Match Report: Leeds United 5-1 Huddersfield

Leeds United’s captain Ross McCormack bagged a hat-trick in a memorable 5-1 derby victory over Huddersfield Town at Elland Road.Huddersfield were the better side for the first 45 minutes, but paid for missed chances when McCormack’s first goal gave Leeds a lifeline in first half injury-time. It was then a different game after the break with four unanswered goals from Leeds and everything that could go wrong doing so for the visitors who ended with 10 men when Anthony Gerrard went off injured after they had made their three substitutions. United have issued a statement saying that McDermott remains manager, but his assistant, Nigel Gibbs, was described as the “caretaker” before the game and took charge to oversee the ending of an eight-match run without a win that dated back to before Christmas. Leeds started well enough when Cameron Stewart missed a decent fourth minute chance, shooting wide after finding himself in space in the box. But they were soon forced into something of a rearguard action as Huddersfield carved open several chances. Two great blocks by Sam Byram denied the visitors while Oliver Norwood hit the post with a low strike from 20 yards out and Nahki Wells headed a difficult chance into the side netting. It was no surprise when Huddersfield went in front on 25 minutes as Ward’s angled shot beat Paddy Kenny. The Leeds keeper blocked a Murray Wallace header on the line from a corner soon after and made an easier save from Norwood’s weak header following a brief flurry from the Whites when Rudy Austin had shot wide from the edge of the box and McCormack could get no power behind a header from Austin’s fine cross. The big turning point proved to be in the 45th minute as Wells raced onto a long ball forward and got to the ball ahead of the onrushing Kenny only to see his shot go wide. It proved a huge miss as in the third minute of injury-time Huddersfield failed to deal with a long ball forward and after Jimmy Kebe miskicked it fell nicely for McCormack to score from close range. The second half started with a bang for United as well as Alex Mowatt and McCormack combined on the edge of the box to set Kebe clear and the on-loan winger chipped the ball over keeper Alex Smithies to put Leeds ahead. Town looked to hit back with Wells and Ward both shooting wide twice, but they were caught by a sucker punch on 63 minutes when the Whites broke out of defence, Austin carried the ball well and played in Byram on the flank. A perfect low cross was then finished by McCormack to make it 3-1. Suddenly Leeds were playing with confidence and after Kebe had a 20-yard shot tipped wide by Smithies they made it 4-1 when McCormack completed his hat-trick with a shot in off the post following a great run and cross by Stewart. United scored again on 82 minutes when Smithies came flying out of his area to stop McCormack getting on the end of a long ball forward only to collide with his own defender. The ball fell to Mowatt and the young midfielder gleefully produced a perfect lob into the empty goal for his first-ever goal in senior football. It did not get much better for Huddersfield as Adam Clayton’s shot beat Kenny only to bounce back off the crossbar. There were no further goals for Leeds although McCormack came close with a long range strike.

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.

Arsenal 1 Leeds United 1 match report

match

Cesc Fabregas's 90th-minute penalty rescued a draw for Arsenal and denied Leeds a shock FA Cup victory.
The Gunners dominated for long periods but, against the run of play, Denilson fouled Max Gradel and Robert Snodgrass put Leeds ahead from the spot.
Luciano Becchio went close to making it 2-0 but late Arsenal pressure paid off.
Fabregas coolly slotted home after Ben Parker held back Theo Walcott and only a super Kasper Schmeichel save stopped Denilson winning it for the Gunners.
It was a dramatic finish to a thrilling third-round tie and means Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is still yet to taste defeat to a lower-division side in the Cup, and has not lost at home in this competition since Arsenal were beaten by the same opposition in 1997.
Leeds, who as a League One side famously beat Manchester United at the same stage of last year's FA Cup before taking Tottenham to a replay, have become accustomed to causing upsets since losing their top-flight status in 2004.
The Championship highflyers almost got their reward for a resilient performance on their first visit to the Emirates, surviving a flurry of first-half Arsenal chances before hitting back with a classic sucker punch.
Schmeichel was in fine form, rushing from his line to deny Andrey Arshavin, and also denying Denilson and Nicklas Bendtner before the break.
And the Leeds defence, led by the impressive Alex Bruce, was also in determined mood. Jonathan Howson had to clear a Sebastien Squillaci effort off his line and Becchio was also in the right place to hack clear after a goalmouth scramble.
The Gunners continued to press after the break but it was Leeds who broke the deadlock in the 54th minute. There was no doubt about the penalty either, with Denilson clumsily fouling Gradel and Snodgrass stepping up to find the bottom corner of the net.
That left Arsenal more than 30 minutes to find an equaliser but initially they toiled and were grateful to their keeper Wojciech Szczesny for keeping out a powerful Becchio header.
Snodgrass also saw a free-kick swerve just wide before Arsenal, with Walcott and Fabregas by now off the bench, turned their vastly superior possession into chances in the closing moments.
Walcott was, briefly, awarded a penalty when he was upended in the box but referee Phil Dowd reversed his decision because Bendtner had been flagged offside.
Seconds later, Dowd was pointing to the spot again - this time without changing his mind - after Walcott was tugged back by Parker. Fabregas, cool as a cucumber, fired his penalty straight down the middle of the goal.
In a breathless finish Arsenal poured forward looking for a winner but Leeds held out for a deserved replay after Bendtner wastefully fired wide and Schmeichel acrobatically kept out Denilson's rasping effort.

Match Report: Cardiff City 2 Leeds United 1

United manager Simon Grayson made two changes for the club's first ever visit to the Cardiff City Stadium with Ben Parker returning to the fold for his first start since April. Billy Paynter was also named in the starting line-up in place of Luciano Becchio, who dropped down to the bench.
Cardiff had hammered Leeds 4-0 at Elland Road last time out and had a 27-year unbeaten record against United, but the Welsh side went into the clash on the back of a run that had seen five defeats in seven outings.
Cardiff's former home at Ninian Park had been a hostile place to visit, but there was no real edge at the club's new home with a distinct chnage in atmosphere. United had sold out an allocation of around 1800 who were housed in one corner of the rain sodden stadium.
The home side started on the front foot winning a couple of early corners, and Andy O'Brien made a couple of early clearances for Leeds.
And it was United who had the first shot at goal when Robert Snodgrass fired wide from an angle after cutting in from the right.
But the home side got their noses in front in the 11th minute, courtesy of Craig Bellamy. The Manchester City striker, on a season long loan with Cardiff, played a one-two just inside the box and on receiving the return pass, in acres of space, he tucked in between the legs of Kasper Schmeichel.
United had an opportunity within two minutes when Ross McCormack won a free-kick on the edge of the area, but the Scot's set-piece hit a defender and was cleared to safety.
Schmeichel was called upon to make another save inside the opening 20 minutes, though, when, after Andy Keogh ran unchallenged and had a shot blocked, the Dane palmed a Chris Burke shot around the post. From the resultant set-play he saved again when the ball was half-cleared, this time from Bellamy with a powerful strike.
Just as at Elland Road back in October, Cardiff's early movement with the ball was superb and Leeds were on the back foot in looking to restrict the hosts.
Cardiff won another series of corners and Schmeichel sav ed again from Peter Whittingham with another well struck effort from distance as the home side looked for a second goal. That goal could have come when Mark Hudson was the reciptent of a Bellamy cross, but the central defender slipped on the turn and his shot was cleared.
Considering the home side's early domination, the atmosphere remained surprisingly muted, a factor which certainly couldn't harm Grayson's men as they looked to repel the hosts advances and get a foothold back in the game.
And, slowly, United started to look like a side who had weathered the storm and realised they were more than capable themselves. Two Snodgrass crosses caused problems, the second going for a corner which saw Billy Paynter head just over the bar.
The Scot could also consider himself unfortunate not to pick up another corner when a Cardiff defender clearly got a decisive touch as he looked to cut inside. But Leeds were finally starting to look like a threat, although an improvement in the final ball was now the key area.
One other noticeable feature in the first half had been Bellamy's ability to become drawn into verbal spats with both Paul Connolly and Snodgrass as the game progressed.
The home side held the lead at the break, but you sensed if United could be a little more clinical in the second period the game was still in the balance.
But it was Cardiff who created the first chance of the second half when Hudson stabbed a shot straight at Schmeichel after some good work by Bellamy. The United goalkeeper also had to claw away another cross from Cardiff's loan man when Whittingham was waiting to pounce.
Shortly before the hour, Grayson looked to pep things up a little with Lloyd Sam and Sanchez Watt both coming on.
The duo hadn't been on the field for a minute when Watt made a surging run and fed Sam whose shot was well saved by Tom Heaton. As Leeds looked to return the ball into the danger zone again, Snodgrass delivered another of his speciality strikes from distance, leaving Heaton with no chance.
Unfortunately, Sam's involvement was restricted to just six minutes when he limped out of the action to be replaced by Luciano Becchio.
United had indeed got a foothold a back in the game and when Bradley Johnson picked out Paynter with a great ball, the striker was crowded out as he shaped to shoot.
When Cardiff threatened again, Schmeichel was able to save comfortably from Keogh and, almost as though they had been waiting for the game to even up, the home support were quick to start to airing their frustrations.
At the other end, Heaton had to gather a shot from Parker, who cut inside from the left.
There was a short delay on 75 minutes when Watt and Paul Quinn clashed heads. Watt was swiftly bandaged up while Quinn was replaced by Darcy Blake. Former United midfielder Stephen McPhail was also introduced for the home side in place of Burke.
And it was Cardiff who got their noses back in front in somewhat simplistic fashion with 11 minutes remaining. Michael Chopra was able to profit from a simple long ball over the top and he placed his shot past Schmeichel with ease to give his side the lead again.
United immediately came back, Howson forcing Heaton into a save, as United looked to salvage something from the game. Snodgrass won another corner for Leeds when he had a good cross cleared, but his set-play delivery was too high for the waiting posse in the box.
There was four minutes of added time, and the roar that came from the travelling fans was the loudest as the game headed into its final stage, but the closest United came to salvaging an equaliser was when Becchio headed wide at the far post.
Indeed, Cardiff almost added a third in the dying moments, but Schmeichel outfoxed Keogh who was clean through on goal as Leeds pushed forward.
The defeat brought United's unbeaten run to an end at the 13th attempt, and attentions turned to a weekend away from the league with an FA Cup trip to Arsenal.

Leeds United 1 Middlesbrough 1

ANDY O'BRIEN'S career has been an eventful one with the Harrogate-born defender having spent a decade in the Premier League, represented both England and the Republic of Ireland at international level, and enjoyed thrilling runs in European competition.
But the 31-year-old admits even he has known nothing like the past week as own goals, conducting contract talks with two clubs himself and a truly surreal meeting with Leeds United chairman Ken Bates combined to make it one he will not forget in a hurry.

In the end, everything worked out well with O'Brien's future now sorted after agreement was reached over a two-and-a-half year deal at Elland Road and his new club extended their unbeaten run to 12 games courtesy of a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser by Luciano Becchio against Middlesbrough.

For a time, however, the former Bradford City defender admits the stress and worry of deciding whether to join Leeds or promotion rivals Cardiff City was keeping him awake at night.

O'Brien, who made one appearance in a friendly for England Under-21s before opting to play for the Republic, said: "It has been quite a week, starting with those own goals against Portsmouth, and I haven't slept much. I don't have an agent so I did all the dealings myself.

"I prefer to do it that way as sometimes when a third party gets involved then things can get lost in translation. It did mean I spoke to Ken Bates on my own and did the negotiations with him.

"The meeting with the chairman was something I will remember all my life. It was a bit like when I signed my first contract at Bradford with (then City chairman) Geoffrey Richmond – that was entertaining as well.

"My Dad came in with me initially and he is a big bloke of around 20 stone. The chairman's first words were, "We'll sign the fat one instead." My Dad replied he had been on a diet for six weeks, to which the chairman said, 'Well that isn't effing working, is it?'
"Dad is quite quick-witted and said back, 'Well I don't know what your excuse is'. It went from there but the great thing is I lived to tell the tale.

"I also had an offer to go to Cardiff and went down there to speak to Dave Jones. I got the impression Cardiff liked that I had the guts to do everything myself without an agent.

"What I wanted to do was be up front all the way through and not mess about behind anyone's back. I like to think I did that.

"Cardiff came in with an offer and the first thing I did was ring Leeds and tell them exactly what the deal was. There was a bit of toing and froing and then I said, 'If you offer me what Cardiff have offered then I will sign'. That is what happened.

"It is a relief to have sorted things out. Two months ago, I was scratching my head as to where my future would lie. Now, I am just glad that I know where I am going to be for the next two-and-a-half years.

"There was an agreement to keep me here (on loan from Bolton) until the end of the season but I wanted security. It would have been a risk, as if I got an injury then I would have had nothing come the season's end. So, it is great that everything is now sorted."

The news of United having reached agreement with O'Brien was relayed to the 30,452 crowd shortly before kick-off and greeted with a rapturous ovation.

For the United fans, it was the last thing they had to cheer for the best part of two hours as their side turned in a flat performance that, but for Becchio's late strike, would have handed Middlesbrough all three points.

Misplaced passes, poor decision making and an over-reliance on pumping long balls forward that were easily dealt with by the hugely impressive defensive pairing of David Wheater and Matthew Bates meant chances were at a premium for Leeds until the closing stages.

By then, Boro were ahead thanks to Wheater's second goal in as many games, the defender deftly flicking Julio Arca's corner past two defenders on the line and into the net.

Just 20 minutes had elapsed but it took until the closing stages for United to build up any kind of momentum as, first, Sanchez Watt headed wide and then Ross McCormack shot just past a post.

Watt compounded his earlier miss by shooting straight at goalkeeper Jason Steele in the 89th minute before Boro were punished for an amazing miss by Justin Hoyte with Becchio finishing from eight yards out.

There was still time for McCormack to somehow head wide after being found unmarked inside the six-yard box, though it has to be said a winner then would have been desperately cruel on a Boro side whose only crime was that they handed the initiative to their hosts by retreating deeper and deeper in the closing stages.

Scott McDonald, who flew out last night to join up with the Australia squad ahead of the Asia Cup getting underway, said "We played really well but just couldn't keep them out. A lot of people were hanging their heads in the dressing-room because it almost felt like a loss"

Match Report:Leeds United 3 Portsmouth 3

Simon Grayson's side extended their unbeaten run to 11 matches but failed to capitalise on Cardiff's 4-1 defeat at Watford and finish 2010 fourth in the table.

Leeds had raced into a two-goal lead, right-back Paul Connolly firing a fine ball across the six-yard box in the seventh minute and Gradel steering a right-footed finish into the bottom corner, his fifth goal in four matches.

Leeds soon doubled their lead, Ross McCormack picking out Howson with a pinpoint cross from the left wing and the home skipper drilling an emphatic finish beyond Pompey goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown.

Pompey deservedly pulled a goal back in the 33rd minute when Nugent finished brilliantly following Richard Hughes' cross from the right.

But Leeds stepped up a gear at the start of the second half, with Snodgrass's blistering angled shot superbly tipped away by Ashdown, and the game burst into life again just after the hour.

Ashdown pushed Gradel's header away for a corner and when the ball was swung in by Snodgrass, Pompey failed to clear and Johnson drilled the ball into the bottom corner from inside the area.

Portsmouth hit back again within 60 seconds when substitute Nwankwo Kanu made the opening for Hughes and the Pompey midfielder's shot was deflected in off O'Brien to make it 3-2.

Leeds substitute Luciano Becchio then had a header turned away at full stretch by Ashdown before Snodgrass's 20-yard effort whistled narrowly over the crossbar.

Referee David Webb waved away Leeds' appeals for a penalty in the 78th minute when Pompey substitute Ibrahima Sonko barged into Snodgrass and Snodgrass wasted a gilt-edged chance to seal it when dragging a shot wide from inside the area.

Kasper Schmeichel denied Hughes with a fine save in the 87th minute, but the visitors snatched a point when O'Brien turned Nadir Ciftci's cross beyond Schmeichel in the 93rd minute.

LEICESTER CITY 2 LEEDS UNITED 2

mLeicester came back from two goals down to earn a draw against in-form Leeds.

Max Gradel headed in from close range to put the visitors ahead before Robert Snodgrass extended Leeds's advantage after firing in an 18-yard strike.

But keeper Kasper Schmeichel's foul on Darius Vassell allowed Paul Gallagher to pull one back for the Foxes from the penalty spot after 72 minutes.

And, four minutes later, Andy King latched on to a Roman Bednar header before equalising with a 25-yard shot.

Leeds extended their unbeaten run to 10 games with the result but will be left to rue the way they surrendered their advantage as Cardiff, who beat Coventry, leapfrogged them into second in the Championship.

It had looked so good for Leeds boss Simon Grayson as he took his side to the club where he played more than 200 games as a defender.

And it was another ex-Leicester player in the form of Gradel who put the visitors in front.

He headed home Neil Kilkenny's cross from the right after Foxes defenders Curtis Davies and Kyle Naughton were caught napping, with the latter not being helped by a slip.

The goal had come somewhat against the run of play but helped give Leeds a more assured manner.

The visitors added a second in extraordinary fashion when a Snodgrass corner was headed back to the midfielder and he hit a first-time shot with the outside of his foot from an acute angle to beat keeper Chris Kirkland.

It seemed like Leicester manager Sven-Goran Eriksson would suffer his first home league defeat since taking charge of the club.

However, Leicester, who had already beaten Leeds twice this season in league and cup games at Elland Road, were given hope when Gallacher slotted home a spot-kick.

An equaliser did not take long to materialise as King emphatically scored with a long range strike which went in off the underside of the crossbar.

Leeds had two chances to snatch victory late on from corners but Kirkland saved from Neill Collins and Billy Paynter had a shot cleared off the line.

      

LEEDS UNITED 2 QPR 0

Once again, United were one of only a handful of clubs in England to beat the big freeze to ensure the game against top of the table Queens Park Rangers went ahead.
Simon Grayson named an unchanged side for the visit of QPR while Neil Warnock recalled former United striker Rob Hulse to his starting line-up

QPR had suffered their first defeat of the season the previous weekend, but they started well enough at Elland Road and Kasper Schmeichelhad to get down well to save an early free-kick.

United had to make an early change in the contest with Alex Bruce limping out of the action to be replaced by Leigh Bromby.

It was Leeds who carved out the first real chance as well, when Paddy Kenny clawed away aLuciano Becchio header.

At the other end, Adel Tarrabt broke from midfield, but screwed his shot wide. United responded immediately with a break and Robert Snodgrass fired wide

It was a positive opening 20 minutes from United who looked to play some good football, but the visitors looked an equal threat and were looking to move the ball quickly on the break.

And it was 1-0 to United on 25 minutes when Max Gradel slammed the ball home from close range. Snodgrass was the architect, twisting and turning on the edge of the box before delivering a cross.Jonny Howson was at the far post to knock it back and Gradel converted.

QPR looked to respond immediately, but after a goalmouth scramble, Kaspars Gorkss smashed the ball high over the bar.

Some of United's football was excellent and Gradel fired wide after some terrific work by Howson.

As the game headed towards half-time, tempers flared following a challenge from Clint Hill on Paul Connolly, and players from both sides became involved in a ,melee.

There were four added minutes in the first half and Leeds finished in the ascendancy with Snodgrass forcing another save from Kenny.

The opening exchanges of the second period saw both sides look to forge opportunities, with United defending well to deal with one free-kick.

But it was Leeds who almost made it 2-0 when Becchio raced towards goal and Kenny, at full stretch, was grateful to see the shot turned just the wrong side of the post.

Time was ticking for the visitors if they were to avoid a second successive league defeat, and Leeds were looking and polished and organised in maintaining the lead.

And that lead was doubled on 70 minutes when Gradel raced from inside his own half, before cutting inside Fitz Hall to beat Kenny at his near post.

Moments later, Neil Kilkenny fired wide from distance and Kenny was then called upon to make a great save from Howson, who unleashed a superb strike from outside of the box.

As the game entered the final 10 minutes, Leeds were looking much the stronger the team and were still enjoying plenty of ball. Snodgrass had a shot wide and Leeds were coasting towards victory against the league leaders.

United were untroubled during the closing stages as Simon Grayson's side eased to a ninth successive game without defeat and moved up to second in the table.

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