McAnuff keeps the spring in Palace's step
Louise Taylor Elland Road
Wednesday March 22, 2006
The Guardian
Just as some footballers construct careers around an ability to make late, incisive dashes into the penalty area, Iain Dowie is developing the coveted managerial knack of building promotion campaigns on springtime surges up the table.
Two years ago Dowie's Palace won a Premiership place after over taking almost all comers on the blindside as they morphed from relegation candidates to near invincibles, and his current team may well be poised to repeat that feat.
Suddenly firmly in the play-off frame, fifth-placed Palace certainly dented Kevin Blackwell's automatic promotion hopes, ensuring Leeds remain fourth behind both
Sheffield United and Watford in an intriguing race towards the promised land.
"We've had two defeats in 17 games so we're just going to keep going and see where we end up," said Dowie. "It's going to be a very interesting end to the season." As Blackwell admitted: "Palace did a good job on us; we had plenty of possession but never really hurt them."
Andrew Johnson's hopes of making England's World Cup squad may have long since been erased but at least the Palace striker with the devastating change of pace can ease his frustration by damaging Championship defences. He nearly gave his side an early lead here but his shot was blocked by Neil Sullivan's legs after Jobi McAnuff's left-wing cross and Clinton Morrison's dummy unhinged Blackwell's rearguard. Sullivan then looked hugely relieved when Fitz Hall missed from three yards out, side-footing wide after the Leeds keeper parried Mikele Leigertwood's curler into his path.
By half time Sullivan had been beaten, however, McAnuff rifling a shot into the bottom corner from the right-hand side of the area after another clever Morrison dummy. That finish was preceded by Johnson's amalgam of impressive acceleration and Velcro-like close control which saw him sashaying his way past a series of defenders. Paul Butler, particularly, will not relish watching a replay, the Leeds captain having backed off unwisely.
It was a deserved lead. Palace played the quicker, slicker football, with Leeds too set-piece dependent, and despite pleasing cameos from Liam Miller and a bad miss from Matthew Kilgallon the second period continued in similar vein.
With Palace's Michael Hughes cutting an increasingly influential figure in central midfield and Johnson apparently petrifying Butler and co every time he had possession, Leeds looked extremely unlikely to repeat the win they achieved at Selhurst Park earlier this month.
Gambling, Blackwell sent Jermaine Beckford, a striker newly signed from non-league Wealdstone, on for his debut as he switched formation to 3-4-3 but, although the pacey youngster showed some promising touches, Palace held firm for a much merited victory.
Louise Taylor Elland Road
Wednesday March 22, 2006
The Guardian
Just as some footballers construct careers around an ability to make late, incisive dashes into the penalty area, Iain Dowie is developing the coveted managerial knack of building promotion campaigns on springtime surges up the table.
Two years ago Dowie's Palace won a Premiership place after over taking almost all comers on the blindside as they morphed from relegation candidates to near invincibles, and his current team may well be poised to repeat that feat.
Suddenly firmly in the play-off frame, fifth-placed Palace certainly dented Kevin Blackwell's automatic promotion hopes, ensuring Leeds remain fourth behind both
Sheffield United and Watford in an intriguing race towards the promised land."We've had two defeats in 17 games so we're just going to keep going and see where we end up," said Dowie. "It's going to be a very interesting end to the season." As Blackwell admitted: "Palace did a good job on us; we had plenty of possession but never really hurt them."
Andrew Johnson's hopes of making England's World Cup squad may have long since been erased but at least the Palace striker with the devastating change of pace can ease his frustration by damaging Championship defences. He nearly gave his side an early lead here but his shot was blocked by Neil Sullivan's legs after Jobi McAnuff's left-wing cross and Clinton Morrison's dummy unhinged Blackwell's rearguard. Sullivan then looked hugely relieved when Fitz Hall missed from three yards out, side-footing wide after the Leeds keeper parried Mikele Leigertwood's curler into his path.
By half time Sullivan had been beaten, however, McAnuff rifling a shot into the bottom corner from the right-hand side of the area after another clever Morrison dummy. That finish was preceded by Johnson's amalgam of impressive acceleration and Velcro-like close control which saw him sashaying his way past a series of defenders. Paul Butler, particularly, will not relish watching a replay, the Leeds captain having backed off unwisely.
It was a deserved lead. Palace played the quicker, slicker football, with Leeds too set-piece dependent, and despite pleasing cameos from Liam Miller and a bad miss from Matthew Kilgallon the second period continued in similar vein.
With Palace's Michael Hughes cutting an increasingly influential figure in central midfield and Johnson apparently petrifying Butler and co every time he had possession, Leeds looked extremely unlikely to repeat the win they achieved at Selhurst Park earlier this month.
Gambling, Blackwell sent Jermaine Beckford, a striker newly signed from non-league Wealdstone, on for his debut as he switched formation to 3-4-3 but, although the pacey youngster showed some promising touches, Palace held firm for a much merited victory.