Official Match Thread Leeds v Southend United

[A Century United]

You really hate Mildenhall, don't you? Where did you get your info from?

From the BBC:

Leeds
shots on target 7
shots off target 3

87:36
The ball is crossed by Jonathan Howson, Luciano Becchio takes a shot. Steve Mildenhall makes a brilliant save.

50:10
Jermaine Beckford takes the chance to get an effort at goal. Steve Mildenhall makes a fantastic save.

36:07
Shot from 20 yards from Jermaine Beckford. Save made by Steve Mildenhall.

9:32
Jermaine Beckford takes a shot. Save by Steve Mildenhall.


So, of SEVEN shots on target, Mildenhall saved FOUR. One 'fantastic' and one 'brilliant'.

No details on BBC as to how he performed for the goals, so obviously I can't comment as I didn't go to the game either.

Did Barrett leave his player unmarked at the corner? Did Herd get skinned for the cross? Or was it Sankofa at fault? Well bugger me, we let in two goals; it must be Mildenhall's fault.

Top post Milkey, but I don't think they will let facts get in the way of their deeply held prejudices.

:nope:

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

You really hate Mildenhall, don't you? Where did you get your info from?

From the BBC:

Leeds
shots on target 7
shots off target 3

87:36
The ball is crossed by Jonathan Howson, Luciano Becchio takes a shot. Steve Mildenhall makes a brilliant save.

50:10
Jermaine Beckford takes the chance to get an effort at goal. Steve Mildenhall makes a fantastic save.

36:07
Shot from 20 yards from Jermaine Beckford. Save made by Steve Mildenhall.

9:32
Jermaine Beckford takes a shot. Save by Steve Mildenhall.


So, of SEVEN shots on target, Mildenhall saved FOUR. One 'fantastic' and one 'brilliant'.

No details on BBC as to how he performed for the goals, so obviously I can't comment as I didn't go to the game either.

Did Barrett leave his player unmarked at the corner? Did Herd get skinned for the cross? Or was it Sankofa at fault? Well bugger me, we let in two goals; it must be Mildenhall's fault.

Best defence of a goalie ever seen on here I should think.

 

[palexander]

Just returned from Elland Road and am comforted to see the trusty jerking of the knee is still in evidence here.

One thing that stood out for me was Adam Barrett. Not his overall performance, or individual moments, but his overall demeanour throughout. Here was someone who palpably unhappy to be out on the pitch with that squad.

I can't put my finger on it but there is something wrong with this team that runs deeper than player failings, real or imagined. Whatever it is, it's causing Adam obvious frustration. Is it bad apples spoiling the applecart? Is it disagreements on the training pitch with the gaffers? Who knows but tonight his body language said loud and clear "Why do I bother?"

As for the game, I don't know what people's expectations were before the game. Going to Leeds at this level is always a tough task, and with the home side running into form and us bereft of confidence, you could have put your house on a 2 goal margin at least. One way traffic in the first half, improvement in the second, hitting the post and their keeper saving well from Scannell. We lost but we gave it a go.

Even the atmosphere at the ground was muted. There were 20,000 there but you'd hardly know it. The locals made their way to the ground looking disinterested, cheered a bit when they scored or went close, then went home similarly unenthusiastic. The travelling Shrimpers mood was hardly helped by the first 10 minutes either. It was almost as if everyone was thinking "Well, that's an evening I'll never get back again." The tacky McDonalds opposite the ground, with their gaudy car-showroom-type lettering of Revie-era Leeds stars, rounded it off in dismal style.

The thing I want to know is what's up with Adam?

Hardly 'knee-jerk', we've been toilet for months.

And anyway, you say that, then didn't really paint a good picture of the evening?!

I'd imagine most of the more experienced players (like Barrett) are ****ed off. At work, if you we're surrounded by teenage colleagues that we'rent up the job because everyone decent is off sick or on suspension, you'd be pee'd off I imagine!!

 

[davewebbsbrain]

You really hate Mildenhall, don't you? Where did you get your info from?

From the BBC:

Leeds
shots on target 7
shots off target 3

87:36
The ball is crossed by Jonathan Howson, Luciano Becchio takes a shot. Steve Mildenhall makes a brilliant save.

50:10
Jermaine Beckford takes the chance to get an effort at goal. Steve Mildenhall makes a fantastic save.

36:07
Shot from 20 yards from Jermaine Beckford. Save made by Steve Mildenhall.

9:32
Jermaine Beckford takes a shot. Save by Steve Mildenhall.


So, of SEVEN shots on target, Mildenhall saved FOUR. One 'fantastic' and one 'brilliant'.

No details on BBC as to how he performed for the goals, so obviously I can't comment as I didn't go to the game either.

Did Barrett leave his player unmarked at the corner? Did Herd get skinned for the cross? Or was it Sankofa at fault? Well bugger me, we let in two goals; it must be Mildenhall's fault.

Just to add weight to this....

From the officail website:

The Blues found themselves two goals behind inside 11 minutes at Elland Road and with Theo Robinson an isolated figure up front for most of the match, they struggled to mount a comeback.

Southend were already light on numbers, with just four substitutes named, and James Walker added himself to the injury list when he was forced to limp out of action before half time.

It took just six minutes for Leeds to open the scoring on Tuesday night, with Rui Marques arriving unmarked to prod in Bradley Johnson's right wing corner.

With Leeds continuing to press forward, Steve Mildenhall pushed out a shot from Jermaine Beckford before Adam Barrett put his body forward to make two excellent blocks from Fabian Delph and Jonathan Douglas.

Unfortunately, the Blues' captain could only clear the ball away for another corner and with 11 minutes on the clock, Leeds again exposed the vulnerability from set pieces, as Richard Naylor arrived to powerfully head past Mildenhall.

Beckford should have scored when Andy Robinson played the striker through on goal, but with just Mildenhall to beat, the Yorkshire club's leading marksmen encountered a rush of blood to the head and blazed over.

Matters were made worse for Southend when they suffered another injury blow, after Walker pulled up when charging into the box and he had to be replaced in the 42nd minute by Damian Scannell.

Mildenhall made an excellent save at the start of the second half to deny Beckford, after the striker swiftly turned Barrett inside the box to get his shot away.
The Southend stopper was again pressed into action to make another top draw save from Beckford, this time blocking his close range attempt before Theo Robinson came within a whisker of pulling a goal back at the other end.

Robinson took aim from 20 yards out on his full debut and struck the outside of the left-hand post with Southend's first effort on target.
Southend had produced an improved display after the break, limiting Leeds to few chances in front of goal and Damian Scannell may well have made proceedings interesting when he burst through in the closing stages.

With Casper Ankergren advancing off his line, the substitute winger tried to lob the ball over the top, but the goalkeeper's body blocked it clear.

The last chance of the match arrived the way of Leeds and Mildenhall was at full stretch to make another impressive stop to keep the score down, as he clawed away Luciano Becchio's header.

A disappointing run of form means Southend have now not won for five games in the league and they will be looking to arrest such a slide at home to Bristol Rovers on Saturday.

 

[shrimperjon]

I think you will find the problem with Barrett is that actually hes not that good. Most people i speak to think he is the weakest link in our back four. Francis and Clarke for me on Saturday. Yes, he is southend through and through and yes is is committed, but at the mo not playing well.

 

[davewebbsbrain]

I think you will find the problem with Barrett is that actually hes not that good. Most people i speak to think he is the weakest link in our back four. Francis and Clarke for me on Saturday. Yes, he is southend through and through and yes is is committed, but at the mo not playing well.

Scored against Chelsea...surely he can't be dropped ;)