THE days of plenty are a thing of the past at Leeds, and manager Kevin Blackwell waxed eloquent about how spirit and loyalty must replace purchased talent.

“Frazer Richardson, who scored our winner, lives just 30 miles away and he’s a Leeds fan through and through, a real Yorkshire boy,” said Blackwell. “Team spirit was there today and it is going to be a massive factor this season. If one player lost the ball, then a second was there to win it back.”

One of the positive factors in the new Leeds that Blackwell saw is how young home-bred talent can savour first-team football more readily. “We played a sprinkling of them today — Richardson, Simon Walton, Matthew Kilgallon. The situation means they can move up in their careers,” he said.

Blackwell’s positive comments did not come without qualification as he acknowledged that his men were “rusty” and often “showed a lack of understanding”.

He was rightly critical of the wastefulness of Michael Ricketts and Julian Joachim, if not their overall performance. On the day, Ricketts looked the weaker of the two, whereas Joachim’s speed invited comparison with Rod Wallace in his Leeds heyday.

With 17 players out and 11 in, Leeds were as nervous as they were new in the early stages, and it took them until the 17th minute to gain their first smidgin of confidence.

A superb floated centre from Jermaine Wright reached former Manchester United player Danny Pugh, and his header was beaten out by the impressive Derby goalkeeper Lee Camp.

Shortly after that, a superb flicked header by Ricketts split the Derby ranks. Richard Jackson and Michael Johnson were left floundering as Joachim powered through, but the forward fired inches past the left upright.

Derby’s Marcus Tudgay had caused quite a few panicky moments at the outset, but there was never a strike partner at hand to take full advantage. Tommy Smith can swivel through the opposition ranks but lacks a telling shot and Tom Huddlestone was losing precious seconds chasing forward from his midfield position.

With Pugh and Richardson providing important back-up to the attacking partnership of Joachim and Ricketts, relegated Leeds emerged from their early torpor and virtually camped out in the Derby half.

Morten Bisgaard and Inigo Idiakez caught the eye with occasional forays. In one of them, Johnson fiercely headed home Idiakez’s corner, but the “goal” was disallowed because the ball had gone out of play.

Leeds began the second half sluggishly and it was not until Pugh won a free kick after being sandwiched by Jeff Kenna and Idiakez that the Derby goal was threatened. Wright’s kick was headed narrowly over by central defender Michael Duberry.

Ian Taylor’s fine ball to Smith nearly brought reward, but Smith’s effort was desperately deflected to safety by Paul Butler.

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