Match Report: Leeds United coast to comprehensive win over Guiseley
Saturday, 8th Jul 2017 18:02 by @LucasMonk_
In their second outing of pre-season under the tutelage of their recently installed head coach, Thomas Christiansen, the Leeds United players emerged from today's meeting with Guiseley as 5-1 victors.
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On a glorious summer's afternoon at Nethemoor Park, goals from winger Stuart Dallas (2) in addition to further efforts from forwards Lee Erwin (2) and Marcus Antonsson ensured that Leeds United emerged from their latest pre-season encounter as comfortable victors .
Line-ups
Leeds United (First-Half, 4-2-3-1) - Green; Ayling, Bellusci, Jansson, Denton; O'Kane, Phillips; Dallas, Hernandez, Roofe; Antonsson.
Leeds United (Second-Half, 4-3-3) - Wiedwald; McKay, Diagouraga, Cooper, Berardi; Vieira, Bridcutt, Gomes; Sacko, Doukara, Erwin.
Guiseley - Maxted; Taylor, Williams, Trialist, Palmer; Lawlor, Trialist, Hatfield, Thompson; Trialist, Trialist.
First-Half
Leeds, who were without the services of midfielders Mateusz Klich and Vurnon Anita, made a sprightly start to the match with Stuart Dallas opening the scoring with not even a minute elapsed. The Northern Ireland international, 26, expertly lashed the ball into the top-left corner with considerable aplomb.
Following the goal, opportunities to further increase the margin of United's lead were soon presented to Marcus Antonsson and defender Luke Ayling respectively; a Eunan O'Kane through-ball narrowly evaded the former before Ayling curled an effort marginally wide of the far post after cutting infield from the right channel.
The Whites would double their lead with 27 minutes played with Dallas scoring his second of the match with another sumptuous strike that meandered in the air, giving Guiseley 'keeper Jonny Maxted no chance of preventing a second visiting goal.
Leeds would, though, suffer a minor setback immediately after increasing their advantage. An unnamed trialist superbly found the top-right corner from inside the penalty area in a manoeuvre that will doubtless have impressed his potential employers.
Not content with the now slender size of their lead over their National League opponents, Thomas Christiansen's charges worked assiduously to respond in a professional manner and were soon in the ascendancy just five minutes later. After a mesmeric run into the opposing area by Pablo Hernandez, well-placed was Swedish striker Antonsson who calmly converted from close-range to hand his side a 3-1 advantage.
With half-time fast approaching and the match in its 44th minute, Antonsson came excruciatingly close to scoring once more with a header; unfortunately for the Swede, an attentive Maxted was able to save well to spare his team an increased deficit.
Second-Half
For the second period, head coach Thomas Christiansen elected to make overarching changes to his side. On came no less than 11 substitutes, among them were recent signing Madger Gomes, last-season's club captain Liam Bridcutt and tireless forward Souleymane Doukara.
A mere 13 second-half minutes passed before the substitutions of the former Apoel Nicosia impresario took effect. The aforementioned Gomes had gone close just a minute into the half, but on 58 minutes Lee Erwin, who netted in United's last outing against Harrogate, made it four for United; after he converted Hadi Sacko's driven, low cross from the right.
10 minutes passed before Gomes, a Spanish left-winger acquired on a free transfer from Liverpool last month, chanced his arm from close proximity after a square ball from Sacko. If not for the vital contribution of home defender Danny East, the 20-year-old would mos t certainly have scored a fifth for the Whites.
With Guiseley now heavily fatigued and the game nearing its conclusion, Erwin would score his third goal in two matches after poking home a rebound following an initial effort from Doukara.
Full-Time: Post-Match Analysis
An expectedly comprehensive, perhaps even facile, victory for Thomas Christiansen in only his second outing as Leeds United head coach. With it, an ideal outcome too.
Zilch in the way of injuries, a full-half of football for the 22 players involved and crucially, a clear display of his side's determination to deliver for the Leeds United supporters in the forthcoming season.
The Whites emerge from this encounter with much credit for their diligence and professional approach toward the match, and will now look forth to Wednesday's visit to North Ferriby United.
"TO ELL AND BACK"
