City 1 Leeds United 1
Report by Mike King
With a full programme in the Championship on the same evening, it was necessary for the City to gain 3 points to keep up a challenge for an automatic promotion place or at the very least, keep them safely in the play-off places. But with erratic form of late, the City faithful demanded the same effort and quality when demolishing Blackburn in the last home game and not the timid displays in recent away performances against lowly clubs.
Leeds would not be an easy pushover, as they had play-off ambitions themselves and they had not conceded a goal in their last 4 games. Manager Warnock, love him or hate him, seems to be getting the best out of a side costing a fraction of the City's squad.
City Manager Pearson made one change from the defeat at Ipswich, with Nugent coming back into the side after injury and Marshall keeping the bench warm. Kane started on the right of mid-field, probably to assist Wood and Nugent upfront in an attacking formation.
Attacking the end where the masses of Leeds fans were assembled, it was the City who created the first chance after good work by Konchesky on the left, setting up Knockaert who tried a fierce volley from a narrow angle that fizzed over the bar, although a cross to the far post was a better option with two City players completely unmarked.
De Laet was starting his raids down the right and his excellent cross failed to find a City striker, then Kane sent over a good cross that had the same end result. Keeper Kenny was the busier and also the Leeds defence who blocked or cleared any threats. Wood fired wide when other City players were well positioned but it seems Wood will always shoot when he has the ball within 25 yards of the goal rather than look at the wider picture.
Nugent was struggling to see much of the ball and Knockaert was failing to provide any threat down the left as Leeds begun to pass the ball far better than the City and a header from Byram was turned away by Schmeichel with a good save. The City spluttered with their mid-field, especially Drinkwater, finding it hard work as the Leeds players seemed to be winning all 50-50 challenges although Kane was doing fairly well down the right.
Drinkwater did have a long range shot after good work by Morgan and Kenny made the save of the game when a City goal bound shot seemed to be heading into the net. Then a Kane shot from 25 yards was spilled low down by Kenny, but the advancing Nugent saw the rebound just miss his boots with Kenny reclaiming the ball. Then another Kane long range shot just missed the post as the City tried to take the lead, although Leeds were becoming more dangerous winning most of the headers all around the pitch.
Kenny then tipped another Wood effort over the bar after more good work by Kane after 35 minutes. However Leeds did have their moments when Byram set up Norris near City's penalty spot, but fortunately Norris seemed to scuff his shot that went well wide of Schmeichel's post.
Then as half-time approached, the Foxes won a free kick 25 yards out on the right. Would Konchesky take it? No, it was Knockaert whose carefully placed swerving shot was tipped over by Kenny. From the resulting corner, as Knockaert was about to take it, the referee inexplicably whistled for half time with not one minute additional time signalled or played – perhaps his watch alarm went off, but the crowd were incensed and vented their feelings as the officials exited the pitch, especially as Leeds had been guilty of time wasting with every throw in they won.
As the players came out for the second half, a surprise as Dyer replaced Konchesky at left back. Was Konchesky injured, as he had a good first half compared to others, or was this a tactical change by Pearson, going 3-5-2?
Leeds were now winning more of the ball, and Dyer was, not for the first time, out-muscled by McCormack. His cross was headed out for a corner by De Laet. McCormack fired in a superb corner that missed all players in the 6 yard box only to find Byram who slotted the ball home after 54 minutes. The Leeds fans went berserk.
The impressive McCormack was running the show and giving Dyer a torrid time. Dyer is, like other City mid-fielders, light weight, and it showed. Why didn't Pearson put De Laet at left back, move the pacey Keane to right back and Whitbread on the bench alongside Morgan? McCormack's 20 yarder tested Schmeichel and Lees headed over the bar as Leeds went for the killer goal.
Only Keane on the City's team was playing well, winning every header and tackle and distributing very well. He exudes class and will surely return to Man. Utd. and perhaps replace the retiring Ferdinand at some time. Others huffed and puffed. Knockaert was having another shocker, giving the ball away on numerous occasions and was, too late, replaced by Marshall on the right.
Wood and Nugent were peppered with the long ball to no effect. A Kane effort came to nothing as he had only rare moments to impress, and Schmeichel had to acrobatically save from Green. The City faithful were becoming frustrated as the clock ticked on with Leeds dealing easily with anything thrown at them, notably winning every headed challenge, not bad for a relatively short team.
With 10 minutes to go, the City did start to slowly get into the game. Another raid by De Laet found Wood just outside the box, and as his goal bound effort seemed to be beating Kenny, the ball hit Nugent and deflected wide for a goal kick. Typical! Waghorn then replaced Nugent.
The game swung from end to end. Schmeichel saved from Norris when well placed, Waghorn's shot was blocked, but Kane blasted wide. The referee, after the half time problem, added 4 minutes extra time. City went all out for the equaliser with Schmeichel going up into the Leeds box for a free kick and a corner. Indeed, Schmeichel did win the ball in the area with a header, feeding King, but his overhead kick, like another effort was tipped over the bar by Kenny.
Dyer and Kane went down demanding a penalty kick but the poor referee waved play on. It was all City now as a King header was again tipped over by Kenny. As the fourth minute arrived, Waghorn took the corner on the right, finding the leaping Keane at the far post and he nodded the ball home past a diving Kenny. Leeds players were incensed as the referee showed his yellow card to Leeds defenders who must have felt a foul had been committed. Phew, a draw and one point earned at the death!
Not an impressive display after the Blackburn result, with Keane the MOM by a stretch, closely followed by Leeds's McCormack. King did okay and Kane did well in the first half. Schmeichel was busier than usual at home. For the visit of Mandaric's Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, 3 points is a must and perhaps Pearson will shuffle his pack to remind some players we are in a fight for promotion to the Premier, however the City achieve the end result.
Other results did not really go our way as Palace thumped Hull to open up a 6 point gap ahead of us although the game in hand is going to be crucial. Cardiff are stuttering, but Udinese, sorry Watford, are going well, and even Forest are improving so the season run in is going to prove interesting with the last 3 games against Palace, Watford and Forest respectively may well being the Season's hi-lights – or not!!!
City: Schmeichel, De Laet, Morgan, Keane, Konchesky (Dyer 46), Kane, Drinkwater, King, Knockaert (Marshall 60), Nugent (Waghorn 81), Wood. Unused subs: Whitbread, Logan, Gallagher, Wellens
Leeds: Kenny, Peltier, Lees, Green, Morison, Varney, Warnock, Tonge, Norris, Byram, McCormack (Pearce 90). Unused subs: Ashdown, White, Brown, Diouf, Habibou, Hall
Attendance: 22,660 Referee: Paul Tierney
The views expressed in this report are the opinions of the Trust member nominated to file the report only and do not represent the views of the Foxes Trust organisation