Leeds - Aston Villa 0-0
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Tim Horrox went to Elland Road yesterday. Here's his match report.
I Live less than 30 miles from Elland Road, but this was a game barely worth crossing the street for. Two sides in supposedly good form promised an entertaining Boxing Day feast of football, but in fact it was as dour as the thought of yet more Turkey sandwiches.
The two teams cancelled each other out with such ruthless efficiency that there is really very little to put into this match report. Leeds, playing a 4-5-1 formation designed to stifle Villa's midfield by chasing and harrying McCann and Co against Villa playing a more ambitious 4-4-2. Villa also ran themselves into the ground chasing and harrying the Leeds players. Yes, it was one of those.
For Villa the only players to really stand out for positive reasons were Dublin, again a giant at the back, and McCann, by some distance Villa's man of the match standing astride the midfield in a manner that put you in mind of Dennis Mortimer in days of yore.
For Leeds the lad Pennant caught the eye. If O'Leary has an eye on the winter sales, he could do much worse than this youngster, who gave Villa a hard time all afternoon. In fact, the Leeds wide players pushed our full backs back so well that they were unable to get forwards and support the very narrow midfield four as they have done so well in recent matches. As a result, the strikers had precious little service, and as both seemed rather off colour anyway we presented no goal threat all afternoon. Viduka and Smith, a tricky little combination, were also given little change from Villa's hardworking defence.
We had the ball in the net at one point. A superb cross came over and Juan Pablo bundled in goal number 13 at the back post. It was at the other ground, so I didn't see the alleged handball from the Colombian that ruled it out. In the same goal in the second half they too had the ball in the net, but this time the flag was up good and early and no-one got very excited by it.
And that was that. A good point, against a side who like us are starting to get their act together under new management. This will do nicely all things considered.
Tim Horrox
www.villatalk.com
