leedsunited.com 30/7/10
BRUCE SIGNS FOR UNITED
Ipswich Town defender Alex Bruce has become Leeds United's seventh signing of the summer.
The 25-year-old has agreed a two-year deal with a further one-year option after joining from Portman Road for an undisclosed fee.
The central defender arrives having made almost 200 senior appearances in a career that has taken in Blackburn, Birmingham, Oldham, Sheffield Wednesday, Tranmere, Ipswich, and Leicester.
Over a century of his appearances came at Ipswich, after joining the club from Birmingham in 2006, but he failed to figure during the latter period of last term and was loaned to Leicester.
Alex, who started at Manchester United's Academy before joining Blackburn as a youngster, has also made two appearances for the Republic of Ireland.
United manager Simon Grayson said: "Alex is going to be a good member of the squad. He can play at centre-back, right-back, and as a holding midfielder.
"We felt we were short in those areas at this moment and we're delighted he's come.
"He's got a lot of experience, he's played in the Championship and the Premership and he's what we want - a player who knows the division, is hungry and wants to be successful."
The player is a long-time target of Grayson, and the boss first made a move for him last season.
"We tried to sign him a year agho when we were in league one," he revealed. "Ipswich wouldn't let him go then we got a call a week ago to say he was available, and everything got agreed."
Ipswich Town defender Alex Bruce has become Leeds United's seventh signing of the summer.
The 25-year-old has agreed a two-year deal with a further one-year option after joining from Portman Road for an undisclosed fee.
The central defender arrives having made almost 200 senior appearances in a career that has taken in Blackburn, Birmingham, Oldham, Sheffield Wednesday, Tranmere, Ipswich, and Leicester.
Over a century of his appearances came at Ipswich, after joining the club from Birmingham in 2006, but he failed to figure during the latter period of last term and was loaned to Leicester.
Alex, who started at Manchester United's Academy before joining Blackburn as a youngster, has also made two appearances for the Republic of Ireland.
United manager Simon Grayson said: "Alex is going to be a good member of the squad. He can play at centre-back, right-back, and as a holding midfielder.
"We felt we were short in those areas at this moment and we're delighted he's come.
"He's got a lot of experience, he's played in the Championship and the Premership and he's what we want - a player who knows the division, is hungry and wants to be successful."
The player is a long-time target of Grayson, and the boss first made a move for him last season.
"We tried to sign him a year agho when we were in league one," he revealed. "Ipswich wouldn't let him go then we got a call a week ago to say he was available, and everything got agreed."
Yorkshire Evening Post 30/7/10
We'll act fast over Snodgrass
By Phil Hay
Leeds United were expecting to discover the full extent of Robert Snodgrass' knee injury today with manager Simon Grayson ready to move for a replacement if the winger is consigned to a spell on the sidelines.
Snodgrass underwent a scan on his left knee yesterday as Leeds attempted to establish the severity of his injury and confirm whether he will miss the start of the Championship season.
United have been careful to avoid speculative assessments of Snodgrass' condition, and Grayson is holding out hope that damage caused during a pre-season game in Norway on Tuesday night will not prevent the 22-year-old Scot from appearing in next weekend's league game against Derby County.
Grayson was due to receive a full diagnosis today but he has ruled the winger out of tomorrow's clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers at Elland Road and will step into the transfer market to look for cover should Snodgrass' scan reveal significant problems.
Grayson said: "Once the scan comes back we'll have a much better idea of the severity.
"I would think the report on him might influence what we do in the transfer market. If he's going to be weeks or months then it might change our thoughts about where we need to strengthen.
"He's been in a brace and on crutches which is a precaution to keep weight off his knee. Even if there's no ligament damage he'll be sore and swollen so he'll be out at the weekend but we're still hoping that he might be available for the first game of the season."
Snodgrass was injured by a fierce challenge from striker David Nielsen during Leeds' 3-1 victory over SK Brann in the Norwegian city of Bergen, a foul which earned Nielsen yellow card and left Snodgrass requiring a stretcher.
Grayson was critical of what he called a "poor tackle" from a player who is out of contract and was attempting to earn a deal with Brann. Nielsen is believed to have been released by the Norwegian club in the days since, though not as a direct result of his foul on Snodgrass.
Grayson said: "It's disappointing and we're led to believe that the lad who did it has been released. He was looking for a contract and trying his hardest but situations like this are frustrating."
If it's a bad injury then I'll be disappointed for Robert because he's looked fit and strong, enjoying his football. But we're not going to be pessimistic until we know what's happening."
Amid the uncertainty over Snodgrass, Leeds remain unclear on the condition of striker Billy Paynter who injured his shin during the club's pre-season tour of Slovakia.
Leeds played down claims that Paynter had suffered a stress fracture and would miss up to eight weeks of the season, but Grayson is still waiting for a definitive verdict on the forward's condition and will not be able to field him against Wolves tomorrow.
Grayson said: "He's going for another review on his shin injury. Both lads are under review and we're waiting to see the severity of their injuries."
leedsunited.com 29/7/10
NEW AWAY KIT UNVEILED
The club's new away kit will be launched at Elland Road on Saturday with the team wearing the kit for the pre-season friendly against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The new kit will be available to purchase at 8am on Saturday from the Elland Road Superstore and can also be purchased on the website via the Online Superstore at http://www.leedsunited.com/.
The Elland Road Superstore will be open from 8am to 6pm on Saturday and again from 10am to 4pm on Sunday when the club stages its annual Open Day.
The shirts are priced at £40 for mens and ladies adult shirts with junior shirts at £35.
leedsunited.com 29/7/10
SQUAD NUMBERS ANNOUNCED
The club has confirmed its squad numbers for the 2010/2011 npower Championship season.
1 Kasper Schmeichel
2 Paul Connolly
3 Paddy Kisnorbo
4
5 Neill Collins
6 Richard Naylor
7 Max Gradel
8 Neil Kilkenny
9 Billy Paynter
10 Luciano Becchio
11 Lloyd Sam
12 Shane Higgs
13 Mike Grella
14 Jonny Howson
15
16 Bradley Johnson
17
18
19 Ben Parker
20 Jason Crowe
21 Fede Bessone
22 Andrew Hughes
23 Robert Snodgrass
24 Lubo Michalik
25 Alan Martin
26 Leigh Bromby
27 Dave Somma
28 Andy Robinson
29
30
31
32 Aidan White
33
34 Alan Sheehan
35 Tom Elliott (on loan at Rotherham)
36 Tom Lees
37 Will Hatfield
38 Liam Darville
Yorkshire Evening Post 28/7/10
Versatility the name of the game - Grayson
By Phil Hay
Simon Grayson is a self-professed "4-4-2 man" with a particular liking for that formation. It has been his system of choice at Elland Road and the framework for his time as manager of Leeds United.
After a half-century of victories from fewer than 100 competitive matches, a break from tradition is far from necessary but Grayson does not want the Championship to see him or his team as a one-trick pony. "We'll be versatile next season," he said. "If there's one thing you can't afford to be in that league, it's predictable."
His freedom to vary Leeds' formation is entirely dependent on having players flexible enough to cope, but the club's defeat of Hartlepool United – albeit in uncompetitive circumstances – championed their ability to adapt. The strategy adopted at Victoria Park might come to serve Grayson well in a division which is more skilful and less predictable than League One.
Grayson's use of Luciano Becchio as a lone striker in Hartlepool was arguably as pragmatic as it was experimental, brought on by a collection of forwards which is running dangerously low, but United's manager could not fail to appreciate the effect of a formation which produced five goals without reply.
Becchio scored two, converting headers in either half, and United's wingers – Robert Snodgrass and Lloyd Sam – contributed a goal and three assists between them. Grayson will prepare for firmer opposition in the Championship than Leeds received at Victoria Park but pleasing stability in the centre of the pitch and among his defence pushed the case for a five-man midfield.
"My preferred system is 4-4-2 and it's how we tend to set up," Grayson said. "It's served us well in the past and the squad have been comfortable playing like that.
"But you can't be single-minded in the Championship and I'm not going to force us into one rigid style of football. We'll adapt when we want to and there'll be times when we're going to have to vary our approach. It's not a one-style-suits-all division.
"The first thing you concentrate on is working to your strengths and there's no use in trying to play a formation that clearly doesn't work or doesn't suit your squad but the players here are talented enough to work in different ways."
Snodgrass and Sam provided United's width on Saturday, attacking the wings in a way which kept Becchio involved and falling back diligently to restrict Hartlepool's midfield and spoil their possession.
Grayson may have a different plan of attack in mind for Derby County's visit to Elland Road a week on Saturday but the team he selected in Hartlepool was, give or take, the sum of his available options. So numerous are the injuries affecting his squad that only two out-and-out strikers – Becchio and Mike Grella – are certain to be fit and free of suspension on August 7.
The performance at Victoria Park was nevertheless their most fluent of pre-season and a firm riposte to the four goals conceded by Leeds at Bury last week.
Grayson took much the same group of players to Norway on Monday, supplemented by Richard Naylor and Federico Bessone but minus reserve-team midfielder Will Hatfield, and last night's friendly against SK Brann in Bergen was another chance for him to ponder his best approach to United's meeting with Derby. Saturday's match against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Elland Road, Leeds' one remaining friendly, should offer the clearest indication of his plans.
Leeds did not want for chances against Bury but the contrast between the ineptitude of Grayson's defence at Gigg Lane and their steady organisation at Victoria Park was marked, helped by a packed midfield in front of them.
Grayson said: "It's not a negative system by any means.
"I use it like any manager would – 4-3-3 when you're in possession of the ball, 4-5-1 when you haven't got it. Lloyd Sam and Robert Snodgrass aren't defenders within that formation. They're wide, attacking players who will do a job defensively when needed.
"With the players we had available (on Saturday), it seemed like a good opportunity to try the system and see how it worked. It looked successful and it's something we could try at any point next season."
Grayson's tactics showed occasional variety last year, but the goalscoring prowess of Jermaine Beckford and his stable partnership with Becchio leant itself to a two-man forward line.
Beckford's free transfer to Everton has deprived Leeds of a proven partnership up front, and the shin injury sustained by Billy Paynter is preventing a key summer signing from feeling his way into his new club.
But Grayson's team at Hartlepool was nothing less than familiar, containing eight players who were part of his squad at Leeds last season.
Grayson read the Championship successfully in 2008 when Blackpool retained their league status a year after winning promotion from League One. The club were three points below the upper half of the division when Leeds tempted him away from Bloomfield Road in 2008.
"Different teams play different formations in the Championship and I'm well aware of that," Grayson said. "I saw it when I was at Blackpool.
"I want us to be well-drilled enough to react to whatever's thrown at us, to read what the opposition are doing and to give them something to think about.
"At times last season we were able to change our approach when the situation demanded it and that what I'm paid for. If you're banging your head against a wall or making no inroads then you need something different. Tactically, we have to be spot on next season.
"If plan A doesn't work, then you need B,C and D to fall back on. If plan A isn't going to work on a certain day, there's no point in using it at all. We won't be caught out on that front."
Leedsunited.com 27/7/10
STYLISH UNITED CRUISE TO NORWEGIAN WIN
SK BRANN 1 (Hansen 45), LEEDS UNITED 3 (Becchio 18, Sam 25, Becchio 57)
SK Brann: Mohus, Granner, Koncsmar, Kalvenes, Holmvisk, Haugsdal, Jaiteh, Hovik, Einarsson, Hansen, Nielsen. Subs: Opdal, Spevarsson, Austin, Mievde, Solli, Huseklepp, Guastavino.
Leeds: Schmeichel (Higgs), Hughes (Connolly 60), Collins (Lees 77), Naylor (Bromby 60), Bessone, Snodgrass (Gradel 25), Kilkenny, Howson, Johnson (Grella 70), Sam (White 60), Becchio (Somma 60). Subs:
Att: 5,400
United manager Simon Grayson made four changes to the side which beat Hartlepool 5-0 at the weekend, Richard Naylor among those, making his first start of the senior pre-season campaign.
Interestingly, though, the United boss stuck with the same midfield line-up with striker Luciano Becchio playing alone down the middle.
Leeds were greeted by an amazing turnout of fans - the town of Bergen had been buzzing all day - and the presence of so many travelling fans prompted the opening of additional seating.
Brann were expected to provide a sterner test to the earlier games given that the Norwegians are in mid-season and have two league games in the space of five days this week.
Norwegians are physical opponents and there was a booking inside the opening four minutes, following two physical challenges on Neil Kilkenny.
And when United won a corner from the resultant free-kick, Neill Collins forced a terrific save from Jorgen Mohus. United had started brightly, and moments later Lloyd Sam almost created a chance for Becchio.
On five minutes, Bradley Johnson was the architect, winning the ball in midfield, and Robert Snodgras lifted his shot over the bar. United were playing some flowing football and more good build-up play led to Becchio missing an opportunity from close range.
United were looking strong and the opening goal came on 18 minutes following more good build-up play involving Sam and Snodgrass. Becchio was the scorer once again when he headed home a great cross for his third pre-season goal.
There was a concern for Leeds shortly after when Snodgrass was the victim of an horrendous challenge and was stretchered from the field.
But United scored from the set-play, Kilkenny swinging the ball in, and Sam arriving at the far post to score from close range.
And Leeds continued to be dominant, Johnson next to go close when he rattled the bar with a strike of distance as Grayson's side continued to apply the pressure on Brann.
Shortly after the half-hour, defender Federico Bessone mounted a raid down the left, and after a pull-back across the box Kilkenny struck the woodwork with his strike.
Leeds also had calls for a penalty before half-time when Becchio was brought down by Mohus. Johnson had weaved his way through the defence and when the keeper failed to hold his shot Becchio pounced to convert. However, the South American was brought down as he shaped to shoot, but no spot-kick was awarded.
Kasper Schmeichel had been a virtual spectator, but he was called upon in the 42nd minute to save from Cato Hansen.
As Leeds cleared, Kilkenny was the victim of yet another lunging challenge, but the Australian still almost created a third goal before the break when he whipped in a corner which Becchio headed wide.
And it was the hosts who pulled a goal back before half-time when an advancing Hansen found himself in space behind the back-four and he converted with ease.
Unfortunately, the second half kicked off with another lunging challenge, this time on the lively Sam.
The second half also brought about a change in weather with heavy rain falling, but it mattered little to Leeds who continued to dominate and made it 3-0 on 57 minutes.
Sam was the architect with a break down the right, Kilkenny got on the end of his cross and laid the ball into the path of Becchio who bagged his second of the night.
For the second time in as many games, that proved the last action for Becchio who was one of four substitutions made on the hour. Naylor also came off after completing an hour, along with Sam and Andrew Hughes.
The infl;ux of changes altered the pace of the game a little, but new introduction Dave Somma almost got on the end of a Bessone cross and Aidy White tried his luck with a shot which was deflected wide.
The resultant corner saw Mohus flap at the ball, but despite falling to clear, he did enough to put off Gradel.
Mike Grella, who came on after 70 minutes, also tested Mohus with a low skidding effort from distance.
The home side did have a couple of efforts from distance, but Leeds continued to carve out the better chances and Howson was next to go close after more good build-up play. As the game headed past the 90-minute mark Leeds had another good penalty shout waved away when Somma appeared to be brought down, but it mattered little as Grayson's men eased to a second successive high-scoring victory achieved with some style.
We'll act fast over Snodgrass
By Phil Hay
Leeds United were expecting to discover the full extent of Robert Snodgrass' knee injury today with manager Simon Grayson ready to move for a replacement if the winger is consigned to a spell on the sidelines.
Snodgrass underwent a scan on his left knee yesterday as Leeds attempted to establish the severity of his injury and confirm whether he will miss the start of the Championship season.
United have been careful to avoid speculative assessments of Snodgrass' condition, and Grayson is holding out hope that damage caused during a pre-season game in Norway on Tuesday night will not prevent the 22-year-old Scot from appearing in next weekend's league game against Derby County.
Grayson was due to receive a full diagnosis today but he has ruled the winger out of tomorrow's clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers at Elland Road and will step into the transfer market to look for cover should Snodgrass' scan reveal significant problems.
Grayson said: "Once the scan comes back we'll have a much better idea of the severity.
"I would think the report on him might influence what we do in the transfer market. If he's going to be weeks or months then it might change our thoughts about where we need to strengthen.
"He's been in a brace and on crutches which is a precaution to keep weight off his knee. Even if there's no ligament damage he'll be sore and swollen so he'll be out at the weekend but we're still hoping that he might be available for the first game of the season."
Snodgrass was injured by a fierce challenge from striker David Nielsen during Leeds' 3-1 victory over SK Brann in the Norwegian city of Bergen, a foul which earned Nielsen yellow card and left Snodgrass requiring a stretcher.
Grayson was critical of what he called a "poor tackle" from a player who is out of contract and was attempting to earn a deal with Brann. Nielsen is believed to have been released by the Norwegian club in the days since, though not as a direct result of his foul on Snodgrass.
Grayson said: "It's disappointing and we're led to believe that the lad who did it has been released. He was looking for a contract and trying his hardest but situations like this are frustrating."
If it's a bad injury then I'll be disappointed for Robert because he's looked fit and strong, enjoying his football. But we're not going to be pessimistic until we know what's happening."
Amid the uncertainty over Snodgrass, Leeds remain unclear on the condition of striker Billy Paynter who injured his shin during the club's pre-season tour of Slovakia.
Leeds played down claims that Paynter had suffered a stress fracture and would miss up to eight weeks of the season, but Grayson is still waiting for a definitive verdict on the forward's condition and will not be able to field him against Wolves tomorrow.
Grayson said: "He's going for another review on his shin injury. Both lads are under review and we're waiting to see the severity of their injuries."
leedsunited.com 29/7/10
NEW AWAY KIT UNVEILED
The club's new away kit will be launched at Elland Road on Saturday with the team wearing the kit for the pre-season friendly against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The new kit will be available to purchase at 8am on Saturday from the Elland Road Superstore and can also be purchased on the website via the Online Superstore at http://www.leedsunited.com/.
The Elland Road Superstore will be open from 8am to 6pm on Saturday and again from 10am to 4pm on Sunday when the club stages its annual Open Day.
The shirts are priced at £40 for mens and ladies adult shirts with junior shirts at £35.
leedsunited.com 29/7/10
SQUAD NUMBERS ANNOUNCED
The club has confirmed its squad numbers for the 2010/2011 npower Championship season.
1 Kasper Schmeichel
2 Paul Connolly
3 Paddy Kisnorbo
4
5 Neill Collins
6 Richard Naylor
7 Max Gradel
8 Neil Kilkenny
9 Billy Paynter
10 Luciano Becchio
11 Lloyd Sam
12 Shane Higgs
13 Mike Grella
14 Jonny Howson
15
16 Bradley Johnson
17
18
19 Ben Parker
20 Jason Crowe
21 Fede Bessone
22 Andrew Hughes
23 Robert Snodgrass
24 Lubo Michalik
25 Alan Martin
26 Leigh Bromby
27 Dave Somma
28 Andy Robinson
29
30
31
32 Aidan White
33
34 Alan Sheehan
35 Tom Elliott (on loan at Rotherham)
36 Tom Lees
37 Will Hatfield
38 Liam Darville
Yorkshire Evening Post 28/7/10
Versatility the name of the game - Grayson
By Phil Hay
Simon Grayson is a self-professed "4-4-2 man" with a particular liking for that formation. It has been his system of choice at Elland Road and the framework for his time as manager of Leeds United.
After a half-century of victories from fewer than 100 competitive matches, a break from tradition is far from necessary but Grayson does not want the Championship to see him or his team as a one-trick pony. "We'll be versatile next season," he said. "If there's one thing you can't afford to be in that league, it's predictable."
His freedom to vary Leeds' formation is entirely dependent on having players flexible enough to cope, but the club's defeat of Hartlepool United – albeit in uncompetitive circumstances – championed their ability to adapt. The strategy adopted at Victoria Park might come to serve Grayson well in a division which is more skilful and less predictable than League One.
Grayson's use of Luciano Becchio as a lone striker in Hartlepool was arguably as pragmatic as it was experimental, brought on by a collection of forwards which is running dangerously low, but United's manager could not fail to appreciate the effect of a formation which produced five goals without reply.
Becchio scored two, converting headers in either half, and United's wingers – Robert Snodgrass and Lloyd Sam – contributed a goal and three assists between them. Grayson will prepare for firmer opposition in the Championship than Leeds received at Victoria Park but pleasing stability in the centre of the pitch and among his defence pushed the case for a five-man midfield.
"My preferred system is 4-4-2 and it's how we tend to set up," Grayson said. "It's served us well in the past and the squad have been comfortable playing like that.
"But you can't be single-minded in the Championship and I'm not going to force us into one rigid style of football. We'll adapt when we want to and there'll be times when we're going to have to vary our approach. It's not a one-style-suits-all division.
"The first thing you concentrate on is working to your strengths and there's no use in trying to play a formation that clearly doesn't work or doesn't suit your squad but the players here are talented enough to work in different ways."
Snodgrass and Sam provided United's width on Saturday, attacking the wings in a way which kept Becchio involved and falling back diligently to restrict Hartlepool's midfield and spoil their possession.
Grayson may have a different plan of attack in mind for Derby County's visit to Elland Road a week on Saturday but the team he selected in Hartlepool was, give or take, the sum of his available options. So numerous are the injuries affecting his squad that only two out-and-out strikers – Becchio and Mike Grella – are certain to be fit and free of suspension on August 7.
The performance at Victoria Park was nevertheless their most fluent of pre-season and a firm riposte to the four goals conceded by Leeds at Bury last week.
Grayson took much the same group of players to Norway on Monday, supplemented by Richard Naylor and Federico Bessone but minus reserve-team midfielder Will Hatfield, and last night's friendly against SK Brann in Bergen was another chance for him to ponder his best approach to United's meeting with Derby. Saturday's match against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Elland Road, Leeds' one remaining friendly, should offer the clearest indication of his plans.
Leeds did not want for chances against Bury but the contrast between the ineptitude of Grayson's defence at Gigg Lane and their steady organisation at Victoria Park was marked, helped by a packed midfield in front of them.
Grayson said: "It's not a negative system by any means.
"I use it like any manager would – 4-3-3 when you're in possession of the ball, 4-5-1 when you haven't got it. Lloyd Sam and Robert Snodgrass aren't defenders within that formation. They're wide, attacking players who will do a job defensively when needed.
"With the players we had available (on Saturday), it seemed like a good opportunity to try the system and see how it worked. It looked successful and it's something we could try at any point next season."
Grayson's tactics showed occasional variety last year, but the goalscoring prowess of Jermaine Beckford and his stable partnership with Becchio leant itself to a two-man forward line.
Beckford's free transfer to Everton has deprived Leeds of a proven partnership up front, and the shin injury sustained by Billy Paynter is preventing a key summer signing from feeling his way into his new club.
But Grayson's team at Hartlepool was nothing less than familiar, containing eight players who were part of his squad at Leeds last season.
Grayson read the Championship successfully in 2008 when Blackpool retained their league status a year after winning promotion from League One. The club were three points below the upper half of the division when Leeds tempted him away from Bloomfield Road in 2008.
"Different teams play different formations in the Championship and I'm well aware of that," Grayson said. "I saw it when I was at Blackpool.
"I want us to be well-drilled enough to react to whatever's thrown at us, to read what the opposition are doing and to give them something to think about.
"At times last season we were able to change our approach when the situation demanded it and that what I'm paid for. If you're banging your head against a wall or making no inroads then you need something different. Tactically, we have to be spot on next season.
"If plan A doesn't work, then you need B,C and D to fall back on. If plan A isn't going to work on a certain day, there's no point in using it at all. We won't be caught out on that front."
Leedsunited.com 27/7/10
STYLISH UNITED CRUISE TO NORWEGIAN WIN
SK BRANN 1 (Hansen 45), LEEDS UNITED 3 (Becchio 18, Sam 25, Becchio 57)
SK Brann: Mohus, Granner, Koncsmar, Kalvenes, Holmvisk, Haugsdal, Jaiteh, Hovik, Einarsson, Hansen, Nielsen. Subs: Opdal, Spevarsson, Austin, Mievde, Solli, Huseklepp, Guastavino.
Leeds: Schmeichel (Higgs), Hughes (Connolly 60), Collins (Lees 77), Naylor (Bromby 60), Bessone, Snodgrass (Gradel 25), Kilkenny, Howson, Johnson (Grella 70), Sam (White 60), Becchio (Somma 60). Subs:
Att: 5,400
United manager Simon Grayson made four changes to the side which beat Hartlepool 5-0 at the weekend, Richard Naylor among those, making his first start of the senior pre-season campaign.
Interestingly, though, the United boss stuck with the same midfield line-up with striker Luciano Becchio playing alone down the middle.
Leeds were greeted by an amazing turnout of fans - the town of Bergen had been buzzing all day - and the presence of so many travelling fans prompted the opening of additional seating.
Brann were expected to provide a sterner test to the earlier games given that the Norwegians are in mid-season and have two league games in the space of five days this week.
Norwegians are physical opponents and there was a booking inside the opening four minutes, following two physical challenges on Neil Kilkenny.
And when United won a corner from the resultant free-kick, Neill Collins forced a terrific save from Jorgen Mohus. United had started brightly, and moments later Lloyd Sam almost created a chance for Becchio.
On five minutes, Bradley Johnson was the architect, winning the ball in midfield, and Robert Snodgras lifted his shot over the bar. United were playing some flowing football and more good build-up play led to Becchio missing an opportunity from close range.
United were looking strong and the opening goal came on 18 minutes following more good build-up play involving Sam and Snodgrass. Becchio was the scorer once again when he headed home a great cross for his third pre-season goal.
There was a concern for Leeds shortly after when Snodgrass was the victim of an horrendous challenge and was stretchered from the field.
But United scored from the set-play, Kilkenny swinging the ball in, and Sam arriving at the far post to score from close range.
And Leeds continued to be dominant, Johnson next to go close when he rattled the bar with a strike of distance as Grayson's side continued to apply the pressure on Brann.
Shortly after the half-hour, defender Federico Bessone mounted a raid down the left, and after a pull-back across the box Kilkenny struck the woodwork with his strike.
Leeds also had calls for a penalty before half-time when Becchio was brought down by Mohus. Johnson had weaved his way through the defence and when the keeper failed to hold his shot Becchio pounced to convert. However, the South American was brought down as he shaped to shoot, but no spot-kick was awarded.
Kasper Schmeichel had been a virtual spectator, but he was called upon in the 42nd minute to save from Cato Hansen.
As Leeds cleared, Kilkenny was the victim of yet another lunging challenge, but the Australian still almost created a third goal before the break when he whipped in a corner which Becchio headed wide.
And it was the hosts who pulled a goal back before half-time when an advancing Hansen found himself in space behind the back-four and he converted with ease.
Unfortunately, the second half kicked off with another lunging challenge, this time on the lively Sam.
The second half also brought about a change in weather with heavy rain falling, but it mattered little to Leeds who continued to dominate and made it 3-0 on 57 minutes.
Sam was the architect with a break down the right, Kilkenny got on the end of his cross and laid the ball into the path of Becchio who bagged his second of the night.
For the second time in as many games, that proved the last action for Becchio who was one of four substitutions made on the hour. Naylor also came off after completing an hour, along with Sam and Andrew Hughes.
The infl;ux of changes altered the pace of the game a little, but new introduction Dave Somma almost got on the end of a Bessone cross and Aidy White tried his luck with a shot which was deflected wide.
The resultant corner saw Mohus flap at the ball, but despite falling to clear, he did enough to put off Gradel.
Mike Grella, who came on after 70 minutes, also tested Mohus with a low skidding effort from distance.
The home side did have a couple of efforts from distance, but Leeds continued to carve out the better chances and Howson was next to go close after more good build-up play. As the game headed past the 90-minute mark Leeds had another good penalty shout waved away when Somma appeared to be brought down, but it mattered little as Grayson's men eased to a second successive high-scoring victory achieved with some style.