IT'S TWO EASY FOR LEEDS AT BURNLEY
31 Jul 2009
United end pre-season with Premiership scalp...
BURNLEY 1 (Edgar 76), UNITED 2 (Grella 37, Robinson 70)
Burnley: Jensen, Mears (Eckersley 46), Carlisle (Edgar 71), Caldwell, Kalvenes (Jordan 55), Alexander (McDonald 71), Elliott, McCann (Gudjonsson 71), Eagles, Fletcher (Rodriguez 71), Blake (Thompson 55). Subs: Penny, Easton.
United: Ankergren, Crowe (Snodgrass 63), Marques (Michalik 46), Kisnorbo (Huntington 63), Parker (White 75), Hughes, Howson, Prutton, Johnson (Robinson 63), Showunmi (Sheehan 80), Grella. Sub (not used): Higgs.
Referee: G Laws
Att: 7,899
Simon Grayson re-shuffled his starting line-up for the final pre-season game of the summer against Premiership newcomers Burnley.
Luciano Becchio and Fabian Delph both missed out after picking up knocks in training on Friday, Mike Grella and David Prutton coming in, Casper Ankergren came in for Shane Higgs in goal, andAndrew Hughes was handed an opportunity on the right side of midfield.
Grayson was also forced into making a late change, with Enoch Showunmi, originally named as a sub, replacing Beckford in the starting line-up.
Burnley included three former Leeds players in their starting line-up with Steve Caldwell, Clarke Carlisle, and Robbie Blake all preparing for life in the top-flight.
But it was Leeds, maintaining the positive pre-season form, who carved out two chances inside the opening six minutes. First Grella narrowly failed to convert a Ben Parker cross and, moments later, Jonny Howson stabbed a shot wide of the mark after finding space to meet a cross from the right.
When Burnley threatened early doors, United defended well to clear the danger, but it wasn't the most entertaining of openings with little to excite either set of fans during the first 20 minutes.
There was another injury scare for Leeds after 24 minutes when Jason Crowe was the victim of a hefty challenge from Carlisle, but the defender returned after a lengthy spell of treatment.
And it was from the subsequent free-kick that United came within a whisker of taking the lead, Bradley Johnson's free-kick crashing against the upright before bouncing to safety.
Moments later, Johnson and Grella linked up well together, but the striker curled his shot past Burnley keeper Brian Jensen and past the post.
Shortly after the half-hour mark, Leeds had another gilt-edged chance to take the lead. Hughes crossed from the right, but Showunmi failed to profit when his close range finish was wide of the mark.
Johnson was next to go close for United when he shaved the post with a right-footed effort after cutting in from the left.
The opening goal did go to Leeds, though, and it deservedly fell to Grella. The American has worked his socks off in pre-season and when Burnley defender Caldwell slipped, Grella seized to pick his spot before lashing the ball beyond the reach of Jensen for his first senior goal for the club.
The goal was no less than United deserved and for the second week in succession, Grayson's men had totally outplayed Premier League opposition during the opening period of the game, creating the better chances, and looking the more inventive of the two sides.
Burnley did create their best chance during the final moments of the half when Chris Eagles ghosted in at the far post, but fired wide.
The home side also had the first shot on goal in the second half when Blake curled a free-kick into the arms of the previously untroubled Ankergren.
United continued to play the better football and after fashioning out one half-chance for Showunmi, Hughes was denied by an offside flag after more good play. Burnley were opened up again on the hour, but Crowe narrowly failed to connect with a Prutton cross.
On 63 minutes, Grayson made three changes with Paul Huntington, Robert Snodgrass, and Andy Robinson all joining the fray.
Both Snodgrass and Robinson were involved immediately when some intricate play in and around the Burnley box ended with Grella drilling a shot across the face of goal.
There was no mistake on 70 minutes, though, when Robinson finished off more excellent play by hammering home from just inside the box, leaving Jensen with no chance.
The goal was the cue for the home side to make wholesale changes, and it was one of those subs, Kevin McDonald who fired wide within seconds of his arrival.
It was looking rather too easy for Leeds, but the home side did pull a goal back in the 76th minute. Aidy White was harshly adjudged to have conceded a corner and, unsually, United were all at sea when the ball was pinged in low at the second attempt and David Edgar converted from close range.
United did almost grab a third, though. Robinson was first denied by an offside flag, and then on 83 minutes, his shot on the turn was wide.
But there were further no goals as the curtain came down on United's pre-season with both a Premiership scalp and another confidence boosting performance.
The next action facing Grayson's men is the League One opener against Exeter City at Elland Road on Saturday August 8.
31 Jul 2009
United end pre-season with Premiership scalp...
BURNLEY 1 (Edgar 76), UNITED 2 (Grella 37, Robinson 70)
Burnley: Jensen, Mears (Eckersley 46), Carlisle (Edgar 71), Caldwell, Kalvenes (Jordan 55), Alexander (McDonald 71), Elliott, McCann (Gudjonsson 71), Eagles, Fletcher (Rodriguez 71), Blake (Thompson 55). Subs: Penny, Easton.
United: Ankergren, Crowe (Snodgrass 63), Marques (Michalik 46), Kisnorbo (Huntington 63), Parker (White 75), Hughes, Howson, Prutton, Johnson (Robinson 63), Showunmi (Sheehan 80), Grella. Sub (not used): Higgs.
Referee: G Laws
Att: 7,899
Simon Grayson re-shuffled his starting line-up for the final pre-season game of the summer against Premiership newcomers Burnley.
Luciano Becchio and Fabian Delph both missed out after picking up knocks in training on Friday, Mike Grella and David Prutton coming in, Casper Ankergren came in for Shane Higgs in goal, andAndrew Hughes was handed an opportunity on the right side of midfield.
Grayson was also forced into making a late change, with Enoch Showunmi, originally named as a sub, replacing Beckford in the starting line-up.
Burnley included three former Leeds players in their starting line-up with Steve Caldwell, Clarke Carlisle, and Robbie Blake all preparing for life in the top-flight.
But it was Leeds, maintaining the positive pre-season form, who carved out two chances inside the opening six minutes. First Grella narrowly failed to convert a Ben Parker cross and, moments later, Jonny Howson stabbed a shot wide of the mark after finding space to meet a cross from the right.
When Burnley threatened early doors, United defended well to clear the danger, but it wasn't the most entertaining of openings with little to excite either set of fans during the first 20 minutes.
There was another injury scare for Leeds after 24 minutes when Jason Crowe was the victim of a hefty challenge from Carlisle, but the defender returned after a lengthy spell of treatment.
And it was from the subsequent free-kick that United came within a whisker of taking the lead, Bradley Johnson's free-kick crashing against the upright before bouncing to safety.
Moments later, Johnson and Grella linked up well together, but the striker curled his shot past Burnley keeper Brian Jensen and past the post.
Shortly after the half-hour mark, Leeds had another gilt-edged chance to take the lead. Hughes crossed from the right, but Showunmi failed to profit when his close range finish was wide of the mark.
Johnson was next to go close for United when he shaved the post with a right-footed effort after cutting in from the left.
The opening goal did go to Leeds, though, and it deservedly fell to Grella. The American has worked his socks off in pre-season and when Burnley defender Caldwell slipped, Grella seized to pick his spot before lashing the ball beyond the reach of Jensen for his first senior goal for the club.
The goal was no less than United deserved and for the second week in succession, Grayson's men had totally outplayed Premier League opposition during the opening period of the game, creating the better chances, and looking the more inventive of the two sides.
Burnley did create their best chance during the final moments of the half when Chris Eagles ghosted in at the far post, but fired wide.
The home side also had the first shot on goal in the second half when Blake curled a free-kick into the arms of the previously untroubled Ankergren.
United continued to play the better football and after fashioning out one half-chance for Showunmi, Hughes was denied by an offside flag after more good play. Burnley were opened up again on the hour, but Crowe narrowly failed to connect with a Prutton cross.
On 63 minutes, Grayson made three changes with Paul Huntington, Robert Snodgrass, and Andy Robinson all joining the fray.
Both Snodgrass and Robinson were involved immediately when some intricate play in and around the Burnley box ended with Grella drilling a shot across the face of goal.
There was no mistake on 70 minutes, though, when Robinson finished off more excellent play by hammering home from just inside the box, leaving Jensen with no chance.
The goal was the cue for the home side to make wholesale changes, and it was one of those subs, Kevin McDonald who fired wide within seconds of his arrival.
It was looking rather too easy for Leeds, but the home side did pull a goal back in the 76th minute. Aidy White was harshly adjudged to have conceded a corner and, unsually, United were all at sea when the ball was pinged in low at the second attempt and David Edgar converted from close range.
United did almost grab a third, though. Robinson was first denied by an offside flag, and then on 83 minutes, his shot on the turn was wide.
But there were further no goals as the curtain came down on United's pre-season with both a Premiership scalp and another confidence boosting performance.
The next action facing Grayson's men is the League One opener against Exeter City at Elland Road on Saturday August 8.
