Leeds United 1-2 Huddersfield

I've always hated Huddersfield. I went to a secondary school full of Huddersfield fans. I have close friends that are Huddersfield fans. Its a game I always look forward to. And, after missing the game at the Galpharm whilst at university, I could not wait for today. But, as is common with the Whites, anticipation paved the way for disappointment.

Home

A 2-1 defeat to our bitterest Yorkshire rivals was the final nail in a coffin that's been dragged along for a while. The conceding of late equalisers against the league's high-flyers and a wasted game in hand ensured today's game was a must win; a win that could potentially have moved us to within three three points of the play-offs. As it is, the defeat, combined with a late win for Nottingham Forest ensures that the coveted sixth position is eight points away. Unrealistic for any side. Very unrealistic for a side that continues to look void of confidence, pace and quality.

In a year and a half you grew genitalia on your head Adam.

We did start well though and could have scored more than once in the opening stages. Luke Varney had a header cleared off the line before Diouf forced an excellent save from Alex Smithies after some fine build-up play. The first half was full of niggling fouls and from one of these Varney had an excellent chance but screwed his shot over. As always, the visitors looked dangerous on the break and James Vaughan saw his header thunder off the crossbar, with the ball rebounding back to the onrushing Adam Clayton who's follow-up was blocked. The ex-Leeds man smiled up at the South stand, furthering angering the home faithful who continued to torment the midfielder all game. Clayton nearly had the last laugh on the stroke of half-time; flicking on a cross towards Danny Ward who's downward header was tipped around the post by Kenny.

Leeds' run of league games without a first half goal extends as far back as Boxing Day and so, a 0-0 scoreline at half-time wasn't that surprising. We hadn't played particularly badly, no worse than our opponents and were well set to push for the victory in the second half. However, eight minutes in, it was Huddersfield that took the lead through another preventable goal. Leeds failed to clear after a poor header from young Sam Byram and the dropping ball was volleyed past Kenny with style by loanee Neil Danns. The away end went wild; as well as being a stepping stone to easing relegation fears, Leeds away is a big game for them. But as I said, I'm not the majority of Leeds fans who don't care about Huddersfield. Its a big game for me too. And six minutes later, I was going wild myself.

It was a goal that will infuriate manager Mark Robins; it could almost be a goal that we'd expect ourselves to concede. A long, hopeful, some would call useless ball was played over the top and Aidy White somehow burst past Hunt to nod the ball over the on-rushing Smithies. After a fairly abject second half performance, we were back in it and should have had the momentum to go on and steal the win. Without David Norris, we always seem to miss something but his replacement Rudy Austin was having one of his best games in a while and the Jamaican came within an inch of putting Leeds in-front with an outstanding volley from twenty yards that struck the crossbar. Substitute Ryan Hall tested Smithies with a tame turn-and-shot and a Huddersfield player (I've forgotten who) forced a good save from Kenny as the momentum swung from one team to the other.

Away days.

James Vaughan; outstanding.

Remember the season in League One when we scored all them late goals? I do too. There's nothing better. There's nothing worse than conceding one. Except conceding one away at Wolves, away at Leicester and away at Crystal Palace within a month. Thanks to last minute goals, we pissed away nine possible points into three. It couldn't happen again could it? Oh, it could. Jack Hunt burst forward before playing the extremely impressive Vaughan through on goal and the Norwich loan-man had no trouble slotting past Kenny to give the Terriers an unlikely away victory. An un-composed and frankly terrible effort from Byram was the last action of the game and summed up the lack of quality that had been on show from the home side all afternoon.


The loss undoubtedly ends our season and it couldn't have happened to more irritating opponents. I'm one of the most fair Leeds fans on Twitter and still received some un-necessary tweets from Huddersfield fans who quite rightly celebrated their victory. I'll let them have their moment whilst I reflect on our own performance, one which despite being not very good, probably didn't deserve a defeat. Villain of the day was undoubtedly Adam Clayton (what a cunt), but he did have some stiff competition from Paul Green and Luke Varney who were both woeful. Tonge looked shattered, Habibou looked rusty, okay shit, and the back four looked un-settled. It was a performance again not worth the £31 price tag. It could be worse, I could have just paid £46 for Ipswich away, a game which now means nothing. Oh wait, I have. See you there.