Leedsunited.com 10/1/09
UNITED SLIP TO DEFEAT
Elland Road old boys send United to defeat...
UNITED 0, CARLISLE 2 (Graham 27, Bridges 35)
United: Ankergren, Richardson, Marques, Michalik, Sheehan (Johnson 56), Hughes (Robinson 62), Douglas, Delph, Snodgrass, Becchio, Christie (Trundle 57). Subs: Lucas, Assoumana.
Carlisle: Krul, Raven, Livesey, Murphy, Liddle, Taylor (Bridge-Wilkinson 65), Thirlwell, Kavanagh, Jeff Smith, Bridges, Graham (Dobie 59). Subs: Williams, Hackney, Keogh.
Referee: K Friend.
Booked: Graham, Kavanagh (Carlisle)
Att: 22,411
Simon Grayson made just one enforced change from the side which beat Stockport at the end of 2008 with Malcolm Christie making his first league start in place of the injured Jermaine Beckford(hamstring).
New loan signing Lee Trundle was named on the substitutes bench, along with Bradley Johnson, fresh from a loan spell with Brighton.
Former United striker Michael Bridges was in the Carlisle starting line-up, and he was denied byCasper Ankergren in the seventh minute when through on goal.
United's first half-chance came on 12 minutes when Christie had a shot blocked by Danny Livesey.Luciano Becchio also went close after an intelligent ball from Robert Snodgrass.
Leeds started brightly and Carlisle goalkeeper Tim Krul made his first save on 18 minutes when anAlan Sheehan free-kick took a deflection.
But it was the visitors who took the lead after just 26 minutes. Graham Kavanagh and Cleveland Taylor were the architects and former Leeds loan man Danny Graham converted from close range.
That lead was quickly threatened and it took a superb block from Krul to deny Becchio with a far post header after a great cross from Snodgrass.
But it was 2-0 on 35 minutes. Kavanagh again played the decisive ball in, this time to Bridges, and the former United striker finished from the tightest of angles to put the Cumbrians in a commanding position.
United did fashion out an opportunity to get back into the game shortly before half-time when Andrew Hughes whipped in a good cross, but Christie was unable to make a connection.
Krul also got down well to deny Becchio with a well-struck effort on the stroke of half-time.
The striker also went close at the start of the second period before Lubo Michalik was thwarted by some desperate defending following a corner.
On 57 minutes, Grayson made his first changes, introducing Johnson for Sheehan and striker Trundle replaced Christie to make his first appearance for the club. The manager also re-shuffled his system, switching to three men at the back.
Trundle's first involvement was immediate and he sent a shot flying over the top from distance.
Snodgrass was next to go close after good play by Delph and shortly after the hour, Grayson made his final change with Andy Robinson replacing Hughes.
United's luck was summed up on 66 minutes when after Becchio had a shot pushed onto the post, Robinson miscued the follow-up into the arms of Krul.
Having said that, it should have been game over in the 72nd minute when Marc Bridge-Wilkinson wasted a great opportunity to score a third when he fired wide with an empty goal beckoning.
United continued to look for a way back, though, and Krul saved well from Johnson. Dave Raven also denied Trundle, heading away a Robinson cross.
As the clock started to tick down, Trundle again went close with a free-kick.
Four minutes of stoppage time started with Johnson having a shot deflected wide, and Carlisle cleared the resultant corner.
But there was to prove no way back and despite dominating the biggest part of the contest, Carlisle's conversion of two of their three chances proved decisive.
UNITED SLIP TO DEFEAT
Elland Road old boys send United to defeat...
UNITED 0, CARLISLE 2 (Graham 27, Bridges 35)
United: Ankergren, Richardson, Marques, Michalik, Sheehan (Johnson 56), Hughes (Robinson 62), Douglas, Delph, Snodgrass, Becchio, Christie (Trundle 57). Subs: Lucas, Assoumana.
Carlisle: Krul, Raven, Livesey, Murphy, Liddle, Taylor (Bridge-Wilkinson 65), Thirlwell, Kavanagh, Jeff Smith, Bridges, Graham (Dobie 59). Subs: Williams, Hackney, Keogh.
Referee: K Friend.
Booked: Graham, Kavanagh (Carlisle)
Att: 22,411
Simon Grayson made just one enforced change from the side which beat Stockport at the end of 2008 with Malcolm Christie making his first league start in place of the injured Jermaine Beckford(hamstring).
New loan signing Lee Trundle was named on the substitutes bench, along with Bradley Johnson, fresh from a loan spell with Brighton.
Former United striker Michael Bridges was in the Carlisle starting line-up, and he was denied byCasper Ankergren in the seventh minute when through on goal.
United's first half-chance came on 12 minutes when Christie had a shot blocked by Danny Livesey.Luciano Becchio also went close after an intelligent ball from Robert Snodgrass.
Leeds started brightly and Carlisle goalkeeper Tim Krul made his first save on 18 minutes when anAlan Sheehan free-kick took a deflection.
But it was the visitors who took the lead after just 26 minutes. Graham Kavanagh and Cleveland Taylor were the architects and former Leeds loan man Danny Graham converted from close range.
That lead was quickly threatened and it took a superb block from Krul to deny Becchio with a far post header after a great cross from Snodgrass.
But it was 2-0 on 35 minutes. Kavanagh again played the decisive ball in, this time to Bridges, and the former United striker finished from the tightest of angles to put the Cumbrians in a commanding position.
United did fashion out an opportunity to get back into the game shortly before half-time when Andrew Hughes whipped in a good cross, but Christie was unable to make a connection.
Krul also got down well to deny Becchio with a well-struck effort on the stroke of half-time.
The striker also went close at the start of the second period before Lubo Michalik was thwarted by some desperate defending following a corner.
On 57 minutes, Grayson made his first changes, introducing Johnson for Sheehan and striker Trundle replaced Christie to make his first appearance for the club. The manager also re-shuffled his system, switching to three men at the back.
Trundle's first involvement was immediate and he sent a shot flying over the top from distance.
Snodgrass was next to go close after good play by Delph and shortly after the hour, Grayson made his final change with Andy Robinson replacing Hughes.
United's luck was summed up on 66 minutes when after Becchio had a shot pushed onto the post, Robinson miscued the follow-up into the arms of Krul.
Having said that, it should have been game over in the 72nd minute when Marc Bridge-Wilkinson wasted a great opportunity to score a third when he fired wide with an empty goal beckoning.
United continued to look for a way back, though, and Krul saved well from Johnson. Dave Raven also denied Trundle, heading away a Robinson cross.
As the clock started to tick down, Trundle again went close with a free-kick.
Four minutes of stoppage time started with Johnson having a shot deflected wide, and Carlisle cleared the resultant corner.
But there was to prove no way back and despite dominating the biggest part of the contest, Carlisle's conversion of two of their three chances proved decisive.