Leeds Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More
Striker light
Blackwell blasts lack of finishing power
by paul dews
LEEDS UNITED boss Kevin Blackwell today blasted his strikers for not taking their chances in the New Year's Day defeat by Crewe.
United paid the price for not being ruthless enough as they kicked off 2005 with a 2-0 humbling at the hands of Dario Gradi's determined Crewe side.
It brought an end to United's four-match unbeaten run and the Leeds boss was left counting the cost of too many spurned opportunities.
Blackwell blasted: "In the first half they had one shot on target and it's 1-0, and all you're thinking is about finishing off your own chances.
"It's the same old story isn't it? We didn't finish the chances we created and we created more than enough. I'd criticise the forwards because they didn't look hungry enough.
"You have to give Crewe credit. They made it narrow in midfield and made it difficult. We had to deal with it and that means getting in behind them, which we did – but I want to see the strikers being more hungry and getting on the end of the balls that are put in there.
"I want to see people dying for the ball in there, I want to see them saying 'I want to finish this off'.
"We work on it every single day and if you don't do it, they deserve criticising."
Aaron Lennon was United's chief supplier of ammunition
and the 17-year-old had another tremendous game on the right wing.
"Aaron did everything I wanted," insisted Blackwell. "He was positive. He got around the back of people, he put some good balls in and I thought he had a good game."
But the manager was also critical of his side's failings at the back – Leeds have to look back to the home win against Preston on October 16 for their last clean sheet – and accused his players of naivety.
"We were mugged for the first goal and we talked about their free-kicks the day before the game yet we forgot on Saturday and we didn't pick up our man.
"As long as people are patient with the youngsters we'll be okay, but we were punished for a couple of errors. It's down to the kids to learn by the mistakes and if they do they will become better players."
Salt was rubbed into the wound in the dying minutes when skipper Paul Butler received his second red card of the season.
Butler was due to sit out today's clash with Coventry City and with the flu bug which is currently sweeping the country biting deep at Leeds, Blackwell was performing a head count at Highfield Road.
Clarke Carlisle was the latest victim – he missed Saturday's game – and a number of other players were feeling the symptoms.
Impressive
"We've all had it," conceded Blackwell. "It's a bug that is going around, not just at Leeds. We just have to dig deep and get on with it.
"Saturday was a kick in the teeth, but we're used to that now and we'll crack on again."
Striker light
Blackwell blasts lack of finishing power
by paul dews
LEEDS UNITED boss Kevin Blackwell today blasted his strikers for not taking their chances in the New Year's Day defeat by Crewe.
United paid the price for not being ruthless enough as they kicked off 2005 with a 2-0 humbling at the hands of Dario Gradi's determined Crewe side.
It brought an end to United's four-match unbeaten run and the Leeds boss was left counting the cost of too many spurned opportunities.
Blackwell blasted: "In the first half they had one shot on target and it's 1-0, and all you're thinking is about finishing off your own chances.
"It's the same old story isn't it? We didn't finish the chances we created and we created more than enough. I'd criticise the forwards because they didn't look hungry enough.
"You have to give Crewe credit. They made it narrow in midfield and made it difficult. We had to deal with it and that means getting in behind them, which we did – but I want to see the strikers being more hungry and getting on the end of the balls that are put in there.
"I want to see people dying for the ball in there, I want to see them saying 'I want to finish this off'.
"We work on it every single day and if you don't do it, they deserve criticising."
Aaron Lennon was United's chief supplier of ammunition
and the 17-year-old had another tremendous game on the right wing.
"Aaron did everything I wanted," insisted Blackwell. "He was positive. He got around the back of people, he put some good balls in and I thought he had a good game."
But the manager was also critical of his side's failings at the back – Leeds have to look back to the home win against Preston on October 16 for their last clean sheet – and accused his players of naivety.
"We were mugged for the first goal and we talked about their free-kicks the day before the game yet we forgot on Saturday and we didn't pick up our man.
"As long as people are patient with the youngsters we'll be okay, but we were punished for a couple of errors. It's down to the kids to learn by the mistakes and if they do they will become better players."
Salt was rubbed into the wound in the dying minutes when skipper Paul Butler received his second red card of the season.
Butler was due to sit out today's clash with Coventry City and with the flu bug which is currently sweeping the country biting deep at Leeds, Blackwell was performing a head count at Highfield Road.
Clarke Carlisle was the latest victim – he missed Saturday's game – and a number of other players were feeling the symptoms.
Impressive
"We've all had it," conceded Blackwell. "It's a bug that is going around, not just at Leeds. We just have to dig deep and get on with it.
"Saturday was a kick in the teeth, but we're used to that now and we'll crack on again."
