Leeds United v West Bromwich Albion Match Thread - 18 minutes highlights

[leic white 63]

a good much needed home win. thought we deserved it overall . good first half and could have been easily two up if it wasn't a mixture of poor finishing and brilliance from their keeper. unfortunately our injury woes continue but we shown great determination and character in the second half to see it through .
bamford, dallas white all excellent for me however thought klich was disappointing and harrison continues to frustrate.

[1964white]

What a game

Report up later

[weasel]

An interesting performance second half with WBA basically throwing caution to the wind and over committing so that they could dominate possession. However because of that they left themselves wide open when we broke well and we could have added a few goals - we certainly had much the better chances second half. WBA reminded me of how we were last season where we would have all the possession but that the opposition would carve us open when they broke as we had over committed men forward. This shows how much we have developed over the summer as when we have dominated teams this season we have very rarely looked vulnerable to a counter attack, we have dominated but still been solid defensively.

Full marks to the team because we limited WBA to only a couple of chances, the cross shot that flashed wide and Casilla's regulation save when he pushed the shot round the post. If Derby or Swansea had played the way we did (in the second half last night) when they played us then I would have given them and their manager's credit however neither of them did which is why their manager's comments about their tactics after the games were complete nonsense. However neither of those sides were able to do that.

[Gurj]

Got home at 1.30am after the trip up North but it was worth it. A very good polished effort in the first half that just lacked additional goals we warranted followed by a backs to the wall true grit, denying West Brom a goal by hook or crook. It was nailbiting stuff in that last 20 mins or so but the boys got their just rewards.

Bamford was just immense......workrate has increased so much. Yes the goals are still an issue but we really cant ask for more from the big man.

Was such a shame Shack went off when he did.....he was electric in that first half, both going forward and defensively. Hope it isnt a serious hamstring issue.

Shame to lose Coops too now for 3-4 weeks although at least the international break mitigates some of that.

[rab_rant]

WBA fans not happy with Kyle Bartley's behaviour.

"So we just lost the game and conceded first place in the league.
And the first thing we see is Kyle Bartley smiling. Disgusting. @WBA"

[gessa]

It was just him and Ayling rediscovering their bromance.

[1964white]

What a performance !

Disciplined & resilient defending I've not seen from a Leeds team in a long time. My god so nerve-racking though, if I didn't have a dodgy ticker before the game I must have been close to one by the end, relief & ecstatic joy when the final whistle was blown. A mate of mine offered me one of his stents

Positives

Three points.
Clean sheet.
We won at ER for our home fans at long last
We're top of the league.
We scored a goal by shooting first time without taking a touch.
Best defensive performance from a Leeds team in many seasons.
Won the game with only 48% possession, having loads of the ball means nothing if you don't score.
Their goalie had more saves to make than Kiko in the second-half.
We won the game without one of our best players Shacks in the first-half & our captain Cooper.
Bamford without doubt the MOTM, superb performance
Ben White efficient as ever.
Dallas worked his socks off
Phillips did a job on their classy playmaker.
Berardi looked comfortable.
Alioski's best game of the season.
Jamie Shackleton so good in the first-half
Ayling back.

Negatives

We lost the midfield once Shackleton had gone.
We had chances to finish to off the game
Injuries building up again with Pablo, Forshaw, Shacks & Cooper in the treatment room.

Ratings

7 Casilla
9 Dallas
7 Cooper
9 White
8 Alioski
9 Phillips
8 Costa
6 Klich
8 Shackleton
6.5 Harrison
9.5 Bamford
Subs
8 Berardi
5 Roberts
n/a Ayling

[1964white]

Got home at 1.30am after the trip up North but it was worth it.

Two hours after me mate

I have some 3am/4am home arrivals coming up on our London evening trips

[weasel]

Negatives

We lost the midfield once Shackleton had gone.

The only reason we lost the midfield battle was because WBA flooded the midfield without a care for leaving themselves short at the back. For all they then won the midfield battle it would have counted for very little if we had been a bit more clinical in that second half as we could, and should, have repeated last season's 4-0 win. Leeds showed, apart from the finishing, what they are capable of if teams actually try to play against us rather than simply defending en masse.

I have yet to see a team get the better of us tactically this season despite what some opposition managers have told their fans.

[whiteswan]

Did anyone see Cooper hugging the players as they came off the pitch. Him and Pablo were at the tunnel and Coops joy was there for all to see. Lovely to watch him celebrating with every player....

[1964white]

Did anyone see Cooper hugging the players as they came off the pitch. Him and Pablo were at the tunnel and Coops joy was there for all to see. Lovely to watch him celebrating with every player....

There is certainly a togetherness about this Leeds squad

[The Subhuman]

I really like this squad, first time in years..

[1964white]

18 minutes highlights

A really good watch, cracking game

[Cjay]

Good performance that.

Not at our sparkling best but showed grit.

WBA are the best side we have played this season by a distance, played some great stuff, just lacked a final pass or shot (very much like us actually).

Billic is a lovely man and a great coach (Paddy said he came and congratulated us after the game).

Felt we deserved to win tbh though, WBA had some great situations but only forced Kiko to make one decent save (amazing double save from Johnstone).

Bamford was immense, really pleased for him, if he plays like that every week the goals will come and he will help us win game even without them, pulled Ajayi and Bartley all over the place.

Costa looked much better, some great skills and was unlucky not to score.

Harrison still frustrates, great skill then ran it out and he got very lucky with the assist, but he was better imo at least he contributed.

The back 4 were very good, Ali defended well i felt and kept Matt Philips very quiet, White was superb and Bera when he came on (very pleased WBA played Kanu who is a donkey not Charlie Austin ).

If we get promoted and WBA dont then Pereira is a must buy, exactly the sort of number 10 we need but Philips did ok against him.

So sad Shacks got injured, thought he was MOTM till he went off. Dallas continued his rebirth into a solid right back (ffs MB leave him where he is).

Most importantly we got the win and showed a solid side we have to often lacked.

Not many will stop WBA having and real easy chances, very good side and fully expect them to be top 2 challengers.

[Irish Ian]

Id like Bilic to be our next manager.

[1964white]

Bamford looks like he is scratching his bum