clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Leeds rocked by Robins. Now Leeds vs Colchester United.

Leeds' league form took another crumbling twist on Tuesday.

swindon leeds

Hammered 3-0 at Swindon Town, the heaviest league defeat suffered by the Whites since November 2006, Leeds are now three points behind leaders Norwich.

The result also means Leeds haven't won a league match in 2010 and their normal solid backline has capitulated after conceeding 6 goals in three league matches as well as two in JPT northern area final first leg.

But in the FA cup as we know, it's been a completely different story. I for one wouldn't have changed the Man Utd result for anything in the world, but neither did I want it to completely derail our league season.

It's not become panic stations yet but another defeat on saturday and things may change.

The two danger men for Swindon did the damage with Charlie Austin giving the home side the lead followed by two goals from Billy Paynter.

The stats didn't make good reading. 1 shot on target compared to Swindon's 13.

leeds man u 4

Boss Simon Grayson started with the same 11 that started against Tottenham, but tired legs obviously showed as Becchio and Michalik came on at half time, but did nothing to change their fortunes.

And the manager didn't hold back saying he was "diasspointed with how we played from the first whistle to the last.

"This was the complete opposite of Saturday at Tottenham. We were outfought and outbattled and got what we deserved."

He questioned the players motivation saying that Swindon wanted it more than his players and that with the recent leaky defence, he hopes it's a "major kick up the backside for one or two that we need to get back on track."

No doubt tiredness played a part after another gut busting effort in the FA Cup, so why not utilize the squad more. Aidy White, Max Gradel, Mike Grella, Luciano Becchio and Lubo Michalik could all have come in and given other a rest.

But Grayson has always maintained that if you do well, you stay in the team, and after the Spurs performance, its hard to drop them.

In this instance though I think 'resting' its different to 'dropping' players.

But to get back on track in the league now and keep the pressure on Norwich means having to get back to winning ways with a very tough match.

aidy boothroyd

Former Leeds coach Aidy Boothroyd comes back to Elland Road to try and mastermind a result which would inflict a first home league defeat at Elland Road in over a year.

Boothroyd also put pay to Leeds' promotion to the premiership in 2006 when he guided his Watford side to a 3-0 play off final victory.

And so far this season Col U sit in 4th place in a nice position after losing their manager Paul Lambert to Norwich.

They still harbour ambitions of getting into the top two being 8 points behind Leeds, but one would be certain to say that they will be in the playoffs.

The big Col U front line of Odejayi and Kevin Lisbie will cause problems as ever and the help of an undercover agent from Leeds.

prutton

David 'Jesus' Prutton has joined Colchester on loan for a month and marked his debut with a goal on Tuesday night. He is ineligible to play as part of his laon deal, but will no doubt give his temporary employers a helping hand in the dressing room, especially as Grayson hasn't given him much chance this season!

For Leeds, Richard Naylor again is in contention as well as Max Gradel to make his first debut as a fully signed Leeds player. Ben Parker is sniffing around looking for a place on the subs bench again while rumours surround the club that Gary McSheffrey could join today on loan from Birmingham City to bolster the front line with real class.

As well as young left back Shane Lowry from Aston Villa. A young kid rated very highly by Martin O'Neill.

Leeds need to get back to winning ways soon, chairman Ken Bates said that Grayson told him that we would have a blip, everyone does, but unbelievably some Leeds fans have called for him to be sacked.

Saying that he has made poor mangerial decisions, like resting players and using others, and poor transfer dealings. To which I say, total lunacy.

He has been the best manager the club has had in years. We are still second in the table and only 3 points behind Norwich with two games in hand despite the bad run. In the area final of the JPT, the furthest we have ever got and well the FA cup speaks for itself as well as a brilliant home performance against Liverpool. How anyone can criticise him after this poor run is beyond me.

Unfortunately Leeds fans are notoriously fickle and if Leeds do lose tomorrow, those brainless moronic idiots could cost us one of the best young managers in the game.

A man who has been praised in all quarters of the media and in the game, a man who has given us pride in the shirt and the best season we have had in a long long time.

It won't be easy, it was never going to be easy even if we were in great form, but what a confidence boost it would be if we did win and if the fans get behind the lads, anything is possible.