Leeds United Football Club - Blackwell: We Earned Our Luck
Blackwell: We Earned Our Luck
United boss Kevin Blackwell admits Leeds were dealt a big slice of luck on Saturday but believes it was hard work and not good fortune that earned a point at Ninian Park.
Cardiff were left the most frustrated of the two sides after the 0-0 draw having hit the crossbar on three occassions and seen Neil Sullivan pull off a penalty save.
Blackwell was happy to finally get the rub of the green and enjoy some lady luck that has so far been missing this campaign.
He said: "We were fortuitous with them hitting the bar a few times but we've not had much luck ourselves so far this season and thankfully we had some this time.
"I am a firm believer that you make your own luck and I accept they may have hit the bar three times but so what?
"We've now got eight clean sheets out of 14 and that's the basis on which I am rebuilding this football club."
"If you come away from home and don't get beat then it's a positive and as I have said to my players if we keep defeats to a minimum then we've got a great springboard to build from."
Leeds were once again involved in a game that had a cup tie atmosphere, something that was always going to be the case regardless of what happened in the previous meeting between the two sides two and a half years earlier.
"Lennie was pleading with the players to give him everything they've got because he felt this could be his last chance and they responded for him.
"It was also made to be an England v Wales game and the atmosphere was quite intimidating at times but I thought everyone handled it quite well."
Cardiff were given the chance to turn the game firmly their way when Stephen Crainey was judged to have tripped Bluebirds winger Jobi McAnuff inside the area to concede a penalty, but Sullivan's save further increased his good standing in the eyes of Kevin Blackwell.
"I thought it was a shoddy penalty to be honest," said Blackwell.
"I didn't think there was anything in the challenge and the lad just went to ground. Justice was served though with the save from Sully.
"I brought Neil to the football club because I think he's a very good goalkeeper and he works on penalties and it's paid off for the second time."
Cardiff manager Lennie Lawrence was understandably frustrated by the result.
"We are thankful that 17,000 fans were here to cheer the players on after we have lost four home games on the bounce and I told my players they had to respond to that.
"Hitting the bar three times and missing a penalty is something that happens to you when you are down. Andy Campbell badly needs a goal but his overall display was good.
"We were quite easily the better team and were as good defensively as we have been all season."
Blackwell: We Earned Our Luck
United boss Kevin Blackwell admits Leeds were dealt a big slice of luck on Saturday but believes it was hard work and not good fortune that earned a point at Ninian Park.
Cardiff were left the most frustrated of the two sides after the 0-0 draw having hit the crossbar on three occassions and seen Neil Sullivan pull off a penalty save.
Blackwell was happy to finally get the rub of the green and enjoy some lady luck that has so far been missing this campaign.
He said: "We were fortuitous with them hitting the bar a few times but we've not had much luck ourselves so far this season and thankfully we had some this time.
"I am a firm believer that you make your own luck and I accept they may have hit the bar three times but so what?
"We've now got eight clean sheets out of 14 and that's the basis on which I am rebuilding this football club."
"If you come away from home and don't get beat then it's a positive and as I have said to my players if we keep defeats to a minimum then we've got a great springboard to build from."
Leeds were once again involved in a game that had a cup tie atmosphere, something that was always going to be the case regardless of what happened in the previous meeting between the two sides two and a half years earlier.
"Lennie was pleading with the players to give him everything they've got because he felt this could be his last chance and they responded for him.
"It was also made to be an England v Wales game and the atmosphere was quite intimidating at times but I thought everyone handled it quite well."
Cardiff were given the chance to turn the game firmly their way when Stephen Crainey was judged to have tripped Bluebirds winger Jobi McAnuff inside the area to concede a penalty, but Sullivan's save further increased his good standing in the eyes of Kevin Blackwell.
"I thought it was a shoddy penalty to be honest," said Blackwell.
"I didn't think there was anything in the challenge and the lad just went to ground. Justice was served though with the save from Sully.
"I brought Neil to the football club because I think he's a very good goalkeeper and he works on penalties and it's paid off for the second time."
Cardiff manager Lennie Lawrence was understandably frustrated by the result.
"We are thankful that 17,000 fans were here to cheer the players on after we have lost four home games on the bounce and I told my players they had to respond to that.
"Hitting the bar three times and missing a penalty is something that happens to you when you are down. Andy Campbell badly needs a goal but his overall display was good.
"We were quite easily the better team and were as good defensively as we have been all season."
