Leicester v Leeds - report
Delph battles with Gradel
By Andy Baggott
April 14 2009
Leeds fell to an injury time winner in a hard fought battle on Easter Monday. With Leicester topping the table, it was never going to be an easy trip, but the Whites battled well, and deserved to come out of the game with something, but it was Leicester who came out on top with a 1-0 victory.
It was the home side that started the brighter, but chances were few and far between, as the defenses got on top. Simon Grayson has brought some much needed defensive stability to Leeds, with Sam Sodje and Richard Naylor commanding through out. Much of the first half was a midfield battle, and Leeds badly missed top striker Jermaine Beckford, who's pace always gives them an out ball. Casper Ankergren had to save smartly from a corner, but that was his only real action.
The second half was still a tight affair, but half chances came and went. The introduction of sub Andy Robinson brought some creativity to Leeds, and the former Swansea player went close with a 20 yard shot that was turned over the bar by Stockdale in the Leicester goal. Fabian Delph was next to go close, not quite getting enough power after being slid through by Robinson.
As the game petered t a draw, Leicester got a corner deep into injury time - the cross was well met by striker Steve Howard and his header was unstoppable.
It was tough on Leeds who deserved something from the game, without doing enough to win it. In the grand scheme of things, it shouldn't matter too much. To have any chance of automatic promotion, Leeds needed all three points - so a draw would't have been enough.
Grayson has Beckford almost fit again for the run in, and the defensive display will have eased the pain of that last gasp winner..
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whats an out ball??
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:04:14:15:21:51 by smithy1984.
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