The Championship Playoffs Arrive!
There's no hiding the fact that we go into this playoff campaign in poor form, having ended the regular season with three losses out of four, torpedoing any chance of returning to the big time through automatic promotion to the Premiership. The good news is that our first playoff opponents are Derby, who we beat soundly in both league matches this season, 1-4 at the Ricoh Stadium where we'll play today and 2-0 at Elland Road where we'll meet on the hallowed turf on Wednesday. I would take a score draw today, setting us up nicely for that home leg in midweek. Come on, you Leeds! #MOT!
posted by The Blue Devil @ 7:45 AM
228 Comments:
Albion have taken the lead in the Brummie Derby and it's that man Dwight Gayle who's fired them into the lead. Terrible Keystone Kops defending from Villa.
Confirmation that away goals are not counted double in this playoff campaign. I believe that teams go straight into the penalty shootout process if level on aggregate.
The Baggies troop in 0-1 up and seemingly with the upper hand in this fixture at half time.
We're into the second half now - Villa have it all to do here.
Well, well, well. I went out to do some morning errands and missed all of the fireworks. Villa ended up scoring a couple toward the end and Dwight Gayle got himself sent off for a second yellow when he clattered the Villa keeper.
Villa go into the second leg at the Hawthorns with a one goal advantage and all to play for.
Good morning , Bob. Here to give you good vibes for Leeds win
Morning, mate - how are you? I'm settling in for the big one now.
The team news out of Pride Park this afternoon:
Derby County: Roos, Tomori, Keogh, Wilson, Mount, Lawrence, Johnson, Holmes, Nugent, Bogle, Malone. Subs: Carson, Jozefzoon, Marriott, Evans, MacDonald, Huddlestone.
Leeds United: Casilla, Ayling, Cooper, Berardi, Dallas, Phillips, Forshaw, Klich, Hernandez, Harrison, Roofe. Subs: Peacock-Farrell, Brown, Shackleton, Clarke, Struijk, Gotts, Bogusz.
Looks like Pontus is injured and Berardi with deputize for him today. Bamford is again suspended for today's match. Otherwise, it's a settled side.
I am here on the Blog for the beginning of the the Big One but I have to be outside and sand the deck
Come on, you Leeds boys - teams in the tunnel.
See the talk that Man Utd are going to buy Daniel James... the speedy winger from Swansea.... Leeds almost bought him in January
Here come the teams
Afternoon, mate. The deck can wait, eh?
Yeah - we just missed out on him. He would have made a big difference.
Best of luck mate
This match has some previous. Not just the Spygate shenanigans of this season but the Revie v. Cloughie spat of yore. It could get tasty out there.
We're all set - MOT!!!
Derby looking bright in the early stages. Don't like it.
Oh - David Nugent looking dangerous there in on goal but a good block from Berardi. We haven't got going yet.
Oh - first real attack for us fades out as Harrison does well to get to a long ball but then can't find a good cross.
Let them burn themselves out
First corner chance now - let's make it count!
Corner to Leeds...dodgy clearance with the chest there
Long may it continue
Useless corner... at least it beat the first man
Philips with an odd long corner that didn't quite come off.
Every team tries to play the ball out of the back.... all the time!
Where is the variety?
Oh - Stu Dallas tries a curler - always rising, though.
Shoot.... phaffs about with the ball in the box.... comes back out of the box... shot quite close
MOT!!!
Good morning, Bob and Dave. Here to join you after technical difficulties.
Looks like a good start for Leeds . First turned on when the shot from Dallas was just high and wide.
Great ball in from Klich but cleared out.
The crossing.... what a lost art
Great to have you on board, MUR.
An Ayling cross off Leeds old boy, Bradley Johnson for a Leeds corner
Free kick chance now...
Get men running in the box
Good pressure now - we seem to have weathered the early onslaught.
Cheers, Bob . Here to add good vibes for Leeds.
What I wouldn't give for another 1-4 result for us today.
Hernandez wins a corner off of Malone
Pablo wins another corner for us - bring the big boys up!
Poor corner and two miss hit efforts off the corner
Big of comic relief there from the corner - didn't really come off.
Front post corner...grr
A 1-4 Leeds win would be great
Kemar hasn't scored since January! How we've missed those goals. Would be a great time for a hat-trick today.
Too much of a lead foot on the accelerator by Mini Cooper off a long ball intended for Roofe.
Jack Harrison wins a corner on the counter
And Harrison wins another corner. We need to knock one of these in!
Head tennis off the corner then cleared away
whats the name of the British store you go to in Buffalo?
Oh - right across the area!
David Nugent down off a crunching, but fair challenge from Adam Forshaw
You're probably talking about Parker's, the place with the pies and fish and chips, right?
Forshaw down as well. That's it for him as it appears he will be replaced by academy grad, Jamie Shackleton
That pass from Ayling was ailing
https://parkersbritishinstitution.com
Woeful effort there from Kal.
Nice Leeds counter , but an atrocious finish from Kal Phillips.
Cheers mate for the address
I'll be out and about right now.
I have the radio commentary on my phone right now
I'm happy to see that we're at least playing well today. But we need a goal to reinforce that.
Derby fans getting restless as we're controlling things right now.
Agreed. The only problem is that Leeds are struggling to get a shot off.
Kiko did well to smother that through ball as Holmes threatened.
Ref having a word with Tomori now after that tasty challenge on Shackleton. He did get the ball but plenty of man as well.
Craig Pawson barking out a warning at Rams player, Temouri for a challenge.
We're winning a lot of the 50/50 balls now. Like it!
Nice performance. it would be great for Leeds to take a lead to Er for the second leg.
Oh - Kemar beat the offside trap there and nearly fed Pablo. Cleared out by Tomori.
Wasteful clearance there by Kiko.
Oh - Ayling did so well there to beat two players but he couldn't find a teammate there.
Aying does well to go past two players, but his pass in the box is cleared.
That pass from David Nugent was so wayward that he could be mistaken for Ted.
Again... a cross fails to find a teammate
Get it over... finally... straight into keepers arms
We're getting into good positions but we don't seem to have any threat up front.
Get it over... finally... straight into keepers arms
Modern day football...both keepers...nowt to do
The commentator is right - Kiko hasn't had a save to make. We've been fairly comfortable so far.
Leeds have a chance to break... blown
Oh - good chance there but Pablo overcooked it.
Both sides with 0 out of 5 shots on target.
Bob, you have Commencement next week on Cup Final Day? Bad form Fredonia
Welcome back, Dave. You must be thinking about the upcoming match at the SOL.
Commentators on talkSport talking about Leeds running out of juice this season because of the way they play
One of the guys thought Leeds would fade at the change of the year
Looking forward to the late one...gotta get my deck done.... in between rainy days
Good cross in by Stu Dallas - nodded out for a corner.
You will be proud of me, Dave. Leaving after work on Thursday to pick up Melanie from San Marcos. Spending the night in a motel then leaving Friday morning to head back. Will be around for the final on Saturday
Late corner for Leeds
It's Leeds Time
Phillips raises his arm and then doesn't beat the first man!!
PATHETIC
Oh - two bites at the cherry there. Kemar with a total miskick and then Dallas off target. We've got to take these!
OH!!! Dallas should have scored. Close range effort well wide.
It's 0-0 at the half a typically cagey Championship playoff.
Half time
Leeds the better of the sides
And that's half time. I'm relatively satisfied with our performance, but I would've loved a goal. Still - very hopeful for the second half now. Off to fix lunch.
Off to work on the deck
Teams back out at Pride Park - come on, boys!
Second half underway from Pride Park
Would you consider a draw a decent first leg result?
Cross from Klich headed away then Harrison with a close range shot blocked for a corner
oooh... a chance!!
Why did it have to hit his bum
Oh - big chance there - with Harrison connecting with the cross. Blocked off for a corner. Good start!
Corner from Kal Phillips headed out then his return cross went to the stratosphere.
We've really got them pinned back now.
Derby have a great home record this year...only bettered by Liverpool apparently
Then Leeds is doing well considering that
First booking of the match as Roofe fouls Richard Keogh from behind
No just a lecture
Ayling called for a foul on Tom Lawrence just outside the Leeds box. Roofe heads away the free kick from Harry Wilson
Useless free kick by the Rams
Long may it continue
YES!!!!
GREAT GOAL!!!!!!
YESSSSSSSS !!! LEEDS BREAK AND ROOFE SCORES OFF A RUN AND PASS FROM JACK HARRISON
YESSSSS!!!!!!
Kemar!!
Great touches
Great passing
Great cross
Great finish
Congrats, mate. Delighted for you.
Lovely ball in from Harrison and Kemar doesn't miss those. His 15th of the season and a priceless one.
Tom Lawrence also picked up a yellow card in the build up.
Radio says there's a bit of argy bargy with the fans
Tom Lawrence booked for a foul on the build up to the goal.
Almost another
Oh - Kemar in again and could have had a second!
Great save by Roos from Roofe . Corner headed high and wide by Roofe.
Leeds need to win this today!
More argy bargy in the Derby end with some Leeds fans in the wrong end
The goal was the first shot on target of the match by either side.,
It was coming, for sure.
Kiko comes and holds the free kick with ease. Love him.
The Rams Mount a free kick that's well caught by Casilla.
Great challenge by Shackleton on Mount there - had to be.
OH! Nice counter by Shackleton, but the pass was just behind Hernandez
Oh - big chance for Kemar. Should have been #2.
Berardi picks up a yellow - needless.
Berardi booked for a foul on Tom Lawrence.
BUGGER... come on Leeds ... get another
Like for like as Jack Marriott is on for David Nugent , who played more like Ted
Stupid foul by Cooper...there was support there...no?
Bugger - now Liam is into the book and a dangerous free kick position. Come on!
Mini Cooper booked for illegally driving into Harry Wilson just outside the Leeds box.,
Row Z please
This bloke scored a Worldy at OT
Into the wall....lovely jubbly
Wilson slams it into the wall - phew1
Into the wall by Harry Wilson
Richard Keogh booked for an off the ball foul on Roofe.
Now it's a yellow for Keogh. I hate how refs just start giving out yellows at certain periods of the match.
Duane Holmes booked for hand ball when he was expecting a free kick. It is , but to Leeds.
Playoff Anyone?
What results need to happen for this playoff to become a reality?
Manchester City lose 4-0, while Liverpool draw 4-4
Manchester City lose 5-1, while Liverpool draw 5-5
Manchester City lose 6-2, while Liverpool draw 6-6
And so on, and so forth…
Now it's Holmes into he book - it's getting ridiculous.
Liam Cooper went down looking for a pen. Nothing doing.
Wow - that would be something.
An extra Rams striker as Mason Bennett is on for U.S. international, Duane Holmes.
Stupid foul by Kal Phillips on Harry Wilson.
Another stupid foul by Kal. We need to stop giving up free kicks now. Hold on to the ball!
It sure would, a long shot , but interesting
Phew! Close call there as Mount sprayed the ball across the area. We've got to get the control back!
Just twenty minutes left to see this one out.
A Leeds second would really help matters
That's it Kiko - take your time, mate.
BUGGER
Oh balls! Harrison has given away a pen.
BUGGER !!! PENALTY RAMS! JACK HARRISON TRIPPED JAYDEN BOGLE.
We're asking the ref to talk to the linesman. Derby players are incensed.
Now the ref is going to the linesman...now there is handbags with a couple of players
Ref gives a free kick to LEEDS!!!
BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!!!
No penalty!!!!!!
Wow - Craig Pawson is not going to get any mushy peas with his dinner tonight. Home fans are livid!
I don't think it was a foul
PHEW! Overturned after consulting with linesman , Edward Smart. A smart decision, mate?
I don't see a penalty there. Harrison actually got the ball and Bogle just fell over him.
Me either . Didn't see any trip.
We're really under the cosh now. Come on!
I'd have Jack Clarke on now just as an outlet.
Relieved, Bob?
Kemar has come off - Jack Clarke on.
Just as the doc ordered, Jack Clarke on for Roofe.
Oh - Shackleton with a chance! Well saved and then Harrison was off.
NBC getting worse and worse
Before, every game was shown on ten different networks...not tomorrow !
Liverpool vs Wolves NBC
Bright vs Man City NBCSN
Man U v Cardiff USA
Leicester v Chelsea CNBC
Spurs v Everton SyFy
Burnley v Arsenal MSNBC
Watford v West Ham Golf Channel(I don't get)
Fulham v Newcastle Olympic Channel(???)
Palace v Bournemouth NBC Sports Regional Networks(?)
Southampton v Huddersfield NBCSports.com
I think the penalty decision was 100% correct
Radio definitely thinks so
MOT!!!!
Totally agree.
I get every channel except for the Palace vs Cherries match
I definitely don't want WBA or Derby back in the Prem
I want a Leeds Villa Final... Leeds to be my pick but if Villa go back in...they belong
Me too. Definitely the correct decision.
Leeds could have done better with that chance!!
Agreed, Dave. Leeds vs Villa should be a fantastic final. It was a feisty encounter at ER a few weeks ago.
Derby fans have gone quiet again now. Clarke's sub has really helped.
Feisty indeed.
A Shame about the pass in the box from Harrison after a nice possession.
Oh - great move but the cross couldn't find anyone.
GET SOMEONE RUNNING INSIDE THE SIX!!!
Fatty Huddlestone has joined the party.
Final roll of the dice from Lamps as Fatty is on for Tom Lawrence.
Back to the Prem
Is this the most exciting finish? I don't think so. They keep saying the closest finish in living memory...completely wrong
Seasons ended close in the 70s
There was 1989 Arsenal Liverpool finish
United losing to Blackburn... just needing to one goal from 600 shots!!
United and Arsenal in 99
Aguero.... two goals in the added time to win it!!
City could be four up at half time tomorrow!
What's happening now - Bogle has just gone crazy.
Klich booked for hand bags. Don't like the Derby p[layers trying to get him sent off. That's the ref's job.
Leeds man needs to grow up
That was a headbutt into the chest... retrospective action?
Leeds got away with one . Looked a head butt by Klich on Temouri
Of course, the radio guys want to make more of everything and wants to get red cards all over the place...
Fatty picks up a yellow - he's only just come on.
Fatty booked for a nasty challenge on Klich minutes after coming on. Retaliation.
oooh, that was an elbow to the face by Huddlestone
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