9/14: Leeds United vs. Manchester United [R]

[BrianCappellieri]

Tribal Football (http://www.tribalfootball.com/september/englishnews1130902.html)Man Utd hire SAS guards for Rio's Leeds return

Manchester United will hire six former SAS soldiers to guard Rio Ferdinand for his return to Elland Road on Saturday.

Leeds United striker Alan Smith says his good mate will get "a hammering" from supporters on Saturday.

The ex-SAS men will be on the Manchester United coach as well as at the pitch's edge during the game in an effort to ward off any trouble.

[Unorthodox Yank]

time to step it up.

My gut feeling says we wont though. and thats a bad thing. :(

[BrianCappellieri]

BBC Match Preview (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/2254743.stm)

[cachundo]

Rio expects red-hot return (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/2255233.stm)

Rio Ferdinand has said that he is expecting a hostile reception when he returns to Leeds with his new club Manchester United on Saturday.

[BrianCappellieri]

SoccerNet (http://www.soccernet.com/england/news/2002/0913/20020913lufctel.html)Forget about Rio return, Tel urges Leeds fans

Terry Venables has pleaded with Leeds fans to get behind their team rather than booing former skipper Rio Ferdinand when he returns to Yorkshire with Manchester United tomorrow.

[pething101]

Starting for Man U.

Barthez
O'Shea
Blanc
Ferdinand
Silvestre
Becks
Neville, P
Butt
Giggs
Ole Gunnar
RVN

[pething101]

For Leeds

Robinson
Mills
Matteo
Woodgate
Harte
Smith
Bowyer
Dacourt
Barmby
Viduka
Kewell

[pething101]

Game on.

Ferdinand getting a lovely welcome.

Smith and Viduka try to combine early but to no avail.

Foul by RVN on Mills. Robinson plays it long. Smith flick ... Barmby with a chance but canot make good contact.

[pething101]

Beckham free kick ... cleared away by Woodgate.

4 min in. 0-0

Right footed shot by Beckham goes over the goal for a goal kick.

"No shape no pattern to this game at the moment"

Viduka tries to turn, foul on Neville. "No doubt about that one"

Harte takes kick. Leeds earn a corner as Barthex is unable to keep possession.

Viduka with a great chance. Should have done better with it but to no avail.

[pething101]

Kewell brings ball into area but played away by Blanc.

Give away to Giggs ... 3 on 3 ... break is squandered.

Bowyer goes for the curling ball in which goes straight over the top.

"Too many cooks spoiling the broth for both teams"

[pething101]

MU earns thier first corner. Becks to take. Right footed inswinger. Mills plays it away.

Foul by Leeds give MU a dangerous free kick. Becks and Gigg over the ball, Ferdinand up with Blanc ... lots of jostling. Giggs goes near post but away by Smith.

Leeds counter. Kewell goes for goal from 30 but it goes over the yard. "Had the power but not the dip."

[pething101]

Wonderfull control from RVN. Gets inside but played away by Robinson. Corner.

Nothing comes of the corner.

15 minutes in. 0-0.

Kewell loses footing in the box ... weak claims for a pk from Bowyer.

Free kick for Leeds, Harte to take. Man U mix up as ball goes off Ferdinand over the bar. Husband and wife play between Bartez and Rio.

[pething101]

Ball played into Viduka in the area but goes off his heels for a goal kick.

20 minutes in, 0-0.

[pething101]

Blatant elbow from Becks. "Clear as day". Leeds fans are not happy. No card.

[pething101]

"This a real midfield battle"

MU move forward with some pace, Woodgate clears.

25 minutes in.

Ole Gunnar gets around Woodgate but he recovers enough to force a throw for MU.

Leeds strive forward ... good battle bewtween Sylvestre and Kewell. The Frenchman wins this one.

[pething101]

0-0 still.

Ferdinand in his own box hesistates ... almost allows Viduka in but nothing comes of it.

Again, Matteo intervenes and breaks up a Man U effort.

Free kick for Man U. Thirty yards from goal, just to the left. Becks to take. Right footed. Goes for goal. Harte with the stop and clearance.

Ole Gunnar gets to the byline but nothing comes of it.

Offsides on RVN.

[pething101]

35 minutes in. 0-0

Viduka with a foul on O'Shea. Free kick to MU.

Righted footed cross headed away by Woodgate ... needless corner given away by Bowyer.

Becks to take. Right footed. Inswinger. Harte clears.

Tackle from Woodgate on RVN ends a MU challenge. Corner.

Giggs takes, Sylvestre wtih a header. Goes wide. SHould have done better with that.

[pething101]

Flick header cleared by Woodgate off the line.

Leeds have been under some conssitent pressure in the last 10 minutes.

Woodgate again interupts a MU attack.

Butt shot. Well saved from Robinson. "Not the most difficult but collected well."

Mills delivers into the box ... goes straight through. Throw for MU.

[pething101]

Kewell with the curler... straight to Bartez.

Not much time to be added onto this one.

Becks goes down. Earns a free kick.

Halftime whistle.

0-0

[pething101]

Radebe and Bakke on for Barmby and Matteo.