Leedsunited.com 4/4/09
BECCHIO SECURES THE POINTS IN ESSEX
Colchester 0 Leeds 1
Simon Grayson named an unchanged side for the trip to a sell-out Weston Homes Community Stadium as United looked to extend an eight-game unbeaten and keep the pressure on the fellow promotion challengers.
United started the contest brightly and Jermaine Beckford went close inside the opening five minutes when he latched onto a Robert Snodgrass pass, but was denied by some quick thinking from Colchester goalkeeper Mark Cousins.
Casper Ankergren was also called upon to make a good early save when he got down well to deny Karl Hawley, who delivered a good strike from distance.
At the other end, two Snodgrass corners caused problems, Luciano Becchio heading the second one narrowly wide.
The home side were looking to snuff out the threat of 31-goal marksman Beckford, though, and they signalled their intentions early doors by holding a tight defensive line to claim a number of successful offside decisions against the United striker.
That still didn't stop Beckford getting in a shot on goal after 22 minutes, following a ball over the top, but his hurried effort was comfortably taken by Cousins.
Colchester responded immediately and Mark Yeates should have done better when presented with a good chance, but Ankergren spread himself well to claim a decisive touch.
Leeds were controlling the game leading up to the half-hour mark, playing some great football, and the reward came on 29 minutes when Becchio worked himself a good opening on the edge of the box before picking his spot and hammering the ball beyond a helpless Cousins.
Both sides exchanged further shots on goal in the period leading up half-time and there was a booking for Kem Izzet in the 40th minute after he caught Neil Kilkenny with a swinging arm.
The resultant free-kick - another quality delivery from Snodgrass - almost produced a second goal for Becchio, but the striker's looping header went the wrong side of the upright.
Kilkenny also created an opening for Beckford on 44 minutes, but the striker lost his balance when shaping to shoot. And in first half stoppage time, Cousins denied Beckford after the striker showed good anticipation to get the wrong side of the Colchester defence.
Colchester emerged early for the second period and, clearly fired up, they showed some early bluster after the re-start. There was also an early stoppage when Fabian Delph received treatment, following a challenge which incensed a number of United players.
Izzet also received a second talking-to from the referee for a foul on Jonny Howson on 59 minutes.
Shortly after the hour, Colchester made their first change, introducing former Carlisle wide man Simon Hackney to proceedings on the left flank.
On 67 minutes, Becchio protested he was hauled down in the box as he looked to meet a cross from deep, and the striker subsequently received treatment, causing another break in play.
The second period hadn't offered the same quality as the first, and United had more defending to do. But Grayson's men were looking solid at the back and, with 20 minutes left on the clock, United had snuffed out any threat and the home side hadn't troubled Ankergren in the Leeds goal.
The ball was in the net at the other end on 72 minutes after a Becchio shot was parried, but an offside flag raised against the striker saw the effort ruled out.
Ankergren was also called into action for the first time in the second period on 77 minutes when he collected an ambitious attempt from Yeates.
But the second half was a real stop-start affair, and Richard Naylor was also forced to leave the field for treatment on a head injury as the game failed to gather any momentum.
There was an 18-man scuffle three minutes from time when the simmering tempers finally boiled over. Snodgrass was the victim of a hefty challenge and Naylor and Hackney were both booked following a physical confrontation.
Snodgrass was immediately replaced, thankfully with no visible injury, and Andrew Hughes came on for the closing moments. And Grayson made his final change in the first minute of stoppage time when Becchio was replaced by Liam Dickinson.
Four minutes of stoppage time gave the home side hope, but it was Leeds who almost added a second with the very last kick of the game when Cousins denied Beckford.
But it mattered little as Leeds maintained the pressure and extended the unbeaten run to nine games.
BECCHIO SECURES THE POINTS IN ESSEX
Colchester 0 Leeds 1
Simon Grayson named an unchanged side for the trip to a sell-out Weston Homes Community Stadium as United looked to extend an eight-game unbeaten and keep the pressure on the fellow promotion challengers.
United started the contest brightly and Jermaine Beckford went close inside the opening five minutes when he latched onto a Robert Snodgrass pass, but was denied by some quick thinking from Colchester goalkeeper Mark Cousins.
Casper Ankergren was also called upon to make a good early save when he got down well to deny Karl Hawley, who delivered a good strike from distance.
At the other end, two Snodgrass corners caused problems, Luciano Becchio heading the second one narrowly wide.
The home side were looking to snuff out the threat of 31-goal marksman Beckford, though, and they signalled their intentions early doors by holding a tight defensive line to claim a number of successful offside decisions against the United striker.
That still didn't stop Beckford getting in a shot on goal after 22 minutes, following a ball over the top, but his hurried effort was comfortably taken by Cousins.
Colchester responded immediately and Mark Yeates should have done better when presented with a good chance, but Ankergren spread himself well to claim a decisive touch.
Leeds were controlling the game leading up to the half-hour mark, playing some great football, and the reward came on 29 minutes when Becchio worked himself a good opening on the edge of the box before picking his spot and hammering the ball beyond a helpless Cousins.
Both sides exchanged further shots on goal in the period leading up half-time and there was a booking for Kem Izzet in the 40th minute after he caught Neil Kilkenny with a swinging arm.
The resultant free-kick - another quality delivery from Snodgrass - almost produced a second goal for Becchio, but the striker's looping header went the wrong side of the upright.
Kilkenny also created an opening for Beckford on 44 minutes, but the striker lost his balance when shaping to shoot. And in first half stoppage time, Cousins denied Beckford after the striker showed good anticipation to get the wrong side of the Colchester defence.
Colchester emerged early for the second period and, clearly fired up, they showed some early bluster after the re-start. There was also an early stoppage when Fabian Delph received treatment, following a challenge which incensed a number of United players.
Izzet also received a second talking-to from the referee for a foul on Jonny Howson on 59 minutes.
Shortly after the hour, Colchester made their first change, introducing former Carlisle wide man Simon Hackney to proceedings on the left flank.
On 67 minutes, Becchio protested he was hauled down in the box as he looked to meet a cross from deep, and the striker subsequently received treatment, causing another break in play.
The second period hadn't offered the same quality as the first, and United had more defending to do. But Grayson's men were looking solid at the back and, with 20 minutes left on the clock, United had snuffed out any threat and the home side hadn't troubled Ankergren in the Leeds goal.
The ball was in the net at the other end on 72 minutes after a Becchio shot was parried, but an offside flag raised against the striker saw the effort ruled out.
Ankergren was also called into action for the first time in the second period on 77 minutes when he collected an ambitious attempt from Yeates.
But the second half was a real stop-start affair, and Richard Naylor was also forced to leave the field for treatment on a head injury as the game failed to gather any momentum.
There was an 18-man scuffle three minutes from time when the simmering tempers finally boiled over. Snodgrass was the victim of a hefty challenge and Naylor and Hackney were both booked following a physical confrontation.
Snodgrass was immediately replaced, thankfully with no visible injury, and Andrew Hughes came on for the closing moments. And Grayson made his final change in the first minute of stoppage time when Becchio was replaced by Liam Dickinson.
Four minutes of stoppage time gave the home side hope, but it was Leeds who almost added a second with the very last kick of the game when Cousins denied Beckford.
But it mattered little as Leeds maintained the pressure and extended the unbeaten run to nine games.
