Leeds United vs Middlesbrough

Leeds United 0-0 Middlesbrough

Monday 15th February 2016

Championship

Attendance: 20,424 (2,782 Away)

Admission: £22 (18-22)

Ground Number 188 (53/92): Elland Road

I know I've only just surpassed the halfway point in terms of completing the 92 but this was a pretty significant one for me. Prior to last night, Leeds were the biggest club remaining in the country that I am yet to tick off, other than Liverpool (although I have already visited Analfield) which I will be visiting next Thursday for their Europa League tie vs Augsburg. 

Fantastic stadium, Elland Road. Proper. So much history. I know we're all supposed to hate dirty Leeds scum, and I firmly understand the reasoning behind it. However, there's just that certain element of shithouseness about them that I secretly admire and respect them so much as a club. Proper football club. Put them back in the top flight all day long for me, much prefer them to boring, cultureless cockney shite like Crystal Palace and Watford.

For a goalless draw, this was an extremely entertaining game in the main. Contrary to general expectations, Leeds actually played extremely well and can count themselves unfortunate to not have edged this encounter against a Middlesbrough side with a depth of squad that will surely be playing Premier League football next season (how on earth Albert Adomah can only warm their bench, I don't know). 

Admittedly, the visitors did have their chances. Jordan Rhodes (that chap who was kept subdued by the plodding centre-half partnership of Olly Schultz and Rob Gilman back in 2011) did not possess the goalscoring instinct of a man whom had recently cost the sum of eleven million pounds sterling. He squandered two glorious second-half chances, the latter being an unmarked header from 6 yards out that drifted wide of the post. 

In an end-to-end game Leeds should have snatched it. They hit the bar in the first half and were kept at bay by a couple of outstanding saves by the Greek bloke in the Boro goal (whom I can't be arsed to google the check the spelling of his name of), and really ramped up the pressure in the closing stages of the game, forcing out a second yellow card for 'Boro midfielder Ben Gibson.

All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable groundhop after a football-less weekend, even withstanding the artic conditions that shriveled my genitalia to an even more unsustainable level. Enjoyed the rabid away following from 'Boro, whom paid an emotional tribute to BBC Teeside presenter Alistair Brownlee, who died in the early hours of the morning - which I must also add was impeccably observed and joined in by the home fans. Leeds, while understandably fed up and apathetic with their club's ambitious-less regime, and constant rearrangements to accommodate games for Sky TV, still put up a decent atmosphere in response. Hate them or despise them, a club of their stature and support deserve much better.

When in Rome. £3.80 for an overcooked crusty generic pie though? Fuck off.