Blake Haunts Clarets: United 2 Burnley 0
leedsunited.com
Leeds kept pace with the play-off contenders thanks to a David Healy penalty and a special free-kick from Robbie Blake to give them all three points against Burnley.
Pre-Match
United boss Kevin Blackwell made just the one change to the side that enjoyed a remarkable
comeback against Southampton at the weekend.
David Healy gets the chance to start the game at the expense of Frazer Richardson, but unlike Saturday when Leeds adopted a 4-3-3 formation, Healy would be operating as a winger in a more traditional 4-42.
Liam Miller had been a doubt for the game with a thigh strain but he was passed fit before the game and kept his place.
Burnley recalled goalkeeper Brian Jensen and Frank Sinclair after suspension.
The Match
With just four minutes on the clock Matthew Kilgallon was unlucky not to claim the third goal of his Leeds United career.
Healy won and took a corner on the right and Kilgallon got a flick on but no-one was there to get a crucial touch, but still the ball was in play with Lewis on the left and when he swung the ball back into the area Kilgallon was there again to meet it - his header though came back off the underside of the bar.
It was a sign from Leeds that they were out to be positive from the start and make sure the horror showing of the first half at Southampton becomes a thing of the past.
Burnley had not come to Elland Road to be cannon fodder though, they too are enjoying a resurgence and enjoyed a good spell early on when they forced half a dozen corners out of the Leeds defence.
They had their chances too, James O'Connor brought a good save out of Sullivan as his drive from the edge of the area was turned over.
Ade Akinbiyi, once berated for his lack of goalscoring ability by supporters at his previous clubs but now enjoying a rich vein of form with 12 before this game, could have made it 13 but he headed over from the corner.
The three United strikers on the pitch combined after 20 minutes to produce a great move that deserved a goal. It all happened down the right flank where Hulse's ball to Healy was deftly flicked between two Burnley defenders and right to the feet of Robbie Blake. Just as he looked to turn Frank Sinclair and go inside, the defender got a lucky touch to take the ball behind and out of play. United scratched their heads though when no corner was forthcoming.
Nathan Dyer saw his shot defelect off Butler and land on top of the netting for a corner in what was another let-off for Leeds, and then John McGreal headed wide from another corner.
Leeds fans thought they were cheering the first goal of the game on 29 minutes when Robbie Blake's trickery on the edge of the penalty area saw him create a golden opportunity for Eddie Lewis.
Blake's ball had managed to take two defenders out of the equation for Lewis, but the USA international drove his shot into the side netting.
The much anticipated meeting of Shaun Derry and Micah Hyde, whom Derry accuses of assaulting him in the game at Turf Moor and leaving him with five stitches, produced little in terms of fireworks - in the first half at least. The pair kept their distance.
Three minutes into the second half and United supporters were cheering - but once again it proved to be premature with an offside flag ruling out Rob Hulse's effort after good build up play between Miller and Healy.
With 53 minutes on the clock, United got the breakthrough courtesy of David Healy from the penalty spot.
Eddie Lewis was the man who won it after he was tripped half a yard inside the area by Michael Duff after he had wrong-footed the right-back. It was a clear penalty. Healy took it and even though Jensen in the Burnley goal got a touch, he couldn't prevent the ball from squirming past him and Leeds were a goal to the good.
Leeds survived just minutes after the opener when Jon Harley put the ball in the back of the net from a quickly taken free-kick. Fortunately the referee had not been ready and the effort was ruled out.
When the free-kick was eventually taken though they came close as Micah Hyde got space inside the area but Sullivan took the shot with a firm grasp.
After Healy was booked for a foul just after the hour, Leeds defended the free-kick well and almost caught Burnley out on the break, Miller just putting his shot wide after Robbie Blake had teed up up on the edge of the area.
On 70 minutes Leeds were treated to a special goal, and one that probably left a bitter taste in the mouths of the Burnley fans, as Robbie Blake - a former Claret - curled home a free-kick.
It was give for a push on Healy and Blake showed just why he is the man to have in deadball situations as he placed the ball with inch perfect precision inside the goal from 22-yards out. Leeds now had that all important cushion of a second goal and time on their side as they looked forward to another valuable three points.
Four minutes later Blake had another free-kick from almost the same position but this time he put the shot over the crossbar.
Yet another free-kick in a similar position for Leeds saw Liam Miller step up to take it and his attempt was just blocked for a corner.
Burnley made a double substitution with 11 minutes remaining, bringing Wade Elliott and Danny Karbassiyoon on. The changes were a little too late from a Burnley perspective.
Kevin Blackwell also made one change with Richardson coming on for Healy, and the striker got a standing ovation as he left the field. Akinbiyi might have got a consolation goal with three minutes remaining but he put his shot straight into Sullivan's arms from an excellent position.
By the end Leeds had coasted to the win, and the last twenty minutes saw them play some bright and inventive football. Add that to the last twenty-five minutes at Southampton and it just about makes up for that dreadful first half at St Mary's. Three points well deserved and much needed to give Leeds some comfort inside the play-off zone.
leedsunited.com
Leeds kept pace with the play-off contenders thanks to a David Healy penalty and a special free-kick from Robbie Blake to give them all three points against Burnley.
Pre-Match
United boss Kevin Blackwell made just the one change to the side that enjoyed a remarkable
comeback against Southampton at the weekend.David Healy gets the chance to start the game at the expense of Frazer Richardson, but unlike Saturday when Leeds adopted a 4-3-3 formation, Healy would be operating as a winger in a more traditional 4-42.
Liam Miller had been a doubt for the game with a thigh strain but he was passed fit before the game and kept his place.
Burnley recalled goalkeeper Brian Jensen and Frank Sinclair after suspension.
The Match
With just four minutes on the clock Matthew Kilgallon was unlucky not to claim the third goal of his Leeds United career.
Healy won and took a corner on the right and Kilgallon got a flick on but no-one was there to get a crucial touch, but still the ball was in play with Lewis on the left and when he swung the ball back into the area Kilgallon was there again to meet it - his header though came back off the underside of the bar.
It was a sign from Leeds that they were out to be positive from the start and make sure the horror showing of the first half at Southampton becomes a thing of the past.
Burnley had not come to Elland Road to be cannon fodder though, they too are enjoying a resurgence and enjoyed a good spell early on when they forced half a dozen corners out of the Leeds defence.
They had their chances too, James O'Connor brought a good save out of Sullivan as his drive from the edge of the area was turned over.
Ade Akinbiyi, once berated for his lack of goalscoring ability by supporters at his previous clubs but now enjoying a rich vein of form with 12 before this game, could have made it 13 but he headed over from the corner.
The three United strikers on the pitch combined after 20 minutes to produce a great move that deserved a goal. It all happened down the right flank where Hulse's ball to Healy was deftly flicked between two Burnley defenders and right to the feet of Robbie Blake. Just as he looked to turn Frank Sinclair and go inside, the defender got a lucky touch to take the ball behind and out of play. United scratched their heads though when no corner was forthcoming.
Nathan Dyer saw his shot defelect off Butler and land on top of the netting for a corner in what was another let-off for Leeds, and then John McGreal headed wide from another corner.
Leeds fans thought they were cheering the first goal of the game on 29 minutes when Robbie Blake's trickery on the edge of the penalty area saw him create a golden opportunity for Eddie Lewis.
Blake's ball had managed to take two defenders out of the equation for Lewis, but the USA international drove his shot into the side netting.
The much anticipated meeting of Shaun Derry and Micah Hyde, whom Derry accuses of assaulting him in the game at Turf Moor and leaving him with five stitches, produced little in terms of fireworks - in the first half at least. The pair kept their distance.
Three minutes into the second half and United supporters were cheering - but once again it proved to be premature with an offside flag ruling out Rob Hulse's effort after good build up play between Miller and Healy.
With 53 minutes on the clock, United got the breakthrough courtesy of David Healy from the penalty spot.
Eddie Lewis was the man who won it after he was tripped half a yard inside the area by Michael Duff after he had wrong-footed the right-back. It was a clear penalty. Healy took it and even though Jensen in the Burnley goal got a touch, he couldn't prevent the ball from squirming past him and Leeds were a goal to the good.
Leeds survived just minutes after the opener when Jon Harley put the ball in the back of the net from a quickly taken free-kick. Fortunately the referee had not been ready and the effort was ruled out.
When the free-kick was eventually taken though they came close as Micah Hyde got space inside the area but Sullivan took the shot with a firm grasp.
After Healy was booked for a foul just after the hour, Leeds defended the free-kick well and almost caught Burnley out on the break, Miller just putting his shot wide after Robbie Blake had teed up up on the edge of the area.
On 70 minutes Leeds were treated to a special goal, and one that probably left a bitter taste in the mouths of the Burnley fans, as Robbie Blake - a former Claret - curled home a free-kick.
It was give for a push on Healy and Blake showed just why he is the man to have in deadball situations as he placed the ball with inch perfect precision inside the goal from 22-yards out. Leeds now had that all important cushion of a second goal and time on their side as they looked forward to another valuable three points.
Four minutes later Blake had another free-kick from almost the same position but this time he put the shot over the crossbar.
Yet another free-kick in a similar position for Leeds saw Liam Miller step up to take it and his attempt was just blocked for a corner.
Burnley made a double substitution with 11 minutes remaining, bringing Wade Elliott and Danny Karbassiyoon on. The changes were a little too late from a Burnley perspective.
Kevin Blackwell also made one change with Richardson coming on for Healy, and the striker got a standing ovation as he left the field. Akinbiyi might have got a consolation goal with three minutes remaining but he put his shot straight into Sullivan's arms from an excellent position.
By the end Leeds had coasted to the win, and the last twenty minutes saw them play some bright and inventive football. Add that to the last twenty-five minutes at Southampton and it just about makes up for that dreadful first half at St Mary's. Three points well deserved and much needed to give Leeds some comfort inside the play-off zone.