13-07-11: Falkirk (a) 2-0 (HT 1-0) Crowd (2,065)

United's pre-season opened on 14th July 2011 at Falkirk Stadium and they were without the services of Davide Somma, Luciano Becchio, Andy O'Brien and Fede Bessone, who were all on the injured list. United started the game with a team that was almost its strongest XI available. In goal was new signing Paul Rachubka, with Paul Connolly and Ben Parker at full-back and Patrick Kisnorbo and youngster Tom Lees in central defence. The midfield comprised Adam Clayton and Michael Brown in the holding positions with Robert Snodgrass, Ramon Nunez and Lloyd Sam behind Billy Paynter in the striker's role. A one minute silence for former Leeds United President Lord Harewood and Falkirk's Craig Gowans was observed before the kick-off by a crowd of 2,065 which contained at least 772 Leeds supporters. After two minutes the Falkirk keeper had to save from a Robert Snodgrass corner, while at the other end Paul Rachubka saved low down from Stephen Kingsley and on twenty-four minutes the same player headed just wide. Robert Snodgrass shot into the side-netting as United started to mount attacks, one of which saw a Ramon Nunez shot cleared off the line by Rhys Bennett after thirty-three minutes. A strong cross from Ramon Nunez evaded the Falkirk defence but richocheted off Tom Scobbie stood at the far post and United had taken the lead after thirty-six minutes. The half-time break saw Leigh Bromby replace Paul Connolly at right-back, Alex Bruce for Tom Lees in central defence, Aidan White for Ben Parker at left-back, Jonathan Howson for Michael Brown in midfield and strikers Max Gradel and Ross McCormack came on for Billy Paynter and Ramon Nunez, while the home team sent on Michael Flynn in place of Rhys Bennett in central defence. The young Falkirk left winger Stephen Kingsley, who had shown up well for the home side, seemed to pick up a knock and was replaced by another youngster in Craig Sibbald early in the second half, but Leeds soon increased their lead in the fifty-third minute as Robert Snodgrass rose above Tom Scobbie to head the ball into the net. Ten minutes later, there were more wholesale changes as Leeds sent on the youngsters in Alex Cairns, who took over from Paul Rachubka in goal, Zac Thompson, for Robert Snodgrass, Nathan Turner for Adam Clayton, and Lewis Turner for Lloyd Sam in midfield, while Tom Lees was reintroduced for Patrick Kisnorbo in central defence. In the sixty-sixth minute the home side made a double substitution with David Winters replacing Blair Alston in midfield and Tom McManus coming on for Ally Graham as striker. In the seventy-fourth minute they sent on their two promising brothers with Jay Fulton replacing Stewart Murdoch and Dale Fulton replacing Mark Millar in midfield. With nine minutes left on the clock they made their final change with Murray Wallace replacing Darren Dods in central defence, leaving goalkeeper Graham Bowman unused on the home bench. At the death Tom Scobbie almost made up for his defensive mistake, with a powerful header that Alex Cairns did well to hold. Falkirk had not put out their strongest team, and, while Leeds were not extended, it did give their players valuable match practice. It also showed that Ramon Nunez, Adam Clayton and Tom Lees were quite capable at this level, that Michael Brown was as competitive as ever and that Patrick Kisnorbo, fresh from signing a new two year contract, looked comfortable for the sixty-three minutes he was on the pitch. The only problem was that livewire Max Gradel picked up a knock and had to be taken off nine minutes from time.

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