Welcome back, Lillywhites!

Our Niall is navigating his way through Season 11, and the next challenge of Promotion to the Premier League. You join our hero 15 games into the season, and managing a domestic campaign with Europe.

We open the account this week in Europe, taking on Spartak Moscow in the second round of the Cup Winners Cup. After a tight first half, substitute Alan Shearer junior scores two after a Rebrov opener to put us in control.

Colchester are currently bottom of Division 1 and I use the opportunity to rest Rebrov, in favour of Big Al’s regen. Barrett scores two more. The 17 yo is on fire this week!

Remember when Brentford knocked us out of the League Cup? Well the buggy little AI has decided to re-run the game for shits and giggles.

We win. But won’t progress as the previous result stands.

I ask our maestro, Dave, what’s going on in the BlogSquad WhatsApp chat. Apparently it can happen when the AI rearranges fixtures for internationals or when clubs are too close geographically (e.g you will often get this bug with Man City). It’ll move the match, but forget to cancel the original one. Alas, it’s a bonus game for us on the quest for Neil’s game total.

Anyhow, this scenario seems strange to me. Less than £1m asking price and David thinks its too high? I’m going to try and exploit it.

We move to the top of the table after a routine win against Coventry. Young starlett Serrant scores against his old club. Veteran Vagner pops up with another goal from full back. That’s three this season?

Boom. Watch out Europe…

Balls.

Trezeguet’s introduction to life in the English league pyramid is a fixture against fellow promotion hopefuls (and my former employers) Nottingham Forest. It’s a tight game, but Matt ‘Kev Clarke’ Le Tissier nets a late winner to move us top of the table.

We have a three goal head start against Spartak in the CWC return leg. We’re never in any danger after Pistone cancels out Mihailov’s opener. Bruno, still trying to make it up to the Leeds faithful, scores the winner on the night and leaves us 5-1 aggerate victors.

David Trezeguet nets his first Leeds goals in a dark, damp Fratton park. It’s a day I’m sure he’ll never forget… the lads only have two days in between fixtures, so do well to grind out a draw.

We bring up our twentieth league game with a narrow victory at York. Tired legs kick on…

We start to see some daylight ahead of the chasing Ipswich, Palace and Forest.

Another 1-0 win against another former employer. I can hear, “boring, boring, Arsenal” mock chants reverberate around Elland Road.

The lads get a full seven days of rest. Sure they are now raring to go…. Urm, yup. That’s three 1-0 wins on the bounce. Neighbors Huddersfield the latest side to get bored.

The sheets remain clean as Barnsley are the latest team held. Where’s Trez’ you ask?

Obviously he’s not used to the cold after moving from the French Riviera. We draw again, and lose Alfie Haaland to injury.

Finally some goal action. I take Trez out of the firing line and youngster Phil Serrant reminds me why he should play. Rebrov is being as consistent as ever.

Former striker Freddy Asprilla downs us against Palace. You may remember he’s the regen of Tino, and a Leon/Asprilla hybrid beast.

The loss means the lead we’ve assumed is dropped to 8 points, rather than extended to 12 (from Ipswich). Still – a healthy lead with 20 league games to go!

We draw the third game in five, as West Brom put us on the back foot early. Our German general restored parity but we cannot capitalize.

I may regret this.. I cash in on our Captain and defensive rock, Kirk Sorvel. Christian Westley is also moved on to make some space in the squad.

I sign the transfer listed Cec (Craig Short) Dunnett, whom I’ve had on loan this season.

Cec is joined by Strictly’s twinkle toed David (Tony Adams) Valentine. Seems like a swap with Villa – one CB for another.

A rare goal for Leonardo’s regen Adilson helps us on the way to a win at Walsall. Still not much in the way of goals for Trezeguet.

The first games of the new year always signal a return of FA Cup football. This time we line up in the third round against York City. Trezeguet breaks his goal drought!

We were beaten finalists last year. Let’s see how far we can go!

Gameweek 29 sees us secure a 1-1 draw at Wolves. We need to keep grinding out results to make sure we stay ahead in the league.

We end this episode with a comfortable 4-1 win against Gillingham. It’s a rare goal for Henning Berg’s regen.

That means the table looks like this; nine points clear and 16 league games to go.

Join us next week as we conclude season eleven; continuing an FA Cup run and Cup Winners Cup run. Hopefully we can see some more of our French talisman, David Trezeguet. Until next time!