There was another good turnout of Leeds fans in the friendly at Rochdale last night, where we outnumbered the hosts by roughly two to one. A 30^th minute goal from Max Gradel was enough to win the game for Leeds.

This was a competent performance from a very experimental Leeds team, but the best entertainment of the evening came from music played by the Rochdale DJ, who treated us to a cracking Indie set. We had The Courteeners, The Coral, Talikng Heads and The Strokes, with The Courteeners coming back at half time. Top tunes one and all, and much better than the rubbish I’ve had to endure at many football grounds.

Several of the first choice players were rested after Saturday’s game at Motherwell, so we had no Snodgrass, Kisnorbo, or O’Brien, as well as the players who were missing through various injuries. Instead we had three trialists who were on the field for at least some of the game, including a mystery player who is only listed on the official site as ‘A Trialist’ (unless that really is his name). What we do know is that he’s foreign, and that Grayson doesn’t want to reveal his identity just yet. Very strange!

I’m still haunted by the equivalent pre-season game from a year ago, when we lost 4-0 to Bury in humiliating fashion, showing the defensive frailties that were to become all too familiar once the season proper had begun. At least we avoided that fate last night and looked generally solid at the back, restricting Rochdale to a few long range shots. Young Lees began the game in central defence and certainly looked to be capable of stepping up to the first team during the coming season, while in front of him Brown worked hard to protect the back four.

And during the first half we looked quite impressive going forward, with Howson busy as ever to set up a few chances and the mystery Trialist making a few good runs down the right, but tending to let himself down with the final ball. We had a great chance on 12 minutes when Gradel played a good ball though to Mc.Cormack, who would have scored if he’d placed it anywhere other than straight at the keeper.

At the other end O’Grady had a goal disallowed for offside and then Rachubka made a fine save from a long range shot from Tutte. But Leeds were soon back on top, and on the half hour mark the Trialist made another run down the right and the ball found it’s way through to Gradel on the edge of the area. As a woman behind me yelled “don’t shoot”, he twisted past a defender and, er, shot…right into the far corner of the net.  There were chants of “he’s Leeds and he knows he is”, though that may not be true if today’s story in the Daily Mail is anything to go by.

There were five changes at half time, and Nunez was one of the players to come on. He seems to be the new cult hero after his excellent goal on Saturday and got a great reception, then promptly gave the ball straight to a ‘Dale player with his first touch. Was it just me, or was the second half as dull as dishwater? We continued to dominate possession, but rarely looked like scoring, with the pedestrian Paynter now playing as the loan striker.

To be fair, the team now consisted mainly of fringe players who won’t have played together before, but it didn’t make for great entertainment. Even the crowd seemed a bit subdued, but maybe we need to get some match practise as well as the players. I also thought Samuel looked a bit disappointing for an ex-Premiership player, but maybe he’ll improve after a few more games. Alex Cairns once again came on as the substitute goalie for the last ten minutes, and secured the win right at the end when he dealt with Rochdale’s final chance, yet another shot from outside the area.

It’s a job to say what this performance means for the season ahead, with so many fringe players and trialists in action, but at least we’ve now won three friendlies in a row, and that must count for something.

Photo: Action Images

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