Derby v Leeds - SW View

Stockport White · Derby v Leeds - SW View

After driving round and round Derby for what seemed like an eternity, we finally found the ground and parked up around 7pm (serves me right for not printing off any directions), the ground was poorly signposted IMO. Walking to the ground there seemed to be Leeds fans everywhere, getting into the ground that was confirmed, quick pint and a brief chat with Mids and off to my seat.

The Derby fans were sparsely spread throughout the stadium, but the Leeds fans were packed behind the goal and in fantastic voice. Chavvy Derby fans to my left, I was looking forward to kick off.

Let’s be honest, it was a dreadful start, I believe Lubo was at fault for both goals, but would have to watch replays to confirm, also thought Casper was badly placed for the first goal – but again would have to see replay.

So 2-0 down, barely 15 minutes gone, time to sulk? time to think of how many they will score? Naa, fuck that, a good 15/20 minute rendition of ‘We all love Leeds’ should do the job and it did. The Derby fans sat back down quietly and seemed to be memorised by us, they were 2-0 up, they should have been the ones singing and dancing, the steely grit that I witnessed so much last year by the fans was back. It was up to us to get Leeds back into the game.

As the first half went on, we were more and more in control and a goal before half time could really put the cat among the pigeons. Cue Mr Becchio, the two centre backs had coped well with him for 40 minutes, but he got in between them both and was left with a simple header. 2-1 game on.

The second half started the same as the first finished, with Leeds in total control and the fans having a ball behind the goal Leeds were now attacking. The passing was fantastic, the movement was there and we were creating chances with King Delph in the middle of it all. We hit the woodwork from a fantastic Snoddy free kick and made Carroll work a number of times in the goal, but despite our best efforts on and off the pitch it wasn’t quite enough.

Casper 7 – Quiet game after the first 15 minutes, claimed crosses well and kicking was good too. Maybe at fault a little for the first goal.

Parker 8 – Have we got three of the best left backs around? Did well in the first half, so much so I believe Derby subbed their right winger at half time, a real threat going forward too.

Lubo 7 – Despite looking way out of depth in the opening exchanges, Lubo came into his own as the game wore on, won a lot of headers and made some vital challenges.

Telfer 8 – The cool head at the back yet again, never ever hoofs the ball, always looking for a man and to pass to feet. For his age, Telfer really is class.

Richardson 8 – Captain marvel does it again. Really impressed with the way he is performing at the moment. Looking solid at the back and even better going forward. Exposed a couple of times early on, when Snoddy didn’t drop back.

Robbo 7 – Not quite the silky performance we’ve come to expect, but he was on the ball, looking to make things happen and working hard for the team. Although everytime the ball went to Robbo, the only thing the right back was looking to do was put it out of play, clearly worried about his threat.

Douglas 8 – Dirty work time and time again, no nonsense performance and didn’t give the Derby midfield a chance to settle. Brilliant job protecting the back four for majority of the game.

Delph 9 – Rewards his u21 call up with another MoM display and I’d go as far as saying it was his best yet. Ran the Derby midfield ragged, they couldn’t keep up with his skill, his pace, his power, his tackling and his movement. He was everywhere and involved in everything.

Kilkenny 7 – Great while he was on the ball, but as someone said behind me last night “I’m sure if you pulled Kilkenny’s shorts down he’d have a fanny” – bottled out of a few tackles and 50/50 challenges.

Snoddy 7 – Worked the line very well, linking up with Richardson, hit a fantastic free kick against the woodwork and was generally an annoyance to their left back.

Becchio 8 – Led the line superbly, up against two bigger, stronger centre halves than he’s normally used to but coped well, won headers, held the ball up and won freekicks properly unlike this Argentinean counterpart Villa who spent most of the game rolling around.

Subs:

White 7 – Came on and got forward well.
Howson 7 – Was busy in the midfield and offered the challenges that were missing from Kilkenny’s game.
Beckford 7 – Looked a little rusty, but their right back really didn’t want him on the pitch, Beckford ran rings around him and had him panicking any time the ball went near him. Unlucky in the 94th minute with a great curling/chip from the by-line, that just went over the bar.

Leeds fans 11 – One of the best atmospheres that I’ve been part of. Would like to know what older fans who were there made of it with their past experiences?

Just to round off a great night, Delph came over to the Leeds fans and bowed down to us. We responding with ‘Fabian Delph, not for sale’ to which he clapped and smiled at the fans, he’s not going anywhere, he’s going to part of something special. It really is coming together lads and remember the ONLY target this year is promotion. Some Derby fans outside the ground said they hadn’t had away fans like that for a long time and were well impressed.

I have never left a game we’ve lost happy, but last night was different. The performance as whole was the best yet under Macca, more of the same as we’ll storm L1, I have no doubt about that. And the way we played Derby off the park leaves me with little doubts we can compete at a higher level.

Great night all round, despite losing.

Del

Will add my own thoughts to that, although i must say is a brilliant report and said most of what i was gunna say.

Thought our fans were fantastic, think it's being mentioned a few times already but is worthy of another mention, best atmosphere for a long time. I think we realise that we are witnessing the re-birth of our club and the sleeping giant is sturing. I for one think that we are on the slow road back after many years of dissapointment.

The football was amazing and i just hope we carry on like that....dont mind losing a in a game like that if we play like that becasue the signs of progression are their for all to see and if we play like that we will win 90% of our games. We cant win every single game, so lets not be too downhearted by a loss in a game that we should have won.

Think we really need to sign a centre back in Jan.

Mark

Excellent and intresting read lads......

Atmosphere sounded "special last night" despite loss,maybe at last the team is playing itself into some form.....

SNIFFER CLARKE

Great report SW,cheers

warringtonwhite

top report sw

as an old cnut last nights atmosphere was right up there with any other i have been too ive been to quieter home games

if we play like that against udders the ref will stop the game at half time as a mercy killing that was the best play i have seen from leeds under macca