Mighty Leeds Weblog

Sky Sports 30/12/09 Whites extend Gradel loan Leicester and Leeds agree to maximum extension Leeds United have extended the loan stay of Leicester winger Max Gradel until 17th January. The 22-year-old initially moved to Elland Road for one month in October, but after a number of eye-catching performances the Whites agreed a deal to keep him until 2nd January. This latest extension takes Gradel's contract up to the maximum 93-day continuous period under the terms of a normal loan agreement, meaning he can play in the league games against Wycombe and Exeter. The Ivorian youngster has made 14 appearances for Leeds so far this season, netting three goals, and speculation has mounted that his move could be made permanent. Leeds are currently eight points clear at the top of League One with a game in hand and take on arch-rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup on Sunday. However, Leicester have refused to give permission for Gradel to take part in the game at Old Trafford. Bradford Tel...

Leedsunited.com 28/12/09 UNITED SEE OFF STOCKPORT STOCKPORT 2 (Baker 12, Mullins 62), LEEDS UNITED 4 (Snodgrass 2, Beckford 67, Bromby 88, Beckford 90+3) Stockport: Fon Williams, Mullins, Turnbull, Raynes, Vincent, Thompson (Johnson 76), Baker, Griffin, Poole, Ribeiro, McNeill. Subs: Tansey, Gerrard, Pilkington, Halls, Barnes, Rowe. United: Ankergren, Bromby, Naylor, Kisnorbo, Hughes, Snodgrass (Gradel 65), Doyle (Howson 65), Kilkenny, Johnson, Becchio (Kandol 76), Beckford. Subs: D Martin, Crowe, Grella, Michalik. Referee: K Friend Att: 7768 (3077 Leeds) Booked: Thompson (Stockport), Snodgrass, Becchio, Bromby, Kisnorbo (Leeds) An early morning pitch inspection ensured the festive fixture at Edgeley Park would go ahead and United were greeted by a wet playing surface, heavily sanded in certain areas. United manager Simon Grayson made one change to his starting line-up, following the Boxing Day win against Hartlepool, Bradley Johnson returning in place of Jonny Howson . Last season, ...

Leedsunited.com 26/12/09 GRAYSON PRAISES HIS WINNING CHARACTERS Leeds United manager Simon Grayson praised his side's character after the Boxing Day success against Hartlepool United at Elland Road. Grayson's men fell behind in a league game for only the third time this season - but a crowd of over 30,000 watched his players come from 1-0 down to win the contest 3-1. Jermaine Beckford scored twice and a deflected header from Luciano Becchio proved the difference between the two sides as United came back to win the contest comfortably. "I was delighted with the result and the performance," said the manager. "Maybe we were quite fortunate for a couple of the goals, but you take what comes and we'll take the breaks. "I tell the players that you have to shoot or take your chances because these things can sometimes happen. "This club hasn't had a lot of luck over the past few years so when something goes for you, you accept it and move on." U...

Yorkshire Evening Post 24/12/09 Grayson asks fans to lay off Becks Simon Grayson has urged Leeds United's fans to throw their support behind Jermaine Beckford when the striker attempts to redeem himself on Boxing Day. Beckford is set to retain his place in Leeds' starting line-up when Hartlepool United come to Elland Road in 48 hours' time, and Grayson has attempted to erase any lingering anger over the forward's reaction to being substituted last weekend. Beckford was booed from the field at Elland Road after reacting to his early exit after 75 minutes of Leeds' clash with Southampton by pushing away Grayson's attempt at a handshake and walking down the tunnel. The dispute was promptly resolved, however, when Beckford apologised to his manager during a meeting at the club's Thorp Arch training complex on Monday morning, and Grayson hopes the 26-year-old's remorseful attitude will appease the fans who berated him last Saturday. Asked whether his 15-goal ...

Yorkshire Evening Post 22/12/09 50 reasons to be optimistic Whites fan By Phil Hay Back in business was the convincing message sent from Elland Road on Saturday, supported by Leeds United's arrival at the significant total of 50 points. That benchmark is routinely identified by Football League managers as sufficient to avoid relegation and, with 25 games still to complete, Simon Grayson can chalk that milestone off his list. The idea of United dropping from League One this season was always ridiculous but the fact that the club have made that eventuality mathematically impossible before Christmas gives the perfect indication of how quickly they are proceeding towards a far greater end. Their dominance of League One weakened slightly this month but, after a victory over Southampton secured by a performance of characteristic quality and persistence, Leeds might finish December in as strong a position as they started it. Forthcoming matches against Hartlepool United and Stockport Coun...

Leedsunited.com 21/12/09 GAFFER ACCEPTS STRIKER APOLOGY United boss Simon Grayson says he has accepted an apology from striker Jermaine Beckford following Saturday's game against Southampton. The manager expressed his disappointment after the prolific striker headed straight down the tunnel when substituted during Saturday's win against the Saints, but the pairing resolved the situation after an amicable chat on Monday. "We had a chat first thing on Monday," said the boss. "Jermaine explained and apologised for his actions which I fully accept. "I made it clear that I don't need it to happen again and he's bought into what I've said. "It's been put to bed now and I expect to see Jermaine in a Leeds shirt on Boxing Day looking to knock the goals in over the Christmas period."

Yorkshire Evening Post 20/12/09 Leeds United v Southampton: Snodgrass sinks Saints By Phil Hay Leeds United 1 Southampton 0 Robert Snodgrass stretched Leeds United's advantage at the top of League One with a late winning goal against Southampton. The Scot curled home a skillful finish in the 77th minutes to settle a fiercely-contested battle with Alan Pardew's team and keep United in control of their division. The club's dalliance with stalemates look set to continue as Southampton fought to hold on for a goalless draw, a result which might have wiped away United's lead at the top of League One. But Snodgrass earned Leeds a win their performance deserved, moving Simon Grayson's team onto an outstanding tally of 50 points in time for Christmas Day.United dropped two points at Brentford last Saturday, seven days after fighting out a 2-2 draw with Huddersfield Town, but the Yorkshire club appear to have emerged from a period which their captain, Richard Naylor, describ...

Southampton Daily Echo 19/12/09 Late goal agony for Saints at Leeds By Adam Leitch SAINTS fell to their first defeat in eight games as they were beaten 1-0 by league leaders Leeds at Elland Road. Robert Snodgrass’ goal on 77 minutes was the difference between the sides in a game played out by without doubt two of League One ’s best teams. There was no shame in Alan Pardew ’s team falling to a rare defeat but it left them with even less margin for error as they attempt to climb the table over Christmas and New Year. Both sides had to contend with some tricky underfoot conditions as a smattering of snow lay uncleared in a strip that covered the middle portion of the pitch. The first shot of the game came early on from Robert Snodgrass but from distance he sliced it well over the bar. Saints were lucky to escape on five minutes when Neil Kilkenny’s ball down the middle split the Saints defence and sent Jermaine Beckford away. Wayne Thomas sprinted to get back at him and the pressure he e...

Yorkshire Evening Post 19/12/09 Grayson's year in the hot seat – Hay Phil Hay On the afternoon when Simon Grayson left Blackpool to become Leeds United's manager, I made contact with Steve Walsh, his former Leicester City team-mate, for his opinion on the appointment. Twelve months on, the club's choice can be justified in any number of ways, but at the time of the announcement it was a surprise, made by a club under pressure and who seemed prepared to go out on a limb. Grayson was a 20-1 shot until word spread amongst the football community and Victor Chandler were then buried under an avalanche of bets. Something of a risk? Walsh didn't think so. "I saw a lot of names mentioned when the position became available, some bigger names than Simon's with respect to him, but personally I'd go for track record every time," he said. "That's the mark of a good manager." More intriguing was Walsh's throwaway remark as he rang off. "Rememb...

Leedsunited.com 15/12/09 GRAYSON'S MEN BOOK AREA FINAL BERTH LEEDS 2 (Ephraim 9, Kilkenny 50), ACCRINGTON STANLEY 0 United manager Simon Grayson again made a number of changes as his side played their sixth game in the space of 15 days. Loan goalkeeper David Martin was handed a debut while Richard Naylor returned from injury. There were also starting places for Rob Snodgrass, after suspension, David Prutton , Hogan Ephraim, Tresor Kandol, and Mike Grella . Accrington arrived on the back of a great away run that included victories over a number of the League Two promotion contenders, and it was the visitors who started brightly at Elland Road, winning their first corner inside the opening 60 seconds. But it was Leeds who were in front inside nine minutes, courtesy of Ephraim's first goal for the club. Prutton and Grella played a neat one-two before Ephraim's strike took a deflection of Phil Edwards to wrong-foot Accrington goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis. The goal was the brighte...

Leedsunited.com 14/12/09 MIXED EMOTIONS AFTER BRENTFORD STALEMATE Leeds United manager Simon Grayson was left with mixed emotions after seeing his side collect another important league point at Brentford on Saturday. The boss was delighted to see his side leave Griffin Park with another clean sheet, following the 0-0 draw, but felt his side were the more deserving winners of what was a scrappy contest. "We knew it would be a difficult place to go," said the United manager. "With the conditions and the way they lined-up with one up front we knew we would have to change things to express ourselves. It was a good test. "Their keeper made a great save from Jermaine in the first half, and maybe if that had gone in, things would have opened up a bit. "In the first half we didn't quite get the composure we needed and sometimes we rushed it a bit. At times, we didn't quite get to the level we wanted to, but we still created the better chances. "We were al...