BLACKWELL PRAISE FOR STONE
By Ross Heppenstall, PA Sport
Sporting Life
Leeds boss Kevin Blackwell paid tribute to Steve Stone for bouncing back from a career-threatening injury to make his long-awaited debut in the 1-0 win over Crewe.
David Healy's 74th-minute header secured Leeds their first win in nine games at the expense of Dario Gradi's relegated side.
But the real boost for Blackwell ahead of their crucial forthcoming Coca-Cola Championship play-off encounters was the second-half appearance of former England winger Stone.
The 34-year-old arrived at Elland Road on a free transfer from Portsmouth last summer but sustained an Achilles injury during his first training session.
The injury took far longer to heal than Stone could have possibly expected but he is now edging towards full fitness.
And having entered the fray shortly after the hour mark, as a replacement for Liam Miller, Blackwell hailed Stone's a painstaking road to recovery.
Blackwell said: "He came on and straight away he showed the quality he's got. Stoney is nowhere near as fit as he needs to be but he's intelligent and he gets round the pitch so well.
"It's a good time for him to be showing us he can perform with the play-offs coming up.
"Stoney has worked his socks off in the gym and comes in every morning to the gym at nine o'clock in the morning and stays until six to seven o'clock at night.
"The biggest factor about Stoney is his professionalism and desire to get fit because it has been a career-threatening injury - and many people would have called it quits after the career he's had.
"But his desire is so infectious that his introduction did give the lads a lift."
Leeds made hard work of overcoming a dogged Crewe outfit and their profligacy again threatened to cost them dear.
But the breakthrough arrived with 16 minutes remaining when Northern Ireland striker Healy nodded home Gary Kelly's right-wing cross.
A ninth straight game without victory beckoned for Blackwell's men but they deserved the points which ensured they sit fourth ahead of next Sunday's clash at fifth-placed Preston.
Blackwell said: "You do sometimes wonder where the next win is going to come from but today we deserved it.
"It didn't seem as though the ball was going to drop but David Healy has popped up with an opportunist goal.
"We've been third or fourth since October 7, so I want the lads to finish as high as they can.
"If it goes to extra-time or penalties in the second leg of the play-off semi-final, then I'd much rather do that on our own ground than someone else's."
By Ross Heppenstall, PA Sport
Sporting Life
Leeds boss Kevin Blackwell paid tribute to Steve Stone for bouncing back from a career-threatening injury to make his long-awaited debut in the 1-0 win over Crewe.
David Healy's 74th-minute header secured Leeds their first win in nine games at the expense of Dario Gradi's relegated side.
But the real boost for Blackwell ahead of their crucial forthcoming Coca-Cola Championship play-off encounters was the second-half appearance of former England winger Stone.
The 34-year-old arrived at Elland Road on a free transfer from Portsmouth last summer but sustained an Achilles injury during his first training session.
The injury took far longer to heal than Stone could have possibly expected but he is now edging towards full fitness.
And having entered the fray shortly after the hour mark, as a replacement for Liam Miller, Blackwell hailed Stone's a painstaking road to recovery.
Blackwell said: "He came on and straight away he showed the quality he's got. Stoney is nowhere near as fit as he needs to be but he's intelligent and he gets round the pitch so well.
"It's a good time for him to be showing us he can perform with the play-offs coming up.
"Stoney has worked his socks off in the gym and comes in every morning to the gym at nine o'clock in the morning and stays until six to seven o'clock at night.
"The biggest factor about Stoney is his professionalism and desire to get fit because it has been a career-threatening injury - and many people would have called it quits after the career he's had.
"But his desire is so infectious that his introduction did give the lads a lift."
Leeds made hard work of overcoming a dogged Crewe outfit and their profligacy again threatened to cost them dear.
But the breakthrough arrived with 16 minutes remaining when Northern Ireland striker Healy nodded home Gary Kelly's right-wing cross.
A ninth straight game without victory beckoned for Blackwell's men but they deserved the points which ensured they sit fourth ahead of next Sunday's clash at fifth-placed Preston.
Blackwell said: "You do sometimes wonder where the next win is going to come from but today we deserved it.
"It didn't seem as though the ball was going to drop but David Healy has popped up with an opportunist goal.
"We've been third or fourth since October 7, so I want the lads to finish as high as they can.
"If it goes to extra-time or penalties in the second leg of the play-off semi-final, then I'd much rather do that on our own ground than someone else's."