Burnley v Leeds Utd. League Cup 3rd Round 19th Sept 2017.

It was almost inevitable that once Chris Wood had joined his former Leeds team mate Charlie Taylor at Burnley that the two sides would be drawn together in the next round of the League Cup. I can't imagine either of them were jumping for joy when the draw was made in stark contrast to the majority of Leeds fans. This was a chance for a Cup upset together with some vicious taunting of the former Elland Road favourites. Mint. I've no particular beef with Wood as his transfer was the way of modern football but the way Taylor left the club by refusing to play the last game was in my eyes a disgrace. Would we get karma on this sunny evening in East Lancashire? We were about to find out.

As expected TC made plenty of changes to the side that was battered at Millwall. Lonergan started in goal with a back four of Borthwick-Jackson, Shaughnessy, Ayling and Berardi. Klich and Vieira were in midfield with Roofe, Cibicki & Dallas in front with Grot up top. A decent crowd had populated Turf Moor as the game got under way with the noisy home fans trying to drown out the raucous Leeds travelling army. The opening exchanges were scrappy and littered with mistakes. Burnley had the better of what chances there were in the first twenty minutes culminating with Vokes skying a shot with goal gaping wide in front of him.

Leeds did test the Burnley back line but too often their moves lacked the incisive passing seen in recent weeks and not helped by Grot struggling to impose himself on the Burnley defence. The half finished with the scores 0.0 with not too many punters inside the stadium that impressed with either of the sides. The Urinal Philosophers were worried and brutal. "Grot's too slow and loses too many balls" one fan moaned whilst another was struggling with Borthwick-Jackson's first 45 minutes "The lad's in a permanent day dream. He's so laid back he's horizontal" Mmmm difficult to dispute either point of view. On a positive note Ayling was looking good at centre half, Berardi was his usual Tasmanian Devil self especially when he was offered a tasty 50-50 ball with Taylor. There was only ever going to be one winner of that challenge as Taylor did a double somersault and a half twist as a result of the impact from the Leeds full back.

The longer the game went on the more a goal looked likely. On the hour mark TC made a crucial substitution. Day dream believer, Borthwick-Jackson, was replaced by Sacko. Dallas went to left back leaving Sacko to raid down the flanks. He must have been red hot in training as his last appearances were bordering on embarrassing. We soon saw the reasoning behind the decision as Sacko's pace was soon scaring Burnley and Charlie Taylor in particular to death. Delicious. The tempo of the game lifted as both teams strove for the goal that would avoid the dreaded extra time. Who would sneak the oh so important first goal? Enter Chris Wood off the bench. Oh no I've seen the trailer. 89th minute winner for Wood I feared. Hernandez entered the fray with 11 minutes to go. The fresh legs Leeds had did the trick 2 minutes later.

Hernandez picked the ball up in his own half and hit a superb pass dissecting the space beyond Taylor.......Sacko turned on the afterburners and scorched past his former team mate. He was now bearing down on the goalie.......but he can't finish or cross I thought...........just as he slotted the ball through the legs of the goalie and into the net. Get innnnnn you beauty as 2,500 Leeds fans exploded in sheer joy. 1.0 Leeds with 10 minutes to go. Could we hang on? Lasogga replaced the disappointing Grot for the final 5 minutes. The game then entered a fascinating climax that only cup football can give you. First with just a minute left on the clock Wood converted a penalty to level the scores. Turf Moor erupts this time as Leeds hang their heads. 6 minutes of added time and the scores tied at 1.1. Leeds dragged their tired bodies forward one last time......Penalty Leeds! Up steps Hernandez to coolly restore the lead for the visitors. Carnage behind the goal as Leeds were now surely in the next round! Errrr not quite. A free kick on the edge of the Leeds box. Brady lines up the shot and puts it in the top corner of Lonergan's net. 2.2 Bollox! This is going to be a late night.

Four goals in the last ten minutes had sent the crowd into fever pitch. Now we had another thirty minutes to try and get the winner or the dreaded penalties would loom into view. Despite each team going for the win it finished 2.2 and so to penalties. The tension was as taut as a freshly stretched drum as both teams knocked in the penalties......then Tarkowski's shot was saved by Lonergan. Magic. Leeds had the chance to win the tie by converting their next two penalties. Alioski planted the perfect penalty high into the corner of the net leaving Dallas with the chance to win the game for TC's men. Cool as a frozen cucumber he slotted the ball home triggering amazing scenes in the away end. Fantastic! After the scrappy first half what a performance by Leeds and what a game!

Spurs away at Wembley was the consensus of who we wanted in the next round as we streamed out of Turf Moor. Klich was the man of the match in another impressive team performance. It was pleasing to see Sacko have Taylor on toast and also Vieira stomping about in midfield. They were all heroes though as the team progressed a small step nearer to Wembley ...........unless we get a quicker route by drawing Spurs?

Ipswich up on Saturday. Can we get another three points and put the Millwall battering behind us? Will Jansson and Cooper be fit? Has sack done enough to get a place in the squad? Time will tell.

Can't wait.

MOT

PS. Unfortunately I will be missing for the next two games. Reports will be back up for the Sheff Wed game.