Yorkshire Evening Post 3/10/11
Leeds United 1 Portsmouth 0: Lees and Pugh looking to return of the good times
SIMON GRAYSON revealed he had issued a final warning to his defenders and they heeded his words by keeping Leeds United’s first clean sheet of the season.
It capped a tremendous week in the fledgling career of Tom Lees, who has ambitions of emulating boyhood hero Jonathan Woodgate in the heart of the United defence.
Awarded a new four-year contract by Leeds manager Grayson, Lees responded with a mature performance after being switched inside to his prefered central defensive role, Paul Connolly being brought in at right-back with Leigh Bromby dropped to the bench.
Having been at the club for 12 years, the 20-year-old has witnessed the demise of Leeds but wants to see them again emulate the feats when Woodgate was in a side which reached the semi-finals of the European Champions League.
Lees reflected: “There is a much better feeling in the dressing room than last Friday (the 3-3 draw at Brighton). I think the hard work we put in during the week has paid off. The important thing was that we weathered the storm in the second half and got our first clean sheet. As defenders, we can’t ask for any more, that’s all we are focussed on. All the lads at the back did really well and the lads in front protected us brilliantly.
“It was a perfect round-off to the week and I am really grateful for the club and the manager and the other people involved in sorting out my contract. I couldn’t have been any happier coming into this match.
“I have been at the club since I was eight years old so I used to watch Woodgate playing in the Premier League, Champions League week in, week out. He was a top player and I would like to enjoy the career he has had without the injuries, of course. I have only played one game at centre-half and, hopefully, I will be there for the next game. That is my ultimate aim to play in that position.”
Another Leeds player celebrating was Danny Pugh, who marked his second Elland Road ‘debut’ with the winner which keeps them in touch with the top six.
He headed into the roof of the net in the 14th minute, racing in from the left unmarked to meet a deep inswing corner from Robert Snodgrass.
Pugh, part of the deal which took Alan Smith to Manchester United in 2004, and on loan from Stoke with a view to a permanent signing in January, said: “To get a goal in my first home game since I came back is really pleasing. To get the goal, clean sheet and three points is a good day all round.”
At 28, a more mature Pugh says: “This move is a fantastic opportunity for myself. I’ve got a lot to prove, a lot to achieve and it’s a great place to come and do that.
“There’s no reason why Leeds can’t get back into the Premier League. From the two games I’ve been involved in, you can definitely take more positives than negatives and there is no reason why we can’t build on that.
“The aim of this club is to get back in the Premier League. I didn’t achieve that the first time I was here but maybe we can rectify that.”
Manager Grayson said of Pugh’s return: “He has brought a bit of experience and know-how to the team. He combines very well with Aidey White because he has played at left-back, too. With Danny here, we can be a little bit more solid but do the attacking side as well.”
The Leeds chief conceded a midweek break had helped, adding: “I said to the players before the game and at half-time that we can run this team into the ground. We had had a free week, have younger players – inexperienced players compared to Portsmouth’s – and on a hot day and with them having had a long journey and a game in midweek I believed we could take advantage and I think we did.”
Delighted to have kept Pompey scoreless, he revealed: “I hope the penny has dropped. One or two were on their last warnings today. I criticised the back four last week which is something I do not normally do because we win as a team and lose as a team but I just felt it was time that people had to take responsibility for what’s happened and they have responded in the right manner.”
It was a surprise that Pugh’s goal was the only one of the match.
Leeds dominated the first period yet, ironically, this was the time when Pompey went closest to breaking through.
Greg Halford, who made a tremendous block to deny Ross McCormack, saw Andy Lonergan go full length to paw a header from a free-kick and then headed against the bar when the ball was chipped back in. The defender was denied again before the break when the Leeds goalkeeper punched away his free-kick at the foot of the left-hand post.
After the break, Pompey were a transformed force following the interval introduction of Kanu to partner previous lone striker Benjani and with Liam Lawrence moving out to the flank.
Leeds were a shade guilty of sitting too far back, inviting the pressure yet Lonergan received better cover in this period.
It took until the later stages for Leeds to threaten and force their only corner of the half – their 10th in all – and for substitute Mikael Forssell and Jonny Howson to test Pompey debutant goalkeeper Stephen Henderson.

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