More clean sheets for Bulls than Leeds

Surprisingly to date this season Hereford United have kept more clean sheets than Leeds United but lie at opposite ends of the League One table. An article in the Yorkshire Evening Post looks at how this has happened.

The best defence is a good offence, or so it is said on the far side of the Atlantic. Leeds United have lived by that motto this season, though perhaps not through Gary McAllister's choosing, and it is often true that the strongest antidote to a weak defence is an attacking system which knows no bounds.

United, for example, have recorded fewer clean sheets than Hereford United but hold a position of ascendancy that Hereford do not. While Leeds have a modest chance of leading League One after their meeting with Walsall tomorrow, Hereford are more likely to be found propping the division up.

Graham Turner's problem is a lack of compensation for the goals his team concede, compensation that Leeds receive regularly from their reliable attack.

In total this season, Hereford have scored 10 times, reaching double figures for the first time on Tuesday evening. Between them, Jermaine Beckford and Luciano Becchio have supplied Leeds with twice as many goals.

The crucial difference between the clubs is United's ability to play their way out of trouble, as they did against Leyton Orient three days ago.

This season's results have shown that United are a team who can expect to routinely outscore their opposition.

McAllister should be pleased about that since his intention from the day of his appointment as manager was to design a squad who ooze positivity and treat victory with more interest and a value than the avoidance of defeat.

His players have acquired a strong taste for goals, and their attacking mentality is pleasing on the eye, but their potency this season has also been essential.

Without it, their sub-standard defensive record would likely have come at a greater cost than three league defeats. Leeds are a classic example of a team who are difficult to beat because of their attacking prowess, rather than their defence.

---