Leedsunited.com 27/9/08
ROBBO WINS IT
27 Sep 2008
Robinson goal secures Elland Road win against Hereford...
UNITED 1 (Robinson 72), HEREFORD 0
United: Lucas, Richardson, Marques, Telfer, White (Hughes 78), Howson, Douglas, Delph, Beckford, Becchio, Robinson (Snodgrass 85). Subs: Ankergren, Prutton, Kilkenny.
Hereford: Randolph, Jackson, Broadhurst, N'Gotty, Rose, Hudson-Odi (Smith 81), O'Leary, Diagouraga, Done, Johnson (Taylor 81), Chadwick (Ashikodi 68). Subs: Samson, Taylor, Smith, Beckwith.
Referee: G Laws (Whitley Bay)
Booked: O'Leary, Broadhurst (Hereford)
Att: 25,676
United boss Gary McAllister made two changes from the side which won 2-0 at Carlisle last weekend, with Andy Robinson replacing Andrew Hughes and Jonny Howson in for Neil Kilkenny.
And it was Robinson who had the first shot on goal when he tested Darren Randolph with a shot from distance after five minutes. Robinson was also instrumental when Hereford defender Richard Jackson cleared to thwart Jermaine Beckford.
On 12 minutes, Howson had a shot deflected wide as United enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges. Fabian Delph was next to test Randolph after working himself an opening just inside the box.
The opening 20 minutes were one-way traffic, and teenager Aidan White went close when he showed good skill cutting in from the left before seeing his shot deflected to safety.
When United threatened again, Randolph came racing off his line to head the ball clear, and the Hereford keeper was called upon again on 32 minutes to spread himself well after Delph played in Beckford.
And Randolph made another save in the 38th minute when he got down well to his right to deny Luciano Becchio.
Beckford was next to try his luck from outside of the area when he curled a shot wide of the mark, and United were thwarted again in the 41st minute when Richard Rose made a superb challenge to prevent Jonathan Douglas scoring from close range, following more good work by Robinson.
And on the stroke of half-time, Randolph made yet another good save after Becchio met a Frazer Richardson cross at the far post.
United started the second half as they ended the first with Beckford glancing a Becchio cross over the bar.
And on 48 minutes, Beckford shaved the upright with a shot from close range as the domination continued.
Dave Lucas was finally called upon to make a fingertip save to deny an advancing Nick Chadwick, United responded quickly with two efforts from Beckford.
By the hour-mark, United had 20 shots on goal - 10 on target, as opposed to Hereford's two wayward first half efforts. Leeds had also enjoyed a whopping 60 per cent of the play.
But Randolph was having an excellent game in the Hereford goal and he denied Beckford again with another good save. In the 61st minute, Randolph did it again after Beckford worked another good opening.
Leeds continued to press, and Robinson headed wide of the mark, following a Howson free-kick. Moments later, Randolph somehow kept out a header from Becchio.
The breakthrough finally came on 72 minutes, but that was only after Randolph had made a wonder save to deny Becchio.
The goalkeeper pulled off an outstanding stop to keep out a Becchio header - following a Beckford cross - but the ball came straight back out to Robinson who was able to stoop to head home.
It was no more than rampant Leeds deserved, but Hereford, marshalled by a man of the match performance from Randolph, had done their utmost to keep United at bay.
Even after the goal, Randolph continued his one-man stand, and he denied Becchio with yet another good save on 77 minutes. Then he produced a double-save to deny Beckford to keep the score at 1-0.
The United defence were called into action on 84 minutes when Rui Marques got the decisive touch on a Matt Done shot to deflect it to safety.
Done also found an opening on 88 minutes, but the Hereford slipped on the turf as he shaped to cross the ball back into the box.
For the first time in the game Hereford were suddenly showing the same fearless attitude that earned them an FA Cup win at Elland Road last year, and Moses Ashikodi wasted a great opportunity in the 89th minute when he sent a shot wide.
