UNITED BEGIN WITH A WIN
leedsunited.com
Leeds Utd 1 (Healy pen 40), Norwich City 0
A goal from birthday boy David Healy earned United an opening-day-of-the-season victory in a hard-fought battle against Norwich City at Elland Road.
The Northen Ireland international stroked home a 40th minute penalty to celebrate his 27th birthday and send Kevin Blackwell's men to victory.
After a busy build-up to the opening game - three players only arrived at the club on Friday - manager Kevin Blackwell handed debuts to loan men Geoff Horsfield and Tony Warner with fellow new recruit Ian Westlake named among the subs.
United started brightly and carved out the game's first real chance when David Healy fired wide, following a Gary Kelly cross. but it was Norwich who should have got their noses in front inside the first 10 minutes.
Former Leeds favourite Darren Huckerby intercepted a Shaun Derry pass to create a great chance for Rob Earnshaw, but United keeper Warner reacted quickly to block the Welshman's shot.
Earnshaw was also denied by the upright as Norwich continued to press while Lee Croft wasted another good chance when he fired wide of the mark.
Leeds slowly came into the contest as an attacking force and after Paul Gallacher tipped a Derry effort over the bar, the Norwich keeper was called into action to parry a drive from Healy.
Birthday boy Healy had a goal disallowed shortly before half-time for offside, but the Ulsterman wasn't to be denied and after Croft was adjudged to have fouled Steve Stone in the box, the pint-sized striker stepped up to convert his first penalty of the campaign to give Leeds a half-time lead.
Norwich responded at the start of the second period with Earnshaw trying his luck from distance. The Welshman also tested Warner with a powerful drive.
But it was Leeds who almost snatched a second goal on 54 minutes. Stone whipped in a cross from the right which eluded everyone in the Norwich box including United striker Horsfield who narrowly failed to apply the finishing touch for a debut goal.
The pace of the game picked up in the second period and the challenges became more physical, but goalscoring chances were at a premium with both defences looking strong.
Seb Carole was introduced for his debut on 69 minutes, as a replacement for Healy, and he was immediately denied by a good Adam Drury block after Eddie Lewis delivered a good cross from the left.
Ian Westlake completed a quintet of United's debutants when he replaced Eirik Bakke with 13 minutes remaining and he showed some neat touches as Leeds looked to turn their possession into a second goal.
Att: 22,417
leedsunited.com
Leeds Utd 1 (Healy pen 40), Norwich City 0
A goal from birthday boy David Healy earned United an opening-day-of-the-season victory in a hard-fought battle against Norwich City at Elland Road.
The Northen Ireland international stroked home a 40th minute penalty to celebrate his 27th birthday and send Kevin Blackwell's men to victory.
After a busy build-up to the opening game - three players only arrived at the club on Friday - manager Kevin Blackwell handed debuts to loan men Geoff Horsfield and Tony Warner with fellow new recruit Ian Westlake named among the subs.
United started brightly and carved out the game's first real chance when David Healy fired wide, following a Gary Kelly cross. but it was Norwich who should have got their noses in front inside the first 10 minutes.
Former Leeds favourite Darren Huckerby intercepted a Shaun Derry pass to create a great chance for Rob Earnshaw, but United keeper Warner reacted quickly to block the Welshman's shot.
Earnshaw was also denied by the upright as Norwich continued to press while Lee Croft wasted another good chance when he fired wide of the mark.
Leeds slowly came into the contest as an attacking force and after Paul Gallacher tipped a Derry effort over the bar, the Norwich keeper was called into action to parry a drive from Healy.
Birthday boy Healy had a goal disallowed shortly before half-time for offside, but the Ulsterman wasn't to be denied and after Croft was adjudged to have fouled Steve Stone in the box, the pint-sized striker stepped up to convert his first penalty of the campaign to give Leeds a half-time lead.
Norwich responded at the start of the second period with Earnshaw trying his luck from distance. The Welshman also tested Warner with a powerful drive.
But it was Leeds who almost snatched a second goal on 54 minutes. Stone whipped in a cross from the right which eluded everyone in the Norwich box including United striker Horsfield who narrowly failed to apply the finishing touch for a debut goal.
The pace of the game picked up in the second period and the challenges became more physical, but goalscoring chances were at a premium with both defences looking strong.
Seb Carole was introduced for his debut on 69 minutes, as a replacement for Healy, and he was immediately denied by a good Adam Drury block after Eddie Lewis delivered a good cross from the left.
Ian Westlake completed a quintet of United's debutants when he replaced Eirik Bakke with 13 minutes remaining and he showed some neat touches as Leeds looked to turn their possession into a second goal.
Att: 22,417