Leeds United Football Club - Pugh's The Man - Crewe 2-2 Leeds
Pugh's The Man - Crewe 2-2 Leeds
A Danny Pugh rocket with a minute left has rescued a point for Leeds after four second half goals at Gresty Road.
Leeds had plenty of chances to score, and the home side only had a handful, from which they scored two, but Deane and Joachim worked hard up front and the days of the Leeds strike force bagging the goals cannot be far off.
Match report
The sun had come out by kick off after a morning of heavy rain, and Leeds started brightly, looking to dominate from the off, but it was Crewe's number nine Jones who got the first shot in, although he was flagged offside in the process.
Seven minutes in, and Crewe had a better chance when Vaughan had a shot from 25 yards out, but the low effort skidded across the wet surface and Sullivan watched it go past his post.
Both sides showed a willingness to get the ball down and pass, not surprisingly for a Dario Gradi side and for Leeds the final "killer" ball was lacking when they did threaten Ben Williams' goal. Gregan showed few signs of rustiness despite his lack of recent first team action.
However on 17 minutes Ashton squandered a great chance, when he found himself free on the edge of the area, but his left-footed shot sailed way over Sullivan's crossbar. Two minutes later, Jones again had a chance, when his shot on the turn from a throw-in had more threat but again was over the bar.
Shortly after, Joachim had Leeds first shot from 20 yards, but it flew a long way over. Within a minute, Leeds had a free kick on the right near the corner, but Deane's looping header was easily collected by Williams.
The game had started to come alive, and on 23 minutes Jones had a header from a free kick that Sullivan had to tip over one-handed.
Straight to the other end, and Danny Pugh struck a rasping left-footed shot that had the Leeds fans chering for a moment, however Williams had deflected it into his side netting.
And it was Pugh again within a minute who's header from six yards out had Williams stretching but the ball curled away and only inches past the right hand post.
The game was now really opening up, and on 30 minutes Wright hit the inside of the post from eight yards, but Richardson's shot from the rebound was cleared off the line. Leeds' passing game was now beginning to stretch the home side.
Great work from Deane won a corner in the fortieth minute, where the Crewe keeper flapped in panic, however Richardson's shot was blazed over when he should have done much, much better.
Just on half time Dean Ashton found himself in acres of space 25 yards out, but his shot flew over the bar and only threatened those sat in the hospitality boxes behind Neil Sullivan.
Disaster struck for Leeds just after the restart, when Carlisle inexpicably raised his hand to the ball in the area to give away a needless penalty, which Dean Ashton confidently struck to Sullivan's right.
But just five minutes later Leeds equalised through Danny Pugh. A Joachim header from a Crainey cross struck the bar, and Pugh bravely followed up to stick his head in where the boots were flying to bundle the ball home from two yards out.
Jermaine Wright forced a save two min utes later when his fierce shot made Williams dive low to the right. Wright seems to have benefitted from the arrival of Gregan in midfield, allowing him to play in a free role in the centre of the park.
Deane, having an influential game against the team he scored aginst for Leeds in their only previous meeting, rose to head just wide, and then shortly after set up Pugh who's left-foot shot curled just wide of the post.
Both sides were pressing for the winner now, and Jones found himself free on the penalty spot but his tame shot went straight at Sullivan.
Carlisle had the chance to make amends on 69 minutes with a header from a free kick, but he could not keep it down and went over Williams' bar.
Gregan marked his debut with a silly booking on 75, after he felt the referee had missed a Crewe infringement.
The home fans were furious with 10 minutes to go when an offside flag denied Jones, who had placed the ball past Sullivan from eight yards out. Both sides were still very much in the hunt for the three points at this stage.
And sadly for Leeds, Crewe got the upper hand with seven minutes to go, when a Lunt lay-off found Jones who fired past Sullivan from 10 yards out. The home side had maybe sensed that the visitors were tiring and went for Leeds' jugular.
But on 89 minutes, Leeds rescued the day when Pugh pounced once more. After a couple of minutes of concerted pressure, the ball ricoched back to the former Man Utd man who rifled an unstoppable right foot shot past the flailing Williams.
In injury time, Crainey nearly won it with a fierce drive that scorched just over Williams' bar. A minute later and McMaster's cross was just a foot too far in front of fellow substitute Ricketts to reach in the area.
Leeds had scarcely deserved to lose after a series of good chances came their way, and their new found team spirit saw them come away with a valuable point. 2-1 down with seven minutes left away from home was a big ask, but Danny Pugh's fine effort saw Leeds leave Gresty Road with an unbeaten week behind them, with the promise of three home games to come.
Pugh's The Man - Crewe 2-2 Leeds
A Danny Pugh rocket with a minute left has rescued a point for Leeds after four second half goals at Gresty Road.
Leeds had plenty of chances to score, and the home side only had a handful, from which they scored two, but Deane and Joachim worked hard up front and the days of the Leeds strike force bagging the goals cannot be far off.
Match report
The sun had come out by kick off after a morning of heavy rain, and Leeds started brightly, looking to dominate from the off, but it was Crewe's number nine Jones who got the first shot in, although he was flagged offside in the process.
Seven minutes in, and Crewe had a better chance when Vaughan had a shot from 25 yards out, but the low effort skidded across the wet surface and Sullivan watched it go past his post.
Both sides showed a willingness to get the ball down and pass, not surprisingly for a Dario Gradi side and for Leeds the final "killer" ball was lacking when they did threaten Ben Williams' goal. Gregan showed few signs of rustiness despite his lack of recent first team action.
However on 17 minutes Ashton squandered a great chance, when he found himself free on the edge of the area, but his left-footed shot sailed way over Sullivan's crossbar. Two minutes later, Jones again had a chance, when his shot on the turn from a throw-in had more threat but again was over the bar.
Shortly after, Joachim had Leeds first shot from 20 yards, but it flew a long way over. Within a minute, Leeds had a free kick on the right near the corner, but Deane's looping header was easily collected by Williams.
The game had started to come alive, and on 23 minutes Jones had a header from a free kick that Sullivan had to tip over one-handed.
Straight to the other end, and Danny Pugh struck a rasping left-footed shot that had the Leeds fans chering for a moment, however Williams had deflected it into his side netting.
And it was Pugh again within a minute who's header from six yards out had Williams stretching but the ball curled away and only inches past the right hand post.
The game was now really opening up, and on 30 minutes Wright hit the inside of the post from eight yards, but Richardson's shot from the rebound was cleared off the line. Leeds' passing game was now beginning to stretch the home side.
Great work from Deane won a corner in the fortieth minute, where the Crewe keeper flapped in panic, however Richardson's shot was blazed over when he should have done much, much better.
Just on half time Dean Ashton found himself in acres of space 25 yards out, but his shot flew over the bar and only threatened those sat in the hospitality boxes behind Neil Sullivan.
Disaster struck for Leeds just after the restart, when Carlisle inexpicably raised his hand to the ball in the area to give away a needless penalty, which Dean Ashton confidently struck to Sullivan's right.
But just five minutes later Leeds equalised through Danny Pugh. A Joachim header from a Crainey cross struck the bar, and Pugh bravely followed up to stick his head in where the boots were flying to bundle the ball home from two yards out.
Jermaine Wright forced a save two min utes later when his fierce shot made Williams dive low to the right. Wright seems to have benefitted from the arrival of Gregan in midfield, allowing him to play in a free role in the centre of the park.
Deane, having an influential game against the team he scored aginst for Leeds in their only previous meeting, rose to head just wide, and then shortly after set up Pugh who's left-foot shot curled just wide of the post.
Both sides were pressing for the winner now, and Jones found himself free on the penalty spot but his tame shot went straight at Sullivan.
Carlisle had the chance to make amends on 69 minutes with a header from a free kick, but he could not keep it down and went over Williams' bar.
Gregan marked his debut with a silly booking on 75, after he felt the referee had missed a Crewe infringement.
The home fans were furious with 10 minutes to go when an offside flag denied Jones, who had placed the ball past Sullivan from eight yards out. Both sides were still very much in the hunt for the three points at this stage.
And sadly for Leeds, Crewe got the upper hand with seven minutes to go, when a Lunt lay-off found Jones who fired past Sullivan from 10 yards out. The home side had maybe sensed that the visitors were tiring and went for Leeds' jugular.
But on 89 minutes, Leeds rescued the day when Pugh pounced once more. After a couple of minutes of concerted pressure, the ball ricoched back to the former Man Utd man who rifled an unstoppable right foot shot past the flailing Williams.
In injury time, Crainey nearly won it with a fierce drive that scorched just over Williams' bar. A minute later and McMaster's cross was just a foot too far in front of fellow substitute Ricketts to reach in the area.
Leeds had scarcely deserved to lose after a series of good chances came their way, and their new found team spirit saw them come away with a valuable point. 2-1 down with seven minutes left away from home was a big ask, but Danny Pugh's fine effort saw Leeds leave Gresty Road with an unbeaten week behind them, with the promise of three home games to come.
