First things first, Leeds have players that are worth more than our entire squad. Leeds have the ability to offer big wages and make big signings. We on the other hand either have to raise local players through our youth team like Sweeney, Brown, Robson etc (Leeds do but find it much easier to attract high quality youth team players) or pluck a player from obscurity like Dimi, Porter Liddle and we have to take full advantage of their potential. Where as Leeds are able to get finished articles. We sign local lads, they sign players from around the world. So on the grand scale of things it's amazing that we're even competition with the likes of Leeds and tribute must be paid to all the people behind the scenes and on the coaching staff who make this happen.

Now onto the game
We came out of the blocks and scored early on through a Monkhouse header. We then sat back a bit too much and they started to cause us a few problems. At least two punches were thrown by Leeds players and they let their team down. Beckford is very good but he has a massive chip on his shoulder and one of these days a no nonsense player will knack him. Anyhow...some comedy defending from Sam Collins allowed Snodgrass to score. Don't you just hate it when players that turn you down score against you? We gifted them the goal, no two ways about it. The game was pretty lacklustre until Joel Porter scored a screamer. For the closing stages of the second half I firmly felt we were in control for the first time. We had two good chances from a Sweeney header and Jones (I think) almost volleyed in a Porter cross.

We started off the second half ok, Jones got a golden opportunity to put us 3-1 up but didn't capitalise. Then we began to fade and Leeds had more of the game. A Leeds player went one on one with ALB who managed a good save. They had a couple of other good chances. Then Showunmi scored from a rebound after ALB could only get fingertips to a Leeds shot before hand.

Sweeney got injured and it looked pretty serious. He did not appear to move.

As the announcer said “3 minutes of extra time”, I knew we were going to concede. We always do. How many times will we concede in extra time. We did it too much last season and we're doing it too much now. If we carry on it will cost us up to 18 points I reckon. Robinson had a cross/shot for Leeds and somehow it went in.

Barker then had a great chance with a header but missed. We need to be taking those kinds of last minute chances and do what teams do to us.

Fans
Leeds fans were unusually quiet and Hartlepool fans were reasonably loud but were louder last time.

Stewards
Why did three women get chucked out? There seemed to be quite a bit of trouble.

Conclusion
Well we've lost. Our away form isn't brilliant and I think Leeds deserved their win. But as an away team we did ok. It's usually the home team that has the most chances and we're hardly going to dominate Leeds like we did last time.

I'd also like to point that they had more shots than us but we tested their keeper about the same as them. They had the lions share of the possession like you'd expect a home team and we came to a very difficult place and only lost 3-2.

Our away form needs to improve but if we play like that we'll sneak a few more wins than we did last year. Obviously I want us to play better than that away from home but we need to make smalls steps towards improvement.

memo to self in future read gaunty before the rest of the biased tosh