Sully Does It Again! Stoke 0 United 1
leedsunited.com
Pre-match
A goal from Eddie Lewis was enough to give Leeds a well earned win at the Britannia Stadium after Neil Sullivan had earlier made a crucial penalty save for the Whites.
United boss Kevin Blackwell was able to name the same side that beat Coventry City 3-1 for the game at the Britannia Stadium.
It meant that despite Manchester United loan signing Liam Miller being available after suspension, another on-loan midfielder, Blackburn's Jonathan Douglas kept his place. Miller meanwhile had to be content with a place on the bench.
Stoke meanwhile included former Leeds defender Michael Duberry for what was his first game against his former club. The £4.5m signing has settled well in the Potteries and the Stoke captain was certainly out to put one over his old team-mates.
The game saw Stoke's largest crowd of the season at 20,408 turn out with United once again proving a big draw.
The Match
Leeds saw plenty of early possession but were unable to test Stoke keeper Steve Simonsen with it. Their first chance from a set-piece two minutes into the action saw a corner from Kelly go straight into the keeper's arms
A minute later there were appeals for handball as Blake tried to get past his man inside the area but nothing was forthcoming from referee Mark Halsey who was in the perfect position to make judgement.
Stoke's first shot on target came after seven minutes, Dave Brammer, a former team-mate of Rob Hulse's at Crewe, who formed Sullivan to make a smartish save down to his right.
Another nervous moment followed when Sullivan's clearance was charged down by Mamady Sidibe, but the United No 1 was fortunate that the ball spun up and landed in his favour despite the close attention of the big striker. Stoke dangerman Sam Bangoura tried to beat Sullivan from a narrow angle but the shot from the striker who had previously scored eight goals in just ten starts went well over.
Good work inside the box saw Lewis lay the ball off to Cresswell who laid the ball off for Douglas and the midfielder was denied his second goal in as many games by a crucial block from Michael Duberry.
With 18 minutes on the clock the Stoke fans celebrating after the whistle went for a penalty. It was given after Sullivan was unable to hold onto a shot and Kelly bundled Sidibe over as he went for the ball inside the six yard box.
Paul Gallagher stepped up to take the spot-kick and gave Sullivan, the hero so many times last season in the same situation with four penalty saves, to do his magic again.
The former Scottish international didn't disappoint the 2,500 Leeds fans in the stand behind him as he produced another top notch save to deny Gallagher, guessing the right way and diving down to his left to knock away the low drive.
Luke Chadwick was the first player to be booked when he pulled back Eddie Lewis as the winger threatened to set something up for Leeds midway inside the Stoke half.
Leeds had a great chance five minutes before the break when Blake cut inside from the right wing and fired a shot in across the face of the box that was blocked as far as Douglas just inside the area but the Republic of Ireland international put his shot inches wide of the left hand post.
At half time Kevin Blackwelll would have been very pleased with the way his side competed, and would expect them to start turning up the pressure with the game theirs for the taking with a bit more adventure.
No changes to the two sides at half time, but there was a change of referee. Mark Halsey suffered an injury before the break and the fourth official took over.
Stoke put United under some severe pressure in the first five minutes of the second half but the defence showed their mettle and simply batted away anything that came their way.
Matthew Kilgallon showed how far he's come as a defender with a first class tackle on Gallagher inside the area to break up Stoke's best move.
United's first chance of the half saw Blake put in a cross that Cresswell met with a header to try and turn the ball in under the bar, but the keeper was able to pluck it out of the air with no trouble.
David Healy came close with a drive that narrowly missed the target after a great lay-off from Blake gave him a clear shot on goal.
In a surprising move Healy then made way for Liam Miller in what appeared to be a tactical switch.
Stoke came close straight afterwards when Brammer smashed a drive against Paul Butler and the rebound was knocked just over by Darel Russell.
Leeds got the breakthrough their play deserved on 69 minutes with a relatively simple goal. Douglas' cross came in, Cresswell missed it but not Eddie Lewis who smashed the ball home with his weaker right foot.
After defeat on their previous away game at Wolves, Leeds had a great chance to maintain what is a great away record and keep up the pressure on Sheffield United.
Two minutes after breaking the deadlock Lewis went charging through on goal but Duberry just managed to push him off the ball inside the area and the USA international's claims for a penalty were waved away.
Gallagher picked up a booking with ten minutes remaining for a rash challenge on Matthew Kilgallon that left the defender in some pain on the deck.
Rob Hulse then made his entrance into the game, coming on for Robbie Blake who had worked the Stoke defence with every twist and turn in what was another hard working performance from the former Birmingham City striker. Sullivan produced more heroics when Stoke substitute Hannes Sigurdsson looked set to score with a fierce drive but Sullivan managed to get a hand to the ball and turn it behind for a corner that he later dealt with.
The match sponsor's decision to give the man of the match award to Michael Duberry met with cheeky chants of 'you're having a laugh' from United's travelling support.
Rob Hulse could have put the result beyond doubt for Leeds when Liam Miller sent over a great cross that the striker directed goalwards but straight at the keeper.
Right on the stroke of the end of normal time Stoke had their best chance of the half when the ball fell for Duberry inside the six yard box and somehow the defender managed to hit the underside of the bar and the ball came crashing back out and was eventually cleared to safety by Kelly.
It would have been rough on Leeds to concede at the death after working so hard for the win, but hold on they did and with the three points moved back into third spot in the table. Sheffield United watch out.
leedsunited.com
Pre-match
A goal from Eddie Lewis was enough to give Leeds a well earned win at the Britannia Stadium after Neil Sullivan had earlier made a crucial penalty save for the Whites.
United boss Kevin Blackwell was able to name the same side that beat Coventry City 3-1 for the game at the Britannia Stadium.
It meant that despite Manchester United loan signing Liam Miller being available after suspension, another on-loan midfielder, Blackburn's Jonathan Douglas kept his place. Miller meanwhile had to be content with a place on the bench.
Stoke meanwhile included former Leeds defender Michael Duberry for what was his first game against his former club. The £4.5m signing has settled well in the Potteries and the Stoke captain was certainly out to put one over his old team-mates.
The game saw Stoke's largest crowd of the season at 20,408 turn out with United once again proving a big draw.
The Match
Leeds saw plenty of early possession but were unable to test Stoke keeper Steve Simonsen with it. Their first chance from a set-piece two minutes into the action saw a corner from Kelly go straight into the keeper's arms
A minute later there were appeals for handball as Blake tried to get past his man inside the area but nothing was forthcoming from referee Mark Halsey who was in the perfect position to make judgement.
Stoke's first shot on target came after seven minutes, Dave Brammer, a former team-mate of Rob Hulse's at Crewe, who formed Sullivan to make a smartish save down to his right.
Another nervous moment followed when Sullivan's clearance was charged down by Mamady Sidibe, but the United No 1 was fortunate that the ball spun up and landed in his favour despite the close attention of the big striker. Stoke dangerman Sam Bangoura tried to beat Sullivan from a narrow angle but the shot from the striker who had previously scored eight goals in just ten starts went well over.
Good work inside the box saw Lewis lay the ball off to Cresswell who laid the ball off for Douglas and the midfielder was denied his second goal in as many games by a crucial block from Michael Duberry.
With 18 minutes on the clock the Stoke fans celebrating after the whistle went for a penalty. It was given after Sullivan was unable to hold onto a shot and Kelly bundled Sidibe over as he went for the ball inside the six yard box.
Paul Gallagher stepped up to take the spot-kick and gave Sullivan, the hero so many times last season in the same situation with four penalty saves, to do his magic again.
The former Scottish international didn't disappoint the 2,500 Leeds fans in the stand behind him as he produced another top notch save to deny Gallagher, guessing the right way and diving down to his left to knock away the low drive.
Luke Chadwick was the first player to be booked when he pulled back Eddie Lewis as the winger threatened to set something up for Leeds midway inside the Stoke half.
Leeds had a great chance five minutes before the break when Blake cut inside from the right wing and fired a shot in across the face of the box that was blocked as far as Douglas just inside the area but the Republic of Ireland international put his shot inches wide of the left hand post.
At half time Kevin Blackwelll would have been very pleased with the way his side competed, and would expect them to start turning up the pressure with the game theirs for the taking with a bit more adventure.
No changes to the two sides at half time, but there was a change of referee. Mark Halsey suffered an injury before the break and the fourth official took over.
Stoke put United under some severe pressure in the first five minutes of the second half but the defence showed their mettle and simply batted away anything that came their way.
Matthew Kilgallon showed how far he's come as a defender with a first class tackle on Gallagher inside the area to break up Stoke's best move.
United's first chance of the half saw Blake put in a cross that Cresswell met with a header to try and turn the ball in under the bar, but the keeper was able to pluck it out of the air with no trouble.
David Healy came close with a drive that narrowly missed the target after a great lay-off from Blake gave him a clear shot on goal.
In a surprising move Healy then made way for Liam Miller in what appeared to be a tactical switch.
Stoke came close straight afterwards when Brammer smashed a drive against Paul Butler and the rebound was knocked just over by Darel Russell.
Leeds got the breakthrough their play deserved on 69 minutes with a relatively simple goal. Douglas' cross came in, Cresswell missed it but not Eddie Lewis who smashed the ball home with his weaker right foot.
After defeat on their previous away game at Wolves, Leeds had a great chance to maintain what is a great away record and keep up the pressure on Sheffield United.
Two minutes after breaking the deadlock Lewis went charging through on goal but Duberry just managed to push him off the ball inside the area and the USA international's claims for a penalty were waved away.
Gallagher picked up a booking with ten minutes remaining for a rash challenge on Matthew Kilgallon that left the defender in some pain on the deck.
Rob Hulse then made his entrance into the game, coming on for Robbie Blake who had worked the Stoke defence with every twist and turn in what was another hard working performance from the former Birmingham City striker. Sullivan produced more heroics when Stoke substitute Hannes Sigurdsson looked set to score with a fierce drive but Sullivan managed to get a hand to the ball and turn it behind for a corner that he later dealt with.
The match sponsor's decision to give the man of the match award to Michael Duberry met with cheeky chants of 'you're having a laugh' from United's travelling support.
Rob Hulse could have put the result beyond doubt for Leeds when Liam Miller sent over a great cross that the striker directed goalwards but straight at the keeper.
Right on the stroke of the end of normal time Stoke had their best chance of the half when the ball fell for Duberry inside the six yard box and somehow the defender managed to hit the underside of the bar and the ball came crashing back out and was eventually cleared to safety by Kelly.
It would have been rough on Leeds to concede at the death after working so hard for the win, but hold on they did and with the three points moved back into third spot in the table. Sheffield United watch out.