Actually no, I take that back. There’s always Liverpool,
a club that appears to assemble teams of such astonishing mediocrity, that the
practically annual salvation provided by a fortunate Wembley win in this
competition just about sustains the belief on Merseyside that the club remain a
big player, come every August that follows.
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| The magic of the (Capital One) cup |
Fair to say then, the pilgrimage to Elland Road was not
undertaken with an overwhelming sense of excitement and anticipation of what
was to follow. Year upon year of standing in a two-thirds empty Elland Road,
barely engaged in a football match that the whole world – playing and
management staff included – appear indifferent to and regularly concludes with a
depressing defeat is enough to stifle even modest expectations.
With this in mind and the thought of lining Bates’
trousers with another £12 for the pleasure of standing witness to it all,
looming heavy in the mind, there had to be to something worthwhile to be had at
the end of it; something that allowed the trip home to be made untinged by
self-loathing for pissing more money into the despot’s deposit box for little
or nothing in return – Sam Byram, I salute you!!
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| Transfer deadline: Friday - 11pm |
With 33 minutes on the clock, young Sam received the ball
with his back to goal and spun on the spot, before nudging the ball between two
approaching defenders, nipping between the pair, and then from an angle,
chipping the goalkeeper from around 12 yards. It was a wonderful goal and
instant payback for a lot of the intolerable shit that this competition has
served up over the years. Such was the quality of the goal, had it come from
Rooney or Van Persie in a Champions League tie, you’d imagine that Gary Neville
gone way beyond the point of “GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLL!!” and to the moment of
total abandonment as he reached the absolute point of a shuddering, ground
shaking climax, showering a profusely hyper and sweaty Alan Parry with so much
celebratory seed that his co-commentator resembled a painter’s radio.
Yes, it was a special goal – especially for a lad
primarily considered a right-back, and prior to Preston, not even involved in
the first team squad. The buzz was such that those who were there rushed home at
the final whistle to relive the moment, while those who'd only heard of it were
already there, posited in front of Sky Sports News. It was never shown; in
fact, as it turned out, Sky didn’t even bother to send a camera to Elland Road.
Sky Sports: “Because Every Goal Matters” – MY ARSE!!
The only real shame was that such a goal should
arrive on a Tuesday night in a League Cup tie against lower league opposition, as having an empty South Stand as a backdrop did Byram’s effort rather a
disservice. Still, at least Sam was in good company, as 6 minutes prior Rodolph
Austin also notched his first for the club against the same backdrop. Another
fine effort it was too; the Beast drilling in from 25 yards, the exact direction
of shot seemingly immaterial to the man as he struck home, safe in the
knowledge that the keeper was merely an object placed to help deflect the ball
towards its inevitable destination. A joyous celebration ensued as a leap from
Rodolph, and a spontaneous rendition of “Rodolph Austin’s having a party, bring
your Rizlas and Bob Marley” of sufficient voracity on the Geldard to ensure its
widespread adoption as chant of choice, marked the moment.
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| Bring your Rizlas and Bob Marley... |
The lead flattered a Leeds side that had struggled to get to
grips with confident looking visitors, but from that point onwards, it was
pretty straightforward stuff and shortly after Byram’s contribution, Diouf
could have killed the tie dead, but his shot was beaten away.
The second period continued in the same vein as the first
had ended as Leeds dominated; Austin, freed to break forward more often due to
the presence of Brown almost scored with an outrageous bending effort from 35
yards that clipped the bar – some players shoot on sight, Rodolph appears to oblige
upon command, seemingly letting rip whenever the cry goes up from the stands.
Then as tradition on the evening dictated, it was Byram’s turn again, this time
he also failed to oblige with a finish, fiercely volleying Drury’s cross wide
from 8 yards.
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| Second half pressure |
A third goal did arrive on 73 minutes as a second
sighting of a smiling Tom Lees was logged in the space of 7 days, an angled header
into the bottom corner putting a seal on the victory. Even the begrudging
acknowledgement of El Hadji Diouf’s superb cross from the right couldn’t
diminish the significance of such an event.
So all in all, not a bad night; certainly far better than
anticipated both in terms of result and performance – all that and one very special moment via the right boot
of Sam Byram. The feelings of self-loathing and naivety could be set aside and put
on hold for another journey home… although that couldn’t be said of one
particularly heroic caller to the Yorkshire Radio post-match phone-in. Having
opened with the classic fawning praise of Eddie Gray gambit to place the hosts
at complacent ease, the man in question then proceeded to brand Bates corrupt,
declare the squad weak and label the radio station ‘Propaganda FM’ – Eddie floundered,
ummed and ahhed, then mumbled his default line about the game being “all about
opinions” before his co-host finally rescued him by cutting off the incognito
dissident.
As Tuesday night showed, twice over, sometimes you’ve
just gotta be there…
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