2005-06 and It's reasonable to suggest that this was Kevin Blackwell's first real season in charge.
Free from the backroom concerns that dogged his first season as manager and this time Blackwell now
had money to spend. Blackwell added to his new squad bringing in the likes of Robbie Blake from
Birmingham City for £800,000, Richard Cresswell from Preston for £115,0000 and Joel Griffiths from
Neuchâtel Xamax for £150,000. Blackwell brought in more free signings; Steve Stone previously
of Portsmouth and Eddie Lewis coming from Preston. Jonathan Douglas, Liam Miller and Danny Graham
also came in on loan to add to Blackwell's growing squad.
Realistically this was never going to be the season for promotion. Blackwell and chairman Ken Bates
had cited a three year plan to get Leeds back where they belonged. A season at least was needed for
the squad to gel and find their feet with their new team mates. Any squad that was going to hold its
own in the Premiership should have at least a season together. Good early season runs had given Reading
and Sheffield United the bolster they needed to see them both make the automatic promotion spots. Although
at one stage Blackwell's team managed to get within shouting distance of the eventual runners up Sheffield
United prompting the chairman Ken Bates to give Blackwell a three year extension to his contract.
Unfortunately this show of confidence by the chairman was not reflected on the pitch and one can easily
pin point United's turn in fortune to the time when Blackwell was given his contract. But despite the lack of
success towards the end of the season; Leeds just managed one win in the last ten league games, Blackwell's
Leeds United still managed to make it to the play-off's finishing in 5th position. Leeds United beat Preston
in the Play Off Semi Final over two legs. The American Eddie Lewis scored in the 1-1 draw at Elland Road
with Rob Hulse and Frazer Richardson netting in the 2-0 victory at Preston's ground Deepdale. In the final
and any early season class and commitment was totally lost. Leeds United were easily beaten 3-0 by Watford
in Cardiff. Maybe too much too soon for Blackwell and his team but despite an early exit in the FA Cup at
the hands of Wigan and a 3rd round exit in the FL Cup with Blackburn winning 3-0 it was the promising spells
in the league and the push to the Play Off Final at Cardiff that confirmed Leeds United were on their
way back and far from finished.
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Hulse Action
Blackwell Claps
Fans ~ Cardiff
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