Yorkshire Evening Post 26/11/10 Safety is our first target – Grayson Simon Grayson today insisted he would not give serious thought to whether Leeds United can sustain a push towards the play-offs until his team have secured Championship survival.The Whites boss claimed the majority of clubs in the division were still credible contenders for a top-six finish with 18 games played and a bottleneck of clubs behind his own in a congested league table. Leeds will meet one of them, Brian McDermott's Reading, at the Madejski Stadium tomorrow and the Elland Road club are defending a top-six position after holding on to fifth with a 1-1 draw at Norwich City last weekend. United are more than halfway towards achieving the total of points likely to be needed to protect them from relegation in May, but their manager is not ready to assess the likelihood of Leeds maintaining their current standing, despite a five-game unbeaten run and the surge in momentum behind his squad. "I'll think...
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Yorkshire Evening Post 25/11/10 Leeds United keen on O'Brien deal – Bates By Phil Hay Leeds United have secured the short-term future of Bolton Wanderers defender Andy O'Brien – and the club will push for a longer deal when the transfer window opens in January. United erased concern about the possibility of O'Brien returning to the Reebok Stadium after this weekend's game at Reading by negotiating to keep the influential centre-back at Elland Road until the turn of the year. O'Brien's initial month's loan was due to end on Saturday but Leeds were anxious to retain an experience player who has contributed significantly to their impressive league form during his four-week spell in West Yorkshire. An extension with Bolton until January was set to be signed today. The 31-year-old came to Leeds on October 29 with the club toiling at the end of a run of four defeats from five Championship games, but his arrival coincided with the start of a five-match unbeaten run...
leedsunited.com 20/11/10 HONOURS END EVEN AT NORWICH NORWICH 1 (Barnett 65), UNITED 1 (Gradel 13) Manager Simon Grayson made one change to his starting line-up, recalling Luciano Becchio for Davide Somma for the clash with Norwich City. The hosts were expecting a record Carrow Road attendance since the stadium became all-seater and United were backed by a sell-out 2,300 fans. There was a decent atmosphere as United looked to build on an impressive away run, but it was Norwich who had the first effort on goal when Andrew Surman whipped in a free-kick and Elliott Ward headed over. Alex Bruce also made a decisive early clearance when Norwich came forward again. In reply, during a frenetic opening few minutes, both Bradley Johnson and Jonny Howson tried their luck from distance. United were looking to hit the home side on the counter and one early raid ended with Max Gradel winning a corner which was cleared. Leeds had some defending to do, but both Bruce and Andy O'Brien were lo...
New pages uploaded at mightyleeds.co.uk Leeds United in Panto When Jimmy Armfield took over an ailing Leeds side in 1974, only one thing could get them back on track: a pantomime Four Four Two feature from January 2009 - Steve Anglesey Read the full story at http://www.mightyleeds.co.uk/misc/panto74.htm Terry Hibbitt – A wayward genius Frail of build and bandy of leg, Hibbitt was no classic athlete, but he was an outstanding midfielder, playing cultured and intelligent football. He possessed a great range of passing skills and an inspired feel for the through ball Read the full story at http://www.mightyleeds.co.uk/players/hibbitt.htm Don Weston – Wing heeled wonder Weston was one of the fastest players ever to play for Leeds United, signed by Don Revie as a replacement for John Charles in 1962 and spearheading their Second Division title win in 1964 Read the full story at http://www.mightyleeds.co.uk/players/westondon.htm Plus thumbnail autobiographies of United players from the 60s B...
leedsunited.com BECCHIO HAT-TRICK SINKS BRISTOL CITY UNITED 3 (Becchio 65, 69, 83), BRISTOL CITY 1 (Stead 67) United manager Simon Grayson made one change from the side which drew with Hull in midweek, striker Davide Somma replacing Luciano Becchio . Somma, who was due to join up with the South African squad after the game, was an early threat. First he put David James under pressure when in pursuit of a Neil Kilkenny pass and moments later he tested the former England goalkeeper after good work by Jonny Howson . Max Gradel was an early threat in and around the box while Bradley Johnson also had a shot deflected for a corner as Leeds started the contest firmly on the front foot. In between, City's first real raid ended with Kasper Schmeichel receiving treatment after Jon Stead looked to meet a Danny Haynes cross. James came to the visitors rescue before the half-hour when Louis Carey almost turned a Snodgrass cross into his own goal. As City returned the ball forward quickly, ...
Yorkshire Evening Post 10/11/10 Mixed night for Whites midfielder Johnson By Phil Hay Bradley Johnson might feel the need to prove his value to Leeds United with contract talks between him and his club some way from a successful conclusion. The own goal he scored at Elland Road last night was no way to sell himself. The midfielder gave Leeds the sniff of a win over Hull City with his third goal of the season but ended a lively Yorkshire derby with the unkind distinction of beating both goalkeepers. His sliced clearance on 82 minutes was the defining moment on an evening of ever-shifting momentum. United trailed for 20 minutes of the first half but had victory within their grasp in the final throes of the match, handed to them by an Andy O'Brien header. But Johnson's woeful flick from Tom Cairney's corner, carrying the ball past Kasper Schmeichel, reprieved a Hull team who were starting to flag with 10 men and precious little time to salvage a draw. City's first goalscor...
leedsunited.com 9/11/10 LEVELLER DENIES UNITED DESERVED WIN UNITED 2 (Johnson 32, O'Brien 71), HULL 2 (Bostock 14, Harper 82) Leeds United manager Simon Grayson made three changes from the side which won 3-2 at Coventry on Saturday. Kasper Schmeichel returned in place of Jason Brown, Bradley Johnson came in for the injured Amdy Faye, and Alex Bruce was recalled for Neill Collins , who dropped to the bench. United fashioned out the first opening of the game and in similar fashion to the first goal at Coventry, Robert Snodgrass supplied a good delivery into the box which was scrambled clear from an advancing Jonny Howson . But it was Hull who drew first blood in the 14th minute with a powerful free-kick from Jon Bostock. The on-loan Tottenham youngster unleashed a stunning left foot strike from outside of the box leaving Schmeichel with no chance. The opening goal was the only meaningful shot of what was a tense opening period. Both sides enjoyed possession, but while Leeds show...
New pages uploaded at mightyleeds.co.uk 2009/10 Cup exploits Matches - 3/2/2010 - Leeds United 1 Tottenham Hotspur 3 It's FA Cup night at Elland Road as a memorable run continues - Jermain Defoe missed a host of golden opportunities but Leeds emerged with credit despite a hat trick from the England striker Read the full story at http://www.mightyleeds.co.uk/matches/20100203.htm Matches - 23/1/2010 - Tottenham Hotspur 2 Leeds United 2 The reward for the breathtaking third round victory at Old Trafford was a trip to another Premier League ground in the next round - Tottenham were the hosts in a game that was even more dramatic than its predecessor Read the full story at http://www.mightyleeds.co.uk/matches/20100123.htm Matches - 3/1/2010 - Manchester United 0 Leeds United 1 29 years of hurt up in a puff of smoke as League One Leeds go to the Theatre of Dreams and inflict humiliation on Sir Alex Ferguson and his Champions League winners - "We're not famous any more!" Rea...
Daily Mail 6/11/10 Coventry 2 Leeds 3: Robert Snodgrass making up for lost time Robert Snodgrass stole the show as Leeds recorded back-to-back wins with a thrilling 3-2 success at Coventry. The Scottish playmaker, regaining top form after an injury that ruled him out of the first seven weeks of the season, laid on an opener for the in-form Jonny Howson before netting a wonderful solo second. Fourth-placed Coventry hit back after the break through Lukas Jutkiewicz and, although Max Gradel's penalty was quickly cancelled out by Ben Turner's goal to set up a tense finish, Leeds held on to build on last weekend's 4-1 win at Scunthorpe. Howson scored a hat-trick that day and although he was again impressive, Snodgrass stole the show with a fine exhibition of wing play that had the Coventry defenders bedazzled all afternoon. Leeds' preparations were disrupted when goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel withdrew from the side on Friday night to be at the birth of his son, while Coventry...
Yorkshire Evening Post 1/11/10 Howson hat-trick inspires Whites It is a little-known fact that Jonny Howson was an aspiring striker in his academy years. Nothing in the 22-year-old's resume speaks of a pronounced talent for scoring goals. Only when Leeds United's first team began to beckon did the club rebrand Howson as a central midfielder, the position with which he is synonymous at Elland Road and from where his goals were liable to be limited. Five-a-season is Howson's average but that diminutive total belies his uncanny sense of timing. A first career hat-trick, scored against Scunthorpe United on Saturday, was four years and 169 appearances in the making; worth the wait for a club who needed inspiration and a shot in their arm. Howson's finishing touch – a get-out clause invoked by Leeds at crucial junctures of previous seasons – came to the fore in the second half at Glanford Park, delivering three goals in 15 minutes and winning decisively a game which was less ...
leedsunited.com 30/10/10 HOWSON HAT-TRICK SEALS AWAY SUCCESS SCUNTHORPE 1 (Byrne 27), LEEDS UNITED 4 (Gradel 8, Howson 60, 73, 75) United manager Simon Grayson handed a debut to loan man Andy O'Brien and recalled Neil Kilkenny and Max Gradel for the trip to Scunthorpe United. And it was O'Brien who was called upon inside the first minute with his first touch in a Leeds shirt being to deny a certain goal after Alex Bruce got a touch on a ball over the top. O'Brien looked assured in the matter of a few minutes after he made another important challenge on a goalbound Charlie Dagnall. But it was United who were in front inside eight minutes. Jonny Howson was the provider with a great ball forward and Gradel siezed to steer the ball wide of Tony Warner. It was a well-worked goal with a good finish and was just the confidence boost United after picking up successive league defeats. The opening exchanges were also littered with free-kicks, and there was a suggestion that the ...
Yorkshire Evening Post 30/10/10 Whites need a win to Iron out problems - Hay Days before the season began, I asked Leeds United's manager whether 21st position – the magic number for Championship clubs whose focus strays no further than self-preservation – struck him as an acceptable aim. "I certainly expect us to have a better season than that," he said, wary of classing survival as worthless but admitting that, as aspirations go, it lacked imagination. Credible consolidation in his mind was a more ambitious concept. The striking thing about Simon Grayson's rhetoric throughout the summer was the infrequency with which he spoke of the possibility of relegation. As a topic of conversation – and a natural one for a promoted club – it rarely came up. Occasionally he would warn of the worst-case scenario, remarking once that a resumption of the wilderness years in League One would "waste a lot of seriously hard work", but he gave the impression that retaining a ...
leedsunited.com 29/10/10 ANDY OB KEEN TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME New loan signing Andy O'Brien is hoping to make up for "lost time" after returning to the club he left 17 years ago. The Bolton Wanderers centre-back, who was released by the club as a 14-year-old, has joined Leeds on a month's loan and brings a wealth of experience, having made almost 500 career appearances with Bradford, Newcastle, Portsmouth, and Bolton. "I got a phone call from Owen Coyle and he said would I be interested," he said. "I said 'yes' and now I'm here. I've not played as much football as I would have liked so I am grateful for the opportunity, both to Leeds for wanting me and to Bolton for allowing me to come here. "Football's a cut-throat business and to get an opportunity to play at such a big club is an opportunity you have to take. "I'd like to think it's a win-win situation for Leeds as well because I am here to be working hard for a...