Yorkshire Post 1/9/07
Result: Leeds United 1 Luton 0
By Richard Sutcliffe
at Elland Road
TRESOR KANDOL'S first half goal was enough for Leeds United to claim their best start to a league season in almost a quarter of a century.
The former Barnet forward struck just before the break to capitalise on fine work by partner Jermaine Beckford and ensure United claimed a fourth consecutive victory.
It is the first time Leeds have enjoyed such a start in the league since Eddie Gray was manager in 1984 and means that another win next week against Hartlepool United will mean the draconian 15-point penalty imposed by the Football League will have been wiped out.
United broke the deadlock in front of a magnificent crowd of 26,856 when good work from Jermaine Beckford on the left saw the ball worked to Kandol and he smashed the ball past David Forde in the Hatters' goal from 12 yards out. The lead was deserved with Leeds having wasted a golden chance to open the scoring just before the half-hour when Beckford shot wide despite being played through on the goalkeeper.
The opening owed much to the vision of Tresor Kandol with the striker looking up before chipping an inch-perfect ball for his partner to chase. Defender Keith Keane tried to cut out the ball but failed to connect, which presented Beckford with a glorious chance that he shot wide from 10 yards out. It was a big let-off for Luton who also seemed to get away with a decent appeal for a penalty in the seventh minute when Kandol appeared to be impeded by Chris Coyne only for the referee to wave away the home side's appeals.
Kevin Blackwell's side failed to muster a shot on target in the first half with their best opening seeing former Sheffield Wednesday striker Drew Talbot get to the by-line before drilling the ball across the United six-yard box but away from his two team-mates.
The visitors improved after the break with Paul Furlong putting the ball in the net six minutes after the restart only for his 'goal' to be ruled out for a tug on Rui Marques.
David Bell also came within a whisker of equalising with a stinging 25-yard shot that flew just inches over the crossbar with Casper Ankergren well beaten on the hour. Beckford went close for United but, in the end, it did not matter as Kandol's goal proved enough to cut the club's points deficit to three.
Leedsunited.com 1/9/07
THREE FROM ZERO
UNITED 1 (Kandol 44) LUTON 0
United: Ankergren, Richardson, Heath, Marques, Hughes, Prutton, Thompson (Clapham 73), Douglas, Carole, Kandol, Beckford. Subs: Martin, Howson, Parker, Ameobi.
Luton: Forde, Goodall, Perry, Coyne, Bell, Currie (Morgan 64), Edwards, Talbot (McVeigh 76), Keane, Spring, Furlong (Andrew 76). Subs: Hutchison, Robinson.
Referee: C Oliver.
Att: 26,856
United were going in search of a fourth league win in a row against Kevin Blackwell's Luton, and boss Dennis Wise made just one change from the team which won at Nottingham Forest the previous weekend, recalling Andrew Hughes in place of loan man Jamie Clapham.
And Wise's men started brightly, winning a couple of early corners. A penalty appeal was also waved away when Tresor Kandol went down under pressure from Luton defender Chris Coyne.
Luton goalkeeper David Forde was tested for the first time on 10 minutes when Kandol tried his luck with a low shot from distance.
United played the neater football during the opening 20 minutes, and other than a couple of early crosses, Luton's only real opportunity came when David Bell screwed a shot wide of the mark from outside of the box.
The best chance of the half came on 28 minutes when Kandol played a lovely ball to send Jermaine Beckford through on goal, but the striker's finish was wide of the mark.
United were rewarded for their efforts moments before half-time, though, and it was Kandol who got his third goal of the season.
Strike partner Beckford was again the provider and Kandol delivered a good finish to give United a deserved half-time lead.
There was a scare six minutes into the second half when Paul Furlong converted a cross from close range, but the former Birmingham marksman had strayed offside.
United's response was immediate and Kandol was again on the end of a good ball when he fired into the side-netting.
At the other end, Bell tried his luck from distance with a vicious, dipping effort, which flew inches over the bar.
But United continued to look assured and Forde spread himself well to deny Beckford before Luton scrambled away the corner.
Casper Ankergren also made a good save when he got down to a David Edwards shot, fired low through a ruck of players.
The game continued at a good pace and Alan Thompson sent a free-kick wide of the mark before Kandol headed a long throw just wide of the upright.
The visitors had a go in the closing stages, but United were never seriously troubled as they recorded a fourth straight league victory.
The win makes it United's best start to a league season since the 1984/85 season when Eddie Gray was manager.
Result: Leeds United 1 Luton 0
By Richard Sutcliffe
at Elland Road
TRESOR KANDOL'S first half goal was enough for Leeds United to claim their best start to a league season in almost a quarter of a century.
The former Barnet forward struck just before the break to capitalise on fine work by partner Jermaine Beckford and ensure United claimed a fourth consecutive victory.
It is the first time Leeds have enjoyed such a start in the league since Eddie Gray was manager in 1984 and means that another win next week against Hartlepool United will mean the draconian 15-point penalty imposed by the Football League will have been wiped out.
United broke the deadlock in front of a magnificent crowd of 26,856 when good work from Jermaine Beckford on the left saw the ball worked to Kandol and he smashed the ball past David Forde in the Hatters' goal from 12 yards out. The lead was deserved with Leeds having wasted a golden chance to open the scoring just before the half-hour when Beckford shot wide despite being played through on the goalkeeper.
The opening owed much to the vision of Tresor Kandol with the striker looking up before chipping an inch-perfect ball for his partner to chase. Defender Keith Keane tried to cut out the ball but failed to connect, which presented Beckford with a glorious chance that he shot wide from 10 yards out. It was a big let-off for Luton who also seemed to get away with a decent appeal for a penalty in the seventh minute when Kandol appeared to be impeded by Chris Coyne only for the referee to wave away the home side's appeals.
Kevin Blackwell's side failed to muster a shot on target in the first half with their best opening seeing former Sheffield Wednesday striker Drew Talbot get to the by-line before drilling the ball across the United six-yard box but away from his two team-mates.
The visitors improved after the break with Paul Furlong putting the ball in the net six minutes after the restart only for his 'goal' to be ruled out for a tug on Rui Marques.
David Bell also came within a whisker of equalising with a stinging 25-yard shot that flew just inches over the crossbar with Casper Ankergren well beaten on the hour. Beckford went close for United but, in the end, it did not matter as Kandol's goal proved enough to cut the club's points deficit to three.
Leedsunited.com 1/9/07
THREE FROM ZERO
UNITED 1 (Kandol 44) LUTON 0
United: Ankergren, Richardson, Heath, Marques, Hughes, Prutton, Thompson (Clapham 73), Douglas, Carole, Kandol, Beckford. Subs: Martin, Howson, Parker, Ameobi.
Luton: Forde, Goodall, Perry, Coyne, Bell, Currie (Morgan 64), Edwards, Talbot (McVeigh 76), Keane, Spring, Furlong (Andrew 76). Subs: Hutchison, Robinson.
Referee: C Oliver.
Att: 26,856
United were going in search of a fourth league win in a row against Kevin Blackwell's Luton, and boss Dennis Wise made just one change from the team which won at Nottingham Forest the previous weekend, recalling Andrew Hughes in place of loan man Jamie Clapham.
And Wise's men started brightly, winning a couple of early corners. A penalty appeal was also waved away when Tresor Kandol went down under pressure from Luton defender Chris Coyne.
Luton goalkeeper David Forde was tested for the first time on 10 minutes when Kandol tried his luck with a low shot from distance.
United played the neater football during the opening 20 minutes, and other than a couple of early crosses, Luton's only real opportunity came when David Bell screwed a shot wide of the mark from outside of the box.
The best chance of the half came on 28 minutes when Kandol played a lovely ball to send Jermaine Beckford through on goal, but the striker's finish was wide of the mark.
United were rewarded for their efforts moments before half-time, though, and it was Kandol who got his third goal of the season.
Strike partner Beckford was again the provider and Kandol delivered a good finish to give United a deserved half-time lead.
There was a scare six minutes into the second half when Paul Furlong converted a cross from close range, but the former Birmingham marksman had strayed offside.
United's response was immediate and Kandol was again on the end of a good ball when he fired into the side-netting.
At the other end, Bell tried his luck from distance with a vicious, dipping effort, which flew inches over the bar.
But United continued to look assured and Forde spread himself well to deny Beckford before Luton scrambled away the corner.
Casper Ankergren also made a good save when he got down to a David Edwards shot, fired low through a ruck of players.
The game continued at a good pace and Alan Thompson sent a free-kick wide of the mark before Kandol headed a long throw just wide of the upright.
The visitors had a go in the closing stages, but United were never seriously troubled as they recorded a fourth straight league victory.
The win makes it United's best start to a league season since the 1984/85 season when Eddie Gray was manager.