Crewe v Leeds - Match Report
Beckford heads home
By Andy Baggott
January 15 2008
Leeds brushed Crewe aside with a confident performance at Gresty Road, to climb to 3rd in the table. Leeds started with 2 debutants, Sweeney and Kenton who replaced the injured Ian Westlake, and Rui Marquez who is away on African's Cup duty. The rest of the team was unchanged from the one that beat Northampton last time out.
The visitors started strongly, and their passing game was pulling Crewe all over the place. Captain Andy Hughes came close early on when his header thudded off the bar. Leeds continued to press, but their shooting was wayward, and they failed to test the Crewe keeper enough.
The home side grew into the game though, and were dangerous on the break, but Leeds, defending high up the pitch, coped well. Leeds eventually got the goal that they deserved - leading scorer Jermaine Beckford leaping early to head home Sweeney's excellent cross.
The second half should have seen Leeds double their lead when Richardson's shot was deflected towards the corner of the goal. Crewe's Rix though, on the line kept the ball out with his left arm. A penalty and red card should have followed, but it was missed by the officials. Leeds nearly paid the ultimate price and within minutes Rix was down at the far end with a great chance to score but was denied by a good save from Ankergren. Crewe, to their credit, kept going, and nearly scored when they hit the bar following a corner.
Leeds still looked most likely to get the next goal, and Richardson's shot was well saved late on by Williams..
Overall a deserved win for Leeds, and with a bit more accuracy around the goal, the margin could have been a little bit more comfortable.