Whites Lose More Ground: United 0 Stoke 0
leedsunited.com
Leeds lost further ground in the promotion chase with a 0-0 draw at home to Stoke, adding to what has been a frustrating and potentially damaging week for the Whites.
Pre-Match
United boss Kevin Blackwell made one change to the side that lost 1-0 to Crystal Palace in midweek, with Matthew Kilgallon stepping out and Shaun Gregan returning after his two match suspension.
Despite not having the same impact in the Palace game as he normally does as a substitute, David Healy kept his place upfront with Rob Hulse, leaving Robbie Blake on the substitutes bench.
Jermaine Beckford was rewarded for his bright showing against Palace with another go on the bench, but there was no place for latest loan signing Danny Graham.
Stoke captain Michael Duberry made his first return to the club since his departure from Elland Road last season.
The Match
Leeds dominated the start but Stoke had the first shot on target after eight minutes when Paul Gallagher tried to take advantage of a Leeds break that broke down but his shot was straight into Sullivan's waiting hands.
A minute later, after his free-kick from the right of the penalty area came to nothing, Gary Kelly bombed forward and delivered a great cross into the six yard box where Rob Hulse was just unable to get a good enough contact on the header or it would have been 1-0.
David Healy took a bit of a knock that saw him receive treatment for a cut and the blood on his shirt saw him forced to change it for one without a number. Perhaps anonymity would help him evade the Stoke defence?
Stephen Crainey is not known for his goalscoring ability but that didn't put the Scot off when presented with the chance to shoot from 35-yards. He got over the ball and struck it well but his shot was about a foot over the bar.
Eddie Lewis saw plenty of the ball and managed to get a few good crosses into the box but Stoke, with Duberry in particular giving them a height advantage, were able to make their clearances.
Stoke's best early chance fell to Sammy Bengoura after half and hour when he met a cross from the right inside the penalty area but could not keep his header down.
A murmur went around the ground just before half-time as news filtered through that Sheffield United had taken the lead in their game against Southampton. Back at Elland Road Leeds were after a lot better in the second half if they were to keep pace with the Blades.
Stoke made a change at half time, taking Bangoura off and replacing him with Hannes Sigurdsson.
The substitute had a chance to make an early impact as he latched onto Gregan's mis-hit pass and found himself with just the keeper to beat but a long run to goal. Gregan chased down the striker and a mistimed tackle earned the United man an 11th yellow card of the season. Leeds should have opened the scoring five minutes into the half when a short corner routine saw the ball whipped into the area by Kelly and Hulse was there with the header, but Simonsen did well in the Stoke goal, managing to get the ball under control.
Then 30 seconds later Healy let a shot go from the edge of the area from what was almost a standing position, and he hit it well but the keeper managed to pluck the ball out of the air. The Whites were at least starting to test the Potters keeper.
Sullivan had been presented with little to do all game but he was alert to the danger when Sigurdsson met a blocked clearance ten yards out and only Sullivan's quick reactions prevented the drive from getting through.
Blackwell left it until the 63rd minute before he made the first of his changes and it was something of a minor surprise when Jermaine Beckford's number was put up as the man to come on.
The former non-league hitman replaced Northern Ireland's record goalscorer, David Healy, and had half an hour to make an impact.
Robbie Blake was not far behind Beckford in coming on, replacing Jonathan Douglas as Leeds went with three strikers.
Sullivan was again called on to make a crucial save on 80 minutes. Darel Russell hit a screaming shot from 25-yards out that was destined for the top left hand corner until Sullivan flung himself at the shot and managed to tip it behind with an outstretched left hand. The final change of the game for Leeds saw Joel Griffiths make his debut with 17 minutes left to play, coming on for Eddie Lewis. The Australian international scored for the reserves in midweek and would have been hoping for the same to make a dream start to his career at Elland Road.
With ten minutes left to play Leeds were getting more desperate but Robbie Blake nearly eased their angst with a shot from 25-yards that just flew wide of the target.
Blackwell's men tried to muscle their way through but Stoke were managing to stand firm.
With just a minute of normal time remaining the United fans in the Kop thought the game was won when Kelly's free-kick was delivered long to the back post and Hulse met it with a strong header eight yards out but Simonsen made the block and Beckford's shot was then blocked.
Into four minutes of added time, they were again denied when Griffiths came in from the right hand side, held off his man, then tried t curl the shot in but Simonsen again saved Stoke as he turned the Aussie's shot away. The final whistle brough to an end what has been a disappointing week for Leeds, one that saw them drop five valuable points in the race for the Premiership.
leedsunited.com
Leeds lost further ground in the promotion chase with a 0-0 draw at home to Stoke, adding to what has been a frustrating and potentially damaging week for the Whites.
Pre-Match
United boss Kevin Blackwell made one change to the side that lost 1-0 to Crystal Palace in midweek, with Matthew Kilgallon stepping out and Shaun Gregan returning after his two match suspension.
Despite not having the same impact in the Palace game as he normally does as a substitute, David Healy kept his place upfront with Rob Hulse, leaving Robbie Blake on the substitutes bench.
Jermaine Beckford was rewarded for his bright showing against Palace with another go on the bench, but there was no place for latest loan signing Danny Graham.
Stoke captain Michael Duberry made his first return to the club since his departure from Elland Road last season.
The Match
Leeds dominated the start but Stoke had the first shot on target after eight minutes when Paul Gallagher tried to take advantage of a Leeds break that broke down but his shot was straight into Sullivan's waiting hands.
A minute later, after his free-kick from the right of the penalty area came to nothing, Gary Kelly bombed forward and delivered a great cross into the six yard box where Rob Hulse was just unable to get a good enough contact on the header or it would have been 1-0.
David Healy took a bit of a knock that saw him receive treatment for a cut and the blood on his shirt saw him forced to change it for one without a number. Perhaps anonymity would help him evade the Stoke defence?
Stephen Crainey is not known for his goalscoring ability but that didn't put the Scot off when presented with the chance to shoot from 35-yards. He got over the ball and struck it well but his shot was about a foot over the bar.
Eddie Lewis saw plenty of the ball and managed to get a few good crosses into the box but Stoke, with Duberry in particular giving them a height advantage, were able to make their clearances.
Stoke's best early chance fell to Sammy Bengoura after half and hour when he met a cross from the right inside the penalty area but could not keep his header down.
A murmur went around the ground just before half-time as news filtered through that Sheffield United had taken the lead in their game against Southampton. Back at Elland Road Leeds were after a lot better in the second half if they were to keep pace with the Blades.
Stoke made a change at half time, taking Bangoura off and replacing him with Hannes Sigurdsson.
The substitute had a chance to make an early impact as he latched onto Gregan's mis-hit pass and found himself with just the keeper to beat but a long run to goal. Gregan chased down the striker and a mistimed tackle earned the United man an 11th yellow card of the season. Leeds should have opened the scoring five minutes into the half when a short corner routine saw the ball whipped into the area by Kelly and Hulse was there with the header, but Simonsen did well in the Stoke goal, managing to get the ball under control.
Then 30 seconds later Healy let a shot go from the edge of the area from what was almost a standing position, and he hit it well but the keeper managed to pluck the ball out of the air. The Whites were at least starting to test the Potters keeper.
Sullivan had been presented with little to do all game but he was alert to the danger when Sigurdsson met a blocked clearance ten yards out and only Sullivan's quick reactions prevented the drive from getting through.
Blackwell left it until the 63rd minute before he made the first of his changes and it was something of a minor surprise when Jermaine Beckford's number was put up as the man to come on.
The former non-league hitman replaced Northern Ireland's record goalscorer, David Healy, and had half an hour to make an impact.
Robbie Blake was not far behind Beckford in coming on, replacing Jonathan Douglas as Leeds went with three strikers.
Sullivan was again called on to make a crucial save on 80 minutes. Darel Russell hit a screaming shot from 25-yards out that was destined for the top left hand corner until Sullivan flung himself at the shot and managed to tip it behind with an outstretched left hand. The final change of the game for Leeds saw Joel Griffiths make his debut with 17 minutes left to play, coming on for Eddie Lewis. The Australian international scored for the reserves in midweek and would have been hoping for the same to make a dream start to his career at Elland Road.
With ten minutes left to play Leeds were getting more desperate but Robbie Blake nearly eased their angst with a shot from 25-yards that just flew wide of the target.
Blackwell's men tried to muscle their way through but Stoke were managing to stand firm.
With just a minute of normal time remaining the United fans in the Kop thought the game was won when Kelly's free-kick was delivered long to the back post and Hulse met it with a strong header eight yards out but Simonsen made the block and Beckford's shot was then blocked.
Into four minutes of added time, they were again denied when Griffiths came in from the right hand side, held off his man, then tried t curl the shot in but Simonsen again saved Stoke as he turned the Aussie's shot away. The final whistle brough to an end what has been a disappointing week for Leeds, one that saw them drop five valuable points in the race for the Premiership.
