As quickly as automatic promotion was looking more likely and in our own hands, one defeat means that is no longer the case.


The most disappointing thing about this game was our lack of creativity, but that may just be the kick up the arse the players need to move up a gear or two for the last 7 games of the season if we are to have any chance of automatic promotion.


It was a fairly uneventful game all round with neither team having many clear-cut chances but when Palace's fell to McAnuff just before half time he buried it and at that point, the way we were playing I knew we were going to struggle to get back into it without the fair slice of luck we have been enjoying recently and so it proved.


Let's not be too despondent though and put the game into perspective, it is only our second loss in 16 games and we have an ideal opportunity to get back on track this Saturday with a home game against a Stoke team who have nothing to play for.


We remain Marching on Together.

Elland Road Tuesday 21st March 7.45pm.


This will be a big test of the character of our boys but I think they are going to be up to it, this is exactly the sort of game KB was planning for when he signed players like Derry, Lewis, Butler and Blake they have all been here before and they will not be fazed.


Unless we picked up any injuries I am not aware of at the weekend we are going to field the same team we started with at Coventry so I think KB will resist the temptation to bring David Healy back to the starting line up, in fact I think we will probably go with the same bench as the weekend as well.


Palace have restored Riihilahti to the line up since we last played them but they will otherwise trot out similar team to the one that started against us just a couple of weeks ago. They will see this as a game they have to win if they want to stay in contention for the second automatic promotion spot, lose and they will be looking over their shoulders at other possible play off contenders.


By the time we kick off we may be back in fourth place depending on Watford’s result against the Saints tonight but that should not matter to us, we win and our destiny remains in our own hands for those final 7 games each of the contenders will then have to decide who goes up with Reading.


I expect Palace to play us on the break and we should be better equipped for that with Killa back, we always have the potential to score.


Prediction: Leeds 1 v Palace 0 (A draw would not be the end of the world)

What a weekend, first the blunts drop points at home to Crewe then we win at Palace, Watford drop points at home to Derby and Reading win to give the blunts no chance of catching them, how much better does it get?


I was expecting more from Palace and having now played all our potential play off rivals (the blunts are still odds on to go straight up) Watford look to me to be the only ones who could cause us problems.

We made just the one change from last week with Shaun Derry coming back in for David Healy who was dropped to a bench with not one defender on it.
We started much the better and Palace keeper Kiraly had to make a brilliant save early on from a Douglas header. There were other efforts notably from Eddie Lewis whose shot was just wide before the fist goal came on 33 and it was another well worked effort. A 40 yard counter attacking run from Miller over half way then set Hulse away to the right hand corner of the Palace 18 yard box, Hulse cut it back and Robbie Blake was there to tap home.

0 - 1 to Leeds and we deserved it.
We should have been further in front just before the break when Kiraly completely missed a cross leaving Eddie Lewis with a free header. That fact that it reached him must have surprised Lewis and he headed well wide of an open goal.


HT 0-1 Leeds


Within 7 minutes of the restart we were two up, good passing between Miller, Douglas and Kelly ended with another good low cross which Rob Hulse met to smash home off the underside of the bar and end his recent goal drought.

0-2.
We were looking good at the stage and it was only after Dowie sent on a couple of subs around the hour mark that Palace started to play a bit and had their first effort on goal, we saw out a rough patch of about 15 minutes but just when it seemed we had seen them off and half the Palace fans were heading for the exits, 2 minutes into injury time, McAnuff scored for Palace with an excellent long range effort out of nothing.

There was still time for a frantic finish where Rob Hulse had a good chance to make it 1-3 and Douglas managed to get in the way of a goalbound effort from Johnson(yes he was playing), another brilliant away win.


We are now just the 6 points behind the Blunts with a game in hand(at home to Palace on the 21st March), next up we have Norwich at ER the blunts are away at Cov and Watford at Reading.

After the Blunts could only draw against bottom club Crewe last night the pressure to go out and win this one is off, just a little.


The blunts are panicking big time and no one more than their leader - they need a good night out but can't have one.
KB reckons this game and the return in just over a fortnight will be two of the toughest of the season and I think if we get 4 points from the 2 matches that will be enough to set us up for the run in.

Shaun Derry should be back after his two game suspension and all international players have returned without injury so we are missing the 3 long term injured Killa, Richardson and Cress.


Palace are likely to go with the same team that hammered Norwich last week so Gregan and Butler are going to need plenty of protection from the midfield boys, particularly in the first 15 minutes. Palace will probably start as favourites and will come at us early. Our midfield will be the key, perform and we could come away with all three points, minimum 1 point, what I hope we do not do is go with the intention of getting a draw, that’s not our style.
Prediction 1-1


Come on Leeds!!!!