Mighty Leeds Weblog

Mail 28/4/12 Teenage debutant Harry Panayiotou scored a last-second winner as Leicester ended the season on a high and condemned Leeds to an unwanted club record. Martyn Waghorn's first-half goal had looked to have sent United to an 11th home defeat of the season, only for Danny Webber to equalise with eight minutes remaining. But, with seconds left on the clock, Panayiotou touched in Ben Marshall's effort, leaving home manager Neil Warnock and his players to confront the linesman about an alleged offside. Warnock's fury may have been more about a season of underachievement at Elland Road than the goal itself, but the veteran boss - who has promised a summer of change - may hear more about the incident after he appeared to throw his chewing gum at the official at the full-time whistle. And, while 17-year-old Panayiotou may have won it for Leicester, their manager Nigel Pearson - like Warnock a mid-season appointment - will be well aware of the hard work ahead this summ...

Enterprise Insurance have extended their sponsorship agreement for a further two years and will continue to act as main sponsor until the end of the 2013/14 season. Chief Executive Shaun Harvey said: "We are delighted... We have developed an excellent working relationship with Enterprise Insurance during the course of this season and have launched a number of Leeds United branded insurance products through the partnership, including the increasingly popular Leeds United Insurance Compare website. We look forward to developing our relationship further with Enterprise and helping them to promote their business to a worldwide audience." Commenting on the extension of the sponsorship agreement, Enterprise Insurance Managing Director, Andrew Flowers, said "We are delighted to continue as the main sponsor for Leeds United. It's a terrific club and over the course of this season we have seen the real benefits of a marketing partnership with a globally recognised brand suc...

Yorkshire Evening Post 27/4/12 Neil Warnock has been willing this season to end since the Ides of March or thereabouts. His wish will be granted when Leeds United sign off with a dead rubber against Leicester City. United’s boss realised some time ago that a Championship miracle was beyond his club, and he saw no harm in voicing that opinion. “Roll on next season,” said Warnock repeatedly, even while mathematical calculations had Leeds in contention for a play-off position. Certain supporters took umbrage with that, writing to Warnock to complain about what they saw as a premature surrender. “I must admit I’ve had a few letters about my comments,” he said. “They were asking for their money back for this year. One guy wanted 50 quid back because he’d lost a bet with a mate at Burnley. It’s all my fault that we didn’t finish above them. “But I’ve got to stand for that. I’m relieved it’s almost over and I don’t think it could have been much better. It’s time to move on. Long-term I h...

Yorkshire Evening Post 23/4/12 By Phil Hay Neil Warnock was tempted to miss Leeds United’s game at Cardiff City and scout players for next season instead. For much of the 1-1 draw he endured, his unconventional idea seemed eminently sensible. It is hard to know what he has left to discover about the squad at his disposal but he can have learned little on Saturday. Little, that is, beyond the fact that his low opinion of it ought not to change. Warnock summed up a laboured match in one cutting sentence. “If we had anything about us we’d have won that today.” Leeds don’t and they didn’t, hence the need for a new broom and a clean sweep. Their persistence and a 73rd-minute goal from Luciano Becchio earned them a point – as good a result as the club tend to accrue in Wales – but the frustration for Warnock was his team’s inability to take hold of a game so sterile and so flat. At face value the final scoreline made satisfactory reading. Leeds have a grisly record at Cardiff and Eddie...

Yorkshire Evening Post 22/4/12 By Phil Hay Leeds United defender Leigh Bromby will undergo major surgery this week after suffering a knee injury which team-mate Alex Bruce described as “sickening”. Bromby is facing months of rehabilitation from the ruptured patellar tendon he sustained in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Cardiff City. The 31-year-old passed out on the pitch after collapsing in agony with no-one around him, and United’s players looked visibly distressed as medical staff tended to him on the field. Bruce, who partnered Bromby in the centre of United’s defence until the centre-back was stretchered off in the 28th minute, said: “It was sickening to see. Obviously playing next to him, to see your mate in agony like that knocks the wind out of you to say the least. He’s a great lad and very popular in the dressing room. It was upsetting.” Bromby travelled home with United’s squad on Saturday afternoon and the club were waiting for swelling around his knee to subside before send...

Yorkshire Evening Post 18/4/12 By Phil Hay Neil Warnock revealed that his first summer transfer deal was effectively signed and sealed after a 1-0 defeat to Blackpool officially ended Leeds United’s season. Warnock expects the unnamed signing to arrive at Elland Road during the first week in May, beginning a process of rebuilding which is set to intensify after last night’s loss at Bloomfield Road. A 79th-minute goal from Spanish midfielder Angel subjected Leeds to another disappointing result, confirming mathematically that United will fall short of the Championship play-offs. The Elland Road club have two matches remaining, one away to Cardiff City this weekend and the other at home to Leicester City on April 28, but Warnock is deep into his planning for the 2012-13 season with nothing left to vie for. The United manager said: “We’re lacking in certain areas but we can’t do anything about that until the summer. Two games to go then I’ve got no excuses in pre-season. “I’m looki...

Mail 17/4/12 Angel Martinez's first goal for Blackpool handed Ian Holloway's side a significant victory in their pursuit of an npower Championship play-off place. The former Espanyol midfielder pounced on a loose ball 10 minutes from time to sink a spirited Leeds side that finished a man down after Darren O'Dea earned a second yellow card. Wing duo Matt Phillips and Tom Ince had Blackpool on the front foot during the first-half, but Leeds were a threat from set plays and on the counter attack. Robert Snodgrass and Luciano Becchio went close as Neil Warnock's side grew into the game after the interval, but Martinez sent the majority of a sell-out crowd home happy. Middlesbrough's 0-0 draw with relegated Doncaster means Blackpool are four points ahead of the seventh-place side going into the final two games of the season. Lomana LuaLua - who bagged a brace in a 5-0 victory over Leeds at Elland Road in November - came into the Blackpool line-up in place of the il...