Wise after the Event

Leeds United (0) 1 Leyton Orient (1) 1

Nelson; Purches (Capt), Thelwell, Mkandawire, C Daniels; P Terry, Chambers, Thornton, Demetriou; Boyd, Gray (sub Ibehre 66).

Aside from the usual fitness tests, which Alton Thelwell and Wayne Corden apparently passed but Glen Morris did not, there was little to get excited about in the run-up to this Battle of the Titans. Until Dennis Wise spoke up late in the week, that is. Dennis had a problem with referee Nigel Miller. Or rather, with those who had appointed Miller to this gigantic fixture. Dennis, he was at pains to explain, had issues with Miller who had played “Hanging Judge Jeffries” to his team last season at Southend following which Dennis himself had been reprimanded for his outspoken comments. Dennis assumed, or at least implied in his public announcement, that referee Miller would carry an inherent bias against his boys in consequence. It is little short of incredible that Dennis will not be censured for these further remarks. Those who understand these things hold that Dennis’s comments were taken straight from the textbook of that Master Alex Ferguson. That they were designed to unsettle the officials, the Orient or both. There can be only three possible outcomes from the official(s) to such an outburst. It will either intensify the distaste for Leeds United and work to their disadvantage, or, as Dennis clearly calculated, it would produce some bias in Leeds’ favour, however unintentional or subliminal, should the officials seek to avoid a second round of opprobrium from the acerbic Wise and his acolytes. Or finally, if least likely, it will affect the officials’ performance not one whit.

Let us be clear from the outset. To this ignorant and untutored spectator, Miller’s performance today was as close to that neutral, third outcome as it could possibly appear. Except, of course, for three, maybe four, major decisions on which the game turned, or could have turned. Otherwise, in the Cobra’s honest opinion, he was generally better than a number of those we have had to endure recently. Yet it remains the case that he sent off Sean Thornton, awarded a penalty for a foul on the very edge of the box and wide and failed to award a goal to the visitors when, as even the home fans admitted, the ball was clearly over the goal-line. We shall examine each, in turn, on its own merits.

An intriguing and laudable team selection made for a slightly more defensive line-up, yet with greater flexibility in attacking options, as Charlie Daniels replaced Aiden Palmer, neither JJ Melligan nor Wayne Corden made the starting line-up, and Paul Terry and Jason Demetriou were preferred. Terry, of course, not only provided the extra bite in defence but also the invaluable asset of experience over youth in this big (in so many ways) cauldron where there would be no place to hide. Playing Daniels at full-back (rather than wide midfield), where he has yet to establish himself, was a risk but it paid huge dividends. For not only was his defensive performance as tight as most and more, but he added that valuable attacking option where, and sometimes when, the opposition least expected. Demetriou, of course, is arguably the fittest and most versatile of all the players in the squad, a player who brings options of all kinds to the table and at either end, as he would soon show.

The thousand-plus F.O’s were in good voice ahead of the game with Mo the O, South Stand’s longest-serving inmate, to lead them. “You all support M.U” and “You’re not famous any more” the best of those to accompany the usual, aweful “East, East, East London.” Leeds kicked off with Stuart Nelson defending the goal immediately in front of us; or rather, somewhat to our left, since, as at St James’s Park Newcastle, the visiting fans are seated at a 45° angle to the pitch, behind and above the corner flag. Straight down the middle where Alton Thelwell tackles Jermaine “Main Man” Beckford in the box and feeds Jason Demetriou down the left flank. He is unceremoniously floored and we have an early free-kick, wide left but not too far from the edge of the box. The Elland Road official website, ever attentive to the conductor’s baton, invites the reader to infer an early clutch of biased judgments from referee Miller. Let us be clear. Jason was dumped. And “unceremoniously” was the word. Thornton and Daniels shape to take, the latter feigning a kick and leaving for Sean who curls into the far post where ‘keeper Ankergren holds.

Orient intercept the clearance but put out for a Leeds throw on the halfway line. Thornton up, Terry up for it. Leeds into the box where Terry tackles. To Thornton and Chambers but Leeds intervene and come again. Now Tam tackles. Orient sweep the ball crossfield. A red shirt is downed, advantage is played. The ball is lost and referee Miller sensibly rewinds play to the Orient free-kick which Jason Demetriou takes. It is cleared, though only to Charlie Daniels who crosses towards the far post and we watch in amazement as the ball runs along the bye-line and out for a throw to Leeds by the opposite corner-flag. United clear long but Thelwell is back to mop up. Chambers is up for the clearance and Demetriou gets in a shot from twenty yards which passes narrowly over the crossbar. Now Chambo again in the tackle but a free-kick is awarded close to the halfway line which ‘keeper Ankergren advances to take. Thornton heads clear, Wayne Gray gets up to hold, finds Paul Terry, he to Purches who gives a long ball which is cleared for an Orient throw five yards shy of the halfway line. Gray gets up for it -- already looking a lot more industrious today than usual – and we win another throw, now ten yards from the corner-flag. Purches to Boyd who easily “magics” a corner on the right. Daniels short to Thornton and back to Charlie. In to Purches. Tackled and lost.

Orient again but now Ankergren’s ball. He kicks long and Paul Terry funnels back to fend off the opposition and win a goal-kick. Nelson takes. The ball is cleared back down the middle. Stuart Nelson and Tammy almost collide but the goalkeeper clears and Orient are awarded a free-kick to the right of the centre-circle following two successive fouls. Sean Thornton is seen down on the deck. Terry takes, finds Boyd and Demetriou wins a throw. Daniels with the throw, to Gray and Demetriou. A big cross which Ankergren holds at the far post. But Miller has played advantage again and now blows for a free-kick to Orient, again wide left and not far outside the penalty area. This time there is no pretence. Sean Thornton will take. Minutes earlier, in one of those strangely prescient utterances, the Cobra had remarked to a knowledgeable neighbour that Sean had not scored since his memorable debut at Roots Hall. In a trice, or so it seemed, that lapse was put right as the ball is ruffling the top corner of the net, a last-second change of direction at the far post. 1 – 0 Orient! And beyond our wildest dreams! 25,000 home fans silenced at seeing the first goal conceded at Elland Road in five games. Indeed, since the self-same Shrimpers scored a consolation goal in a 4 – 1 mauling in United’s first home game of the season. This Leeds side have beaten Southend, Tranmere, Notts Forest, Hartlepool, Swansea and Yeovil. And now they are behind -- for the very first and only time in the League since that early goal at Prenton Park on the season’s opening day. No wonder the massed ranks are silenced. The FantasticO’s celebrate the goal noisily. But, in our heart of hearts, there is much more to celebrate. Because we now know, instinctively, that our form has returned; that the past two weeks or so have been something of an aberration; that this side is indeed again top of the league, and deservedly so; that we shall continue to compete to the last breath for the rest of this season; and that it will be worth following this side to the end of the earth for the rest of this season and, perhaps, beyond.

But there are eighty minutes and more to come. We win a free-kick on the halfway line. It is long. Goalkeepers exchange passes. Leeds turn up the heat. Kandol to the tricky Carole to Hughes. Cross to the far post where Tammy heads away and Jason Demetriou puts out for a throw. Leeds again. An expansive and accurate crossfield ball, which will prove a hallmark of their elegant style, Jamie Clapham passes back under pressure to captain Thompson and he to Ankergren. Long ball, Leeds again. Alton Thelwell and Charlie Daniels clear, albeit under some pressure. Now goalkeeper Ankergren to full-back Richardson, he to Carole and on to Jermaine Beckford. Chambers in the breach, to Purches and Terry. Tackled and lost. Chambo regains and Purches heads away for a throw to Leeds a couple of yards from the corner flag on the left. The ball is switched and Beckford breaks down the right, passes Demetriou and sends a searing, low drive across goal which passes wide of the far post. Nelson takes the goal-kick and Leeds come again. Beckford – or was it Kandol – beats Thelwell but boots the ball wastefully over the bar, the first of several such occasions which will bring us to reflect later on United’s amazing profligacy. Wayne Gray nods on Nelson’s kick to Chambers but a free-kick is blown, to Adam’s visible annoyance. Leeds sweep the ball crossfield again. Jason and Charlie combine to intercept and move on to Sean Thornton. To Daniels, Terry, Chambers and back to Charlie and Jason who wins a throw in mid-O’s territory. To Adam Boyd who holds, controls and finds Chambo, he on to Sean Thornton whose shot from twenty yards is saved by Ankergren. Leeds again and Adam Chambers, in mid-park, intercepts their ball twice in rapid succession, such is the ground our talisman is covering in the cause. To Stephen Purches who gives long and United head clear for a throw to Orient five yards the right side of the halfway line. Demetriou, Daniels, Thornton and Leeds clear for another break. Beckford now with the ball. Tammy is downed in our box, Beckford goes past him, rounds Stuart Nelson and, with the goal at his mercy, fires wide of the net! Did someone say profligate? Referee Miller blows for an Orient free-kick, recognising that Tammy was fouled in the initial clash. Wayne Gray up for the kick and Orient get in a shot which passes for a goal-kick. Fifteen minutes in. Action packed. Game of the season.

Thornton intercepts and finds Terry, crossfield to Daniels. Leeds intercept. A big cross, another feature of their style. Thelwell clears. Leeds again. Daniels and Tam clear. Thornton is flattened and the Leeds fans jeer derisively. That goal really hurt!! Ball passed back to Ankergren who kicks long. Purches and Thornton clear to Terry who gives long. Leeds throw, midway into their half. Jamie Clapham with the throw. Adam Boyd covers ground to hassle, now working his socks off in the cause, like so many others. Adam Chambers dispossesses but the ball runs through to ‘keeper Ankergren. He kicks, we have a throw, some fifteen yards from the flag in our half on the right. Purches with the throw. Leeds recover. Thornton up for the ball. Leeds have another throw, midway into their territory. Crossfield again. Tam in, and on to Charlie and Chambo. To Tam again who is tackled in the box. Throw to Leeds some fifteen yards from the corner-flag. Tam recovers, to Paul Terry and Demetriou who gives the ball away. Leeds again but they concede a goal-kick. United again from the kick, Tam recovers, is fouled and O’s have a free-kick ten yards adrift of the halfway line, Nelson to take. He kicks for touch, mindful of Paris, and Leeds have a throw a couple of yards from the corner-flag. A big crossfield ball and clearance down the right. Demetriou tackles. Leeds throw in mid-half. Crossfield again and inside. Chambers fouls. Free-kick United on the edge of the box, out on the left. To the far post where Tammy heads clear for a throw to Leeds ten yards from the corner-flag on the right. Another big cross and Nelson comes out to go down and hold. End to end. Now a throw to Leeds on the corner-flag. Orient again and Wayne Gray is up for it. Demetriou is tackled. They cut in and shoot but the ball goes wide of the far post. Goal-kick and Chambers is up but is tackled. Leeds try to break down the left but are forced to pass back to Ankergren as Sean Thornton hassles them. Purches intercepts the kick, Thornton gives the ball away and Tammy cuts out the attack for a throw to Leeds just three yards from the flag. Seb Carole crosses and Nelson fists clear for a throw to Leeds on the right, some five yards from the flag. Richardson with a big cross which is miscued. Clapham sweeps generously acrossfield again and Richardson once more with the cross to the far post where Tam is outjumped, the ball is headed down but Nelson fields. He clears and we have a throw on the halfway line which Daniels takes. Twenty minutes to go.

To Wayne Gray who holds and dribbles, winning a throw three yards from the flag. Daniels again with the throw but now Demetriou is penalised for handball. Ankergren takes the free-kick wide on the right. Tam with the tackle. Leeds come again down the left. Purches in the breach to clear. Thompson guilty of handball. No response from Miller. He shoots from thirty-five yards. Just over the bar. From the goal-kick, the ball is played back to Ankergren who gives long and Orient have a goal-kick. Nelson’s kick is cleared. Tam returns to Demetriou and Daniels. To Boydy and Chambo who is dispossessed. Leeds break down the middle. Tammy and Daniels combine to clear. United come again and Adam Chambers repels. Thornton to Purches. Sean again to Chambers, Purches, Chambers again and Paul Terry. Crossfield to Charlie Daniels who gives long, Sean Thornton in pursuit. The ball is cleared and Sean retreats rapidly, passing Seb Carole en route. He seems to make contact, though only marginally. Carole goes down, as if poleaxed. Referee Miller acts swiftly. Sean is summoned. A red card is flourished and our hero departs. Hearts sink. A rapid analysis is necessary. From where we sit, we have no idea if Sean has delivered a crunching elbow, a flying fist or merely a friendly brush on the cheek. We assume the worst. Miller is very much on the spot. He must have seen something diabolical. His reaction was almost instant. Sean left the field with little demur other than a brief display of disbelief. Nor will the TV replay shed any further light. Yet we will later reflect on Seb Carole, quite the trickiest and most dangerous card in the Leeds pack. He will again be involved in at least one more critical incident and, meantime, too, he will demonstrate an uncanny penchant for hitting the ground in a hurry. Was Miller conned? We may never know. But there is circumstantial evidence in plenty.

Meanwhile my knowledgeable neighbour sets the objective. Just under fifteen minutes till the interval and we must survive until then. Orient regroup in an attempt to withstand an anticipated onslaught. It is a tribute to the wisdom of the original selection that no instant substitution was thought necessary to cope with the situation. Sufficient flexibility already within the starting eleven – or ten! Demetriou retrieves the free-kick. To Chambers and Purches who gives long, Ankergren fielding. Leeds down the right flank. Looks dangerous but Daniels, intelligently, wins a goal-kick. Wayne Gray is up for it and passes back to his goalkeeper again almost scoring in the process. Terry is up for the kick but Leeds recover and break down the left. Tam gets up for the cross. Carole recovers and is roundly booed by the Fantasticos. He crosses to the far post. Goal kick! United again. The ball is crossed from right to left. Carole to Hughes who is brought down by Terry. Orient are awarded a throw-in!! Ten minutes to go.

Leeds regain. Boydy intercepts, loses. Leeds attack down the middle. We spot a handball and shout for it. Nothing is given. Orient clear for a throw in mid-half. Daniels with the throw. Gray is up for it. We win a free-kick on the halfway line. Daniels takes, Wayne Gray nods on but Ankergren holds. Thelwell is up for the kick but the ball is lost to Kandol. Terry clears the danger and Gray passes back to Nelson who puts out for a throw to Leeds in mid-territory. A long cross results which Thelwell clears. Hughes goes down in the penalty area but he is alone, no-one within spitting distance. Leeds regain. Daniels intercepts and finds Gray. He to Boyd who sets Demetriou free down the right flank. We roar with excited expectation only to see a very late flag raised for offside, a product of the current trend in attempting to keep the game moving! Thelwell clears the kick to Gray and on to Chambers. Leeds win a throw. The ball is crossed and cleared by Tammy. Adam Chambers is violently floored by Dave Prutton who is addressed by referee Miller but without seeing yellow!! Leeds again and a great tackle by Gray. Leeds again down the left. A cross from the left. Headed out. A cross from the right. Cleared. Leeds again. Purches with the tackle to Terry. Prutton regains and gives wide right. Another cross which Daniels deflects. A shot from twenty-five yards which goes high over the bar. Nelson kicks long and Leeds come again. Thelwell in the hole. Leeds give long. Thelwell again clears. United down the left. A big cross which Alton and Tammy respectively get up to clear. Leeds again with Thompson switching to the left for Clapham. Adam Chambers with the tackle. Boydy is back, is tackled. Terry regains, gives long and Ankergren fields. Now Richardson with a big cross. Nelson advances to fist away, Hughes gets in a header and Tammy is there to head off the line. Leeds recharge but Purches staves them off and wins a goal-kick. Nelson kicks long. Demetriou in the tackle but penalised. Leeds free-kick five yards shy of the centre circle. It is played short and out to the right where another big cross is put in. Purches clears, Carole reclaims but is tackled by Adam Boyd to ironic cheers from the Fantasticos. Home throw. Carole to Thompson, Heath, Clapham and Prutton who shoots. The shot is deflected for a corner on the right. Daniels clears for another corner on the right. Relentless Leeds pressure. A miskick. Cleared. A fierce shot from thirty yards or more. Cleared again. Half-time is blown. Relief. First objective achieved.

Half-time a blur. Little new by way of ideas. Could we possibly hold out for another 45 minutes? Orient kick-off and pass back to Charlie Daniels. A long ball to Gray who gets up and gives towards Boyd but the ball runs for a goal-kick. Ankergren kicks long. Tam cuts out and passes back to Nelson. Leeds again with a big cross from the left. Tam heads clear. Another huge cross from the right now and Nelson is up to hold. Orient break down the left. Wayne Gray holds the ball up, lays back to Charlie Daniels and he back to Jason Demetriou who returns to Daniels. He beats the opposing full-back and crosses. Adam Boyd stretches but doesn’t quite meet the cross and Leeds are away again. Down the middle, a switch to the right, where Richardson crosses. Orient clear and the ball strikes referee Miller, deflecting to Purches, a rare and clear case of the official benefiting the visiting cause. Stephen clears long and Hughes passes back to Ankergren. To Thompson who gives wide right to Richardson. Another trademark cross. Kandol plays into Clapham and a thunderous shot is palmed out brilliantly by Stuart Nelson. Daniels clears up to Gray. To Terry and Chambers and back to Gray who gives a huge and long, crossfield ball towards Purches who stretches every sinew but doesn’t quite meet it and Leeds clear decks for a throw to Orient in mid-territory on the right. Purches takes. Wayne Gray breaks away but Leeds tackle and Richardson is put clear down the right. A cross which Thelwell heads clear to Wayne Gray who passes back to Purches. He kicks long and Leeds have a throw in mid-half. The throw to Richardson on the right. Another huge cross which is high and wide of the far post. Goal-kick Orient. To Chambers and Demetriou, returned in the air to Chambo. Adam up but beaten and Leeds come again down the left. Prutton cuts in and switches to the right to Richardson who passes back to Hughes. Terry intervenes, clears, gives the ball away. A poor shot from United and we have a goal-kick. Gray and Boyd both up for it but Leeds clear. Thompson sets Hughes free down the left. To Carole. Dispossessed by Demetriou who runs with the ball and gives it away. Richardson again to Carole and back to Richardson. A cross from the right. Nelson holds and runs a few seconds down on the clock. Gray up for the kick but Leeds clear. Orient repel, giving a throw midway into our half. The ball is crossed. Tam clears. Leeds return. Another sweeping crossfield ball. Richardson to Carole to Prutton. Thompson with the cross to the far post where a low header is saved well by Stuart Nelson. He kicks long. Ankergren holds. The attendance is announced as 29,177, bringing a cheer from the home fans who believe it to be their biggest of the season, though their programme will show that Swansea topped that figure by 290. Ironic, East End humour from the Fantasticos who chant “Here for the Orient, they’re all here for the Orient.” Ankergren’s kick brings another dangerous Leeds sally. A corner is awarded and Thelwell’s overt disgust is our only evidence that the decision is probably wrong. Corner from the left. A shot is repulsed. Thompson to Seb Carole, United’s talisman, who runs across the box unchallenged and unleashes a fantastic strike, high into the top right-hand (as we look) corner of Nelson’s net. One apiece and a mountain to climb. That Carole went unchallenged was perhaps Orient’s one major defensive aberration of the day. Nelson seemed not to move and the Cobra suspected then, and TV replays support the view, that he was totally unsighted by two or more defenders crowding the goal area in front of him. And the corner? A referee’s error. But malicious? Surely not. Just one of those slings and arrows…

Thirty-five minutes to survive. Orient kick-off and Leeds have a goal-kick. Carole again down the right. Goal-kick Orient. Nelson to Wayne Gray who wins a throw midway into their half. Daniels to Boyd and back to Charlie. On to Jason who is tackled. Throw Orient. Captain Alan Thompson is carrying an injury and Wise removes him from the field of battle, bringing on Ian Westlake. The throw is five yards beyond the halfway line. Paul Terry passes back and Leeds concede another throw halfway into our territory. Purches gives long. Leeds clear. Crossfield ball to the left and another huge cross. A shot from twenty yards goes well wide, another example of the homesters’ wastefulness. As Nelson sets up the kick, so a commotion from behind and three Orient fans are forcibly ejected from the upper tier by the local constabulary. The Cobra gives thanks that he is seated with the hoi polloi in the cheap seats!! Leeds return the kick. Demetriou clears. Gray gets up but loses the ball and Leeds break again down the left. Another long crossfield ball but it passes safely for a goal-kick. Nelson’s long kick is headed clear to Clapham. Boyd intervenes but concedes a throw. Leeds down the left and a big cross from Clapham finds Kandol who heads over the bar. Leeds again, relentless, and now Carole with a distant shot on target from thirty yards or so which Nelson holds well. His long kick is cleared by Ankergren to Richardson on the right and he sets Carole off yet again. A cross from Hughes sees Prutton in but Orient win a goal-kick. Carole again now with a shot from twenty-five yards out which brings Nelson down to hold. Ankergren again fields the long kick and gives to the left. Heath to Westlake to Hughes and out to Richardson on the right. Purches and Daniels clear long and United resurge. Marques to Heath down the left. Hughes crossfield to Richardson. Back to Marques and on to Carole. Through to Richardson for the cross and everyone misses, attack and defence alike. Purches clears decks and Leeds return. Carole again. Thelwell heads out. Leeds again. Cleared to Wayne Gray who passes back to Daniels and Terry. Wayne Gray is intercepted and the ball crossed to the far post where United narrowly fail to connect. Chambers clears but the ball is lost again.

Twenty minutes gone. An eternity. Ankergren to Richardson on the right. On to Carole and back to Richardson. Another big cross and a headed attempt which Nelson holds easily. He finds Adam Boyd, he to Daniels and back to Boydy. To Demetriou, back to Daniels and returned to Jason who gives the ball away. Leeds break down the right and a huge shot-cum-cross from Beckford curls wide of the far post for a goal-kick. The traditional sixty-fifth minute past, Martin Ling brings on Jabo Ibehre for Wayne Gray who will mark this as one of his better performances. Jabo is immediately up for Nelson’s kick but the ball runs on to Ankergren who finds Heath on the left. Leeds break and Nelson dives to the near post to save the incoming shot. Jabo up again for the big kick but again heads on to Ankergren. To Richardson and Hughes. Paul Terry intervenes and finds Adam Boyd. To Chambo and Daniels wide. He gives long for Jabo who outstrips the defence but is pipped to the ball by Ankergren on the very edge of the box. Leeds down the flank and another huge cross which Alton Thelwell heads away. To Boyd down the right. Jabo, Boyd, a cross from the right. Daniels in. A header from Thelwell! A shot from Jason Demetriou which is blocked. Boyd wins back in midfield, passes back to Demetriou, he back to Chambers and he back to Nelson. Twenty minutes left. We are still alive and kicking.

Jabo collects the goal-kick. To Terry and Daniels and back to Jabo who is floored. Free-kick Leeds!! We have seen this before from Jabo. Miller has words with both Jabo and Marques. Orient recover the ball. A cross. Chambers in for it but Ankergren just gets there first with a wild kick, setting United off again down the flank. A huge cross which Daniels clears. Leeds return down the right. Another big cross. Tammy clears but Boydy gives away. Leeds again. Marques to Richardson to Prutton down the right. In to Hughes and Carole down the left. A cross which Thelwell clears. Leeds again with a shot which is blocked. Jabo is up for the clearance and we win a throw ten yards short of the halfway line. Terry to Boyd and Leeds have a throw on the halfway line. Daniels in the tackle. He holds, runs, gives to Boyd who is flagged offside, barely a yard into the opposition half when the ball is kicked!! Free-kick short. Jabo into the tackle. He breaks clear and feeds Demetriou who makes it to the box. Ankergren comes well out to clear but his kick rebounds bizarrely off Jason and back towards the gaping net. United clear and break quickly and Nelson goes down to hold another on-target shot. Fifteen minutes left. Hanging in there.

Stephen Purches now winning a throw in mid-territory. Wise, perhaps showing first signs of worry, takes Clapham off and brings on Mark de Vries to provide fresh scoring options. Prutton also is taken off, Felipe da Costa replacing. Purches with the throw to Terry. Back to Purches and back to Terry. On to Boyd who puts in a long cross which is safely passed back to Ankergren. Short to Hughes, wide right to Richardson and back to Hughes. Crossfield to Marques and on to Westlake down the left. Alton Thelwell in with a sliding tackle. Nelson now finds Jabo who gets up for the ball but is tackled. Leeds break down the right and Hughes with a big cross which passes for a goal-kick at the far post. From the kick, Jabo to Boyd and on to Chambers who makes a characteristic run into the box before coming to grief. Demetriou recovers and finds Boyd who shoots over the bar and just a little wide. Leeds break down the wing again. Paul Terry out to tackle, wide on the edge of the box. He comes in from behind. A player goes down. Miller awards a penalty. Technically correct but harsh. Indeed, the tackle looked pretty innocuous. In the aftermath, we will recall that it was Seb Carole who has hit the deck. Has Miller been suckered again by the little man? We may never know. Nelson awaits the kick from Kandol. Strangely, he does little to disturb his opponent. No textbook prancing and waving. Simply standing there with his arms raised. He need not have worried. Kandol’s kick passes very high over the crossbar and, at last, we feel that Lady Luck has shone our way, however briefly. Perhaps a token. Ten minutes to survive.

Nelson kicks long. Jabo is up but Leeds recover. Down the wing again and a cross which Tam clears with a diving header. Leeds again and Purches clears for a throw a couple of yards from the flag from which they win a corner on the left. Boyd back to clear from the corner. A cross from the right is headed clear. Leeds come again down the left. Another big cross and a header at the far post just two yards out passes wide of the post. Profligate in spades! Boyd from the clearance but the ball is lost and Carole breaks again down the right. He crosses and Nelson makes a diving save, rising to give long to Jabo. Five minutes to go.

Orient now more in the game. Boyd is fed down the middle. He holds, jinks, makes to take on the defence and shoots low and hard from outside the box. Ankergren appears to hold comfortably but then lets the forceful shot slip through his hands. From our vantage point behind the flag, we are well-placed to see, as the cameras later confirm, that the ball has indeed crossed the line. The Cobra thought inches, rather than feet, was the measure but crossed the line it did, all the same. Now referee Miller was already retreating, presumably on the assumption that the goalkeeper had the ball safely and would soon be welting upfield. The linesman, not yet on the turn, was still some twenty yards adrift of the byeline. Neither could reasonably see the ball accurately and neither could reasonably be blamed for their inability to do so. Once again, the fickle finger of fortune had struck. No goal was awarded despite loud protests from Jabo who was very much on the spot. Yet, if there ever was a case for bringing technology to play, this incident was screaming for it. OK, it would require a time out and, OK, this would interrupt the flow of the game. So, restrict the use of the technology to those very few and critical incidents which the officials cannot reasonably adjudge themselves.

Orient now fired up. Demetriou recovers the kick and finds Jabo. A ball across the box to Boyd whose shot is blocked on the goal-line. Leeds break down the right and Daniels breaks up the attack. Leeds again and Purches now clears to Jason Demetriou who makes ground and is brought down, unceremoniously again, on the very edge of the box. Miller produces the yellow card for Matt Heath, amazingly only the second name in his book all game. Jason remains down but not out. Two minutes left and no doubt who is on top. The Fantasticos chant “2 – 1 to the Orient” and there is no riposte from the massed and silent ranks alongside us. Daniels and Terry shape to take the free-kick. Daniels with the shot which is deflected and punched acrobatically over the bar by Ankergren for a corner on the left which is cleared. Orient return with Adam Chambers feeding Jason Demetriou down the left. Jason goes past three defenders and shoots but Ankergren holds. Leeds break down the left. A crossfield ball. Carole with the final cross which Terry clears. United return with a shot which is high and wide. Leeds again from the kick down the left. A long throw but an infringement gives us a free-kick in our penalty area. Three minutes added time are proclaimed. Jabo is up for the kick but Leeds clear. A crossfield ball and a break down the right and another huge cross passes for a goal-kick at the far post. Ibehre again from the goal-kick. He holds, runs, beats his man, shoots and watches as his shot is deflected over the goalkeeper and cleared at the last ditch. Now Jason Demetriou with a shot, Jabo in support. Leeds clear. Jabo again to Terry and Boyd who loses the ball. Free-kick Leeds. Chambers heads clear. Leeds again down the right. A long ball. Goal kick. And Miller blows the whistle on this fascinating and momentous struggle.

So where do we go from here? Another brilliant performance which marks our return to form. Could it be that the uncertainties of the last five games were simply a function of the long build-up to this big one? That the players have been focussing inevitably on the approach of this massive encounter and have, at least psychologically, been saving themselves for what they knew would require effort of Herculean proportion. It’s certainly a possibility. But, whether or not, we can now look forward to a run of games, perhaps eight in all, in which mid-table Donny and Swindon, both away, and our old friends Brighton at home, look the most difficult. We’ve played four of the other eight in the top nine -- and Leeds. And we are still a respectable third (fourth, really) after a dreadful run with one win in five games. So we now have a good opportunity to consolidate our position amongst the front-runners. The next few weeks will tell us even more. And so we left this massive stadium, this massive club, this massive crowd (all came for the Orient!), these massive teams. Massive everything really. Except little Dennis. But Dennis had the last word. Or rather Dennis had the first word. And that first word may have given Dennis the last laugh. Wise after the event? He may be. But Dennis knows and will not forget that Orient won this game 2 – 1 and played with ten men for an hour or more. It will bring spice to the return encounter in April.

COBRA