Leedsunited.com 22/8/09
BOSS - I FELT LIKE A FAN AGAIN WATCHING THAT!
United manager Simon Grayson said he felt like a fan watching Saturday's 3-0 destruction of Tranmere Rovers at Elland Road.
In a one-sided affair, United cruised to a 13th successive home league victory, equalling a winning sequence set by Don Revie's Leeds side back in 1969 when the club were Football League champions.
Goals from Bradley Johnson, Jermaine Beckford, andLuciano Becchio sealed the points against Tranmere, but had it not been for a combination of the post, the bar, and some fine saves from visiting goalkeeper Luke Daniels, the scoreline would have been far higher.
"It's not something you can say often as a manager, but I really enjoyed watching that," said the United boss.
"I felt like a fan again watching some of the football we played and it was really entertaining and enjoyable.
"It was an excellent performance. We started as we wanted to start. Jermaine could have had a hat-trick in the first 10 minutes.
"On another day it could have been a lot more because of the saves and the woodwork. The chances we created were fantastic.
"Their keeper made some fantastic saves, we hit the woodwork a few times, and sometimes you can win five, six or seven and use all your goals up, so I''m quite happy with how it finished.
"The major factor was the work-rate we had. We kept pressing and pressing and chased lost causes. Everything came together for us.
"When we got possession we maintained it well, moved it around, and created opportunities.
"When you lose the ball easily the tempo drops, but we played some fantastic stuff."
BARNES - IT COULD HAVE BEEN SIX OR SEVEN
Tranmere Rovers manager John Barnes admitted his side could have been on the wrong end of a six or seven-goal defeat at the hands of Leeds United on Saturday.
Goals from Bradley Johnson, Jermaine Beckford, andLuciano Becchio were enough to secure Leeds a 3-0 win at Elland Road, but the visiting manager said he was thankful the scoreline wasn't greater.
"The positive is that it was't six or seven because it should have been," said former England international Barnes.
"They are a very good side, probably one of the best, and we were second best to everything.
"From the first minute we made a mistake which allowed Jermaine Beckford through and our keeper kept us in it.
"They are physical, strong and have lots of quality, but we had to be braver. Not until we went 2-0 down did we pass the ball.
"But at 2-0 down we were chasing the game and their tails were up. Leeds were first to everything. They had a collective and individual desire which we didn't display at all.
"We didn't get what we deserved because they should have had more three."
Yorkshire Post 22/8/09
Leeds United 3 Tranmere Rovers 0: Grayson praises Whites' work
By Robert Gledhill
LEEDS United stretched their record-breaking winning home league run to 13 games and it was the men who gave them the midweek victory at Walsall, Bradley Johnson and Jermaine Beckford, who were again on target as goalkeeper Luke Daniels prevented an Elland Road rout until Lucciano Becchio headed home the third close to time.
Right-back Jason Crowe was passed fit after knee trouble and Leeds named an unchanged side for the visit of Tranmere.
Former Leeds striker Ian Thomas-Moore recovered from a groin problem to lead the Rovers attack and they had another former United striker on the bench in Michael Ricketts.
Beckford went close within 30 seconds only being denied by the legs of goalkeeper Luke Daniels, who was soon beaten by the Leeds striker only for the shot to hit the foot of the post.
Daniels then produced a great reflex far post save from Luciano Becchio's far post header only for Bradley Johnson to drill the ball home to give Leeds a 14th-minute lead.
Shane Higgs held Alan Mahon's volley and Patrick Kisnorbo made a great block on Thomas-Moore before Daniels again denied Beckford, recovering quickly to prevent Becchio sliding home the follow-up attempt.
Beckford finally made it 2-0, outpacing Gavin Gunning and sliding the ball in off the far post after a weak back header from Ian Goodison.
Beckford struck the bar and the post after the break and Davies was at his best to deny centre-back Patrick Kinsorbo from a deflected drive before tipping over Johnson's rising shot, Becchio's header from the ensuing corner hitting the post.
Daniels was finally beaten by Johnson's 30-yard free-kick and Becchio headed home after the ball had crashed against the bar.
Leeds manager Simon Grayson said: "We started exactly how we wanted, with a high tempo and really pressing them and I think Jermaine (Bekford) could have had a hat-trick within the first 10 minutes.
"For me the best bit of it all was the work-rate of the team throughout the whole match, plus our passing was excellent.
"If their keeper didn't make the saves he did we could have won by much more. Everything came together for us today."
BOSS - I FELT LIKE A FAN AGAIN WATCHING THAT!
United manager Simon Grayson said he felt like a fan watching Saturday's 3-0 destruction of Tranmere Rovers at Elland Road.
In a one-sided affair, United cruised to a 13th successive home league victory, equalling a winning sequence set by Don Revie's Leeds side back in 1969 when the club were Football League champions.
Goals from Bradley Johnson, Jermaine Beckford, andLuciano Becchio sealed the points against Tranmere, but had it not been for a combination of the post, the bar, and some fine saves from visiting goalkeeper Luke Daniels, the scoreline would have been far higher.
"It's not something you can say often as a manager, but I really enjoyed watching that," said the United boss.
"I felt like a fan again watching some of the football we played and it was really entertaining and enjoyable.
"It was an excellent performance. We started as we wanted to start. Jermaine could have had a hat-trick in the first 10 minutes.
"On another day it could have been a lot more because of the saves and the woodwork. The chances we created were fantastic.
"Their keeper made some fantastic saves, we hit the woodwork a few times, and sometimes you can win five, six or seven and use all your goals up, so I''m quite happy with how it finished.
"The major factor was the work-rate we had. We kept pressing and pressing and chased lost causes. Everything came together for us.
"When we got possession we maintained it well, moved it around, and created opportunities.
"When you lose the ball easily the tempo drops, but we played some fantastic stuff."
BARNES - IT COULD HAVE BEEN SIX OR SEVEN
Tranmere Rovers manager John Barnes admitted his side could have been on the wrong end of a six or seven-goal defeat at the hands of Leeds United on Saturday.
Goals from Bradley Johnson, Jermaine Beckford, andLuciano Becchio were enough to secure Leeds a 3-0 win at Elland Road, but the visiting manager said he was thankful the scoreline wasn't greater.
"The positive is that it was't six or seven because it should have been," said former England international Barnes.
"They are a very good side, probably one of the best, and we were second best to everything.
"From the first minute we made a mistake which allowed Jermaine Beckford through and our keeper kept us in it.
"They are physical, strong and have lots of quality, but we had to be braver. Not until we went 2-0 down did we pass the ball.
"But at 2-0 down we were chasing the game and their tails were up. Leeds were first to everything. They had a collective and individual desire which we didn't display at all.
"We didn't get what we deserved because they should have had more three."
Yorkshire Post 22/8/09
Leeds United 3 Tranmere Rovers 0: Grayson praises Whites' work
By Robert Gledhill
LEEDS United stretched their record-breaking winning home league run to 13 games and it was the men who gave them the midweek victory at Walsall, Bradley Johnson and Jermaine Beckford, who were again on target as goalkeeper Luke Daniels prevented an Elland Road rout until Lucciano Becchio headed home the third close to time.
Right-back Jason Crowe was passed fit after knee trouble and Leeds named an unchanged side for the visit of Tranmere.
Former Leeds striker Ian Thomas-Moore recovered from a groin problem to lead the Rovers attack and they had another former United striker on the bench in Michael Ricketts.
Beckford went close within 30 seconds only being denied by the legs of goalkeeper Luke Daniels, who was soon beaten by the Leeds striker only for the shot to hit the foot of the post.
Daniels then produced a great reflex far post save from Luciano Becchio's far post header only for Bradley Johnson to drill the ball home to give Leeds a 14th-minute lead.
Shane Higgs held Alan Mahon's volley and Patrick Kisnorbo made a great block on Thomas-Moore before Daniels again denied Beckford, recovering quickly to prevent Becchio sliding home the follow-up attempt.
Beckford finally made it 2-0, outpacing Gavin Gunning and sliding the ball in off the far post after a weak back header from Ian Goodison.
Beckford struck the bar and the post after the break and Davies was at his best to deny centre-back Patrick Kinsorbo from a deflected drive before tipping over Johnson's rising shot, Becchio's header from the ensuing corner hitting the post.
Daniels was finally beaten by Johnson's 30-yard free-kick and Becchio headed home after the ball had crashed against the bar.
Leeds manager Simon Grayson said: "We started exactly how we wanted, with a high tempo and really pressing them and I think Jermaine (Bekford) could have had a hat-trick within the first 10 minutes.
"For me the best bit of it all was the work-rate of the team throughout the whole match, plus our passing was excellent.
"If their keeper didn't make the saves he did we could have won by much more. Everything came together for us today."