20-07-11: Rochdale (a) 1-0 (HT 1-0) Crowd (3,935)

United returned to England and moved across the Pennines to Spotland, Rochdale, for their next friendly on 20th July 2011 in front of a crowd of 3,935 of which probably half were Leeds supporters, and included three trialists in their squad. Jlloyd Samuel, the thirty year old former Aston Villa, Gillingham, Bolton Wanderers and Cardiff City defender, the twenty-three year old former Aston Villa trainee, Nottingham Forest, Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday midfielder, Isaiah Osbourne, who were on the bench, and Alexandre Mendy, a twenty-seven year old French-born winger with experience in France and lately in the Czech top flight, who was given a role in the starting XI. United lined up with Paul Rachubka; Paul Connolly, Alex Bruce, Tom Lees and Ben Parker; Alexandre Mendy, Michael Brown, Jonathan Howson and Max Gradel; Ross McCormack and Billy Paynter. Patrick Kisnorbo, Robert Snodgrass and Lloyd Sam had picked up knocks while in Scotland and joined Somma, Becchio, O'Brien and Bessone on the injured list. McCormack was soon almost on target with a shot that fizzed wide and Alexandre Mendy made an enterprising run but his final pass to McCormack was blocked by the Rochdale defence. He again showed his abilities with a chip which had the Rochdale keeper Matt Duke, frantically back-pedalling to tip the ball over the bar. After twelve minutes he again was prominent as he provided Ross McCormack with a chance to test the keeper. Rochdale retaliated but were caught offside after putting the ball into the net, but after eighteen minutes Andrew Tutte forced Paul Rachubka to push the ball over the bar as they again pressed. After twenty minutes the home side were forced to make a change when Chris O'Grady picked up a knock on the heel and was replaced by Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro. Like in Scotland, the heavens opened with a downpour as the half hour approached and the pitch started to become greasy. This may have contributed to Matt Duke fumbling a Max Gradel shot but moments later, on the half hour, it was the diminutive Ivorian who gave Leeds the lead with a low shot past the keeper. Leeds started to get on top and Mendy forced a corner, which Max Gradel took only for it to be cleared after several attempts by the home defence. Leeds were well on top but Alex Bruce was called upon to break up one promising attack and Paul Rachubka saved well from a shot from outside the penalty area. However it was Leeds and the impressive Mendy that almost doubled their lead as the winger almost set up Billy Paynter. Simon Grayson made five changes for the start of the second half with Lewis Turner replacing Paul Connolly at Right-Back, Leigh Bromby for Alex Bruce in Central Defence, Jlloyd Samuel for Ben Parker at Left-Back, Adam Clayton for Alexandre Mendy in midfield and Ramon Nunez for Ross McCormack up front. Leigh Bromby was soon in the action as he joined the attack to head the ball narrowly wide from a corner and Jlloyd Samuel set up a Leeds attack after making an interception in midfield. The home side had made a double substitution five minutes into the half with Nicky Adams replacing Jason Jarrett in midfield and Chris Doig replacing Marcus Holness in central defence, and on the hour they made a further change with Paul Marshall replacing Jason Kennedy. After sixty-one minutes Leeds replaced Max Gradel with Aidan White and captain Jonathan Howson with Isaiah Osbourne, with Michael Brown taking the captain's armband. They also switched to a 4-2-3-1 system with Ramon Nunez, Adam Clayton and Aidan White playing behind Billy Paynter. Nunez was particularly prominent as he forced a save from Matt Duke and then almost created an opening for Lewis Turner who had made a great run. Nathan Turner came on for Michael Brown after sixty-nine minutes as he passed the captain's armband to Leigh Bromby. On the seventy minute mark Simon Hackney replaced Ashley Grimes and Reece Gray also came on as did Marc Twaddle. United were well on top and Alex Cairns became the final substitute when he replaced Paul Rachubka after eighty-two minutes, leaving Tom Lees and Billy Paynter as the only players to complete the ninety minutes. It was Reece Gray that set up Andrew Tutte in the final minute to ensure that Cairns did make one save but it preserved United's winning margin to leave them with their third straight pre-season victory.

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