The Match Live: United 2 Luton 1
leedsunited.com
UNITED 2 LUTON 1
United boss Kevin Blackwell made just the one change to the side that drew 1-1 with Leicester City, a result that saw Blackwell unleash his wrath on the team for what had been a disappointing performance.
Eirik Bakke was the man who missed out, dropping down to the bench after haing started his first game since August for the Whites at the Walkers Stadium, and David Healy, a substitute for the past three games, got a start.
The game also marked the occasion of Gary Kelly's 500th game for the club
Luton made two changes to their side and the biggest surprise was seeing former Leeds striker Warren Feeney only on the bench on his Elland Road return.
The Match
Leeds fell behind after just five minutes at the Walkers Stadium in last week's draw with Leicester and the same thing nearly happened at Elland Road when Luton spurned a golden opportunity to put themselves in front.
Sean Gregan conceded a free-kick just inside his own half and from it Paul Underwood floated a cross into the area where Chris Coyne met it on the volley but could only lift the ball over the top of the bar from just eight yards out.
United's response met with frustration, off-side flag after off-side flag went up to catch Rob Hulse, David Healy and Eddie Lewis all supposedly having strayed past the last defender.
Their best early shot of the game came from the left boot of Robbie Blake, the striker hitting a curling shot from the edge of the area but not quite able to keep the ball from rising over the crossbar.
With 25 minutes gone Lewis found himself in space with just Marlon Beresford, the Luton keeper, to beat.
Healy's pass on the edge of the area was touched onto him by Jonathan Douglas and the USA international gathered the ball and struck it well but Beresford was able to get a hand to the low shot and turn it away for a corner.
Leeds then laid siege to the Hatters' goal, cross after cross came in but they lacked a final shot on goal.
Healy, making his first start in seven games, showed his ring rustiness when on a break down the right flank he hit what should have been a goal-providing cross straight into the arms of Beresford. There were five white shirts inside the six yard box alone waiting for the ball, including Rob Hulse who made his displeasure known.Just after the half hour mark Luton reminded Leeds that they were still around, Rowan Vine's cross found Kevin Foley completely unmarked some four yards out but the right back could not keep his header down and a collective sigh of relief went around Elland Road.
When Gary Kelly had the ball at his feet just inside the Luton penalty area with space for the shot, everyone screamed at him to go for it, but he elected to cross instead and it was met with an overhead kick from Blake that found Hulse, but he too couldn't get enough power behind his shot to trouble the keeper.The visitors though had the best chances in the first half and they worked another one with five minutes to go. Ahmet Brkovic brought the ball down on the edge of the 18-yard box and hit a low drive at goal that just went the wrong side of the left hand post by inches.It was not shaping up to be the most exciting game at Elland Road this season, but there was some hope for the second half.
The second half did start with more promise for Leeds, Robbie Blake sent a header wide and generally Leeds looked more determined and more prepared to go for goal.
They also escaped what looked to be a clear handball by Sean Gregan inside his own penalty area as Brkovic tried to lift it over the defender. Luton's penalty appeals were waved away and it proved to be a contentious decision as Leeds took the lead almost immediately afterwards.
Jonathan Douglas started and finished the move which ended with him scoring his fifth United goal, The midfielder played it to Blake and kept on running, Blake's ball forward was perfect and he was left to simply put the ball past the keeper, which he did with ease.
The on-loan Blackburn man had simply taken the Luton defence out of the equation with his run in behind them and it was a cool finish.
Luton's hopes of getting back into the game quickly took a dive when Leeds made it 2-0 less than three minutes after their first goal.
This one was slightly more straight-forward and owed a lot to poor defending from the visitors. Rob Hulse managed to get to the goal-line with the ball after Blake had managed to win the ball from Kelly's long free-kick, and he simply put the ball back across the face of goal where Luton missed it and Eddie Lewis was there for the tap-in.Luton boss Mike Newell made a double substitution soon after the second goal, former Elland Road trainee Warren Feeney and Enoch Showunmi came on.
Blackwell left it until the last 20 minutes to make his first change, and it was Eirik Bakke who came on for David Healy.
Jonathan Douglas was shown a yellow card with just under ten minutes remaining when he brought Feeney's run at goal to an end with a crude challenge just short of the penalty area. Luton blasted the free-kick straight at the five man wall.The visitors did though pull a goal back with seven minutes left. A high cross from the left was met with a diving header by Steve Howard and Sullivan just couldn't get his hand to the ball.
From being in cruise control for most of the half, Leeds now had to make sure they remained in control for the final few minutes. And they might have conceded again had Sullivan not managed to block a goal-bound shot from Howard.
Ian Moore came on for five minutes at the end, replacing Robbie Blake who had another good game for the Whites.
Leeds could have made doubly sure of the victory when, right on the stroke of the end of normal time, Moore set Hulse up just five yards out, but somehow the hitman managed to slide the ball wide.
For the third game in succession Leeds finished the game with more men than the opposition. Sol Davis was shown a second yellow card for a body-check on Hulse and he walked off grudgingly. His first booking came 15 minutes earlier for dissent. Leeds had managed to redeem themselves yet again for a poor first half showing and the three points were made all the more welcome by news that Sheffield United had lost at home.
leedsunited.com
UNITED 2 LUTON 1
United boss Kevin Blackwell made just the one change to the side that drew 1-1 with Leicester City, a result that saw Blackwell unleash his wrath on the team for what had been a disappointing performance.
Eirik Bakke was the man who missed out, dropping down to the bench after haing started his first game since August for the Whites at the Walkers Stadium, and David Healy, a substitute for the past three games, got a start.
The game also marked the occasion of Gary Kelly's 500th game for the club
Luton made two changes to their side and the biggest surprise was seeing former Leeds striker Warren Feeney only on the bench on his Elland Road return.
The Match
Leeds fell behind after just five minutes at the Walkers Stadium in last week's draw with Leicester and the same thing nearly happened at Elland Road when Luton spurned a golden opportunity to put themselves in front.
Sean Gregan conceded a free-kick just inside his own half and from it Paul Underwood floated a cross into the area where Chris Coyne met it on the volley but could only lift the ball over the top of the bar from just eight yards out.
United's response met with frustration, off-side flag after off-side flag went up to catch Rob Hulse, David Healy and Eddie Lewis all supposedly having strayed past the last defender.
Their best early shot of the game came from the left boot of Robbie Blake, the striker hitting a curling shot from the edge of the area but not quite able to keep the ball from rising over the crossbar.
With 25 minutes gone Lewis found himself in space with just Marlon Beresford, the Luton keeper, to beat.
Healy's pass on the edge of the area was touched onto him by Jonathan Douglas and the USA international gathered the ball and struck it well but Beresford was able to get a hand to the low shot and turn it away for a corner.
Leeds then laid siege to the Hatters' goal, cross after cross came in but they lacked a final shot on goal.
Healy, making his first start in seven games, showed his ring rustiness when on a break down the right flank he hit what should have been a goal-providing cross straight into the arms of Beresford. There were five white shirts inside the six yard box alone waiting for the ball, including Rob Hulse who made his displeasure known.Just after the half hour mark Luton reminded Leeds that they were still around, Rowan Vine's cross found Kevin Foley completely unmarked some four yards out but the right back could not keep his header down and a collective sigh of relief went around Elland Road.
When Gary Kelly had the ball at his feet just inside the Luton penalty area with space for the shot, everyone screamed at him to go for it, but he elected to cross instead and it was met with an overhead kick from Blake that found Hulse, but he too couldn't get enough power behind his shot to trouble the keeper.The visitors though had the best chances in the first half and they worked another one with five minutes to go. Ahmet Brkovic brought the ball down on the edge of the 18-yard box and hit a low drive at goal that just went the wrong side of the left hand post by inches.It was not shaping up to be the most exciting game at Elland Road this season, but there was some hope for the second half.
The second half did start with more promise for Leeds, Robbie Blake sent a header wide and generally Leeds looked more determined and more prepared to go for goal.
They also escaped what looked to be a clear handball by Sean Gregan inside his own penalty area as Brkovic tried to lift it over the defender. Luton's penalty appeals were waved away and it proved to be a contentious decision as Leeds took the lead almost immediately afterwards.
Jonathan Douglas started and finished the move which ended with him scoring his fifth United goal, The midfielder played it to Blake and kept on running, Blake's ball forward was perfect and he was left to simply put the ball past the keeper, which he did with ease.
The on-loan Blackburn man had simply taken the Luton defence out of the equation with his run in behind them and it was a cool finish.
Luton's hopes of getting back into the game quickly took a dive when Leeds made it 2-0 less than three minutes after their first goal.
This one was slightly more straight-forward and owed a lot to poor defending from the visitors. Rob Hulse managed to get to the goal-line with the ball after Blake had managed to win the ball from Kelly's long free-kick, and he simply put the ball back across the face of goal where Luton missed it and Eddie Lewis was there for the tap-in.Luton boss Mike Newell made a double substitution soon after the second goal, former Elland Road trainee Warren Feeney and Enoch Showunmi came on.
Blackwell left it until the last 20 minutes to make his first change, and it was Eirik Bakke who came on for David Healy.
Jonathan Douglas was shown a yellow card with just under ten minutes remaining when he brought Feeney's run at goal to an end with a crude challenge just short of the penalty area. Luton blasted the free-kick straight at the five man wall.The visitors did though pull a goal back with seven minutes left. A high cross from the left was met with a diving header by Steve Howard and Sullivan just couldn't get his hand to the ball.
From being in cruise control for most of the half, Leeds now had to make sure they remained in control for the final few minutes. And they might have conceded again had Sullivan not managed to block a goal-bound shot from Howard.
Ian Moore came on for five minutes at the end, replacing Robbie Blake who had another good game for the Whites.
Leeds could have made doubly sure of the victory when, right on the stroke of the end of normal time, Moore set Hulse up just five yards out, but somehow the hitman managed to slide the ball wide.
For the third game in succession Leeds finished the game with more men than the opposition. Sol Davis was shown a second yellow card for a body-check on Hulse and he walked off grudgingly. His first booking came 15 minutes earlier for dissent. Leeds had managed to redeem themselves yet again for a poor first half showing and the three points were made all the more welcome by news that Sheffield United had lost at home.