from 25 yards.
Smith's timely intervention, following James Milner's cross and a chested lay-off by Viduka, lifted Leeds again and ended Leicester's unbeaten run of six games. Viduka, who had been cautioned for fouling Matt Heath, then tarnished a fine display by kicking the ball away, a moment of churlishness that may yet come back to haunt Gray.
Leeds United (4-4-2): Robinson 7; Kelly 6, Caldwell 6, Duberry 6, Domi 5; Pennant 7, Seth Johnson 6, Matteo 8, Milner 7 (Harte, 88); Smith 7, Viduka 7. Substitutes not used: Carson (gk), Radebe, Lennon, Simon Johnson.
Leicester City (4-4-2): Walker 7; Scimeca 5, Dabizas 5, Heath 4, Thatcher 4; Scowcroft 6, Izzet 6, Freund 6 (Nalis, 76), Guppy 5 (Dickov 7, 38); Ferdinand 6 (Canero, 76), Bent 7. Substitutes not used: Coyne (gk), McKinlay.
Referee: M Dean (Wirral) 7