Daily Mail 9/11/07
Casper to the rescue for Leeds
By RAY MATTS
The clock was turned back 35 years at Hereford's Edgar Street ground last night.
The compact stadium next to the cattle market was full to the rafters for an FA Cup tie, a big name club from the North were in town and local legends Ronnie Radford and Ricky George were on the tips of tongues.
The talk was of giant-killing. That may now have to wait until the replay at Elland Road on Tuesday week.
The opposition were more fallen giants than the mighty Newcastle outfit in 1972, but Leeds had a big enough reputation to send a shiver of expectancy down the spines of fans of the League Two minnows.
The fact that the Yorkshire club are now just one rung above them in the league gave Graham Turner's in-form side the belief that they could cause an upset and Hereford tried manfully enough in the first half to deliver the goal which they suspected would put Leeds on tenterhooks.
The likes of seven-goal Trevor Benjamin and six-goal Theo Robinson, on loan from Watford, needed little encouragement to flex their attacking muscle against Leeds, who are still in the process of rehabilitation after their fall from Premier League grace and into debt.
Benjamin looked as strong as the Hereford bull that was paraded around the pitch before the game, and displayed the mobility and determination that kept Leeds central defenders Mat Heath and Rui Marques at full stretch.
It was touch and go whether the referee would award a penalty in the opening minutes as Benjamin was manhandled by Heath but Tony Bates allowed play to continue.
Robinson then produced a forceful cross-shot straight into the arms of goalkeeper Casper Ankergren. It was Hereford who were forcing most of the attacking pace but Leeds eventually began to take a greater part in the game both in midfield and attack.
They were helped to some extent by the fact that the Edgar Street pitch contains far more grass and was in a much better condition than on the memorable occasion in 1972 when Hereford, then a non-League team, pulled off one of the biggest sensations in the competition.
Even manager Turner made the point. 'Today pitches are so much better and rarely do we see a game played in a quagmire or snow and ice,' he said. 'You have to have big hearts and endeavour but for underdogs to succeed these days you have to be as fit as the opposition and have a slice of luck along the way.'
There was little of that going Hereford's way in the first half but at least they had the satisfaction of keeping Leeds in check.
The only real opportunity they had before the break was a misplaced pass by United's Clint Eastern which was picked up by Frenchman Seb Carole whose long-range shot was a rasping effort which was well handled by goalkeeper Wayne Browne.
Hereford heaped on the pressure at the start of the second half and Benjamin was desperately unlucky when he rose to a left-wing corner to deliver a glancing header which brushed the upright on its way out of play.
That seemed to inspire the home club to greater heights and in the neatest move of the match, Benjamin sent Robinson nipping past the Leeds back line with a through ball which he steered just wide of the post.
There was a blow for Hereford in the 60th minute when they lost the services of their skipper, Karl Broadhurst.
He was carried off with an injury sustained as he made a lunging interception on Jermaine Beckford.
Although Hereford substituted danger man Benjamin in the 74th minute with Steve Guinan, the home side continued to menace and in the 81st minute it required a brilliant reflex save by Ankergren to keep Leeds level. He reacted tremendously to tip a close-range header by Lionel Ainsworth over his crossbar. It kept Leeds in the Cup.
Casper to the rescue for Leeds
By RAY MATTS
The clock was turned back 35 years at Hereford's Edgar Street ground last night.
The compact stadium next to the cattle market was full to the rafters for an FA Cup tie, a big name club from the North were in town and local legends Ronnie Radford and Ricky George were on the tips of tongues.
The talk was of giant-killing. That may now have to wait until the replay at Elland Road on Tuesday week.
The opposition were more fallen giants than the mighty Newcastle outfit in 1972, but Leeds had a big enough reputation to send a shiver of expectancy down the spines of fans of the League Two minnows.
The fact that the Yorkshire club are now just one rung above them in the league gave Graham Turner's in-form side the belief that they could cause an upset and Hereford tried manfully enough in the first half to deliver the goal which they suspected would put Leeds on tenterhooks.
The likes of seven-goal Trevor Benjamin and six-goal Theo Robinson, on loan from Watford, needed little encouragement to flex their attacking muscle against Leeds, who are still in the process of rehabilitation after their fall from Premier League grace and into debt.
Benjamin looked as strong as the Hereford bull that was paraded around the pitch before the game, and displayed the mobility and determination that kept Leeds central defenders Mat Heath and Rui Marques at full stretch.
It was touch and go whether the referee would award a penalty in the opening minutes as Benjamin was manhandled by Heath but Tony Bates allowed play to continue.
Robinson then produced a forceful cross-shot straight into the arms of goalkeeper Casper Ankergren. It was Hereford who were forcing most of the attacking pace but Leeds eventually began to take a greater part in the game both in midfield and attack.
They were helped to some extent by the fact that the Edgar Street pitch contains far more grass and was in a much better condition than on the memorable occasion in 1972 when Hereford, then a non-League team, pulled off one of the biggest sensations in the competition.
Even manager Turner made the point. 'Today pitches are so much better and rarely do we see a game played in a quagmire or snow and ice,' he said. 'You have to have big hearts and endeavour but for underdogs to succeed these days you have to be as fit as the opposition and have a slice of luck along the way.'
There was little of that going Hereford's way in the first half but at least they had the satisfaction of keeping Leeds in check.
The only real opportunity they had before the break was a misplaced pass by United's Clint Eastern which was picked up by Frenchman Seb Carole whose long-range shot was a rasping effort which was well handled by goalkeeper Wayne Browne.
Hereford heaped on the pressure at the start of the second half and Benjamin was desperately unlucky when he rose to a left-wing corner to deliver a glancing header which brushed the upright on its way out of play.
That seemed to inspire the home club to greater heights and in the neatest move of the match, Benjamin sent Robinson nipping past the Leeds back line with a through ball which he steered just wide of the post.
There was a blow for Hereford in the 60th minute when they lost the services of their skipper, Karl Broadhurst.
He was carried off with an injury sustained as he made a lunging interception on Jermaine Beckford.
Although Hereford substituted danger man Benjamin in the 74th minute with Steve Guinan, the home side continued to menace and in the 81st minute it required a brilliant reflex save by Ankergren to keep Leeds level. He reacted tremendously to tip a close-range header by Lionel Ainsworth over his crossbar. It kept Leeds in the Cup.
Yorkshire Evening Post 9/11/07
United suffering from travel sickness
By Richard Byram
Leeds United boss Dennis Wise was a relieved man after seeing his tired troops hold out for a battling 0-0 draw in the FA Cup first round against Hereford United at Edgar Street last night.
Wise admitted he was relieved to get a second crack at the League Two promotion-chasers who were denied victory thanks to Casper Ankergren's brilliant save to keep out Lionel Ainsworth's header with 10 minutes to go.
United suffering from travel sickness
By Richard Byram
Leeds United boss Dennis Wise was a relieved man after seeing his tired troops hold out for a battling 0-0 draw in the FA Cup first round against Hereford United at Edgar Street last night.
Wise admitted he was relieved to get a second crack at the League Two promotion-chasers who were denied victory thanks to Casper Ankergren's brilliant save to keep out Lionel Ainsworth's header with 10 minutes to go.
Wise said: "I don't think we gave a good account of ourselves tonight for television and the players are a little bit disappointed.
"We are a lot better than we were tonight, but I will give them the benefit of the doubt given that we have been to Carlisle, Bournemouth and now Hereford in the space of six days."
United's back-breaking schedule has seen them clock up 1,400 miles and Wise admitted it had taken its toll.
"It has been a lot of travelling and it has been hard work for the players. Full credit to them, they tried to give it as much as possible, unfortunately tonight it was a bit below par," he said.
United were hit by the loss of full-back Frazer Richardson, who was struck down by a sickness bug prior to kick-off, while midfielder David Prutton was also forced to withdraw from the squad with a stomach bug.
Wise said: "They were a couple of changes forced on me that I could do nothing about and Andy Hughes is injured too. These things happen and that is the way it is.
"We looked tired and jaded but it is not an upset, we have to play them at our place so we will see how we go back there in a couple of weeks' time."
Wise said Hereford had given it a go in their "cup final".
"They really gave it a go. It is a cup final for them isn't it? The mighty Leeds come to Hereford and it would have been lovely for them to upset us," he added. "But they haven't and we are looking forward to the game at our place.
"Ideally we could have done without an extra game it would have been perfect if we could have got it finished tonight but we didn't so we have got another difficult game against them."
Despite the result Wise was pleased that he had been able to give a run out to several of his first-team squad who have been left side-lined either by injury or Leeds' excellent start to the League One campaign.
"It is important for players like Leon Constantine and Filipe Da Costa they haven't played for such a long time and they need to be a part of it and be involved so it was good for them to get a run out along with Paul Huntington and Ben Parker.
"Those two are young players very much in my thoughts so it is nice for them to get a game too.
"Those two are young players very much in my thoughts so it is nice for them to get a game too.
"Ben has come on a lot and I am going to have a look the situation because Jamie (Clapham) has got to go back so I need someone who is capable of going in.
"Whether I bring someone in or go with Ben we will just have to wait and see at the moment."
For his part, Parker was pleased to have got another appearance under his belt for Leeds and avoided a potential cup upset into the bargain.
"We did not perform as well as we could have done but at least we are in the next round of the cup.
"From a defender's point of view it was nice to get a clean sheet and overall the draw was a fair result.
"I haven't played since the Johnstone's Paint Trophy against Darlington so I was just glad to get a game and the more the better for me."
Hereford boss Graham Turner said: "I thought we played some good stuff and created a few chances. It was a good stop from Lionel's header.
"Either side and it would have gone in but he still had to make a good save. It will be difficult going to Leeds but we have a good record away from home this season and it will be a good experience for our young players."
