Millwall defeats Leeds 3-1

Leeds suffered at tough 3-1 loss at the hands of Millwall today. However from the lineup presented the ensuing style of play and result was highly predictable. Unfortunately without Jonny Howson paired in the midfield with Fabian Delph, the defensive stance of the club thwarts their attacking side by effectively slowing advances to a snails pace. Leeds success and strong suit is going on the attack, pushing the pace of the match and strangling the opposition. However when Leeds plays a smash a grab attack, looking to rattle the ball into the box they play to the oppositions strength and are mid-table club. The tough choice of this situation is understanding the midfield youth of the club, Fabian Delph, Robert Snodgrass and Jonny Howson must play a more active role.

After a quiet start to the match, Leeds took the lead just past the half-hour mark when Luciano Becchio hit the inside right corner with a beautiful left footed strike from 20 meters out. However Millwall leveled the match seven minutes before the break with David Martin hitting near the spot in what would be the first of his two goals. Without much attacking impetus on either end the match went to the break 1-1. Millwall took the lead fourteen minutes after the break when Neil Harris headed in a ball from close range. Gary McAllister wisely through the attack forward into more of a 4-3-3 with twenty-five minutes remaining bringing in Enoch Showunmi and the young Scot, Robert Snodgrass. However Millwall was able to lock down Leeds assaults and suffocated their forward volleys. With two minutes in time remaining added his second goal, driving the ball to the back of the net near the penalty area, taking the match to its final 3-1 conclusion.

Leeds now sits fifth in the table, five points Scunthorpe at the top. They return to action in a mid-week affair this Tuesday against Leyton Orient. Key to this match is re-establishing the killer, attacking instinct and not allowing the opposition to settle into their style of play.

Leeds United
David Lucas
Frazer Richardson,Lubomir Michalik,Rui Marques,Aidan White
Andy Hughes (Enoch Showunmi 65'),Neil Kilkenny (Robert Snodgrass 65'),Jonathan Douglas,Fabian Delph
Jermaine Beckford,Luciano Becchio

Millwall
David Forde,Tony Craig,Paul Robinson,Zak Whitbread,Andy Frampton,David Martin,Marc Laird,Nadjim Abdou,Lewis Grabban (Alan Dunne 90'),Neil Harris,Gary Alexander