Leeds United Football Club - Matchreport Leeds United vs Leicester City

Team news

United boss Kevin Blackwell has been able to field a near full strength team with Clarke Carlisle completing a miraculous recovery from a tendon injury and Brian Deane returning after overcoming a hamstring problem that kept him out of Monday's defeat at Rotherham. David Healy had a groin problem in midweek but also plays on. Matthew Kilgallon remained at left-back.

The Match

There were just three minutes on the clock when Leeds created their first good opening.

Brian Deane battled for the ball 20-yards out and managed to get it through to John Oster, he then flighted the ball in for Healy to come in on and everyone anticipated the first goal of the game when the Northern Ireland international met it with a clean header but it was too close to Stuart Taylor in the Leicester goal and the shot wandered wide.

Leeds continued to press hard and won two corners in the opening twelve minutes, the latter of which came when Healy's cut back from the byline was just knocked out before Simon Walton could get a tap in.

The two sides then became physical with each other as Oster and Leicester's Greek international Nikos Dabizas became embroiled in a pushing match deep in the visitors half. Jordan Stewart came charging in and pushed Oster but
referee Uriah Rennie remained calm and called just the original protagonists over and decided that a stern warning for the pair was all that was needed.

City's Icelandic midfielder Joey Gudjonsson was fortunate to escape a booking just a minute later when he went in late and hard on Oster.

Leeds were fortunate to escape some concerted pressure from Leicester that came about when Gary Kelly conceded a free-kick for a foul on Stewart in a dangerous position just to the left of the area with 25 minutes gone.

Gudjonsson took the free kick and curled it towards goal, forcing Neil Sullivan into a one handed save, tipping the ball over the top of his own goal. He was called into action again when the corner was met with a fierce half-volley from David Connolly, and again he managed to turn the ball away.

With eight minutes to go to half-time Leeds were dealt a scare when Sean Gregan was injured in a challenge. After receiving treatment on the sidelines though he limped back on the field.

It had been a quiet half for Leeds but it nearly finished with a goal to United when Oster crossed a ball in that Deane couldn't quite get to but it fell to Healy just si. Forced to turn with his back to goal, Healy saw his shot closed down just as the last moment as the ball went out for a corner. He had another chance from it but hammered Gregan's cross against Deane and then the whistle went for the end of the half.


Less than two minutes into the second half Leeds fell behind when Leicester scored after some scrappy defending inside a packed penalty area.

Gillespie delivered a cross into the box which produced an almighty goalmouth scramble in which Leeds just couldn't appear to clear the ball and eventually it came back for Lilian Nalis who hit it with a right footed half volley into the top right hand corner of the net.

It was up to Leeds to pick themselves up and more importantly make the most of their chances now.

United's first chance to hit back came from a corner that Wright delivered long into the box, Gregan picked up possession and fed Oster, who took the ball on into the penalty area and let fly with a good shot that was palmed away by Taylor in the Foxes goal.

Just before the hour mark, everyone in the Kop was screaming for a penalty after Brian Deane was clattered to the ground by three Leicester defenders as he went to meet Kelly's long throw into the area, all he got though was a corner. Wright delivered it long again and Gregan headed it back into the penalty area and then Deane came close but still headed it wide of the target.

Five minutes later Healy crossed the ball in and Deane went up to challenge the keeper for it, knocking the ball loose but it fell for Dabizas to get a good clearance on. A minute later skipper Paul Butler headed another cross wide.

Kevin Blackwell made his first change on 66 minutes, bringing Frazer Richardson on and taking John Oster off. Richardson had been due to start the game until Clarke Carlisle recovered from his injury.

Brian Deane's quick return had also been a bonus but he was denied a seventh goal of the season by another good save from Stuart Taylor, on loan to the Foxes from Arsenal. Walton had crossed it perfectly into the area and Deane's header on target from five yards out was tipped over the bar by the former England under-21 keeper.

Deane missed a much easier chance though just two minutes later when he somehow put a shot over from three yards out. Frazer Richardson's run to the byline was just what Blackwell had put him on for, the cut-back came in perfectly for Deane but somehow it sliced off the top of his boot. He will have few better chances.

Clarke Carlisle came off on 76 minutes looking as if he was feeling the effects of the injury he picked up against Rotherham still, with Julian Joachim going on.

Immediately after the change a shocked Elland Road fell into stony silence when Leicester were gifted their second goal of the game.

Inexplicably it came from an own goal as Gary Kelly attempted to head it back towards the arms of Neil Sullivan but headed it past the keeper and in. The afternoon was just getting worse for the Whites.

Still Leeds continued to go forward well but couldn't find a finish to match some of the play that helped them get into goalscoring positions. When Deane flicked a ball on it fell to Healy on the penalty spot who appeared to get enough on the ball to turn it in, but it bounced straight up and Leicester were able to get back and clear.

United's third change came with eight minutes of the half remaining, Jamie McMaster, scorer of two goals for the reserves in midweek, coming on and Matthew Kilgallon going off.

As the game drew to a close it was clear Leeds had run out of ideas and would have to put this game down as another to forget about.

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