carver

Woody · Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2006 8:58 pm Post subject: carver

Caretaker-manager John Carver admitted his chances of landing the Leeds job permanently may have gone after Leeds' crushing 4-0 home defeat at the hands of Stoke.

Stoke's first away win of the season left Leeds in the bottom three in the Coca-Cola Championship and Carver said after the Elland Road trouncing: "It is not a good result for anyone at this club and for me in particular.

"I am disappointed because I see this as an opportunity.

"I know what my ambitions are but I have to be quite honest and say possibly this ends my chance of getting the job.

"The result doesn't help my cause but I will take it on the chin."

Carver added: "It was a dreadful day and my first apology is to the fans because we had built their hopes up.

"I take the responsibility because I picked the team. The second half disappointed me and everybody watching.

"I have never been in a situation like this and it is a lonely place out there."

Stoke manager Tony Pulis was jubilant. "It was a smashing result against a big club with good players.

"I think we've been in front in six games this season without winning those matches, so it was good to get a victory and a clean sheet.

"I am so pleased with Lee Hendrie. The players have taken to him immensely and he has that quality that is so important in this league."

Hendrie, playing only his second game on loan from Aston Villa, curled in a spectacular free-kick to give Stoke a seventh minute lead.

Leeds defender Matthew Kilgallon was booked for wrestling Stoke's recalled striker Vincent Pericard just outside the penalty box and Hendrie's perfectly flighted free-kick beat Neil Sullivan at his near post.

It was a disappointing start for Sullivan in his first league appearance of the season and Stoke should have doubled their lead five minutes later, only for Leeds captain Paul Butler - making his 100th appearance for the club - to deny Mamady Sidibe with a perfectly timed tackle eight yards out.

It was Leeds' turn to curse their luck when Steve Simonsen made a fingertip save to prevent Geoff Horsfield's header finding the far corner of the net and Eddie Lewis failed to stab home the rebound.

Leeds lost the limping Horsfield in the 26th minute, Richard Cresswell leaving the bench for his first senior game of the season, after recovering from knee damage.

Sullivan was beaten again in the 58th minute by Andy Griffin's angled shot from the left, Danny Higginbotham headed in Hendrie's corner five minutes later and Ricardo Fuller shot past Sullivan for the fourth two minutes from the end.

Leeds even missed a penalty, Robbie Blake having his 80th minute spot-kick saved by Steve Simonsen after Michael Duberry handled.

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