Leeds United Third Time Lucky?

When Leeds United were relegated to League 1 in the season of 2006/2007, many fans and pundits thought that they would bounce straight back up into the Championship. However as it proved with Nottingham Forest, League 1 is tougher than most teams think.

For Leeds the points deduction which was hurled at them in the 2007/2008 season, didn’t take drastic affect. That season Leeds climbed the League 1 table and ended up in the play-offs with 76 points. The season ended as Swansea and Nottingham Forest took the two automatic promotion spots. As for Leeds they had to go through the nervous phase of the play-offs. Many people probably thought that Leeds will win the play-offs, however that didn’t quite happen. Leeds were able to make it to Wembley after beating Carlisle, however it was Doncaster who waited in the play-off final. Leeds without the point’s deduction would have stormed League 1; however Wembley wasn’t their fortress as they lost out to Doncaster 1-0 thanks to a goal from James Hayter. That then meant that Leeds would have to suffer another season in the third tier of English Football.

Last season Leeds United were able to start the 2008/2009 season without any point’s deductions, however yet again they found themselves in the play-offs at the end of the season, when  so much was expected of them. Leicester City took the league very comfortably with 96 points, and Peterborough joined them with 89 points. The play-offs then left the Mk Dons, Leeds United, Millwall and Scunthorpe to battle it out for promotion glory. Yet again many people probably thought that Leeds would win the play-offs, however they did worse than the previous season. Leeds United didn’t even make the final at Wembley for the second time in two years; they lost out to Millwall 2-1 on aggregate. That meant Leeds had to suffer another season in League 1.

So we are now into the League 1 season of 2009/2010, and for Leeds it could well be third time lucky for them. Their third season in League 1 has started with a bang, as they currently sit at the top of the League 1 table. Yesterday’s win over the Mk Dons has seen them move two points clear of Charlton who are in second. Simon Grayson and his players have had a very good start with wins over Tranmere, Colchester and Gillingham. Robert Snodgrass for Leeds has had a wonderful start to the season; the winger/striker was clearly Leeds United best player against Liverpool in the Carling Cup. Also he scored a last minute winner against Mk Dons yesterday.

Leeds though has surely got the best striker in the league in Jermaine Beckford. The lad has got pace, vision and an eye for goal, and in the summer he was linked with a move away from Elland Road, with Newcastle the likeliest team to snap him up. His season for Leeds however has got off to a brilliant start. He has scored six times already this season and defiantly their will be more to come. Leeds has got a very strong attack with the likes of Becchio, Snodgrass, Showunmi and Grella who can all support Beckford in attack. Along with Charlton Leeds have the best goal difference in the league. The signing of Patrick Kisnorbo has been a big influence, along with Captain Richard Naylor and Lubomir Michalik. Overall Leeds looks very strong all over the field, and hopefully for them it will be third time lucky as they bid for promotion.