Leeds United v Oxford United: Reshuffled Whites prove too strong
By Phil Hay
A final at Wembley is asking too much – in this competition at any rate – but Leeds United met their manager’s daughter halfway last night by reaching the third round of the Capital One Cup.
The tournament is so often bypassed by Neil Warnock in the interest of other priorities but his conscience was tweaked two weeks ago by his daughter Amy asking whether he would consider taking the League Cup seriously and if Leeds might have the legs to win it.
Warnock could hardly promise the latter but United’s progression to the third round could produce what the League Cup has given Leeds twice in three years – a high-profile tie against club who might conceivably lift the trophy early next year. Liverpool in 2009 and Manchester United last season were the club’s commission for a serious approach. They await the draw with interest again.
There is more to a game of that nature than keeping Warnock’s family happy. It is a source of money too and Leeds as a club could do with some of that.
The team chosen by Warnock against Oxford United was selected as a means of protecting some of his prominent players and examining others who he did not expect to rely on so heavily.
It is likely that the transfer deadline will pass on Friday with no further expenditure at Elland Road.
Warnock’s side raised themselves from a lethargic start to subdue Oxford with first-half goals from Rodolph Austin and Sam Byram, their first scored in competitive games for Leeds. Austin’s finish was raking, in keeping with the man himself, and Byram’s the height of teenage zeal, chipped with audacity over the head of Oxford goalkeeper Ryan Clarke. The tie had no life left in it after 34 minutes.
For all his daughter’s pleading, Warnock exercised his right to do as he pleased last night, fielding a markedly different side to that used at Peterborough.
The exchange of places was numerous – six in all – but the transition smooth enough so see Oxford off. The League Two club came to Leeds with a stick to shake, top of their division after three straight wins.
Their appearance in the second round came via a penalty shoot-out against Bournemouth and the club were in the middle of a purple patch yesterday.
“There’ll be a shock somewhere,” said manager Chris Wilder before kick-off.
Had it not been for the sudden arrival of Austin’s goal on 26 minutes, his players might have threatened it but the second half was torture for them. Tom Lees rounded of the scoring with a header late in the game, by which time Oxford were being overrun.
The most notable inclusion in United’s line-up was El-Hadji Diouf, allaying the fear that he and the club might already have gone their separate ways after his short period on non-contract terms.
Diouf started up front alongside Andy Gray as Ross McCormack and Luciano Becchio stepped onto the sidelines. For once Warnock had no issue with the strength of his bench.
It was never his intention to rely on it but Oxford oozed confidence from the outset, passing their way through United’s midfield in the early minutes.
A mis-kicked by Jason Pearce – United’s captain for the night – caused panic leading to a blocked shot from Alfie Potter and a sliding save from Jamie Ashdown as James Constable stretched for the rebound, and Lees’ timely header denied Tony Capaldi a tap-in against the club he once represented without distinction.
With unfamiliar partnerships all over the field, Leeds grasped for the same fluency without immediate success.
Two shots from Sean Rigg and Adam Chapman – booked after only 10 minutes for a lazy lunge on Diouf – examined Ashdown’s handling on the keeper’s competitive debut and it took until the 20th minute for Warnock’s players to take a grip of Oxford and reel them in.
Wilder’s defence had conceded only once in four previous games and they patrolled their box steadily until Austin ran onto Aidan White’s pass and beat Clarke from 20 yards. The strike was fierce but Clarke got a hand to the ball, pushing it weakly into the corner of his net.
The tie turned in that moment and Oxford lost their way.
They were picked open again 11 minutes before half-time when Byram received a pass from Diouf, cut between two defenders and beat Clarke with an exquisite chip from 12 yards. The body language of Wilder’s players was almost resigned to a lost cause.
Clarke kept them in the game either side of half-time by parrying Diouf’s attempted lob and a header from Patrick Kisnorbo, but Ashdown’s reaction to a 51st-minute volley from Constable was important too, preventing a change in the wind.
It allowed Leeds to enjoy second half, and the crowd too.
The Kop delighted in Austin’s effort from 35 yards that swerved in front of Clarke and clipped top of the crossbar, and Byram’s volley at the end of a cross from Diouf was just as nonchalant, flying into the supporters behind Clarke’s net.
The siege on his goal was almost permanent and Lees took advantage 15 minutes from the end by meeting Diouf’s delivery from the right with a well-placed header.
The impressive Diouf took his leave of the pitch after that as Warnock replaced him and looked towards Saturday’s Championship meeting with Blackburn Rovers. It was always there, at the back of his mind.