By Kev (AKA Lossie)
March 3 2006

A fans view as Leeds United battled at Elland Road to take all three points from Watford. Thanks to Lossie from our message board for this report. A crunch match at a vital time of the season and Messageboard regular sums up the mood and the match perfectly........


Got to Lowfields Road around 7pm, didn,t think by the number of cars there that it was that busy. Got into the ground and it was much the same, no signs of a big crowd developing. Watched the lads warm up, most looking fit, bit surprised to see Cresswell on the pitch, but given that he was rumoured to be having his op today, thought it might be a good time to throw him on before going under the knife.

Kick off......we start well and we,re stright up the South stand for an attempt on goal. Foul made just outside the 18 yard box. From then on it was 50/50 football with both teams going for it. It was easy to see why we,re neck and neck with them in the league, there was no calling it, though there was nothing to make us think they could beat us. In fact it became clear we could take them. Then the free kick......I forget who but Gregan puts a challenge in and the guy just dives....thats how it looked, I,d love for someone to tell me if I,m wrong or not. Free kick was inch perfect.....1-0 them.

Immediately the Leeds fans start singing "Gregan Gregan Gregan.." in whats seemed to be their way of telling him he,d done notheing wrong, in fact he was the player most hailed on the pitch last night. About time in some peoples opinion. We almost took one back straight away but it was not to be as the whistle blew. By this time I was getting knackered from singing and was glad of the half time break.

Half time saw some crazy euro pop hit band enter the stage...some bloke in a cowboy hat and two lasses in hot pants, who the author has to admiit were fairly fit. However the song was a shile of pite and the Leeds faithful gave their own rendition of We Are Leeds followed by Time To Go, Time to Go...They went....!

Second half, we started well....we came out geared for the win....no changes to the line up, but a bit more fire in their bellies....we took the game to Watford which eventually resulted in the lovely pass to Hulse which he only needed to take round the keeper and slot it in. He takes it round perfectly, and of course, Foster brings him down. Nailed on penalty and red card, which were immediately issued. Nerves were on edge when Blake picks the ball up, sending Hulse to the edge of the penalty area. Reserve keeper steps up and we,re thinking "will Blake beat him, what if he doesn,t etc".......whistle goes, up steps Blake, BANG, top left......crowd goes mad....1-1.

Play resumes and we,re now baying for blood....I mean really....we wanted this bad.....Attack.........Attack....Attack came the cries......but they were taking it to us....a long ball from their half ( common last night ) found their man run straight into Gregan with his elbow......even in the Kop we felt it...Polax....we went mental.....again, a straight red....What the fook was going on...Is this really Watford....they,ve just self destructed. Or have they..?? All of a sudden, Watford seem to find heart from somewhere.....they are actually holding us as we start to sit deep, all the while to the chants of Attack....We make a double substitution, with Cressy and Healy coming on for Douglas and Hulse..... then we start to break......whenever their moves break down, we break out.....there were lots of off sides against us, some of which looked highly dubious particularly as the players caught were looking down the line as they were given, and to us looked perfectly on side. Eventually we get the benefit and an attack down the left produces a cross into the area which Cressy misses but it falls kindly for Blake who launches the ball into the back of the net......Uproar ensues......fans are on the pitch in the NE corner, stewards flock down to sort it out and everyone else goes looney.
Still, from the restart, Watford won,t lie down....they think they can save this ...on a couple of occasions they come close to being in a scoring position but are seen off soundly by the CB,s......with 5 minutes of extra time being indicated, the crowd are split....some want it over, some of us want more goals......but eventually it ends 2-1 Leeds. The players are given a deserved rapturous send off.

All in all, a very spirited determind performance by Leeds. Obviously the sendings off helped, but they weren,t contentious form their point of view.

I,ll give my opinions on players performances though feel free to question it, I am biased after all.

Sully 6...wasn,t poor but really had nothing to do.
Butler 7
Gregan 8 ( 9 in my view as he played out of his skin )
Crainey 8
Kelly 7
Miller 7
Lewis 8 tracked back and helped out much more than usual
Douglas 7
Derry 7
Blake 9....created chances a plenty out of nothing.
Hulse 8 worked hard but got knocked about too much as usual.

Subs
Cressy 7
Healey 7

Kev