Mighty Leeds Weblog

Reading 1 Leeds 1: Leeds rescued by Healy Jon West at Madejski Stadium Sunday Times STEVE COPPELL is one of the game’s mildest managers and Ivar Ingimarsson must certainly be grateful for that after the Iceland international was culpable for the goal that checked Reading’s charge to the Premiership. The Royals, who remain in second place in the Coca-Cola Championship, had looked on course for their 11th victory in 16 league games, a sequence that allied to cup successes have improved on a previous best set in 1973. Leading through a smart 63rd-minute strike from the game’s other Icelander, Brynjar Gunnarsson, Coppell’s team had been busy fending off a re-jigged Leeds outfit that had been infused with extra energy by the introduction of David Healy. The Northern Ireland international, famed for the goal that enabled his nation to beat England last month, gratefully accepted Ingimarsson’s gift of possession on the edge of the Reading box and fired past goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann to earn...

Healy Hits Back: Reading 1 United 1 leedsunited.com A goal from David Healy ensured United left the Madejski Stadium with a well deserved point. It had been no less than the Whites deserved from a game they more than matched their hosts in and could easily have snatched all three points. Pre-Match United boss Kevin Blackwell had rested five players in midweek for the Carling Cup game against Blackburn, but back in the melting pot that is the Championship, he reverted to what could be described, with a few arguments either way, as his strongest side. Back came Shaun Derry after suspension, whilst Rob Hulse, Eddie Lewis, Jonathan Douglas and Gary Kelly all returned fresh after their rest. David Healy had been nursing his persistent ankle injury during the week but made it onto the bench. The Match The early stages of the game were played in Reading's half with Leeds looking to make a bright start, but the hosts managed to compose themselves and it wasn't long before the pressure ...

Injuries and suspensions bite into Elland Road squad but United boss rules out short-term loansLeeds United manager Kevin Blackwell will resist the temptation to enter the loan transfer market despite Gylfi Einarsson being ruled out for the next three Championship games. The Icelandic international was dismissed late in the 3-0 defeat at Blackburn Rovers for a challenge on Robbie Savage and the Leeds manager had intimated immediately after the game he may appeal.However, he has instead decided to accept the red card so Einarsson, who has figured in 10 Championship games this season, will miss the trips to Reading and Crewe along with Preston's visit to Elland Road on Saturday week.Blackwell said: "We didn't think it would be worth it, even though I still feel the referee was wrong to penalise just one player for what were basically two identical tackles. "Losing Gylfi is a blow because we are looking very thin in certain positions, especially with Jonathan Douglas ca...

Blackburn hand Leeds a lesson as Emerton shines By Tim Rich (Filed: 26/10/2005) Telegraph Blackburn (0) 3 Leeds (0) 0 It is a sign of how reputations can dwindle that when Sir Bobby Robson failed to sign Brett Emerton many around St James' Park considered this a grievous error. However, since choosing Blackburn over Newcastle, the Australian has seldom displayed the touch that made him such a force with Feyenoord to the extent he is no longer a regular starter at Ewood Park. The way he drove home his shot to help give Blackburn a safe passage through a potentially awkward Carling Cup tie ought to have given his backers considerable comfort. The move that set it up was as attractive as the majority of the tie had been insipid - a direct run from Morten Gamst Pedersen, a slick pass to Craig Bellamy, who fed Emerton with decisive results. Having come on as a substitute, Bellamy, who set up all three goals, provided the impetus the tie required, and which Leeds never looked like being ...

Carling Cup Goes Flat: Rovers 3 United 0 leedsunited.com Pre-Match United boss Kevin Blackwell rang the changes for this Carling Cup tie, making it plainly clear that the club's priority this season is in the league. It wasn't just the personnel that changed either, with a 4-5-1 formation being employed rather than the customary 4-4-2 that Leeds fans have come to expect this season. The lone striker was Robbie Blake, with another striker, David Healy, played out on the left wing, whilst Ian Moore patrolled down the right flank. Sean Gregan was recalled in midfield alongside Gylfi Einarsson and Danny Pugh, whose only starts this season have come in the cup. At the back Blackwell kept the defence intact with the exception of Frazer Richardson moving to right-back with Gary Kelly rested. Blackburn showed they were taking the Carling Cup seriously with only two changes to the side that beat Birmingham City at the weekend, Todd in for the injured Nelsen and Emerton for Bentley. The ...

Kabba gives Warnock reason to smile again By Peter Lansley Leeds United 1 Sheffield United 1 The Times FOR the first time this season Sheffield United had to make do with a point, but neither team will feel their promotion ambitions have been dented by this result. Hackles were raised and teeth bared but, after much sound and fury, Neil Warnock’s Coca-Cola Championship leaders remain top and Leeds United stay fourth. Sheffield United did the double over Leeds without conceding a goal last season, so the home side may feel this draw is a fair representation of the progress they are making. Neither side can be budged from their relative positions this weekend, United moving six points clear while Leeds have a five-point buffer from the chasing pack, and after Steve Kabba equalised Frazer Richardson’s superb opening goal, the respective managers felt it was a job well done. “It’s nice to talk about two good teams in Yorkshire after all the doom and gloom of recent years,” Warnock said. “I...

All Square: United 1 Blades 1 leedsunited.com Pre-Match United boss Kevin Blackwell made one change to the side that beat Southampton earlier in the week. It was a change that had been half expected with Matthew Kilgallon replacing Sean Gregan at centre-half. Robbie Blake kept his place in the starting line-up after his goal on Tuesday evening, which meant David Healy was left on the bench. Sheffield United made no less than five changes to the side that thrashed Millwall 4-0 on the same night Leeds overcame the Saints, with the most significant changes coming upfront where Neil Shipperley and Steve Kabba started. The Match Leeds started off nervously and the visitors put them under pressure early without troubling Neil Sullivan too much. Phil Jagielka was the first player to threaten as he tried a 25-yard drive that only just missed Neil Sullivan's right hand upright. Rob Hulse appeared to take a bit of an early knock when Chris Morgan went in hard for a tackle on the striker, fo...

Flattering to deceive - Review of the 1907-08 season - new pages uploaded at mightyleeds.co.uk I've just uploaded a MAJOR UPDATE review of the 1907-08 season. Leeds City top the Second Division table after a wonderful start before their season collapses, then Gilbert Gillies throws in the towel and it's back to the drawing board under a new manager You can find the story in three parts, starting at http://www.mightyleeds.co.uk/seasons/190708.htm

Just the Job, Rob: United 2 Saints 1 leedsunited.com Pre Match United boss Kevin Blackwell was able to stick with the same side that beat Burnley at the weekend after Rob Hulse and Shaun Derry were passed fit. Hulse had been troubled by an ankle injury whilst Derry needed the green light from the club doctor after needing stitches above his eye following an altercation at Turf Moor. David Healy was again on the bench, and possibly not over his own ankle ligament problems. Southampton made three changes with Harry Redknapp going for youth and pace in abundance upfront. One time Elland Road loan signing Brett Ormerod was dropped to the bench whilst 16-year-old Theo Walcott, normally a winger, took his place. Scottish winger Neil McCann, making his first start since January was also in or Kamil Kosowski on the left wing, and he too offers the Saints plenty of pace. Martin Cranie at right back for Michael Svensson was the other change. Saints went into the game having drawn their previous ...

Blackwell Hails United's Spirit leedsunited.com United boss Kevin Blackwell says the win at Burnley shows his side have got the guts and talent to turn defeats into victories. Leeds were set to lose out after Sean Gregan's foul on Ade Akinbiyi saw Burnley take the lead from the penalty spot, but substitute David Healy won a free-kick that Eddie Lewis put away, and then Lewis turned provider with a cross that Rob Hulse nodded home for his seventh goal of the season. It was the first time Leeds have come from behind to win a game since the 6-1 drubbing of QPR at Elland Road last November. Blackwell was delighted with the three points that pushed the Whites up to fourth, and happier still to keep the momentum going. "It was never an away performance because at times we looked as if we were the home side," said Blackwell. "I said to the lads at one time that there was one team that could win it and one team that could lose it - and that was us. We nearly lost it beca...

Blackie's Fighters Turn It Around: Burnley 1 United 2 leedsunited.com Pre Match United boss Kevin Blackwell was able to include striker Rob Hulse in his starting XI despite the forward having turned an ankle in training earlier in the week. Hulse formed the forward partnership with Robbie Blake getting the chance to start against one of his former club. David Healy was on the bench. The other change involved Dan Harding returning to left-back after having previously lost his place to Stephen Crainey and then Matthew Kilgallon. The Match After a two week break Leeds could be excused for starting slowly, and perhaps somewhat thankful that Burnley were not at their best either for the early kick-off. The home side were quick to put the Whites defence under pressure, pressing and forcing a few early errors from Leeds and winning a few early corners. It wasn't until the twelfth minute that United started to play. Richardson's broke with a run down the right flank and played the ...

Cross Blackwell in a pickle over future at Leeds By Rick Broadbent The Times IF KEVIN BLACKWELL loses his job as the manager of Leeds United it would be an act of ingratitude to rank alongside the Bible’s 5,000 asking if there was any butter to go with their bread. With debt reduced by £100 million and more than 100 transfer and loan deals completed in 15 months, the club that sacrificed itself on the altar of vanity and greed is sixth in the Coca-Cola Championship. Little wonder that Blackwell is angry at whispers that claim he will soon be replaced by Dennis Wise. Ken Bates, the Leeds chairman, has dismissed the speculation as “rubbish”, but Blackwell is taking nothing for granted. “When strong rumours come from within the football camp they normally have some credence,” he said. “But there weren’t too many people in the queue when I took over and we were the worst club in football with the worst debt. It was a poisoned chalice and people said I was mad. “Now we’ve turned it around a...

Wise Speculation Rubbished leedsunited.com Leeds United has today dismissed tiresome media speculation that Dennis Wise is to return to management at Elland Road. The former Wimbledon and Chelsea midfielder, now with Championship rivals Southampton, is a family friend of United Chairman Ken Bates but yet again there is no substance to the rumour that the pair will soon be working together. "It's simply not true, someone is mischief making ahead of our game with Southampton," said a Leeds United spokesman. Today's speculation has surfaced on the South Coast, with the Daily Echo quoting a "source close to Leeds" that Wise would be in place soon, and that it was a matter of not if, but when.Wise spent 18 months as manager at Millwall and took the Lions to the FA Cup Final in 2004, before resigning in May this year.

Cresswell Out For Months leedsunited.com United do not expect to have Richard Cresswell available until after Christmas with a scan revealing the striker has ruptured a knee ligament. Cresswell suffered the injury in last week's 3-1 win over Derby County, when a challenge on him saw him last only 25 minutes on his second start following his move from Preston. The 28-year-old has avoided medial ligament damage though and the news comes as something of a relief - as initial fears were that he would be out for the rest of the season. He will not though require surgery and is expected to be out for around three months. "Richard is absolutely distraught at the moment because he's not been injured for five or six years," said manager Kevin Blackwell, "then he comes to Leeds and then three weeks into his career he's done his knee in. "The important thing for Richard now is that he comes to terms with the fact that he's going to be out for a while and doesn...

BLACKWELL RUES UNLUCKY HULSE'S MISS Sporting Life Watford 0 Leeds 0 Leeds boss Kevin Blackwell considered it "amazing" that his side left Watford with just a point. The teams both go into the international break at the right end of the Championship table, but a goalless stalemate was the outcome at Vicarage Road. The chance of the match fell to Rob Hulse, a hat-trick hero for Leeds in midweek, but his shot bounced off one post onto the other and rolled along the line before being cleared. Blackwell said: "To come away from home and keep a clean sheet, that's the first aim, but to hit the posts on both sides and for it not to cross the line, that's amazing, that's a freak of nature. "But two teams that are close together, neither of us are going to give anything away. "It was a hard-fought game and it was a battle more than anything else, there wasn't a lot of great football and it is a case of making sure we go home having not got beaten. ...