The Scratching Shed

‘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.

Jermaine Beckford has withdrawn his transfer request and decided to stay with Leeds United until the end of the season. The striker released a statement saying;

“After a lot of thinking over the last few days I have decided to withdraw my transfer request and commit my immediate future to Leeds United.

“It was never a comfortable decision to ask for a transfer in the first place, but after the game against Manchester United and the unbelievable reaction from the Leeds United supporters in the Wycombe match I have decided I want to finish what I have been striving to do for the last two seasons – and that is to help promote Leeds United out of a division which the club doesn’t belong

“Every time I put on the Leeds United shirt I give 100 per cent and can assure the fans, the manager and everyone connected with the club that I will continue to do that”

Whilst this is clearly great news in terms of stability for the club in the immediate future, I can’t help but be a little cynical of this announcement. My initial thoughts are that maybe the offers him and his slimy agent had expected weren’t forthcoming.

I question how commited anyone can be with such a short amount of time remaining on their contract. Just because he’s here until May doesn’t mean we’re going to see the end of the speculation. When we get to March-April and the most important games of the season we’re going to be hearing rumours every day suggesting he’s signed a pre-contract elsewhere. The best way to end all this is still to sign a new contract.

On the more positive side, this will hopefully settle the team in the short term after they delivered two abject performances against Wycombe and Exeter. We need to get back on track and hopefully, this will be the boost everyone has needed.

Simon Grayson has put an end to the rumours linking him with the vacant Burnley post by telling the Yorkshire post that he’s flattered at the interest and would love to manage in the Premier League, but his dream is to manage Leeds United in the Premier League.

Although I was originally very dismissive of the rumours I got a little worried when it was suggested Burnley would offer Larry five times his current salary to leave. His interview on Soccer Night did little to reassure anyone either as he failed to catergorically rule out the move, but this is what we’ve all been waiting for and we can all sleep a little easier now.

Grayson’s passion for the club and desire to take us forward is clearly evident in the interview where he says;

“This was a fantastic opportunity and I have said all along that someone will take this club back into the top flight.

“Hopefully, that will be me.

“I am an ambitious manager but this is an ambitious football club,

“You saw the passion of our fans at Old Trafford last week and then how we got 25,000 in on a bitterly cold day like Saturday (against Wycombe).

“I am fully focused on achieving my target of getting this club promoted into the Championship and beyond.

“People can speculate with Burnley or whatever club they want but I am committed to trying to take this club forward.

“I am flattered because everyone wants to manage in the Premier League. But my ideal scenario is to manage this football club in the Premier League.”

After a dismal display in the Wycombe game he mentions, some were suggesting this may have been down to a worried squad troubled by the speculation so it was important that he came out and ruled out any possibility of a move.

Stability is something Leeds United has required for the last 7 or so years, but lacked massively. Grayson is clearly a very talented manager and every Leeds United fan knows and appreciates that. He has an opportunity to take us back to where we believe we belong and make himself a legend in the process and I have no doubts he’ll achieve that. In Grayson we trust!

The goals from our 1-1 draw and dismal display at home to Wycombe. The match did bring with it a new record for Simon Grayson whose Leeds United side have now remained undefeated at home for a year. TSS’ match review can be found here.

Leeds United 1 (Howson) Wycombe Wanderers 1 (Pittman) 
Elland Road, 09-01-2010

In a fixture that should have resulted in another three points to the league leaders, Leeds United failed to show the class they did at Old Trafford last Sunday and dropped two points to struggling Wycombe, and in truth, we were lucky to get anything.

Before we delve into what was an extremely poor display from the Whites, the big news of the day was that Jermaine Beckford was named in the starting line-up. Despite an expected move to Newcastle due for completion anytime, Grayson risked unsettling the crowd by naming the wantaway striker alongside Lucciano Becchio. I have to admit, I really wasn’t expecting to see Becks at Elland Road today and this would suggest the move to Newcastle isn’t as far along as was originally believed.

Credit has to be given to both the Leeds United fans and Jermaine Beckford. The Leeds fans responded positively and gave Jermaine their support throughout, with choruses of his name being sang also. Jermaine responded in an appreciative manner by clapping the crowd and worked hard all afternoon. Had the rest of the team played as well as he did, I have no doubts we’d be reflecting on a much better scoreline.

Of course, there was the odd disgruntled fan who was vocally annoyed at Jermaine, but no one can really blame them given the manner in which his transfer wishes have been carried out by both himself and his agent. The majority though realised he was still in a Leeds shirt and while ever that remains the case, they had to give him their support for the benefit of the team as a whole.

As for the game, well, those that did drag themselves through the ice and snow and made the journey to Elland Road probably wished they’d stayed in bed as this was one of the worst performances I’ve seen at home in a long time. How we got anything from this game is anyones guess.

Jonny Howson opened the scoring early on with a shot from range and it looked like it’d be as easy as expected for Leeds United. From there on in though, things just never went to plan. The team didn’t settle, there was a lack of concentration in the passing and no one made much of an effort to close the opposition down when in possession.

By the time we reached the break, Wycombe had struck the woodwork and seen an effort scrambled off the line by Neil Kilkenny. It was easy to forget we were in front, despite having a couple of chances ourselves, most notably a Bradley Johnson header that he felt had crossed the line.

At half-time we were confident Simon Grayson would whip his under-performing team into shape and the Whites would return stronger, looking to put this match to bed. For the first few minutes, that appeared to be the case, but Wycombe refused to surrender and started to get the better of Leeds once more.

Casper had, had one of his busiest shifts of the season, but managed to keep Leeds in front. It wasn’t going to last though. Pittman got the better of Richard Naylor and fired low and hard into the bottom right hand corner to give the Wycombe fans a rare moment of celebration in an otherwise forgettable season so far.

Simon Grayson reacted as expected and brough Max Gradel on in place of Robert Snodgrass. With 25 minutes to go, we were all expecting a late moment of brilliance from the youngster, but he simply never got the chance as Wycombe pushed a hapless Leeds United and went for the kill. The final whistle was a welcomed one and it honestly felt like a point gained rather than two lost, such was the level of performance from Leeds.

Regardless of how poor Leeds were, Wycombe should be given credit for having the balls to come to Elland Road and attack. They’re on an absolutely dismal run at the minute and find themselves in the relegation zone. Today however, they proved they’re not relegated yet and with a couple of strong signings in January, they could well surprise everyone and escape the drop.

On the way to the match today we were chatting about the reverse fixture earlier in the season where Leeds won 1-0. As memory serves, Leeds United were pretty poor that day too and Wycombe ran the show in the first half. Leeds just had that little bit too much class for Wycombe though and a second half goal gave Leeds a win they really didn’t deserve. But even with that fixture in mind, I didn’t think we’d struggle again today. We’ve come a long way since our second gear performances early this season and this should have been a procession.

A poor result and a poor display from pretty much everyone. No one ever got going, the passing was dire, the closing down was often non-existant and Wycombe really should have beaten us. That said, this is probably why we’re top of the league. Both games against Wycombe this season we’ve come away with results we didn’t deserve, but that’s often the case with the league leaders. The trick to winning the league is consistency and grinding results out that others would lose. Twelve months undefeated at Elland Road for Simon Grayson’s Leeds United and this poor showing should only be seen as a minor stumbling block. We’ll come back stronger, with or without Becks. In Grayson we trust.

Chant of the day: “Are you Rooney in disguise?” From the Leeds fans as Wycombe’s striker missed.

TSS men of the match: All the groundstaff that worked tirelessly to ensure this game went ahead whilst many others were postponed due to the white stuff. Unfortunately, the only other game that went ahead was at Norwich who won 3-1, closing the gap on us to six. Maybe we should have dumped the snow we cleared on their ground? Just a thought…

Best moment: Cheering Jermaine on was good to see. Regardless of our feelings towards the transfer saga, he’s done well for Leeds and will always be remembered for knocking scum out of the cup.

Worst moment: The Leeds fans booing at full time. I aren’t saying I disagree with the boo’s, because to be honest I was so cold and annoyed at the lack of effort exerted, I joined in, but never nice to see fans booing their own team. Hopefully the lads will understand the performance was below par and look to respond v Exeter next week.

Since I’ve decided match previews are about as interesting as watching people sleep on E4′s night time coverage of Celebrity Big Brother, the ‘Interview with an away fan’ series I’ve randomly done will serve as a direct replacement.

This week, with Wycombe the visitors to Elland Road on Saturday (assuming enough people can figure out how to drive in the snow) we’re joined be the co-editor of Wycombe Wanderers fan site, SMBU for what has to be one of the most entertaining interviews to date. 

TSS - Hi SMBU, thanks for taking the time to talk to TSS. Wycombe’s current form leaves a lot of space for improvement with four losses and one draw in your last five games. Not the best time to visit Elland Road, is it?

SMBU - There’s not really been a good time to visit anywhere this season. We’ve looked ill-prepared for the campaign from the opening day and though League One is seen by most Wycombe fans as our natural level, we’ve looked like League Two tourists on a minibus with bring-your-own binoculars most of the time. Obviously the trip to Elland Road was the one everyone sought out in June but while we probably thought you’d be top, I don’t think anyone thought we’d be so marooned in the mire come January.

TSS - Our top-goalscorer Jermaine Beckford revealed he wanted to leave this week and has submitted a transfer request to the club. This hasn’t gone down well with the fans of Leeds United and the chances of him playing Saturday are slim at best. Do you think that’s a good thing for Wycombe, or are you worried a defiant Leeds will go out intent on proving they can win this league without him?

SMBU - There’s nothing worse than a talented but grumpy wantaway striker. We had the same problem with Jermaine Easter a couple of seasons ago when he wept with rage at Wycombe denying him his rightful place in the upper echelons of the Premier League. How did that go Jermaine? To be frank, I’m sure whoever Leeds bring in on Saturday will still have enough to bring mayhem and muddle to the existentially ragged Wycombe defence so don’t worry on that account. Looking from the outside, it seems disappointing that he’s willing to jump ship when you’re homing in on the title but agents need their slice of pie, especially when you’ve got the central heating on all day.

TSS - Anyone in your team that we can buy to replace Beckford’s 30 a season?

SMBU - Yeah, tell Ken to make a sensational £30m bid for our entire squad and we’ll meet him in a layby near Chesterfield.

TSS - You’ve got the wrong Ken mate. Ours doesn’t spend money! As I said in my first question, you’re not in the greatest of form at the minute and lie 23^rd in League One. Is relegation an inevitability or can you turn this round?

SMBU - A few weeks it looked like we were turning a corner but a traditionally bleak Christmas (we’ve won once on Boxing Day in 16 seasons as a league club) has dumped us back in the doom zone. Certain brands of Wycombe fan may swan about town boasting about our undersoil heating but when it only allows you to lose games that could have been postponed it’s a bit pointless. I think there are enough poor teams in the division for us to make a dramatic escape but we’ll need to strengthen in the transfer window and I don’t know whether that will happen.  

TSS - Back in 2005-06, you were riding high in the league, but everything went wrong after the sad death of young midfielder Mark Philo, and John Gorman’s (manager at the time) wife dying. 21 matches undefeated turned into 6 straight losses as Gorman took time off to grieve. Gorman was later “relieved of his duties” as the club didn’t think he was in the right state of mind to continue managing the club, despite the fact he took over Northampton a few days later. What are your feelings on this?

SMBU - That was a very odd season. Some of the football played under Gorman beggared belief, all out attack and a defence made of play-dough. The deaths were an awful & bleak interlude and to see a record unbeaten run and a record run of defeats in the same season summed up the unreal nature at the time. John Gorman is one of the nicest men in the game but he came back too early after his wife died and the club probably did the right thing, for him more than anyone. His spell at the wretched shoe-goons in Northampton showed as much. It was good to see him back in the game at QPR.

TSS – Odd seasons hey? I once had a dream that we’d appointed an idiotic chairman who went crazy and threw money at over-rated players like Michael Dubious. It resulted in us going into financial meltdown and crashing down into League One… Oh wait…

Anyway, staying with management, like Leeds, you seem to go through them quite quickly. Paul Lambert and Peter Taylor followed Gorman, and Taylor has since been replaced by Gary Waddock. Is he the right man for the job, or do you wish one of the others had stayed?

SMBU – Lambert was a good manager, and turned the players that Gorman had signed into a proper unit, as evidenced by our run to the League Cup semis (indeed, Manchester City may be chipper at the moment but we’ve still been to more domestic cup semis this century than they’ve managed in the past 30 years). Taylor should be spoken of in great terms, the first manager since Martin O’Neill to get Wycombe promoted, but the football last season was like watching battery acid run down some double glazing and there were no tears when he departed in the autumn. Gary Waddock has turned things around, in the entertainment stakes at least. Even if we go down, he should be given a chance to get us back up but modern football likes to encourage relentless change like a divorcee at a one armed bandit.

TSS - Funnily enough, the afore mentioned Duberry currently plays for Wycombe. Not someone I’m particularly keen on given his involvement in the Bowyer-Woodgate incident. It also didn’t help that we paid him a ridiculous amount of money when the fish in Ridsdale’s office were on a par in terms of usefulness. The last time I saw him, he looked a little on the heavy side; Is this still the case and how is he getting on as captain of Wycombe?

SMBU – Duberry may currently be paid by Wycombe but there’s not much chance of seeing him on Saturday. He’s done more lumbering than a Canadian truck driver this season and to say the Wycombe fans are unimpressed is an understatement. He was appointed captain based on his reputation but has shown nothing but chunky thighs and the turning circle of the Austrian naval fleet. Clubs like Wycombe should be bringing through young talent and hunting through the non-leagues for rough diamonds, not paying faded stars to bring some glamour and a carbon footprint to the training ground car park. 

TSS – Another ex-Leeds player Ian Westlake also plays for Wycombe. I met him when he was younger and was always a fan of the lad. Always thought he’d do well at Leeds, but wasn’t to be. How’s he getting on?

SMBU – Bit of a panic signing by Taylor at the end of the summer and hasn’t featured too much. Has shown some nice touches on occasion but has also looked well off the pace and injury prone, plus it’s fairly clear that Waddock is keen to get rid sooner rather than later.

TSS – That’s a shame, he’s a nice lad and the talents definitely there. Guess he’s doomed to be another ‘could have been’ though. Aside from Dubious and Westlake, what other players should we be keeping an eye on this Saturday?

SMBU – Midfielder Tommy Doherty is one of the classier players in the lower leagues though has a temper on him, while wideman Matty Phillips has come through the youth team and is showing some genuine promise. We’ve also got local lad Scott Davies on loan from Reading, a youngster who started with Wycombe as a kid before moving to Berkshire in the Nathan Tyson deal, and he’s been a step above most players in the past few months, This will probably be his penultimate game, sadly.

TSS – I’m always quite interested in what other clubs think of Leeds, especially since we were voted the most hated club in football (despite our demise). What are your feelings on us?

SMBU – I always have soft spot for any big club who slip down to the third tier, like seeing a heavyweight boxer fighting at the local carnival for candyfloss and a bus fare. We were the only team to do a league double against Man City in 98-99 but they still escaped at the first attempt. You should clamber out this time and we’ll wave you on your way. Let’s be frank, Wycombe and Leeds have no history so any Wanderers fan dishing it out is skating on thin ice. Then again, it works both ways so if you start saying that a club formed in 1887 has no history then you’re just as bad.   

TSS – A soft spot for Leeds? That could well be a first! Finally, what’s your prediction for the game?

SMBU – Leeds to cruise into an early lead before the ref abandons the game due to frost on the stanchions. 

TSS – I’d be more confident in the game being called off by frost than Leeds romping to an early lead. Even when we’re on the up I can’t help but feel the next fall is just around the corner. Years of experience taking it’s toll I guess! Thanks for taking the time to talk to TSS and best wishes for the rest of the season.

With Leeds United deciding to take the weekend off with our hundreds of international call-ups, League One continued without us and since I have no Leeds United match to report on, I thought I’d check out how the rest of the top six got on.

For me, the one to watch this weekend was Southampton vs Gus Poyet’s new team, Brighton & Hove Albion. A first half brace from Glenn Murray gave Gus the perfect start, but Southampton got a penalty just before half-time. Rickie Lambert stepped up and converted for his 12th of the season, sending him above Jermaine Beckford (11) in the top-scorers chart.

Without wanting to stray too far off subject Rickie Lambert is definitely a man Leeds should be targeting if Jermaine Beckford leaves in January. His goal-scoring record is incredible and he’ll no doubt want a chance to play higher. Southampton are very unlikely to achieve promotion, so I think we’d have a good chance of capturing him.

The BBC are reporting that Southampton’s problems stemmed from a “very shaky defence” and Brighton took full advantage adding a third shortly before full-time. The new manager effect seems to have worked well at Brighton who we’ll meet next Saturday. Let’s hope it was a one-off fluke.

Meanwhile, in London, Charlton returned to winning ways emphatically beating fourth place MK Dons 5-1. Although they’ve lowered the gap from us to four, MK Dons occupy the third to sixth place area, which is where we really need to move away from so this isn’t necessarily a bad result. So long as we go up automatically, I really couldn’t care less who wins the title.

The next stand out result in a free-scoring weekend has to be Huddersfield who battered Wycombe 6-0. Norwich also won, but Colchester could only manage a draw so without playing Leeds United are still seven points clear of the play-off positions. A game in hand means nothing unless you win it, but the chance to move ten clear so early on is a nice thought.

So the only change this weekend (in the top six) is Colchester United jumping MK Dons to take third spot. Charlton gained a bit of ground and the impressive scoreline will do wonders for their confidence. Huddersfield will be disappointed to remain sixth after the 6-0 demolition job, but they have opened up a little breathing room on Millwall who now trail them by two points.

I think things are really starting to take shape as we head towards Christmas. Was never convinced by Bristol and didn’t expect them to stay near the top for long. Southampton have such an impressive attack that they’ll climb steadily. Whether they can reach the top six or not though is debatable.

Would also expect Colchester to fizzle out eventually as I aren’t sure they have the depth. Millwall will most likely end in the top six, so come May I’d expect it to be pretty much as you are, but with Millwall possibly replacing Colchester running out of steam. If Southampton can keep hold of their key players, they may turn a few heads yet though.

It’s a prediction that will probably be as accurate as my football coupon this weekend. League One is simply too unpredictable for anyone to really know for sure, but it should be an interesting few months either way. On and on.

Almost a quarter of a way into the 2009-10 League One season, I thought now would be a good time to look back on how we’ve done so far.

Leeds United 2-1 Exeter City
The season started at Elland Road against newly promoted Exeter City. Leeds United and Simon Grayson were looking to put the heartache of another failed attempt at promotion via the play-offs behind them and were focused solely on achieving automatic promotion.

The good news was that Jermaine Beckford was still a Leeds United player and his brace earnt us all three points as we made hard work of the League One newcomers. His 89th minute winner was met with chants of “sign your contract for the lads” from the 27,000 fans inside Elland Road.

Wycombe Wanderers 0-1 Leeds United
The first away game of the season was also our first competitive match against another newly promoted side, Wycombe Wanderers. After a first half dominated by the hosts, Leeds re-grouped and returned a different team. Lucciano Becchio’s 61st minute goal was to be the winning goal as Leeds and Shane Higgs kept their first clean sheet of the campaign.

Walsall 1-2 Leeds United
It was another late show from Leeds United in Walsall as the hosts took the lead late on from the penalty spot. With eleven minutes to go, it looked like Leeds were set to drop their first points of the season but an 83rd minute equaliser from Bradley Johnson setup an Hollywood finish for Jermaine Beckford who secured all three points with a winner four minutes from time.

Leeds United 3-0 Tranmere Rovers
Back to Elland Road for a visit from the Scousers. After scraping victories in the first three games, Leeds will have been happy with a much more comfortable result. First half goals from Bradley Johnson and Jermaine Beckford gave us a two goal cushion at half time before Lucciano Becchio wrapped things up in the second half.

Colchester United 1-2 Leeds United
Spirits amongst Leeds United fans were the highest I’ve seen them in a long time before the Colchester game. The travelling fans were in full voice and more optimistic than ever after the 3-0 demolition of Tranmere.

Bradley Johnson once again fired Leeds United into the lead as his impressive early season form continued. Colchester grabbed an equaliser from the penalty spot, but Jermaine Beckford secured all three points and kept our 100% record intact with a 64th minute winner.

Leeds United 2-0 Stockport County
Simon Grayson’s side broke records against Stockport as the club recorded it’s most successful start to the season and most consecutive league wins. Records that had previously stood since the days of Don Revie.

Jermaine Beckford was out injured so Mike Grella made his first start of the campaign and within 9 minutes he’d opened the scoring and fired Leeds ahead. Lubomir Michalik made it 2-0 before half-time which turned out to be the final score after a goal-less second half.

Southend United 0-0 Leeds United
The away trip to Southend was moved to a Friday night at the request of the local Police, so anything other than a loss would see us go top of the table. Uptil this point both ourselves and Charlton had won every game, but Charlton currently had the superior goal difference.

A scrappy and hard fought battle ended 0-0 as both teams struggled to create good chances. Shane Higgs was called into action as Southend had the best chance of the game when they were awarded a penalty. The spot kick was struck well enough, but Shane Higgs guessed right and earnt Leeds a point.

Leeds United 4-1 Gillingham
After dropping our first points of the season away to Southend, Leeds were looking to get back to winning ways at home to Gillingham. It took less than 15 minutes for Bradley Johnson to fire Leeds ahead and he netted his fifth of the season just before the half hour mark to give us a 2-0 lead at the break.

Jonny Howson got his first of the season straight from the restart before Barcham pulled one back for Gillingham. It proved to be nothing less than a consolation goal though as Jermaine Beckford rounded things up in the final minute to make it 4-1 to the Whites.

Milton Keynes Dons 0-1 Leeds United
MK Don’s were being hyped as our toughest test of the season so far and they didn’t disappoint as Paul Ince’s side battled well with the Whites. The teams cancelled one another out for much of the game and neither side looked like they’d make a breakthrough.

When MK Dons were reduced to ten men though, Leeds had the advantage and for once managed to capitalise on it. It took 45 minutes but Robert Snodgrass’ late goal earnt Leeds an unexpected three points.

Leeds United 1-1 Carlisle United
A tired looking Leeds side lacked the spark they’d had at home so far and struggled to kill Carlisle off after Jermaine Beckford missed a penalty and fired us into the lead from the rebound.

Leeds had won fifteen consecutive games at Elland Road by this point, but the last team to beat us put an end to that record. A freekick was met by Scott Dobie who equalised with fifteen minutes left on the clock. Despite a late flurry from Leeds, they couldn’t find a winner.

Although the Elland Road winning streak is now at an end, Leeds remain the only undefeated side in the country as we head into this weekends top of the table clash against Charlton. Another 36 games like these and come May there’s no doubt we’ll be heading back to the Championship.

Arriving in Wycombe for our first ever competitive match against newly promoted League One rivals was a pretty surreal experience and one you only find in the lower depths of English football. There’s no ‘hardcore’ fanbase of Stone Island and Burberry wearing youths. Instead what you’ll find is a family orientated fanbase with as many silver-haired grandfathers as there is youngsters. Helpful and pleasent stewards and friendly locals is a far cry from the visits we’ll be making to Millwall and Charlton this year, but no doubt a welcomed one.

Around 2,000 Leeds United fans had made the journey south and most of the pre-match discussion revolved around Beckford’s exclusion from the League Cup game earlier in the week. It was evident that no matter what Simon Grayson said and how much we liked him, few were willing to believe anything told to them by a club that had lied so many times in the past and the conspiracy theories surrounding Beckford’s “injury” were ripe. When the match did get underway and Beckford appeared with a bandage around his knee, this only added to the conspiracy cover story. Cynical lot us Leeds fans.

With Ben Parker out injured, Hughes was filling in at left back. Have no idea why Simon Grayson continues to do this as Hughes never convinces in this position. The decision is even more bizarre when you consider the two natural left-sided players we have available to us in Sheehan and White, both of whom I suspect would do a better job than Hughes.

The first half was a dreadful one. Jason Crowe struggled to contain the pace of Wycombe’s winger who continually beat him and whipped cross after cross into the box. It was only “Prince Harry” and the other Wycombe strikers failure to convert that kept the scoreline at 0-0. The interval came as a welcome break from the poor football we’d witnessed in the first 45 minutes and as we enjoyed some half-time refreshments, we could only hope a better performance would greet us in the second half.

The second half got underway and Leeds were a different team. The troublesome winger had been silenced and Leeds’ passing game had suddenly appeared. The Leeds fans responded to the improved display and the travelling 2,000 were now in full voice.

The first and only goal came when Snodgrass found Becchio on the edge of the area who fired home from distance to give him his first of the season. 1-0 and we were starting to look like the Champions we’re being touted as. A second seemed inevitable but it never came, despite some good chances created by Leeds. Beckford’s attempt at an over-head kick would have been as spectacular as Becchio’s earlier goal had it gone in, and Johnson had a couple of efforts from distance.

They say that to win the league you have to learn to win 1-0 and despite a dismal first half from Leeds United they somehow kept Wycombe out and punished them for their failure to convert. The first half was something to forget, but in the second we ran Wycombe off the pitch. Wycombe did produce a late chance that was tipped onto the post and wide by Shane Higgs, in the standard nail-biting finish Leeds United seem so insistent on, but overall I think the three points were deserved.

Performances aside, we’ve made a 100% start to the season and although the league table is a little irrelevant this early on, we currently sit third. I’d expect Leeds to be strong favourites for the Walsall game on Tuesday night, but they should provide a tougher test than the two newly promoted teams we faced so far. It’s all good while we’re winning! On and on. 

TSS man of the match – Shane Higgs

TSS man of the match, Shane Higgs

The summer signing was vital today making some impressive stops and clearing the danger throughout. Higgs made a great save in the dying minutes, tipping the ball onto the post and out-wide saving Leeds United from what could so easily have been a draw.

Jermaine Beckford watch

Jermaine successfully picked up his first yellow card of the season for stupidity towards the referee. After what I assume had been pushing in the box, the ref tried to call Jermaine to one side for a word. Jermaine being Jermaine decided to stand in the same place and refused to move, so the referee – unwillingly to stand for his childishness – booked him for his troubles.

Final score: Wycombe Wanderers 0-1 Leeds United (Lucciano Becchio)

Leeds United will play Wycombe Wanderers (informally known as the Chairboys) for the first time in their history on Saturday as the League One campaign continues. The Wycombe Wanderers official site is describing the game as ‘one of the biggest in recent history’.

The club play their home games at Adams Park in Buckinghamshire and are currently managed by former England U21, Leicester City and Hull City manager Peter Taylor. Taylor also acted as caretaker manager of the national side in 2000.

Taylor has been quite successful in lower league management getting Hull promoted twice during his four years at the club. After taking over Wycombe in May 2008, he guided them to promotion at the first time of asking finishing third in last years League Two championship.

Adams Park can hold upto 10,000 fans although rarely achieves such an attendance. Last season the clubs average was just over 5,000, but they’ll be expecting close to a full house on Saturday as most clubs do when Leeds United are in town. We’re not famous anymore!

Michael Duberry back in his 'happiest days' at Leeds United.

Leeds fans will be familiar with at least two of the players in the Wycombe line-up. Former players, Ian Westlake and Michael Duberry both play for the club these days, with Michael Duberry in the role of captain.

Duberry told the offical WWFC site that his “time at Leeds was probably the happiest of my career.’”

He goes on to add that “We had a great team spirit in those days and the players used to come in a couple of hours before training just to have breakfast together and talk football. They were great days and I was sorry to leave”.

Anyone who attends the game on Saturday will be able to sample more of his interview including his thoughts on giving evidence at that trial we all want to forget about.

On paper, Leeds United should walk this game, but Wycombe shouldn’t be underestimated. Peter Taylor is a good manager, with years of experience and is sure to have done his homework. You also have to factor in the ‘Cup Final’ factor. As Wycombe admitted on their official site, this is a huge game for them. The club has just started making steps forward under Peter Taylor and this is by far the biggest game they’ve played so far, so the players will need little motivation ahead of the fixture. Having said that, the quality of the Leeds side should be the decisive factor and I’d be disappointed with anything less than three points.