Cress Hell For Owls: United 3 Wednesday 0
leedsunited.com
A Richard Cresswell double against his former club helped secure all three points for United as they won the Yorkshire derby against Sheffield Wednesday.
Pre-Match
United boss Kevin Blackwell was forced into changes for the visit of Sheffield Wednesday due to injury and suspension.
Matthew Kilgallon picked up a knock on his knee in the FA Cup game with Wigan and failed to recover in time to feature, his place went to Sean Gregan, back in the side for the first time in nine games.
Rob Hulse's suspension saw Richard Cresswell get a start against one of his former teams, whilst Robbie Blake was prefered to David Healy despite the Northern Ireland international's two goals in midweek.
There was some good news on the injury front with Shaun Derry returning to action after a hamstring injury, Simon Walton dropping out again after coming in for the Wigan game.
Sheffield Wednesday kept the same side that beat Leicester City in their previous game a week ago.
The Match
Leeds began well with Richard Cresswell forcing an early corner with not even a minute played, and from it the Whites came close to taking the lead through a most unlikely source.
Sean Gregan, only in the side after injury struck Matthew Kilgallon, was 16 yards out on the right hand side of the area when the ball fell to him after the corner and he volleyed it goalwards only to see it kept out by the foot of Peter Gilbert on the line.
United went on to notch up four corners in the opening ten minutes, and it appeared to be just a matter of time before Wednesday's defence gave way under the pressure.
Jonathan Douglas had a chance after the quarter hour mark but ended up flat on the deck after getting a whack on the head. Cresswell's running had the Owls in all sorts of trouble at the back, and when Kelly swung the ball towards Douglas just eight yards out, he might have expected to score himself but his header found keeper Nicky Weaver's hands.
Leeds were putting good moves together but getting little reward for their industry. Cresswell's back heel allowed Kelly to get a good cross into the centre that Blake first missed but it fell nicely for Lewis to hit but the American could only hit the ball into the deck, he was though forced to use his weaker right foot.
The visitors had their spells in the first half too though, and they forced a few corners out of the Whites defence just before the half hour mark. Gilbert's header that was turned behind by Crainey on the line for another corner was about as near as they came to a goal.
Five minutes before half time Gregan had a half chance when he volleyed a free-kick from Kelly over the bar from the penalty spot.
The game died a death in the minutes leading up to half-time, the second half would hopefully be more entertaining and reward the biggest crowd of the season at Elland Road with some goals.
Just as at the start of the first half, Leeds put Wednesday under some heavy pressure at the start of the second half but the visitors held out.
The game quickly returned to the midfield battle but worryingly the visitors were seeing much more of the ball and would later create some great chances for themselves.
David Healy came on just after the hour for Robbie Blake to try and inject some life into Leeds
A minute later and Owls skipper Graham Coughlan was celebrating prematurely when he thought he's scored with a close range header, but Sullivan managed to make the save and then he couldn't quite hold onto it but Kelly cleared the danger.
The game finally sprung to life in the 71st minute when Leeds broke the deadlock.
Kelly's cross was met in the penalty area by skipper Paul Butler and his initial header saw the ball go across the face of goal where it looked likely it would be snapped up by Owls keeper Weaver.
Instead it was a great effort from Douglas to hook the ball back across the face of goal with Weaver just failing to close him down in time, and Butler having stayed in the six yard box was presented with a simple header back into the goal.
At long last there was something to cheer about and the Wednesday fans, who had made most of the noise, were silenced.
Former United trainee Barry Corr was one of two Wednesday substitutes to come on in the last quarter hour of the game, replacing John Hills. Ritchie Partridge also came on for Glen Wheelan.
Leeds doubled their advantage with a goal that must have left a bitter taste in the mouths of the Wednesday fans.
Who else, other than former Owls striker Richard Cresswell to score it. The striker's family are split between Leeds and Wednesday fans but doubtless both sides will have cheered his diving header on the end of Kelly's corner.
Cresswell had to get down low to get to the ball but still managed to get good power behind it and Weaver could only watch the ball fly past him.
With the points seemingly in the bag, Blackwell gave Liam Miller a rest and brought on Simon Walton for the last eight minutes.
The midfielder played a crucial part in United's third goal of the afternoon and Richard Cresswell's second, coming in injury time.
He broke forward from midfield to pick up a pass from Crainey and delivered in inch perfect cross from Simon Walton that the striker stuck away without any hassle for his sixth goal of the season. That wrapped up a satisfying result for Leeds, who got the defeat at Hillsborough, one of the worst performances of the season, well and truly out of their system.
leedsunited.com
A Richard Cresswell double against his former club helped secure all three points for United as they won the Yorkshire derby against Sheffield Wednesday.
Pre-Match
United boss Kevin Blackwell was forced into changes for the visit of Sheffield Wednesday due to injury and suspension.
Matthew Kilgallon picked up a knock on his knee in the FA Cup game with Wigan and failed to recover in time to feature, his place went to Sean Gregan, back in the side for the first time in nine games.
Rob Hulse's suspension saw Richard Cresswell get a start against one of his former teams, whilst Robbie Blake was prefered to David Healy despite the Northern Ireland international's two goals in midweek.
There was some good news on the injury front with Shaun Derry returning to action after a hamstring injury, Simon Walton dropping out again after coming in for the Wigan game.
Sheffield Wednesday kept the same side that beat Leicester City in their previous game a week ago.
The Match
Leeds began well with Richard Cresswell forcing an early corner with not even a minute played, and from it the Whites came close to taking the lead through a most unlikely source.
Sean Gregan, only in the side after injury struck Matthew Kilgallon, was 16 yards out on the right hand side of the area when the ball fell to him after the corner and he volleyed it goalwards only to see it kept out by the foot of Peter Gilbert on the line.
United went on to notch up four corners in the opening ten minutes, and it appeared to be just a matter of time before Wednesday's defence gave way under the pressure.
Jonathan Douglas had a chance after the quarter hour mark but ended up flat on the deck after getting a whack on the head. Cresswell's running had the Owls in all sorts of trouble at the back, and when Kelly swung the ball towards Douglas just eight yards out, he might have expected to score himself but his header found keeper Nicky Weaver's hands.
Leeds were putting good moves together but getting little reward for their industry. Cresswell's back heel allowed Kelly to get a good cross into the centre that Blake first missed but it fell nicely for Lewis to hit but the American could only hit the ball into the deck, he was though forced to use his weaker right foot.
The visitors had their spells in the first half too though, and they forced a few corners out of the Whites defence just before the half hour mark. Gilbert's header that was turned behind by Crainey on the line for another corner was about as near as they came to a goal.
Five minutes before half time Gregan had a half chance when he volleyed a free-kick from Kelly over the bar from the penalty spot.
The game died a death in the minutes leading up to half-time, the second half would hopefully be more entertaining and reward the biggest crowd of the season at Elland Road with some goals.
Just as at the start of the first half, Leeds put Wednesday under some heavy pressure at the start of the second half but the visitors held out.
The game quickly returned to the midfield battle but worryingly the visitors were seeing much more of the ball and would later create some great chances for themselves.
David Healy came on just after the hour for Robbie Blake to try and inject some life into Leeds
A minute later and Owls skipper Graham Coughlan was celebrating prematurely when he thought he's scored with a close range header, but Sullivan managed to make the save and then he couldn't quite hold onto it but Kelly cleared the danger.
The game finally sprung to life in the 71st minute when Leeds broke the deadlock.
Kelly's cross was met in the penalty area by skipper Paul Butler and his initial header saw the ball go across the face of goal where it looked likely it would be snapped up by Owls keeper Weaver.
Instead it was a great effort from Douglas to hook the ball back across the face of goal with Weaver just failing to close him down in time, and Butler having stayed in the six yard box was presented with a simple header back into the goal.
At long last there was something to cheer about and the Wednesday fans, who had made most of the noise, were silenced.
Former United trainee Barry Corr was one of two Wednesday substitutes to come on in the last quarter hour of the game, replacing John Hills. Ritchie Partridge also came on for Glen Wheelan.
Leeds doubled their advantage with a goal that must have left a bitter taste in the mouths of the Wednesday fans.
Who else, other than former Owls striker Richard Cresswell to score it. The striker's family are split between Leeds and Wednesday fans but doubtless both sides will have cheered his diving header on the end of Kelly's corner.
Cresswell had to get down low to get to the ball but still managed to get good power behind it and Weaver could only watch the ball fly past him.
With the points seemingly in the bag, Blackwell gave Liam Miller a rest and brought on Simon Walton for the last eight minutes.
The midfielder played a crucial part in United's third goal of the afternoon and Richard Cresswell's second, coming in injury time.
He broke forward from midfield to pick up a pass from Crainey and delivered in inch perfect cross from Simon Walton that the striker stuck away without any hassle for his sixth goal of the season. That wrapped up a satisfying result for Leeds, who got the defeat at Hillsborough, one of the worst performances of the season, well and truly out of their system.