Match Day Thread Leeds United v Preston North End Elland Road 26/12/2019

please log in to view this image

v

please log in to view this image

please log in to view this image

LAST TIME OUT

FULHAM 2 LEEDS UNITED 1

please log in to view this image

CAERDYDD CITY 0 PRESTON NORTH END 0

please log in to view this image

LAST SEASON

LEEDS UNITED 3 PRESTON NORTH END 0

please log in to view this image

A performance of ineptitude that night although we did have a few injuries at the time, we were well beaten

The first of the return fixtures having drawn 1 all at Deepdale we head to Elland Road to face a United team who have not won in two games hardly a crisis but having thrown a three goal lead away against 10 man Cardiff in the last home game may be looking to put matters right against us.
One other factor for us is our inability to actually put the ball in the net on away grounds apart from Swansea when we scored two, we have only scored four goals in the remaining away games and against a side who are far more solid than they were last season at the back we may struggle to score on Boxing Day.
Which takes me back to 8 years ago when we actually scored six at this ground with this man scoring three

please log in to view this image

Hernandez likely to be out injured for Leeds as he was in the game at Deepdale but they have enough talent to make it difficult for us.
Good news after this game is over our two suspended right backs will be available for the Reading game. Touch and go whether Davies will be fit, if he is will be a touch harsh on Huntington who has not let us down in the games he has played but probably will need a more mobile defender against these lads.
Wouldn't be surprised if there is approaching 40,000 on we are taking a few but soe will not pay the £39 to get in however us oldies get in for £26.
Hopefully a

please log in to view this image

like performance by the whites and on that best wishes to all for the last Christmas of the decade.

Match Officials: Leeds United Away

please log in to view this image

Our Boxing Day match official has not taken charge of a North End game since 1st February, when the game with Derby County ended goalless at Deepdale.

Lancashire referee Darren Bond takes charge of his first North End game of the season when the Lilywhites face Leeds United at Elland Road, although it is his third Leeds game of the season, having officiated their 1-0 home defeat to Swansea City and their 1-0 away win at Reading.

Last season, the Derby game was his second PNE game of the 2018/19 campaign, his first being the home clash with Reading back in mid-September.

The previous year Darren took charge of three PNE games. He was the match official in the club’s home draw against Millwall in September, our 2-1 win at Bristol City back in November 2017 and the 2-0 victory over Sunderland up at the Stadium of Light in March.
This will be his 17th game of this season, having issued 58 yellow cards and one red in the 16 games so far refereed, his last being West Brom’s 1-1 home draw with Brentford on the Saturday before Christmas.

Although he had done numerous friendlies and other games involving Preston North End, the 2016/17 season was the first time the experienced official took charge of competitive fixtures involving the club, as he refereed the two home 1-1 draws with Burton Albion and Nottingham Forest.

The referee will be assisted by Andrew Fox and Nick Greenhalgh, with experienced referee Carl Boyeson as the fourth official.

 

Leeds United 1 Dallas Preston North End 1 Browne


Leeds United line-up: Casilla, Ayling, White, Cooper (c), Bamford (Nketiah, 64), Alioski, Dallas, Costa, Harrison, Phillips, Klich. Subs not used: Meslier, Douglas, Berardi, Struijk, Gotts, Stevens.

PNE line-up: Rudd, Clarke (c), Hughes, Pearson, Huntington, Davies, Barkhuizen (Harrop, 90), Browne, Nugent (Ledson 69), Potts, Maguire (Stockley, 90). Subs not used: Ripley, Gallagher, Storey, Bodin.

Attendance: 35,638 (801 PNE fans)

Referee: Mr D Bond

Almost but not quite, North End almost off a big win at Elland Road last night only being denied a victory by a late deflected shot by Dallas although had to be said we were virtually encamped in our own penalty box for the last 10 minutes.
A couple of changes from Saturday with the welcome return of Davies also Potts and Nugent were brought in, early Leeds pressure before we started to boss the game, we almost capitalised on a bit of sloppy play at the back when keeper Casilla was caught outside the area after a quick challenge by Browne, Potts didn't get enough power in the shot the ball being deflected beghind for a corner. Maguire then fired wide, before we took a deserved lead, Potts, Pearson twice, Barkhuizen and Browne combined before the Irishman fired home after a classy move however the assist went to Maguire for a stunning tackle which led to us getting the ball.

please log in to view this image

On top at that stage a second would have been nice but it never came and Leeds started to exert some pressure, Alioski firing wide, they got plenty of possession in and around the box but we defended excellently. An early effort in the second half by Maguire went over he had team mates in better positions but chose to shoot. From then on in it was a backs to the wall effort. Leeds attempts at goal all seemed to end up at trhe feet of Alioski, missed a sitter, hit the post and was denied by a good Rudd save also got called a ****er by Alex Neil after a touchline spat(stay classy Alex!!!)

Sub Nketiah also had a header well saved by the Vegan and we generally started to get under the skin of the home players, and support, who did their best to get Pearson sent off apparently Alioski in Macedonian translate as diver, at one stage all Leeds backroom staff we stood on the touchline during the match.
Looked a win until Dallas fired home off Ledson's arse but to be fair they did deserve a point sadly.
Good game between too good sides, special mention to the old man Nugent worked his socks off.

Just seen this picture Browne smiling as he is just about to score

please log in to view this image

Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa:

"I was not happy with the first 20 minutes, it was not a good spell for us, we did not cope with their pressing and did not get into our game. I felt we took control after their goal.

"It was a better display from then and we controlled 75% of the game. We had enough chances to win the game towards the end and we probably should have won it.

"I admire Preston for how they got at us in the first quarter of the game. They worked very hard to put us under pressure and close us down. We struggled to move the ball today.

"We had to move it sideways a lot and when we lost the ball going across the line it created problems for ourselves."

Preston boss Alex Neil:

"It took a deflected effort for them to get something from the game. Naturally we are disappointed not to win but I am proud of my players," he said.

"They are one of the top sides in this division and we more than matched them.

"I can't ask for any more from the players. They played really well and I felt we did enough to win the game."

 

The NE goal was superb. Plaudits are normally given to the spectacular but this goal, as described by Colin Murray on Quest, was a goal any Premiership would have been proud of. From halfway in NE's area to the back of LU's net in under 10 seconds was high class.

 

Barnet
Maguire's tackle that led to it was just brilliant

 

It was superb. The whole movement by Maguire, Potts, Pearson, Barkhuisen and Browne was excellent. A feast for the eyes of Pep!

 

Sky called it one of the goals of the Championship season