Koumas scores a cracker as City beat Leeds

Last updated : 10 August 2005 By Michael Morris
Koumas
If you could write the script for your debut then I'm sure Jason Koumas would have penned something similar to what happened tonight.

City were a goal down at half time and in my view Leeds were the better side. I've seen Dave Jones' post match interview and he thinks City were on top because of possession but I thought Leeds had done a good job on us in the first half. We failed in the final third and Leeds had took one of the few chances they created.

The Leeds goal came from a move down the Leeds right. The defenders did not anticipate the danger and allowed Robbie Blake a clean cut finish in front of goal.

For the second half City came out and looked a little more determined. They were attacking the Grange End and they appeared to get the ball higher up the field but that urge to shoot was missing. Leeds could have secured the points when good work on the Leeds left saw the loose ball run to Wright who sidefooted wide when he should have scored.

It all changed when Koumas came on. The substitution was made on 67 mins. Off went Wille Boland and Koumas came on to a massive cheer. The crowd was declared at over 15,000, apart from 900 Leeds fans the whole lot of them gave Koumas a rousing reception.

What happened next was fairytale. Koumas took possession wide right, he skipped inside and angled himself towards goal, Leeds thought he was safe enough some 30 yards from goal but then he unleashed a left foot curler that flew past Neil Sullivan and brought City level.

The Bluebirds upped the tempo and went for Leeds. It didn't take long. A Neal Ardley free kick was handled by Kilgallon. Darren Purse took the ball and blasted the penalty past the diving Sullivan.

There were some scares. Chris Barker cleared off the line, Gregan headed just wide (he was flagged for offside but we didn't know that when he went close).

Leeds were starting to lose their cool. Dan Harding played a ball to Sean Derry. Derry had to foul to try and get possession and his reaction was to launch himself at Harding with plenty of verbals, he aimed a headbutt at his own player that earned him a yellow card. It could and possibly should have been red.

City saw out the 3 mins injury time with Mulryne coming on the pitch and some solid defending.

The celebrations at full time were superb.

Win by 5 goals on Friday and we'll be top of the table. Easy.