Saturday 12 December 2015

Charlton Athletic Nil v Leeds United 0

A disappointing match short on quality from both sides beset by ownership troubles. I fancied the draw before the game as we haven't had one in ten and it looked right on current form.

Harry Lennon made an impressive home debut (I think it was his first full first debut outing in SE7 but I could be wrong). As anticipated, he partnered Alou Diarra at the back as Naby Sarr was dropped. Solly and Holmes-Dennis tucked in alongside them.

The midfield saw Jackson return to partner Cousins and JBG was fit to start wide with Ademola Lookman on the other side enabling Reza to play up front with Vaz Te.

We had the better of the first-half but only really one Lookman shot to show for it. Leeds didn't have much more and we all hoped for better after the break. The second-half was better paced but full of mistakes and few chances until the latter stages. Vaz Te finished a fine move but his final touch was too tame to score and the Leeds keeper managed to steer it around the post. Both sides blasted over from distance with better options open before Leeds went for it in the last 15 minutes.

I've not been the biggest supporter of Leeds fans over the years but credit where credit's due, they gave the Upbeats stirring applause at half-time today on their lap of honour.

In the last fifteen minutes and with Charlton tiring fast, Leeds forced a number of corners and Henderson was tested on several occasions. After the move of the match, Leeds managed to square to one of theirs six yards out with only Henderson to beat but he snatched at his shot and somehow managed to hit the post. The Leeds fans were still celebrating at the back of the Jimmy Seed some twenty seconds after Henderson had taken the goal-kick. That was pretty much it and the point lifts us above MK Dons and just out of the bottom three.

Lookman was again the pick of the bunch. His pace threatened Leeds all afternoon but he was wasted on the wing. Shame we didn't have Tony Watt to call on today. Instead he earned Cardiff the lead having been taken down in the box after a fine solo run.

I attended the pre-match protest behind the West Stand. It was well attended and vocal but down on last time and with less onlookers, I would say c 300 in strength. Katrien Meire was visible in the Directors lounge above the main entrance enjoying the company of "The Manager-eater," Massimo Cellino, the current owner of the Leeds United Circus. No doubt La Meire will have been impressed with his 36 managerial appointments in 22 years at Calgiari although my guess is Massimo wouldn't claim that they were all successful appointments. At one point he turned to the protesters and smiled, shrugging, as if to say 'it's got nothing to do with me.' If he had looked a bit closer he might have picked out some Leeds fans amongst us. Irrespective, he got a chorus of what he could do with his £5 Pie Tax.

Bolton at the Valley on Tuesday. Surely we will win that one?

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