Casper Vs. manchester united

The significance of the FA Cup in Leeds United’s eyes appeared to diminish at the moment when Billy Paynter’s clinical penalty completed their 3-0 defeat at Swindon Town.

United basked in the credit generated by their enthralling draw with Premier League high-fliers Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, but that sense of satisfaction was dispelled as quickly as it surfaced by a demoralising performance at the County Ground on Tuesday.

Simon Grayson’s squad have long been aware of the order of their priorities and Swindon’s victory reminded any players who had allowed themselves to forget where promotion from League One ranked in that list.

“I hope this result’s a major kick up the backside,” said Grayson afterwards.

With pressure on their league campaign and questions about their form both pertinent and valid, this week’s FA Cup fourth-round replay against Spurs might seem like an appointment Leeds could do without.

The tie promises to be lucrative, as the competition in general has been for United this season.

ITV televised their initial game at White Hart Lane and will also broadcast Wednesday night’s match from Elland Road, played out in front of more than 30,000 supporters who can count on one hand the number of Premier League clubs who have visited the stadium in the past six years.

Those fans are as aware as Grayson of the financial incentives offered by the FA Cup but, on the back of wavering league results, they have come to see the competition for what it is – a tournament that should play second fiddle behind their division.

Nevertheless, their enthusiasm for the visit of Spurs will doubtless resurface when kick-off approaches.

Tottenham had their chances to settle the tie at the first attempt and were seconds away from a 2-1 win when Michael Dawson felled Jermaine Beckford and conceded a penalty five minutes into injury-time.

Their punishment for that late blunder is a replay that the club’s manager, Harry Redknapp, does not need any more than United do at the end of a harsh month.

His players will front up to a vocal, capacity crowd, and concerns about Leeds’ league position are likely to be suspended for the duration of the tie.

United goalkeeper Casper Ankergren said: “The stadium will definitely be full. It’ll be buzzing and noisy, that’s for sure.

“Hopefully, it’ll be another good game and that’s what we’ll be trying to give them. I don’t think it’s too much about the scoreline. It’s more whether we put in a positive performance.

“Our gameplan (at White Hart Lane) was just to do the same things as we did against Manchester United – defend very hard, run that extra yard for each other and take the chances when we got them.

“We especially wanted to put them under pressure instead of just defending our 18-yard box. We managed that well.”

Grayson had no complaints with the performance of his players in north London. If anything, he was more impressed by their 2-2 draw in the capital than he was by their victory at Manchester United in round three.

Little wonder, then, that he was mystified and angered by a defeat at Swindon which confirmed, beyond doubt, that Leeds had lost their way in the league.

He accused his squad of lacking desire and also said that a number of players were “believing their own publicity”, alluding to the positive headlines that followed their result at Tottenham.

United’s credentials were tested again by Colchester United at Elland Road yesterday, the end of another demanding week.

And certain though Leeds are to earn handsomely from their replay against Spurs, the tie is the start of a month in which the club will play eight times, ending with a West Yorkshire derby against Huddersfield Town at the Galpharm Stadium on February 27.

Ankergren admitted to the danger that the FA Cup might hinder Leeds’ progression in League One, saying: “I think we’re all aware of that because our latest results haven’t been good in the league.

“I don’t know how much further we could go in the cup, but we all know what the season’s about – it’s about the team getting promoted.”
Redknapp fielded a full-strength side during the initial tie at White Hart Lane and is likely to do so again on Wednesday, protecting his club’s interest in a competition which they can realistically attempt to win.

Former Leeds pair Jonathan Woodgate and Aaron Lennon are unlikely to play at Elland Road as injury continues to hamper their seasons.
Spurs responded to their failed attempt to eliminate United by beating Fulham 2-0 and consolidating fourth place in the Premier League in midweek, perhaps Redknapp’s biggest target of the campaign.

Home advantage may strengthen the possibility of an upset and Grayson will do his best to mastermind it, even though a further addition to United’s fixture list might not be preferable for a club whose schedule is already packed by rearranged matches and a forthcoming Johnstone’s Paint Trophy tie against Carlisle United.

The Leeds boss has been impressed by his squad’s resilience in the FA Cup, but he denied that Leeds had a better chance of eliminating Spurs back on home turf.

Grayson said: “You can’t say we’ve got an advantage because Tottenham are a top-six team pushing for the top four.

“It’ll be a really tough tie because this is a competition they’re desperate win.”