Match Report:Leeds 2-1 Brighton

Leeds' first million-pound player in eight years made an immediate impression on his new club as Luke Murphy scored a 94th-minute winner to see off Brighton at a sold-out Elland Road. The 23-year-old midfielder joined United from Crewe last month and his eight-figure fee - the first time the club have paid such an amount for a player since they signed Richard Cresswell in 2005 - has installed him as a beacon of hope to Leeds' fans. On a day which saw them celebrate the start of an advertised new era following the summer ousting of controversial former chairman Ken Bates, it was perhaps fitting for them that Murphy should make a late run into the box and down last season's play-off semi-finalists.Prior to Murphy's intervention a draw was on the cards, with Ross McCormack having cancelled out Leonardo Ulloa's opener for a Brighton side coming to terms with changes of their own, with manager Oscar Garcia having replaced Gus Poyet over the summer. But the crowd of 33,432 would be left celebrating come the end as Murphy struck, giving former Barcelona man Garcia a rude awakening to life in the hustle and bustle of the SkyBet Football League. Had Paddy Kenny not made three brilliant saves to deny them it could have been a different story, but with Leeds having squandered chances of their own, it was always going to settle with the side which could make an opportunity count. Leeds had not appeared so sure-footed early on, however, and it was Brighton who made the first impression as Andrea Orlandi forced Kenny into action from 25 yards.The early stages certainly gave a nod to Garcia's philosophy - Brighton were happy to roll the ball around - and with 13 minutes gone it bore fruit as Ulloa haunted Leeds again. The ex-Almeria man booked Brighton's play-off place with a last-minute winner against Leeds in April and was on the spot again today, nipping ahead of Tom Lees to tuck an Andrew Crofts cross under Kenny's body. Ulloa's strike briefly took the sting out of the atmosphere, but within five minutes Leeds were level. Michael Tonge dug out a cross from wide on the right, and when Luke Varney's flick fell to McCormack, the Scotland international did the rest from just inside the box.he goal appeared to give Leeds an assurance they had lacked early on and Murphy was unfortunate to see a 25-yarder flash wide, while fellow debutant Noel Hunt lifted one over from six yards as he fell under pressure from Matt Upson. Clear chances dried up after that and it was not until the 55th minute that either goal was threatened again - Varney cutting in on the counter attacking but fluffing his lines and dragging wide. Brighton had been largely contained since their goal at that point, but suddenly reintroduced themselves to the game at the three-quarter mark with only Kenny stopping them from regaining the lead.Substitute Will Buckley cut in from the right and pulled back for Crofts, whose instinctive first-time shot was well saved by Kenny, but the former Republic of Ireland international had to be even better on the follow-up as he smothered an Inigo Calderon strike at his near post. Tonge was then left in a heap and appealing for a penalty as Leeds looked to regain some momentum, while substitute Poleon could have put them ahead without the need for a spot-kick had he done better when hooking a loose ball goalwards. Poleon - rated highly by McDermott - then nodded a cross wide from six yards as United sought a second, which really should have arrived when Paul Green crashed over after Tomasz Kuszczak parried another Poleon shot in the 90th minute. Even then there was time for Kenny to deny Buckley with a stunning two-handed stop, before Murphy ran on to a Matt Smith flick to beat Kuszczak from six yards.

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.

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.

Young Leeds pair sign pro deals

Leeds pair Dominic Poleon and Ross Killock are the latest teenagers to be handed their first professional contracts with the club.Striker Poleon was leading scorer for the Under-18s with 12 goals last season and central defender Killock also made several appearances for the reserves. Both have signed one-year deals.Fellow teenagers Simon Lenighan, Charlie Clamp and Sam Byram have all recently been rewarded with their first deals, while Nathan and Lewis Turner have signed new one-year contracts and defender Monty Gimpel turns professional on July 1.

Reserves Defeat Middlesbrough

Goals from Will Hatfield and Dominic Poleon secured Leeds United a behind-closed-doors win against Middlesbrough at Thorp Arch on Tuesday.Finnish internationals Mike Vayrynen and Mikael Forssell both featured in the game along with fellow senior pros Paul Rachubka and Paul Connolly.Vayrynen again impressed in midfield alongside Simon Lenighan while Ross Killock looked strong at centre-half, partnering Lewis Turner.
United boss Simon Grayson said: "It was another opportunity for the players to get some time on the pitch. It was largely a young side, but in the case of the senior boys, it was important for them in terms of match fitness."
United: Rachubka (Grimes 60), Connolly (Gimple 60), Killock, L.Turner, Taylor, Trialist (Mowatt 60), Vayrynen (Byram 60), Lenighan, N.Turner, Forssell (Poleon60 ), Hatfield.