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Leeds United 1 Birmingham City 4: Four-goal Zigic piles on misery as Leeds crumble
OVER the past couple of years, the closing of a transfer window has invariably left Leeds United fans feeling deflated.
The sale of popular players such as Jonny Howson and Max Gradel has been a major factor behind any dips in mood, as has a policy of bringing in loan players rather than permanent signings.
Last night, however, the passing of the transfer deadline at 11pm was met with an even deeper sigh than usual at Elland Road after a four-goal salvo from Nicola Zigic had condemned United to a fifth home defeat of the season.
Birmingham’s giant Serbian deserves the highest praise for the clinical manner in which he finished his quartet of goals.
But, even so, surely even Zigic’s biggest fan will admit the helping hand he was given from an accommodating Leeds defence whose idea of man-marking seemed to be leaving the 6ft 7in striker to his own devices and hoping he missed the target.
This was particularly apparent during an amazing seven-minute period just after the hour that saw Zigic plunder the final three of his four goals before being substituted by Chris Hughton to a rapturous reception from the small travelling band of Blues fans.
The overjoyed reaction of the visitors was in stark contrast to the Leeds fans who, in freezing temperatures, were forced to endure a miserable end to not only the night but also the transfer window.
They were not slow to show their dissatisfaction, either, with the chant ‘Number one, he’s a loan, number two he’s a loan, number three...’ making the point forcibly that the Elland Road faithful do not see temporary signings as the way forward.
Perhaps the most galling part of last night was that for an hour Leeds had produced a performance immeasurably superior to the insipid efforts that had brought seven points from three league outings in 2012.
Heeding Simon Grayson’s pre-match call to start in a positive manner, United tore into the visitors and but for some woeful finishing from Luciano Becchio would have been ahead inside four minutes.
A delightfully weighted pass from Ross McCormack created the chance by allowing Becchio to race clear of the Blues defence.
With the Argentinian having just former Hull goalkeeper Boaz Myhill to beat, the 19,628 crowd rose to acclaim what seemed a certain goal only for the striker to screw his shot horribly wide.
The miss was symptomatic of Becchio’s form this season but it didn’t prevent Leeds from taking the lead on 19 minutes.
Birmingham’s defence had seemed in little danger when Zac Thompson punted an innocuous looking ball forward only for two poor defensive headers to steer the ball towards McCormack.
Since the initial burst of form that brought 10 goals from the opening 13 games, the Scottish international has largely struggled for his best form.
That, though, was not apparent last night with the deft touch and drilled shot that brought his 14th goal of the campaign.
Going ahead was no more than Leeds deserved but the lead lasted just 11 minutes.
Poor marking was the cause of United being pegged back, first when Thompson failed to close down Wade Elliott quickly enough and then again when the former Burnley man’s cross picked out Zigic six yards out.
His bullet header did the rest, meaning the two sides went in at the break level.
In the first 15 minutes of the second half, Leeds continued to press and but for two stunning saves from Myhill to deny Becchio would have reclaimed the lead.
First, a reflex save from the former Tigers goalkeeper kept out his close-range effort after the Argentinian had been picked out by Darren O’Dea’s chipped cross.
Then, after McCormack had sprung the offside trap and laid the ball back to Becchio, Myhill again showed tremendous agility to keep out a fiercely-struck goalbound effort.
It was the second time this season that Myhill had frustrated United with his impressive display at St Andrews in October playing a major part in Chris Hughton’s side emerging with all three points in a 1-0 win.
The value of Myhill’s double save was underlined just after the hour when Birmingham took the lead courtesy of unstoppable finish from Zigic after the giant striker had been picked out by Chris Burke.
Birmingham’s favourite Serbian wasn’t finished, either, with another clinical finish bringing up his hat-trick on 64 minutes after neat play from Morgaro Gomis had once again opened.
And as if that wasn’t enough to send the United fans home in dispirited mood, Zigic then grabbed a fourth goal after once again being left to his own devices by the home defence.
richard.sutcliffe@ypn.co.uk
Leeds United: Lonergan; Thompson, Lees, O’Dea, White; Snodgrass, Delph, Clayton, Townsend; McCormack, Becchio. Unused substitutes: Taylor, Bruce, Brown, Pugh, Nunez.
Birmingham City: Myhill; Spector, Davies, Caldwell, Murphy; Burke, Fahey, Mutch, Gomis (Redmond 80); Elliott, Zigic (Rooney 70). Unused substitutes: Doyle, Carr, Ibanez.
Referee: M Dean (Wirral).
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1leeds_lad
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 10:59 AMThe loan transfer window reopens on 7th Feb, but note the below statement Grayson has made on Yorkshire Radio :- .................. "Speaking on Yorkshire Radio, Grayson said,......... "I am not sure if we can bring in anymore players in. We have a budget that we have to stick too. The loan window reopens next week (7212) and we will have to see what we can do. It may be that we will have to stick with the players that we have already and work better on the training pitch"................. LEEDS FANS MUST NOT BE APPEASED BY BATES SIMPLY SACKING GRAYSON , DO NOT ALLOW THIS "PARASITE" TO BUY MORE TIME AT OUR CLUB . ..... BATES OUT !!!!
buckstonewhites16
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 09:33 AMBates may sack Grayson today - to take the heat off himself! Grayson was taunted but so was Bates.... "I'd rather be a Moron than a C***!" was the Leeds fans' taunt! Bates has to go.....the goals last night were down to having to play too many youngsters in the back four.......it is a big ask to expect them to defend well against seasonedexperienced pros! Grayson is managing on a shoestring whilst Bates is bleeding the club dry and selling all our key players! Last night we only had 2 players starting who played last season. We also had 3 loan players on show (with one more signed yesterday) - loan signings have not worked for us and we make too many (over 65 since Bates became Chairman). The priorities are wrong or, at the very least, not conducive to providing entertaining football! We have had income in excess of £17 million over the recent past and we have spent around £2.5 million!?!? What is going on? Where is the money? How much is Bates taking out of Leeds? Why is he spending money on bricks and mortar at a ground we do not own (or does he?)? There were less than 20,000 at Elland Road last night....Bates needs to go! However back to where i started...Simon will be the scapegoat as Bates looks to bolster the attendance with a new manager (we are so starved of hope and a vision that we will behave like morons and get over excited about it). Bates Out - I want to be United again! MOT
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