Today my ‘armchair’ is in block E336 row 33 and I’m already en route

Well, I’ve been saying all the way along that I really don’t care about Cup competitions. All the matters is winning promotion from this league… even winning the league is inconsequential, just promotion, which is why I’m not too concerned to see Charlton close our lead at the top to just two points after we’ve drawn our last two games. Just so long as we maintain a cushion over the team in third and continue to occupy one of the two automatic promotion spots, that’s all that matters.

There does though  comes a point where you’ve gone so far, it would be a shame to waste all the effort and you may as well try and go all the way. As far the Johnstones Paint Trophy (JPT) is concerned, we’re about at that point.

I won’t shed any tears if Accrington Stanley pull off an upset tonight, but it is starting to get to he point where you think a day out at Wembley wouldn’t be too much of an imposition on a season that probably deserves one.

However, it will not be worth it if it comes at the price of dropping points in the League. The games are coming thick and fast, the squad is being stretched, and Saturday against Southampton is immeasurably more important.

So I hope tonight Simon Grayson rests as many players as he can. As I understand it, the rules mean that he would still have to field 6 first team ‘regulars’, although quite how you determine who is a ‘first team regular’ I am not quite clear.Given the injuries we’ve had this year, I suspect only about half of our ‘first team regulars’ have been ‘regulars’ in our first team.

We have never before met Accrington Stanley, not even in their previous incarnation. (which is the only reason I’m succumbing to the inevitable temptation of the iconic milk ad – I tried to resist, honest I did) They are going well in League Two, just 3pts below the play off spots, and on a run of 3 straight wins. They came away from high flying Notts County with maximum points on Saturday and could easily win be in with a chance of promotion this year. Good luck to them in the league, but lets hope that this remains our only encounter for a few more years yet.

Given how well Leeds are going so far this season, a game at struggling Brentford who have only won 4 out of their 10 home games so far ought to be a foregone conclusion. But this is Leeds, and we all ought to know better than to fall into that sort of thinking.

Victory today would have guaranteed Leeds top place in League One at Christmas, a state they have not enjoyed since 1999-2000 when they led the Premier League by 2pts over a certain Manchester United.

(Leeds would have been top, and an impressive 14pts clear in 2007-2008, had it not been for the -15 penalty, which instead put us 3^rd, one point behind Swansea and Nottingham Forest, who would go on to clinch the automatic promotion spots at the end of that season.)

Manchester United will of course have been much on the minds of both Leeds fans and players after they earned a glamorous third round FA Cup tie against the old enemy after finally despatching of valiant Kettering Town in a dramatic  2^nd round replay on Tuesday night, and Simon Grayson’s first task will have been to focus everyone back on the main priority of securing promotion from League One.

It has been fifty five years since Leeds and Brentford last met in a league game. Although for many years the two clubs enjoyed similar status,  Indeed both were relegated from the old Divisions One to Two together in 1947. (Leeds finishing that season bottom, Brentford one place above.) By 1954 fortunes began to diverge. Brentford being relegated to the then Division 3 South, Leeds earning promotion to Division one two years later in 1956.

Apart from one League Cup encounter in 1961, which Leeds won 4-1, the two clubs have not met since.

Until now.

Frankly if today’s game is anything to go by as far then another 55years would be too short a time to wait for a repeat encounter.  It was a scrappy, turgid, uninspiring affair in which chances were not only scarce, they were virtually non existent.

On Tuesday Leeds had 44 shots at goal, averaging about one every three minutes, today it was more like one every twenty three minutes. Beckford had an effort touched onto the bar after 6mins, Howson sent a tricky bobbler that the keeper managed to gather at the second attempt on the quarter hour, and basically that was about it for the first half.  .

After the restart, Leeds did initially appear to have stepped up the pace, Becchio hitting the top of the bar, Beckford forcing the keeper into a good save with his feet from the only decent chance of the match.  Gradel flashed a couple of efforts goalwards, but they really didn’t present any serious challenge on the Bees goal.

Indeed about the most exciting moment of the 2^nd half for Leeds fans came from Max Gradel, who has been the subject of rumours that his parent club Leicester might be about to end his loan early and recall him to the Walkers. Gradel had irked Brentford fans, and caused Brentford’s commentators to call for him to be red carded for reasons that are not clear. Substituted for Hogan on 75mins, as Gradel left the field he kissed his badge at the Brentford supporters. (A gesture that will have gone down much better in Leeds than I suspect it will in Leicester)

With the introduction of Ephraim, and Kandol, (for Becchio) Leeds did finally begin to seem to create some pressure, but it never really felt like a goal was coming and the time dwindled away to almost mercifully bring the suffering to an end. A nil – nil draw in which, to be honest, even the nil seems to flatter us.

So for the second game in a row we fail to pick up maximum points.  A draw away from home isn’t a disaster, and it was always likely that there would be a spell as some point in the season when we would dip.  But it has offered encouragement to those in pursuit and allowed them to close the gap, to the stage that we are now just two points ahead of Charlton, and were we to lose to Southampton next week, may well find ourselves displaced at the top of the table by Christmas.

No need to panic. Defensively we are getting stronger, as players are starting to return from injury. Soon we will have Higgs and Bradley Johnson back, Kisnorbo returned today, and Becchio is building up his match fitness again. Simon Grayson has indicated his intention to strengthen even more in the January transfer window. The lead over the 3^rd place team is still eight points and we still have that game in hand.

There is every reason to be optimistic that everything is still on track for the outcome we all want for the end of the season. It is just, as I think I may have mentioned once or twice before, this is Leeds, and we never, ever, ever make life easy for the fans blood pressure.

An early start, and big local derby, packed Elland Road, and a chance to pull away from the chasing pack and be 9pts clear at the top before they even kick off.

Leeds starting eleven was Ankergren, Crowe, Bromby, Michalik, Capaldi, Howson, Doyle, Kilkenny, Snodgrass, Beckford, Vokes. – Gradel, and Becchio were on the bench.

Huddersfield Town got things underway, and the game got off to a roaring start.

Leeds first attack, and a mistake from the Huddersfield keeper Smithies fumbled the ball from what looked like a simple shot from Sam Vokes, and failed to pick it up at the second chance as it fell to Robert Snodgrass who reacted quickest and sent the majority of the packed 38,000 crowd into raptures by opening the scoring and putting the home side one up with under two minutes on the clock.

The pace didn’t let up though. Huddersfield quickly showed why they are such prolific scorers themselves this season, cutting through the Leeds defence and hitting the post, and showed that they could put the Leeds defence under pressure, and over the next 10 minutes or so it was the visitors who had the edge.

It wasn’t until nearly the quarter hour before Leeds next created a serious chance, a Beckford cross coming to Vokes, whose header went wide, and a shot from Johnny Howson a minute or so later was deflected wide for a corner.
There were still moments of pressure coming from Huddersfield, and inside 20mins both Capaldi and Crowe found themselves in the book.

The game was fizzing along. Kilkenny making a threatening run on 20mins playing in Snodgrass who went down in the box but soft calls for a penalty didn’t persuade the ref.

On 25mins Roberts put in a dangerous ball into the Leeds box that Casper got nowhere near, but to Leeds relief it came to nothing. A minute or so later Leeds broke through the midfield and a good ball from Howson played in Vokes who had a one on one with the keeper, and a real chance to repay the faith that Simon Grayson has shown in him of late, but the Terriers keeper Smithies went some way to making amends for his earlier mistake by just staying big and just getting a hand to the ball to keep the advantage to the single goal. Next Howson tried an effort from long range.

The Terriers were still looking threatening, and as half time approached they were looking the most likely to score, quieting down the tense home following a little. Pilkington skinned Capaldi, played the ball through his legs, and into the box, driving a shot across Ankegren. A few mins later and Pilkington again causing trouble in the Leeds box, but his shot goes out for a corner coming off Bromby’s thigh. Wave after wave of red shirts but still Leeds managed to keep them at bay and then Beckford broke away, it fell to Snodgrass who hit the woodwork for Leeds.

The normal time in the half ended with Leeds under pressure, a series of corner kicks. Three minutes of time added on began to stretch into eternity as Huddersfield created chance after chance, Casper somehow made a dramatic save with his knee, and it began to seem like the half would never end. Just for one moment the pressure eased as Leeds broke away, and it seemed for a moment that we might snatch an underserved second right on the stroke of the interval, but Snodgrass’s weak curler was easily saved.

Its rare at Elland Road to go off at half time, one goal to the good, and feel relieved but it certainly felt like we were the ones who needed the interval most.

The second half started pretty much where the first had left off, Huddersfield forcing Leeds on the defensive, and earning a corner kick. Lee Novak heading a deserved equaliser just three mins after the restart, and you couldn’t honestly say that it wasn’t coming.

Finally though Leeds began to play, creating some chances ourselves. Beckford almost restoring the advantage after 5mins of the 2nd half, as the game became end to end. Novak troubling the Leeds defence at one end, and Snodgrass looking threatening on the break at the other. Suddenly just before the hour, out of midfield Kilkenny played in Beckford who really ought to have done better, but a slightly poor first touch let it get away from him and the chance got away.

This was Simon Grayson’s 52nd game in charge of Leeds, and his outstanding record of 35 wins, and 9 draws owes something to his positive minded substitutions. He showed his intention again bringing on Becchio and Gradel on for Vokes and Kilkenny.

Coincidentally this was also Huddersfield’s Lee Clark’s 52nd game in charge too, and he’s not doing too badly himself. It was his side that were turning the screw, a neat back heel from Novak to Roberts in the box but deflected away by a Leeds defender. From a corner for Huddersfield a dramatic overhead kick forced Casper Ankergren into a stunning save, but immediately Leeds broke, Smithies made his 2nd costly mistake of the game weakly palming the ball away, only to Max (sign him up) Gradel…. who rounded the flailing keeper…. what else is there to say….? Oh yes.

GOOOOAAAAAAALLLLL!!!!!!!!!

Two, one up, and Leeds really should have been able to coast to the finish line, but it wasn’t to be. The visitors kept coming and coming, building the pressure, forcing corner after corner, (they had obviously listened to the Kettering manager last weekend suggesting we were vulnerable from set pieces). Roberts sent a snap shot wide. Huddersfield had a shout for a penalty when the ball hit Michalik’s hand to go out for a corner, the ref ruled it unintentional and book Collins for protesting.

More corners, and finally on 78mins the ‘inevitable’ happened as Rhodes headed a simple chance home at the back post, and for only the 2nd time all season Leeds had conceded two goals in a match and the game was all square again.
Snodgrass came off for Hogan Ephraim with under five minutes to go, but it was still too early to relax, as the 90 minutes ran out a free kick from distance cames back off the bar, hitting Casper on the back of the head, and fortuitously bouncing harmlessly away.

When the fourth official indicated that there were to be four minutes added on it would have been the away team that felt that was too short. Frankly it was Leeds hanging on as time ran out, but hang on they did, and they game, finally, thank goodness, at last, came to an end.

To call this ‘honours even’ is probably a little kind to Leeds. Huddersfield were the better team on the day and will feel hard done by to only take one point away from this outstanding performance. For Leeds, the unbeaten home record is preserved, and a tricky local derby against a strong top six side has been negotiated.

Attention can now turn to the FA Cup replay with Kettering on Tuesday, and the chance to earn that invitingly plum prize of a trip to Old Trafford to start the New Year.

Its an early kick off for Leeds today. 12:15 in the Yorkshire derby between Leeds and Huddersfield. That means that were we to maintain our 5 game winning streak, then by the time the rest of the division kick off their matches at 3pm Leeds could already be 13points clear of 3^rd place, and with a game in hand, meaning that they could not be caught before the New Year even if our opponents were to win every game.

The distance between the Leeds United and Huddersfield Town is just 11.7 miles. Not forgetting, just at this moment a whopping fourteen very precious league points. Leeds are top of the league with 45pts from 18 games, the Terriers are 5^th with 31pts from 19.

This is the leagues highest scorers, Huddersfield have scored 41goals so far this season, conceding 22 along the way, against the meanest defence, Leeds have only let in a miserly 8 league goals, (the next best is 18) and are no slouches in front of goal themselves having rattled in 35 already.

Leeds have won 5 of their last 6 since the only league defeat of the season at Millwall, the ‘Udders’ have won 4 out of 6, but have failed to win either of their last two outings. Huddersfield have been decidedly mediocre away from home, having won only two, drawn one, and lost six of their 9 so far. Leeds are awesome at home, with 7 wins, two draws, and no defeats. Indeed Leeds have now gone 20 games without a home league defeat. Whats more, we have not even conceded a single goal since losing at Millwall six weeks ago.

It’s a Yorkshire derby though, so all those stats count for nothing. If teams normally come to Elland Road and raise their game 10-15%, that will be 25-30% for this lot. Nothing can be taken for granted. I would expect our strongest team. No resting Jermaine Beckford and Robert Snodgrass for this one, and a passionate 38,000 capacity crowd.

I do have a bit of a problem though. I need a favour off of my course tutor, and he is a Huddersfield fan. Oh well, who needs a degree anyway.

	Home side
	Leeds Utd	Huddersfield	Cup	Total
Leeds United wins	12	5	5	22
Huddersfield Town wins	8	16	3	27
Draws	8	7	2	17
Leeds United goals	43	22	15	80
Huddersfield Town goals	31	44	15	90

Perhaps with a mind to the coming spate of games, and the big local derby against a high flying Huddersfield, Simon Grayson started with Beckford, Becchio, and Snodgrass all on the bench. Gradel and Vokes returned now after being cup-tied, and Hogan Ephraim maked his debut. David Prutton also got a rare run out with his first start since in eleven months.

Leeds had run out comfortable two nil winners when the two teams met in the FA Cup 1^st round a few weeks ago. Two nil, being described in an article I read recent as the score which indicates a pretty straightforward day at the office in football terms.

It was to prove that way again, Oldham presenting little by way of serious threat to a Leeds team that demonstrated the strength in depth that it is to be hoped will carry our excellent season to a successful culmination, although Furman should scored with a free header after 10mins but couldn’t find the target.

A great move after 15mins results in a chip from Crowe which went just over, and Sam Vokes had a good chance but only presented Flahaven with a comfortable save.

It was around the 35min mark when the game took its decicive turn. Several turns in fact, by Max Gradel, on the left by the goal line, to leave the Oldham defence completely bamboozled as Gradel (we really have to prise him away from Leicester) with a now almost familiar piece of magic sent a cross to Kilkenny, who puts Leeds into the lead….. 1-0

The advantage could have been doubled with another effort falling to Gradel straight after goal, but from that point on Leeds were comfortably in command, and saw out the remainder of the half convincingly.

Sam Vokes, who has been praised for his effort while here on loan by Simon Grayson, but who has just not found good fortune in front of goal had anther good chance shortly after restart latching onto a long ball over top, and shortly after yet again, only to shoot high.

The crowd of abt 7700 consisted of more Leeds fans that home supporters, and were by now getting a drenching, but won’t have cared.

Robert Snodgrass came on for final fifteen, and very soon found himself with a chance to score after more good play from Gradel. Max was at heart of pretty much everything we did, and it was no surprise when it was once again a neat ball from him which set up United’s 2^nd, playing a clever ball in for Lucianno Becchio, who had replaced Vokes on 77mins. Becchio side footed the ball into the net, and ran to thank the United physios who had done so much to get him back after the injury he picked up against Charlton.

It was, simply, a routine day at the office. Made all the better by the fact that we were able to rest some of our prized assets in the midst of this hectic run of games…. And particularly the fact we were able to rest Jermaine Beckford so that the Bolton manager who had come to scout him out was left frustrated and forced to go home at half-time disappointed.

Points having been dropped by Colchester United again, Leeds are now 10pts clear of 3rd place Norwich. We are assured of still being in an automatic promotion spot at Christmas. How’s that for some seasonal good cheer?

The famous ‘magic‘ of the cup is days like this, a chance for minnows to pit themselves against ‘big names’ and perhaps achieve something that will become a part of their history and future folklore. Histon wil never forget the time last season when they toppled ‘the great Leeds United’, and the same would apply to Kettering if they can achieve ‘the impossible’ against the mighty Whites from Yorkshire.

It matters not that we are simply a third tier team these days, the famous name of Leeds still evokes images of our own legendary past and at this stage of the competition we are the biggest potential scalp on offer.

Victory in the FA Cup 2nd round offers the chance to be in the hat for the 3rd round draw when a prize on offer is of a tie against the real big boys of the Championship and the Premiership as they enter the competition. Every club at this stage dreams of a draw against a Manchester United or an Arsenal, and the chance, however slight, to pull off a shock upset that will write a chapter in their clubs history and go down in FA Cup  legend.

For Leeds of course, all the cup competitions are all  just a distraction from the real business of getting promotion. We’ve got to get knocked out at some point, and there is a case for saying “the sooner the better“, but nobody wants to fall prey to a bunch of non-leaguers again, especially when we’ve been going so well this season. But now the 3rd round draw has been made, and we all know what prize awaits us, no Leeds fan in the country is blasé about this competition any more. We want to win through to the next round, and to have our chance as ‘David’s’ tilting at those ‘Goliaths’ from over the Pennines.

First of all however, we need to deal with Kettering, and we certainly had our chances today in an entertaining cup tie at Rockingham Road.

The game saw the return of Jason Crowe, a rare start for Mike Grella, and Tony Capaldi’s debut for the club since arriving on loan in midweek.

Kettering wasted no time trying to upset the form books. Inside the first couple of minutes as Partridge ran at our defence and threaded a shot between Crowe and Michalik, but straight into the hands of Ankergren. Partridge, on loan from MK Dons, looked lively down the left, and it was he who seemed to carry the biggest threat, trying an audacious curling chip past Ankergren from a snappy break from Ashikodi on 13mins, but missing the target

Leeds looked bright and the better side without really dominating or looking threatening in the early exchanges. Our first really good effort came after 19mins. Kilkenny played in Beckford whose first touch was a bit heavy and took him wide but he beat player manager/goalkeeper Harper to the loose ball and chipped it to the back post where Snodgrass headed towards goal only for Dempster to clear off the line

Kettering were packing their defence and making it difficult to find any space in the final third, but Leeds kept probing and should have taken the lead on 25 mins as Grella completely cut the defence apart with a superb pass to Beckford whose shot looked bound to open the scoring, but came back off the underside of the bar. The rebound was played to Snodgrass who hit the outside of the post, and somehow Kettering escaped.

Soon after Beckford almost played in Grella but he couldn’t quite make contact, Leeds were beginning to apply the pressure, and yet,  on the half hourin what should have been a warning sign,  Casper made a meal of winning the ball from a free kick against Roper showing that there remained a risk all the time the scores remained level.

Leeds began to turn it on. A quality cross from Snodgrass was met by Howson’s head, but didn’t work the keeper, shortly after Capaldi curled in a cross which came to Grella who hit a sweet volley goal bound, only for it to be blocked by a desperate lunge from Dempster.  Michalik thumped a free kick from 30yrds which was gathered at the 2^nd attempt by Harper in the Kettering goal.

Which isn’t to say the Poppies didn’t present the odd threat themselves. On 37mins Partridge, who had been quiet for a while broke, and cut inside for Eldings cross but Leeds smother the threat, shortly after Elding attempts to catch Casper out with a snap lob from almost 30yrds from goal which goes harmlessly out of play.

At half time the 0 – 0 was probably fair enough. Domination is all well and good, but it counts for nothing if you don’t score. Kettering were still very much in the contest at the interval, and as the weather deteriorated, there still remained the possibility of them snatching something against the run of play.

Leeds picked up the pace in the second half, but still couldn’t seem to find a way though. A ‘one two’ with Grella allowed Snodgrass to open up the defence and try an effort from distance but it lacked power and was easily gathered by the keeper. A minute later another chance for Snodgrass was shut down by desperate last ditch defending.

The game was opening up a bit with efforts on goal at both ends. Kettering substituted Ashikodi for Thompson as they began to ask the odd question of the Leeds defence. Heslop latched on to a knock back from Elding with a dangerous looking shot, which deflected wide for a corner. But the risk was growing, and on 62mins, and against the overall run of play, Roper beats Casper to a cross from a Partridge free kick on the left and headed Kettering into a shock lead

Surely history couldn’t repeat itself, not again, not another Histon.

Leeds to their credit didn’t panic. The kept playing football, and kept creating chances. A neat passing move played Gella into the box, but he was outmuscled. Another chance fell to Grella and was saved by the determined Harper. Leeds dominated possession as the non-leaguers defended in depth.

Lucianno Becchio made a welcome return, replacing Mike Grella (who had probably been our MOTM to that point – although by the end Robert Snodgrass will have just edged him out for my money)

On 71mins a great ball in from Snodgrass was met with an excellent header from Crowe and acrobatically tipped over the bar by Harper. Two minutes later Harper performs heroics again with yet another great reaction save this time from a short range header by Doyle, and the ball was franticly scrambled away before Doyle or Howson could force it over the line

For the first time it really began to seem that it just might not be our day. Memories of the ghosts of FA Cup goalies past began to come to mind. Dickie Guy, Jim Montgomery, was Lee Harper going to get added to that list?

Well, he might yet, since he’s going to get another chance to prove himself and frustrate us. It will be on our well manicured turf this time after Jermaine Beckford met a powerful knee high 75^th minute drive across the box from Robert Snodgrass, and with a deft and instinctive touch side footed it past the valiant Kettering player manager to rescue the tie and set up a tasty reply.

We might have gone on to win it from there. A long tricksy run from Howson, who should never have been allowed to get into the area, ended with him curling a effort past the keepers right hand post. As time ran down Beckford laid off to Snodgrass who tries to hit it first time, when he might have done better. But the teams seemed to have settled for the draw. Honours even and a re-match at Elland Road.

That re-match that assumed greater significance for both teams than might otherwise have been the case after the third round draw was made. It’s almost a cliché that everyone hopes to land a cup tie at Old Trafford, but as the number of balls in the pot declined until just two were left still in the pot, it just seemed that the fates were setting us up for this.

Cups are a distraction. Only the League matters. But lets not kid ourselves that we don’t all dream that maybe, just maybe, this time, when the TV camera pick their games for the 3^rd round, it’ll be David v Goliath involving Leeds United, yet again. Only this time, we’ll be the David, against that Manchester ‘Goliath’. Leeds United, the ‘fallen giants’ that every loves to hate, suddenly become the plucky underdogs who nobody gives a chance, but everyone would just love to see pull off that shock against all the odds. Just this once. While neutrals will be rooting for Kettering in the replay, if we do make it through, they’ll suddenly become proxy Leeds fans for the day as we run out at Old Trafford.

And that is the magic of the Cup.

Today is the deadline day for loan moves, and the last chance before January’s transfer window opens for Simon Grayson to add to the strength of the squad, or alternatively to create some space in the dressing room by sending fringe players out on loan, either as a per-cursor to selling them, or to enable them to get some match fitness.

There have been suggestions that there may be some activity from Leeds today. Simon Grayson has proven to be quite astute in his loan moves so far, (Max Gradel anyone?) and he has also shown a propensity to keep his cards close to his chest until the deal is done and dusted, so there could be some surprises.  Will update this page as news come available.

News so far:

19 year old academy product Andrew Milne has gone to Darlington on loan until Jan 2nd. Milne is a defender who has not played for the first team yet, but has made appearances in the reserves.

Alan Sheehan, who has already been out on loan to Oldham, is reported on the Official Site as joining Swindon Town until Jan 4th

Rumours that we might be abt to move for Cardiff City’s Warren Feeney appear unfounded as he seems set to move to Sheffield Wednesday, however, it is suggested that we may be abt to take Cardiff defender Tony Capaldi before the end of the day

Queens Park Rangers winger Hogan Ephraim has joined on a one month loan. According to QPR’s site, he has recently been recovering from an ankle injury, so this move will provide him an opportunity to recover match fitness

In a sign that Shane Higgs may not be back soon we have taken goalkeeper David Martin on loan from Liverpool until Dec 28th. Martin has been on loan at Tranmere, but has only made three appearances for them. (One has to wonder given the rate at which Tranmere have shipped goals this season why they have preferred their existing goalie)

Striker Davide Somma who has struggled to break into the first team, only reaching the bench despite scoring a handful of goals for the reserves is reported to be going out on loan to League Two side Chesterfield until Jan 2nd

The move for 28 yr old Northern Irish international defender Tony Capaldi is now confirmed on the o/s

More as and when it comes available

Simon Grayson had promised ‘no complacency’ from Leeds after Saturdays impressive performance, but to be honest, it certainly seemed as if fans and players alike had expected this to be a walk in the park. Orient, to their credit, clearly had no plans to be just bit part players.

While only about a hundred or so O’s fans had made the trip to a wet and windy Elland Road for a game they had little expectation of winning, those who did were treated to a creditable effort from their side, and can feel hard done by to be going home empty handed.

Orient started brightly, and created the better early chances. Mostly through Spurs loanee Andros Townsend who seemed to be at the heart of everything they did. Setting up MacGleish on 11mins who’s shot went well over the bar, having another effort himself on 13mins with was well taken by Casper. Charlie Daniels played in Thornton with a precision pass just before the quarter hour, but Kisnorbo just got in enough of a challenge to force the effort wide.

Orient were undoubtedly making most of the running in the first 20mins, although Leeds continue to pose a potential threat, Howson playing in Vokes in a dangerous position but his shot went just wide. As the half hour approached Leeds began to get into what had been a fairly poor game so far. A chance from a free kick was wasted by Snodgrass. Kilkenny blasted a shot high.

There was a dangerous moment when Orient got behind the back but frantic last minute defending cleared the ball, and less than a minute later, Sam Vokes was presented with Leeds best chance  so far after good play in midfield from Howson and Kilkenny, but Vokes couldn’t hit the target.

Snodgrass was caught in possession and a strike from Thornton was well held by Ankegren, Kisnorbo just did enough to prevent another chance just seconds later. It was almost half time before the Orient keeper was forced into making a actual save when Johnny Howson hit a shot straight at him

Half time when it came was a blessed relief. A chance for Simon Grayson to scorch the dressing room walls and send them out for the 2^nd half with their hair standing on end. It had not been a good performance from Leeds in the first half. Simon has a habit in this sort of situation of turning things around, so there was hope that we’d see a much improved showing in the 2^nd half…. It couldn’t get much worse.

Leeds did seem to start the 2^nd half with much more purpose, and the crowd of 19744 did their part to try and raise the team, but Orient kept closing down well and defending in numbers. Aiden White came on just after the re-start for Andrew Hughes who seemed unable to run off some kind of injury.

By now this was the only game in the division without any goals. 5mins into 2^nd period a good break down the right from Snodgrass looked briefly like it might change things, but his effort went wide and into the Kop. Still there was danger from Orient, Townsend continued causing trouble, getting on the end of a pass from MacGleish to shoot low across the box. A few minutes later Vokes created a good chance at the other end, poking the ball across the box, but just too far from Becks and Snodgrass.

It was an indication of how well Orient were playing that that was the first notable contribution from Beckford for almost an hour.

On the hour, Simon Grayson replaced Vokes with Gradel. Max seems to have the ability to lift lacklustre performances from Leeds, and from the sound of the crowd he was having that same effect almost instantly. With 25mins to go a free kick from Gradel, met by Kisnorbo, but didn’t really trouble to Orient keeper. Shortly after a ball broke to Snodgrass who ball found Gradel but his shot floated over and hit the top of the net

Gradel continued to create Leeds greatest threat, he played the ball into the box, and Beckford went down under the challenge – the referee was not persuaded. Bromby conceded a free kick and got the booking he was fortunate to escape in the first half.  Grella came on for Howson, and a bit of magic from Gradel forced their keeper into a save earning Leeds a corner kick.

We were clearly not as dominant as on Saturday, but by now, Leeds were doing the all the pressing… albeit with less than 10minutes to go, the visitors were defending in numbers and starting to play out time.  Leeds were beginning to control possession and look threatening, but could they make it count?

The answer came with under two minutes left on the clock. Throw in from Bromby, comes eventually to Max Gradel who twists and turns, moves into the box and from 12 yards out fires a superb shot towards the top corner…..

GRAAAAAAAADELLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!

It was to prove the winner. A scrappy one nil, and enough for my money for Gradel to earn the Man of the Match, even for under half hours work. Max is proving to be a real asset, especially coming off the bench when hard worked opposition defenders are tiring and struggle to cope with his pace and quick feet.

89^th minute winners are not good for the blood pressure, but they do wonders for the morale.  It must be said that it always seemed possible, there is currently a belief that we can do this in the team, and the fans, and especially the manager who has to take credit for making positive minded substitutions to try and get all three points rather than just accept it as a bad day at the office and settle for the draw.

Turning one point into three when you’ve only put in a mediocre performance is the sort of thing that makes the difference between making the playoffs and sealing promotion. We’re not going to put in Rolls Royce performances like we did against Brighton every time, much as we’d like to. Winning keeps our advantage at the top, and puts the pressure all on the chasing pack, who know that they cannot afford to slip up, or they’ll find us over the hill and out of sight before they know it.

17 games gone, 42points. That’s better than we did even in the 15pts season. Unbeaten at home for 20 games. Four straight wins, 12 goals without conceding since our first and only league defeat. Simon Grayson reaches his half century of games with a 70% win record, which must be one of the best in the country. We are top, six points clear, with a game in hand, and we keep finding that little bit extra just when we need it.

I refuse to succumb to optimism… but damn, they do keep making it hard for me to maintain my cautious pessimism this year.

Long may that continue

Well, there really isn’t time to draw breath lately is there. Still basking in the warm glow of Saturday’s outstanding triumph on the south coast, and already its time for the next hurdle in the race to promotion. When you’re winning though you just want the games to keep on coming, and over the next few weeks that is exactly what is happening.

For a team that has only dropped four points at home since January, a game against a side with only one win in seven (and that was against Tranmere) ought to be routine, but as Simon Grayson says in the YEP, “We know football has a horrible way of kicking you where it hurts sometimes” so there can be no complacency.

“We know it’s going to be a tough test. Not only are they a good side, but when you look at the size of the stadium, the crowd, the squad, it’s a big challenge for us – but one that we’re up for.” says Orient manager Geraint Williams. One suspects that the estimate of O’s strikers Scott McGleish that there will be 30,000 plus fans inside Elland Road tonight might be just a tad on the optimistic side, but does suggest how coming to ER can tend to get inside the heads of our opposition in ways that can have them half beat before they even get off the bus.

And not just of the players, but the support too. There probably won’t be too many from east London swelling the numbers since one can just detect a tinge of ironic fatalism from some segments of the Orient support.

Team wise, Simon Grayson said after the Brighton game that Bradley Johnson and Richard Naylor are both not expected to be fit by tonight, nor indeed for Saturday, although Tresor Kandol will be available after serving the three match ban he picked up for the post game fracas against Yeovil. However, I can’t see Grayson changing the starting line up that put in what he called ‘the best performance of the season’ against Brighton on Saturday.

Elsewhere there is a full League One programme tonight, and all of our main promotion rivals (except Huddersfield) are at home with opposition they ought to be able beat. Colchester have a home ‘banker’ against Stockport, Norwich host Brighton, and we can only hope Saturday’s result inspires Gus’ side to bounce back against the Canaries. The best possibilties for upset results come with 2nd place Charlton against Bristol Rovers in 7th, although I think Rovers are probably on the slide so don’t expect them to get anything out of this, and finally Huddersfield away at Swindon, which does look to have the potential for a positive outcome from our view.

A win for Leeds tonight will put us on 42pts after 17games, and better the start from 2007/8 when we had ‘earned’ 41pts at that stage, although due to the 15pt penalty, only had 26 to show for it. Interestingly, at this stage that season, Leyton Orient were top of the table.

Anyway, at this point its all irrelevant, all we can do is win our own games, and let everything else take care of itself. “We’ll just keep doing what we’re doing and affect what we’re doing.” says the manager, and in Larry we trust.