Goals, Goals, Goals

That Clarets lost to Leeds in this game says a lot of the Clarets progress. Leeds have given 26 debuts to date this season, whilst the Clarets have fielded only eighteen players in total and had Clarets awoken earlier in the game than after Frank Sinclair's dismissal fifteen minutes from time, who knows how this game might have ended, as once Clarets moved to a twin striker based formation, Leeds were clearly rattled and the inept officials could and should have given more than the one penalty awarded for Carlisle's clumsy challenge on Ian Moore.

With Oster lining up against his former club, Clarets fielded the same team as had started against with the exception of Roche in for the now departed Chaplow.

In what was a tight opening to the game in a disappointing first half, with neither side showing great adventure, Leeds had the first of the chances with Healy angling a shot over the bar on ten minutes.

It was twenty five minutes into the game before any chance of note was created and this only after a miscue by Grant allowed livewire Wright a run to the bye line, but his cross was easily caught by Jensen at his near post.

Gregan provided the light hearted moment of the half, when hitting the corner flag with a wild slice from twenty five yards and Healy tried his luck again on the half hour as Leeds enjoyed the better of the half, whilst the home side struggled to find any penetration, the Leeds back four rarely under pressure.

Cahill was somewhat fortunate when caught in possession and the yellow card issued by ref Webster was a little lenient by the official.

Healy's moment of glory when tapping home Wrights low cross was short-lived and the offside decision was a correct one, though 4,000 down the other end chose to differ in their opinions.

Branch fizzed a cross past Sullivan as Clarets made a rare foray up field, but play was soon back down the other end and as the half drew to a close Sinclair was harshly given a yellow for a headed challenge deemed over zealous by Mr Webster.

The best moment of the half, came from the resulting free kick and an agile Beast superbly tipped Deane's glanced header over the angle, leaving Sinclair to continue his protests of innocence as the teams left the field.

HT 0-0.

Sour grapes - it improved when John Oster was replaced

The second half was to prove an improvement over the first, Leeds continued to hoist high balls into Deane, whilst Clarets improved as the half progressed.

Oster's moment in the game came three minutes in and his great low cross across the six yard line deserved better than the watchful eyes that saw it out to safety.

Grant and Gregan had a competitive afternoon, the former PNE man disliking the close attention paid to him by Grant, quick to tackle whenever given the chance and the two came together after a feisty challenge by Grantona ten minutes into the half, Moore getting in quickly to calm matters down.

The Clarets were containing Leeds to a line forty yards from goal and the long balls in were more from hope than anything tactical, Einarsson's long range effort the best in this period and this easily caught by an under worked Beast.

McGreal made a superb block on Healy as Leeds finally broke through before a moment of hilarity came after Deane's volley from ten yards out missed the goal by miles, the ball ending up in the adjacent Bob Lord stand and further way from goal than from where he made the initial shot!

The amusement must have affected the Clarets as within a minute Leeds took the lead and scored what proved the winning goal. Wright got the better of Camara and whipped over a cross from the right side of the area, Hyde and Sinclair failed to mark effectively and Einarsson’s header from six yards, his first goal for Leeds, gave Jensen no chance, Clarets conceding at home for the first time in eight home games.

A disappointing Oster was replaced immediately by Valois, the team reshuffled into a 4-4-2 with Branch moved up front alongside Moore. With the new shape came some optimism and Clarets looked better from this point forwards and even after going down to ten men, following a second yellow to Sinclair issued after aiming a kick at Einarsson with a quarter hour remaining.

The sending off gave Clarets new impetus, a harmless looking ball into the area proved too much for Carlisle and he stupidly pulled Moore down as the two chased the ball. The resulting spot kick was woeful, Moore's aim was too close to Sullivan's left and the 'keeper made the first penalty save of the season for Leeds when easily clutching the weak side footer.

With Clarets pressing forwards, Leeds looked to counter and a superb block by Hyde robbed Lennon when he delayed momentarily in the area.

Clarets could and should have had a second penalty when Butler clearly handled Camara's cross and the punch deflecting the ball away from Moore's header.

In an entertaining finale, Moore's header from Branch's diagonal cross brought a great tip over from Sullivan, the corner delayed by one of the slowest walk offs in living memory Deane and Einarsson eventually leaving the field to be replaced by Ricketts and Singh.

When the corner did take place, Mr Webster missed another clear penalty as Butler clearly pushed McGreal with both hands into the chest of the Claret defender.

Into the default three minutes of injury time and both 'keepers made fine saves. First the Beast block superbly from Pugh at close range as Leeds looked to seal the win, then Moore flicked the final shot of the game into Sullivan's grateful arms in a goalmouth melee in the last seconds of the game, with Jensen also looking to get his name on the score sheet.

FT 0-1

Att: 17,789.

Sour grapes
I thought oster's were supposed to thrive in poor light and damp soil, but it was not until the introduction of Valois that Clarets came to life and the 4-4-2 (later 3-4-2) formation seemed to offer more of threat as Clarets looked to gain something from the game.

A fine Claret
The stadium vote went to Frank Sinclair, but my vote goes to Tony Grant, who once again put in a tireless display in a competitive midfield, where he was ably supported by Hyde as Clarets looked to break down the Leeds formation.