Match report: Leeds United v Charlton Athetlic - The Mac attack

A wet and dreary afternoon in London set the scene for what would be a six goal thriller between Leeds United and Charlton Athletic. 

Leeds went into the match on the back of a home victory against Yeovil Town, who currently sit bottom of the table, and despite winning 2-0 the victory was far from convincing. Yeovil pressed Leeds hard for various periods of the game but lacked the quality to provide any goals. The same could not be said about Charlton, who boasted an impressive defensive record of over seven hours of football without conceding a goal - the very reason their manager Chris Powell had been nominated for manager of the month in October.

Ross McCormack receiving the match ball for his performance.
                                                            Picture from http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk

Despite a gleaming defensive record, Leeds fans saw the net bulge four times as their side went on to win the clash 4-2. Ross McCormack showed a lethal attacking prowess as he bagged four goals, taking him to the top of the Championship goalscorer list with 12 league goals so far this season and recording his first ever hat trick at senior level in the process. Leeds manager Brian McDermott revealed after the match that he had scouted McCormack whilst at Reading and prepared an extensive report on him. One thing in particular stood out in the report, according to the YEP McDermott described McCormack as "A Premier League player". And Ross definitely proved him right as he tore Charlton's defensive record to shreds during his four goal spree on Saturday. With his instinctive finishing, McCormack has now cemented himself in the Leeds United history books by becoming only the twelfth Leeds player to ever score four goals in a match and the first in nine years. The last player to score four goals away from home for the Whites was fellow Scot Tom Jennings all the way back in 1926! And McCormack's form came at a time when Leeds desperately needed a valuable win away from home, with the last five matches away from Elland Road ending in defeat.

The match looked as though it would be abandoned as kick off approached with Charlton's pitch resembling a swamp rather than The Valley. After two pitch inspections, another cloud burst and a half an hour delay the whistle blew to start the game. Leeds fielded a somewhat weakened side with stalwart left back Stephen Warnock and Leeds' storming youth talent Sam Byram absent with injury. McDermott replaced them with Danny Pugh and the fiery Michael Brown as Leeds sported a team that looked as though it could get beaten, especially considering their poor form as of late away from home and given that last season favourites Varney and Diouf didn't even make the bench. But McCormack had other ideas. The player for whom Leeds valiantly denied three Middlesbrough bids during the summer stamped his mark on the game just 16 minutes in after he latched onto Dexter Blackstock's header and slotted the ball past Charlton keeper Hamer. The home side piled on the pressure in bad conditions and Paddy Kenny blocked a shot from Simon Church which was destined for the back of the net. Church went on to rattle the post but Kenny was out of options when Cameron Stewart's 45th minute volley flew into the United goal to close the half. Leeds counted themselves lucky to be going into the changing rooms level after a flurry of Charlton chances threatened to crush any dreams of victory for the Whites.

Ross McCormack celebrating at Charlton.
                                                               Picture from http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk

"We went in at half-time a bit frustrated," Charlton manager Chris Powell told South London Press and there was more frustration to follow for him in the second half. A penalty was awarded just two minutes after the interval when Harriott stuck out a foot and clipped Danny Pugh, who was charging into Charlton's box. McCormack dispatched the penalty with confidence, beating Hamer a second time and putting Leeds 2-1 ahead. Johnnie Jackson levelled for Charlton with a tap in on 70 minutes, given to him by poor Leeds defending, as the home side desperately tried to claw back a match that seemed to be getting away from them. Just three minutes later, a poor clearance gave McCormack the chance to put Leeds 3-2 up and he smashed the ball past the Charlton keeper from six yards. As Charlton pressed higher to salvage something from the game they left space for Rudy Austin to drive forward and earn a free-kick on the edge of the opposition's box after he was fouled by Jackson in the final minute of normal time. The set-piece looked to be awkward for a right footer but McCormack dispelled that view by thrashing the ball up and over the wall before it curved into Hamer's far post. The finesse of his free-kick rounded of a performance that saw McCormack single-handedly obliterate Charlton Athletic and walk away with a thoroughly deserved match ball.

"Fair play to Ross," Powell remarked after the whistle. "His predatory instinct was the difference."
And it really was. McCormack showed all the attributes of a complete forward at The Valley, which as results show has not been an easy place to pick up a win this season. Leeds welcome Middlesbrough to Yorkshire after the international break on the 23rd of November and the match is shaping up to be an exciting one. Ross McCormack will surely look to continue his electric form with more goals, against the club who were so desperate to sign him in the Summer - and now the whole world knows why.

Leeds United: Kenny, Peltier, Pugh, Pearce, Wootton (Zaliukas 45), Lees, Murphy, Austin, Blackstock (Smith 76), McCormack, Brown
Charlton: Hamer, Wilson (Pritchard 86), Wiggins, Morrison, Dervite, Harriott (Kermorgant 66), Stephens, Jackson, Cousins, Stewart (Sordell 86), Church. Subs (not used): Alnwick, Hughes, Evina, Lennon.

Mac's tacs - from old to new with 3-5-2

Brian McDermott's tactics have stood out this season, especially in the more difficult games Leeds have won. It's no secret that the United boss has been experimenting with the squad to find his best eleven and the last couple of games, in particular at home to Birmingham, seem to be a turning point for the team tactically. 

McDermott has changed the formation to a less rigid 3-5-2, with Warnock and young Sam Byram operating as wing-backs - patrolling the channels to provide support for the forwards and strengthen the back three when the opposition attacks from wide. The defensive side of the formation for many teams who have used it has been consistently criticised in the in the past. Several pundits have ironically targeted the vulnerability of the back three (the three centre-backs that make up the defensive line) as the specific problem.

The back three in the formation are often accused of sloppiness, not as such individually but rather as a unit. The formation demands a high level of chemistry and understanding between that defensive unit and this can be difficult to obtain because intensive practise and training is required. In a recent article for the Yorkshire Evening post, former Leeds United player Brendan Ormsby highlighted the confusion that swapping two centre-backs for three at the back can cause. "With two central halves, they know what they are doing in picking up two strikers between them. With three, one is spare and two are marking and when strikers switch, you've got to be able to pass them on, pick up or drop off."

Leeds United's Rodolph Austin at Elland Road against QPR.
                                   Picture from http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk

The 3-5-2 formation that Leeds have adopted is almost an exact mirror of Brendan Rodgers' current formation with Liverpool. Rodgers has recently abandoned his famous 4-3-3 approach, the formation that he so spectacularly utilised at Swansea, for the 3-5-2 in order to incorporate both Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suárez as central strikers and it has paid dividends in almost every match that he has deployed it. However, at the weekend against Arsenal, the Liverpool back three saw their defensive confusion punished time and time again as the Chelsea attacking quartet pulled and pushed them out of position. Kolo Toure - a player who was arguably one of the best defenders in the Premier League at one time and part of the famous 03/04 Arsenal "Invincibles" side - was made to look like a school-boy centre-back at times as he was twisted around in a daze, not knowing who to mark or when to cover, oblivious to runs made behind him.

The formation then clearly does have its draw-backs, but it gives a hell of a lot going forward, especially when Leeds' Jamaican international Rodolph Austin puts in a shift and runs the opposition defence ragged. His link up play with McCormack has proved to be invaluble in the last few games as Austin seems to have slipped effortlessly into his role in the 3-5-2. He operates as an all round midfielder within the formation, pushing high up the pitch during build up play and acting almost as a trequartista but equally giving a balance to the team through his tireless defensive tracking work. This defensive part of Austin's game in particular is what sets him apart from his fellow midfielders, it gives his game an edge and when coupled with his aggression and intensity on the pitch. The worry for Leeds is that it does seem that regardless of the formation, when Austin doesn't play or has a bad game then United have a bad game as a whole and that is not a good sign. 

Talismans are of course integral to any team with ambitions to gain promotion to the Premier League but to rely on one player to be the backbone of your squad is a big ask. Leeds fans will be hoping that Austin can keep his match fitness up and continue his excellent form because his presence is beginning to seem irreplaceable.

The campaign so far

Leeds United's first game of the season was a breath of fresh air after a mixed pre-season for the club. Elland Road hosted last season's play off semi-finalists Brighton and it was an electric affair.

Brighton took the lead after just 13 minutes in the Yorkshire stadium through Leonardo Ulloa before Ross McCormack levelled five minutes later in front of a packed crowd. The atmosphere remained tense as the game continued goalless before new signing Luke Murphy set Elland Road alight when he sealed victory for the Whites after four minutes of injury time. The victory looked to be a turning point for Leeds after a tough ten years out of the top flight of English football and the good results kept on coming. 

Dominic Poleon (left) and Ross McCormack (right) celebrating a goal.
                                                           Picture from http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk

A draw away at the King Power stadium is never an easy feat with Leicester manager Nigel Pearson manning the helm and making it very difficult for travelling teams. However, Leeds managed to hold the Foxes to a 0-0 stalemate and in doing so earned themselves a valuable point. Sheffield Wednesday were the next side to visit Elland Road and despite a difficult Yorkshire derby, the Whites secured a point after a highly-charged match.

As August drew to a close Leeds' next fixture was away at Portman road to face Mick McCarthy's Ipswich Town and with Leeds under pressure to continue their undefeated start to the campaign, they did not disappoint. Luke Varney cancelled out David McGoldrick's goal before the ever present Ross McCormack rounded off his performance with the winner early in the second half to finish the game 2-1. Leeds welcomed the championship leaders to Elland Road on the back of a fantastic start to the season but couldn't hold off the Hoops' onslaught and the home side found themselves 1-0 down at full-time to Harry Redknapp's team. After another good victory against Bolton away, Leeds lost their next three matches; at home to Reading and Millwall and away to Burnley.

After the mid September slip Leeds reignited the good form they had shown early on in the season by beating Bournemouth 2-1 at home but October looked to be another hit and miss month after Leeds won at home in emphatic style 4-0 against a poor Birmingham City side and lost away to both Derby County and Huddersfield Town.

Summer signatures

The 2013/14 Football League Championship looked bright for Leeds United as the summer drew to a close. It was the beginning of  new manager Brian McDermott's first full season in charge and it appeared promising after he secured the signatures of four of his summer transfer targets before the window shut.

New arrival Luke Murphy at Elland Road.
                                  Picture from http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk

It quickly became apparent that the funds McDermott had hoped for, and by some accounts promised, were not available. The new owner's resounding policy of  'one in, one out' echoed endlessly throughout the transfer window. This came as a shock to many, especially after GFH Capital's takeover was so drawn out. The policy was even more difficult to comply with partly because many of the players recruited by former manager Neil Warnock were either not wanted by other clubs or their value had decreased dramatically. Despite the apparent lack of funds, McDermott made do. He worked his magic and carefully selected players from his wish list that he was in a position to make an approach for. His first trick was to shock the Championship by beating Blackburn to the post by signing the young and highly rated Crewe Alexandra midfield captain Luke Murphy for £1M. The United boss also dipped into the pool of League 1 talent to sign the towering six foot six figure of Matt Smith on a free transfer from Oldham Athletic.

Defender Scott Wootton signed for £1m.
                                 Picture from http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk

Former Irish international Noel Hunt once again linked up with his old Reading boss after a free transfer was agreed. The final arrival at Elland Road was a somewhat unexpected one, in the form of Manchester United youth product Scott Wootton. The talented centre back was frustrated during his time at the Premier League club and a lack of first team opportunities led to several loan spells for the youngster. However, with Premier League and even Champions' League experience, Wootton was a welcome addition to a young and largely inexperienced central defence. McDermott snapped up Wootton for a fee of 1M, despite several clubs showing interest.