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Leeds United: Pressure's not on us - Penney
As Leeds United discovered at Histon last season, the most difficult FA Cup draws are not always the obvious ones.
Cut down in a Cambridgeshire mud-bath, Leeds were shown the true worth of favouritism and reputation when non-league surroundings come into play.
Their 1-0 defeat at the obscurely-titled Glassworld Stadium, inflicted by a postman's header, was humiliation at its worst.
There were, then, worse draws available in the first round of this season's competition than a game at Oldham Athletic, a club and a location that Leeds know well.
The cameras that will show Saturday's match in a unique Internet broadcast are not being sent to Boundary Park in search of a ridiculous upset.
Dave Penney, Oldham's manager, admitted that his team had been drawn against "the best side in the competition", a fair opinion of United's seven-point lead at the top of League One and the fact that Premier League and Championship clubs do not enter the FA Cup until January, but the pairing was satisfactory for him.
Presented with a home tie against a club who hold no surprises, Penney would not trade Oldham's task with those thrown at Norwich City and Walsall, teams who will suffer the dubious hospitality of Southern League opposition on Saturday.
Sometimes, says Penney, familiarity is as much as a manager can ask for, even if it comes in the form of the strongest team beneath England's upper two divisions.
"Leeds is a good draw, for us and for them," said Penney. "I thought that as soon as we came out of the hat.
"Admittedly, we're playing the best team in the competition, but we're not in for any surprises when the game kicks off.
"They know us, we know them and we're on our own turf. It's an ideal scenario.
"There were probably easier draws out there in terms of the non-league teams floating around but it's much more difficult to plan for opposition who you know nothing about and whose pitch might be awful. It's always designed for an upset.
"Mentally, it's more difficult to get your head around those games and there's a lot pressure on you to win.
"At the same time, all the neutrals are crossing their fingers, hoping you'll be embarrassed. Leeds at home will do us fine.
"It's a standard response as a manager to say that you want a home tie but, for a club like us in League One this season, it's absolutely true.
"We're dealing with long trip after long trip and so are Leeds. Every club in the north of England is getting through plenty of mileage. I reckon it suits us both to be playing at Boundary Park."
Penney should not be caught cold by Grayson's players or tactics after watching their 4-0 victory over Yeovil Town last Saturday, an accurate display of the clinical streak that Leeds have shown this season.
The rearrangement of Oldham's match against Huddersfield Town to Sunday afternoon gave Penney the freedom to attend Elland Road and assess whether United's seven-point advantage in League One was an accurate portrayal of their ability.
"You only need to look at the goals they're scoring to understand why they're top of the league," he said.
"To go away to Bristol Rovers and score four and then do the same against Yeovil a few days later says to me that they're in a strong position on merit."
That strong position has been underpinned by Grayson's ability to manipulate the transfer market in a way that few of his managerial colleagues in League One are able to.
With injuries biting last month, Leeds signed Welsh international Sam Vokes on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers and secured a bona fide winger in Max Gradel on a temporary deal from Leicester City.
Penney saw Gradel assist a performance on Saturday which was flagging until he and Neil Kilkenny were raised from the bench with half-an-hour to play, and Oldham's manager could only concede that United's financial clout is vastly superior to that of the club he manages.
Oldham have themselves be constrained by injuries this season, but there are greater limits to Penney's recruitment power.
Leeds loaned him left-back Alan Sheehan at the start of September but Penney would have lacked the money required to bring in a player of Vokes' value and reputation. It is not something he resents.
"Every division has disparity," he said. "You've got the haves and the have nots.
"In the Premier League, it's the comparison between Manchester United and Portsmouth, for example. In our league, you'd compare and contrast Leeds with quite a few clubs.
"They're not the only ones. Norwich and Charlton have very good squads – squads you'd expect to get them out of the league – but Leeds are the team who are making the most of their potential.
"Quality makes a big difference but promotion still comes down to being organised, consistent and confident. Leeds are showing all those qualities.
"I don't beat myself up about other managers having bigger budgets than me because you're paid to do your own job.
"I knew the brief when I came here and I agreed to work with it. I'm the last person who should be telling a board to spend more than is sensible.
"When I was manager of Darlington, it seemed for a long time that everything at the club was in tip-top condition.
"Then I found out that things were out of control behind the scenes and we wound up in administration.
Budget
“It ruins your season and if that’s the result of stretching your budget too far then give me common sense every time.
“But we’re good enough to beat Leeds and it’s not an easy game for either club. I still think both of us would have taken the draw before it was made.”
Boundary Park is not known as England’s most hospitable stadium – it is rather reputed to be the country’s coldest ground – but is has nothing on Histon, a venue which was turned into a pond by torrential rain in the south of England in time for United’s arrival 12 months ago.
After a fortnight in which Leeds have been required to visit Millwall and Bristol Rovers – an example of the demands of a division which has few northern representatives – it will suit Grayson to take his players on a 35-mile journey down the M62, to a stadium they played in at the beginning of March.
“A few clubs will get their eyes opened this weekend because the FA Cup can take you to some funny places,” Penney said.
“This is more like a league game and I’m sure we’ll both treat it as seriously as that.
“Leeds are the form team and expected to win, by everyone except me, our players and our fans.
“I wouldn’t say there’s massive pressure on us.”
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Weather for Leeds
Saturday 11 February 2012
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Temperature: -2 C to 0 C
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