Friday, October 31, 2008

Leeds travels to Cheltenham

Following the mid-week loss to Southend, Leeds needs a wake-up call as they go forward against Cheltenham. Three points out of first they have dropped points they should have won and niceties aside, that is not the mark of the team headed towards promotion. My tally has ten points dropped that poor focus has caused and in a year where League One is bunched-up, that will come back to haunt them. Gary McAllister's task is a tough one because Leeds has by-far the best talent in the League but must play as such and attack with ruthless intent each week without fail. Their weaknesses to date have been a lacking of urgency as well as literally slowing the match down and allowing the opposition to catch-up. The reigns must be lifted and Fabian Delph and Jonny Howson must push the ball forward for Robert Snodgrass, Jermaine Beckford and Luciano Becchio without allowing the match to slow even the slightest.

In discussing the Cheltenham match assistant manager Steve Staunton:

"It will be their cup final but every game we play is a cup final for our players. The good thing is that they know that. They are well used to being the favourites and it is a case now of going there, rolling up their sleeves, getting playing as quickly as possible and trying to score a few goals.

"It is always important to win whether it is home or away but after a couple of away league defeats I think it is important that we don't lose the game tomorrow. Then we can look forward to a couple of home games."

Paul Huntington, Paul Telfer and Alan Sheehan are all questionable for Leeds and will be a match-time decision. Cheltenham is limping into the match with David Bird, Alex Russell, Shane Duff, Ashley Vincent, Damian Spencer and John Finnigan out and Lloyd Owusu suspended.

I will report on the match once it concludes and as always we're Marching on Together.