Becchio set for Norwich City

Leeds United striker Luciano Becchio is reported to be in talks with Norwich City over a proposed transfer to the Premiership club. Becchio handed in a transfer request earlier this month, and he has attracted attention from a number of clubs.Leeds have rejected bids from the continent, but now a deal with Norwich looks to be close, with Norwich striker Steve Morison included as part of the package. Morison is reported to be in Leeds for a medical.Morison joined Norwich from Millwall in 2011 having scored 35 goals in 83 appearances.

Becchio Transfer Request rocks Leeds United

Leeds United striker Luciano Becchio has requested a move away from Elland Road after talks over a new contract broke down.The 29-year-old, who joined theclu b from Spanish club Merida in 2008, has already been targeted by two overseas clubs during this transfer window.Leeds admitted that Becchio's wage demands were 'beyond a level we could support' but added he would not be sold unless the price was right.A club statement read: 'Luciano Becchio, who has been the subject of two separate bids from foreign clubs during the January transfer window, has handed in a transfer request to the club, as financially he believes his best interests are served by a move away from Leeds United.'Both bids have been rejected and the player will only be allowed to leave in the event that an acceptable offer is received.'The club have sought to agree the terms of a new contract with the player, who is already the highest earner, but the requested terms were beyond a level that we could support, particularly in view of the regulations relating to financial fair play that will be effective in coming seasons.'It is disappointing that this situation has occurred when he is under contract until 30th June 2014.'Argentine Becchio has played 221 matches in all competition for Leeds, scoring 86 times.

Birmingham 1-2 Leeds

Leeds United set up an FA Cup tie at home against Tottenham after coming from behind to beat Birmingham 2-1 in their third-round replay. Wade Elliott put Birmingham ahead shortly after the half-hour mark, just as he had done in the initial meeting which finished 1-1 10 days ago. But once again Leeds levelled after the break, this time courtesy of Ross McCormack's first goal since September - an effort which had not looked like coming with 19-goal striker Luciano Becchio, a reported January transfer target for a handful of clubs, missing due to illness. El-Hadji Diouf, celebrating his 32nd birthday, then quickly completed the turnaround, keeping his cool to chip home from the penalty spot after Paul Robinson had been penalised for handball. It means Leeds will now host Spurs in the fourth round of the competition in a televised clash next Sunday, denying cash-strapped Birmingham the chance to pick up a welcome sum in the region of £200,000. United's first win at St Andrew's since 1996 also provided them with their 100th in FA Cup history and sealed progress from the third round for only the second time in 10 years.

FA Cup Leeds 1-1 Birmingham

Luciano Becchio was Leeds’ saviour once more as his second-half goal against Birmingham kept Leeds in the FA Cup. The in-form Argentine scored his 19th goal of the season on the hour to cancel out Wade Elliott’s opener and keep Leeds in with a chance of making the fourth round, although a replay was the last thing either manager wanted. Both Neil Warnock, absent through sickness, and City counterpart Lee Clark have long injury lists to deal with and could have done without another game. The goals were the only real high points on an otherwise forgettable afternoon, with clear-cut chances at a premium. The visitors took the lead on 33 minutes after Elliott finished a surge forward with a blistering 25-yard drive. Nathan Redmond might have extended their lead but his shot went narrowly over, and the near-miss soon came back to haunt City as Becchio found his range on the hour, neatly slotting under Doyle after David Norris showed good feet to send him clear.Leeds coach Mick Jones said: “We spoke to the manager on loudspeaker at half-time and he made the decision to change the team based on what he heard on the radio coverage he was listening to.“We’ve had a lot of illness and had to sit some players out. “We’re hoping that we will be clear by the time we get back to the league games.” The game, a pretty dismal affair in front of just 12,000 fans at Elland Road, was marred by a serious leg injury to Birmingham’s Will Packwood who collapsed under an aerial challenge. “Will Packwood’s early diagnosis is a break to both tibia and fibula,” said Blues boss Clark. “His young team-mates were in bits, in tears on the pitch. We will give him the best care possible and look after him. I heard the snap and it was a right downer. Even experienced Leeds players like Michael Brown told me it was horrendous.

Leeds 2-1 Middlesbrough

In-form striker Luciano Becchio continued his impressive goal scoring record against Middlesbrough to help Leeds kick off their new era with a 2-1 win. The day after GFH Capital confirmed their 100% buyout of the Whites, Becchio scored either side of the break to cancel out Lucas Jutkiewicz's opener and earn his side a fifth win in six npower Championship games. The 28-year-old took his tally for the season to 17 in the process - just three short of his best-ever return for the club - and improved his record against Boro to five in four games. The former Barcelona B man still has 18 months to run on his contract at Elland Road but it is likely that manager Neil Warnock will be knocking on the door of his new bosses soon to try and arrange an extension as he looks to kickstart a promotion push in the new year. In this form that looks likely for Leeds, although they still have a number of teams above them, including a Boro side who saw Scott McDonald and Jutkiewicz pass up glorious chances before the latter broke the deadlock after half an hour. El-Hadji Diouf's lay-off was missed by all of his team-mates and allowed the visitors to pick up the ball, with Jutkiewicz racing through on Paddy Kenny's goal and drilling in a low strike which the keeper did well to save with his feet. Leeds were slow to the rebound, however, and Jutkiewicz picked it up and beat Kenny at his near post via a deflection off Alan Tate. Leeds responded well to the goal and would have been level had Jerome Thomas squared to Diouf and not shot across goal, but the equaliser did come on the stroke of half-time, with Becchio half-volleying in via the angle of post and bar after Jonathan Woodgate failed to clean up Byram's cross. Jutkiewicz was twice foiled by Kenny after half-time and he was forced to rue those misses with 17 minutes left. After Becchio's header from a Diouf cross was tipped over by Steele, he rose the highest from the resulting corner to beat the goalkeeper with another nod of his head, this one taking a deflection off former United defender Woodgate.

Huddersfield 2-4 Leeds

Luciano Becchio's double helped Leeds clinch a third straight league victory as they saw off West Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield. Argentinian striker Becchio headed Leeds into a first-half lead after Michael Tonge cancelled out Chris Atkinson's opener for Huddersfield. Former Leeds midfielder Adam Clayton equalised for the home side from the penalty spot just before half-time, but David Norris edged the visitors ahead midway through the second period and Becchio ensured a thrilling derby win for his side with a header in the 86th minute. Town's on-loan Reading forward Simon Church and winger Danny Ward both tried their luck from outside the penalty area before the home side's early breakthrough. Ward combined with Clayton on the edge of the area and the latter slipped the ball into the path of Atkinson, who ghosted in behind the Leeds defence to steer a neat finish into visiting goalkeeper Paddy Kenny's bottom right-hand corner. The visitors began to look dangerous on the counter-attack and struck twice in as many minutes shortly before half-time to turn the game on its head. Ross McCormack first teed-up Tonge on the edge of the area in the 35th minute and the Leeds midfielder's low side-footed shot went underneath Huddersfield goalkeeper Alex Smithies, who will argue his sight had been hindered by a dazzling sun. Two minutes later, McCormack was the provider again, setting up Becchio in a similar position after another swift break by the visitors and the Argentinian slammed home his 13th goal of the season into the top corner. But Becchio then turned villain for the visitors, penalised for pulling Huddersfield skipper Peter Clarke in the area following Ward's free-kick and Clayton stepped forward to steer the subsequent spot kick into the bottom corner. Leeds were rewarded for another concerted spell of pressure with a third goal in the 70th minute. Substitute Ryan Hall beat his man on the edge of the box and squared the ball for Norris to bury a left-footed finish inside Smithies' left-hand post from 12 yards, leaving Becchio to close the show with Hall as the provider once more.

Leeds 1-0 Leicester

Leeds showed the unpredictable side of the Championship promotion race as they claimed a top-three scalp for the second time in four days. Luciano Becchio put Leeds in early control from the penalty spot as they followed up their weekend win over then-leaders Crystal Palace. It came after an emotional Elland Road paid tribute to former idol Gary Speed before kick-off, on the anniversary of his death, and the home side did not take long to take a grip on proceedings. Just three minutes in, Leicester full-back Jeff Schlupp needlessly tripped defender Sam Byram just inside the area. Becchio duly converted his 12th goal this term with an unstoppable spot-kick past Kasper Schmeichel. Leicester’s defending quickly got better and Nigel Pearson’s promotion hopefuls responded with in-form winger Ben Marshall. After 13 minutes, his determined right-wing run carried him half the length of the field before Marshall produced a low, near-post shot which Paddy Kenny fielded comfortably. Minutes later, Leeds defender Alan Tate was fortunate not to suffer Schlupp’s fate, as his trip on Martyn Waghorn came inches outside the penalty area. Marshall, again, took the free-kick but could only hit a well-constructed wall. El-Hadji Diouf, currently in talks with Leeds over extending his short-term contract beyond the end of January, offered a threat from set-pieces but, following the early aberration, Leicester’s defending was showing a vast improvement.Schmeichel dealt unconvincingly with one such corner, but escaped punishment. Diouf then picked out Tom Lees but the centre-half failed to make clean contact. Becchio’s excellent ball into the near-post was met by Paul Green on the half-volley, Schmeichel responding with a superb one-handed tip over the crossbar. But Marshall was again instrumental when Leicester came close to claiming an equaliser, his dangerous cross only being half cleared and falling for Waghorn whose volley flashed across the goal and off the bar. Waghorn opened the second half by continuing Leicester’s momentum when he found himself ahead of the Leeds defence but ran directly into trouble. And centre-half Wes Morgan rose well to meet a Waghorn freekick but could only guide it directly into Kenny’s waiting arms. Anthony Knockaert, one of a double substitution made by Leicester before the hour, unleashed a fierce 25-yard shot which Kenny kept out at full stretch as the pressure mounted. Leeds substitute Michael Brown momentarily eased the strain on the hosts when he curled a shot just wide from 20 yards. But Marko Futacs ensured that Leeds were once more anxiously counting down the minutes when the home defence failed to deal with a Danny Drinkwater free-kick and the 6ft5in forward fired a spectacular attempt just wide.

Leeds United 2-1 Crystal Palace

Neil Warnock praised his new loan signings as Leeds United beat Championship leaders Crystal Place. Leeds won 2-1 thanks to goals from Luciano Becchio and Paul Green and although Peter Ramage scored for Palace with a powerful header, the Londoners lost for the first time in 16 matches, as they were knocked off the top of the npower Championship table by Cardiff. Leeds were determined to impress their new owners, with loan signings Alan Tate and Jerome Thomas playing their part in ending a seven-match winless drought. Thomas gave Palace a torrid time with his strong, direct runs down the left, while Tate was solid at the back alongside Tom Lees. Leeds manager Neil Warnock felt his side were well worth the win and praised his deadline day loan signings. “I am absolutely delighted for the new owners. We deserved the win over the 90 minutes,” he said. “We started the game very well and had to hang in there at times but our two new lads made the difference. Alan Tate is a good pro. “He had a calming influence on us at the back and Jerome Thomas is as good as anyone in the Premier League, let alone the Championship. “We needed the lift in confidence those two have given us.” Leeds keeper Paddy Kenny had to complete a double save from Jonathan Parr and Glenn Murray in the first half but Palace lacked their usual cutting edge. Damien Delaney had already been booked for diving and when his Palace team-mate Wilfried Zaha also went down easily inside the box, Leeds midfielder David Norris squared up to him and was pushed aside by Zaha in an unsavoury incident on the half-time whistle. All three goals came in a tension-packed second half. Becchio hooked in the first after a defensive mix-up, the Argentinian grabbing his 11th goal of the season in the 52nd minute, before Green volleyed his first goal for the club when Palace failed to deal with Tate’s free-kick. Palace were given hope by Ramage’s 86th minute header but their late onslaught failed to produce an equaliser. “You have to give Leeds credit,” Palace boss Ian Holloway said. “They looked like the Leeds of old in the first 20 minutes by coming at us. We came through that period but didn’t get the breaks.

Leeds claim another Premiership scalp

Micheal Tonge scored and was inspirational in taking Leeds into the last eight of the Capital One Cup as they dominated a shocking Southampton side. The Leeds midfielder struck after 35 minutes before El-Hadji Diouf and Luciano Becchio sealed the win late on to hand Leeds a deserved spot in the League Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 1996. Leeds came into this game in confident mood having beaten Premier League high-flyers Everton in the last round of the Capital One Cup and they would have been further boosted when the Southampton team-sheet arrived. Having seen his Saints side lose their seventh Premier League game on Sunday, Nigel Adkins made 11 changes. The hosts made the better start with Luke Varney somehow missing from just two yards in the first 15 minutes. Aidan White pumped a long ball into the area that Diouf turned across to Varney and, despite Southampton goalkeeper Kelvin Davis being out of position, the Leeds forward fluffed the chance wide from two yards. However, Varney soon made amends, creating a deserved opener in the 35th minute. Davis could only push a low cross from the striker into the path of Tonge and the midfielder slotted the ball past two Saints defenders and into the net. As Adkins opted against any changes at the break, Leeds continued to dominate after the restart and Varney should have scored again on the hour mark but Davis saved well. Southampton had hardly made an impression and it was not until the 70th minute when they finally notched an attempt on goal, albeit hopelessly off target from Emmanuel Mayuka. Diouf then doubled the advantage in the 88th minute when Rudolph Austin’s strike was palmed into his path by a helpless Davis. With the home fans still celebrating, Tonge was brought down in the area by Dan Seaborne and substitute Becchio converted from the spot.

Leeds 1-0 Barnsley

Leeds buried their Barnsley bogey thanks to Luciano Becchio’s outrageous penalty.Becchio cheekily chipped his 42nd-minute spot-kick straight down the middle – with ex-Leeds loan keeper Ben Alnwick going to his left.It was Becchio’s ninth goal this season and second penalty in successive games after converting in Tuesday’s 2-2 draw at Bolton.And it secured Leeds’ first win over the Tykes in seven encounters. Barnsley bitterly disputed referee Darren Deadman’s decision, claiming Stephen Foster’s challenge on Leeds skipper Lee Peltier was outside the box.In a fiery derby Leeds were grateful to keeper Paddy Kenny who pulled off a brilliant point-blank block from Marlon Harewood on 62 minutes.Aidy White was at fault for Leeds early on as he lost possession – giving Barnsley the chance to break.The visitors should have punished the mistake but Jacob Mellis fired wide from a great position.He missed an even better opportunity when David Perkins floated a ball over the defence and Mellis met it with a tame volley straight into the hands of stopper Kenny.Leeds had a decent penalty shout on 36 minutes when Tykes right-back Jon Stones appeared to handle Tom Lees’ header from El-Hadji Diouf’s corner.But the decision went Leeds’ way when Foster checked Peltier on the left edge of the box. Becchio had to put up with a three-minute delay while his captain received treatment but was nerveless in his execution. The Argentinian was then booked when Tykes skipper Scott Wiseman claimed he was the victim of a stamp. And Barnsley boss Keith Hill turned his frustration on the home fans behind the dugout after ironic cheers when Tykes striker Craig Davies was cautioned. Leeds boss Neil Warnock said: “I didn’t see Luciano take the penalty – I don’t like looking. “I’m going to do an Arsene Wenger and say I haven’t seen the incident that led to the penalty but I think it’s fair to say the referee didn’t have one of his better days.’’ Hill said: “The referee has got a major decision seriously wrong which has decided the outcome. It’s inexplicable. “When referees go on the defensive and don’t apologise for mistakes it becomes a bit disrespectful. But whose job will it affect?"

Bolton 2-2 Leeds United

Goals either side of half-time earned Leeds United a valuable point away at Bolton Wanderers. Neil Warnock’s men were trailing to an early Kevin Davies header before Sam Byram equalised just before half-time and Luciano Becchio netted a penalty five minutes into the second half after Byram had been brought down according to referee Phil Dowd. But United’s hopes of a second away win in three days were dashed 11 minutes from time when former England international Davies was on target with another header. Leeds made one change to the team that had won 3-2 at Bristol City on Saturday, Adam Drury returning at left-back. As a result Lee Peltier was moved to his favoured right-back position with Byram preferred to Aidan White on the right flank. It was Bolton that made most of the running in the first half and went ahead on 14 minutes when Davies, always dangerous in the air, headed home from a corner. It could have been two soon after as keeper Paddy Kenny saved well to deny Keith Andrews then Chris Eagles hit the post with a fierce shot from outside the box. Benik Afobe had another chance for the hosts only to see his shot over the advancing Kenny also go wide. United finally got a decent effort in on the home goal as Byram curled a shot just wide and they levelled to have a somewhat fortunate 1-1 half-time score when a minute before the break Byram met El-Hadji Diouf’s free-kick and his flick sent the ball beyond keeper Adam Bogdan. United made a flying start to the second half as Byram burst into the box and was brought down by Matt Mills. Referee Dowd pointed to the spot and up stepped Becchio to fire home his eighth goal of the season. Bolton looked to hit back as Kenny saved from Andrews and Zat Knight headed a free-kick wide, but Leeds were also a bigger threat than in the opening half as they got in several crosses that needed to be defended well and Rodolph Austin hit a free-kick wide. But on 79 minutes the hosts came up with an equaliser when a corner was once again headed home by Davies. United could have snatched a dramatic winner, however, in the third minute of injury-time as Diouf found space just inside the box and was unlucky to see a shot hit the woodwork.

Leeds V Everton Pre-View

Leeds United will be looking to claim a Premier League scalp when they take on in-form Everton at Elland Road  tonight.Leeds geared up for the clash with a 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest at the weekend, which kept them in mid-table in the Championship. Everton swept aside Swansea City 3-1 on Saturday to further boost confidence following a flying start to the season.Both set of fans are also planning to pay a tribute to the late Wales manager Gary Speed, who spent time with both clubs during his playing career.It should be an electric atmosphere at Elland road with Everton reported to be bringing 4000+ travelling fans.Leeds skipper Lee Peltier is a major doubt after being forced out of the weekend win over Nottingham Forest with an ankle injury.Warnock will also make a late decision on striker Luciano Becchio, who fired his seventh goal in eight appearances this season against Forest despite carrying an ankle injury.Teenager Dominic Poleon scored on his full debut for the club against Forest and will be hoping to resume his partnership up front with Becchio, although Andy Gray provides Warnock with an alternative option.Everton striker Nikica Jelavic has recovered from a shin injury and returns to the squad.Manager David Moyes is expected to make a couple of changes but he plans to put out a strong side and defender Sylvain Distin could return having been rested at the weekend.

Match Report: Leeds United 2-1 Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest's unbeaten start to the season was halted by Leeds at Elland Road on an afternoon when the home fans saw their side score through Luciano Becchio and starting debutant Dom Poleon.The success not only ended a two-game losing run for Leeds, but allowed manager Neil Warnock to avenge the 7-3 defeat at the hands of the same opposition in March that he described as one of the worst nights of his career.With a thin squad - further depleted by the expected three-month absence of Ross McCormack - at his disposal, Warnock had hardly done his bit to raise pre-match expectations by saying he might as well go fishing as try and sign a new player.He was true to his word with no fresh faces lining up today.Leeds set about getting on top of Forest early on, with Rodolph Austin sending in a 25-yard tester in the second minute. Forest responded through Simon Cox, with the striker working Paddy Kenny at his near post, before Tom Lees headed a pinpoint El Hadji Diouf corner wide at the other end. Diouf was the man Warnock turned to in the summer when captain and playmaker Robert Snodgrass left for Norwich and the Senegal international has not disappointed his manager so far with a string of impressive performances. He added to that in the 15th minute when he laid on the opening goal, cutting in and standing up a cross that hung in the air and eventually fell for Becchio who duly made it seven for the season. Diouf was causing Forest all sorts of problems as he flipped between playing up front and on the wing but, for all of his poise on the ball, he has never been renowned as a lethal finisher and so it proved in the 23rd minute. The former Liverpool man broke in to the box on the back of a Poleon lay-off but could only roll in a shot that was blocked easily, although it mattered little two minutes later as the roles were reversed. Diouf pulled a long clearance out of the sky and immediately threaded a ball through that put Becchio in on goal and, although the Argentinean dallied too long, Poleon was on hand to ram in from 12 yards. Forest's response was muted with an Andy Reid free-kick and a James Coppinger long-ranger the best they could muster, and the would have been three down at the break had Becchio not blazed over from six yards. That miss would cause Leeds' anxiety levels to rise after the break too for, with an hour gone, Greg Halford launched a long throw which Kenny lost in the sun, allowing Blackstock to head in. Forest had discovered Leeds' Achilles heel - the long throw - and Halford quickly deployed it again, with Kenny this time scrambling to tip over, and the goalkeeper redeemed himself further with a sprawling denial of Lewis McGugan's 75th-minute curler. They would continue to pepper the Leeds box with crosses but, as time ticked on, including six additional minutes, their resolve weakened and United held on.

McCormack and Becchio injury updates

Leeds United have lost forward Ross McCormack for six–eight weeks with an ankle injury. The Scotland international was carried off during the opening minutes of last weekend’s defeat to Cardiff and a scan has shown that he’s chipped a bone and damaged ligaments. Whites boss Neil Warnock told the clubs official website: “ It might be that he needs an operation because he's chipped a bone alongside the ligaments. "It's as bad a twisted ankle as you can get without breaking it." This injury means that the 26-year-old could miss Scotland’s important World Cup qualifiers against Wales and Belgium in October. However, this isn’t the only problem that Warnock has as top scorer Luciano Becchio is a doubt for this weekend’s game against Nottingham Forest. The Argentine forward, who has netted five times this season, hobbled off in Tuesday’s game 3-2 defeat to Hull. Warnock said: “Becchio banged his ankle. We had to be careful. "It's alright him carrying on and then we lose him for a month. I didn't want that.”

Match Report:Leeds United 2-3 Hull City

Becchio slots home his penalty

Neil Warnock made two enforced changes due to injury, Luke Varney coming in for Adam Drury and El-Hadji Diouf replacing Ross McCormack. And it was Diouf who threatened first when he won an early corner as United mounted the first real attack of the game. Moments later, Diouf was the main man again when he won a penalty after being clipped by Hull defender James Dudgeon on the edge of the box. Luciano Becchio stepped up to take the spot-kick and he coolly converted. It gave United the early advantage and, clearly a real boost, with Rodolph Austin having a shot blocked on the line and Diouf being denied by Ben Amos. The game marked an Elland Road return for Alex Bruce and he was booked inside 20 minutes for excessive protesting. The former United man had made his feelings clear after the penalty decision and clashed with the referee again after a Sam Byram challenge on Abdoulaye Faye. But Hull were level on 23 minutes when the ball broke kindly to Ahmed Elmohamady after a mix-up, and the Egyptian was handed an easy finish. And the visitors were swiftly in front Faye found plenty of space to head a right wing cross beyond the reach of Paddy Kenny. The first half continued to be a feisty affair, but there were no real chances for either side as Hull went in 2-1 to the good. Austin tried his luck at the start of the second period, and his effort was followed by a worrying delay while Becchio received treatment after taking a knock on the ankle. The South American was swiftly replaced by Dominic Poleon. The sub made a couple of early runs to lift the crowd and he also forced a good save from Amos after he cut in from the left. But it was 3-1 to Hull on 76 minutes when Robert Koren finished off a sweeping move forward by tucking the ball Kenny. The goal appeared to end the game as a contest, but United did rally briefly. Amos had to smother when under pressure and Poleon sent a shot wide after good work by Andy Gray. And it was Gray who made his mark in the first minute of stoppage time when he headed home from a corner to reduce the deficit to set up a tense finale. Lee Peltier did try his luck from distance and United looked to salvage something, but the clock ended any hopes of a comeback.

Match Report : Peterborough 1-2 Leeds

Luciano Becchio answered the midweek criticisms of his manager, Neil Warnock, in emphatic style yesterday by scoring both goals against Peterborough to secure Leeds' second win of the season. After the midweek lapse against Blackpool, when Warnock's team had surrendered a 1-0 lead in four second-half minutes to lose 2-1, the manager was scathing of Becchio and his fellow forwards. But yesterday he was full of praise.

"The front players were poor in the defeat at Blackpool and I let them know as much," he said, "but they were much better today. We looked dangerous, Luciano got his goals and we did a very professional job."

Becchio made his point with a goal in each half. Neither needed the most taxing of finishes, with Peterborough allowing Luke Varney and then Ross McCormack to pick out the Argentinian. And, although Michael Bostwick pulled a goal back for Peterborough with 17 minutes left, Darren Ferguson's side have now lost their opening three games.

Leeds' front three combined to give them their seventh-minute lead. McCormack had already had a free-kick clawed away by goalkeeper Robert Olejnik when his pass set Varney free and, after looking up, he squared the ball for Becchio to score from 10 yards. Shane Brisley went close for Peterborough and McCormack again for Leeds, but that was it as far as first-half chances went.

Peterborough were lively after the restart, with Lee Tomlin forcing a good save out of Paddy Kenny, but their enthusiasm lasted just five minutes as Becchio grabbed a second, and his fourth this season, heading in one of the easiest goals he will ever score after the impressive McCormack picked him out, in space, with a pinpoint cross.

Leeds 1 Wolves 0

Leeds boss Neil Warnock kicked off his bid for an eighth career promotion with victory as his side made a winning start to a season for the first time since they beat Exeter in 2009.Luciano Becchio’s 18th-minute diving header sealed maximum points for a new-look United side sporting eight league debutants for the club.
That statistic was maintained when the injured Paul Green was replaced by El Hadji Diouf just before the break.Yet Warnock saw his side dominate for an hour, albeit with just the one goal to show for it.Ross McCormack was the provider, racing free down the left on to new keeper Paddy Kenny’s raking clearance and whipping in a cross that skipped across goal and found an unmarked Becchio at the back post.Leeds struggled to maintain their shape in the second half and although Wolves did not create a clear-cut chance, the hosts were glad of the final whistle.Warnock said: “They deserve a lot of credit. We have a few niggles around the place and when you looked at our players and theirs, we were half the size of them, so we’ve done well.

“You have to do what we did. The Championship is obviously a different league to the top level.“The players loved the atmosphere and playing in front of a big crowd. That was something I didn’t think we had about us last year.”

Leeds lost a club record 11 home games last season and Warnock, who took over from Simon Grayson in February, spent most of the second half of the season promising opposition managers they would never again encounter one of his sides that was so bad.

The way his new crop began certainly indicated he would be true to his word, with Leeds doing all the running and, at large, creating most of the chances.

Six minutes had gone when Luke Varney skewed over after McCormack pulled the ball back for him, before Rodolph Austin had a header blocked on the line and rookie right back Sam Byram shot wide at the end of a long goalmouth melee.

Wolves were moderately threatening in the air and Richard Stearman’s header looked as though it could trouble Kenny until team-mate Sylvan Ebanks-Blake blocked it with his arm.

Less than 60 seconds later, Leeds were ahead as Argentinian striker Becchio made the most of some slack marking.

After a frenetic start a period of calm followed, although Warnock had something to think about when Green limped two minutes before the break to be replaced by Diouf.

Wolves had held a high defensive line throughout the opening half and seemed determined to carry on doing so in the second, although it should have cost them another goal with 53 minutes gone but Varney’s touch evaded him as he broke clear.

Varney was not the only player to show early-season rustiness though, with Wolves debutant Slavomir Peszko’s cross finding no-one after Aidy White’s slip allowed him to break in to the Leeds box.

The introduction of Peszko did pep Wolves up and they started to enjoy more of the ball as a result of his presence, even if it was without hurting Leeds too much.

They had two chances when Ebanks-Blake skinned White and was dragged back on the edge of the box and when Matt Jarvis clipped a shot across goal but their poor start had left them up against it and Leeds saw the game out.

New look Leeds fire Championship Warning

Neil Warnock's new-look Leeds cruised past Shrewsbury in the first round of the Capital One Cup as goals from Luciano Becchio, Luke Varney, David Norris and Ross McCormack secured an easy 4-0 win.
Warnock named eight debutants, including Varney and Norris, and teenage defender Sam Byram, with the hosts taking the lead through Becchio in the 20th minute.Another summer signing, Rodolph Austin, fired in a shot from outside the penalty area and, although Shrewsbury goalkeeper Chris Weale got down well to keep the ball out, Argentinian Becchio slid home the rebound from six yards.Leeds doubled their advantage six minutes later following a sweeping move that ended with striker McCormack's shot blocked, allowing Varney to pounce and apply a neat finish.Shrewsbury's Luke Summerfield lashed a shot wide for the visitors soon after, while team-mates Paul Parry and Jermaine Grandison had both gone close with long-distance efforts earlier.But Leeds looked the more assured in possession and midfielder Norris twice went close to adding a third, before eventually slamming home a shot into the bottom corner from Varney's headed knockdown.

McCormack stroked his penalty into the bottom corner to make it 4-0 in the 70th minute after Shrews defender Michael Hector handled in the area.


Leeds: Kenny, Byram, Peltier, Pearce, White, Green (Poleon 76), Austin, Norris, Varney (Brown 86), McCormack (Diouf 76), Becchio. Subs: Ashdown, Drury, Kisnorbo, Gray.

Friendly : Preston 1 Leeds 3

Leeds United manager Neil Warnock welcomed Paddy Kisnorbo into his starting line-up for the first time during pre-season while Paddy Kenny and Luciano Becchio also returned from minor injuries to take their places in the starting line-up for the trip to Preston North End.Kisnorbo started alongside Jason Pearce at centre back and the defenders had some early work to do as Preston started brightly - but it was Leeds who almost went in front inside five minutes when Luke Varney forced a good save from Thorsten Stuckmann. Preston also had to clear a powerful ball into the middle before Tom Lees could convert at the far post.
Kenny, who was wearing the captain's armband on his return, had more work to do than on his previous appearances during the early exchanges as Preston proved the biggest threat of pre-season. Ross McCormack had a free-kick deflected for a corner on the half-hour and the subsequent set play forced a save out of Stuckmann, but there was litte in the way of clear cut chances or goalmouth action during the opening 30 minutes.The breakthrough came just moments after the half-hour, though, when central defender Tom Lees showed great skill to bring the ball down just inside the penalty area before swivelling and smashing home a volley past Stuckmann.United also made a change during the first half with Kisnorbo, on his first appearance since late last year, playing the opening half hour or so before being replaced by Sam Byram. Lees reverted to centre-back, alongside Pearce. The game was the best test yet of the defence in terms of work, and the manager will have been more than pleased with solidity shown.The second half started in similar vein. Stuckmann made an early catch from Varney, but the home side continued to put United under a little pressure. But when the hosts did work an opening Jack King screwed a shot high and wide. And equaliser did come, though, 12 minutes into the half when John Mousinho scored with a good strike from just inside the box.The hour mark saw a re-shuffle for Leeds with a triple substitution that saw Danny Pugh, Adam Drury, and Andy Gray all introduced to proceedings.And it was 2-1 to Leeds on 66 minutes when Sam Byram scored his first goal in a senior shirt, Paul Green supplied the corner and Byram converted with a sweetly struck effort in front of over 2,500 travelling Leeds fans.Preston did come close to levelling again within a minute, but Kenny got down well to claw away a stooping header.United added a third with 10 minutes remaining, though. David Norris did well before the ball fell to Aidy White who scored with yet another good strike to leave Stuckmann with no chance.

Leeds United Squad Numbers Announced

Leeds United have announced the squad numbers for the coming season with six new recruits figuring in the first 11 numbers.Paddy Kenny has been given the number one shirt, Adam Drury wears three, Jason Pearce will wear five, Paul Green gets the number seven shirt, Rodolph Austin will be eight, and Luke Varney has been allocated 11.Tom Lees also steps into the first 11 numbers with the number four shirt while Luciano Becchio retains the number 10.Aidan White will wear 14 for the new season while Andy Gray is 18 and David Norris 19. Michael Brown will wear number 21 this season and Zac Thompson has been given the number 23 shirt.
Ross McCormack will wear his favoured number 44.

1 PADDY KENNY
2 
3 ADAM DRURY 
4 TOM LEES 
5 JASON PEARCE 
6 
7 PAUL GREEN 
8 RODOLPH AUSTIN 
9 
10 LUCIANO BECCHIO 
11 LUKE VARNEY 
12 JAMIE ASHDOWN 
13 
14 AIDAN WHITE 
15 
16 DANNY PUGH 
17 
18 ANDY GRAY 
19 DAVID NORRIS 
20 
21 MICHAEL BROWN 
22 ROBBIE ROGERS 
23 ZAC THOMPSON
24 PAUL CONNOLLY
44 ROSS McCORMACK