Leeds United: Ace Pugh hails daddy of all weeks
YEP 25/11/13
by Phil Hay
Danny Pugh reflected on a remarkable change of personal fortune after chalking up a century of games for Leeds United during their 2-1 win over Middlesbrough.
Pugh rounded off a week in which he became a father for the second time with his 100th Leeds appearance and a display that laid further claim to a regular starting place at Elland Road. The 32-year-old has been a bit-part player at Leeds for the past 18 months and was trapped on the transfer list for much of that period but Brian McDermott ended a year-long absence from United’s line-up by naming him in his side at Charlton Athletic this month.
Pugh retained his place at left-back in front of a crowd of 30,000 at Elland Road on Saturday and played his part in a third straight league victory, a result which took United back into the Championship’s play-off zone for the first time since mid September.
The former Stoke City player – a £500,000 signing in January 2012 – said: “My wife had a little girl late on Thursday night so this has been a nice way to round off a special week.
“It’s been difficult for me not playing football but you have to stay as positive as possible.
“There’s been talk of loans, little sniffs and things like that, but nothing materialised. I’ve come back in and enjoyed it and I’ll try to kick on and see what happens. I’m not going to look far ahead.
“I’ll train and when needed, I’ll do the best I can. It’s been a perfect week for me.”
Leeds were helped on Saturday by the first-half dismissal of Middlesbrough goalkeeper Jason Steele but goals from Ross McCormack and Jason Pearce earned them a deserved victory over a team managed for the first time by new head coach Aitor Karanka. Pugh said: “In the first half we played really well. For some reason – and you see it happen time and time again – we didn’t play as well against 10 men. But I thought we were worthy winners.
“The atmosphere was so charged and it’s hard to ignore it. It makes a hell of a difference and it’s days like this you look forward to.
“You can never play enough games like that.”
by Phil Hay
Danny Pugh reflected on a remarkable change of personal fortune after chalking up a century of games for Leeds United during their 2-1 win over Middlesbrough.
Pugh rounded off a week in which he became a father for the second time with his 100th Leeds appearance and a display that laid further claim to a regular starting place at Elland Road. The 32-year-old has been a bit-part player at Leeds for the past 18 months and was trapped on the transfer list for much of that period but Brian McDermott ended a year-long absence from United’s line-up by naming him in his side at Charlton Athletic this month.
Pugh retained his place at left-back in front of a crowd of 30,000 at Elland Road on Saturday and played his part in a third straight league victory, a result which took United back into the Championship’s play-off zone for the first time since mid September.
The former Stoke City player – a £500,000 signing in January 2012 – said: “My wife had a little girl late on Thursday night so this has been a nice way to round off a special week.
“It’s been difficult for me not playing football but you have to stay as positive as possible.
“There’s been talk of loans, little sniffs and things like that, but nothing materialised. I’ve come back in and enjoyed it and I’ll try to kick on and see what happens. I’m not going to look far ahead.
“I’ll train and when needed, I’ll do the best I can. It’s been a perfect week for me.”
Leeds were helped on Saturday by the first-half dismissal of Middlesbrough goalkeeper Jason Steele but goals from Ross McCormack and Jason Pearce earned them a deserved victory over a team managed for the first time by new head coach Aitor Karanka. Pugh said: “In the first half we played really well. For some reason – and you see it happen time and time again – we didn’t play as well against 10 men. But I thought we were worthy winners.
“The atmosphere was so charged and it’s hard to ignore it. It makes a hell of a difference and it’s days like this you look forward to.
“You can never play enough games like that.”