The pre match backdrop was one that Leeds fans have now become familiarised to, Ken Bates had lamented Leeds' lack of form in his programme notes and Kevin Blackwell's job was said to be hanging by a thread. There were boycotts after Bates' recent ticket price hike, which coupled with the foul weather, made sure it was a low attendance.
Derby started the game on top with Danish midfielder Morten Bisgaard (seen here 't**tting' another player) playing numerous defence splitting passes which had the Leeds defence scrambling clear repeatedly, think Luke Murphy's second half performance against Watford. Bisgaard put chances on a platter for Peschisolido and John but Sullivan, the 2004/2005 supporters player of the year, was more than equal to the task. The Dane nearly got himself on the scoresheet with a 20 yard free kick which flew narrowly past Neil Sullivan's goal. However the tide soon turned in Leeds' favour as Eddie Lewis, who would play for Derby in the Premier League, made a number of driving runs leaving Jeff Kenna stranded in his wake. It would however be Robbie Blake, who had replaced the injured Richard Cresswell, who provided the first goal as his mis-cued shot fell to Rob Hulse who duly stuck it past Lee Camp. Within minutes the Rams were further behind as an excellent deep cross from Eddie Lewis was glanced in by Rob Hulse. The Hulse-Lewis axis would come up trumps again as Leeds raced into a three nil lead with Hulse hammering a parried Lewis shot into the back of the net. The game featured a number of Derby-Leeds connections with both Lewis and Hulse going to play for the midlands side, however, the major returnee was Seth Johnson whose £7.75 million and subsequent wages are often quoted as evidence of Peter Ridsdale's loose outlook on the finances of our club. However, it would be a miserable night for Johnson as Leeds controlled the game with Hulse and Blake squandering chances early in the second half. Derby did pull one back however, as Sean Gregan bundled a corner into his own net, but there was no real fightback from Derby and the game petered out into a comfortable Leeds victory, sending us into the top six.
Leeds team: Sullivan; Kelly, Butler, Gregan, Crainey (Kilgallon 85); Richardson, Derry, Douglas, Lewis; Cresswell (Blake 25), Hulse (Moore 76)
SINCE THEN...
we have drawn once (nil-nil) in a dire game at Pride Park also during the 05/06 season and have been beaten one-nil (twice), two-nil (twice), two-one (four times) and three-one (twice) including this season's away match where we exhibited some rather special defending as Will 'albino' Hughes tore us apart.
The game on Saturday has dead rubber written all over it. Derby will be aiming to build up some momentum before the play-offs which they will hopefully win so we don't have to play them again and Leeds will probably put in one of the naff final day home performances that we're now used to, see Leicester beating us 2-1 last year. It might be the last time we see some of these players with Brown, Pugh and others out of contract this summer (if that doesn't entice you to Elland Road then I don't know what will), some youngsters might get in the team, Walters has been sniffing around but Brian has said he wasn't going to throw any young players in.
PREDICTION...
2-2 We can't defend and only two of our players can score. I'm hoping that we will have built upon the three wins out of four, albeit against fairly rubbish teams, and Derby will play a slightly weakened side.