Blackie's Fighters Turn It Around: Burnley 1 United 2
leedsunited.com
Pre Match
United boss Kevin Blackwell was able to include striker Rob Hulse in his starting XI despite the forward having turned an ankle in training earlier in the week.
Hulse formed the forward partnership with Robbie Blake getting the chance to start against one of his former club. David Healy was on the bench.
The other change involved Dan Harding returning to left-back after having previously lost his place to Stephen Crainey and then Matthew Kilgallon.
The Match
After a two week break Leeds could be excused for starting slowly, and perhaps somewhat thankful that Burnley were not at their best either for the early kick-off.
The home side were quick to put the Whites defence under pressure, pressing and forcing a few early errors from Leeds and winning a few early corners.
It wasn't until the twelfth minute that United started to play.
Richardson's broke with a run down the right flank and played the ball through for Shaun Derry, he then knocked it through for Robbie Blake in a great position from where it looked certain he would punish his old club.
His low shot though was turned wide by Brian Jensen in the Clarets goal, although Rob Hulse was nearly there to turn it in before it rolled agonisingly out of play.
Ade Akinbiyi was a constant danger throughout and he might have broken the deadlock had his shot not deflected wide off Gregan for a corner.
Good pressure from Leeds, Douglas shot inside the area was deflected wide
The home side suffered a blow when Graham Branch limped off injured on 29 minutes. The forward was replaced by Chris McCann.
When Burnley defender Michael Duff was booked for a foul on Blake five minutes before half-time it sparked United's best spell of the game.
From the free-kick a well worked move nearly paid off but for Paul Butler heading wide, and then two minutes later Blake and Derry nearly combined to unlock the Burnley defence but for a last minute interception.
Leeds had certainly been playing within themselves for the first half, and an improvement was certainly expected in the second, but not before Rob Hulse had endured the wrath of the locals. He had gone through for a ball, for which he was offside anyway, but he was brought down by Jensen and had his calls to receive treatment on the pitch waved away.
It seemed bizarre that the referee would not allow the physio to come on and treat him, and Hulse showed his disgust as he trudged off and threw down a water bottle in disgust with the Burnley fans baying for his blood.
No changes at the break for either side, Leeds had the chance to step it up a gear.
Leeds survived a scare when Akinbiyi played a ball to free Gareth O'Connor in the area but fortunately the midfielder's touch let him down and a real chance went begging.
Leeds got on top after that though and when Blake won a free-kick, Lewis swung it in and Douglas tried to divert it goalbound but another block kept the ball out of the net. Blake then tried for goal from another free-kick but blasted it into the wall.
Just before the hour mark Leeds found themselves caught out on the break again.
Akinbiyi led Gregan a merry dance and as he tried to get around the centre-half a boot came out and just caught him. Akinbiyi needed no encouragement to go down and referee Mike Dean pointed to the spot in a manner more becoming of a cricket umpire.
Gareth O'Connor stepped up and faced Sullivan, the man who had denied Burnley a share of the points in last season's game by saving Ian Moore's penalty, but this time there were no heroics and the home side had the lead.
Leeds might have equalised soon afterwards when Rob Hulse slid in for a Blake cross that went right across the face of goal but he just couldn't get there in time.
Kevin Blackwell made a change with 20 minutes to go and David Healy came on for Frazer Richardson, and the Northern Ireland international had an instand impact.
As he tried to get clear of Jon Harley he was pulled back just short of the penalty area. It earned Leeds a free-kick and Harley a yellow card, although he could well have seen red as he was the last man.
Eddie Lewis stepped up and took it two yards out from the edge of the area and curled home an exquisite fre-kick to make it 1-1. He lifted his shot over the wall and although Jensen got a hand to it, he couldn't keep the ball out.
Lewis was at the heart of the action again as Leeds completed a quick turnaround to take the lead for the first time in the 75th minute.
He got to the byline and delivered in the perfect cross for Hulse to attack with a glancing header straight past the keeper into the far right hand corner of the net.
Derry nearly made it 3-1 in the 80th minute but his shot was blocked by the legs of the keeper. Leeds were on top and were certainly not content to stick with a one goal lead.
Akinbiyi was aggrieved when his header appeared to hit Paul Butler's arm before it went out for a corner, but this time they weren't about to get the penalty decision.
O'Connor nearly got his second and an equaliser for Burnley when he met a cross into the six yard box on the volley but Sullivan pulled off a great double save to deny him.
Ian Moore came on just before the end against his former team and Leeds briefly had two ex-Burnley stars on show until a minute later when Blake went off for Einarsson. Leeds had played some great football and some poor football during the 90 minutes but just about had enough quality to turn the game their way and left Turf Moor with yet another win, unbeaten there now for the last six visits.
leedsunited.com
Pre Match
United boss Kevin Blackwell was able to include striker Rob Hulse in his starting XI despite the forward having turned an ankle in training earlier in the week.
Hulse formed the forward partnership with Robbie Blake getting the chance to start against one of his former club. David Healy was on the bench.
The other change involved Dan Harding returning to left-back after having previously lost his place to Stephen Crainey and then Matthew Kilgallon.
The Match
After a two week break Leeds could be excused for starting slowly, and perhaps somewhat thankful that Burnley were not at their best either for the early kick-off.
The home side were quick to put the Whites defence under pressure, pressing and forcing a few early errors from Leeds and winning a few early corners.
It wasn't until the twelfth minute that United started to play.
Richardson's broke with a run down the right flank and played the ball through for Shaun Derry, he then knocked it through for Robbie Blake in a great position from where it looked certain he would punish his old club.
His low shot though was turned wide by Brian Jensen in the Clarets goal, although Rob Hulse was nearly there to turn it in before it rolled agonisingly out of play.
Ade Akinbiyi was a constant danger throughout and he might have broken the deadlock had his shot not deflected wide off Gregan for a corner.
Good pressure from Leeds, Douglas shot inside the area was deflected wide
The home side suffered a blow when Graham Branch limped off injured on 29 minutes. The forward was replaced by Chris McCann.
When Burnley defender Michael Duff was booked for a foul on Blake five minutes before half-time it sparked United's best spell of the game.
From the free-kick a well worked move nearly paid off but for Paul Butler heading wide, and then two minutes later Blake and Derry nearly combined to unlock the Burnley defence but for a last minute interception.
Leeds had certainly been playing within themselves for the first half, and an improvement was certainly expected in the second, but not before Rob Hulse had endured the wrath of the locals. He had gone through for a ball, for which he was offside anyway, but he was brought down by Jensen and had his calls to receive treatment on the pitch waved away.
It seemed bizarre that the referee would not allow the physio to come on and treat him, and Hulse showed his disgust as he trudged off and threw down a water bottle in disgust with the Burnley fans baying for his blood.
No changes at the break for either side, Leeds had the chance to step it up a gear.
Leeds survived a scare when Akinbiyi played a ball to free Gareth O'Connor in the area but fortunately the midfielder's touch let him down and a real chance went begging.
Leeds got on top after that though and when Blake won a free-kick, Lewis swung it in and Douglas tried to divert it goalbound but another block kept the ball out of the net. Blake then tried for goal from another free-kick but blasted it into the wall.
Just before the hour mark Leeds found themselves caught out on the break again.
Akinbiyi led Gregan a merry dance and as he tried to get around the centre-half a boot came out and just caught him. Akinbiyi needed no encouragement to go down and referee Mike Dean pointed to the spot in a manner more becoming of a cricket umpire.
Gareth O'Connor stepped up and faced Sullivan, the man who had denied Burnley a share of the points in last season's game by saving Ian Moore's penalty, but this time there were no heroics and the home side had the lead.
Leeds might have equalised soon afterwards when Rob Hulse slid in for a Blake cross that went right across the face of goal but he just couldn't get there in time.
Kevin Blackwell made a change with 20 minutes to go and David Healy came on for Frazer Richardson, and the Northern Ireland international had an instand impact.
As he tried to get clear of Jon Harley he was pulled back just short of the penalty area. It earned Leeds a free-kick and Harley a yellow card, although he could well have seen red as he was the last man.
Eddie Lewis stepped up and took it two yards out from the edge of the area and curled home an exquisite fre-kick to make it 1-1. He lifted his shot over the wall and although Jensen got a hand to it, he couldn't keep the ball out.
Lewis was at the heart of the action again as Leeds completed a quick turnaround to take the lead for the first time in the 75th minute.
He got to the byline and delivered in the perfect cross for Hulse to attack with a glancing header straight past the keeper into the far right hand corner of the net.
Derry nearly made it 3-1 in the 80th minute but his shot was blocked by the legs of the keeper. Leeds were on top and were certainly not content to stick with a one goal lead.
Akinbiyi was aggrieved when his header appeared to hit Paul Butler's arm before it went out for a corner, but this time they weren't about to get the penalty decision.
O'Connor nearly got his second and an equaliser for Burnley when he met a cross into the six yard box on the volley but Sullivan pulled off a great double save to deny him.
Ian Moore came on just before the end against his former team and Leeds briefly had two ex-Burnley stars on show until a minute later when Blake went off for Einarsson. Leeds had played some great football and some poor football during the 90 minutes but just about had enough quality to turn the game their way and left Turf Moor with yet another win, unbeaten there now for the last six visits.
