Complacency is off United's menu (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Complacency is off United's menu

8:55pm Sunday 25th January 2009 in Sport By John Wray

Leeds United 3, Peterborough United 1

Manager Simon Grayson has banned complacency against Southend at Elland Road on Tuesday night as Leeds United bid to complete a third successive Coca-Cola League One win for the first time since September.

United held a lofty third place after their last three-match winning sequence and Grayson is hoping for the kind of run that will carry his team into the top end of the leading six.

Back-to-back victories over Brighton and Peterborough have breathed fresh confidence into players who have under-achieved in recent months and yesterday’s entertaining home success against in-form Peterborough was a measure of the progress made since Grayson succeeded Gary McAllister just before Christmas.

The manager’s use of substitutes paid rich dividends yesterday as leading scorer Jermaine Beckford left the bench to score twice and fellow substitute Jonny Howson struck United’s third goal from a pass by co-sub Robert Snodgrass.

Grayson’s loyalty to the attack that played against Brighton melted with the score goalless after 58 minutes, so the manager sent on Beckford in place of Luciano Becchio and the game turned in United’s favour.

Joe Lewis, Peterborough’s England Under-21 keeper, had made two stunning saves to deny Andy Robinson in the first half but he was at fault in failing to hold Bradley Johnson’s admittedly powerful free-kick and Beckford was on hand to punish the error on 62 minutes.

Beckford’s second goal, nine minutes later, was his 21st of the season and it was a real gem.

He made a determined run before showing bewildering footwork to wrong-foot defender Craig Morgan. Beckford then deceived Lewis with an exquisite finish to the keeper’s right, celebrated in style by a player who knew it was delivered with a touch of class.

Despite the vastly-improved defending that has been apparent since Richard Naylor and Carl Dickinson arrived on loan, United conceded a goal to the prolific Craig Mackail-Smith ten minutes from the end, after the impressive George Boyd had headed against the bar, but Grayson’s men regrouped.

A minute into injury-time, Howson had his first shot saved when he should have scored from Beckford’s inventive pass.

The ball was returned into the goalmouth by Snodgrass and this time Howson made no mistake.

Grayson is delighted that Tuesday's home game comes so soon after Saturday’s success.

He said: “We have won two games on the trot and the best thing after winning on a Saturday is to play again quickly to keep the momentum going.

“If the players step below the mark they set against Peterborough, we won’t get the result we want. If you don’t work hard you don’t win matches.

"We have looked hard to beat and well organised in the last two matches and as the games have developed we have shown our quality.

“Football has a nasty way of kicking you up the backside if you get complacent, so that is one thing I won’t do and the players won’t do. We will remain level-headed and look to kick on.”

Grayson revealed that from the moment he arrived at the club he believed he could improve the players’ performances.

“We have had a decent start since I took over but we have achieved nothing,” he added.

“What matters is where we finish in the first week of May. Hopefully that will be somewhere in the top six and preferably at the top end of that top six.”

Right back Frazer Richardson is again expected to be missing against Southend with a thigh injury but Grayson hopes Robinson will recover from a tightened calf in time to keep his place.