In a professional if not stunning display, the Reds took a very satisfying victory away from the hole that is Elland Road to progress to the last 16 of the F.A Cup (sponsored by Axa of course!) Another early start brought back memory's of the injustices of November when 'Dirty' Leeds somehow managed to pull off a 4-3 victory against a very insecure Liverpool back line. The early stages suggested that Leeds could score as many again as we started extremely slowly and were tormented by that very dangerous Liverpool fan Robbie Keane. The first half was dominated by Leeds - who as always looked the hungrier side ? and could have netted a number of times through Bowyer, Keane and our old mate Alf Stewart from Home and Away.
O.K so we rode our luck a little in the first period and could have gone in a couple down at half time, but some resolute defending from a back line who have now kept 11 clean sheets in their last 15 outings (I told they would come good ? and you all thought I was full of shit!) and some poor finishing ensured that we went in at half time all square. Houllier's tactics baffled me a little, the fact that we scored three and could have had a stack more in the early season encounter suggested that he may have gone for it a little more, but leaving Fowler isolated up-front seemed a little strange. We suffered from this in the first half, with Robbie constantly being out-strengthed by Ferdinand and Woodgate and unable to hold the ball up and with the tireless Smicer hardly ever getting beyond the number 9. This led to us being camped in our own half for most of the first period and it was a relief when the referee blew for half time.
During the interval, I was left to contemplate half time changes. Biscan seemed to be suffering from his exerts against Palace in midweek and was having a poor game, Hamann was also having a Ðmare and I felt that Gary Mac had to be brought off before he got sent off. I thought that Heskey and Barmby had to be brought on if we had any chance of gaining a result. I was also left to contemplate an extremely ÐdodgyŽ Fish, Chips and Curry I had purchased from the over rated United Fisheries. (Only my Toilet bowl will be able to tell you just how ÐdodgyŽ it really was. There's nothing I hate more than ÐBadŽ Curry sauce).
The players came out for the second half and it was no surprise to see no changes had been made, but immediately there seemed more appetite in our play, Robbie went close giving us a bit of excitement and livening up the travelling Reds in to chorus of ÐBowyer! You'll get it up the Arse!Ž As the game went on Leeds started to tire but were still creating some fine chances with the help of Sander (it's O.K folks it was quite cold remember!) and both Alf and Dom came close to opening the scoring.
The Substitutes, if a little late in coming changed the face of the game, everything we had lacked in the first half was now there in abundance, Pace, Power and skill arrived through Heskey, Barmby and Ziege (who gave a good accounting of himself ? I just feel so sorry for Danny, I just hope the injury isn't too bad.). Barmby's late strike sent us all in to ecstasy and Emile's was just the Icing on the cake (I'm backing him to score in every round). I fucking Hate Leeds and beating them is almost as good as beating the Blueshite. O'Leary is a whining little cry-baby and he seriously has the wool pulled over the eyes of those Animals if they think they are going places. His insistence on whingeing about the penalty says a lot about his mentality and I think he would be a worthy successor to olŽ purple nose at the theatre.
Bowyer is a dirty little twat ? as is the rest of the team - and I just hope the racist bastard gets what he deserves. His attack on Gary Mac was clearly premeditated and for ÐO'NearlyŽ to deny it was a disgrace. Players which Stood out today were Mark Viduka, because of his fat Arse, Stephane Henchoz, who put in his best display of the season with some superb last ditch tackles which saved us on a number of occasions. Robbie deserves a mention because tremendous work rate and his assists for both goals. He may not be banging them in with such regularity but he is laying them on for others, which I'll always be happy with. His attitude has been criticised of late but in the last two games his conduct has been first class ? keep it up Robbie lad!
The celebrations afterwards were a joy to watch and the embrace between Gerard and Fowler may suggest that finally the saga may be over. The Fans left in good voice and all I could hear from Leeds fans - emerging from a ground which makes ÐThe PitŽ look like our Cup Final destination ? was ÐAt least we're In the Champions LeagueŽ. Not for long Boys!
TEAM: Sander Westerveld; Markus Babbel (Nick Barmby), Sami Hyypia, Stephane Henchoz, Jamie Carragher; Igor Biscan, Gary McAllister , Dietmar Hamann, Danny Murphy (Christian Ziege); Vladimir Smicer (Emile Heskey), Robbie Fowler:
