 Sunday, 30th Oct 2011 21:26 by Tim Whelan
A 70th minute goal from Robert Snodgrass earned a point for Leeds, but we had most of the possession throughout the game, and we can feel disappointed that we didn’t beat Cardiff City.
Simon Grayson was able to name an unchanged starting line-up, as Snodgrass was fit enough to play despite the back problem that has been bothering him for the last week. At Elland Road we’re used to seeing Leeds taking the game to the opposition at the start of the match, but this time it was Cardiff who made the better chances early on, aided by some pretty dodgy Leeds defending.
Rachubka had to make the first save of the game when he did well to tip a shot from Gunnarsson round the post, but the visitors were more or less presented with the opening goal in the 17th minute, thanks to a fatal moment of indecision by O’Dea. There seemed to be no danger as a long ball was played through, but Mason caught up with O’Dea, and a nudge in the back caused our man to stumble when he had the chance to whack the ball clear.
Mason then took possession and went round Rachubka to guide the ball into the empty net. It was just one of those days for O’Dea, who had to go off injured shortly afterwards, to be replaced by Kisnorbo. We came close to an equaliser when Marshall made a decent save from a Snodgrass header, and we kept them under pressure with a couple of corners in quick succession.
But as half-time approached Cardiff were content to sit back and protect their lead, while seemed to lack that bit of creativity that would have opened them up and created a few more chances. Howson was pretty anonymous in the midfield, and Keogh didn’t look like scoring even though he gave his usual committed performance. But we improved after the break and it took an inspired performance from Marshall to keep the visitors in front.
Cardiff’s keeper made a good save from Mc.Cormack, and then did well to keep out a fierce drive from Clayton. Then another Clayton shot was deflected wide, and from the resulting corner Marshall made yet another fine stop from Howson. But Marshall was finally beaten twenty minutes from time, as Leeds grabbed a deserved equaliser from a free kick. Lees climbed above the defence to win the ball in the air, and Snodgrass was the first to reach his knock-down and force the ball over the line.
But even then we could have fallen behind again straight away, as the goal brought Cardiff out of their shell and they finally went forward in search of another goal. Lees did well to head a dangerous ball over the top, and from the resulting corner we were grateful to Ady White for reacting fast enough to block a header from Gunarsson on the line.
Grayson brought Sam on for Pugh to give us an extra attacking option for the last 12 minutes, but despite a couple of half-chances we didn’t really look like achieving another breakthrough, and despite three minutes of injury time being added, the game fizzled out into a draw. We might feel that we deserved to win this game, but it could have been worse, and this result leaves us in seventh place, just two points behind all four of the clubs that currently occupy the play-off positions.
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