Leeds are scrapping for every point

When you find a team like Leeds Utd scrapping away at the wrong end of the table for every point it is clear that the Championship is no lover of tradition or reputation. Leeds are in 20th place for a reason and it is down to their players, management and fans to try and dig themselves out of the situation they are in. They need to scrap too as their fans turn out every week in huge numbers to see their team struggle for consistency.

The Cherries will not take Leeds Utd lightly though. Leeds' comeback against Birmingham in their last match is proof that Leeds Utd are still fighting for everything, even if they have not found the kind of form that brought them three points at Dean Court earlier in the season. Gary Rowett was not so praising of Leeds' style of football claiming that Leeds just sought to play direct and hit Steve Morison on the diagonal at every opportunity. I saw a lot more promise from them than that when they played AFCB earlier in the season.

The transfer window is unlikely to offer much comfort for Leeds in terms of players coming in as they have a transfer embargo after failing to meet the Fair Play Rules and captain Stephen Warnock has just signed for Derby County. In such circumstances it would have been a real blow if they had lost to Birmingham and now they will be up for the challenge of taking on the league leaders.

Leeds  Utd and AFCB at Dean Court in the reverse fixture.

Neil Redfearn pointed out in his last post match interview that Luke Murphy had been getting some stick for his lack of goals of late, but he netted against Birmingham in front of the home fans and AFCB have to try and keep him quiet tonight. Mirco Antenucci, their top scorer, was also back into the starting line up and he'll be desperate to show that he is worth that place against AFCB.

If AFCB can win they can go four points clear and build the pressure on the chasing teams.

Leeds Home Form
WWLLD

AFCB Away Form
DWWWW

If you did not see this morning's post you can catch up with our chat with The Scratching Shed on the Rival Lines tab.

The Scratching Shed talks to Cherry Chimes

Rival Lines

Leeds Utd v AFCB

Blogger Interview: The Scratching Shed
(Interview was made last week)

I was pleased to be able to have another word with David at The Scratching Shed last week and catch up with how Leeds fans were feeling ahead of the match with AFCB. Leeds Utd's precarious position is likely to get plenty of media coverage unless Neil Redfearn can turn things around soon.

CC: Why do you think Leeds' home form has slipped so much since picking up 7 points out of 9 in November, 1 point in December is not good enough is it?

TSS: There's myriad reasons for that decline. Sometimes it just feels like we're not getting the rub of the green, other times our team make careless and costly mistakes, which is always a double-blow because it effects confidence. There's also a certain imbalance to the squad (loads of central players, no width) which leaves our options limited when it comes to changing things around, but the last couple of games (Sunderland and Bolton) we've been trying something new and things have looked much better for us.

CC: Do Leeds need a complete rebuilding job now or over the summer?

TSS: On the contrary, Leeds' off-field problems have resulted in major squad upheaval every summer for some years now and that lack of stability is our biggest issue. It's an issue compounded by our latest batch of recruits having little to no Championship experience, or indeed, experience in English football, so the whole season has been a learning process.

Leeds have talent in the squad, they're just young and/or inexperienced, but come summer, they'll have a year under their belts and be able to build on what will undoubtedly end as a poor and forgettable season. I'm not saying we shouldn't add to the squad at all, there's always room for improvement and we need a couple of experienced heads to aid the learning process of others, but we desperately need to find some stability on and off the pitch so instead of a total overhaul, I think we'd be better off making a small number of carefully considered signings to build on what we have and strengthen where we're lacking.

CC: Stephen Warnock has completed his move to Derby, so are you disappointed he did not seem to be offered a contract to stay at Leeds or is he not a big loss?

TSS: He doesn't have the best relationship with Cellino and is probably our highest earner so the writing was on the wall, but yeah, this is just a crazy decision by the club, he's a huge loss. He's probably been our most consistent performer this season and is one of a very small number of players who has the experience we're lacking. A lot of fans always think the grass is greener when a player leaves, that they're easily replaced, and that seems to be the owner's mentality too but it's done Leeds no good over the past few years and I fear we'll come to regret the decision.

CC: Are you hopeful that Neil Redfearn is making progress after the point away at Bolton?

TSS: I have absolute faith in Neil Redfearn, I think he made several gutsy (and largely unpopular) decisions before the Bolton game, has really grown into the job and is starting to turn the corner. Like a lot of our players, he's learning the ropes too but there's only so much he can do when player recruitment is handled by those above him and I doubt there's another manager/head coach out there who'd be performing any better in this situation. Get him a wide left player and bring Luciano Becchio home and I think the remainder of the season will be much smoother. Instead, we'll probably sign 12 Serie B rejects who play centrally and have no experience of the division.

CC: Do you think Massimo Cellino is Leeds' best hope to move forward or do you fear it will all end in tears? (Cellino lost his appeal to the Football league yesterday)

TSS: Probably the latter, but that's how I expect everything to end at Leeds...

CC: How important is it that Alex Mowatt stays at the club?

TSS: I've always liked Alex and he's been in great form this season but I'd argue 17-year-old Lewis Cook has quickly become our most important player along with the rejuvenated Sam Byram. All three came through the academy and should be considered crucial to our plans going forward.

CC: What's happened to Billy Sharp - 2 goals all season?

TSS: Service and he hasn't really been a regular. Like our abundance of central midfielders and total lack of width, this is another area of imbalance. Sharp, like Antenucci, is more of a second-striker and would benefit from someone who leads the line - like Luciano Becchio for example - alongside him which we don't really have (unless you count Steve Morison, but he's never really produced for us).

CC: Mirco Antenucci started well but he is also not getting starts now, so is Redfearn messing about with the starting line up too much?

TSS: Some games he seems to spend most of the 90 minutes offside but when he does manage to time his runs properly, he can be deadly. Redfearn changed system to find a better balance and that's cost Antenucci his place simply because he doesn't suit the lone striker role. No fault of his own so he'd be entitled to feel somewhat frustrated by it, but that's just how it goes sometimes.

CC: Leeds have not been in the bottom three all season so there is no need to panic is there?

TSS: I'm saying nothing. I insisted we'd be OK the last two times we got relegated...

CC: Are there any players who you know are definitely out for the Bournemouth match because they are injured?

TSS: Warnock would have been the only major doubt I think, but he'll be elsewhere by then by the looks of things.

CC: Does an evening game give you more confidence of beating Bournemouth at home with the atmosphere Leeds fans can create?

TSS: Ha. For the longest time our fanbase spoke of 'the Tuesday night curse' as if it was just accepted we'd play badly and lose midweek fixtures but I don't think our midweek record is too bad this season - no worse than our overall record anyway...

As for the atmosphere - a cold Tuesday night at a half empty Elland Road isn't generally conducive a great atmosphere so I wouldn't expect too much. Due to a combination of several poor seasons, a huge stadium for this level and crazy ticket pricing (not as bad as it was, but still not reflective of the level we're playing at in my opinion), the fans have very little to get excited about and the place is usually half empty - especially midweek. The situation isn't helped by the small number of away fans we get at Elland Road since they were moved to a different section and charged ludicrously high prices.

CC: I agree about the ticket pricing - it's absurd for a mid-week Championship match in January (five quid extra buying on the night as well - adult £39)! Some great answers from Dave there. I really like hearing what true fans feel about their club and when there are difficult times there are a lot good clubs who actually listen to what the fans are saying because often they have good things to say. 

Looking at results you might just wonder if the players are not up to the task, but there is a lot of faith in Neil Redfrean there. From what David says you have to wonder if the recruitment policy at the club is as good as it should be and the calls for Luciano Becchio's return are getting stronger.

Please check up on what The Scratching Shed has been reporting in the run up to the match against AFCB. I particularly like the article they haven entitled 'Are Leeds Utd worse than 12 months ago?' I'll let you answer that one. You can also check out the Scrathing Shed on twitter @TSSLUFC

Rantie Watch
Those who did not watch the Algeria v south Africa match in the Africa Cup of Nations it was quite a match for TK. While he helped in the build up for Bafana Bafana's goal with a fabulous back heel, he sadly then smashed the ball against the bar from the penalty spot that would have given South Africa a 2-0 lead at the time, but the score ended up 3-1 to Algeria. Rantie was taken off after 78 minutes and the commentator on Eurosport simply said: "You just feel sorry for him. He has had one of those days in front of goal, hasn't he?"

Bellusci's wonder goal kills off Cherries: AFCB 1 v 3 Leeds (fan videos)

Match report

AFCB 1 v 3 Leeds Utd

16 September 2014

Attendance: 9307

Leeds  made a real dent in AFCB's home record with a 1-3 win.

Many of the fans were saying 'deja vu' after this match as if it reminded them of the first home defeat of the season against Nottingham Forest. In many respects that was right in that the Cherries dominated play in the first 25 minutes and were ahead at half time, but they could not get the second goal to finish Leed Utd off. Instead it was the white who tussled and bossed the second half until AFCB faded. A wonder free kick from Giuseppe Bellusci had Lee Camp grasping at air for Leed's second goal, while a flag that never came saw Leeds grab a favourable score line for the Yorkshire club when it could have been very different.

The teams on their way out.

(Match Day Gallery will be up now and I'll also be on All Departments' podcast tonight to review the match - please tune in).

While Surman and Fraser had run the show in the first 45 minutes it was Leeds' Lewis Cook who was picking his passes and finding space in AFCB's back line. A draw seemed like a defeat in the last game but this was a better performance by the Cherries and yet Leeds simply came on stronger as the match went on and in the end the Yorkshire side were comfortable winners.

Eddie Howe made three changes as Ryan Fraser, Ian Harte and Andrew Surman came into the side and Marc Pugh, Charlie Daniels and Eunan O'Kane formed three of the subs. While AFCB set up 4-4-2, Leeds appeared to play with three up front at times as Billy Sharp, Souleymane Doukara and Mirco Antenucci looked to find a way through the Cherries' defence.

It was all Bournemouth though in the first 20 minutes with Steve Cook just failing to get on the end of a cross as early as the second minute. The high tempo was set by the Barmy Army chanting and Ryan Fraser was as busy as a bee on the left while Andrew Surman was carefully controlling play. The first goal came after six minuted when a cross from Fraser that was fired across the box came out on the right side and was fed back into Leed's box with Wilson knocking it back into Andrew Surman's path. Surman struck the ball beautifully from the edge of the box with his left boot and it curled accurately into the left hand corner of the net - 1-0 to the Cherries! 

The next moment to have the home crowd buzzing was when Matt Ritchie decided to go for a delicious high curling snap shot that saw Silvestri at his best to tip the shot over. The big chance though came for Callum Wilson after a pass through by Kermorgant. He managed to get in a position to round the keeper but saw the ball snatched away from him by Silvestri when it so easily could have been 2-0. You knew that the miss could be costly and it turned out to be that way.

By the half hour though Leeds were already having more of the play. Steve Cook was having to stretch for important headers while Arter started to hit a few wild passes. Tommaso Bianchi hit a shot well over, but Leeds were improving. Lewis Cook was already starting to make runs down the middle of the field and Tommy Elphick reacted quickly to halt him. 

Ground staff at half time.

Graham and Martin Hardwich are asked who 

Leeds should have as their next manager 

(apologies for some bad language).

 

Cherry Chimes Fan Cam talks to George to get his first
half verdict. He was not too impressed with Leeds.

 

We also talk to AFCB fan Dave.

The second half saw Leeds play even more positively with Rodolph Austin shooting from range. Andrew Surman and Harry Arter were no longer having so much influence. Jason Pearce seemed to be able to hold Callum Wilson in a grapple half of the time without the assistant referee seeming to care. 

It was Leeds pressing forward though with Lewis Cook making some impressive passes that only Cook was there to stop getting through to Billy Sharp on 53  minutes. Leeds were well in control by my reckoning by the hour even though they were 1-0 down. Ryan Fraser gave home fans a moment to sit on the edge of their seat when he fired in a shot that the keeper saved for a corner.

From there on in though it was as if AFCB had lost the battle in midfield. Leeds were able to hold up the ball and turn and an incisive pass from Tomasso Bianchi between Cook and Harte gave Doukara the opportunity to squeeze in his shot on the angle across Lee Camp to make it 1-1. Camp may have been disappointed that he didn't get something on the shot but the pass made the goal.

No changes from the bench from Eddie and most of us were starting to fear the worst. A misplaced pass by Fraser that landed cook in trouble almost saw Billy Sharp make the Cherries pay, but he shot wide. Fraser was subbed though on 69 minutes for junior Stanislas. Leeds did not make any changes until the 76th minute when Warnock and Sharp were replaced by Liam Cooper and Sam Byram. 

Bellusci picked up a yellow card with 10 minutes to go and it was good to see a decision go AFCB's way, but moments later when Leeds were breaking Francis adjudged to foul Rodolph Austin I believe and Leeds had a free kick. Even though it must have been all of 25 yards out, Bellusci hit a venomous kick that flew over the four-man wall and straight into the top left hand corner! 1-2 to Leeds and 82 minutes gone.

Arter again disappointed by chasing after the ball wildly only to pick up a yellow card for his desperation. Time was running out and Adam Smith and Brett Pitman were brought on with four minutes of normal time to go, while Ian Harte and Harry Arter made way. With the Cherries now playing three at the back, Leeds found their way out of defence and Doukara fed Mirco Antenucci just over the half way line with no Cherries player in sight and a distinct offside feel to the move, but there was no recall and Antenucci had no problem in beating camp to make it 1-3. Six minutes on extra time came and went and all AFCB fans could do is vent their anger at Andy D'urso who was escorted off the pitch.

Summary
The Cherries showed a lot of fight and passion and the type of intelligent play that they are renowned for in the first 20-25 minutes. The high tempo and speed of Fraser just were too much for Leeds to deal with, but they hung on in and bided their time. Surman was great for the early period but is short of matches while Arter was simply not accurate enough with his passing. This gave a full throttle Leeds Utd in the initiative in the second half and we could see it happening before the end of the first 45 minutes to be fair. Where Eddie goes from here I am not sure, because the team needs to get further ahead in games as they appear to stumble towards the end of games. Home form is also now an issue and the Cherries have to start looking to see how they can be more effective in front of goal before they take on second placed Watford in a few days time.   

All over. AFCB come up short again.

The officials are hurried off.

Leeds supporters.

AFCB
Camp, Francis, Elphick, Cook, Harte, Ritchie, Arter, Surman, Fraser, Kermorgant, Wilson.

AFCB Subs
Flahavan, Smith, Pitman, Stanislas, Pugh, Daniels, O'Kane  

AFCB Ratings
Camp 5, Francis 7, Elphick 6, Cook 7, Harte 6, Ritchie 6, Arter 5, Surman 7, Fraser 7, Kermorgant 6, Wilson 6.

Leeds Utd
Silvestri, Warnock (Copper 76), Pearce, Beradi, Belluci, Doukara, Cook, Bianchi, Austin, Sharp (Byram 76), Antenucci.

Leeds Subs
Byram, Olivares Tavares, Taylor, Wotton, Tonge, Cooper, Sloth 

Ref watch: Andy D'urso 4/10