Leedsunited.com 18/10/08
BEATEN BY LIONS
United slip to defeat at hands of Millwall...
MILLWALL 3 (Martin 37, Harris 59, Harris 88), LEEDS 1 (Becchio 31)
Millwall: Forde, Craig, Robinson, Whitbread, Frampton, Abdou, Grabban (Dunne 90), Martin, Laird, Harris, Alexander. Subs: Edwards, Grimes, Moore, Noel-Williams.
United: Lucas, Richardson, Michalik, Marques, White, Kilkenny (Snodgrass 65), Douglas, Delph, Hughes (Showunmi 65), Becchio, Beckford. Subs: Ankergren, Prutton, Howson.
Referee: A Marriner
Booked: Alexander, Harris (Millwall), Kilkenny, Becchio (United).
Att: 13,041 (2,000 Leeds)
United boss Gary McAllister named an unchanged team for the third versus fourth clash at the Den while Millwall were without striker Tresor Kandol due to the terms of his loan deal from Leeds.
The hosts were backed by a typically partisan crowd, but the sell-out away following made plenty of noise during a tentative opening from both sides.
Two late challenges from Milwall's Jimmy Abdou - on Fabian Delph and Neil Kilkenny - went unpunished, but Kilkenny found himself in the referee's notebook inside 10 minutes for a hefty challenge of his own.
It was a feisty start, and the home crowd were shouting for a penalty in 14 minutes when David Martin, whose mazy run had accounted for Lubo Michalik, went down in the box under pressure fromFrazer Richardson. But referee Andre Marriner dismissed the claims.
The home side had started with a spring in their step and were looking lively, and the first effort on goal came on 22 minutes when Martin sent a shot skidding wide of the mark.
Leeds had defended stoutly throughout the opening half-hour, and the reward came in some style on 31 minutes when Luciano Becchio fired in the opening goal of the game.
It was a carefully carved out break, and Becchio showed great skill to work himself an opening before delivering a superb strike from distance to give United the lead.
That lead lasted just six minutes, though, with the home side responding quickly. Neil Harris linked up well with Martin down the Milwall left, and the youngster cut inside before delivering a good finish which left Dave Lucas with no chance.
Tempers flared at the start of the second half when Becchio found himself in the book after a clash with Andy Frampton that resulted in 20 players pushing and shoving.
But disaster struck for United after 59 minutes when Millwall took the lead. Harris was the scorer when he rose well to head home a cross after a Millwall corner wasn't cleared.
Leeds immediately fashioned an opening at the other end when Kilkenny turned a Richardson cross towards goal.
With 25 minutes remaining, McAllister made two changes with Robert Snodgrass and Enoch Showunmi adding to his attacking presence. It meant United were operating with a bold 4-2-4 formation when in possession.
But Showunmi was involved at the other end with a good defensive header, and Jonathan Douglasalso made a good block when Millwall threatened again.
On 79 minutes it was MIllwall's Paul Robinson who made a good block when Beckford went on the attack after a good cross from Snodgrass. Home goalkeeper David Forde also came racing off his line when Fabian Delph attempted to play in Showunmi.
When Millwall came again on 86 minutes, Lucas made a terrific block to deny Lewis Grabban despite calls for offside from the United back four.
United replied immediately and Showunmi had a shot deflected wide of the mark.
But it was Millwall who effectively sealed the game in the 88th minute, following a misunderstanding at the back. After Lucas reacted superbly to deny danger, following a misplaced pass, Harris converted with a neat finish to make it 3-1.
