Leeds brought the curtain down on their miserable season with a narrow defeat at Chelsea, but they at least went down showing a bit of fight at the end.

It may have been yet another defeat for the Whites, but a demoralised squad with uncertain futures ahead of them did well to keep the score down to 1-0....but not enough to rescue something.  Just about sums up the season really.

Team News

Kevin Blackwell, in charge for this the final game of Leeds miserable season, had few options open to him to stamp his own mark on the team, but there were changes nonetheless. 

Paul Robinson`s early defection to Tottenham in midweek meant Scott Carson was able to prepare for next season a game early.  The 18-year-old Cumbrian is almost certain to inherit Robinson`s No.1 shirt in the First Division.

Cameroon international Salomon Olembe, an outcast for most of the season,  was favoured over Stephen McPhail in midfield. Formany supporters his inclusion came about twelve games too late. 

Jermaine Pennant was denied a final start for United before returning to Arsenal, with Blackwell having decided  to go with a five man midfield, James Milner and Gary Kelly the two wing men.

Youngsters Frazer Richardson keeps his place in defence but Lucas Radebe's experience is prefered to Matthew Kilgallon's raw talent, whilst Alan Smith played what is almost certain to be his final game for the club as a lone striker.

The Match.
For the first five minutes Leeds barely got out of their own half, but whilst Chelsea had possession Leeds were able to restrict them to long range shots only.

Scott Carson's first chance to impress in the game was not long in coming though, a Joe Cole strike took a wicked deflection off Lucas Radebe and was destined for the top corner of the net until Carson got his fingertips to the ball to turn it over the bar.

United continued to contain the Blues for another ten minutes before Glen Johnson carved open the back four with a great ball for Eidur Gudjohnsen to chase, but with just Carson to beat the Icelandic striker lifted the ball woefully high over the bar.
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Paul Robinson may be gone but Carson was providing plenty of evidence that he won't too sorely missed. Again he denied Joe Cole with another fingertip save, this time keeping out a 30-yard drive.

There was little Carson could have done about Chelsea's opener on 20 minutes though.

Johnson's sprint down the right wing ended with a searching cross for Jesper Gronkjaer at the back post who headed it down and in.

The Whites escaped once again on the half-hour mark when Gronkjaer crossed to provide Gudjohnsen with a simple header, but again the striker was well off target.  Minutes later the ex-Bolton man came closer with a shot from the edge of the area that just cleared the crossbar.

Leeds only dangerous excursion into Chelsea's half in the first period of the game was when Duberry won a corner and Radebe headed the resultant cross over the bar at full stretch.

HALF TIME


After the break it was more of the same as far as Chelsea being permanently on the attack and Leeds pinned back trying to keep the score down.  

Frank Lampard was inches away from the second goal of the afternoon when he headed Cole's cross onto the roof of the net from 12 yards out. Gronkjaer was just as close with his right footed shot 18-yards out.

On the hour mark Jermaine Pennant replaced Jason Wilcox, bringing to an end what is likely to be the former England man's final game for the club, with his contract allowed to expire this summer.   Pennant too was playing his final half hour for Leeds.

Jermaine Pennant hit the woodwork on 70 minutes from a direct free-kick awarded after Gronkjaer had handballed Milner's cross.  Pennant appeared confident when he stepped forward to take the free-kick and rightly so as he curled the ball over the four man defensive wall and with a bit more luck the rebound off the wall would have come to a player in a yellow shirt for an easy equaliser.

Normal service was resumed though as Lampard again came close, Carson doing well to get down and block his shot and then the Chelsea midfielder scuffed the loose ball wide.

Nick Barmby came on wiht ten minutes left to play to a chorus of boos from his own fans, replacing Salomon Olembe.

Joe Cole had been looking for a goal all afternoon but he was to end up disappointed as Carson was equal to everything he had or as he did with minutes to go, blasted his best chances over the top.

Referee Mike Dean blew the final whistle on United's miserable season and not a moment too soon.