29-07-14: Swindon Town (a) 2-1 (HT 1-1) Crowd (3,769)

On Tuesday 29th July 2014 the seniors visited League One side Swindon Town at the County Ground in an evening kick-off. Simon Hooper of Swindon, Wiltshire, was the referee and there were 961 Leeds supporters in the crowd of 3,769. Leeds showed four changes from the side that had started against Chesterfield, with Stuart Taylor, Michael Tonge, Tommaso Bianchi and Souleymane Doukara replacing Marco Silvestri, Lewis Cook, Aidan White and Matt Smith who dropped to the bench, with the exception of Aidan White who gave way to Alex Mowatt who returned after injury. The starting XI was Stuart Taylor; Sam Byram, Scott Wootton, Jason Pearce, Stephen Warnock; Luke Murphy, Michael Tonge, Tommaso Bianchi, Rodolph Austin; Steve Morison, Souleymane Doukara. While the bench comprised: Marco Silvestri; Charlie Taylor, Gaetano Berardi, Lewis Cook, David Norris, Chris Dawson, Alex Mowatt, Matt Smith. Leeds started the game as the better team and were well on top in the first fifteen minutes, with Souleymane Doukara being particularly dangerous and only fast thinking by the Swindon goalkeeper, Wes Foderingham, stopped him from scoring as he advanced quickly from his line. As early as the eleventh minute United twice went close to scoring when Michael Tonge and Stephen Warnock both had good chances close to goal. But four minutes later United got the breakthrough they merited when Sam Byram, Tommaso Bianchi and Souleymane Doukara combined in a good passing movement to present Steve Morison with a tap-in from close range. Leeds continued to dominate and Souleymane Doukara came close to registering his first goal for Leeds, when he made a long run down the left before cutting in on goal to unleash a shot that thudded against the home upright. It was not all Leeds and the home side twice caught their visitors on the counter attack leading up to the half-hour mark. The first came when Nathan Byrne's cross caused United problems before being cleared by Jason Pearce and then after a mix-up between Stephen Warnock and Stuart Taylor allowed Nathan Thompson to get in a shot, but it was marginally wide. This saw the home side trying to pile on more pressure and in the thirty-first minute it led to them equalising. Yaser Kasim floated across a corner which Joshua Lelan headed back towards the Leeds goal and Michael Smith finished the move with a well executed volley. Leeds had a chance to regain the lead shortly before half-time when a good passing movement involving Sam Byram saw the full back pull the ball back for Souleymane Doukara, who looked certain to score before the ball was deflected for a corner at the last minute. Luke Murphy took the ensuing corner and Jason Pearce headed it on to the base of the post before it was scrambled to safety. Gaetano Berardi came on for Sam Byram after the half-time break. United were off to a great start to the second half and only two minutes in Souleymane Doukara was brought down by the Swindon goalkeeper, Wes Foderingham, after he had been put through by a precision pass from Tommaso Bianchi. Rodolph Austin took the spot kick and smashed it hard and low to the keeper's right into the net to regain the lead for United. After regaining the lead United started to monopolise possession and close to the hour mark Tommaso Bianchi went close after good play from Souleymane Doukara. This was followed by a proliferation of substitutions as George Barker came on for Andy Williams for the home side in the sixty-second minute followed six minutes later by the double substitution of Ben Gladwin for Yasa Kasim and Anton Rodgers for Louis Thompson. In the eightieth minute Leeds sent on Lewis Cook for Tommaso Bianchi and Swindon sent on Connor Walden for Michael Smith. Each made their final substitution in the eighty-seventh minute with Leeds sending on Matt Smith for Souleymane Doukara and Will Randell replaced Massimo Luongo in the home side. While Leeds continued to dominate, they could not get the extra goal to kill off the match and in the closing minutes they were almost made to pay for their lack of penetration when Nathan Thompson headed a deflection towards the Leeds goal, but fortunately it went straight into the arms of Stuart Taylor. Marco Silvestri, Tom Lees, Alex Mowatt and Chris Dawson remained unused on the Leeds bench while the home side did not use Josau Antonio, Curtis Da Costa, Lee Marshall and Matty Jones.

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Match Report: Yorkshire Evening Post: 29-07-2014

One more game and this will all be very real for Leeds United, their owner and their new head coach. For the first time last night there were signs that between them all three will be ready and waiting when it matters. The scoreline at Swindon Town was more flattering than previous results, ensuring that Leeds did not pass through pre-season without beating any of their Football League opponents, and there was poise in the football which was missing before. Slowly Hockaday’s philosophy and style is coming to the surface. The Championship will test his squad sorely in 10 days’ time during a horrible first fixture away to Millwall and the proof of his pudding will be found in the division’s attempt to consume Leeds. But Hockaday had the satisfaction of watching a team who looked like a team at the County Ground. A shot of encouragement was long overdue. Leeds are sending a team to Glenavon tonight, a friendly agreed as part of the signing of young striker Robbie McDaid, but yesterday’s visit to Swindon was the match of note, the penultimate friendly in the grand scheme of the summer. By the time Dundee United come and go from Elland Road on Saturday, Hockaday’s biggest decisions will be made and his loyalty should sway towards the bulk of the side who played last night, new signings notwithstanding. In the background and to the sound of a ticking clock, United are attacking the transfer market in slightly fraught style. The proposed signing of AC Milan’s Zan Benedicic – a silky, attacking midfielder of Slovenian descent – is also materialising late in the day and negotiations are continuing over a long-term loan to Elland Road. If the deal comes off, Cellino and Hockaday are understood to be looking for three more players in specific positions – a striker and two centre-backs. Hockaday’s line-ups have looked short of width throughout the summer but he tried again with a diamond midfield to better effect last night but the recruitment of out-and-out wingers does not appear to be on United’s agenda. Chesterfield’s Liam Cooper, who played against Leeds in last Saturday’s friendly at the Proact Stadium, is one centre-back being credited with interest from Elland Road, and a vacancy in that position might soon develop at Leeds. Tom Lees was included in Hockaday’s squad yesterday but he is understood to be the subject of a firm approach from Sheffield Wednesday. After two hard years of confidence-sapping football, the former England Under-21 international is likely to depart before the new season kicks off. Lees sat on the bench at the the County Ground, an environment in which Hockaday was able to feel comfortable and at home. The longest stretch of his playing career was spent at Swindon and his years there coincided with a purple patch and two promotions under the management of Lou Macari. It was doubtless that connection which convinced Swindon to upset Charlton by cancelling a long-arranged friendly to make way for a game against Leeds last night, much to Charlton’s annoyance. Hockaday used what he called his strongest line-up in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Chesterfield but that line-up did not survive long. Aidan White was injured and Matt Smith, Lewis Cook and Marco Silvestri dropped out of the side last night, making way for Tommaso Bianchi, Souleymane Doukara, Michael Tonge and Stuart Taylor. How fixed Hockaday is on his team for Millwall on August 9 is for him to know. Swindon’s line-up had an average age of 20 but they were exuberantly youthful, rather than lost. There was a shared commitment to spreading the ball around and the first 15 minutes were an exhibition of measured, unadventurous passing. Leeds upped the ante first when Tonge drove Steve Morison’s knockdown against goalkeeper Wes Foderingham and Stephen Warnock rifled the rebound over the crossbar. Those chances were a precursor to an opening goal which was immensely pleasing on the eye. Bianchi, who looked at home at the attacking tip of the diamond, played Doukara through with a cheeky flick of his heel and the striker’s cut-back gave Morison an easy tap-in. It had to be Morison after the abuse showered on him by United’s supporters at Chesterfield 72 hours earlier. Throughout the team, the cohesion and ability seemed unrecognisable. Bianchi’s passing was more Pirlo than parlous and Doukara had the look of a different player: fitter, faster and sharper. His 30-yard run a few minutes after Morison’s goal ended with a vicious shot which smashed against a post as Foderingham stood stationary in front of his line. Swindon had their moments too and Nathan Thompson should have scored when Taylor and Warnock watched a floated pass without dealing with it, allowing the wing-back to lift a volley wide. Andy Williams’ swinging cross in the 18th minute needed only the slightest of touches to carry it over the line. When the chance came again, this time to Michael Smith on 31 minutes, he provided that finishing touch with a fine effort driven into the corner of Taylor’s net. Leeds left him unmarked and incurred the consequences when Joshua Lelan rose to head down Yaser Kasim’s corner. The Robins’ goalkeeper Foderingham, however, was saved by a post again before half-time, helpless as Jason Pearce rose to meet a corner created after more cutting passing between Bianchi, Byram and Tonge, and Leeds scored at the start of the second half with their third penalty in the space of four days on the road. Bianchi read Doukara’s run and picked him out, forcing Foderingham to flatten the burly Frenchman at the edge of his box. Former captain Rudy Austin, who scored twice from the penalty spot at Chesterfield on Saturday, did likewise with a similar finish, low and hard to the keeper’s right. Leeds pressed Swindon for a while and then saw the win out, reverting to full-season mode. They are fast approaching that time again and suddenly feeling much better about it. Swindon Town: Foderingham, Lelan, Branco, Turnbull, N Thompson, Luongo (Randall 88), Kasim (Gladwin 69), L Thompson (Rodgers 68), Byrne, Smith (Waldon 79), Williams (Barker 12). Subs (not used): Antonio, Da Costa, Marshall, Jones. Leeds United: S Taylor, Byram (Berardi 46), Pearce, Wootton, Warnock, Murphy, Tonge, Bianchi (Cook 80), Austin, Morison, Doukara (Smith 88). Subs (not used): Silvestri, Lees, Mowatt, Dawson.

Match Report: Flic Wiltshire: by Andrew Steele-Davis: 29-07-2014

MATCH REPORT: Swindon Town 1-2 Leeds United

Michael Smith's fifth goal of pre-season was not enough to prevent Swindon Town from slipping to defeat in their final game of pre-season, with Leeds United running out 2-1 winners at The County Ground. Both teams looked good on the ball in the opening exchanges, with Town enjoying the lion share of possession whilst Leeds were able to boast the better chances in front of goal. Luke Murphy and Stephen Warnock came close for the visitors before Steve Morrison tapped home to give Leeds the lead, following Souleymayne Doukara's rolled ball across goal. Michael Smith hauled Town level just past the half hour mark, slotting home from Rossi Branco's knockdown after Leeds failed to clear their lines from a Yaser Kasim corner. Both teams had chances to take the lead before half time, with Jason Pearce rattling the woodwork for Leeds whilst Nathan Thompson poked just wide, but just a minute into the second half, the visitors did restore their lead. Nathan Thompson's sloppy cross-field ball was intercepted by Austin, who played in Doukara, with the lively forward being brought down by the onrushing Foderingham. Austin stepped up to convert from the penalty spot to put Leeds back in front, with the midfielder's goal proving to be the match winner after a dull second half failed to yield any more goals. It was announced before the game that Southampton starlet, Jordan Turnbull, would be starting the game on a 'work experience' basis, with Town having an option to take the 19 year-old on a season-long loan deal for the 2014/15 campaign. That was Town Boss Mark Cooper's only change to the team that drew 1-1 with Bromley last weekend, with Jack Barthram making way for Turnbull. Will Randall, Lee Marshall, Tyrell Belford and Matt Jones all returned to the bench after being absent for the trip to Kent last Saturday. Town enjoyed the lion share of possession in the opening exchanges of the game, with the hosts spraying the ball about nicely, but Leeds carved out the first opening of the game as Luke Murphy forced a smart save from Wes Foderingham before Stephen Warnock saw his rasping effort fizz just over the bar. However, the visitors did nudge themselves in front just seconds later, Souleymayne Doukara surged down the right flank carving through the Town defence with ease, before rolling the ball across goal for former Norwich and Millwall striker Steve Morrison to tap home. Doukara then rattled the post for the rampant visitors, before Town finally carved out two chances of their own, Byrne sending his curling effort from distance straight at Taylor, whilst Nathan Thompson sent his effort on the stretch dropping just wide of the goal following a sublime, defence splitting pass courtesy of Massimo Luongo. Despite Leeds looking the better of the two teams following their opening goal, Town hauled themselves level with 31 minutes played, Michael Smith lashing home from a Rossi Branco knockdown after Leeds failed to clear their lines from a Yaser Kasim corner. Luongo displayed some 'Samba magic' as he weaved in and out of the Leeds defence before sending a savage shot straight at Taylor who did well to keep hold of it. The pace ebbed out of the game as half-time drew nearer, but the visitors who were able to boast the more clear cut chances in this absorbing encounter, had two more opportunities to restore their lead before the break. Rudy Austin somehow blazed well over from the inside of the six yard box following some sloppy and generous defending by their hosts, before defender Jason Pearce rattled the base of the post with a header from Murphy's corner. Leeds made a change at the break, new arrival Gaetano Berardi replacing Sam Byram, before another slice of poor defending allowed the visitors to restore their lead. Attempting to switch play, Nathan Thompson gifted possession to Austin, who's cute through ball sent the impressive Doukara surging through on goal only for his blistering run to be brought to a brutal end by the onrushing Foderingham. Austin made no mistake from 12 yards when he converted from the spot, with Town's second half performance blighted by a lack of care on the ball, whilst Tomasso Bianchi drilled wide for the visitors. Andy Williams made way for George Barker in Town's first change of the game as they sought to stem the flow of heavy pressure they were being subjected to. Town then made more changes, Anton Rodgers and Ben Gladwin coming on for Louis Thompson and Yaser Kasim respectively, as the breakneck tempo from the first half seeped out of the game. Both sides then made a change as the second half, which had been drab for large chunks, drew to an end with Connor Waldon coming on for Smith whilst youngster Lewis Cook replaced Bianchi for the visitors. FINAL SCORE: SWINDON TOWN 1-2 LEEDS UNITED: SCORERS - Steve Morrison (13), Michael Smith (31), Rudy Austin (47). SWINDON TOWN - Foderingham; Lelan, Branco, Turnbull; N Thompson (C), Kasim (Ben Gladwin 67), Luongo (Will Randall 87), L Thompson (Anton Rodgers 67), Byrne; Williams (George Barker 62), Smith (Connor Waldon 80). Unused Subs - Belford, Da Costa, Jones, Marshall. LEEDS UNITED - Taylor; Byram (Gaetano Berardi 45), Pearce, Wootton, Warnock; Murphy, Tonge, Bianchi (Lewis Cook 80), Austin; Morrison, Doukara (Matt Smith 87). Unused Subs - Silvestri, Lees, Dawson, Mowatt. Referee - Simon Hooper Attendance - 3,769