Post Match Reaction - Press/managers

Man United

03/01/2010
15:56
Report by Ben Hibbs

Boss shocked by bad display

Sir Alex Ferguson admitted he was "shocked" and "surprised" by United's disappointing performance that led to a third-round FA Cup exit at the hands of fierce rivals Leeds.

The Reds boss had hoped his men would come flying out of the blocks in 2010 after finishing 2009 with a thumping 5-0 win over Wigan. But that just didn’t happen as Sir Alex’s men delivered a frustratingly flat display.

“The preparation for the game was very good, but I’m shocked by the performance,” the boss told MUTV. “We didn’t start right and Leeds did start right. They got their goal and had something to hold onto. They fought like tigers, and we expect that with any team coming to Old Trafford for an FA Cup tie. It’s a disappointment.”

Jermaine Beckford gave the visitors the lead and merely exacerbated the manager’s frustration at the first-half display. “We did speak about Beckford’s pace up front,” he said. “We were caught napping really, it was a bad goal for us to lose. The whole performance in the first half was bad. We never got going and the quality of the passing… the whole performance was just bad.

“It’s one of these things. We’re only human and sometimes you have performances that surprise you. But we didn’t expect that today.”

United’s second-half response provided a glimmer of hope, but even that wasn’t enough to break Leeds’ hold on the game. “I don’t think any of the players can say they had a good day. Maybe only [Antonio] Valencia, when he came on, can say that. Even then it took us about ten minutes to get the ball to him.

“You expect us to get a goal at Old Trafford, and the intensity of our game improved a little bit in the second half. We had a lot of chances in the box, but on the day we didn’t take them.”

Several players were rested ahead of Wednesday’s Carling Cup semi-final against Manchester City, but this poor performance may force the boss to rethink his selection as United will not want to lose consecutive cup ties against local rivals.

“We have to get this result out of our system as quickly as possible,” added Sir Alex. “We have a semi-final on Wednesday and a lot of these players won’t be playing. You have to view this performance in the right light. We’ll make sure we’re ready for Wednesday now. We had a team in mind, but there will maybe be a few changes for that.”

That team may not include Nemanja Vidic, however, who pulled out of the starting line-up at the last minute against Leeds.


Leeds United

Grayson - A fantastic day for the club
04/01/2010

Simon Grayson hailed a "fantastic day for this football club" after watching his Leeds United side claim the scalp of Premier League champions Manchester United in the FA Cup third round on Sunday.

Leeds ended a 29-year drought at Old Trafford after Jermaine Beckford's 19th minute goal proved enough to secure a first win at the home of Manchester United since 1981.

"It was a fantastic experience going there," said a delighted Grayson. "We played well, the players did what they were asked, and it was a fantastic day for this football club.

"No one expected us to win on this stage except perhaps 9,000 Leeds fans and the players and us in the dressing room.

"We said that someone could be a hero and Becks came up with the goal. It was a great ball in from Jonny Howson and it was almost slow motion watching it go in.

"Maybe we didn't kill the game off and we rode our luck at times, but you expect that when you are playing against the Premier League champions.

"We've been like that all season, hard to beat, and a threat with the ball.

"We said in the build-up the players would sink or swim and they came out with plenty of credit. They can draw on that now and go on from there.

"Overall it was a great day for the club. We've done something which everyone can be immensely proud of."




Matchday Report

United end 29-year drought at Old Trafford...

MAN UTD 0, LEEDS UNITED 1 (Beckford 19)

Man U: Kuszczak, Neville, Brown, Evans, Da Silva, Welbeck (Valenica 58), Anderson (Owen 69), Obertain (Giggs 58), Gibson, Rooney, Berbatov. Subs: Tosic, Carrick, Da Silva, Amos.

Leeds: Ankergren, Crowe, Naylor, Kisnorbo, Hughes (White 90), Howson (Snodgrass 77), Kilkenny, Doyle, Johnson, Beckford, Becchio (Michalik 89). Subs: Prutton, Grella, Capaldi, Martin.

Referee: C Foy

Booked: Brown, Gibson (Man U), Naylor (Leeds)

Att: 74,526

Leeds United manager Simon Grayson recalled Bradley Johnson and Jonny Howson to his starting line-up for the trip to Manchester United in place of the suspended Leigh Bromby and the injured Robert Snodgrass.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson paid Leeds the ultimate compliment by naming a strong starting line-up that included Wayne Rooney among others, although he was dealt a last-minute blow when Nemanja Vidic picked up an injury during the pre-match warm-up. Wes Brown was the late replacement.
JB scores at Man U

Unsurprisingly, the game attracted a full-house with a spiky atmosphere, and with almost 9,000 Leeds fans present. It was a moment both sets of fans had waited for since Leeds' relegation from the Premiership six years ago, and the atmosphere didn't disappoint.

The home side did have one early shot - Darron Gibson firing wide - but Leeds also started with confidence and Tomasz Kuszczak had to be alert to punch clear a Bradley Johnson corner. Jermaine Beckford also turned a Jonny Howson cross over the top.

At the other end, a teasing cross from Danny Welbeck drifted across the face of goal, and Gabriel Obertan also looked to find Welbeck with a pull-back, but the England man couldn't connect.

But on 20 minutes Leeds were in dreamland. Howson played a long ball forward and Beckford stripped Brown for pace before slipping the ball beyond Kuszczak to give Leeds the lead. The goal sparked jubilant scenes among both the players and the vast travelling support.

Moments later, Luciano Becchio headed over a Neil Kilkenny cross as United threatened again.

And when Man United came forward on 25 minutes, Dimitar Berbatov releasing Rooney, Jason Crowe made a goal-line clearance to keep the score at 1-0 when an equaliser looked certain.

But Leeds were showing no fear, Johnson heading a Crowe cross wide of the mark after another good attack from Grayson's men. On 35 minutes, Brown went in the book for Man U after a foul on Becchio as the striker looked to set United on another break.

As the game headed towards half-time, there was a short stoppage as Johnson received treatment, following a challenge by Brown.

The home side started the second half on the front foot and they had appeals for a penalty waved away when Howson clashed with Welbeck. As the ball was returned forward, there was a more serious clash involving Howson, Brown, and Gibson after an over-zealous challenge on Micky Doyle saw tempers flare.

Moments later, Gibson was booked for a challenge on Johnson while Richard Naylor saw yellow for a foul on Rooney. In between, the challenges, Casper Ankergren reacted well to deny both Welbeck and Berbatov.

The double arrival of Ryan Giggs and Antonio Valencia was designed to give the home side more of a cutting edge, but as the game edged past the hour-mark, Leeds were looking dogged and resilient.

When Leeds threatened again, Johnson curled a free-kick into the arms of Kuszczak. With 21 minutes to go, Ferguson made his final change, Michael Owen coming on as the home side looked to force an equaliser. But, when the chance presented itself to a combination of Owen and Berbatov, Paddy Kisnorbo cleared as far as Rooney who blasted high over the bar.

Rooney also fired over, following a Valenica cross, on 77 minutes.

And moments later, United had a chance to wrap the game up when Beckford seized upon a Doyle pass and his finish shaved the wrong side of the upright. Next, Robert Snodgrass rattled the woodwork with a free-kick which left Kuszczak with no chance.

It was a real credit to Leeds that as the game headed towards its final stages, the home side were unable to offer too much in the way of an attacking threat, and the near 9,000 travelling fans were roaring their heroes towards what would be a famous victory.

The 9,000 even chimed with chants of "Fergie Time" when five minutes were added on at the end of the 90. There was a moment of panic in the fourth minute, United scrambled the ball clear after Ankergren made a superb save, and when it was returned Rooney fired wide following a last-gasp corner.

And that proved to be the last meaningful action as Leeds recorded a first win for 29 years at Old Trafford, and the celebrations started.