Yorkshire Evening Post 3/5/08
Kandol seals United fightback
By Phil Hay
Leeds United 2 Gillingham 1
Yesterday's match at Elland Road was Leeds United's dead rubber but there is a difference between meaningless games and games without meaning.
Gary McAllister's selection policy let slip the significance he apportioned to Gillingham's visit to Elland Road, and the League One table dictated that Leeds had nothing to lose this weekend.But with the teams in the play-offs present and correct, United's manager has cause to believe that his players have gained from a victory over Gillingham which appeared, on the face of it, inconsequential.
But for Tresor Kandol's 89th-minute goal – the decisive moment at Elland Road yesterday – Leeds would have been paired in the semi-finals with Doncaster Rovers, unquestionably the most dangerous of opposition on offer to them.
Instead, and as a direct result of Kandol's effort, United will begin their path to Wembley against Carlisle United, a club who were soundly beaten at Elland Road last month and who, to most observers, a running on empty at the time when a full tank is essential.
Carlisle will not fall easily, and not for as long as their manager John Ward has anything to do with it, but if their present form continues then Kandol's goal – apparently irrelevant in terms of United's chance of promotion – may come to represent a key moment in their season. It ensured that while Ward frets over Carlisle's form, McAllister can have faith in a team who have caught the winning bug.
A game which was running towards defeat as a result of a critical mistake from Paul Huntington was salvaged initially by a goal from Bradley Johnson which the midfielder is unlikely to better, however many seasons he remains at Elland Road.
Johnson's ruthless volley from the edge of Gillingham's box, a perfect demonstration of poise and technique, was United's key to a victory from their final home match and a result which will prevent the club from entering League One's play-offs with a defeat immediately behind them.
However, United were lacklustre and struggled from the outset. Had it not been for Johnson's flash of brilliance, it is probable that they would have been beaten.
There is, however, no likelihood that or reason why McAllister will be asked to deal with a repeat display when the play-offs begin in eight days' time.
Beaten over the issue of their 15-point deduction on Thursday, the attention of Leeds – their players, their staff and their supporters – turned in unison towards the play-offs yesterday, the one stage where courtroom debate cannot exert its influence.
McAllister had promised to protect United's immediate interests, and the team he selected confirmed that at least one of his eyes were fixed on the imminent semi-finals.
Dougie Freedman was rested, as was Neil Kilkenny. The injury to Jermaine Beckford's ankle was considered too delicate for him to play. In all, McAllister's line-up displayed six alterations from that which shored up sixth position at Yeovil Town. The understandable reshuffle had its effect, denying Leeds the continuity built up over a period of weeks.
But five victories from six matches before the visit of Gillingham indicated that another win would by forthcoming yesterday, and it was an afternoon that was bound to serve McAllister well.
Increased by the club's decision to open the upper tier of Elland Road's East Stand, the attendance rose beyond 38,000, producing the biggest Football League crowd of the term and the highest attendance in England's third tier for the best part of 30 years.
The crowd was indicative of a club that has masterminded its own revival over the past 12 months, and it did not take a long memory to recall the utter dejection and the fractious atmosphere that hung over United's final home game of last season. Ken Bates had quietly hoped to see Gillingham relegated, an attitude driven by the support of Gills' chairman, Paul Scally, for the Football League's decision to deduct 15 points from Leeds last summer. United's owner got his wish and a minor moment of gratification at the end of a frustrating week.
McAllister was more intent on his team avoiding a performance which reflected his squad's feeling of security, but a side riddled by changes was never likely to settle immediately. It was only a partial surprise that Leeds were asked to recover from the goal down after 20 minutes.
Simeon Jackson, who saw an early shot deflected over the crossbar by Huntington's tackle despite appearing to have run the ball out of play, profited heavily when a misjudgement by the centre-back handed him possession in front of an unguarded goal.
Huntington attempted to dribble possession out of his own box with Jackson sniffing at his heels, but the striker stole the ball with a well-timed tackle. Casper Ankergren was unable to cover his goal, and Jackson's sharp finish whistled into the net, beyond the hopeless dive of Huntington who had moved to defend the line.
His mistake was symptomatic of a first half in which McAllister's players were uncharacteristically lax in possession. It took a block from Lubomir Michalik to prevent a shot from Simon Lewis troubling Casper Ankergren, who did not appear to have a clear sight of the ball, and Ankergren did his best to present Gillingham with another ludicrous goal in the 32nd minute.
The goalkeeper ran towards the corner flag to the right of his goal with the intention of claiming the ball but became involved in a risky tussle with Jackson. The forward made a play for the possession again, but Ankergren averted the crisis by stabbing it into the crowd, some 30 yards from his goal.
The match had reached the 37th minute before United produced an effort in anger at the other end – a header from Kandol which cleared the bar comfortably – and Anthony Elding's headed finish in the 42nd minute came no closer to an equaliser.
Far from Gillingham winning the half, Leeds had surrendered it.United's performance showed a noticeable increase in tempo after the break, though, and a close-range shot from Peter Sweeney was deflected clear by a brilliant sliding tackle from Mark Bentley two yards inside his own box.
Jonathan Douglas went closer with a curling shot over the bar and the visitors' resistance was broken by a brilliant finish from Johnson in the 69th minute.
The midfielder – playing a left-back – ran onto a cross from Sebastien Carole and applied a searing left-footed volley to the ball which screamed into Derek Stillie's net.
Kandol seals United fightback
By Phil Hay
Leeds United 2 Gillingham 1
Yesterday's match at Elland Road was Leeds United's dead rubber but there is a difference between meaningless games and games without meaning.
Gary McAllister's selection policy let slip the significance he apportioned to Gillingham's visit to Elland Road, and the League One table dictated that Leeds had nothing to lose this weekend.But with the teams in the play-offs present and correct, United's manager has cause to believe that his players have gained from a victory over Gillingham which appeared, on the face of it, inconsequential.
But for Tresor Kandol's 89th-minute goal – the decisive moment at Elland Road yesterday – Leeds would have been paired in the semi-finals with Doncaster Rovers, unquestionably the most dangerous of opposition on offer to them.
Instead, and as a direct result of Kandol's effort, United will begin their path to Wembley against Carlisle United, a club who were soundly beaten at Elland Road last month and who, to most observers, a running on empty at the time when a full tank is essential.
Carlisle will not fall easily, and not for as long as their manager John Ward has anything to do with it, but if their present form continues then Kandol's goal – apparently irrelevant in terms of United's chance of promotion – may come to represent a key moment in their season. It ensured that while Ward frets over Carlisle's form, McAllister can have faith in a team who have caught the winning bug.
A game which was running towards defeat as a result of a critical mistake from Paul Huntington was salvaged initially by a goal from Bradley Johnson which the midfielder is unlikely to better, however many seasons he remains at Elland Road.
Johnson's ruthless volley from the edge of Gillingham's box, a perfect demonstration of poise and technique, was United's key to a victory from their final home match and a result which will prevent the club from entering League One's play-offs with a defeat immediately behind them.
However, United were lacklustre and struggled from the outset. Had it not been for Johnson's flash of brilliance, it is probable that they would have been beaten.
There is, however, no likelihood that or reason why McAllister will be asked to deal with a repeat display when the play-offs begin in eight days' time.
Beaten over the issue of their 15-point deduction on Thursday, the attention of Leeds – their players, their staff and their supporters – turned in unison towards the play-offs yesterday, the one stage where courtroom debate cannot exert its influence.
McAllister had promised to protect United's immediate interests, and the team he selected confirmed that at least one of his eyes were fixed on the imminent semi-finals.
Dougie Freedman was rested, as was Neil Kilkenny. The injury to Jermaine Beckford's ankle was considered too delicate for him to play. In all, McAllister's line-up displayed six alterations from that which shored up sixth position at Yeovil Town. The understandable reshuffle had its effect, denying Leeds the continuity built up over a period of weeks.
But five victories from six matches before the visit of Gillingham indicated that another win would by forthcoming yesterday, and it was an afternoon that was bound to serve McAllister well.
Increased by the club's decision to open the upper tier of Elland Road's East Stand, the attendance rose beyond 38,000, producing the biggest Football League crowd of the term and the highest attendance in England's third tier for the best part of 30 years.
The crowd was indicative of a club that has masterminded its own revival over the past 12 months, and it did not take a long memory to recall the utter dejection and the fractious atmosphere that hung over United's final home game of last season. Ken Bates had quietly hoped to see Gillingham relegated, an attitude driven by the support of Gills' chairman, Paul Scally, for the Football League's decision to deduct 15 points from Leeds last summer. United's owner got his wish and a minor moment of gratification at the end of a frustrating week.
McAllister was more intent on his team avoiding a performance which reflected his squad's feeling of security, but a side riddled by changes was never likely to settle immediately. It was only a partial surprise that Leeds were asked to recover from the goal down after 20 minutes.
Simeon Jackson, who saw an early shot deflected over the crossbar by Huntington's tackle despite appearing to have run the ball out of play, profited heavily when a misjudgement by the centre-back handed him possession in front of an unguarded goal.
Huntington attempted to dribble possession out of his own box with Jackson sniffing at his heels, but the striker stole the ball with a well-timed tackle. Casper Ankergren was unable to cover his goal, and Jackson's sharp finish whistled into the net, beyond the hopeless dive of Huntington who had moved to defend the line.
His mistake was symptomatic of a first half in which McAllister's players were uncharacteristically lax in possession. It took a block from Lubomir Michalik to prevent a shot from Simon Lewis troubling Casper Ankergren, who did not appear to have a clear sight of the ball, and Ankergren did his best to present Gillingham with another ludicrous goal in the 32nd minute.
The goalkeeper ran towards the corner flag to the right of his goal with the intention of claiming the ball but became involved in a risky tussle with Jackson. The forward made a play for the possession again, but Ankergren averted the crisis by stabbing it into the crowd, some 30 yards from his goal.
The match had reached the 37th minute before United produced an effort in anger at the other end – a header from Kandol which cleared the bar comfortably – and Anthony Elding's headed finish in the 42nd minute came no closer to an equaliser.
Far from Gillingham winning the half, Leeds had surrendered it.United's performance showed a noticeable increase in tempo after the break, though, and a close-range shot from Peter Sweeney was deflected clear by a brilliant sliding tackle from Mark Bentley two yards inside his own box.
Jonathan Douglas went closer with a curling shot over the bar and the visitors' resistance was broken by a brilliant finish from Johnson in the 69th minute.
The midfielder – playing a left-back – ran onto a cross from Sebastien Carole and applied a searing left-footed volley to the ball which screamed into Derek Stillie's net.