Match Report Cardiff 1-1 Leeds

Luciano Becchio's second-half equaliser ensured Cardiff's hopes of making the npower Championship play-offs for a third successive season will go down to the wire.Leeds striker Becchio headed home his 11th goal of the season in the 73rd minute to cancel out Joe Mason's opener for Cardiff just before half-time and leave the Welsh side with a solitary point from their final home game of the season.Cardiff were unchanged from the side that beat Derby on Tuesday night, while Alex Bruce, Zac Thompson and Becchio returned for Leeds.
Bluebirds midfielder Liam Lawrence had an early effort saved by Leeds goalkeeper Andy Lonergan, and at the other end Ross McCormack headed wide against his former club after good work from Robert Snodgrass.Mason skewed his close-range effort off target as Cardiff sought an early breakthrough, but neither side created a further chance before Leeds defender Leigh Bromby was stretchered off in the 32nd minute.Bromby, who appeared to slip awkwardly unopposed and required immediate medical attention, was replaced by Paul Connolly.

That setback appeared to distract the visitors and Cardiff caught them napping to take the lead four minutes before the break, when Mason raced on to Peter Whittingham's raking pass from inside his own half and held his nerve to lob the ball over the advancing Lonergan from inside the penalty area.City striker Kenny Miller was then denied in fine style by Lonergan, who kept out the Scot's angled 18-yard drive as Cardiff threatened to increase their lead in time added on at the end of the first half.

Leeds began the second half with renewed purpose. Thompson's fierce shot was blocked by Cardiff defender Ben Turner and Becchio headed wide from 12 yards soon after.Leeds boss Neil Warnock sent on Ramon Nunez and Danny Webber for McCormack and Adam Clayton respectively just before the hour-mark and the visitors then went close when Danny Pugh's 20-yard effort flew wide.The visitors continued to give as good as they got, but Lonergan was forced into another excellent save in the 70th minute when keeping out Andrew Taylor's goalbound volley.

Leeds then dealt Cardiff's play-off hopes a blow with the equaliser three minutes later. Substitute Connolly swung over a fine cross from the right and Becchio rose above the home defence to head beyond Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall into the bottom corner.

Cardiff substitute Filip Kiss fired wide from the edge of the area and Whittingham failed to keep his 87th-minute free-kick on target as Leeds held on for a deserved point.

Lucky "Saints" complete Elland Road Smash n Grab Raid

Neil Warnock made one enforced change to his starting line-up for his first home game in 'official' charge with Leigh Bromby coming in for the injured Alex Bruce at right-back.Elland Road gave Warnock a warm reception as he took to the home dugout for the first time, and his players responded in kind with a high octane start to the match.Adam Clayton had an early close-range effort smothered by Kelvin Davis, but for all their cavalier efforts they were not able to make the most of their dominance before Lambert opened the scoring on 16 minutes.Against the run of play, Jack Cork's cross from the right was headed back across by Tadanari Lee and Lambert was well-placed to hammer home a volley for his 20th league goal of the season.
Warnock joined the rest of the home crowd in screaming for a penalty when a shot struck Jose Fonte's elbow inside the area, but referee Nigel Miller ignored the appeals.New Leeds captain Robert Snodgrass, Ross McCormack and Aidan White all went close but were unable to beat Davis in the Southampton goal, but they went into the break on terms having lost defender Leigh Bromby to injury midway through the half.Despite being ahead it was Saints manager Nigel Adkins who made the changes at half-time, bringing on Guly do Prado and Dean Hammond.Warnock responded by bringing on Danny Webber for his debut 10 minutes into the second half as Leeds continued to enjoy the bulk of the attacking possession.Davis was a rock for Southampton as he first made an exceptional close-range double-save from Luciano Becchio before, just moments later, denied Webber with a fingertip save.Lloyd Sam came on with a quarter of an hour remaining, but even though he injected some pace and impetus into a Leeds team that was becoming increasingly frustrated he could not help them find a way through.The closest they came was during an almighty scramble in the six-yard box following a corner,Unbelievably, and summing up Leeds evening, one attack ended with two headers hitting the bar after Southampton failed to clear, the second one coming from Darren O'Dea.But, amazingly, Southampton held on to walk away with all three points to deny United.

O'Dea Misses Blackpool Game

Simon Grayson has ruled Darren O'Dea out of tonight's Elland Road clash with Blackpool.The Republic of Ireland international was withdrawn from the action during Sunday's game against Cardiff City after suffering with dizziness and blurred vision."Darren won't play on Wednesday," confirmed the boss. "He was suffering with dizziness and blurred vision on Sunday and is seeing the doctor."He had taken a bang against Birmingham - it wasn't concussion, it was dizziness - but he was given the all-clear by the doctor and he declared himself fit. He took another knock on Sunday and we brought him off."Head injuries are something you have to have take very seriously so he won't play on Wednesday and he will be a doubt for Sunday. He is the Republic of Ireland squad after that and obviously he will be very keen to play so we'll all be guided by the doctor."O'Dea was replaced by Paddy Kisnorbo on Sunday against Cardiff, while Andy O'Brien, Leigh Bromby, and Alex Bruce are all available to come into contention."Losing Darren is disappointing because he's done really well over these past few weeks and formed a good partnership with Tom Lees," said the boss."Paddy came in and did very well on Sunday and Andy O'Brien has shown a real positive attitude and has done well over the past few weeks. He's looking strong and sharp."

Match Report Leeds 1 Portsmouth 0

Simon Grayson welcomed Paul Connolly back to his starting line-up for the first time since August on a day when the weather was more suited to the height of summer than the 1st of October.Leigh Bromby dropped to the bench with Tom Lees switching to centre-back. Paddy Kisnorbo missed out due to illness.The recalled Connolly almost carved out the first chance of the game when he sent in a good cross from the right, and Joel Ward had to clear the danger.Another cross from the right caused problems when Ross McCormack was denied after a good ball by Robert Snodgrass. That proved the cue for successive corners, and United went in from the second of those.Snodgrass was the provider with a good delivery and Danny Pugh found space to head home into an empty goal to put Leeds ahead.Snodgrass was causing all sorts of mayhem down the right and his next mazy run resulted in a low ball being drilled just wide of the upright.The opening half-hour was all Leeds, and Pugh went close again when he had a shot deflected wide.But the visitors did carve out an opening when Andy Lonergan was called upon to make a terrific save to claw a Greg Halford header away. When the ball was pumped back in, Halford again got up well, and his header rattled the woodwork.

But Leeds responded with McCormack sending a in a low ball and Tal Ben Haim had to clear over his own bar.
It was a good opening half from Leeds, who consistently looked a threat, particularly down the right with Snodgrass, and McCormack causing problems.
Adam Clayton was also busy in the middle of the park and he tried his luck with one effort which flew over the top.
Portsmouth offered little, but Jason Pearce led claims for a penalty when he went down as a ball came into the box, and Lonergan had to get down well to save one free-kick which was driven past the wall.
United's lead was well deserved at the interval, but the opening moments of the second period were always going to be vital in the quest for a fourth successive home league win.
And it was the visitors who opened up brightly, Liam Lawrence looking lively on the right, but Leeds were soon back on the front and Jonny Howson almost picked out Clayton with a ball into the box.
United fashioned out a half-chance on the hour when Pugh sent in a decent cross for Keogh, but the striker had to react under pressure and turned his shot wide.
With 22 minutes remaining, Grayson made his first change, introducing Luciano Becchio for Keogh.
The second half was more of a war of attrition than anything with little in the way of any clear cut chances being created. Leeds were holding the upper hand as the game entered the final 15 minutes, though.
Joel Ward did lift a shot over the bar for the visitors on 75 minutes after the visitors threatened and moments later Grayson made his final changes, bringing on Finnish duo Mika Vayrynen and Mikael Forssell for the impressive Snodgrass and McCormack.
As the game headed towards the final whistle, Forssell and Becchio linked up well and the Finn forced a great save from Stephen Henderson to thwart a certain goal.
Forssell also picked out Howson in the first minute of stoppage time, but Henderson got down well to deny the United captain.
At ther other end, Lonergan had to scramble back to tip over an audacious attempt from Lawrence and United had to deal with the corner before going on to record a fourth successive home league win, and a first clean sheet of the season.

Match Report Brighton 3 Leeds 3

Ross McCormack snatched an equaliser deep into stoppage time as Leeds stopped Brighton returning to the top of the npower Championship in a topsy-turvy encounter at the Amex Arena.The Seagulls were in action two nights previously against Liverpool in the Carling Cup and, despite manager Gus Poyet making five changes to his staring line-up, they looked weary as Leeds raced into a two-goal lead courtesy of first-half goals from Andy Keogh and McCormack.But a magnificent piece of individual skill from Craig Mackail-Smith reduced the arrears moments after the interval and the Scotland international then won the penalty from which Ashley Barnes netted his seventh goal of the season.Barnes turned provider as Mackail-Smith finished from close range with six minutes to play.But McCormack intervened to check a remarkable Brighton comeback.In the third minute, some slack marking from Danny Pugh – making his second debut for Leeds following his move from Stoke this week – might have given Brighton the lead.From Craig Noone’s corner Inigo Calderon escaped Pugh to head down for Barnes to thrash over.But Leeds were soon into their stride and, after Robert Snodgrass and Adam Clayton went close, the latter had a hand in the opening goal in the 18th minute.Full back Aidy White cut back from the left to Keogh, who found Clayton on the edge of the area. The midfielder’s shot was blocked but ricocheted into Keogh’s path and he slotted home his first Leeds goal.It was two six minutes later when McCormack turned to unleash a superb left-foot drive into the bottom corner from 25 yards for his eighth goal of the season.Less than two minutes after half-time Brighton were back in the contest. Mackail-Smith collected Barnes’ pass from the right and produced a sublime drag back and turn before coolly stroking into the bottom corner.Leeds were now the team under pressure and Leigh Bromby was the man to buckle, inexplicably scything down Mackail-Smith in the box with an hour played.
Barnes netted from the spot – then Calderon and Barnes combined to leave Mackail-Smith with a simple finish.

But Simon Grayson’s men dug deep and McCormack slammed home from Jon-athan Howson’s cutback.