Mighty Leeds Weblog

Y orkshire Evening Post 4/10/08 Posh end United's winning run Peterborough 2 Leeds United 0 By Phil Hay Leeds United's winning run fell short of a seventh match after a controversial goal and a rare lack of conviction helped bring about their demise at London Road. A 47th-minute strike from George Boyd and Craig Mackail-Smith's injury-time finish saw Peterborough United through their first ever league game against Leeds, but the visitors were justified in asking questions of referee Lee Probert at the end of their second defeat of the season. Boyd's close-range finish divided the two teams until Mackail-Smith scored at the end of a windswept contest, but a display of mediocrity from Leeds also created a slight sense of injustice. Dominic Green appeared to handle the ball in the build-up to the opening goal, and McAllister's regret over his side's uninspired performance may have been tinged with dissatisfaction at Probert's apparent oversight. He w...

Leedsunited.com 27/9/08 ROBBO WINS IT  27 Sep 2008 Robinson goal secures Elland Road win against Hereford... UNITED 1 (Robinson 72), HEREFORD 0 United : Lucas, Richardson, Marques, Telfer, White (Hughes 78), Howson, Douglas, Delph, Beckford, Becchio, Robinson (Snodgrass 85). Subs: Ankergren, Prutton, Kilkenny. Hereford : Randolph, Jackson, Broadhurst, N'Gotty, Rose, Hudson-Odi (Smith 81), O'Leary, Diagouraga, Done, Johnson (Taylor 81), Chadwick (Ashikodi 68). Subs: Samson, Taylor, Smith, Beckwith. Referee : G Laws (Whitley Bay) Booked : O'Leary, Broadhurst (Hereford) Att : 25,676   United boss Gary McAllister made two changes from the side which won 2-0 at Carlisle last weekend, with Andy Robinson replacing Andrew Hughes and Jonny Howson in for Neil Kilkenny. And it was Robinson who had the first shot on goal when he tested Darren Randolph with a shot from distance after five minutes. Robinson was also instrumental when Hereford defender Richard Jackso...

Yorkshire Evening Post 24/9/08 Leeds United cash in with late gem By Phil Hay Leeds United 3 Hartlepool United 2 Lower league clubs are trained in the business of milking cup competitions for every possible penny, but there comes a point where the line between money and ambition begins to blur. Andy Robinson's focus was spread over two alternative scenarios last night after his goal of supreme skill or obscene luck – only he knows which – entered Leeds United into the fourth round of the Carling Cup. A draw against Liverpool would be nice, he confessed, but no better than another tie at Elland Road against a team in United's metaphorical league. Gary McAllister agreed in principle, unable to hide his inherent taste for cup football.   "I'd be pleased with a home draw against anybody," he said. This is not, yet, a competition that Leeds can expect to seriously influence or, in their wildest thoughts, plan to win but the arrival of the last 16 should play...

Yorkshire Evening Post 20/9/08 Leeds United end Carlisle's unbeaten home record By Phil Hay Carlisle 0 Leeds United 2 Billed as a collision between two of League One's most accomplished strikers, it was perhaps inevitable that yesterday's game at Brunton Park would be decided with the help a less conspicuous forward. Jermaine Beckford and Danny Graham have shared 17 goals this season, enough to set them head-to-head during the decision-making process for August's player-of-the-month award, but it was the boot of Luciano Becchio which was primarily responsible for giving Carlisle's purposeful start to the term another fierce shake. Becchio's name is unfamiliar in Cumbria and, before July, it had never been heard in Leeds, but it seemed fitting that a player whose unselfish performances have so greatly influence Leeds' recent surge should eclipse Beckford and Graham for 86 minutes. The Argentine striker poached the game's opening goal in the ...

Yorkshire Evening Post 13/9/08 United pass test of mettle Swindon 1 Leeds United 3 Last week's victory over Crewe Alexandra won Leeds points for style, but United showed the fight needed to complement that flair during a performance at Swindon which was every bit as creditable. Leeds hit a purple patch eight days ago, dispatching Crewe with a flamboyant swagger and five excellent goals, but the result secured in dire circumstances yesterday cannot rank any lower in the list of quality displays under Gary McAllister. United's boss predicted that their visit to the County Ground would be a grinding contrast to the swashbuckling fixture seen at Elland Road last Saturday, but he could not have guessed the extent to which Leeds would be asked to scrap for their points. Nor could he have complained with the response of the 10 players who took up that exhausting fight. Leeds lost Alan Sheehan to a red card eight minutes into the League One clash, a dismissal which did the left...

Yorkshire Post 8/9/08 Leeds United 5 Crewe 2 - Teen talent Delph proves instant hit as Leeds reaffirm credentials By Ian Appleyard LEEDS United wonderkid Fabian Delph was dubbed the new Steven Gerrard after a performance that confirmed his status as a new hero of Elland Road. Delph might be small in stature but his talent is massive – which is why Leeds have moved swiftly to secure his services on a four-year deal. That won't put a stop to Premier League clubs chasing his signature of course but team-mate Andy Robinson hopes the teenager will go all the way to the top by staying at Leeds. Robinson, who grew up with England star Gerrard on Merseyside, says Delph, 18, has the 'world at his feet'. The teenager stole the show against Crewe Alexandra and his first goal in senior football opened the floodgates as Leeds smashed in five. "Fabian is going all the way to the Premier League and, hopefully, he will take Leeds United there too," said Robinson. "He is just...