Match Report :Leeds 0-1 Leicester

Leeds United came away with no points from their game against Sky Bet Championship leaders Leicester City at Elland Road.The table toppers were made to look ordinary, but after the Leeds missed a hatful of chances in the first half-hour they were made to pay as they fell to a cruel 88th minute winner scored by David Nugent from Leicester’s only shot on target. Brian McDermott made four changes after the shocking 6-0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday and went back to basics as he had indicated with a 4-4-2 formation and Luke Varney brought in up front to play alongside Ross McCormack. In midfield Michael Brown returned while Sam Byram and Stephen Warnock were restored to their full-back positions. The biggest change was in attitude as Leeds came out fired up and got in their opponents’ faces right from the start, forcing mistakes and dominating the early exchanges. They were unlucky not to go in front in the fifth minute when Varney latched onto a loose clearance to cross the ball and McCormack’s header hit the post. Leicester replied in kind as Jamie Vardy got in behind a hesitant home defence to strike a shot against the outside of the post, but it was United forcing the pace and they came close again on eight minutes. Following a weak punch by former Leeds stopper Kasper Schmeichel the ball fell to McCormack and his lob beat the keeper only to be headed off the line by Matty James. A follow-up shot by the United top scorer was then deflected and tipped wide by Schmeichel. Varney headed wide from a corner a minute later then Jimmy Kebe sent a header into the side netting from a Rudy Austin cross. United continued to swarm forward and more great chasing down by Varney led to Leicester defender Paul Konchesky playing a loose pass. McCormack latched onto it and ran clean through only to be denied by a superb save by Schmeichel. The follow-up fell to Varney only for his header to be easily cleared. Leicester were fortunate to survive again on 26 minutes when Tom Lees somehow headed over a gaping goal after Schmeichel had misjudged a cross. But after all the chances and misses the visitors survived and gradually got a foothold in the game. Anthony Knockaert showed that they could still be a danger as he flashed a shot over from the edge of the box. The second half was an even contest and lacked the excitement of the first. Brown saw a shot from the edge of the box comfortably saved while James was not far wide from a similar range at the other end. Cameron Stewart, who was disappointing on his home debut, did have a couple of shots deflected wide, but in contrast to earlier Leeds struggled to create openings for all their endeavour. Leicester did not look any more likely to score, but they did late on when Liam Moore’s ball into the box was dummied by substitute Kevin Phillips and Nugent took a touch before being quicker than Lees and Paddy Kenny to the ball to poke it home from close range. Defeats do not come much tougher to take than this, but the facts are that Leeds have now lost five games on the trot and have only scored three goals in their last seven matches.

Match Report: Leeds United 4-0 Birmingham City

Striker Ross McCormack inspired a first-half demolition of Birmingham as Leeds strolled to back-to-back home Sky Bet Championship wins. Leeds were out of sight by half-time as they found the net three times, firstly through McCormack after 18 minutes. The Scotland international, who missed last week's World Cup qualifying win over Croatia, then played a major part in the next two goals from Rodolph Austin and Matt Smith. Smith added a fourth in the 74th minute to ensure his side's 4-0 win. McCormack was twice the victim of desperate saves by Birmingham goalkeeper Darren Randolph before making it third time lucky in the 18th minute. Randolph rushed out of his goalmouth but his attempted clearance cannoned off Leeds captain Austin to McCormack who shot into the unguarded net from 20 yards for his sixth goal of the season. With both teams using wing-backs there were forays galore down the flanks. Leeds goalkeeper Paddy Kenny was twice relieved to see shots by winger Chris Burke zip just wide of the far post and Lee Novak had a goal disallowed for offside. The energetic McCormack felt Dan Burn had fouled him inside the box but his claim for a penalty was waved aside by referee Paul Tierney. McCormack was involved again when Leeds doubled their advantage in the 33rd minute. Austin picked McCormack out on the left with a superb pass from inside his own half before sprinting into the goalmouth to send a downward header past Randolph from the Scot's deep cross. Then, on the stroke of half-time, Smith released McCormack whose shot was parried by Rodolph back to Smith and the former Oldham striker reacted quickly to fire home Leeds' third. Birmingham manager Lee Clark replaced defender Burn and striker Novak with Andrew Shinnie and Nikola Zigic at the start of the second half, but Leeds continued to create openings and Austin shot straight at Randolph when he should have scored. With Shinnie improving Birmingham's midfield play, the visitors were unfortunate not to cut the deficit three times in a five-minute spell. Tom Lees made a goal-line clearance to deny Burke, Kenny brilliantly tipped over a sizzling drive by Zigic and David Murphy smacked a free-kick against the near post. Leeds survived again when Sam Byram cleared Burke's angled shot off the line but with 74 minutes gone Austin and youngster Alex Mowatt combined on the left for Smith to head his second goal and Leeds' fourth. Austin received a deserved ovation on being replaced by Michael Brown just before the final whistle. Birmingham were left glancing over their shoulder at the relegation places while much-improved Leeds completed their biggest home win since a 4-0 victory over Shrewsbury Town in the Capital One Cup first round in August 2012.

Match Report: Birmingham 1-0 Leeds

Brian McDermott suffered his first defeat as Leeds United manager when the Whites went down 1-0 at Birmingham to a second half goal from Hayden Mullins. The result ended any last lingering hopes of reaching the Npower Championship play-offs, but scores elsewhere ensured that United were safe from relegation, which was McDermott’s first aim when he took over. After victories in the new manager’s first two games and encouraging performances, Leeds faced their first away game under McDermott and struggled to get going initially at St Andrews. The first chance fell to Birmingham and United were fortunate to survive when Ravel Morrison hit the woodwork. Leeds went close soon after as Rodolph Austin’s strike from distance was spilled by keeper Jack Butland and Luke Varney’s follow-up was blocked. Michael Tonge saw an effort tipped over by Butland and Ross McCormack was also denied by the England man while at the other end Morrison went close again for the hosts. In the second half it was United’s turn to be denied by the woodwork as McCormack’s free-kick clipped the top of the crossbar. McCormack went close twice more and Sam Byram hit an effort into the side netting after Butland had fumbled a McCormack cross, but Birmingham’s goal survived intact and it was they who came up with the winner. This time it was Paddy Kenny’s turn to parry a Nathan Redmond strike and the ball fell to Mullins, who was able to find the net from close range. Leeds looked to hit back, but never went closer than in the 76th minute when Butland saved well from Austin and it was a familiar tale of woe from them on their travels this season as they failed to halt their poor away record.

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.

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 brush aside Oxford

Austin celebrates after opening the scoring

Neil Warnock made several changes to his side for the Capital One Cup second round clash with Oxford United.Handing a debut to Jamie Ashdown, a return for Andy Gray, and starts for Paddy Kisnorbo and El-Hadji Diouf.Oxford were lively enough at the start and United had some defending to do. Jason Pearce had to head away one cross while Kisnorbo blocked a shot from Alfie Potter.But it was United who went in front on 27 minutes when Aidy White pulled the ball back on the edge of the box, Diouf allowed it to run, and Rodolph Austin smashed home his first goal in a Leeds United shirt.It was 2-0 shortly after the half-hour when Sam Byram showed real quality to not only work himself the opening, but to deliver a top quality finish for his first goal for the club. He skipped past a defender and showed real quality to chip the goalkeeper.

It was almost 3-0 when Byram was again involved, feeding an advancing Diouf, but Ryan Clarke got a hand on the strike as Diouf looked to slip it back across him.
United also started the second half on the front foot and it took some desperate defending to prevent a third goal, although there were claims from Leeds for a foul inside the six-yard box.
Pearce had an effort blocked as United looked to kill the tie off during the early stages of the second period. Austin also ratted the crossbar with a thunderous strike from around 40 yards out.
It was a night of spectacular strikes and Byram was next to try his luck when he sent a volley over the bar after great work by Diouf in teeing him up.
At the other end, Adam Drury cleared the danger when Simon Heslop was closing in on a low centre as Oxford mounted a rare raid. United were soon back on the attack, though, and Michael Brown had a shot blocked.
A third goal did come on 73 minutes when Diouf delivered a cross from the right and Tom Lees powered a header past Clarke in the Oxford goal to seal the tie.
The visitors did look to salvage some pride, Capaldi sending a shot wide, but they were always huffing and puffing against a Leeds side who looked well in control and could have had more goals.