On Saturday 23rd July at 3 pm United played their second friendly of the weekend as they visited Peterborough United at their London Road Ground, in front of a 4,125 crowd, of which 1,970 were there to support Leeds. The United team, seemingly the stronger of the two, was (in 4-3-3 formation): Rob Green; Alex Purver, Kyle Bartley, Souleymane Bamba, Charlie Taylor; Luke Murphy, Matt Grimes, Alex Mowatt; Hadi Sacko, Kemir Roofe, Marcus Antonsson. Substitutes: Will Huffer, Michael Taylor, Jamie Shackleton and Jack McKay. Peterborough's team was: Ben Alnwick; Michael Smith, Andrew Hughes, Ryan Tafazolli, Jack Baldwin, Chris Forrester, Jermaine Anderson, Leonardo Da Silva Lopes, Marcus Maddison, Paul Taylor, Shaquile Coulthirst. Substitutes: Mark Tyler, Michael Bostwick, Tom Nichols, Gwion Edwards, Adil Nabi, Callum Chettle, Matty Stevens, Lewis Freestone, Hayden White. It was a scorching summer day, but Leeds were the first to settle and the former Leeds United loanee, Ben Alnwick, was soon in action as he clawd a Luke Murphy shot away from goal. Alex Mowatt then forced the Peterborough keeper to make a flying save from his second minute twenty-five yard curling shot. In reply Peterborough soon had their first shot at the other end as Marcus Maddison tested Rob Green with a low drive from distance, while Alex Mowatt was again denied by Alnwick when he shot on the turn and it was deflected straight into the goalkeeper's arms. It was fitting that Alex Mowatt, who had been involved in most of the attacking moves on the Peterborough goal, should score the first goal after sixteen minutes. Kemar Roofe made a twisting run down the wing, beating Michael Smith several times, and found Alex Mowatt just inside the home penalty area. The young midfielder hit the ball first time on the volley to beat the Peterborough keeper, Ben Alnwick, to give United a 1-0 lead which was well-merited on the run of play. United remained on the attack in search of a second and in the twenty-second minute Kemar Roofe played a big part in the build up as Marcus Antonsson was inches away from finding the top corner before, one minute later, the Peterborough keeper was again called into action as he clutched Mowatt's shot after another build up by Roofe, which bore a strong resemblance to the prelude to his goal, but this time the midfielder shot straight at the keeper. Marcus Maddison had a half-chance for the home team but Rob Green dealt comfortably with the Peterborough man's twenty-yard half-volley. However, it was Leeds that were on top and, in the thirty-secondminute, Alex Mowatt went agonizingly close to a second with a curling shot after he had picked up a loose ball from Jermaine Anderson in midfield. Mowatt seemed to be at the centre of everything and he floated a ball over the top for Marcus Antonsson to run on to but the Swede blazed over from an acute angle. While Peterborough did not enjoy a lot of the ball they were dangerous enough to bother the Leeds defence and a couple of defensive mix-ups by Rob Green and Souleymane Bamba did not help steady Garry Monk's nerves as they almost gifted the home side an equalizer. Fortunately, Alex Purver was in the right place at the right time to deny Shaquile Coulthirst an equalizer, when he cleared off the line in the thirty-eighth minute, after the forward had scuffed his shot after Rob Green had failed to claim a hanging cross from Michael Smith and gifted him the chance. As half-time approached both Hadi Sacko, who broke through on the right before attempting to squeeze the ball past Ben Alnwick but the Frenchman also could not profit from the rebound, and Kemar Roofe threatened but surprisingly United had to settle for a 1-0 lead at the break, after being the dominant team for most of the half, despite the home team having the final chance of the half in stoppage time, when Shaquile Coulthirst was fouled on the edge of the area by Alex Purver, but the ensuing free-kick came to nothing as Paul Taylor shot well over the goal and into the crowd. Peterborough looked a different team after the interval and after three minutes they had equalized. It was from a defensive mistake by Kyle Bartley, when he failed to make his clearing header go any distance and Shaquile Coulthirst picked it up, firing in a twenty-five yard half-volley that flew past Rob Green and into the bottom corner of the net. United looked to make a quick response. Kemar Roofe had a good run down the wing before cutting inside, but his shot was deflected wide of the back post. The home team were now starting to get on top and Paul Taylor, who fired over with a left foot shot after he had created space following a Michael Smith throw-in on the hour, and Marcus Maddison, whose right foot shot went wide a minute later, both went close in quick succession. In the sixty- third minute Garry Monk had to make his first change when Kemar Roofe complained of stomach cramps and he was replaced by young striker Jack McKay. Peterborough also sent on Gwion Edwards in place of Jermaine Anderson. A minute later the home side was in front as once more Shaquile Coulthirst picked up a loose ball and from twenty-five yards struck a ferocious shot and put it out of the reach of Rob Green and into the bottom corner of the net. In the seventy-seventh minute United were visibly tired but still probed for an equaliser even though the humidity was starting to tell and Marcus Antonsson fed Hadi Sacko, but though the Frenchman got his shot on target, Ben Alnwick stood tall and beat his shot away with his chest to preserve the home team's lead. In the seventy- seventh minute the home side sent on Callum Chettle to replace Leonardo Da Silva Lopes. A nice change of passes presented Jack McKay with a good chance in the eighty-second minute, but the young Scot missed the target and flew into the away supporters. Two minutes later Ben Alnwick again denied Hadi Sacko with his feet. Peterborough made their third change when Tom Nichols replaced Paul Taylor in the eighty-fifth minute. Marcus Maddison almost killed the game off in the final minute with an audacious looping effort that went just wide of Rob Green's right-hand post and United went down 1-2 for their first defeat of the pre- season, in a game they should have won by half-time.
Programme, Teamsheet & Ticket:
Courtesy Kenny Sharpe http://www.leedsunitedprogrammeguide.co.uk/Index.html
MATCH REPORT: Peterborough Telegraph : Alan Swann: 23-07-2016
MATCH REPORT: Posh 2, Leeds 1: Shaq on the attack for Peterborough United
Obviously it’s all about peaking at the right time. A Peterborough United side who have struggled to score a goal, never mind beat non-league and under 21 teams, this summer, suddenly burst into life in the second-half at the ABAX Stadium today (July 23). In particular striker Shaquile Coulthirst, a player whose failuire to lift his head up and spot a better-placed team-mate has irritated in the past. That’s a fault that will be ignored if he keeps finding the back of the net from 25 yards as he did against Championship club Leeds United on two occasions this afternoon to turn a 1-0 interval deficit into a 2-1 win. Posh manager Grant McCann was still insisting after the game that fitness was more important than form or results, but he will be well aware this was a massive confidence boost for a team under concerted Twitter troll attack on social media in the last few week. Leeds looked pretty under-cooked as their first-half superiority was rendered irrelevant by a strong second-half Posh showing. The visitors’ early goal from Alex Mowatt turned out to be a mere consolation. There was more interest than normal in the announcement of the starting line-ups as McCann had promised to field the players who had impressed him the most in a lacklustre pre-season campaign. There were few shocks apart from the presence of Jack Baldwin, rather than Michael Bostwick, alongside Ryan Tafazolli in the centre of the defence. Seventeen year-old Leo da Silva Lopes would probably have started in midfield even if newboy Brad Inman hadn’t become the second broken leg victim of the season in a freak training accident the day before. Posh ‘keeper Ben Alnwick was called into action early when clawing away Luke Murphy’s goal-bound effort, but he was beaten on the quarter-hour when Mowatt turned in a low left-wing cross from Kemar Roofe. Marcus Antonsson came close to making it 2-0 after more good work from the lively Roofe before Marcus Maddison forced Rob Green into action twice in quick succesion. Coulthirst was busy without looking like scoring before the break, but he served notice on Leeds with an accurate shot on 38 minutes that Alex Purver cleared off the line. Alnwick saved well with his legs to thwart the impressive Hadi Sacko in first-half stoppage time before Coulthirst decided to steal all the headlines. On 49 minutes he delivered a stunning strike from 25 yards to drag Posh level and on 64 minutes he lt fly again from distance with enough power and accuracy to beat the former England ‘keeper in the Leeds goal. Maddison and Paul Taylor both came close to scoring before Sacko was twice denied by Alnwick. This was easily the most impressive Posh display of the summer, and all before a bumper pre-season crowd of 4,000, one swelled by almost 2,000 away fans. There will need to be some strong displays from those who didn’t start today - or a couple of marquee signings - to stop McCann naming the same 11 to face Rochdale on the opening day of the League One season (August 6).
Posh: Alnwick, Smith, Hughes, Tafazolli, Baldwin, Da Silva Lopes (sub Chettle 77min), J. Anderson (sub Edwards 62min), Forrester, Coulthirst, P. Taylor (sub Nichols 85min), Maddison. Unused subs: Tyler, Bostwick, Freestone, White, Nabi, Stevens.
Leeds: Green, Purver, Bamba, Bartley, Grimes, Murphy, Antonsson, Mowatt, Roofe (sub McKay 62min), Taylor, Sacko. Unused subs: Huffer, Taylor, Shackleton.
Attendance: 4,152 (1,970 Leeds fans)
MATCH REPORT: Peterborough United by Phil Adlam: 23-07-2016
Shaquile Coulthirst bags a brace as Posh beat Leeds.
Peterborough United recorded an impressive 2-1 victory over Sky Bet Championship side Leeds United at the ABAX Stadium with Shaquile Coulthirst bagging a brace. The former Tottenham front man scored twice in the second half as Grant McCann's men came from behind to beat Garry Monk's men. Alnwick made the first save of the afternoon, clawing a Luke Murphy effort away from danger. Marcus Maddison tested former England goalkeeper Rob Green from distance at the other end as both sides made bright starts on a sweltering hot day. The visitors made the breakthrough on 16 minutes as Alex MOWATT converted from close-range after good work down the left hand side from Roofe. Antonsson was a whisker away from making it 2-0 on 20 minutes after more good work from the impressive Roofe, the striker firing wide of the far post. Alnwick did well to hold a low Mowatt effort on 23 minutes as the visitors continued to create chances. Green did well to hold a speculative volley from Maddison moments later as the former Newcastle trainee tried his luck from the edge of the box. Mowatt curled a shot wide of the target on 32 minutes after an Anderson misplaced pass. Coulthirst saw a shot cleared off the line by Purver on 38 minutes after beating Green to the flighted Smith cross. Alnwick was called upon to save with his legs after Sacko got in behind the Posh defence following a swift one-two. Taylor fired over with a free-kick on the stroke of half-time after Coulthirst had been upended on the edge of the box. Posh drew themselves level on 49 minutes and it was a stunning strike from Shaquile COULTHIRST who fired past Green and into the back of the net from 25-yards as Leeds struggled to deal with a ball forward. Taylor fired over with his left-foot on the hour mark after creating some time and space following a Smith throw in. Maddison was close to putting Posh in front on 61 minutes after an incisive move, but his right-footed drive went wide of the far post. Posh made a change on 63 minutes with Anderson replaced by Gwion Edwards. Less than 60 seconds later, Posh were in front and it was COULTHIRST again, another powerful drive from distance, Green left with no chance. Alnwick did well to save with his body to deny the pacy Sacko before Coulthirst's attempts at securing a hat-trick ball were thrawted by a fine block. Alnwick denied Sacko again with his legs as the game moved into the final five minutes. Maddison curled a shot inches wide before the referee brought an end to proceedings.
Posh: Alnwick, Smith, Hughes, Da Silva Lopes (sub Chettle 77min), Tafazolli, Baldwin, J. Anderson (sub Edwards 62min), Forrester, Coulthirst, P. Taylor (sub Nichols 85min), Maddison. Unused subs: Tyler, Bostwick, Freestone, White, Nabi, Stevens.
Leeds: Green, Purver, Bamba, Bartley, Grimes, Murphy, Antonsson, Mowatt, Roofe (sub McKay 62min), Taylor, Sacko. Unused subs: Huffer, Taylor, Shackleton.
Attendance: 4,152 (1,970 Leeds fans)
Half-time: Peterborough United 0-1 Leeds United
Full-time: Peterborough United 2-1 Leeds United
MATCH REPORT: Yorkshire Post: Phil Hay: 23-07-2016
Peterborough United 2 Leeds United 1: Coulthirst bullets inflicts Whites first pre-season defeat
Leeds United were made to pay for wasted chances in the first half as two long-range goals from Shaquile Coulthirst inflicted their first pre-season defeat at London Road. Peterborough United came through a 45-minute onslaught from Leeds to respond to an early Alex Mowatt finish and snatch victory through Coulthirst’s second-half efforts. Mowatt’s early volley was the result of impressive pressure from Leeds and Garry Monk’s side created numerous opportunity before half-time. But their failure to take any others saw Peterborough recover and claim victory as United - with numerous players making their first 90-minute appearances of the summer - ran out of steam in high temperatures. Monk fielded a far stronger side than he had at Guiseley last night and Leeds got on top of Peterborough quickly, dominating the League One team and producing the aggressive, positive football which their head coach promised to deliver. Mowatt took two minutes to draw a full-stretch parry from goalkeeper Ben Alnwick and Alnwick, a former Leeds loanee, was under constant pressure before half-time. He was beaten by Mowatt after 16 minutes when the impressive Kemar Roofe turned right-back Michael Smith inside out and delivered a cross which Mowatt volleyed him at close range. Back in a more central position, the midfielder saw more chances in a single game than he saw in several last season. Antonsson and Roofe both went close and Mowatt missed by inches from 20 yards before Hadi Sacko drew an impressive save from Alnwick after sprinting into space towards the end of the half. Peterborough struggled to compete in oppressive heat but a couple of defensive mix-ups involving Sol Bamba and goalkeeper Rob Green almost gifted them an equaliser. Shaquile Coulthirst saw a scuffed shot cleared off the line on 36 minutes after Green failed to claim a hanging cross. Peterborough, however, made the most of the break and levelled on 50 minutes with a brilliant finish from Coulthirst. The forward pounced on a weak clearing header from Kyle Bartley and beat Green with a volley which found the keeper’s bottom corner. United’s display lost its sting rapidly and Peterborough began to threaten regularly until Coulthirst struck again with another fine effort on 65 minutes. Left unattended 25 yards from goal, his low effort flew into the opposite corner of Green’s net. Sacko could twice have snatched an equaliser on the break but Alnwick denied him on both occasions by getting his body in front of the ball.
Peterborough United: Alnwick, Smith, Hughes, Tafazolli, Baldwin, Forrester, J Anderson (Edwards 63), Da Silva Lopes (Chettle 77), Maddison, P Taylor, Coulthirst. Subs (not used): Tyler, Bostwick, Nichols, Nabi, Chettle, Stevens, Freestone, White.
Leeds United: Green, Purver, Bartley, Bamba, Taylor, Murphy, Grimes; Sacko, Mowatt, Roofe (J McKay 63), Antonsson. Subs (not used): Huffer, M Taylor, Shackleton.
