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Season 2011-12
Leeds United (a) Friendly

 

Date: Sunday 31st July 2011, 2pm

Venue:
 Elland Road

Conditions:
warm, slightly hazy

Admission: £15

Programme:
£4
 




  

 Leeds United

Newcastle United

3 - 2

 

Teams

Goals

4 mins Forster OG / Kisnorbo shot 0-1

35 mins Steven Taylor 
volley 1-1

Half time: Leeds 1 Newcastle 1

68 mins Sam
shot 1-2

78 mins Vuckic
shot 2-2

85 mins Paynter
header 2-3

Full time: Leeds 3 Newcastle 2

We Said

Alan Pardew:

"We gave away three really bad goals, and the first two were individual errors. 

"The first goal in particular set the tone for a shabby performance from us. Leeds' focus was better. We were the better team but we didn't have the focus we needed against them today, and those mistakes cost us the result.

"Sometimes in a game like that you learn more, and I've learnt more about individual players today than I have all pre-season. There were some positives - Cabaye was a positive - he played the holding role and you could see that, although he is a great passer, he also has defensive qualities.

"Haris came on and showed what he is about, Demba Ba was good in all he did without actually getting a goal, and Danny Simpson played well. So there were some positives.

"We need another player, we are conscious of that. I think the 11 starters that we will have against Fiorentina will be a lot stronger than today. That will be reflected.

"But we are not pitching in against a mid-table team in the first game. We are pitching in against Arsenal, who are one of the top teams in the division. We know we need to focus and make sure, so we are putting our work in.

On PSG striker Mevlut Erding (currently in England and appearing for the French side in both of their games over the weekend at the Emirates Cup tournament):  

"Privately we’ve set him a deadline because we need an answer. We’ve spent a lot of time on that particular transfer and we need to make sure we have a player, or two, here before the start of the season.”

They Said


Whites boss Simon Grayson commented:

"It was good, obviously we are playing against a team in the top division like Newcastle and you are aware of the threats that they have.

"There were a lot of good individual performances, we were very composed when we ad possession of the ball and we was very hard to break down and to end pre season with a victory is a lot of confidence for the players."
 

Stats


After much speculation about the reception that awaited Leeds old boy Alan Smith, he wasn't involved after picking up a knock, similar reasons given for the absence of Coloccini and Enrique.

Cheick Tiote remains overseas pending resolution of his paperwork "issue", while Sylvain Marveaux didn't appear at Elland Road. Danny Guthrie, Shane Ferguson and Hatem Ben Arfa are all currently out injured, while both Steve Harper and Peter Lovenkrands were apparently rested.

James Perch, Xisco, Tamas Kadar
and Wayne Routledge failed to feature in either Saturday's reserve kickabout at Spennymoor or Sunday's first team friendly. 

Waffle



The fifth match of Newcastle's pre-season saw them lose out to Championship side Leeds United in an entertaining contest at a three-sided Elland Road on Sunday.

Alan Pardew gave Fraser Forster a further opportunity to stake his claim for the goalkeeping spot, but the 21 year-old endured an afternoon that he'll not remember fondly.

Forster's only previous appearance here saw him slice a clearance to set up a late winner for Leeds over his Norwich City side in 2009. And unfortunately the Magpies 'keeper was soon dispensing gifts to the Whites once again, inexplicably dropping a Robert Snodgrass free kick in his own six yard box in the fourth minute.


The ball looked as if it would sneak in for an OG, but Leeds defender Patrick Kisnorbo pounced to touch it into an empty net in front of the aghast away contingent.

With 13 minutes played Leeds thought they'd doubled their lead from a free kick taken from about the same distance out on the opposite (right) flank. However Jonny Howson was adjudged to be offside as he headed home.

 

 

Looking to make amends, Joey Barton shot over soon after, before finding space down the United left and sweeping across a low centre that Demba Ba narrowly failed to reach at the well-filled Kop end of the ground.

The equaliser then arrived on 35 minutes, proving to be a case of third time lucky for the orange -clad visitors. A pair of corners from the United right had already seen Steven Taylor connect with Yohan Cabaye's delivery, only to plant his header over the bar on both occasions.

However when the Frenchman was given an opportunity to take a flag kick from the left, he dropped it beyond the far post to where the unmarked Steven Taylor arrived to powerfully volley home.

Taylor was then the centre of attention at the other end of the field in the final seconds of the half, looking to have handled the ball in his own area. However the referee Andy Haines appeared to be guided by his linesman and when no indicating flag was forthcoming, waved play on.  

Newcastle emerged unchanged for the second half, with ex-Elland Road youngster James Tavernier continuing at left back until Ryan Taylor relieved him before the hour - Jose Enrique nowhere to be seen.

A further trio of replacements midway through the half then saw messrs Vuckic, Best and Sammy Ameobi introduced, Shola Ameobi - captain for the day in the absence of Coloccini - among those replaced.

However Simon Grayson's side took the lead again within seconds, Mike Williamson, allowing Lloyd Sam to wriggle past him on the byline and somehow squeeze the ball through Forster's legs from a narrow angle.

The Magpies then enjoyed their best period of the game, Leon Best looking to have a point to prove and making more of a fist of partnering Ba than Shola had, perhaps inspired by Ameobi's blarney last week about forming a successful partnership with the French forward.

Giving the visitors and added dimension down the left also was Sammy Ameobi, who again had to contend with the distracting vocal "encouragement" of toon fans but found some joy down the left.

His 76th minute cross saw Barton, Ba and Best all stretch for it, with the latter looking to make contact and bring a noteworthy block from Leeds 'keeper Andy Lonergan.

Two minutes later however home debutant Lonergan was picking the ball out his net after Demba Ba pulled the ball back from the byline and found Haris Vuckic, who blasted home his second goal in as many first team friendlies.

Paul Dummett was introduced as Newcastle's fifth and final outfield replacement - going to left back as Danny Simpson went off and Ryan Taylor moved to the right.

What proved to be the winner came five minutes from time, when Forster was caught out by a right wing cross and Billy Paynter scored a rare goal. 

The much-travelled striker shrugged off Williamson at the far post to supply a close-range header that went in off the 'keeper and completed a miserable afternoon.

Biffa


Page last updated 01 February, 2013