Leeds United Football Club - Matchreport Leeds United vs Rotherham United
Leeds 0 Rotherham 0
Pre-match
Leeds made four changes to the side for the final game of the season. Clarke Carlisle went down the night before with illness whilst Gylfi Einarsson failed a fitness test just an hour before kick-off. Kevin Blackwell also brought Aaron Lennon back into the team and Jermaine Wright into midfield and Marlon King started on the right wing.
Frazer Richardson was dropped to the bench, whilst skipper Paul Butler also made an appearance there, his first time back in the squad following the infamous collision with Neil Sullivan during the Sheffield United game. Young midfielder Gavin Rothery was also given his first appearance on the bench.
There was space amongst the replacements for Lucas Radebe, the legend who would come on later to make his 200th and final league appearance for the club.
The Match
Within 30 seconds Ron Hulse had tested Rotherham keeper Mike Pollitt, going on a dashing run down the right hand flank and unleashing a shot from the edge of the area that Pollitt did well to hang onto.
Matthew Kilgallon was lucky to escape giving away a penalty when he brought Millers forward Michael Keane's run to an end inside the area. It looked a clumsy challenge but referee Lee Mason was right behind it and waved the appeals away.
With rumours that Aaron Lennon was playing in his final game for the club before a big money summer move too loud to ignore, the youngster was doing his best to put on a good show. His characteristic running at defenders got people off their seats and on one occassion just his final shot let him down.
Lennon then set off on a run down the left into the area and delivered a great ball into the centre but it was cut out just before reaching Ian Moore for what would have been a simple tap-in.
The Chapeltown teen then set up another chance for Matthew Kilgallon with a delicately flighted ball over the top of the Rotherham defence but the visitors escaped as Kilgallon was judged to have put a high boot up to foul Pollitt.
The visitors were not about to wave goodbye to the Championship without a fight though, and McLaren forced Sullivan into a smartish save just after the half hour mark.
Leeds should have been celebrating the opening goal with ten minutes left until half-time.
Matthew Spring is was who 'sprung' the offside trap and found himself bearing down on goal and there was nothing wrong with the power in his shot, unfortunately after beating the keeper it hammered against the far post and rebounded to safety.
No changes at half-time, the first half began in much the same fashion as the first finished - with the woodwork again coming to Rotherham's resuce.
This time it was Rob Hulse who was denied, picking the ball up outside the area, stepping inside and unleashing a low drive that had Pollitt floundering but came back off the left hand post.
Leeds were making all the running and creating all the chances, but they had done back in November and still came away with a 1-0 defeat at Millmoor.
With his father providing commentary from the gantry for a South Yorkshire radio station, Ian Moore was next to be denied as Pollitt pulled off a good save to hold onto his right footed shot.
Just before the hour mark, twice against the woodwork became thrice as Marlon King hammered a shot against that pesky left-hand upright again. It was only Pollitt and the frame of the goal that was keeping Leeds at bay.
Once again though Rotherham threatened to undo Leeds and McClaren was involved, Sullivan just keeping out his near post header and then Gary Kelly was a saving challenge to prevent a near certain goal.
Lennon was still proving to be a real danger despite Rotherham putting a man on him and was denied once more as a touch from Martin McIntosh deflecting his curling shot just wide of the target.
Marlon King was just as desperate to end his time at Elland Road with a goal but he was continually denied too, and when he fired a shot between the goal and the six-yard box nobody inside a crowded penalty area managed to get a touch on the ball to turn it inside. The chances Leeds were missing were becoming quite incredible.
Just as unbelievable as the miss from former Sunderland striker Michael Proctor that would have earned the Millers their first double of the season. McLaren swung in the cross and perfectly placed he somehow put his header over the bar from six yards out.
Frazer Richardson came on with 15 minutes left for Marlon King.
Proctor had another chance to open the scoring, this time from almost bang on the penalty spot but it was Neil Sullivan's heroics in pulling off the save that left the striker looking to the heavens.
With five minutes of normal time lef, the moment most supporters had been waiting for arrived when Lucas Radebe stepped onto the pitch as a late substitute. Elland Road rose to applaud him and acknowledge his ten years of service to the club.
There was still a match to be played though and the party nearly went sour when Proctor found the back of the net for Rotherham - fortunately up went the linesman's flag for offside and the goal was ruled out.
The full time whisle went and Leeds had failed to beat Rotherham this season and it was a result which just about summed up some of the rotten luck Leeds have had in the last 12 months.
Leeds 0 Rotherham 0
Pre-match
Leeds made four changes to the side for the final game of the season. Clarke Carlisle went down the night before with illness whilst Gylfi Einarsson failed a fitness test just an hour before kick-off. Kevin Blackwell also brought Aaron Lennon back into the team and Jermaine Wright into midfield and Marlon King started on the right wing.
Frazer Richardson was dropped to the bench, whilst skipper Paul Butler also made an appearance there, his first time back in the squad following the infamous collision with Neil Sullivan during the Sheffield United game. Young midfielder Gavin Rothery was also given his first appearance on the bench.
There was space amongst the replacements for Lucas Radebe, the legend who would come on later to make his 200th and final league appearance for the club.
The Match
Within 30 seconds Ron Hulse had tested Rotherham keeper Mike Pollitt, going on a dashing run down the right hand flank and unleashing a shot from the edge of the area that Pollitt did well to hang onto.
Matthew Kilgallon was lucky to escape giving away a penalty when he brought Millers forward Michael Keane's run to an end inside the area. It looked a clumsy challenge but referee Lee Mason was right behind it and waved the appeals away.
With rumours that Aaron Lennon was playing in his final game for the club before a big money summer move too loud to ignore, the youngster was doing his best to put on a good show. His characteristic running at defenders got people off their seats and on one occassion just his final shot let him down.
Lennon then set off on a run down the left into the area and delivered a great ball into the centre but it was cut out just before reaching Ian Moore for what would have been a simple tap-in.
The Chapeltown teen then set up another chance for Matthew Kilgallon with a delicately flighted ball over the top of the Rotherham defence but the visitors escaped as Kilgallon was judged to have put a high boot up to foul Pollitt.
The visitors were not about to wave goodbye to the Championship without a fight though, and McLaren forced Sullivan into a smartish save just after the half hour mark.
Leeds should have been celebrating the opening goal with ten minutes left until half-time.
Matthew Spring is was who 'sprung' the offside trap and found himself bearing down on goal and there was nothing wrong with the power in his shot, unfortunately after beating the keeper it hammered against the far post and rebounded to safety.
No changes at half-time, the first half began in much the same fashion as the first finished - with the woodwork again coming to Rotherham's resuce.
This time it was Rob Hulse who was denied, picking the ball up outside the area, stepping inside and unleashing a low drive that had Pollitt floundering but came back off the left hand post.
Leeds were making all the running and creating all the chances, but they had done back in November and still came away with a 1-0 defeat at Millmoor.
With his father providing commentary from the gantry for a South Yorkshire radio station, Ian Moore was next to be denied as Pollitt pulled off a good save to hold onto his right footed shot.
Just before the hour mark, twice against the woodwork became thrice as Marlon King hammered a shot against that pesky left-hand upright again. It was only Pollitt and the frame of the goal that was keeping Leeds at bay.
Once again though Rotherham threatened to undo Leeds and McClaren was involved, Sullivan just keeping out his near post header and then Gary Kelly was a saving challenge to prevent a near certain goal.
Lennon was still proving to be a real danger despite Rotherham putting a man on him and was denied once more as a touch from Martin McIntosh deflecting his curling shot just wide of the target.
Marlon King was just as desperate to end his time at Elland Road with a goal but he was continually denied too, and when he fired a shot between the goal and the six-yard box nobody inside a crowded penalty area managed to get a touch on the ball to turn it inside. The chances Leeds were missing were becoming quite incredible.
Just as unbelievable as the miss from former Sunderland striker Michael Proctor that would have earned the Millers their first double of the season. McLaren swung in the cross and perfectly placed he somehow put his header over the bar from six yards out.
Frazer Richardson came on with 15 minutes left for Marlon King.
Proctor had another chance to open the scoring, this time from almost bang on the penalty spot but it was Neil Sullivan's heroics in pulling off the save that left the striker looking to the heavens.
With five minutes of normal time lef, the moment most supporters had been waiting for arrived when Lucas Radebe stepped onto the pitch as a late substitute. Elland Road rose to applaud him and acknowledge his ten years of service to the club.
There was still a match to be played though and the party nearly went sour when Proctor found the back of the net for Rotherham - fortunately up went the linesman's flag for offside and the goal was ruled out.
The full time whisle went and Leeds had failed to beat Rotherham this season and it was a result which just about summed up some of the rotten luck Leeds have had in the last 12 months.