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Leeds: Martyn,
Kelly, Radebe, Woodgate, Harte, Bowyer, Bakke, McPhail, Kewell,
Bridges, Huckerby (Wilcox, 77).
Subs not used: Mills, Jones, Duberry, Robinson.
Booked: Martyn, Bridges, Wilcox.
Leicester: Arphexad,
Elliott, Taggart, Gilchrist (Zagorakis, 65), Sinclair, Savage,
Izzet, Eadie, Oakes, Cottee, Heskey.
Subs not used: Gunnlaugsson, Campbell,
Thomas, Hodges.
Booked: Zagorakis.
Attendance: 40,105.
Referee: M Halsey
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Leeds (2) 2 Leicester
(1) 1 FT
Bridges 29 Cottee 10
Bowyer 45
Bah - Humbug!!!
Peter Gilbert. 26.12.99.
I love Boxing Day; I always have. When I was a very young we
used to have marvellous family 'get togethers' at relatives in
rural Leicestershire consuming salmon sandwiches and trifle,
playing games and singing songs, on our best behaviour of course.
These days I like to start this day with a long crisp walk, but
living in the hills of Derbyshire as I do I was somewhat thwarted
by a sudden heavy snowfall. I trudged back to the car feeling
like maybe flu was trying to get a hold on me.
My spirits were raised by witnessing representatives of Leicester's
claim to be the sporting capital of the world in the shape of
Darren Maddy batting for England and listening to a snatch of
Leicester v Bath on the radio. I made my own sporting
contribution with a nice little post Christmas win on the lottery,
maybe - just maybe - the force was with us today although it
was going to be a battle.
I could settle back and wallow in my flu and nostalgia or I could
get out there and go for it, after very little agonising I settled
on the latter and crossed white moorland en route for Elland
Road.
I was not alone and The Blue Army though depleted was in good
voice and once again my spirits were lifted by the collective
voices of Leicestershire folk.
Maybe the mulled wine in my flask or my new LCFC socks or my
blue and white Santa hat would do the trick for us, I was looking
for positive vibes or a witch doctor's magic bones.
Somehow though, despite Leeds Utd being top of the league,
just don't rate them and I think they are living on a prayer
somehow, although defensively they are very good. So if
we can keep their defenders busy we could be in with a shout,
that was my final thought as the teams came out.
There was a spirited start to the game with both sides throwing
themselves at the situation. After only 9 mins. though Leicester
took the lead when Oakes played a good ball down the left which
Emile Heskey raced after and his speed deceived everyone including
Nigel Martyn in goal who committed himself to a wildly unsuccessful
challenge and the ball was crossed into the box and was met by
Cottee's head for a sweetly placed goal.
Suddenly the home side with 11 straight wins at home were struggling
to gain some rhythm and a pattern to their play. Martyn was booked
for a clumsy challenge on the speedy Eadie and Bakke was booked
for clutching at hot tottie Cottie.
The Leeds crowd are incredibly biased and cannot judge or evaluate
any situation with a degree of rationality, they scream and snarl
at every decision which goes against them.
On the half hour they had something to shout about when their
side drew level with Bridges tidying up some goal mouth confusion.
Now it was City's turn to go into their shell but not for long
as Cottee, Izzett and Sinclair all threatened Martyn's goal as
the boys in blue began to re-build their game plan and self belief.
On the stroke of half time a cross ball from Bridges found Bowyer
on the edge of the box and the impish midfielder sent the ball
flying into the back of the net for an undeserved half time tonic
for O'Leary's lads.
City hit back with a corner which came to nothing and the final
action before a rest was another shot from Bowyer which was well
saved from Arphexad.
At half time we heard that The Tigers had beaten Bath and Darren
Maddy had carried his bat in the third test in South Africa,
we were wanting to be the final piece in the Boxing Day jig saw
and we wished for Martin to work his magic over the half time
cup of tea to complete the Christmas cheer. It
was going to be an uphill battle but we felt some optimism based
on our first half performance.
The Leeds crowd were jubilant crowing all sorts of sentences
at us mainly starting with 'tha's and thees', very tasteful.
Mind you having heard the things they like to sing about Man
Utd I suppose we should be thankful for small mercies;
'Eeeeh ba gum!'
Early on Emile slaughtered Radebe for speed and crossed a ball
which was narrowly too far in front of Cottee who would surely
have scored.
A Leeds corner however restored the home crowd's Christmas cheering
and joy. Possession of the ball was narrowly
in favour of Leeds and was clearly the key to success.
Arphexad's frailty manifested itself when he failed to cut out
a corner. Huckerby had a deposit into the back of the net ruled
out for off-side and we appeared to be rocking a little.
A fascinating dual between Bowyer and Izzett ensued with both
players clearly pressing for England selection. Sinclair was
looking good at right back but Gilchrist at left back appeared
short of pace and more suited to a trio of centre backs line
up, he looks OK in a more central location.
The game was open and flowing and we felt that a goal could go
in at either end and that the next goal would surely be crucial.
A great header from Harte pulled out a great save from Arphexad,
he's a great shot stopper but he lacks some organisation.
Great pressure from Leeds put our backs to the wall and our hearts
in our mouths as the young Leeds side began to visibly grow in
confidence. We needed to hurt them and soon - but it
was Arphexad who was the next 'keeper in action; blocking well
for a corner.
More was needed from our midfield who had so far failed to impress
with Eadie being particularly anonymous. We were taking a battering
but we were digging in and taking it on the chin. Emile
Heskey looked like the most likely outlet and cause for hope.
Kewell was all over the pitch, Bridges was shooting on sight,
Bowyer was lively and the two full backs Kelly and Harte were
getting forward too.
Zagorakis came on replacing Gilchrist which indicated a change
in line up and sure enough Oakes and Savage went to wing backs
with Taggert, Elliott and Sinclair going to centre back. Eadie
would now hopefully move into an advanced location as we needed
to push for a goal.
Unfortunately Peguy Arphexad was seeing more of the ball than
we would have liked but Robbie Savage was getting wound up and
his hyper-active behaviour began to surface.
Our back three were by now our only true defenders but our advanced
play failed to silence the Leeds crowd.
Another good save from Arphexad.
Eadie wins a corner, Oakes takes it, Heskey heads wide.
Kewell free kick to Harte who shoots, Peguy saves well again.
Cottee seems isolated up front.
Izzett/ Heskey one two wins a corner, Oakes takes it to no avail.
15 mins to go.
Leeds give the ball away Eadie feeds Heskey who crosses low and
hard which Cottee just misses.
Wilcox on for Huckerby and is booked almost immediately.
Leicester looking better.
Arphexad robs Bridges in the box.
Heskey to Izzett to Zagorakis to Oakes who crosses but Heskey's
header goes straight at Martyn. With a little
more direction we would surely have drawn level.
Zagorakis wins the ball well in midfield the ref waves play on,Bowyer
and Bridges go down injured. Oakes puts the ball out of play
then the ref. books Zagorakis which really didn't make sense
at all.
7 mins to go; City still pressing.
Bakke shoots wide.
Bowyer dives in the box. City break away but Harte
intercepts.
Good passing from Oakes.
Bridges misses a cross as Leeds try and dampen the game while
City are desperately fanning the flames.
3 mins to go.
Zagorakis loses the ball to Kewell who goes for a 50/50 ball
with Peguy but sadly the Aussie could not resist an extravagant
dive for which he should have been booked. This kind
of behaviour must be stamped out.
Kewell takes the ball to the corner flag and behaves like a boxer
hanging onto the ropes and he wins a corner.
1 min to go Leeds fans are whistling like Canaries in a cage
and not strutting about like The Peacock's they claim to be.
Final whistle goes for Leeds to gain their 12th win in a row
at home and for us to suffer 3 defeats on the trot.
City just could not come up with the goods with 4 key players
still out injured and we need to re-group, lick our wounds and
re-surface in 2 days time to end our Millennium on a high note.
Leeds: Martyn, Kelly, Radebe, Woodgate, Harte, Bowyer,
Bakke, McPhail, Kewell, Bridges, Huckerby (Wilcox, 77).
Subs not used: Mills, Jones, Duberry, Robinson.
Booked: Martyn, Bridges, Wilcox.
Leicester: Arphexad,
Elliott, Taggart, Gilchrist (Zagorakis, 65), Sinclair, Savage,
Izzet, Eadie, Oakes, Cottee, Heskey.
Subs not used: Gunnlaugsson, Campbell,
Thomas, Hodges.
Booked: Zagorakis.
Attendance: 40,105.
Referee: M Halsey
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