Times 19/10/09
Forster error gifts Leeds all three points and top spot
Leeds United 2 Norwich City 1
Jeremy Cross
An horrendous blunder from Fraser Forster, the Norwich City goalkeeper, in stoppage time gifted Leeds United a late and undeserved victory at Elland Road last night to enable them to stumble back to the top of the Coca-Cola League One table.
Bradley Johnson’s sixth goal of the season put Leeds ahead but Norwich refused to buckle and went on to dominate the contest to such an extent that Paul Lambert, their manager, must have wondered how his team left Yorkshire empty-handed.
Johnson had given Simon Grayson’s side the lead after rising the highest to beat several Norwich defenders and convert Robert Snodgrass’s corner in the fifteenth minute to break the deadlock.
But Grant Holt’s tenth goal of the season just before the interval — he beat Jason Crowe at the back post to head home off a cross by Darel Russell — hauled Norwich level and from this point on it was the home side who looked second-best, until Forster’s botched clearance gave Beckford the chance to score.
Grayson handed a debut to Sam Vokes, the Wales player, after his arrival on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers until January. Vokes tried his luck from long range for what would have been a dream start, but it was Norwich who created the better openings without converting them.
Shane Higgs, the Leeds goalkeeper, almost fumbled Darel Russell’s strike into his own goal in the sixth minute before Wes Hoolahan wasted an even better chance, shooting straight at Higgs from close range after Holt’s intelligent pass.
Norwich were made to pay just moments later when a static defence failed to challenge Johnson, allowing him to score with Leeds’ first genuine attacking threat of the game. Jermaine Beckford should have doubled the home side’s advantage in the 31st minute but dragged his shot agonisingly wide after breaking free of Gary Doherty’s challenge.
Norwich continued to take the game to Leeds, with Doherty heading over from Simon Lappin’s corner before another corner from Lappin was flapped at by Casper Ankergren, who replaced Higgs. Jens Berthel -Askou saw his goalbound strike blocked in the penalty area, however.
Leeds United (4-4-2): S Higgs (sub: C Ankergren 17min) — J Crowe, R Naylor, L Bromby, A Hughes — R Snodgrass (sub: M Gradel 80), M Doyle, J Howson, B Johnson — S Vokes (sub: T Kandol, 74), J Beckford. Substitutes not used: D Prutton, N Kilkenny, M Grella, L Michalik. Booked: Crowe, Naylor, Doyle, Johnson.
Norwich City (4-4-2): F Forster — J Otsemobor, G Doherty, J Berthel-Askou, A Drury — D Russell, S Hughes (sub: M Gill, 90), G Holt, S Lappin — W Hoolahan, C Martin. Substitutes not used:D Rudd, J Cureton, T Adeyemi, P McVeigh, L Darley, C McDonald. Booked: Holt, Hughes, Russell.
Referee: L Mason.
Attendance: 19,912
Leedsunited.com 19/10/09
BECKS SENDS UNITED BACK TO THE TOP
LEEDS UNITED 2 (Johnson 15, Beckford 90), NORWICH 1 (Holt 38)
United: Higgs (Ankergren 16), Crowe, Bromby, Naylor, Hughes, Snodgrass (Gradel 80), Doyle, Howson, Johnson, Beckford, Vokes (Kandol 74). Subs: Prutton, Kilkenny, Grella, Michalik.
Norwich: Forster, Otsemobor, Drury, Doherty, Berthel Askou, Holt, Russell, Hughes, Hoolahan, Lappin, Martin. Subs: Rudd, Gill, Cureton, Adeyemi, McVeigh, Darley, McDonald.
Referee: L Mason
Booked: Johnson (Leeds), Hughes, Russell (Norwich).
Att: 19,192
Leeds United manager Simon Grayson sprung a few surprises in his starting line-up for the visit of Norwich City.
Not only did Jason Crowe and Robert Snodgrass make their returns from injury, but the boss also revealed two new loan signings when he named his team with striker Sam Vokes coming into the starting line-up and winger Max Gradel joining the substitutes bench.
The Leeds boss had been keen to keep his new signings under wraps until the 11th hour as United looked to spring a surprise on visiting Norwich.
Paul Lambert's side have crept up the table in recent weeks, and it was United's recalled goalkeeper Shane Higgs who was called into action early doors when he pulled off a terrific save, clawing a goalbound effort off the line after a cross from the Norwich right.
It was a lively opening and after Vokes tried his luck with an effort from distance, Norwich's Chris Martin fired wide at the other end. The visitors were finding some space and Higgs made another good save to deny Wes Hoolahan, who should have done better from close range.
But Leeds were 1-0 up inside the opening 15 minutes. Snodgrass whipped in a corner and Bradley Johnson rose well to power home his sixth goal of the season to give United the advantage.
It was the perfect start for Leeds, but the early goal was tempered slightly when Higgs limped out of the game. However, United almost bagged a second while waiting to make the change in goal when Leigh Bromby quickly turned defence into attack, instead of looking to play the ball out to enable to the substitution, and Micky Doyle had a shot blocked after a great break by Snodgrass.
Jermaine Beckford also went close on the half-hour. The striker showed great skill to work himself an opening, skipping past two players, but his shot was fractionally wide of the mark.
But Norwich were level seven minutes before half-time. A Simon Lappin cross came from deep on the Norwich right and Grant Holt ousted Johnson at the far post to convert from close range.
Half-time gave an opportunity for United to re-group and within minutes of the re-start, Beckford worked himself an opening before firing wide.
The visitors were on the front foot once again, though, and Ankergren had to recover quickly to block an effort from Jens Berthel-Askou on the hour-mark.
Moments later, Ankergren saved well from Holt, and the Norwich striker was in the thick of the action again when he fired wide on 68 minutes.
But it was Norwich goalkeeper Fraser Forster who pulled off the save of the half when he palmed away a powerful free-kick from Snodgrass.
With 16 minutes left on the clock, Grayson made his first change, replacing Vokes with Tresor Kandol, who was making his first league appearance for the club since May 2008.
The Leeds boss also handed Gradel his debut with 10 minutes remaining, in place of Snodgrass, and his first touch was to deliver a quality ball for Beckford.
Gradel wasted little time in lighting up Elland Road. He linked up well with Kandol to provide Beckford with another great ball, but Forster pulled off a terrific save to deny the United striker. And, moments later, Gradel tried his luck from distance after winning the ball in midfield.
The loan man was also involved in firing in a low cross which Beckford almost converted in the dying moments.
But the winning goal in stoppage time was a solo effort. Norwich goalkeeper Forster delivered a weak clearance, and not to be outdone, Beckford was rewarded for all his hard work as he returned the kick down field before delivering a superb finish to win it at the death.
Elland Road erupted and chants of "top of the league" echoed around at the final whistle as Leeds regained leadership of the division.
Leedsunited.com 19/10/09
LEEDS UNITED MAKE DOUBLE SWOOP
Leeds United manager Simon Grayson has made a double swoop ahead of Monday's Elland Road clash with Norwich City.
Grayson moved to snap up Wales striker Sam Vokes on loan from Wolves until January 1 while winger Max Gradel arrives from Leicester City on a month-long loan. Both players are eligible to play in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.
The duo played alongside each other for Bournemouth at Elland Road two seasons ago, and impressed despite a 2-0 win for Leeds.
The highly-rated Vokes joined Wolves at the end of the 2007/08 season and went on to score eight goals in 39 appearances last season, 32 of which came as a substitute.
The 19-year-old Welsh international has made five appearances for Premier League newcomers Wolves this season.
Gradel, who scored 10 goals in 37 appearances while on loan at Bournemouth from Leicester in 2007/08, made 31 appearances for the Foxes last term as they won promotion from League One.
The 21-year-old is a speedy winger and both players went straight into the squad for Monday's Elland Road clash with Norwich City.
"We're delighted to bring in both players," said Grayson.
"Both lads are still young, but they have good quality about them and they add to what we have at the club.
"Sam is a highly-rated goalscorer and Max has plenty of pace, and both players fit in well to the squad we have here.
"I'm looking forward to working with them both."
While Vokes has been strongly linked in the media, Gradel's arrival was kept under the radar until his inclusion on the team-sheet for Monday's game.
"I'd like to thank both Wolves and Leicester for allowing them to come here," added the Leeds boss.
Forster error gifts Leeds all three points and top spot
Leeds United 2 Norwich City 1
Jeremy Cross
An horrendous blunder from Fraser Forster, the Norwich City goalkeeper, in stoppage time gifted Leeds United a late and undeserved victory at Elland Road last night to enable them to stumble back to the top of the Coca-Cola League One table.
Bradley Johnson’s sixth goal of the season put Leeds ahead but Norwich refused to buckle and went on to dominate the contest to such an extent that Paul Lambert, their manager, must have wondered how his team left Yorkshire empty-handed.
Johnson had given Simon Grayson’s side the lead after rising the highest to beat several Norwich defenders and convert Robert Snodgrass’s corner in the fifteenth minute to break the deadlock.
But Grant Holt’s tenth goal of the season just before the interval — he beat Jason Crowe at the back post to head home off a cross by Darel Russell — hauled Norwich level and from this point on it was the home side who looked second-best, until Forster’s botched clearance gave Beckford the chance to score.
Grayson handed a debut to Sam Vokes, the Wales player, after his arrival on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers until January. Vokes tried his luck from long range for what would have been a dream start, but it was Norwich who created the better openings without converting them.
Shane Higgs, the Leeds goalkeeper, almost fumbled Darel Russell’s strike into his own goal in the sixth minute before Wes Hoolahan wasted an even better chance, shooting straight at Higgs from close range after Holt’s intelligent pass.
Norwich were made to pay just moments later when a static defence failed to challenge Johnson, allowing him to score with Leeds’ first genuine attacking threat of the game. Jermaine Beckford should have doubled the home side’s advantage in the 31st minute but dragged his shot agonisingly wide after breaking free of Gary Doherty’s challenge.
Norwich continued to take the game to Leeds, with Doherty heading over from Simon Lappin’s corner before another corner from Lappin was flapped at by Casper Ankergren, who replaced Higgs. Jens Berthel -Askou saw his goalbound strike blocked in the penalty area, however.
Leeds United (4-4-2): S Higgs (sub: C Ankergren 17min) — J Crowe, R Naylor, L Bromby, A Hughes — R Snodgrass (sub: M Gradel 80), M Doyle, J Howson, B Johnson — S Vokes (sub: T Kandol, 74), J Beckford. Substitutes not used: D Prutton, N Kilkenny, M Grella, L Michalik. Booked: Crowe, Naylor, Doyle, Johnson.
Norwich City (4-4-2): F Forster — J Otsemobor, G Doherty, J Berthel-Askou, A Drury — D Russell, S Hughes (sub: M Gill, 90), G Holt, S Lappin — W Hoolahan, C Martin. Substitutes not used:D Rudd, J Cureton, T Adeyemi, P McVeigh, L Darley, C McDonald. Booked: Holt, Hughes, Russell.
Referee: L Mason.
Attendance: 19,912
Leedsunited.com 19/10/09
BECKS SENDS UNITED BACK TO THE TOP
LEEDS UNITED 2 (Johnson 15, Beckford 90), NORWICH 1 (Holt 38)
United: Higgs (Ankergren 16), Crowe, Bromby, Naylor, Hughes, Snodgrass (Gradel 80), Doyle, Howson, Johnson, Beckford, Vokes (Kandol 74). Subs: Prutton, Kilkenny, Grella, Michalik.
Norwich: Forster, Otsemobor, Drury, Doherty, Berthel Askou, Holt, Russell, Hughes, Hoolahan, Lappin, Martin. Subs: Rudd, Gill, Cureton, Adeyemi, McVeigh, Darley, McDonald.
Referee: L Mason
Booked: Johnson (Leeds), Hughes, Russell (Norwich).
Att: 19,192
Leeds United manager Simon Grayson sprung a few surprises in his starting line-up for the visit of Norwich City.
Not only did Jason Crowe and Robert Snodgrass make their returns from injury, but the boss also revealed two new loan signings when he named his team with striker Sam Vokes coming into the starting line-up and winger Max Gradel joining the substitutes bench.
The Leeds boss had been keen to keep his new signings under wraps until the 11th hour as United looked to spring a surprise on visiting Norwich.
Paul Lambert's side have crept up the table in recent weeks, and it was United's recalled goalkeeper Shane Higgs who was called into action early doors when he pulled off a terrific save, clawing a goalbound effort off the line after a cross from the Norwich right.
It was a lively opening and after Vokes tried his luck with an effort from distance, Norwich's Chris Martin fired wide at the other end. The visitors were finding some space and Higgs made another good save to deny Wes Hoolahan, who should have done better from close range.
But Leeds were 1-0 up inside the opening 15 minutes. Snodgrass whipped in a corner and Bradley Johnson rose well to power home his sixth goal of the season to give United the advantage.
It was the perfect start for Leeds, but the early goal was tempered slightly when Higgs limped out of the game. However, United almost bagged a second while waiting to make the change in goal when Leigh Bromby quickly turned defence into attack, instead of looking to play the ball out to enable to the substitution, and Micky Doyle had a shot blocked after a great break by Snodgrass.
Jermaine Beckford also went close on the half-hour. The striker showed great skill to work himself an opening, skipping past two players, but his shot was fractionally wide of the mark.
But Norwich were level seven minutes before half-time. A Simon Lappin cross came from deep on the Norwich right and Grant Holt ousted Johnson at the far post to convert from close range.
Half-time gave an opportunity for United to re-group and within minutes of the re-start, Beckford worked himself an opening before firing wide.
The visitors were on the front foot once again, though, and Ankergren had to recover quickly to block an effort from Jens Berthel-Askou on the hour-mark.
Moments later, Ankergren saved well from Holt, and the Norwich striker was in the thick of the action again when he fired wide on 68 minutes.
But it was Norwich goalkeeper Fraser Forster who pulled off the save of the half when he palmed away a powerful free-kick from Snodgrass.
With 16 minutes left on the clock, Grayson made his first change, replacing Vokes with Tresor Kandol, who was making his first league appearance for the club since May 2008.
The Leeds boss also handed Gradel his debut with 10 minutes remaining, in place of Snodgrass, and his first touch was to deliver a quality ball for Beckford.
Gradel wasted little time in lighting up Elland Road. He linked up well with Kandol to provide Beckford with another great ball, but Forster pulled off a terrific save to deny the United striker. And, moments later, Gradel tried his luck from distance after winning the ball in midfield.
The loan man was also involved in firing in a low cross which Beckford almost converted in the dying moments.
But the winning goal in stoppage time was a solo effort. Norwich goalkeeper Forster delivered a weak clearance, and not to be outdone, Beckford was rewarded for all his hard work as he returned the kick down field before delivering a superb finish to win it at the death.
Elland Road erupted and chants of "top of the league" echoed around at the final whistle as Leeds regained leadership of the division.
Leedsunited.com 19/10/09
LEEDS UNITED MAKE DOUBLE SWOOP
Leeds United manager Simon Grayson has made a double swoop ahead of Monday's Elland Road clash with Norwich City.
Grayson moved to snap up Wales striker Sam Vokes on loan from Wolves until January 1 while winger Max Gradel arrives from Leicester City on a month-long loan. Both players are eligible to play in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.
The duo played alongside each other for Bournemouth at Elland Road two seasons ago, and impressed despite a 2-0 win for Leeds.
The highly-rated Vokes joined Wolves at the end of the 2007/08 season and went on to score eight goals in 39 appearances last season, 32 of which came as a substitute.
The 19-year-old Welsh international has made five appearances for Premier League newcomers Wolves this season.
Gradel, who scored 10 goals in 37 appearances while on loan at Bournemouth from Leicester in 2007/08, made 31 appearances for the Foxes last term as they won promotion from League One.
The 21-year-old is a speedy winger and both players went straight into the squad for Monday's Elland Road clash with Norwich City.
"We're delighted to bring in both players," said Grayson.
"Both lads are still young, but they have good quality about them and they add to what we have at the club.
"Sam is a highly-rated goalscorer and Max has plenty of pace, and both players fit in well to the squad we have here.
"I'm looking forward to working with them both."
While Vokes has been strongly linked in the media, Gradel's arrival was kept under the radar until his inclusion on the team-sheet for Monday's game.
"I'd like to thank both Wolves and Leicester for allowing them to come here," added the Leeds boss.
