Ok, ok. So it was only Leeds United, those who have dropped from Champions League disappointment to being ecstatic at Crewe Alexander. Or is that Alexandra? Who are they anyway?
My armchair is getting cold!
Leeds arrived still ignorant to the Football League, still living their dream that they might have beaten Valencia in May 2001 - maybe they wouldn't be seeing their team shown one or two lessons in the footballing department by Crewe. Who knows? It's just funny seeing Leeds fans ecstatic because they equalised with Crewe in the last minute of a game.
Champions League - 2001. Equalising against Crewe Alexandra - 2004. Get in! Like a phoenix from the flames.
After the two crummy performances in the past two games from the Alex, it was a welcome surprise to see some passion, effort and a bit of guile from the men in red. It was maybe something Leeds weren't expecting.
Contrary to national reports this morning, Leeds never dominated the game for long periods. Just because they're a big club doesn't mean they're quite a poor side. In fact, only their attack was a worth while line up. Their midfield was particularly average and their defence was laughable. Not so much mistake ridden, just slow and without much anticipation. Dean had a field day.
We were much better for the first 15 minutes. Getting forward with purpose, with Luke Varney in there we had eleven players getting stuck in. Varney was terrorising Leeds but never really had an end product, he got as far a Richardson, the left back, and forced a set piece.
Ashton was the architect for the goal chances. He seemed intent on getting that perfect goal and was shooting on sight. He was attempting the impossible at times, also he's currently trying to find the cure for cancer, the after-life, extra terrestrial and Stoke's quality all in one game. I thought Dario was cutting this out of his game?
I know Dean can score from there and can score the impossible goals but more times than not he's going to miss and with his vision and passing he could open up the defence for a possible goal via someone else.
Leeds were still coming to terms that they were stuck in Crewe Alexandra. the lack of prawn sandwiches in town will have provoked their bad temper; "Stand full of 'scum' fans!", maybe not realising they were no longer worthy to visit Old Trafford. You almost cringed, you felt so sorry for them.
Crewe had glimpses of brilliants. One touch passing movement opened up Leeds plenty of times. Unfortunately Dean, Varney and Lunt all missed, caught offside or shot at the keeper after some lovely moves. David Vaughan was still on fire, if caught a little sloppy at times, but soon enough Leeds had two, sometimes three, players on his back whenever he got the ball. Of course, our players wouldn't want to go near three nasty men - why help Vaughan?
I say Leeds' attack was good but there wasn't really many decent chances from them in the first half. The best of all saw some heroic defending from the Alex. Jermaine Wright caught Crewe down the left and fired his shot at the foot of the right post. Richardson then got the ball inside the six yard area, Tonkin and Williams covered as Richardson lined up a shot which he chipped into the open net only for Foz to head it off the line.
Our best chance was a Dean Ashton header from a free kick that saw Neil Sullivan making quick reactions to tip it over the cross bar. At half time we were the ones looking more likely to score, and so we did in the second half. Moses' cross was beaten away and Lunt volleyed one back in, at the far post Ashton went up for the header but Clarke Carlisle decided to punch the ball off Ashton's head. Obvious penalty.
Dean hit the penalty into the bottom right and Crewe into the lead. It was typical that the first time Leeds really pressured us we buckled. You'd be shocked to hear that it was more insane defending that gifted Leeds a goal. The ball pinged around the penalty area for a bit before Danny Pugh headed it into the bottom right corner.
Leeds fans erupted in the Railtrack. Stewards cowered down on the Railtrack concourse.
Ohh, at half time Cochrane came on for Luke Varney, which I forgot to mention above. The, ahem, lovable cockney stirred things up a bit for the comfortable Leeds midfield who were more than happy to have Lunt and Sorvel for 'competition'. Cochrane got stuck in and really denied Leeds of counter attacking on various occasions.
So, anyway, lets have a moan about that dastard linesman. Steve Jones is being robbed at the moment, I'm sure the officials are out to pee him off. On Tuesday he had the most obvious of penalties turned into a free kick and against Leeds a perfectly good goal disallowed. Don't beat around the bush here - it was a perfect goal. No 'He toe may have been offside', he wasn't. he was a good yard behind the defender when the ball was played, Jonah can't help it if the ex-drunk Clarke Carlisle can't keep up. Anyway, Jonah poked it past Sullivan and it should have been 2-1, but no no no. Darn.
I suppose you could say Leeds had more of the ball in the second half; but better of the game? Nah. They rarely used the ball to their advantage.
With fifthteen minutes left we really turned it on. And scored. The best move of the game, Tonkin, Vaughan and Lunt saw the defence in tatters before Lunt laid it off to Jonah inside the box who just fired home. With seven minutes left the Alex were in absolute dream land - maybe heading for the first home win of the season.
But it seemed we were dreaming the impossible.
Eleven men back invited pressure upon pressure from Leeds. They went close a few times, all from long range shots. However, poor clearances and so on allowed Danny Pugh to shoot from the edge of the area. ball went in, and it was two all. Arse.
Leeds fans went mental, pitch invasion was order of the day. They must be so proud at having to come from behind, twice, against us to get a point.
For Crewe, it was a much improved performance. We looked like we wanted it for once. I would say it was our best performance of 2004 so far, and to say we were unlucky to lose is an understatement.
If we play the same way on Tuesday, against Sunderland, I think we'll win. That should improve confidence, bring a good Carling Cup 3rd Round tie and hopefully really get this belated season going!
Player Ratings;
Ben Williams - 6 - Good enough. Can't say he's to blame for either goal, everything else was fine. He's a Championship quality keeper, I don't understand the criticism of him.
Anthony Tonkin - 7 - Had a good game, despite coming in for awful, unjustified, criticism. So close to getting an 8 from me!
Steve Foster - 6 - Had a tough opponent in Julian Joachim but handled him well, despite his pace being a bit much.
Richard Walker - 6 - Not too bad, kept Deane relatively quiet. Shame even Brian Deane is faster than him.
Adie Moses - 7 - Moved to the right to replace the injured Billy. Did a fine job and wouldn't be bothered to see him cover that position when needed to.
Neil Sorvel - 6 - A bit quiet and lacked any forward thinking which put us under more pressure.
Kenny Lunt - 7 - Cross for the penalty, cleared off the line in the second half and set up Steve Jones. Other than that, quiet.
David Vaughan - 8 - This man is outstanding at the moment. He gets fans on the edge of their seats everytime he gets the ball. He dominates the midfield, and you almost get the sense of the players winning the ball for him and then standing back in awe. More of his silky skills, can't wait to see him put Neville on his arse come October 9th!
Luke Varney - 7 - Taken off at half time but didn't have a bad game. Still very inexperienced and it showed at his lack of play in the final third of the field. Still threatened.
Dean Ashton - 7 - You can hate his guts if it satisfies you but Dean is the least laziest player in the squad. Absolutely runs his socks off for every minute he's on the field, probably our most threatening player in attack. Got a standing ovation as well.
Steve Jones - 7 - Unlucky not to get his well deserved goal. Very threatening in the first half, and his cheeky back heeled flick over his head after a Leeds clearence pleased fans. Found time and space. Second half scored two superb goals but was as threatening with his runs.