Healy Hits Back: Reading 1 United 1
leedsunited.com
A goal from David Healy ensured United left the Madejski Stadium with a well deserved point. It had been no less than the Whites deserved from a game they more than matched their hosts in and could easily have snatched all three points.
Pre-Match
United boss Kevin Blackwell had rested five players in midweek for the Carling Cup game against Blackburn, but back in the melting pot that is the Championship, he reverted to what could be described, with a few arguments either way, as his strongest side.
Back came Shaun Derry after suspension, whilst Rob Hulse, Eddie Lewis, Jonathan Douglas and Gary Kelly all returned fresh after their rest.
David Healy had been nursing his persistent ankle injury during the week but made it onto the bench.
The Match
The early stages of the game were played in Reading's half with Leeds looking to make a bright start, but the hosts managed to compose themselves and it wasn't long before the pressure was put on Leeds instead.
Leeds were relieved to see Glen Little hit a volley over the crossbar from the right of the penalty area, and then Bobby Convey swung a ball into the centre of the penalty area but everyone missed it and the ball went behind for a goal kick.
Matthew Kilgallon then reacted quickest to deny Kevin Doyle a free-header, but generally the defence was not overly worked.
A free-kick opportunity came Leeds' after Lewis was tripped. In the end it was Robbie Blake who drilled in a shot low and hard but it was an easy enough save for the keeper.
Another good chance for Leeds came when Dan Harding delivered a good cross into the middle of the penalty area that was met by Hulse but the striker could not keep the header down.
Gary Kelly conceded a free-kick just outside the area for bringing down Convey, and the American got up and took the free-kick himself but Sullivan was quickly over to pluck the ball out of the air under his crossbar.
Eddie Lewis and Robbie Blake combined inside the last third for Blake to try his luck from 20-yards but his effort was well stopped by the keeper, another USA international, Marcus Hahnemann.
With a few minute to go to the break Leeds showed some strong defending when Doyle tried to turn inside the six-yard box but couldn't get past Butler, Kilgallon or Harding who all combined to get the block in.
Although there weren't many chances, the game was a real battle, particularly in midfield where the teams were evenly matched, in the first half at least.
Just after the start of the second half the game was held up after Dan Harding and Kevin Doyle clashed heads going for a cross that came in at the back post. Harding had done well to get the ball away but did not bargain for the clattering that followed. Fortunately both players were able to stay in the game.
The home side missed a good chance seven minutes into the half when Harper flicked on a Convey cross to Doyle, and the Irishman hooked his shot just past the left hand post.
Straight after the let-off Sullivan then got down well to keep out a Convey shot that threatened to creep in low at the left hand post.
A strong run by Eddie Lewis should have ended with a more positive result when he took the ball into the box but didn't play the right pass for Hulse to take a shot on goal.
The USA international was in the thick of the action a minute later when he brough down Reading captain Graeme Murty but was spared a yellow card.
Just before the hour Sullivan was the hero for Leeds again when he produced another fine block to deny Doyle from ten yards out. The United man was certainly the busier of the two keepers.
On 63 minutes though United's hard work came undone when Brynjar Gunnarsson was afforded enough space a yard inside the penalty area to turn sharply and hit a low drive past Sullivan. The Icelandic defender had received a simple ball in but displayed a striker's touch in putting the ball away.
The goal brought about changes by United, first David Healy replaced Robbie Blake and then a few minutes later Frazer Richardson went off to allow Ian Moore to come on.
United should have been back on level terms on 72 minutes when Healy's ball into the centre saw Murty slip and the ball found Douglas inside the area with just the keeper to beat but he sliced his shot unforgivingly wide.
Healy then saw a shot just turned behind by Hahnemann for a corner and the Northern Ireland international had certainly added a bit of bite to United's attack.
It all came right for Leeds on 75 minutes when they got back on terms and it was no surprise that Healy was the maker and scorer of the equaliser. He shot low and hard and his shot took a deflection off Ingimarsson that took it past the keeper.
Leeds were buoyed by the goal and suddenly Leeds were significantly on top for the first time in the game.
Pressing forward for a winner, Douglas saw his shot spilled by the keeper and healy was just unable to get to the loose ball in time to put it away.
The Whites kept up the pressure and a great cross from Ian Moore found Matthew Kilgallon at the back post but his header was collected by Hahnemann. Douglas was in determined mood again when he got around Sonko but the defender just got a block on the shot to turn it behind for a corner.
Moore provided another good cross three minutes before the end for Healy, but the striker just couldn't divert his header on target enough. Danny Pugh came on right at the end of normal time for Eddie Lewis, Blackwell using the substitution wisely to eat away at the remaining seconds and protect the point. Reading threatened to steal it late into injury time as Kitson struck a first time ball into the box that saw Sullivan get down brilliantly to produce the save. Leeds deserved a point from the game and it kept up their excellent record against the top sides in the division.
leedsunited.com
A goal from David Healy ensured United left the Madejski Stadium with a well deserved point. It had been no less than the Whites deserved from a game they more than matched their hosts in and could easily have snatched all three points.
Pre-Match
United boss Kevin Blackwell had rested five players in midweek for the Carling Cup game against Blackburn, but back in the melting pot that is the Championship, he reverted to what could be described, with a few arguments either way, as his strongest side.
Back came Shaun Derry after suspension, whilst Rob Hulse, Eddie Lewis, Jonathan Douglas and Gary Kelly all returned fresh after their rest.
David Healy had been nursing his persistent ankle injury during the week but made it onto the bench.
The Match
The early stages of the game were played in Reading's half with Leeds looking to make a bright start, but the hosts managed to compose themselves and it wasn't long before the pressure was put on Leeds instead.
Leeds were relieved to see Glen Little hit a volley over the crossbar from the right of the penalty area, and then Bobby Convey swung a ball into the centre of the penalty area but everyone missed it and the ball went behind for a goal kick.
Matthew Kilgallon then reacted quickest to deny Kevin Doyle a free-header, but generally the defence was not overly worked.
A free-kick opportunity came Leeds' after Lewis was tripped. In the end it was Robbie Blake who drilled in a shot low and hard but it was an easy enough save for the keeper.
Another good chance for Leeds came when Dan Harding delivered a good cross into the middle of the penalty area that was met by Hulse but the striker could not keep the header down.
Gary Kelly conceded a free-kick just outside the area for bringing down Convey, and the American got up and took the free-kick himself but Sullivan was quickly over to pluck the ball out of the air under his crossbar.
Eddie Lewis and Robbie Blake combined inside the last third for Blake to try his luck from 20-yards but his effort was well stopped by the keeper, another USA international, Marcus Hahnemann.
With a few minute to go to the break Leeds showed some strong defending when Doyle tried to turn inside the six-yard box but couldn't get past Butler, Kilgallon or Harding who all combined to get the block in.
Although there weren't many chances, the game was a real battle, particularly in midfield where the teams were evenly matched, in the first half at least.
Just after the start of the second half the game was held up after Dan Harding and Kevin Doyle clashed heads going for a cross that came in at the back post. Harding had done well to get the ball away but did not bargain for the clattering that followed. Fortunately both players were able to stay in the game.
The home side missed a good chance seven minutes into the half when Harper flicked on a Convey cross to Doyle, and the Irishman hooked his shot just past the left hand post.
Straight after the let-off Sullivan then got down well to keep out a Convey shot that threatened to creep in low at the left hand post.
A strong run by Eddie Lewis should have ended with a more positive result when he took the ball into the box but didn't play the right pass for Hulse to take a shot on goal.
The USA international was in the thick of the action a minute later when he brough down Reading captain Graeme Murty but was spared a yellow card.
Just before the hour Sullivan was the hero for Leeds again when he produced another fine block to deny Doyle from ten yards out. The United man was certainly the busier of the two keepers.
On 63 minutes though United's hard work came undone when Brynjar Gunnarsson was afforded enough space a yard inside the penalty area to turn sharply and hit a low drive past Sullivan. The Icelandic defender had received a simple ball in but displayed a striker's touch in putting the ball away.
The goal brought about changes by United, first David Healy replaced Robbie Blake and then a few minutes later Frazer Richardson went off to allow Ian Moore to come on.
United should have been back on level terms on 72 minutes when Healy's ball into the centre saw Murty slip and the ball found Douglas inside the area with just the keeper to beat but he sliced his shot unforgivingly wide.
Healy then saw a shot just turned behind by Hahnemann for a corner and the Northern Ireland international had certainly added a bit of bite to United's attack.
It all came right for Leeds on 75 minutes when they got back on terms and it was no surprise that Healy was the maker and scorer of the equaliser. He shot low and hard and his shot took a deflection off Ingimarsson that took it past the keeper.
Leeds were buoyed by the goal and suddenly Leeds were significantly on top for the first time in the game.
Pressing forward for a winner, Douglas saw his shot spilled by the keeper and healy was just unable to get to the loose ball in time to put it away.
The Whites kept up the pressure and a great cross from Ian Moore found Matthew Kilgallon at the back post but his header was collected by Hahnemann. Douglas was in determined mood again when he got around Sonko but the defender just got a block on the shot to turn it behind for a corner.
Moore provided another good cross three minutes before the end for Healy, but the striker just couldn't divert his header on target enough. Danny Pugh came on right at the end of normal time for Eddie Lewis, Blackwell using the substitution wisely to eat away at the remaining seconds and protect the point. Reading threatened to steal it late into injury time as Kitson struck a first time ball into the box that saw Sullivan get down brilliantly to produce the save. Leeds deserved a point from the game and it kept up their excellent record against the top sides in the division.