The Scratching Shed

The club that achieved the highest average League One attendance of 2009-10 was decided on the final day as a sold-out Elland Road helped Leeds United take the top spot.

The above stats show just how close it was between Leeds United and Norwich, and had it not been for the final day sell-out, Norwich would have not only beaten us in the league, but they’d have also embarrassed League One’s Premier League club by averaging a higher attendance.

Football365, who compiled the above table, also did a table showing the percentage of capacity used. Here, Norwich lead the way by miles with 95%, whilst Leeds sink down to seventh, as a consequence of having a 40,000 capacity stadium with a total usage capacity of 61.7%.

Whilst an average attendance of almost 25,000 can’t be sniffed at, the fact that Norwich City can pull in similar figures says a lot about our current pricing structure and the mentality of some Leeds United fans.

Clearly, there are some put off by the extortionate ticket prices which rival that of some Premier League clubs, but I suspect we’re also a victim of previous success. When Leeds came up against Tottenham and Liverpool, the tickets sold-out with ease, but for the visit of Oldham on a cold Tuesday night, it’s hard to draw up the same enthusiasm and it’s no surprise we managed less than 18,000.

For fans that are used to seeing Leeds United take on the giants of the Premier League and Europe, League One was one hell of a wake-up call. Those that stuck around beside me and sang your hearts out regardless, I applaud. Those that didn’t, I hold no hard feelings towards either. There’s been plenty of occasions midway to Elland Road or on a 4-500 mile round trip to some place I’d barely heard of that I’d questioned my own sanity. Many times I felt like throwing the towel in, and in truth, it’s only through the persistent nagging of a friend I renewed my season ticket.

Whilst we topped the attendance charts, this is by no means an achievement for a club of our stature. Ultimately, it should be a nailed on certainty, but as with promotion, it all came down to the last day as some of our support drifted away from the club we all love, disillusioned with pricing or how things were going.

With the 2010-11 season promising a few local derbys, some old Premier League adversaries and another pop at some former League One rivals, 25,000 average attendances should be a thing of the past. Leeds United are on the rise again – let’s hope our attendances follow.

Another crazy day of mixed emotions for Leeds fans after we escaped from defeat at the Valley with automatic promotion still in our own hands. Throughout the game, the travelling Leeds United fans were kept informed of events elsewhere and when Andy Robinson made it 2-0 to Tranmere Rovers, Leeds United were one goal away from their seasons aim of automatic promotion.

This being Leeds however, things were never going to be that easy. The team had looked bright and hungry throughout the first half and although we went into the break at 0-0, there was a lot to be optimistic about. Unfortunately, things didn’t run quite as well in the second half and Charlton started to edge Leeds out.

Still at 0-0 and knowing the results elsewhere were going in our favour, Simon Grayson took a calculated risk to give Leeds United more options upfront. Beckford was the first player on, replacing Robert Snodgrass with Gradel dropping back a little. This was followed by Sanchez Watt replacing Micky Doyle ten minutes later and Mike Grella replacing Andy Hughes with about five minutes remaining.

When you need a goal to secure promotion back to the Championship, it makes sense that you give yourself as many attacking options as possible upfront and Simon Grayson did the right thing. It had been another closely matched game where for large parts, both teams had absorbed any attacking threat from the other, but the changes opened things up noticeably. It worked in Leeds’ favour to some extent, allowing Beckford a good chance, but it also allowed Charlton more space on the attack too and they ultimately punished us for it with three minutes remaining when Akpo Sodje scored via the head of Richard Naylor.

The Leeds fans were silenced. It was a nervous performance from Leeds, and when playing it along the ground in the first half didn’t prove affective, they resorted to the dreaded long-ball and the chances became even fewer and farer between.

It wasn’t the most unexpected of results, or performances. The reverse fixture at Elland Road earlier in the season that ended 0-0 was just as frustrating as this one so it seemed unlikely the goals were going to flow at the Valley. The problem is that both teams play a similar style so neither ends up with much room.

What the result means is that there are now five teams capable of achieving automatic promotion from League One next week. Two of them play at the New Den as Millwall host Swindon. If that game ends in a draw, then both Charlton and Huddersfield could capitalise. Charlton would need a win away to Oldham, whilst Huddersfield would need to do a demolition job at Exeter City, but could mathematically go up by goal-difference.

As it stands, Leeds United lead the way though and that’s all that really matters. A win over a Bristol side who we destroyed 4-0 earlier in the season is all Leeds United need to escape the hell of League One football. In our previous meeting, Bristol had a defence made of play-dough and Leeds United came back in style after our first defeat of the season to Millwall. A similar display next week and it’ll be one hell of a party at the sold-out Elland Road.

With a lot of thanks to Andy Robinson and the usual unpredictability of League One, we head into the final game in a position I think we’d have all accepted at the beginning of the season. 90 minutes of football on Saturday will determine what division Leeds United play in next season and that’s all there really is to it. Our lack of points against the top six this season, the defensive hole Paddy’s injury has left, the lack of goals from midfield and our apparent need to do things the hard way have taken us all on a journey through third division hell that boils down to one game against Bristol. As Winston Churchill once said, ‘If you’re going through hell, keep going…’

As we nervously await tomorrow’s crucial clash at the Valley, I thought I’d take a look back at better days for Leeds United.

A little over 26,000 people attended one of the most one-sided matches ever witnessed at the Valley as three goals either side of the break, including a hat trick from Mark Viduka, led to an emphatic 1-6 defeat for Charlton and a great victory for Leeds.

It was a rare win for Peter Reid’s side, but did help Leeds United delay the inevitable as they eventually finished the season in 15th, only to be relegated the year after.

Leeds United goals: Kewell (12, 76), Harte (34 pen), Viduka (42, 53, 56 pen)

It’s a big weekend in League One, not least for Leeds United who head to the Valley to take on our early season rivals Charlton Athletic. Whilst both teams form has taken a hit since the first half of the season, Leeds United are still in the automatic places and could potentially clinch promotion on Saturday.

Charlton meanwhile now occupy one of the four play-off places. After a strong start, they’ve drifted off and now sit fifth in League One with arguably nothing left to play for. Automatic promotion is all but mathematically impossible for the Addicks, but they are guaranteed their place in this years play-offs. Whilst few Charlton fans would want to help Millwall clinch promotion by beating Leeds United this weekend, they’ll also know a higher placed finish is advantageous in the play-off semi-finals so still have something to play for.

Leeds’ biggest threat to promotion is the in-form team of League One, Millwall who have made a late dash up the table and currently sit third, just one point behind the Whites. They also have a tricky encounter away to Tranmere Rovers who are in the thick of a relegation battle and will be desperate for a result. The only other team realistically capable of taking second is Swindon Town who have the easiest fixture of all at home to Brentford. If both Leeds and Millwall failed to win this weekend, then Swindon’s final game would take them to the New Den with everything to play for.

Head-to-head

What makes the Charlton and Leeds clash most interesting is that both teams were early favourites for the League One title, both teams form went astray around the same time and both teams have a poor record against the top six. Both Charlton and Leeds have managed just one win against the rest of the top six. Leeds won at home to Norwich City, whilst Charlton won at home to Huddersfield. From a maximum 27 points so far against the top six, Charlton have managed just 10, whilst Leeds’ record is even worse with a measly total of 6.

Over the years, Leeds United come out on top in the fixture by a sizeable margin in terms of games won (Leeds 24 – Charlton 14). However, a lot of this goes back to a time when both teams were playing in the Premier League. Since both teams have been relegated there’s been just one match between the sides which ended in a frustrating goalless draw at Elland Road earlier this season.

When Saturday comes

There’s a lot of a room for optimism for the Whites. Leeds have the better form of the two sides heading into this clash, and with automatic promotion highly unrealistic for the Addicks, there’s a possibility that their manager could rest some key players ahead of the play-offs.

Leeds still have some gaping defensive holes that need filling, but Sanchez Watt added a lot to our attacking options last week and should start again tomorrow. Jermaine Beckford gave the manager a bit of a selection dilemma when he came on last week and netted two after seeing Gradel and Becchio fail to take their chances. It’s a nice selection dilemma to have up front, but this game will more likely be won and lost at the back. Grayson needs to cut out the sloppy errors that have gifted teams goals lately as Charlton have lost only three times at the Valley this season and only one of those teams managed to score by them twice.

Either way, it’s in our hands…

‘Must win’ is a term overused in football and one that has been thrown about a lot over the past month or so in relation to Leeds United FC. Leeds United seldom take note of these occasions however and have developed a tendency to do things the hard way.

Gillingham away last week was a good example of Leeds United ignoring the ‘must win’ game scenario. A win was the only way to guarantee we’d remain second, and failure to do so would make the home visit of MK Dons and trip to the Valley look a little more complicated than was perhaps necessary.

As it turned out, Leeds United remained second anyway, thanks to the unpredictable nature of League One which left everyone else failing to capitalise on our failings. It really does seem that no matter how hard we try to mess it all up, the other teams are doing that little bit better at it. Not a bad thing, granted, but with another ‘must win’ game at Elland Road tomorrow, Leeds really do need to be at their best.

On paper, you could argue that Leeds United have the toughest fixture of those fighting for automatic promotion when taking relative league positions into account. Take the situational positions into account however, and Leeds probably have the best one – with the possible exception of Millwall who host an almost safe Leyton Orient (I’m also ignoring Huddersfield. Although mathematically possible, it’s highly unlikely).

The other two teams in the hunt, namely Charlton and Swindon both travel away to teams deep in the relegation battle. Swindon travel to Wycombe, who are five points from safety but unlikely to give up until the maths rules consolidation out and Charlton head to Exeter who could just about secure their place in League One with a win. Another weekend of movement at the top seems inevitable.

The game Leeds United fans should really be keeping an eye on this weekend is definitely Charlton. If Leeds lose at Elland Road tomorrow and Charlton win in Exeter, they’ll move level on points with Leeds with everything on the line next weekend. However, if Charlton lose and Leeds United win, that would leave Charlton six points behind Leeds United next weekend with two games left and a vastly inferior goal difference. In other words, Charlton would have very little left to play for and would simply be waiting for the play-offs to get under way.

Leeds fans have a lot to be optimistic about ahead of the game. MK Dons are a team that have never won at Elland Road, and overall, Leeds United have a very good record against them. The Dons have also been struggling for form over the last couple of months and failed to win any of their last eight fixtures. With absolutely nothing left to play for, Milton Keynes seem happy to draw a line under the 2009-10 season and look ahead to next season.

Leeds United take their newly found form to Gillingham tomorrow in what must be considered one of our trickiest remaining fixtures.

Gillingham currently occupy 20th place in League One so have plenty to play for. Their position doesn’t tell the whole story of their 2009-10 campaign however. What may surprise some Leeds United fans is that Gillingham are a force to be reckoned with on home soil, having lost just three of their 21 games there so far this season.

If it wasn’t for Gillingham’s tendency to surprise the big teams on home soil, they’d most certainly be relegated by now. Away from home Gillingham have failed to win a single match this season and rank 24th on the away form table. At home however, none of the top six have beaten the plucky Gillingham outfit. Norwich and Charlton only managed 1-1 draws, whilst Swindon were battered 5-0 and Huddersfield and Millwall lost 2-0.

The only teams Gillingham have lost to on home soil this season didn’t have it easy either. All three of their home defeats have been to narrow 1-0 margins. Hard to believe this is the same Gillingham side that Leeds United thoroughly thrashed 4-1 at Elland Road earlier in the season.

Leeds United may well be visiting Gillingham at the best time however with the team currently suffering a late season defensive crisis. It seems the Gillingham coach may have to turn to his youth team for cover after his regular defenders were both ruled out of this weekends clash.

Speaking to BBC Radio, Gillingham boss Mark Stimson said;

“We are desperate and down to our bare bones but we won`t be sulking over it.”

Leeds meanwhile seem to have overcome the striker problems we’ve suffered in recent weeks with the Gradel-Becchio partnership likely to continue, whilst Jermaine Beckford may have to settle for a place on the bench. If Beckford does start on the bench. don’t be surprised to see a 60th minute substitution when the Gillingham defenders are tiring and Beckford can fully utilise his pace.

Some interesting fixtures this weekend in the top six where the table is likely to turn on it’s head once more. Elsewhere, Huddersfield host Millwall tonight and Charlton take on Norwich at the valley tomorrow. On paper, Swindon have the easiest game at home to Walsall, but after the last seven days, you really can’t rule anything out.

Second place is Leeds’ to lose now. We’ve turned the corner and fought back into a position we shouldn’t have really lost in the first place. All we have to do now is keep winning – how hard can it be?

Defiantly trying to remain upbeat as ever, here at TSS Towers (ha) I’ve been looking at the remaining fixtures as the season end nears and our promotion hopes start to derail.

I was quite surprised to find a quick play with the BBC League One predictor left Leeds United in second, despite my best attempts to remain impartial and unbiased. Of course, you can never truly faction in the crazy results each weekend throws at us in this dismal league, but when you get down to it and look at the teams the others have, things start to look a little rosier for Leeds United.

Millwall

We’ll start with those horrible southerners. Friday is a bit of a non-event really and should be a precession for Millwall. Brentford are sat in mid-table with absolutely nothing to play for whilst Millwall are scoring for fun at the minute and have the added motivation of being able to take second in League One with Leeds hosting Swindon the following day.

Things get a little tougher thereafter for Millwall though as they hit the road to take on sixth and seventh place Colchester and Huddersfield. Both teams will still be dreaming of the play-offs and are likely to cause problems in Millwall’s bid for second place.

The rest of Millwall’s run in is relatively straight forward, but they do host Swindon on the final day of the season which could also be a tricky encounter as both teams could potentially take second as it stands.

Charlton Athletic

A season to match that of Leeds United in the ups and downs department and still struggling to find any real consistency. MK Dons away could prove tricky, although they’re unlikely to see the play-offs as attainable now so that could be one of those where their opposition have nothing to play for except pride.

Add to that Southampton, Norwich, Colchester and ourselves however and things don’t look easy for our former Premier League opponents. Quite possibly the toughest run of them all. Could turn a corner and start to produce season defining form, but seems unlikely.

Swindon Town

Starting with an away game at Elland Road this Saturday, Swindon also have to visit Millwall and Colchester before their season draws to a close. Probably the most unexpected package of the season and have done well to achieve what they have. With such difficult ties remaining though, I can’t see them snatching an automatic spot.

…and the Whites?

On paper, Leeds’ run is quite easily the best of them all. Anything less than three points at home to Swindon this Saturday would have to be seen as a disaster, but I’m optimistic after a lot of improvement was shown in Norwich at the weekend.

Other than that, our run consists of teams with very little or nothing left to play for aside from Charlton away in the penultimate game of the season. With the other teams destined to strip points off one another, that game might not be as important as it originally appeared. If it comes down to the final day of the season you have to fancy our chances at home to Bristol over that of Millwall who face Swindon and Charlton who will be away at Oldham.

Clutching at straws perhaps, but definitely some room for optimism. On and on…

Another absolutely dismal display in League One from Leeds United resulted in an embarrassing 3-0 defeat away to Swindon Town. Whilst none of us expected to go an entire season without some rough patches, this particular run of results would be much easier to accept if it wasn’t for the impressive performances that have come in between them away to Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup.

Managers will inevitably make mistakes and Simon Grayson’s run as the untouchable saviour of Leeds United has undoubtedly come to an end after he chose to pick the same team that battled hard at White Hart Lane for a fixture in the league just a couple of days later. Call me fickle, but when things are going well and he makes the right decisions, I’m the first to praise him. Equally, when things are going wrong and he insists on putting so much focus on cup games nobody cares all that much about, he’s going to open himself up to scrutiny and his decisions lately should be the first thing everyone points the finger at.

Last night, the team once again looked jaded and disorganised. Swindon Town, although more than deserving of the result simply aren’t as good as it makes them look. On a better day, I have no doubts that Leeds would have returned home with three points, but we lacked fight and determination throughout. Swindon simply wanted it more and whilst they gave 110% to earn the victory, Leeds gave about 40%.

For a club who allegedly has the most depth in this league, we seem to be having a hard time showing it when it matters. Teams that can afford the kind of cup runs we’re currently on have 23 players they can rotate throughout the weeks to keep the performances up, but Grayson has stuck with the same eleven far too often lately. It beggars belief that David Prutton was sent out on loan to one of our promotion rivals (where he scored) when this team is clearly in desperate need of freshening up with rotation.

I said after our last league game that the FA Cup run had come at too much of a price to our league form and I’m disappointed to be proved right once more. We have a lot of players who could do a decent job in JPT and FA Cup games, like Grella, Tres, White and Robinson, but they’re largely ignored whilst the same names appear on the team sheet time and time again. We’re at that time of the season now where Saturday and Tuesday fixtures will occur almost every week (something that isn’t helped by the amount of rearranged matches for the cups) and we have to start utilising this apparent depth or we’ll be sliding down the table faster than the interest accumulates on Manchester United’s debts.

Whilst I’m putting the brunt of the blame on Simon Grayson shoulders, the players shouldn’t escape scrutiny either. There was some seriously suspect performances last night and no matter how tired they maybe, I expect every player on the park to give 110% week in, week out for the amount of money they earn. They’re professional athletes at the end of the day. If they can’t handle three hours of football a week, there’s something fundamentally wrong with our training regime.

Coming up to the end of January now and Leeds United still haven’t won a game in the league this year. Colchester up next and a must win game now, or things are really going to start getting hairy at the top. Luckily, Charlton lost the other day to offer us some respite, but Norwich continue to perform well and for some reason, their six-fingered fans seem to have a bit of a hard-on for us and have spent the last 12 hours filling their forums and ours with endless dribble about us blowing the lead and them being superior. At this moment in time, it’s hard to argue against them, so let’s hope Simon Grayson can offer us something to fight back with when Saturday comes.

Sunday will see 9,000 Leeds United fans descend on Old Trafford for the first time since 2004. In those six years that’s passed, the fortunes of the teams have been contrasting to say the least. Whilst Manchester United have been successful in both Europe and domestically, Leeds plummeted to the third division and have struggled to escape the ghosts of our debts.

Things are looking brighter now for Leeds however who lead League One by eight points with a game in hand on second placed Charlton Athletic. Hopefully free of our problems and on the road back to the Premiership, the upcoming FA Cup clash provides an early setting for renewed rivalry.

Arguably Leeds’ most important player, Robert Snodgrass is in a confident mood ahead of the tie telling the BBC that;

“We’ve shown on numerous occasions that we can compete with higher standard teams. “In the Carling Cup this season we beat Watford and gave Liverpool a good game before losing 1-0.

“And you don’t have to try to get yourself motivated for a trip to Old Trafford – everyone is raring to go.”

Snoddy goes on to say that the rivalry is up there with that of the Old Firm in Glasgow, but Leeds will approach the tie as ‘just another game’.

Meanwhile, Alex Ferguson has also been talking about the rivalry and said he believes Leeds United are now on the up;

“We don’t need to spell out what Sunday’s game means to the Manchester United fans.

“There have been some fantastically feisty occasions over the years. And there was always a tinge of hostility.

“We always told the players to make sure they behaved properly on the pitch because we didn’t need to add to the problems off it.

“Leeds are bringing 9,000 fans, so it will be a busy day for the police. But it will be an absolutely brilliant atmosphere and should be a good cup tie as well.

“I used to enjoy the rivalry. It makes you perform.

“We had some great games at Leeds. The atmosphere was always electric and our record was pretty good.”

“…They will not be too far away from the Premier League in the next couple of years,”

“When you look at the position they are in at the moment in League One, they look certain to be in the Championship next year.

“And with the motivation and drive that is coming from the manager, they have a great chance of going further.

“Simon Grayson is a local boy himself, as well being a former player. Some people have targets in life. He has reached his and his team are not letting him down.”

The last time the War of the Roses clash took place was at Old Trafford in 2004 where the game ended deadlocked at 1-1. Alan Smith equalised for Leeds United that day before Ruud van Nistlerooy missed an absolute sitter to earn Leeds a point.

There’s something about wearing the all white strip of Leeds United that makes players insist on doing things the hard way. Top vs bottom yesterday was a perfect example. What should have been a stroll in the park for the runaway league leaders, almost turned into a disaster.

Credit where it’s due though. For a team that’s just lost ten in a row and look like they’re already relegated, Stockport were determined to make life as hard as possible for Leeds United. Had it not been for one of the most pathetic defences I’ve ever seen and a goalkeeper determined not to leave his line, Stockport could have become only the second team this season to beat Leeds United.

First things first – the pitch. I can’t describe how bad it was. Within minutes of kick-off it started to tear up and was somewhat reminiscent of Histon’s last year. Fair’s fair though, the game came close to being postponed due to the weather conditions lately and had it not been for the efforts of the Stockport fans and ground-staff, we wouldn’t have been playing at all. Besides, I played on enough bad pitches as a youngster, as I’m sure the pro’s did and we still managed to have a game.

Within the first two minutes Leeds had already turned Stockport’s defence inside out and Snodgrass fired us into the lead. Three defenders were around Snoddy as he advanced on goal, but none of them put a tackle in and Snodgrass was allowed to shoot from just outside the box. His shot deflected off the foot of one of the defenders, wrong-footing the keeper and giving Leeds a dream start. 0-1, and things were going as expected.

Stockport soon equalised though when one of their stand-out players, Carl Baker – who, incidentally is leaving them next week – went on an unchallenged run towards the Leeds goal. Eventually he was stopped by the Leeds defence, but only at the cost of a free-kick, from which County equalised. Baker took the free-kick himself, firing it low into the bottom corner, via another deflection from the Leeds wall. 1-1, and before anyone points any fingers, there was nothing Casper could have done about it.

Both keepers were kept busy as the teams exchanged blows. Bradley Johnson came closest for Leeds when his volleyed shot came back off the bar. Becchio also thought he’d scored just after the half hour mark, but the linesman decided he’d used his hand to control the ball. As half-time approached, Leeds enjoyed the better of the match but never pressured Stockport’s weak defence enough for me.

The second half started with both teams having chances, but it was Stockport who would take the lead just after the hour mark. A corner taken short from Stockport, was whipped towards the back post from the edge of the area where Leeds’ defence was once again missing and Mullins converted to give County a rare moment of celebration. After losing ten in a row, this wasn’t what the league leaders were expecting, nor were the home sides fans who were in total euphoria.

Simon Grayson made two changes shortly afterwards in search of more ideas upfront. The most important change was undoubtedly Max Gradel, who the Leeds fans had already called for. He replaced Robert Snodgrass and immediately started to torment Stockport’s fragile defence. Howson was also brought on for Doyle.

It took just five minutes for the equaliser and it was Patrick Kisnorbo with an unexpected assist. His cross found Jermaine Beckford who headed home brilliantly to restore parity. Who said Beckford was rubbish in the air? 2-2.

Gradel was busy running the Stockport defence ragged and Grayson made his final change replacing Lucciano Becchio with Tresor Kandol. The better chances were going Leeds’ way by now as Stockport looked happy to take a point.

Relying on such a poor defence was County’s downfall and ultimately cost them points as Max Gradel’s cross was poorly cleared, landing nicely for Leigh Bromby who struck beautifully on the half volley to send Leeds back infront with just two minutes remaining. 2-3. Queue a hysterical celebration from Bromby, who clearly hadn’t rehearsed anything in training.

County tried to chase the game and get themselves a point, but the World’s greatest time-waster, Casper Ankergren had other ideas. When the ball went out for a Leeds goal-kick in the dying moments, Casper did his usual routine of lining the ball up, walking back slowly, re-aligning the ball, walking back slowly again, knocking the mud off his boots on the post… etc… etc. Understandably annoyed by Casper’s antics, one of the Stockport fans behind his goal launched a snowball at him, for what had to be the funniest moment of the match.

Casper’s time-wasting proved to be irrelevant though as Jermaine Beckford wrapped things up in injury. Tresor Kandol played him in and although his shot was a little tame, it found it’s way under the County keeper to secure the win for Leeds. 2-4, job done. Beckford clearly enjoying himself again and everything rosy once more in the Leeds United camp.

"The referee's a..."

Whilst the goalscoring had finished, the totally inept referee who had been handing yellow’s out like they were Christmas cards decided to go one better by sending off a County player. His challenge on Gradel wasn’t the best admittedly, but they’d already lost the game and Gradel was fine so I simply can’t see what the sending off achieved. 

Clearly one of those ref’s that was adamant the fans came to watch him rather than the football, he managed a total of eight yellow cards (six for Leeds) and one red. An impressive haul by anyones standards. His final booking was one of those rare moments I agreed with though. Patrick Kisnorbo - who’d otherwise had a relatively good game - decided to shout at David Poole as he was leaving the pitch. A stupid thing to do as the player had already been sent off and seen his team go from in front to two behind and was probably feeling bad enough already. Kis received a yellow card for his antics, but it could easily have been red with the way the cards had been dished out.

This was a poor game by our standards. We weren’t great defensively and never pressured a weak Stockport defence enough. The conditions didn’t help as players slipped all over so Leeds were never able to really take control.

Stockport deserve credit mind. Considering they’re struggling as much as they are it was a spirited display from them, but Leeds have more talent at their disposal. Having the luxury of being able to bring on Max Gradel, who can change games in seconds, is something most teams don’t have. Thankfully, we got the job done and end the year with a victory.

Elsewhere, Charlton could only manage a draw, so Leeds will start the New Year eight points clear at the top of League One. Back across the Pennines next for Leeds, who will be playing a largely unheard of team from Salford in the FA Cup.