LUFC -Season review: August

With the summer now upon us and us all kicking our heels waiting for next season, I thought I would do a monthly review of the 2008/09 season starting with August.

Leeds United opened their account with a tricky local derby at Scunthorpe United who had just been relegated from the Championship.

Scunthorpe took the lead through Gary Hooper close to the hour mark, Enoch Showunmi equalised soon after for Leeds and Jermaine Beckford got the season off to a perfect start with the winner with ten minutes remaining.

They were quickly back in action with a midweek Carling Cup tie at League Two Chester City.

Sky TV had brought the cameras along looking for a shock but Leeds were quick to end any hopes of this scoring five goals before half time.
Jermaine Beckford helped himself to a hat trick whilst Robert Snodgrass and Andy Robinson scored their first goals for the club.

The Whites eventually won 5-2 and booked their place in Round Two where they were given a home tie against Championship side Crystal Palace.

Leeds first home game of the season was against Oldham Athletic, the fans were full of confidence after a great start to the season, they was soon brought back to reality when two second half goals from Chris Taylor gave the Latics all three points.

Leeds followed this up the following Saturday with a disappointing draw at Yeovil Town, Luciano Becchio scored his first goal for Leeds when he gave them a dream start inside the first thirty seconds.

They couldn`t build on the start and Yeovil equalised just past the hour, Paul Huntington gave away a penalty after pushing Paul Warne in the area.

Yeovil had gone two years without a penalty; it showed when Lloyd Owusu had his spot kick saved by Casper Ankergren, the Dane keeper could only push the ball back out to Owusu who followed up to score.

With Leeds League fortunes being mixed so far they returned to Carling Cup action in midweek against Crystal Palace at Elland Road.

Probably the performance of the season saw them humiliate the Championship club, goals from Jonathan Douglas, Luciano Becchio, Jermaine Beckford and Enoch Showunmi booked Leeds a spot in the Third Round where they was drawn against Hartlepool United at home.

The final home game of the month saw Bristol Rovers visit Elland Road, Jermaine Beckford gave the Whites an early lead before two goals around the half hour mark from Rickie Lambert and Darryl Duffy turned the game on it`s head.
Leeds looked like they was heading for defeat until Jermaine Beckford kept up his great start to the season earning Leeds a draw with ten minutes remaining.

Leeds will have been disappointed with their League form during the month after an impressive start at Scunthorpe, they failed to record another League win and finished August in a disappointing fourteenth place with five points, five points behind early pacesetters Leicester City and Oldham Athletic.

Could September be more rewarding for Leeds?
Find out next week when I will be reviewing the month.



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