Wise:Blame Me

Leeds are an infallible winning machine in the league, but in the cup it is a very different story. Last night was the final nail in the coffin as Hereford beat them 1-0 at Elland Road, Lionel Ainsworth’s goal after three minutes enough to guide them through to the second round. But will they really care? Surely this year is all about the league for Leeds and the cup would just distract them and make them even more tired, like Wisey says. Now they can concentrate fully on promotion, or will they start to take their cup form into the league?

A bad start from Leeds saw Hereford 1-0 up after three minutes. Lionel Ainsworth's goal with 3 minutes gone, coolly slotted home from 12 yards after the home team allowed him too much time and space. Leeds were really poor for most of the 1st half. Hereford kept hitting Leeds on the counter attack which worried the defence of Leeds who occasionally lost their shape. 7 minutes later the Bulls nearly doubled their lead with Theo Robinson taking round Ankregren and having his shot cleared off the line. Moments later Trevor Benjamin then fired over the crossbar. Leeds went into the break 1-0 down and their confidence at a low.

But although Leeds – missing suspended midfielders David Prutton and Jonathan Douglas, and without the ineligible Mark De Vries and Radostin Kishishev – could claim the majority of possession, Hereford always carried the threat of further goals and their football belied their lowly status. Certainly, this was no smash-and-grab raid by the visiting team, but a hard-fought victory richly deserved.