Leedsunited.com 15/12/07
JUST REWARDS
WALSALL 1 (Mooney 75), LEEDS UNITED 1 (Westlake 90)
United boss Dennis Wise was forced into making one change from the side which thrashed Huddersfield last weekend, with Leon Constantine making his first league start in place of the suspended Tresor Kandol.
Walsall included former United striker Michael Ricketts in their starting line-up.
Once again Wise's men trotted out in front of a full-house, and it was the home fans who were almost celebrating after just eight minutes.
Mark Bradley's attempted long-distance chip of Casper Ankergren came back off the bar, but former Birmingham marksman Tommy Mooney was in an offside position when he rifled home the rebound.
United's early opportunities came courtesy of David Prutton and Jonathan Douglas, with both firing over the top from distance.
Douglas also had a free-kick blocked after Ian Westlake was fouled on the edge of the area.
But the home side were also a threat going forward and Frazer Richardson had to react well to clear a Bradley cross. Ankergren also saved a Scott Dann header, following a free-kick.
At the other end, a piledriver from Andrew Hughes was deflected to safety and Walsall had to scramble clear a Douglas corner.
United had upped the tempo and, with Hughes and Westlake working hard on the left, were enjoying a good spell of pressure as the game passed the half-hour mark.
Walsall went close again, though, on 39 minutes when Ankergren was adjudged to have got his fingertips to a Mooney effort. The Dane disputed the decision to award a corner.
As United moved quickly downfield, it was Walsall's turn to dispute a corner when Clayton Ince failed to hold a Douglas delivery and the referee awarded a corner.
The half-time break brought some respite for both sides, and "Champions of Europe" was given a noisy airing by the 2,891 visiting supporters, many braving the freezing conditions and waving shirts in the air.
Leeds started the second half brightly, and Westlake sent a fizzing volley over the bar after a great ball from Radostin Kishishev. The lively Frazer Richardson then dragged a shot narrowly wide as United continued to press.
But it was Ankergren who made the first save of the half when he beat away a fierce shot from Edrissa Sonko shortly before the hour.
With 20 minutes remaining, Wise introduced Tore Andre Flo in place of Constantine as the manager sought to find the all-important goal.
But the goal came at the wrong end on 75 minutes when Tommy Mooney got the final touch of a goalmouth scramble, following a Walsall corner. Mooney seized after an untidy scramble inside the six-yard box.
Wise immediately made two substitutions with Jonny Howson and Alan Thompson joining the fray.
Jermaine Beckford tested Walsall goalkeeper Ince 10 minutes from time as United surged forward in search of a leveller. And Thompson fired over the top after Walsall failed to clear a long punt from Ankergren.
A tactical switch saw Douglas drop back to centre-back for the final five minutes, Matt Heath adding more power to the frontline.
And United were rewarded for a determined effort when the deserved equaliser came in the final minute after Westlake appeared to get the decisive touch on a Thompson free-kick
The drama wasn't over, though, and in the second minute of stoppage time, Irish international Douglas was stretchered from the pitch in great pain with what appeared to be a severe injury to his left leg.
United played out the final moments with 10 men, and ensured a well deserved point.
JUST REWARDS
WALSALL 1 (Mooney 75), LEEDS UNITED 1 (Westlake 90)
United boss Dennis Wise was forced into making one change from the side which thrashed Huddersfield last weekend, with Leon Constantine making his first league start in place of the suspended Tresor Kandol.
Walsall included former United striker Michael Ricketts in their starting line-up.
Once again Wise's men trotted out in front of a full-house, and it was the home fans who were almost celebrating after just eight minutes.
Mark Bradley's attempted long-distance chip of Casper Ankergren came back off the bar, but former Birmingham marksman Tommy Mooney was in an offside position when he rifled home the rebound.
United's early opportunities came courtesy of David Prutton and Jonathan Douglas, with both firing over the top from distance.
Douglas also had a free-kick blocked after Ian Westlake was fouled on the edge of the area.
But the home side were also a threat going forward and Frazer Richardson had to react well to clear a Bradley cross. Ankergren also saved a Scott Dann header, following a free-kick.
At the other end, a piledriver from Andrew Hughes was deflected to safety and Walsall had to scramble clear a Douglas corner.
United had upped the tempo and, with Hughes and Westlake working hard on the left, were enjoying a good spell of pressure as the game passed the half-hour mark.
Walsall went close again, though, on 39 minutes when Ankergren was adjudged to have got his fingertips to a Mooney effort. The Dane disputed the decision to award a corner.
As United moved quickly downfield, it was Walsall's turn to dispute a corner when Clayton Ince failed to hold a Douglas delivery and the referee awarded a corner.
The half-time break brought some respite for both sides, and "Champions of Europe" was given a noisy airing by the 2,891 visiting supporters, many braving the freezing conditions and waving shirts in the air.
Leeds started the second half brightly, and Westlake sent a fizzing volley over the bar after a great ball from Radostin Kishishev. The lively Frazer Richardson then dragged a shot narrowly wide as United continued to press.
But it was Ankergren who made the first save of the half when he beat away a fierce shot from Edrissa Sonko shortly before the hour.
With 20 minutes remaining, Wise introduced Tore Andre Flo in place of Constantine as the manager sought to find the all-important goal.
But the goal came at the wrong end on 75 minutes when Tommy Mooney got the final touch of a goalmouth scramble, following a Walsall corner. Mooney seized after an untidy scramble inside the six-yard box.
Wise immediately made two substitutions with Jonny Howson and Alan Thompson joining the fray.
Jermaine Beckford tested Walsall goalkeeper Ince 10 minutes from time as United surged forward in search of a leveller. And Thompson fired over the top after Walsall failed to clear a long punt from Ankergren.
A tactical switch saw Douglas drop back to centre-back for the final five minutes, Matt Heath adding more power to the frontline.
And United were rewarded for a determined effort when the deserved equaliser came in the final minute after Westlake appeared to get the decisive touch on a Thompson free-kick
The drama wasn't over, though, and in the second minute of stoppage time, Irish international Douglas was stretchered from the pitch in great pain with what appeared to be a severe injury to his left leg.
United played out the final moments with 10 men, and ensured a well deserved point.