Leeds 1-1 Peterborough: Byram strike not enough to earn the Whites all three points
Through It All Together 12/3/13
By Tom Crowther
Sam Byram’s third goal of the season was not enough for Leeds to take all three points in front of 24,240 at Elland Road in an entertaining score draw. Dwight Gayle opened the scoring for the Posh who gave as good as they got on the night.
Manager Neil Warnock named an unchanged starting eleven for the sixth game running; the last time the Whites managed that was in 1992. El-Hadji Diouf recovered from illness to replace Ryan Hall on the substitute’s bench.
Peterborough started the stronger of the two sides and Dwight Gayle had the first real clear cut chance on 13 minutes as his effort smacked against the crossbar.
The following attack Peterborough deservedly took the lead through Gayle. The former Dagenham striker took on Peltier and finished tidily leaving Paddy Kenny with no chance.
To make matters worse for the Whites, the United backline had to be disrupted when Tom Lees was taken off with an injury and replaced by Jason Pearce.
Leeds finally enjoyed their first spell of pressure after 28 minutes when Ross McCormack, making his 100th appearance for the club, had a shot blocked by the Posh defence.
The game really opened up after half an hour and both sides had chances to score. The away side caused Leeds all sorts of problems on the break and after a poor punch from Paddy Kenny; Kane Ferdinand’s effort was cleared off the six yard line with Kenny stranded.
At the other end, Leeds should have equalised through Jason Pearce who will be disappointed he didn’t find the net. He headed over from a corner when it was easier for him to score.
In stoppage time the Whites once again threatened after good build up play from Paul Green and Sam Byram but Steve Morison dragged his shot wide of Bobby Olejnik’s goal.
Leeds failed to score in the first half for the 13th consecutive game.
At half time Warnock brought on El-Hadji Diouf for Morison with McCormack moving to a more central role. According to Warnock, Morison had been playing through the pain barrier at Leicester and Crystal Palace, therefore Warnock may have made the right decision not to aggravate the injury he may have sustained.
It was Peterborough who started the brightest once again as Gayle had a great chance to double the Posh’s lead but his effort went wide of a relieved Kenny.
After 56 minutes Leeds finally drew level through Sam Byram. The right back arrived late at the back post to stab home a Stephen Warnock corner.
Like the first half, the second half became really open with chances at both ends as the game was approaching the 70th minute. Peterborough looked threatening throughout on the break as Lee Tomlin and Gayle found a lot of space behind the Leeds backline.
With 14 minutes remaining, Luke Varney did find a way through when he finished off a good move by stroking the ball past Posh keeper Olejnik, only to be denied by an offside flag.
At the other end, Kenny came to United's rescue with eight minutes remaining when he made a terrific save from Gayle after the Peterborough man looked to capitalise on a defensive error.
Leeds piled on the pressure in the four minutes of added time but couldn’t find a winner and the game finished all square. Leeds failed to put pressure on the teams above and the draw leaves them five points off the play-offs.
Disappointing result for the Whites and this could well be the end of United’s play-off aspirations. I feel that we won’t get anywhere without another good goal scorer to rely upon.
By Tom Crowther
Sam Byram’s third goal of the season was not enough for Leeds to take all three points in front of 24,240 at Elland Road in an entertaining score draw. Dwight Gayle opened the scoring for the Posh who gave as good as they got on the night.
Manager Neil Warnock named an unchanged starting eleven for the sixth game running; the last time the Whites managed that was in 1992. El-Hadji Diouf recovered from illness to replace Ryan Hall on the substitute’s bench.
Peterborough started the stronger of the two sides and Dwight Gayle had the first real clear cut chance on 13 minutes as his effort smacked against the crossbar.
The following attack Peterborough deservedly took the lead through Gayle. The former Dagenham striker took on Peltier and finished tidily leaving Paddy Kenny with no chance.
To make matters worse for the Whites, the United backline had to be disrupted when Tom Lees was taken off with an injury and replaced by Jason Pearce.
Leeds finally enjoyed their first spell of pressure after 28 minutes when Ross McCormack, making his 100th appearance for the club, had a shot blocked by the Posh defence.
The game really opened up after half an hour and both sides had chances to score. The away side caused Leeds all sorts of problems on the break and after a poor punch from Paddy Kenny; Kane Ferdinand’s effort was cleared off the six yard line with Kenny stranded.
At the other end, Leeds should have equalised through Jason Pearce who will be disappointed he didn’t find the net. He headed over from a corner when it was easier for him to score.
In stoppage time the Whites once again threatened after good build up play from Paul Green and Sam Byram but Steve Morison dragged his shot wide of Bobby Olejnik’s goal.
Leeds failed to score in the first half for the 13th consecutive game.
At half time Warnock brought on El-Hadji Diouf for Morison with McCormack moving to a more central role. According to Warnock, Morison had been playing through the pain barrier at Leicester and Crystal Palace, therefore Warnock may have made the right decision not to aggravate the injury he may have sustained.
It was Peterborough who started the brightest once again as Gayle had a great chance to double the Posh’s lead but his effort went wide of a relieved Kenny.
After 56 minutes Leeds finally drew level through Sam Byram. The right back arrived late at the back post to stab home a Stephen Warnock corner.
Like the first half, the second half became really open with chances at both ends as the game was approaching the 70th minute. Peterborough looked threatening throughout on the break as Lee Tomlin and Gayle found a lot of space behind the Leeds backline.
With 14 minutes remaining, Luke Varney did find a way through when he finished off a good move by stroking the ball past Posh keeper Olejnik, only to be denied by an offside flag.
At the other end, Kenny came to United's rescue with eight minutes remaining when he made a terrific save from Gayle after the Peterborough man looked to capitalise on a defensive error.
Leeds piled on the pressure in the four minutes of added time but couldn’t find a winner and the game finished all square. Leeds failed to put pressure on the teams above and the draw leaves them five points off the play-offs.
Disappointing result for the Whites and this could well be the end of United’s play-off aspirations. I feel that we won’t get anywhere without another good goal scorer to rely upon.