Leeds loses to Peterborough 1-0

Leeds United lost an important three points today in suffering a 2-0 loss to Peterborough.

The match started auspiciously for Leeds with starting 'keeper David Lucas breaking a finger in the warmups, necessitating Casper Ankergren between the pipes. Leeds came out with a 4-3-3 for the first time this year with Andy Robinson pulled up front. Five minutes into the the match Luciano Becchio tested Peterborough 'keeper Joe Lewis but was just wide. Leeds continued to pressure with Jonathan Douglas free-kick being flicked over the bar by the Argentine at the ten-minute mark. Casper Ankergren was tested by George Boyd at the twenty second minute mark but for the balance of the half much of the play was box-to-box and with little threat.

Disaster struck a minute after the break with Dominic Green crossing to George Boyd five meters out and he quickly slotted it to the back of the net to give the home squad the lead. Leeds complained the Dominic Green controlled the ball with his hand before passing but their attempts fell in vein. Peterborough continued to pressure for the second goal but Leeds were able to hold them back. After Fabian Delph pushed Joe Lewis for a quality save and the young Scot, Robert Snodgrass was introduced for Jonny Howson thirteen minutes after the break. Leeds is the aggressor of play, in the hunt for the leveling goal but Peterborough is holding them at bay. In a perplexing move Fabian Delph is substituted with Neil Kilkenny twenty-three minutes from time. Leeds should have switched to a 3-4-3 at this time, left Fabian Delph in pulled out Aidan White at this time as they need to push forward. Chris Whelpdale enters the match for Peterborough's Dominic Green with eighteen minutes left and two minutes later Leeds calls upon Ben Parker for Fabian Delph. The home club is playing tactically efficient Football and using time economically. With eight minutes left Luciano Becchio appears to have drawn the match level pouching a rebound off a Neil Kilkenny drive but offside is called rather questionably. In a rather blundering defensive move, during four minutes of stoppage time, the Leeds defense doesn't react to a rebound off a George Boyd drive and Craig Mackail-Smith seals the victory with a late goal.


Leeds
Casper Ankergren,Frazer Richardson, Paul Telfer, Rui Marques, Aidan White (Ben Parker 74'),Jonny Howson (Robert Snodgrass 58'), Jonathan Douglas, Fabian Delph (Neil Kilkenny 67), Andy Robinson, Jermaine Beckford, Luciano Becchio

Peterborough
Joe Lewis,Russell Martin,Craig Morgan,Gabriel Zakuani,Tom Williams,Dominic Green (Chris Whelpdale 72'),Paul Coutts (Charlie Lee 83'),Micah Hyde,George Boyd,Craig Mackail-Smith,Shaun Batt