Leeds back at Burnley

Last updated : 11 December 2010 By Tony Scholes

I was watching some short highlights yesterday of our 4-1 win at Elland Road in 1974. If I ever dared forget why I dislike Leeds United it was all there for everyone to see. "Nail James," came from Revie's mouth as our left winger tormented them, and that summed it all up for me.

That was the day they just about ended Frank Casper's career and it was after this game that Paul Fletcher spoke out about how they approached the game and the real nastiness. Why such quality players ever had to resort to that I don't know, they just didn't need to, but they really were a seriously nasty side.

But to today, and all things have changed. We've moved on and I would suggest there aren't many people involved in that game who are around today although Fletcher and Martin Dobson are back at Burnley.

This is another big game for us as we look to try and get back into the top six. That's where we were the last time we came off the pitch, having beaten Derby 2-1, but games since have now seen us drop to ninth, Watford being the last club to going above us after winning at QPR last night.

Yes, we've played less games than any other team in the top ten, but that counts for very little, it's points that count and a win today would see us climb a minimum of two places.

Our Opponents


A lot has happened at Leeds in the last few years. It's just over six years since they were playing in the Premier League but two relegations, administration, a big points deduction saw them spend three years in League One before winning promotion last season.

They looked odds on for much of the season but a poor run in almost cost them and it took a win against Bristol Rovers on the last day of the season, when they came from behind to win 2-1, to ensure they went up automatically with Norwich.

In the higher division, and with a number of new signings, they've certainly started very well, and are certainly an entertaining side. Only the top two have scored more goals than Leeds but only four teams have conceded more.

They are without doubt looking good away from home. They haven't lost on the road since a 2-1 reverse at Ipswich at the beginning of October. Since, they have won three and drawn two away games, the wins coming against Middlesbrough, Scunthorpe and Coventry.

Apart from that Ipswich game their only other away defeat came at Barnsley with a 5-2 scoreline in favour of the home team. They are currently sixth in the table.

Click HERE to see Leeds' results this season


Team News


Simon Grayson has no real problems ahead of the game other than who to play at right back. He labels Paul Connolly as Mr Consistency but he had to be replaced last week as he served a one match ban.

That saw Andy Hughes come in and play well and it looks as though Grayson's biggest decision will be which of the two to play.

Other than that it could be very much the same team, so if Connolly does come back we can expect Leeds to line up: Kasper Schmeichel, Paul Connolly, Alex Bruce, Andy O'Brien, George McCartney, Neil Kilkenny, Bradley Johnson, Robert Snodgrass, Jonny Howson, Max Gradel, Luciano Becchio. Subs from: Lewis Price, Adam Barrett, Andy Hughes, Cadogan, Andy Dorman, Jonathan Obika, Ross McCormack, LLoyd Sam, Billy Paynter.

Click HERE to see the full Leeds squad


Although Danny Fox remains out with the injury he suffered in the home game against Doncaster, there is good news for the Clarets with both Martin Paterson and Chris Eagles fit again. Pato was forced off at half time against Doncaster, just his second game back, and has since missed the last three games. Eagles, suffering with a back problem, was ruled out of the game against Derby.

I suspect both will return via the bench and that could mean the same starting line up we had for that Derby game two weeks ago.

If that's the case the team will be: Lee Grant, Tyrone Mears, Clarke Carlisle, Andre Bikey, Brian Easton, Jack Cork, Wade Elliott, Dean Marney, Jay Rodriguez, Chris Iwelumo, Ross Wallace. Subs from: Brian Jensen, David Edgar, Michael Duff, Graham Alexander, Alex-Ray Harvey, Chris Eagles, Martin Paterson, Steven Thompson, John Guidetti.

Last Time We Met


Martin Paterson
Andy Gray - suffered a late injury
The last time Leeds came to Turf Moor for a league game was in November 2006. A 2-1 win left us firmly in the play off positions after 19 games and just three points behind the top two. Little could we have known at the time that we would not win any of our next 18 league games. They would give us just 8 draws and 10 defeats.

There was no sign of that on its way in this game, although the late injury to Andy Gray was, without any doubt, a major factor in what was to come.

Incredibly this was our first home win against Leeds since 1974 and it came courtesy of two goals in two second half minutes from Gifton Noel-Williams and Gray although by then Leeds had been reduced to ten men when Phil Dowd sent off Hayden Foxe.

A late David Healy goal reduced the arrears but the 2-1 scoreline certainly didn't reflect Burnley's domination throughout the game.

Leeds amazingly had the first chance of the game but their prolific striker Ian (without the Thomas) Moore hit a tame shot at Danny Coyne who was back in the Burnley team for the first time in fifteen months after recovering from cruciate ligament surgery.

When the goal came it was no surprise that it came from Steve Jones. He had made an excellent start to his Burnley career and again was in top form. This time his cross was met by Gifton who made no mistake with a right foot shot.

Two minutes later; Chris McCann and James O'Connor linked well and got the ball out to Wayne Thomas. The full back played the ball in for Gray with his back to goal, but the striker turned well to score against his first club.

The bad news came after the game. Gray went off injured on 89 minutes and it was later revealed that he'd suffered a double metatarsal injury that would keep him out for weeks. With it went our scoring power and in came the shocking run of results that saw us slide down the table.

The teams were;

Burnley: Danny Coyne, Wayne Thomas, Michael Duff, John McGreal, Jon Harley, Wade Elliott (Alan Mahon 86), James O'Connor, Micah Hyde (Chris McCann 62), Steve Jones, Gifton Noel-Williams, Andy Gray (Kyle Lafferty 89). Subs not used: Brian Jensen, Stephen Foster.

Leeds: Graham Stack, Hayden Foxe, Ugo Ehiogu, Matt Heath, Stephen Crainey, Jonathan Douglas, Shaun Derry, Ian Westlake, Eddie Lewis (David Healy 72), Ian Moore (Geoff Horsfield 72), Robbie Blake (Tresor Kandol 55). Subs not used: Tony Warner, Sebastien Carole.

Previous games against Leeds


Previous 20 Seasons

Season

Div

Ven

Result

Att

Scorers

2004/05

C

a

2-1

27,490

Roche Duffy

.

.

h

0-1

17,789

.

2005/06

C

h

1-2

16,174

G O'Connor(pen)

..

a

0-2

21,318

.

2006/07

C

h

2-1

15,061

Noel-Williams Gray

.

.

h

0-1

23,528

.



Click HERE to see all our results against Leeds