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Beckford replaced Knight as Bolton pushed for an equaliser. On cue, the Jermaine Beckford song and the Bolton player giving the Leeds salute! Beckford gave the home side a spark of life, but it was first Tonge and then Varney who nearly killed the game with a second goal as they fired shots in on the sunburnt goalie.
The introduction of Hall for the Trotters with just 20 minutes to go did lift the home crowd as his tricky running ruffled the composure of the Leeds back line. Nerves started to jangle as half chances for N’Gog and Beckford were wasted. At the other end, Murphy nearly converted a teasing cross from Lees.
As the game entered the last 10 minutes, the typical fear and loathing that Leeds would concede a late goal was absent from this fan’s mind for a change. The team now looks really solid, and they dug in as a unit to snuff out any possible chances as the travelling fans started to sing their celebratory songs. 5 minutes of injury time was no problem as Leeds saw out the game with clinical ease. Full time: 1-0 Leeds.
Beckford joined his ex-team mates in taking the plaudits from the travelling fans at the end as the now familiar drum beat of Brian McD’s rhythmic chant echoed around the Reebok.
Brian McDermott
A second away win on the bounce and a terrific all round performance from the Leeds team. Varney and Hunt worked extremely hard up front whilst Ross Mac, Tonge, Murphy and Austin held the upper hand in midfield.
At the back, Pearce and Wooton were magnificent whilst Warnock had his best game this season. Brian McD has moulded these players into a very effective unit, especially away from home.
The journey home was a good one despite the delay at Horwich Parkway station where it seemed the entire mounted Police and dog section had turned out to wave goodbye to the Leeds fans.
Cautious optimism is still the order of the day as we have only played 6 league games, but there are definite signs of hope for Leeds this time round.
The way Brian McD subtly changes his formation to negate the opposition and instruct his team to play through midfield augurs well for this campaign. Are good times about to return to LS11? Time will tell.
Reading will test Leeds’s new resolve on Wednesday when we visit the Madejski. Three points there and we will be on a roll.
Can’t wait.
