Hearts v Leeds United 30th July 2023 at Tynecastle please log in to view this image After an early morning call of 4.30am, leaving a very wet Elland Road this morning at 6.15am, we returned to England to bright sunshine for our pub stop in Morpeth. Sadly, having brought the good weather back from Scotland, by the time we got nearer to Yorkshire the heavens had opened once again getting home after a 19 hour round trip. Thank you to the staff at Wiremill Social Club, Musselburgh for their hospitality this morning and for providing a great breakfast which was greatly appreciated. A big thank you also for those of you asking about my daughter Danielle. Although they have still to get her pain under control, she’s had a better day than yesterday so fingers crossed this continues so she will be able to go home. Team: Meslier, Cooper, Struijk, Ayling, Gray, James, Rutter, Ampadu, Summerville, Sinisterra, Hjelde. Subs: Bamford for Rutter (injured 26), Poveda for Summerville (57), Byram for Hjelde (57), Shackleton for Ayling (67), Gnonto for James (67), Cresswell for Cooper (78), Gyabi for Ampadu (78), Gelhardt for Sinisterra (78), Joseph for Bamford (injured 81). Subs not used: Klaesson, Karl Darlow (goalkeeper signed from Newcastle). Leeds won the game 1-0 with Ayling scoring (38). James had a goal disallowed. Referee: David Dickinson. Bookings: None. Attendance: 16,641, 3,100 Leeds fans. Dan James after a great run down the wing and a one two with Rutter, got to the byline as their keeper kept the ball out of the goal at the near post to give us an early corner. A great run by Summerville, again with Rutter involved, saw Sinisterra’s shot saved by their keeper. Another great run by Summerville in the centre of the pitch after receiving the ball from Sinisterra saw him pass to Ayling in space on the wing. Ayling’s shot was low and hard and despite a Hearts player trying to prevent the ball from crossing the line, Leeds took the lead shortly before half time. Cooper with a great ball over to Bamford saw him control the ball well and hit a shot that hit the outside of the upright. Again, overall, in the first half Leeds were very much in control as Hearts did not chase the ball down when the ball went back to Meslier. At the start of the second half, Leeds were unlucky not to increase their lead as James made a great run down the wing, stopped and checked in the penalty area, before hitting a great shot into the net. As the linesman put his flag up for offside, replays later showed Bamford had run in front of the keeper although there was no way the shot would have been saved. Hearts had their first chance of the game after changes were made to the side as Meslier made a good save to keep them out. Bamford, Gnonto and Ampadu had chances, but the game ended with the 1-0 win. Rutter went off injured in the first half after a couple of bad challenges from Hearts to be replaced by Bamford. I thought the latter looked sharper, but he went off injured after getting hit in the face with a boot. It was only later that it was said he’d done his hamstring in after he poleaxed to the ground. The positives to take are that our fitness levels have improved already, our passing and movement off the ball is better, plus we got another clean sheet and a win, our second in consecutive pre-season games. With the season starting next week with our home game against Cardiff, injuries may already have an impact on the team Farke may have started with. Whether we have any further incomings or outgoings in between is hard to say although our second signing of goalkeeper Karl Darlow has now taken place. I’ll keep an open mind and as always will make my judgements by what I see on the football pitch. See you next week, LUFC – Marching on Together! please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
