Yorkshire Evening Post 2/12/09
Whites ease to Roses triumph at Oldham
By Phil Hay
Beyond accusing Leeds United of enjoying disproportionate luck, the response of Phil Parkinson to their loss at Millwall on the penultimate weekend of October was to describe the result as "good" for League One.
The league defeat was United's first of the season and is, to date, their last. Five victories and 15 points later, Parkinson's hope that the division his Charlton Athletic squad set out to win would not descend into a procession towards Elland Road seems ever more forlorn.
Goals in either half from Neil Kilkenny and Luciano Becchio notched the fifth of those victories at Boundary Park last night and continued the spurt that neither Millwall nor 17 other League One clubs have been able to seriously hinder. The division en masse remain six points back, with Parkinson's Charlton at their head and the majority of teams out of touch.
There are solid seasons developing beneath Leeds but none to compare with the campaign which is in progress at Elland Road. United have long had it in them to win emphatically and stylishly; what has carried them clear is their unflinching consistency and a knack of profiting on nights as wet, cold and miserable as that they experienced at Boundary Park.
Rain pelted the pitch in Oldham throughout the first half and for most of the second, compounding perishing temperatures on the far side of the Pennines. The conditions were liable to prevent either team from thriving, and for parts of the game they did, but Kilkenny opened the scoring with 37 minutes played and the result was almost a formality from then on.
United have all but forgotten the sensation of defeat; presently, they are none too familiar with the concept of drawing either, at least in their league fixtures. The disparity with Oldham was not always excessive but it was certainly tangible, in more ways than one. It seems to be so week after week.
News of this result should record not only the scoreline but the players who predominantly achieved it.
The team selected by Grayson last night was nothing if not surprising, below full strength through his own choice and a break from tradition for a manager whose changes tend to be enforced rather than tactical. It is sobering for the rest of League One to realise that United's coach has in his possession the best part of two satisfactory line-ups.
Among several bold decisions were a first league start of the season for David Prutton, a full debut for new loanee Hogan Ephraim and the relegation of Jermaine Beckford to the bench, the clearest indication that Grayson's confidence in his squad is burgeoning. His judgement was duly vindicated.
Beckford's omission must have beggared belief in Oldham's injury-stricken camp, who were lamenting the loss of their biggest attacking asset, Chris Taylor, to a hamstring strain and looking anxiously for the goals which had eluded them in four of their previous five games.
The signing of Paul Heffernan from Doncaster Rovers last week was Dave Penney's best answer, though a fruitless one as it turned out.
It was rather Dean Furman who found himself on the end of the game's first opportunity, and his failure to convert a header from 12 yards was indicative of Oldham's main affliction.
Joe Colbeck's cross towards the penalty spot fell conveniently between United's central defenders, Lubomir Michalik and Leigh Bromby, but Furman's well-timed run gave way to an ill-judged finish which bounced at speed a foot wide of Casper Ankergren's net.
The chance after nine minutes was, until the opening goal 28 minutes later, as good as either team saw in a first half which was lent unpredictability by persistent showers and became competitive to the point of stalemate before Kilkenny scored from close range.
Leeds worked patiently on Oldham's defence but were at first unable to regularly replicate the type of telling pass from Kilkenny which almost picked the lock in front of him after 15 minutes.
His delicate through-ball anticipated the run of Jason Crowe, who lost Paul Black on the right wing and struck a shot beyond Darryl Flahavan's far post. It was a rare occasion before half-time when either goalkeeper found themselves staring down the barrel.
A searching free-kick from Ephraim was scraped away from Oldham's goalline on the half-hour, and Sam Vokes shot weakly at Flahavan when a long ball forward caught Lomax out of position. Vokes' instinctive look to the skies revealed how good an opportunity had gone to waste.
He was not forced to dwell on it for long. Six minutes later, Ephraim sent Max Gradel towards the corner flag with pass which invited the winger to exploit his pace, and Gradel worked himself into space on the left wing before delivering an undefendable cross which Kilkenny bundled into the net from four yards out.
The Australian's goal – a fitting reward for a player whose quiet authority was evident from the opening exchanges – was all the encouragement United needed. Gradel soon shot into Flahavan's arms from long range, and Kilkenny whipped the ball over Oldham's crossbar as the half wound down with Leeds camped around their hosts' box.
United's lead ought to have increased eight minutes into the second half when Gradel's lobbed pass played Vokes in behind Penney's centre-backs, consisting of an ageing Sean Gregan and a makeshift defender in Alex Marrow.
The striker lined up Flahavan but could not encourage the ball to drop quickly enough, and the keeper arrived quickly enough to block Vokes' belated shot.
When a header from Prutton fell to Vokes inside the box seven minutes later, his sliced effort from close range indicated that it would not be his night.
It was, however, to be Leeds' night, and by a comfortable enough margin.
Penney's players fought against the tide, and Colbeck glanced a header wide before Heffernan produced his only effort of the game with a shot on the turn which hit the side-netting, but Oldham are having one of those seasons, proven by an attendance of 7,793 of which United's away contingent accounted for more than half.
It was easy to sympathise during the closing stages when so little pressure weighed on Ankergren.
It was rather United's first substitute, Robert Snodgrass, who should have scored the second goal, denied by the reliable Flahavan after collecting Gradel's pass and finding his path to Oldham's keeper clear.
Three minutes later, Becchio - another replacement who could expect to grace most starting line-ups in United's league – rushed onto the next invite from a restless Gradel and slipped a shot sweetly to Flahavan's right. There is apparently no answer to Grayson's clinical cast of thousands.
The Times 2/12/09
Neil Kilkenny and Luciano Becchio help Leeds maintain their advantage at the top
Oldham Athletic 0 Leeds United 2
Jeremy Cross
Simon Grayson, the Leeds United manager, urged his side to show no mercy in their pursuit of promotion from Coca-Cola League One in the wake of this comfortable victory at Boundary Park.
Goals in each half from Neil Kilkenny and Luciano Becchio, a substitute, extended Leeds’s unbeaten run to eight matches, as they maintained a six-point cushion at the top of the table.
Leeds rarely had to extend themselves in the pouring rain, despite a brief flourish from Oldham Athletic at the start, and could even claim the spoils without having to call upon Jermaine Beckford, their leading scorer, who was rested.
Kilkenny converted Max Gradel’s cross in the 37th minute to end the stalemate before Becchio doubled the advantage late on to put the result beyond doubt.
“We are utilising the squad now because of the busy period we have coming up,” Grayson said. “We want to win every game that we play. We’re playing well at the moment and have a lot of belief and confidence. People don’t want to lose their places in the team, which can only be a good thing.
“The recent results show what a level-headed group of players we have. We need to keep that focus now because we know what we have to do to succeed.”
Dave Penney, the Oldham manager, said: “It was a struggle and Leeds got the result they deserved. They are top quality.”
leedsunited.com 1/12/09
UNITED TWO GOOD FOR OLDHAM
OLDHAM 0, LEEDS UNITED 2 (Kilkenny 37, Becchio 83)
Oldham: Flahavan, Lomax, Gregan, Black, Whitaker, Marrow, Colbeck, Furman (Stephens 90), Smalley (Brooke 78), Heffernan, Parker (Blackman 87). Subs: Brill, Jacobson, Lee, McKerr
United: Ankergren, Crowe, Bromby, Michalik, Capaldi, Howson, Prutton, Kilkenny, Ephraim
(Snodgrass 74), Gradel (Grella 87), Vokes (Becchio 77). Subs: D Martin, Beckford, Marques, White.
Referee: C Webster
Booked: Marrow, Black (Oldham)
Att: 7793 (4151 Leeds)
United manager Simon Grayson rang the changes for the trip to Oldham Athletic with Jermaine Beckford and Rob Snodgrass dropping to the bench, and Micky Doyle sitting out the game.
It meant a debut for loan man Hogan Ephraim, a first league start since Boxing Day for David Prutton, and recalls for Max Gradel and Sam Vokes, who started as the striking partnership.
Once again, United were greeted by heavy rain on what was a cold night in Oldham, but over 4,000 travelling fans filled the Rochdale Road End to supply over half of the Boundary Park attendance.
It was a solid opening 10 minutes from both sides before Oldham fashioned out the first good chance of the game. Joe Colbeck got the better of Jason Crowe and Dean Furman should have done better with a free header in front of goal.
When United carved out an opening on 13 minutes - Neil Kilkenny threading through for Prutton who was clear on goal - an offside flag was raised.
Another great pass from the United midfielder almost led to a United opener on the quarter-hour. Kilkenny picked out the advancing Crowe with a precision pass, but the United defender steered his shot past Darryl Flahavan and also past the upright.
Oldham looked more of an attacking threat than in the recent FA Cup tie, particularly when they looked to get the ball into wide areas, but as the game headed towards the half-hour mark, it was a fairly even contest with little action in either goalmouth. Prutton did fire over for United and both sides had corners cleared.
On 30 minutes, Deane Smalley was called upon to get the decisive touch on an Ephraim free-kick when Prutton was well-placed, and the Oldham striker was also called upon to clear the resultant corner. When Leeds came forward again, Vokes beat the offside trap to latch on to a Lubo Michalik ball forward, but his shot was straight at Flahavan.
But the opening goal came on 37 minutes and it was fitting that it came from the boot of the influential Kilkenny. Gradel was the provider, showing good skill to get in a cross from the Leeds left, and Kilkenny was on hand to tap the ball home inside the six-yard box.
Moments later, Gradel tried his luck from distance, testing Flahavan with a swirling strike. Kilkenny also tried his luck again with another good effort, this time from outside of the box.
Leeds finished the first half very strongly, Gradel almost released Vokes with a good through ball, and it took some good defending from Oldham during the closing stages to keep Grayson's men at bay.
United also came out of the traps flying the second half and Flahavan had to come off his line to deny Vokes, who latched on to a long ball over the top to run clear on goal. Prutton also headed over the top after Ephraim got in a cross from the left.
Oldham also gave away a needless free-kick deep in their own half when Paul Black appeared to clip Gradel while in pursuit of a ball that was well covered by home goalkeeper Flahavan. Ephraim's delivery was good and was scrambled away as United won back-to-back corners.
It was from the second of those that Vokes again went close on the hour-mark. Leigh Bromby met Gradel's corner with a powerful downward header and Vokes couldn't quite keep his shot down and he lifted it over the bar.
Leeds were the dominant side and Flahavan was again called upon to come off his line and punch clear another good free-kick delivery from Ephraim. Gradel was also denied by some quick thinking from Flahavan after some great work by Vokes.
But Oldham did have an opportunity on 69 minutes. Paul Heffernan seized after some hesitant defending, but he sent his shot into the side-netting when he had the goal at his mercy.
With 16 minutes left on the clock, Grayson made his first change of the night, Snodgrass replacing Ephraim, and Luciano Becchio was also introduced in place of Vokes two minutes later.
Snodgrass was denied almost immediately by more good thinking from Flahavan - the Oldham goalkeeper again racing off his line, after Gradel was the provider with a good ball through.
At the other Dean Furman sent a shot wide for Oldham, but as the game entered its final 10 minutes, United were looking in control of the game.
And the result was in no doubt in the 83rd minute when Gradel again provided a good pass, and Becchio showed good composure to finish beyond Flahavan. The goal sparked wild scenes on the away end, a mass exodus in the home areas, and a nice celebration involving the players, Grayson and his coaching staff.
The second goal also appeared to be the cue for the rain to fall even heavier, and the closing stages were played out in a near torrential storm. But United continued to be untroubled as the position at the top of the league was further strengthened with another clean-sheet victory.
Whites ease to Roses triumph at Oldham
By Phil Hay
Beyond accusing Leeds United of enjoying disproportionate luck, the response of Phil Parkinson to their loss at Millwall on the penultimate weekend of October was to describe the result as "good" for League One.
The league defeat was United's first of the season and is, to date, their last. Five victories and 15 points later, Parkinson's hope that the division his Charlton Athletic squad set out to win would not descend into a procession towards Elland Road seems ever more forlorn.
Goals in either half from Neil Kilkenny and Luciano Becchio notched the fifth of those victories at Boundary Park last night and continued the spurt that neither Millwall nor 17 other League One clubs have been able to seriously hinder. The division en masse remain six points back, with Parkinson's Charlton at their head and the majority of teams out of touch.
There are solid seasons developing beneath Leeds but none to compare with the campaign which is in progress at Elland Road. United have long had it in them to win emphatically and stylishly; what has carried them clear is their unflinching consistency and a knack of profiting on nights as wet, cold and miserable as that they experienced at Boundary Park.
Rain pelted the pitch in Oldham throughout the first half and for most of the second, compounding perishing temperatures on the far side of the Pennines. The conditions were liable to prevent either team from thriving, and for parts of the game they did, but Kilkenny opened the scoring with 37 minutes played and the result was almost a formality from then on.
United have all but forgotten the sensation of defeat; presently, they are none too familiar with the concept of drawing either, at least in their league fixtures. The disparity with Oldham was not always excessive but it was certainly tangible, in more ways than one. It seems to be so week after week.
News of this result should record not only the scoreline but the players who predominantly achieved it.
The team selected by Grayson last night was nothing if not surprising, below full strength through his own choice and a break from tradition for a manager whose changes tend to be enforced rather than tactical. It is sobering for the rest of League One to realise that United's coach has in his possession the best part of two satisfactory line-ups.
Among several bold decisions were a first league start of the season for David Prutton, a full debut for new loanee Hogan Ephraim and the relegation of Jermaine Beckford to the bench, the clearest indication that Grayson's confidence in his squad is burgeoning. His judgement was duly vindicated.
Beckford's omission must have beggared belief in Oldham's injury-stricken camp, who were lamenting the loss of their biggest attacking asset, Chris Taylor, to a hamstring strain and looking anxiously for the goals which had eluded them in four of their previous five games.
The signing of Paul Heffernan from Doncaster Rovers last week was Dave Penney's best answer, though a fruitless one as it turned out.
It was rather Dean Furman who found himself on the end of the game's first opportunity, and his failure to convert a header from 12 yards was indicative of Oldham's main affliction.
Joe Colbeck's cross towards the penalty spot fell conveniently between United's central defenders, Lubomir Michalik and Leigh Bromby, but Furman's well-timed run gave way to an ill-judged finish which bounced at speed a foot wide of Casper Ankergren's net.
The chance after nine minutes was, until the opening goal 28 minutes later, as good as either team saw in a first half which was lent unpredictability by persistent showers and became competitive to the point of stalemate before Kilkenny scored from close range.
Leeds worked patiently on Oldham's defence but were at first unable to regularly replicate the type of telling pass from Kilkenny which almost picked the lock in front of him after 15 minutes.
His delicate through-ball anticipated the run of Jason Crowe, who lost Paul Black on the right wing and struck a shot beyond Darryl Flahavan's far post. It was a rare occasion before half-time when either goalkeeper found themselves staring down the barrel.
A searching free-kick from Ephraim was scraped away from Oldham's goalline on the half-hour, and Sam Vokes shot weakly at Flahavan when a long ball forward caught Lomax out of position. Vokes' instinctive look to the skies revealed how good an opportunity had gone to waste.
He was not forced to dwell on it for long. Six minutes later, Ephraim sent Max Gradel towards the corner flag with pass which invited the winger to exploit his pace, and Gradel worked himself into space on the left wing before delivering an undefendable cross which Kilkenny bundled into the net from four yards out.
The Australian's goal – a fitting reward for a player whose quiet authority was evident from the opening exchanges – was all the encouragement United needed. Gradel soon shot into Flahavan's arms from long range, and Kilkenny whipped the ball over Oldham's crossbar as the half wound down with Leeds camped around their hosts' box.
United's lead ought to have increased eight minutes into the second half when Gradel's lobbed pass played Vokes in behind Penney's centre-backs, consisting of an ageing Sean Gregan and a makeshift defender in Alex Marrow.
The striker lined up Flahavan but could not encourage the ball to drop quickly enough, and the keeper arrived quickly enough to block Vokes' belated shot.
When a header from Prutton fell to Vokes inside the box seven minutes later, his sliced effort from close range indicated that it would not be his night.
It was, however, to be Leeds' night, and by a comfortable enough margin.
Penney's players fought against the tide, and Colbeck glanced a header wide before Heffernan produced his only effort of the game with a shot on the turn which hit the side-netting, but Oldham are having one of those seasons, proven by an attendance of 7,793 of which United's away contingent accounted for more than half.
It was easy to sympathise during the closing stages when so little pressure weighed on Ankergren.
It was rather United's first substitute, Robert Snodgrass, who should have scored the second goal, denied by the reliable Flahavan after collecting Gradel's pass and finding his path to Oldham's keeper clear.
Three minutes later, Becchio - another replacement who could expect to grace most starting line-ups in United's league – rushed onto the next invite from a restless Gradel and slipped a shot sweetly to Flahavan's right. There is apparently no answer to Grayson's clinical cast of thousands.
The Times 2/12/09
Neil Kilkenny and Luciano Becchio help Leeds maintain their advantage at the top
Oldham Athletic 0 Leeds United 2
Jeremy Cross
Simon Grayson, the Leeds United manager, urged his side to show no mercy in their pursuit of promotion from Coca-Cola League One in the wake of this comfortable victory at Boundary Park.
Goals in each half from Neil Kilkenny and Luciano Becchio, a substitute, extended Leeds’s unbeaten run to eight matches, as they maintained a six-point cushion at the top of the table.
Leeds rarely had to extend themselves in the pouring rain, despite a brief flourish from Oldham Athletic at the start, and could even claim the spoils without having to call upon Jermaine Beckford, their leading scorer, who was rested.
Kilkenny converted Max Gradel’s cross in the 37th minute to end the stalemate before Becchio doubled the advantage late on to put the result beyond doubt.
“We are utilising the squad now because of the busy period we have coming up,” Grayson said. “We want to win every game that we play. We’re playing well at the moment and have a lot of belief and confidence. People don’t want to lose their places in the team, which can only be a good thing.
“The recent results show what a level-headed group of players we have. We need to keep that focus now because we know what we have to do to succeed.”
Dave Penney, the Oldham manager, said: “It was a struggle and Leeds got the result they deserved. They are top quality.”
leedsunited.com 1/12/09
UNITED TWO GOOD FOR OLDHAM
OLDHAM 0, LEEDS UNITED 2 (Kilkenny 37, Becchio 83)
Oldham: Flahavan, Lomax, Gregan, Black, Whitaker, Marrow, Colbeck, Furman (Stephens 90), Smalley (Brooke 78), Heffernan, Parker (Blackman 87). Subs: Brill, Jacobson, Lee, McKerr
United: Ankergren, Crowe, Bromby, Michalik, Capaldi, Howson, Prutton, Kilkenny, Ephraim
(Snodgrass 74), Gradel (Grella 87), Vokes (Becchio 77). Subs: D Martin, Beckford, Marques, White.Referee: C Webster
Booked: Marrow, Black (Oldham)
Att: 7793 (4151 Leeds)
United manager Simon Grayson rang the changes for the trip to Oldham Athletic with Jermaine Beckford and Rob Snodgrass dropping to the bench, and Micky Doyle sitting out the game.
It meant a debut for loan man Hogan Ephraim, a first league start since Boxing Day for David Prutton, and recalls for Max Gradel and Sam Vokes, who started as the striking partnership.
Once again, United were greeted by heavy rain on what was a cold night in Oldham, but over 4,000 travelling fans filled the Rochdale Road End to supply over half of the Boundary Park attendance.
It was a solid opening 10 minutes from both sides before Oldham fashioned out the first good chance of the game. Joe Colbeck got the better of Jason Crowe and Dean Furman should have done better with a free header in front of goal.
When United carved out an opening on 13 minutes - Neil Kilkenny threading through for Prutton who was clear on goal - an offside flag was raised.
Another great pass from the United midfielder almost led to a United opener on the quarter-hour. Kilkenny picked out the advancing Crowe with a precision pass, but the United defender steered his shot past Darryl Flahavan and also past the upright.
Oldham looked more of an attacking threat than in the recent FA Cup tie, particularly when they looked to get the ball into wide areas, but as the game headed towards the half-hour mark, it was a fairly even contest with little action in either goalmouth. Prutton did fire over for United and both sides had corners cleared.
On 30 minutes, Deane Smalley was called upon to get the decisive touch on an Ephraim free-kick when Prutton was well-placed, and the Oldham striker was also called upon to clear the resultant corner. When Leeds came forward again, Vokes beat the offside trap to latch on to a Lubo Michalik ball forward, but his shot was straight at Flahavan.
But the opening goal came on 37 minutes and it was fitting that it came from the boot of the influential Kilkenny. Gradel was the provider, showing good skill to get in a cross from the Leeds left, and Kilkenny was on hand to tap the ball home inside the six-yard box.
Moments later, Gradel tried his luck from distance, testing Flahavan with a swirling strike. Kilkenny also tried his luck again with another good effort, this time from outside of the box.
Leeds finished the first half very strongly, Gradel almost released Vokes with a good through ball, and it took some good defending from Oldham during the closing stages to keep Grayson's men at bay.
United also came out of the traps flying the second half and Flahavan had to come off his line to deny Vokes, who latched on to a long ball over the top to run clear on goal. Prutton also headed over the top after Ephraim got in a cross from the left.
Oldham also gave away a needless free-kick deep in their own half when Paul Black appeared to clip Gradel while in pursuit of a ball that was well covered by home goalkeeper Flahavan. Ephraim's delivery was good and was scrambled away as United won back-to-back corners.
It was from the second of those that Vokes again went close on the hour-mark. Leigh Bromby met Gradel's corner with a powerful downward header and Vokes couldn't quite keep his shot down and he lifted it over the bar.
Leeds were the dominant side and Flahavan was again called upon to come off his line and punch clear another good free-kick delivery from Ephraim. Gradel was also denied by some quick thinking from Flahavan after some great work by Vokes.
But Oldham did have an opportunity on 69 minutes. Paul Heffernan seized after some hesitant defending, but he sent his shot into the side-netting when he had the goal at his mercy.
With 16 minutes left on the clock, Grayson made his first change of the night, Snodgrass replacing Ephraim, and Luciano Becchio was also introduced in place of Vokes two minutes later.
Snodgrass was denied almost immediately by more good thinking from Flahavan - the Oldham goalkeeper again racing off his line, after Gradel was the provider with a good ball through.
At the other Dean Furman sent a shot wide for Oldham, but as the game entered its final 10 minutes, United were looking in control of the game.
And the result was in no doubt in the 83rd minute when Gradel again provided a good pass, and Becchio showed good composure to finish beyond Flahavan. The goal sparked wild scenes on the away end, a mass exodus in the home areas, and a nice celebration involving the players, Grayson and his coaching staff.
The second goal also appeared to be the cue for the rain to fall even heavier, and the closing stages were played out in a near torrential storm. But United continued to be untroubled as the position at the top of the league was further strengthened with another clean-sheet victory.