Leeds United players told to forget derby and cup replay (From Advertiser Series)

Leeds United players told to forget derby and cup replay

5:55pm Monday 30th November 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

Competition for places in Leeds’ attack is heating up for tomorrow night’s game at Oldham where Simon Grayson’s men hope to stretch their four-point lead at the top of Coca-Cola League One.

United defeated Oldham 2-0 at Boundary Park in the FA Cup first round as recently as November 7, when Jonny Howson and Mike Grella scored the goals.

Striker Sam Vokes had to miss that game and the 1-1 draw at Kettering in the second round on Sunday because his club Wolves didn’t want him cup-tied.

He is available tomorrow, along with Argentinian Luciano Becchio, who was eased back after injury by replacing Grella in the 72nd minute against Kettering.

United adopted a 4-3-3 formation in the cup tie at Oldham, with Robert Snodgrass and Bradley Johnson joining leading scorer Jermaine Beckford up front, but Johnson has not yet recovered from the injury that has kept him out of the last three games and Grayson has used a 4-4-2 formation in most matches this season.

Oldham will be seeking rapid revenge for their cup defeat, while United have won their last four league matches, scoring 12 goals without reply in the process.

Grayson says he wants his players to focus fully on tomorrow night’s task and then the West Yorkshire derby against Huddersfield Town at Elland Road on Saturday, putting all thoughts of the FA Cup replay against Kettering and a possible plum third-round tie at Manchester United out of their minds.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)