Yorkshire Evening Post 25/11/06
Devon delight for dynamic Leeds
Plymouth Argyle 1 Leeds United 2
By Phil Hay
On the last occasion before yesterday that Leeds United claimed three points away from home, Kevin Blackwell and Paul Sturrock were occupying opposite dug-outs at Sheffield Wednesday.
It is a measure of their wait for a victory away from Elland Road that neither man is still in situ. The events of Hillsborough on August 27 are little more than a distant memory after all that has gone between, but United's players can stop counting days after a priceless victory at Home Park yesterday.Goals in either half from Robbie Blake and Eddie Lewis inspired a win which Leeds unquestionable deserved, and one that should drive confidence through every member of Dennis Wise's squad.United were dominant and dynamic, free from the nervous shackles that last weekend's 3-0 defeat to Southampton might have placed around their ankles. Wise's job since arriving at Elland Road has been to convince his team that they are good enough to fend off relegation. On the evidence of yesterday's victory, United's players are beginning to believe his message.False dawns have come and gone already this season, and Wise will treat his side's 2-1 defeat of Plymouth with caution ahead of a difficult trip to Burnley on Tuesday night. But, on a gloomy day in Devon, Leeds showed a level of resilience surpassing anything seen in their previous performances this season.At half-time, the assumption among United's supporters might have been that their team was preparing to implode. Bojan Djordjic had levelled Blake's opening goal five minutes before the interval, giving Plymouth parity after a first half in which Ian Holloway's players were given the run around.But United restored their narrow lead with a 61st minute effort from Eddie Lewis, and the visitors' backbone remained rigid during the remaining half hour.Wise is still struggling to place his finger on United's most effective formation, and his line-up at Home Park was another experiment with the players at his disposal.Geoff Horsfield and David Healy were dropped, and the 4-3-1-2 system employed by Wise for three successive games was abandoned in favour of a four-man midfield, giving Ian Westlake and Ian Moore the chance to start.Southampton's heavy victory had largely been the result of poor finishing from Leeds, but Wise had barely settled in the visiting dug out yesterday when Blake finished off their first chance after two minutes.Moore unsettled Plymouth's defence by nudging Hasney Aljofree away from a long clearance, and a quick through ball gave Eddie Lewis space on the left side of Plymouth's box.The American's low cut-back skipped past Moore, but Blake ran in at the back post to side-foot the ball into the net.Plymouth were fortunate to avoid a second goal when Moore's shot in the ninth minute struck the woodwork, and United were denied a clear penalty when referee Dean Whitestone failed to penalise a blatant foul on Westlake.The chances – and United's goal – lit up a first half which was littered with fouls from Argyle.Leeds' free-kick count soared into double figures inside the first 20 minutes, but the disruption did not prevent them from dictating the pace of a game which flowed relentlessly towards goalkeeper Luke McCormick before half-time.Wise's players bullied Plymouth incessantly, punching regular holes in their defence and at times falling one touch short of a second goal.Argyle were unable to respond effectively, although Barry Hayles scuffed a shot wide of Graham Stack's post after teasing space out of Hayden Foxe, and the lack organisation among Ian Holloway's side was glaring. Their poor shape was a direct result of the quality of United's passing, which left the home defence in disarray but, against the backdrop of a toothless performance, Plymouth restored parity with a soft goal five minutes before half-time.Matt Heath conceded a dangerous free-kick by clattering into the back of Barry Hayles, and Tony Capaldi's curling delivery was headed home by Djordjic, lurking amongst a crowd of players.Djordjic had been removed from Plymouth's transfer list by Holloway earlier in the week, and his goal was vindication of his manager's decision. Holloway would have been happier still had Djordjic's wonderful lob in injury time sneaked under the crossbar rather than landing on the roof of Stack's net.The late concession was United's cue to panic, but the confidence developing under Wise was evident as the visitors claimed a crucial win 16 minutes into a competitive but uninspiring second half.Moore brightened the gloom by stretching Plymouth's defence with a brilliant pass to the feet of Lewis, who lost his marker and sized up McCormick before slipping a low finish into the net.Leeds were forced to withstand a late flurry, and Stack repelled the best of Plymouth's chances with a low save from substitute Luke Chadwick, but an outstanding show of resistance during four minutes of injury time was fittingly rewarded by the final whistle.
Devon delight for dynamic Leeds
Plymouth Argyle 1 Leeds United 2
By Phil Hay
On the last occasion before yesterday that Leeds United claimed three points away from home, Kevin Blackwell and Paul Sturrock were occupying opposite dug-outs at Sheffield Wednesday.
It is a measure of their wait for a victory away from Elland Road that neither man is still in situ. The events of Hillsborough on August 27 are little more than a distant memory after all that has gone between, but United's players can stop counting days after a priceless victory at Home Park yesterday.Goals in either half from Robbie Blake and Eddie Lewis inspired a win which Leeds unquestionable deserved, and one that should drive confidence through every member of Dennis Wise's squad.United were dominant and dynamic, free from the nervous shackles that last weekend's 3-0 defeat to Southampton might have placed around their ankles. Wise's job since arriving at Elland Road has been to convince his team that they are good enough to fend off relegation. On the evidence of yesterday's victory, United's players are beginning to believe his message.False dawns have come and gone already this season, and Wise will treat his side's 2-1 defeat of Plymouth with caution ahead of a difficult trip to Burnley on Tuesday night. But, on a gloomy day in Devon, Leeds showed a level of resilience surpassing anything seen in their previous performances this season.At half-time, the assumption among United's supporters might have been that their team was preparing to implode. Bojan Djordjic had levelled Blake's opening goal five minutes before the interval, giving Plymouth parity after a first half in which Ian Holloway's players were given the run around.But United restored their narrow lead with a 61st minute effort from Eddie Lewis, and the visitors' backbone remained rigid during the remaining half hour.Wise is still struggling to place his finger on United's most effective formation, and his line-up at Home Park was another experiment with the players at his disposal.Geoff Horsfield and David Healy were dropped, and the 4-3-1-2 system employed by Wise for three successive games was abandoned in favour of a four-man midfield, giving Ian Westlake and Ian Moore the chance to start.Southampton's heavy victory had largely been the result of poor finishing from Leeds, but Wise had barely settled in the visiting dug out yesterday when Blake finished off their first chance after two minutes.Moore unsettled Plymouth's defence by nudging Hasney Aljofree away from a long clearance, and a quick through ball gave Eddie Lewis space on the left side of Plymouth's box.The American's low cut-back skipped past Moore, but Blake ran in at the back post to side-foot the ball into the net.Plymouth were fortunate to avoid a second goal when Moore's shot in the ninth minute struck the woodwork, and United were denied a clear penalty when referee Dean Whitestone failed to penalise a blatant foul on Westlake.The chances – and United's goal – lit up a first half which was littered with fouls from Argyle.Leeds' free-kick count soared into double figures inside the first 20 minutes, but the disruption did not prevent them from dictating the pace of a game which flowed relentlessly towards goalkeeper Luke McCormick before half-time.Wise's players bullied Plymouth incessantly, punching regular holes in their defence and at times falling one touch short of a second goal.Argyle were unable to respond effectively, although Barry Hayles scuffed a shot wide of Graham Stack's post after teasing space out of Hayden Foxe, and the lack organisation among Ian Holloway's side was glaring. Their poor shape was a direct result of the quality of United's passing, which left the home defence in disarray but, against the backdrop of a toothless performance, Plymouth restored parity with a soft goal five minutes before half-time.Matt Heath conceded a dangerous free-kick by clattering into the back of Barry Hayles, and Tony Capaldi's curling delivery was headed home by Djordjic, lurking amongst a crowd of players.Djordjic had been removed from Plymouth's transfer list by Holloway earlier in the week, and his goal was vindication of his manager's decision. Holloway would have been happier still had Djordjic's wonderful lob in injury time sneaked under the crossbar rather than landing on the roof of Stack's net.The late concession was United's cue to panic, but the confidence developing under Wise was evident as the visitors claimed a crucial win 16 minutes into a competitive but uninspiring second half.Moore brightened the gloom by stretching Plymouth's defence with a brilliant pass to the feet of Lewis, who lost his marker and sized up McCormick before slipping a low finish into the net.Leeds were forced to withstand a late flurry, and Stack repelled the best of Plymouth's chances with a low save from substitute Luke Chadwick, but an outstanding show of resistance during four minutes of injury time was fittingly rewarded by the final whistle.