Solace for Whites at condition of Byram
YEP 30/9/13
by Phil Hay
Sam Byram gave Leeds United a timely lift after their “devastating” loss to Millwall by admitting he was confident of avoiding surgery on his problematic hip.
Byram spoke of grim disappointment in Leeds’ dressing room in the wake of a third- straight league defeat but offered renewed hope that his involvement in the club’s Championship season will not be halted by an operation.
United’s player of the year has been back in the first-team fold at Elland Road for little over a week after a five-month fight for fitness and he made his third appearance in the space of eight days during United’s defeat at The New Den on Saturday.
Brian McDermott’s squad had hoped to end a short spell of poor form in London but second-half goals from Martyn Woolford and Scott Malone put pressure on Leeds ahead of their 10th league fixture at home to Bournemouth tomorrow.
Byram could be recalled for that game having played as a substitute against Millwall and he expects to feature heavily this term after fighting off the threat of an operation which seemed inevitable in early August.
“It’s looking positive,” the 20-year-old said.
“The physios have done great work with me and I’ve gone from being a bit down and miserable to a position where things have lifted.
“I’m not getting as much pain as I was before and it feels better so fingers crossed.
“I just have to manage it.
“I feel I’ve got a lot more to give in my performances and a lot of fitness to build up, and it’s hard to go from being out for a few months to going straight back into the team.
“Everyone’s had a pre-season and I’ve not done one.
“It’s frustrating not being able to come back in and be right on it, at my best, but I’m trying to get there.”
Byram started United’s defeat to Burnley last weekend and was used for 90 minutes during a League Cup tie at Newcastle United in midweek but he was replaced by Lee Peltier at right-back on Saturday with McDermott keen to protect him.
The defender took to the pitch in a midfield role on 70 minutes with Leeds trailing to Woolford’s 20-yard strike and a neat finish from Malone five minutes later condemned United to a demoralising loss.
McDermott pulled no punches afterwards, criticising the second-half performance, and Byram said: “We’re massively disappointed. “To go all that way and get beat like that is not the best.
He added: “It’s always hard going to Millwall because it’s never technical and you always have to try and get a result from a scrappy game.
“We weren’t clinical enough and we didn’t create many chances.
“The lads are absolutely devastated, not just for ourselves but for the fans who travelled as well. It’s not nice for anyone.”
United’s clash with Bournemouth tomorrow is a meeting with a side beaten heavily by Blackburn Rovers on Saturday and whose defensive record is the worst in the Championship.
Leeds, meanwhile, are the second lowest-scoring side in the league after a blank day in south London.
Byram said: “We always try to stay positive and look forward to the next game.
“There’s nothing we can do about Millwall so we need to focus on Tuesday and try and get a win.
“At the moment I think we just have to look at keeping clean sheets. If you keep a clean sheet then the goals will come. And if they don’t come then you still get your draws.
“It’s like the gaffer says – if we keep clean sheets then other teams will get frustrated and we’ll start to get chances.
“All you’re looking to do is put one away.
“Win 1-0 and it’s still three points.
“You’d take that.”
by Phil Hay
Sam Byram gave Leeds United a timely lift after their “devastating” loss to Millwall by admitting he was confident of avoiding surgery on his problematic hip.
Byram spoke of grim disappointment in Leeds’ dressing room in the wake of a third- straight league defeat but offered renewed hope that his involvement in the club’s Championship season will not be halted by an operation.
United’s player of the year has been back in the first-team fold at Elland Road for little over a week after a five-month fight for fitness and he made his third appearance in the space of eight days during United’s defeat at The New Den on Saturday.
Brian McDermott’s squad had hoped to end a short spell of poor form in London but second-half goals from Martyn Woolford and Scott Malone put pressure on Leeds ahead of their 10th league fixture at home to Bournemouth tomorrow.
Byram could be recalled for that game having played as a substitute against Millwall and he expects to feature heavily this term after fighting off the threat of an operation which seemed inevitable in early August.
“It’s looking positive,” the 20-year-old said.
“The physios have done great work with me and I’ve gone from being a bit down and miserable to a position where things have lifted.
“I’m not getting as much pain as I was before and it feels better so fingers crossed.
“I just have to manage it.
“I feel I’ve got a lot more to give in my performances and a lot of fitness to build up, and it’s hard to go from being out for a few months to going straight back into the team.
“Everyone’s had a pre-season and I’ve not done one.
“It’s frustrating not being able to come back in and be right on it, at my best, but I’m trying to get there.”
Byram started United’s defeat to Burnley last weekend and was used for 90 minutes during a League Cup tie at Newcastle United in midweek but he was replaced by Lee Peltier at right-back on Saturday with McDermott keen to protect him.
The defender took to the pitch in a midfield role on 70 minutes with Leeds trailing to Woolford’s 20-yard strike and a neat finish from Malone five minutes later condemned United to a demoralising loss.
McDermott pulled no punches afterwards, criticising the second-half performance, and Byram said: “We’re massively disappointed. “To go all that way and get beat like that is not the best.
He added: “It’s always hard going to Millwall because it’s never technical and you always have to try and get a result from a scrappy game.
“We weren’t clinical enough and we didn’t create many chances.
“The lads are absolutely devastated, not just for ourselves but for the fans who travelled as well. It’s not nice for anyone.”
United’s clash with Bournemouth tomorrow is a meeting with a side beaten heavily by Blackburn Rovers on Saturday and whose defensive record is the worst in the Championship.
Leeds, meanwhile, are the second lowest-scoring side in the league after a blank day in south London.
Byram said: “We always try to stay positive and look forward to the next game.
“There’s nothing we can do about Millwall so we need to focus on Tuesday and try and get a win.
“At the moment I think we just have to look at keeping clean sheets. If you keep a clean sheet then the goals will come. And if they don’t come then you still get your draws.
“It’s like the gaffer says – if we keep clean sheets then other teams will get frustrated and we’ll start to get chances.
“All you’re looking to do is put one away.
“Win 1-0 and it’s still three points.
“You’d take that.”