Another Saturday of Restart Football
Of course, the main focus of my attention this morning will be the big one in the Championship at 10am EST - my beloved Leeds against their main promotion rivals Fulham. A win against the Cottagers at Elland Road would be a huge step forward toward the Premier League promised land.
After that one, we've also got an FA Cup semi-final clash between Norwich and United to enjoy. It should be a fine morning of Restart football. Join me, eh?
posted by The Blue Devil @ 8:43 AM
550 Comments:
The Brentford win over WBA really complicates matters for today's clash. Before that match, I was thinking that all Leeds needed today was a draw against Fulham, which would leave us with a mere 14 points from seven matches, with Fulham still 10 points behind us.
Now, we have to worry about bloody Brentford, who have leapt into third and are only five points behind us. The best we can do, even with a win, is to keep them eight points behind and we'll still need 14 points. So, what was a Must Not Lose is now a Must Win.
The only good news from last week's debacle against Cardiff was that we played our usual game, the Bielsa way, and dominated possession and chances. Again, our lack of clinical finishes and two defensive lapses were our undoing in the end.
But the season has proven that in most matches, this has been a winning strategy. And we will have Pablo Hernandez back, who transforms our midfield play and, most importantly, our set pieces.
GOAL! Wolves get their breakthrough!
Morning Bob
Not happy with Wolves' goal... they are now ahead of United by THREE points!
Villa right up against it now.
Hope to get Shadow's walk in before the BIG ONE
Wolves are now worryingly in fifth ahead of United, albeit with a game more played.
Morning, UWS - I just saw that. How's the weather out your way?
Drinkies...I am shocked NBC hasn't gone to split screen commericals
It has been hot but cooled down a bit recently... pool is nice and warm!
I think it is supposed to be unsettled for the next few days
Yours?
Quite a few Championship games going on right now
Charlton 1 QPR 0
Preston 0 Cardiff 1
Swanseat 0 Luton 1
Barnsley 0 Millwall 0
Derby 2 Reading 0
Late matches
Birmingham v Hull
Stoke vs Warnock led Boro
Wigan Blackburn
AND
LEEDS vs Fulham
We had a storm overnight, which was good for our various backyard projects. Supposed to now have a week of nice days running up to July 4th.
North End tie up at Deepdale
No storm here
Our grass is struggling with the lack of water. We do have water restrictions
Good morning Bob and Dave. Here to join you for a Big Saturday of football
I have been watching the match in my bedroom, but now watching from the computer
Morning David... I hope it is a good day!
Started off same old same old
We have had some rain the past few days so our grass is in decent condition
Thanks Dave. Agreed. Hoping for better. Bib g game for Bob at 10 and us late on
Swans down a goal and now a man at home to bottom club Luton
Luton...don't be going on some kind of run now....you have to play Leeds
Cardiff now lead 2-1 at Deepdale
Double change by Dean Smith as Trezeguet is on for Marvelous Nkamaba , who was't so much the other is El Gazi for Kienan Davis
Agreed about Luton. They may stay up
Cardiff have replaced PNE into the playoffs
Derby are only three points back... could Rooney drive them to the Prem?
Do Leeds have Boro on the slate?
Will Warnock change their fate?
Luton now second from bottom and only two points from safety with that lead. Barnsley now bottom and 0-0 vs the Evil Lions
Pedro Neto on for Raul Jimenez
Morning, David - brekkies has arrived at my side courtesy of Kate. How are you this morning?
Luton are our opponents on Tuesday. The last thing we need right now is renewed faith for them.
Just checked and Boro not one of Leeds's opponents during the run in
I'm doing well, thank you for asking. How are you and Kate?
Do you think Evil Warnock will save the Boro?
Villa are desperate for a goal....does it look like it?
NO
Reading get a goal back at Pride Park
2-1 hosts
Villa better play this crap when United visit...they drew at Old Trafford
5 added minutes
A quintet of stoppage time minutes at Villa Park
Doing okay, thanks. Should be a nice day of house projects after the matches.
Cardiff extend their lead at Deepdale 1-3
I'm not sure about Evil Neil . It's very tight at the bottom of the Championship and Boro might get just enough points to survive
United's run in
Hopefully more FA Cup matches sprinkled in...
Brighton A
Bournemouth H
Villa A
Southampton H
Palace A
West Ham H
Leicester A
Chelsea host Wolves on the last day too... two big fixtures.....NBC will show Liverpool at SJP
Tight at the bottom of the Prem. The way results are going, 35 points may be enough to survive
Will Villa go long... Keeper kicking it... of course NOT INTO THE BOX!!! Foul.... patheticness!!
That is it... Villa suck
Off for walkies
It's over and Wolves win 0-1 at Villa Park
I agree, MUR - it could be any several teams that are down there - West Ham, Watford, Bournemouth, etc.
I'm off for walkies too.
Alright, now for The Big One - there should be a big build up on the telly. Of course there won't be.
The starting lineups for the Big One:
Leeds: Meslier, Ayling, White, Cooper, Dallas, Phillips, Hélder Costa, Roberts, Klich, Harrison, Bamford
Fulham: Rodák, Odoi, Hector, Ream, Bryan, Reed, Cairney, Knockaert, De Cordova-Reid, Arter, Mitrovic
No Pablo! I'm not going to panic.
Elland Road looks eerily empty for a match day. Should be rocking and rolling with a capacity crowd. Ah well...
Back from walkies...have the match on the telly thru Apple TV
Great picture
Fulham out first and testing out the turf. I notice that Mitrovic has had a haircut since the last match, so he doesn't look quite as 80s as he did last weekend against Brentford.
MOT!
Thank goodness Pablo is on the bench. He could be the dynamic element in the second half if we need him.
COME ON LEEDS U
COME ON LEEDS U
COME ON LEEDS U
Doesn't sound or look as good as MAN U
How was the walkies, Dave?
Wins in the Championship this morning for Charlton, Cardiff, Luton and Derby
A draw for Barnsley and Millwall
Back from walkies with Sparky on a warm, humid morning
Wonder where Bin Ladin was sitting?
Minute silence for Cherry and Hunter
For some reason the page isn't loading, but I'm still here to support you
Cherry outscored Hunter
Nice moment of silence for Norman Hunter and Trevor Cherry.
We are off!!
Fulham to get us going then. Come on, you Whites!
Walkies was good...made it before the rain...and before the kick off
Ben White with a little nibble on Mitrovic early doors.
The video won't load on my computer . I'm trying on my phone
Commentator surprised that a long free kick was taken...that's the problem with today's game
Stupid foul from Leeds there
We look nervous at the start - a lot of needless long ball stuff.
Mitrovic was horrible there.... shame there was no VAR
Oh - Ben White was flattened by Mitrovic in an off the ball incident. He should have been off!
Oh dear....Bob is being Modern Day
That Ben White-Mitrovic match-up is going to be one to watch. Mitrovic is a bad boy, for sure.
I just want us to play the Bielsa - on the floor.
I wonder if the fourth official can have a word with the ref to say.... have a short leash for Mitrovic
Bob...you just pocket dialed me on WhatsApp
Corner to the good guys....bloody short one...PATHETIC!
Short corner routine doesn't quite pan out.
Sorry about that, mate - What's App is a mystery to me!
All the big guys come up... and that was the plan?
The commentator trying to put the mockers on us.
WOW....that was deliberate...surely he will get a ban for other games
I'm assuming so, to - definitely some retroactive action to come.
I agree Bob.... I actually said....Shut it Pleat!! What movie is that from?
We haven't got into our game yet; I'm worried.
Oh - half chance for Knockaert. Hits it wide thankfully.
The original Fever Pitch, of course. Love it!
I like the American remake as well.
YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!
Lord Bamford to the ready!
1-0!
YES!!!!!!!
BAMFORD WITH A CALM FINISH!
I wonder if someone was offside in front of the keeper
I bet VAR would have cancelled it out
All even in VAR
WAY HAY! LEEDS TAKES THE LEAD. GREAT RUN AND PASS FROM HELDER COSTA AND GREAT FINISH FROM BAMFORD
I just tuned in to see Costa run by Arter like he was rooted in the turf and then Bamford's fine finish. Wahey, Leeds are off and running in the 10th minute.
Well done Bob... me too...liked them both
It was great that the Sox actually won it the year they were making it and changed the ending!
That's a great start for us, a bit against the run of play, to be fair. But I'll take it!
NOW SCORE OFTEN!!
It has started raining in Glenville...let's have it start raining goals for the team in white
Tom Lawerence with a red card at Pride Park. Derby still winning 2-1 in added time
Oh - Knockaert got into a good position again there. Knock it off!
It's A Knockout with a shot...commentator acted as if it was closer than it really was
Klich wins us another corner now.
Second corner...better than the first please....NOPE
ACTUALLY WORSE!
Short again - Bielsa must have been irritated by Kal's poor deliveries last weekend.
IT STUNS ME
I'm not cool enough to love these corners apparently
Now a free kick...decent delivery there....no one at the end of it
Hull score TWO goals right after each other at St Andrews
Congrats, Bob. Much needed and Leeds need to score more and often
SHOOT IT!!
Why try another move!!!
Bamford has started well.... won the ball.. passed it off...a square ball was open !
Tigers two up at St. Andrews
"Misjudgement that from Tim Ream." Hahahhahahahaha
Interesting bit of trivia for you lot. That Bamford goal, his fourteenth of the season, is Leeds' first goal in June since Allan Clarke scored against Juventus in the 1971 Fairs Cup Final. Wow!
Welcome, Gooner!
Let's hope the Tim Reamisms continue.
A win today... Leeds stroll off into the sunset winning the title and WBA start to to sweat
Question. Who have you noticed that can deliver a quality corner on a consistent basis?
Great Trivia Bob
Welcome Steve
Ashley Young in Russia
I don't know why it is so difficult
Good morning, Steve.Great trivia from Bob
The only one that springs to mind is Kevin de Bruyne. It's seems like a lost art.
I prefer Pablo Hernandez taking them for us but if he's injured Kal Phillips seems to be the default set piece guy.
Who in the Prem? Right now, I have noticed that Pepe is taking ours, and I'm not keen. It's a matter of consistency that I find he doesn't have.
Every team wants to take a short corner OR hit it to the defender that is standing in front of the near post!
I remember reading a Shoot Magazine comic and it saying
They year 2058..... A good reason was found for a short corner!!
BLOODY PEP
The commentator is getting right up my nose.
I missed the first few minutes due to technical difficulties, but heard that the Cottagers should have had a player sent off for a nasty elbow on Ben White
Free kick chance for us now - Kal is standing over it, of course.
De Bruyne was the player I was thinking. Alexander-Arnold is another.
There's Bob's mug behind the goal...oh wait a minute...he did fork out the dosh
Again, where's Bin Ladin?
Kai doesn't often have a go at goal but he tries one there, just to see if Rodak is napping. Hard to beat him from that distance. Speculative at best.
My answer to the corner question says it all....there is nobody!
Bob allergic to BS, LOL? You didn't take your allergy pills.
Short corners are a waste of time and a test of my patience.
Yeah - TAA is good, too.
Mitrovic is testing my patience today - he really is a dirty sod.
Long range free kick from Kal Phillips straight to Rodak
How difficult is it...put it in place for the big boys to attack it
If Maguire and Stones can be so dangerous with the a good delivery...surely others can
I'll take a drinks break right about now - Fulham seem to be getting back into this one.
It seems like you need to belong to an elite group to be a decent corner taker
Oh - great save by the Frenchman!
Mitrovic doing more to test Bob's patience as he makes a penalty appeal
Phew! I thought that the ref might give something there. What a let-off!
Struth... how did Leeds survive there!!
After the chance...they still phaff about with it.... KADOOMPH it!
And there's that drinks break I was hoping for. We're just about hanging on to that narrow lead.
A later than usual drinkies break
I'll drink to that, mate
Mitrovic will need to borrow Little Joe's laundry cart to safely leave the stadium. What a comedy villain he is.
Whew. That was close. That Rageddy Andy bloke with a very heavy touch that gets away from him.
And hopefully Marcello is going to let someone know to close Knockaert down. He's a problem.
Fulham players continuing to have a whinge about the incident with the ref during the break.
Another Cottager complaining Knock aert off
Oh - Meslier flapped at that corner a bit.
Warnock doing his stuff
Boro one up at Stoke
Agreed, Gooner - Knockaert has been the danger man so far.
We drove right passed Stoke's ground on the way to Old Trafford
Mitrovic is down for treatment now after that innocuous clash with Ayling.
I'd think it's already time to show Arter or Mitrovic a yellow for all the verbals.
I've not missed not seeing Arter for a while. He's a tool.
We're still not really into any kind of rhythm yet. Ironically, we played a lot better against Cardiff last weekend but just couldn't score.
A Cottager Ayling after an unintentional elbow
Did the car radio switch to ominous classical music until you had cleared the area? Clouds of goblins block out the sun?
Nearly sprang a counter there but Hector was pushed to the ground. No foul.
Dangerous free kick chance now for the Cottagers. Come on!
I did not like that punch from Meslier one bit.
And now Fulham are claiming a penalty again. Knockaert finally gets a yellow for the verbals.
Strange save by Leeds keeper
Fulham players want a handball and a foul called.... It's A Knockout in the the book
Leeds are lucky that VAR is not in use...after the Mtirovic incident
We just need to settle it. We're having difficulty stringing three passes together.
Teesiders take the lead at the Potters
Fulham need to knock it off!!
Come on Leeds... attack and score
Knockaert again with a dangerous chance. Jinked inside and tried a curler.
Knockaert fully deserving of his yellow. He's had a couple of rasping efforts, but the constant litany of complaint would try the patience of a saint.
Oh - now it's Mitrovic with a volley from distance! Parried away by Meslier.
Leeds survive again... we could do with half time
Yeah - I think that Marcelo has to make some changes at half time. Shore things up a bit.
Powerful from from Mitrovic straight at Meslier fisted away
I think they have to be more on the front foot....don't sit back
Yeah, down the tunnel and quick like would be good. Reorganize before this Fulham pressure gets rewarded.
Stiffen up Leeds.
Another free kick for Fulham now.
Free kick to the Cottagers
Phew! Mitrovic got to the corner this time but he put it wide.
Struth....Leeds survive again
This commentator loves to talk about the hugging in the box
Free kick headed out for a corner
this guy is getting on my nerves.
Oh - Cairney tried a curler from a good position. Well wide.
Another needless free kick conceded there.
What are Leeds up to?
They are second best all over the place except for the scoreboard
All of this is being played in your half. Your midfield needs to step up. 3-4 minutes left now in the half.
We're giving the ball away really cheaply, putting more pressure on our back four.
Not sure why he is so keen on hugging. That's really creepy
I've muted the commentator. He's a prattler, and worrier of one thought at a time.
Blow up ref
Bielsa will have plenty to say at the half
Blow up, ref!
The cardboard cutouts aren't filling all the seats
Struth.... Bamford almost in... bugger
Oh - Bamford was in there! Just put it wide.
Wonder if they got my Osama Bin Laden cut-out again this weekend.
Don't charge £150 a pop!!
Charge a tenner and it would be full!!
I wish Costa would notice how high up the pitch Ream is wandering. He can't possibly keep pace if you could spring Helder into their half.
Into a pair of stoppage time minutes with Bamford through . Did Hector trip him?
Sorry . A trio of stoppage time minutes
Half time... like the score...not the play
Surely they have to get better
Phew! We go in 1-0 up but honestly we were under the cosh for most of that half. It's got to improve for us in the second half.
Leeds one up at the end of a tight half
Woooof. There's going to have to be some stiff talk in the dressing room. Knockart, Mitrovic, and even Raggedy-Andy have had some real chances.
Too bad Bamford couldn't bring down that half-chance in the dying seconds of the half. That would have driven Fulham berzerk, and given the ref a chance to throw a few of this moaney sods off the pitch.
Back on at Elland Road. Two changes for us - Pablo comes on for the goalscorer Bamford and Ali comes on for Helder Costa.
Interesting.
ALi for Helder Costa and Pablo Hernandez on for Bamford as Bielsa made a double change. Not a big surprise as the second half is underway
Second half underway
Please play better Leeds!
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