Leedsunited.com 25/10/08
A FAB RESULT
Delph at the double in win against Walsall...
LEEDS UNITED 3 (Becchio 46, Delph 65, 87), WALSALL 0
United: Ankergren, Richardson, Michalik, Telfer, Parker, Kilkenny (Robinson 61), Douglas, Delph, Howson, Becchio (Snodgrass 82), Beckford. Subs: Prutton, Showunmi, White.
Walsall: Ince, Boertien, Roberts, Gerrard, Palmer, Nicholls (Zaaboub 73), Mattis, Taundry, Deeney (Reich 73), Ibhere, Ricketts. Subs: Bradley, Hughes, Gilmartin.
Referee: G Hegley
Att: 22,422
United boss Gary McAllister made one enforced change to his starting line-up with Casper Ankergren returning in place of the injured Dave Lucas.
After beating Leyton Orient in midweek, United started brightly against Walsall, and Jermaine Beckford lifted a shot over the top inside the opening five minutes.
Jonny Howson also tried his luck after 10 minutes with a shot which skidded just wide of the upright. When United threatened again, a Jonthan Douglas shot took a deflection off Luciano Becchio to allow Walsall goalkeeper Clayton Ince a routine collection.
Neil Kilkenny also came within a whisker of an early goal when he sent a right-footed drive from 25 yards inches wide.
It was a positive start and Fabian Delph showed good skill on the edge of the box to work himself an opening. Delph also had a shot blocked by Ince and Beckford's follow-up was wide of the mark.
United had some defending to do on the half-hour when Frazer Richardson thwarted the visitors with a timely clearance after some constructive build-up play.
he home side's next attack came after a Michael Ricketts shot was blocked. Jonny Howson was the architect, and after Anthony Gerrard halted Becchio, Kilkenny forced into a good save with another powerful shot.
United were the better side during the opening, but were restricted largely to shots from distance.
The breakthrough came just 50 seconds into the second half, though. The Walsall defence made a real hash of clearing a cross and the ball fell to Luciano Becchio who made no mistake in smashing the ball home from close range.
The goal sparked Walsall into showing more urgency and Troy Deeney won a corner when his shot was deflected wide following some good passing play.
On the hour mark, McAllister made his first substitution, and Andy Robinson's first involvement was to see a free-kick deflected over the top. Robinson took the resultant corner, and United had a good penalty appeal waved away after the ball hit Paul Boertien's hand on the goal-line.
Ironically, Robinson's third touch was to set up United's second goal of the afternoon, although Delph took the plaudits for a superb left-foot strike. Robinson pulled the ball back to Delph on the edge of the box and Delph hammered the ball into the top corner.
Delph almost added a third goal in the 79th minute when he seized again on the edge of the box and unleashed another powerful shot.
United were looking in firm control, but Walsall gave a reminder that they weren't giving up the ghost when Ricketts tried his luck with an effort from distance.
But the game was sealed in the 87th minute when Delph scored with another stunning strike, bending the ball beyond Ince from distance.
