Fringe benefits?
Wednesday, 21st Nov 2007 11:11

Leeds slipped to their second home cup-defeat inside a week against lower league opposition.

Leeds 0 Hereford 1, a giant killing in some respects. Leeds were humbled out of a cup by a side a Division below for the second week running.

Leeds diehards will point out that a bigger giant killing took place down the road at Rotherham and there are those who will console themselves in the benefits of Leeds now having nothing else to play for but the league and promotion.

However the worrying thing is Hereford fully deserved their victory last night. Their official website gloats in triumph "Bulls Outclassed Leeds" and they aren't far wrong.

Inevitably Dennis Wise shuffled his pack, bringing back the likes of Paul Huntington and Ben Parker - but predominantly, this was almost a full-strengh Leeds squad with established players such as Anengren, Richardson, Hughes, Westlaw, Carole, Kandol and Beckford in the line-up.

It was the established men who along with the fringe players did not perform last night. It was an unacceptable rag-bag performance by Leeds, who never recovered from a Lionel Ainsworth goal after just 3 minutes.

Leeds had a few chances but looked vulnerable on the break. This was evidence when Ankergren denied Hereford's Robinson on a one-on-one and had to leave the field shortly afterwards with a leg injury.

A few more chances went begging for Leeds, but it was nothing to write home about. In vain, Wise brought on Leon Constantine as a third striker and sent Matt Heath up in the dying minutes, but the writing was well and truly on the wall and Leeds succumbed to what is probably their lowest point in this famous old competition.

Although the league-table paints a very reassuring picture with Leeds just two points from the summit despite the handicap of the 15-point deduction, nights like these for the hardy, long-suffering souls amongst the 11,315 crowd are yet another twinge of pain in the long, slow, downward spiral this club has seen in the past six years a so.

A positive response at Cheltenham is expected on Sunday.