Sport

Leeds struggle to score

There were a few raised eyebrows when Robbie Keane agreed to return to England from Italy as Leeds seemed to have an abundance…

By DAVE ALEXANDER
Mon Jan 08 2001 - 00:00

There were a few raised eyebrows when Robbie Keane agreed to return to England from Italy as Leeds seemed to have an abundance of quality strikers. But the statistics do not bear this out. Leeds are not scoring enough goals and, as a result, the pressure is on the Irish striker.

If they do not start to come up with goals quickly, Leeds will not qualify for Europe again next season after a 12-month period in which over £35 million sterling will have been invested in players, with an additional £13 million due on Keane in the summer.

In their last 12 matches they have scored more than once on a single occasion, a record that has left them nearer relegation than a European-qualifying place in the league.

Mark Viduka scored his 14th of the season as the problem continued against Barnsley. His ninth-minute strike guaranteed a place in the fourth round but, even with Keane pushed in behind the front two, that is the way it stayed despite a number of first-half chances. And it left Leeds to experience one or two uncomfortable moments late in the second half.

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Viduka admitted that the attackers are not doing sufficient damage: "We could have been more convincing up front and I would have liked my general play to be better," he said.

The Leeds manager David O'Leary stressed he did not want to offer excuses but revealed he does not like to play with three central strikers: "We don't have any width and the players who can provide it are not fit," he said.

Barnsley did produce three on-target attempts in their one good spell late in the game and striker Neil Shipperley believed they merited a replay: "We looked good in the second half, played some great stuff and deserved something."

Leeds: Robinson, Mills, Radebe, Ferdinand, Matteo, Bakke, Dacourt, Batty, Viduka, Smith, Keane (Wilcox 86). Subs Not Used: Martyn, Harte, Woodgate, Burns. Goals: Viduka 9.

Barnsley: Miller, Morgan (Corbo 75), Barker, Chettle, O'Callaghan, Salli, Ward (McClare 29), Neil, Appleby (Dyer 46), Shipperley, Sheron. Subs Not Used: Jones, Bullock. Booked: Ward, O'Callaghan, Salli.

Referee: G Poll (Tring).