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Healy rescues Leeds late onWest Ham United 1
Leeds United 1
David Healy's stoppage-time penalty rescued a hard-fought draw for Leeds United in the Coca-Cola Championship at West Ham last night.
Leeds started the match strongly but struggled in the second half, having fallen behind to Luke Chadwick's goal just after half-time.
The visitors had a good chance to take the lead on 11 minutes when a poor back pass from Hammers' on-loan defender Darren Powell presented Brian Deane with a sight on goal. But the veteran striker's shot clipped the bar against his former club.
Leeds continued to have the better of the early chances and a 35-yard drive by Healy brought a good save from Stephen Bywater after 14 minutes.
The Hammers' appeals for a penalty in the 23rd minute were quashed when Leeds captain Paul Butler appeared to foul Sergei Rebrov in the box before Healy again went close from distance – shooting first time and forcing Bywater to tip the ball behind for a corner.
Chadwick was always a danger for West Ham and he carved out a good opportunity in the 34th minute when he charged into the Leeds box before pulling the ball back only for Neil Sullivan to collect before a Hammers striker could poke the ball home.
Rebrov was taken off at half-time to be replaced by Teddy Sheringham and just four minutes later West Ham took the lead.
An excellent cross by Matt Etherington found Marlon Harewood in the area. The striker's header was blocked, but only into the path of the impressive Chadwick, who stabbed the ball past the despairing hands of Sullivan.
The goalscorer went off injured on 56 minutes to be replaced by Nigel Reo-Coker, and West Ham piled on the pressure.
Steve Lomas had a good chance on 72 minutes but was denied and from the resulting corner Powell fired just wide.
Two minutes later, Sheringham found space in the box to shoot only for Sullivan to save from point-blank range.
Leeds sent on Julian Joachim for Deane 10 minutes before the end in an attempt to rescue something from the game.
Leeds manager Kevin Blackwell also threw Jamie McMaster and Steve Walton into the fray searching for a point a point.
It eventually arrived when Lomas brought down Healy in the area, and the same player picked himself up to score from the spot.
Blackwell, who was delighted with the result, tried to stay well clear of commenting on the controversial penalty decision.
"I think the lads felt they deserved a penalty in the first half and were a bit disappointed so they are very happy to get one in the second half which has earned us a point," he said.
"The referee has given the penalty and it has given us a share of the points which is brilliant for the lads. They deserve something to go right for them at the moment.
"It is a good result, not just for me and the players or the fans, but for the whole club. We have had a couple of bad ones in recent weeks and this is a tonic for everyone.
"Things are difficult at the moment but we have to keep on going.
"I don't think we have been playing badly this season but things just have not been going our way. This was perhaps the little bit of luck we needed."
West Ham United: Bywater, Ferdinand, Repka, D Powell, C Powell, Chadwick (Reo-Coker 67), Lomas, Fletcher, Etherington, Rebrov (Sheringham 45), Harewood.
Leeds United: Sullivan, Kelly, Butler, Kilgallon, Pugh, Richardson, Gregan, Wright (Walton 90), Oster (McMaster 86), Healy, Deane (Joachim 80).
Referee: M Pike (Cumbria).
Healy rescues Leeds late onWest Ham United 1
Leeds United 1
David Healy's stoppage-time penalty rescued a hard-fought draw for Leeds United in the Coca-Cola Championship at West Ham last night.
Leeds started the match strongly but struggled in the second half, having fallen behind to Luke Chadwick's goal just after half-time.
The visitors had a good chance to take the lead on 11 minutes when a poor back pass from Hammers' on-loan defender Darren Powell presented Brian Deane with a sight on goal. But the veteran striker's shot clipped the bar against his former club.
Leeds continued to have the better of the early chances and a 35-yard drive by Healy brought a good save from Stephen Bywater after 14 minutes.
The Hammers' appeals for a penalty in the 23rd minute were quashed when Leeds captain Paul Butler appeared to foul Sergei Rebrov in the box before Healy again went close from distance – shooting first time and forcing Bywater to tip the ball behind for a corner.
Chadwick was always a danger for West Ham and he carved out a good opportunity in the 34th minute when he charged into the Leeds box before pulling the ball back only for Neil Sullivan to collect before a Hammers striker could poke the ball home.
Rebrov was taken off at half-time to be replaced by Teddy Sheringham and just four minutes later West Ham took the lead.
An excellent cross by Matt Etherington found Marlon Harewood in the area. The striker's header was blocked, but only into the path of the impressive Chadwick, who stabbed the ball past the despairing hands of Sullivan.
The goalscorer went off injured on 56 minutes to be replaced by Nigel Reo-Coker, and West Ham piled on the pressure.
Steve Lomas had a good chance on 72 minutes but was denied and from the resulting corner Powell fired just wide.
Two minutes later, Sheringham found space in the box to shoot only for Sullivan to save from point-blank range.
Leeds sent on Julian Joachim for Deane 10 minutes before the end in an attempt to rescue something from the game.
Leeds manager Kevin Blackwell also threw Jamie McMaster and Steve Walton into the fray searching for a point a point.
It eventually arrived when Lomas brought down Healy in the area, and the same player picked himself up to score from the spot.
Blackwell, who was delighted with the result, tried to stay well clear of commenting on the controversial penalty decision.
"I think the lads felt they deserved a penalty in the first half and were a bit disappointed so they are very happy to get one in the second half which has earned us a point," he said.
"The referee has given the penalty and it has given us a share of the points which is brilliant for the lads. They deserve something to go right for them at the moment.
"It is a good result, not just for me and the players or the fans, but for the whole club. We have had a couple of bad ones in recent weeks and this is a tonic for everyone.
"Things are difficult at the moment but we have to keep on going.
"I don't think we have been playing badly this season but things just have not been going our way. This was perhaps the little bit of luck we needed."
West Ham United: Bywater, Ferdinand, Repka, D Powell, C Powell, Chadwick (Reo-Coker 67), Lomas, Fletcher, Etherington, Rebrov (Sheringham 45), Harewood.
Leeds United: Sullivan, Kelly, Butler, Kilgallon, Pugh, Richardson, Gregan, Wright (Walton 90), Oster (McMaster 86), Healy, Deane (Joachim 80).
Referee: M Pike (Cumbria).