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.

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.

Leicester City's Neil Danns is targeted by Leeds

According to a report in today's Leicester Mercury Leeds United have expressed an interest in taking Leicester City midfielder Neil Danns on loan, .Leeds boss Neil Warnock is after a central midfield player and has targeted Danns, who has struggled to break into City's starting line-up this season.Danns is believed to be their preferred target, although Stoke's Michael Tongue is also considered a possibility.Warnock worked with Tongue during their time together at Sheffield United.It is understood Leeds will try to sign one or the other, with Danns top of their priority list.The 29-year-old has grown frustrated at his lack of opportunities this season under manager Nigel Pearson.He has tweeted his exasperation, although has also stated that he does not want to leave City.The midfielder has also denied rumours of a falling out with manager Nigel Pearson.
However, with Danny Drinkwater and Andy King currently occupying the central midfield berths, plus Matty James waiting in the wings and Richie Wellens returning from injury soon, Danns' opportunities may remain limited.A short-term stint at Elland Road may present a good opportunity for him to get some first-team action.Danns rejected an offer from Glasgow giants Rangers more than a year ago to join City as a free agent.
He signed a three-year contract during Sven-Goran Eriksson's tenure as City boss.He made 29 appearances and scored six goals for City last season and was even handed the captain's armband at one stage.

But Danns was also sent off twice and missed the end of the season after undergoing groin surgery.

So far this season, he has made two brief appearances as a substitute – at Torquay in the Capital One Cup and away at Blackburn in the Championship.

His only start this season came in Leicesters  dismal 4-2 Capital One Cup defeat at home to Burton Albion.

Leeds Confirm Peltier Signing

Leeds United have completed the signing of Leicester City defender Lee Peltier. The 25-year-old former Liverpool trainee joins for an undisclosed fee and has signed a three-year contract with the club. The highly rated right-back is a long-time target of manager Neil Warnock and he opted for a move to Leeds despite interest from a number of clubs. Lee, who started his career with Liverpool, making four appearances for the club, has made over 200 career appearances during spells with Yeovil and Huddersfield before his move to Leicester in the summer of 2011.

Jermaine Beckford Set For Leeds Return?

Reports coming out of the Midlands suggest that former Leeds United striker has been told by current club Leicester City that he is free to look for another club.The news, if true, is bound to fuel rumours of a return to Leeds United.Beckford left Leeds two years ago to join Everton on a free transfer. Having scored ten goals in all competitions he subsequently joined Leicester in August 2011 in deal reported to be £4m.Beckford was a key figure in Leeds' promotion from League One, scoring 31 goals for the Elland Road outfit in the 2009/10 campaign - the most memorable of which was probably an FA Cup winner against Manchester United at Old Trafford.With Leeds United manager Neil Warnock confirming that a striker is next on his hit list of incoming players and with the future of current striker Ross McCormack still unresolved,expect the speculation linking Beckford with a return to mount.

Leeds chasing Peltier

According to reports Leeds United have made an approach to Leicester City to sign Lee Peltier.Former Huddersfield Town defender Peltier’s days at Leicester are numbered, with City desperate to get a number of players off their books.City will cut their losses in order to offload Peltier, 25, who arrived from Huddersfield in a £750,000 move just over 12 months ago, with the fee they recoup expected to be somewhat less. The end of Peltier’s time at Leicester was all but confirmed last week when he wasn’t at the club for fitness tests undertaken by the City squad.Negotiations are taking place between both clubs and the deal could be completed this week, according to sources.

Kisnorbo "We showed character"

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Leeds United defender Patrick Kisnorbo says the side showed their character in last weekends win at Leicester City. Leeds went into the game on the back of a 5-0 home defeat by Blackpool and Kisnorbo says the 1-0 win at Leicester showed the strength of character within the squad.Speaking in the Yorkshire Evening Post, Kisnorbo said, "We showed the character of the team and the players we have in our squad at Leicester. Those sort of results against Blackpool sometimes happen and it was like a freak. But the character we showed to get a result against a team that has spent fifteen or so million pounds was quite remarkable and we did a great job."We did our basics correctly and that was the difference. Our game plan we worked on all week came through."Kisnorbo is enjoying a run in the side again following the injury to Darren O`Dea recently.The Australia international has been missing from the side in mid September following his sending off against Bristol City.Youngsters Darren O`Dea and Tom Lees have struck up an excellent partnership in the centre of the Leeds defence.Lees missed the Leicester game through suspension and it gave another experienced defender a chance.Andy O`Brien lined up alongside Kisnorbo at Leicester and the pair put in a tremendous performance to limit the Leicester attack to very few chances.With O`Dea and Lees expected to be back in the squad for Leeds next trip to Burnley, it gives Leeds boss Simon Grayson a welcome headache in the centre of the Leeds defence.

Leeds Bounce Back In Style

Adam Clayton struck a superb second-half winner as Leeds bounced back from their 5-0 midweek defeat by Blackpool with a win at managerless Leicester.In a match of few goalscoring chances, midfielder Clayton's long-range strike in the 68th minute proved decisive.Leeds' notoriously fragile defence was rarely tested by City, with on debutant keeper Alex McCarthy not having a meaningful save to make.Paul Rachubka, whose three calamitous moments underpinned Leeds’ midweek nightmare, was dropped in one of just two changes made by manager Simon Grayson.McCarthy, who joined from Reading on Friday, could not have wished for an easier debut in truth, and that was the case from the first whistle, with his only real involvement early on being witness to a Steve Howard half-volley looping over his bar.At the other end, Leeds’ strike pair of Andy Keogh and Ross McCormack both succeeded in turning and getting in behind the Leicester defence, but hesitated and were quickly shut down when a run at goal would have been the better option.McCarthy then turned a cute Andy King cross-shot over his bar, before McCormack wasted the first genuine opening of the game when he drilled over from 12 yards after an Aidy White cross fell to him with 18 minutes gone.The Scot’s failure to score what would have been an 11th of the season did not signal the start of an open period, though, and the game remained tight and was played largely in the midfield. When opportunities did come, Leicester’s Paul Gallagher and Leeds’ Danny Pugh dragged them wide.White was nearly caught out in the first-half injury time when he was robbed by Neil Danns on halfway but, much like Keogh and McCormack before him, Danns could not make the best of the space ahead of him and was crowed out by Jonny Howson.

The pedestrian nature of the game continued into the second half, and a half-hearted scoop from Danns that landed on the top of McCarthy’s net was the closest either side went in the opening 15 minutes.

It was going to take something special to break the deadlock and Clayton’s strike was just that. Leeds worked the ball wide to Pugh and, after his scuffed cross was cleared, Clayton curled the loose ball beyond Kasper Schmeichel from 25 yards, giving the former United stopper no chance as he found the top right-hand corner.

Leicester immediately sent on £3million striker Jermaine Beckford, who scored 85 goals in 132 starts during a four-year spell at Leeds, but even his arrival could not help fashion a chance for the home side who left the field to a chorus of boos.

Schmeichel completes Foxes switch

Leicester have confirmed the signing of goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel from Leeds for an undisclosed fee.The Foxes had a reported £1.5million offer for Schmeichel accepted last week and the 24-year-old has signed a three-year contract to team back up with Foxes manager Sven Goran Eriksson, who he worked with at Notts County and Manchester CityLeicester's football director Andrew Neville said: "Sven knows Kasper extremely well and regards him very highly, so we're delighted to have brought him to the club."He added: "He's already made a big impression both domestically and internationally and is another player at a good age for our long-term objectives.

Schmeichel, who had a season left on his Leeds contract, had expressed his surprise that Leicester's offer had been accepted and initially said he had not sought to leave Elland Road, where he made 40 appearances after signing from Notts County last summer.

Leeds Accept offer for Kasper Schmeichel

From Leeds United.com

Leeds United can confirm that the club has accepted an offer for an undisclosed sum for Kasper Schmeichel from Leicester City.

United manager Simon Grayson said: "We feel this is the right deal for the club.

"We spoke to Kasper's agent at the end of the season about a contract extension and it was apparent that it was going to be difficult to agree a deal.

"Given the fact he has one year remaining on his contract we feel this is in the best interests of Leeds United."

The 24-year-old Dane joined the club last summer from Notts County and made 40 appearances during the 2010/11 season.