Mail 20/3/11
Sheffield Utd 2 Leeds 0: Billy Paynter dismissal adds to United's derby despair
By John Helm
Should Leeds fail to make the play-offs, they will look back in anger on the curse of the Yorkshire derby.
They have dropped 12 points in games against Barnsley, Doncaster, Hull and struggling Sheffield United.
The form book went out of the window in a feisty encounter at Bramall Lane, and the Championship's top goalscorers failed to register while the division's lowest scorers netted twice.
It was the home team's second win in 18 games while promotion-chasing Leeds lost for the third time in 24.
Sheffield United included four former Leeds players, plus Leeds-born and resident Nick Montgomery, the man of the match, while manager Micky Adams was in the Leeds team when their manager Simon Grayson made his playing debut for the club.
It might have been different had Max Gradel buried Eric Lichaj's far-post cross in the first half, but he missed, and only Kasper Schmeichel kept Leeds in the game, with terrific saves from Stephen Quinn and Ched Evans, before the break.
Montgomery's low cross was prodded into his own net by Lichaj, then Quinn pierced the heart of the Leeds defence for substitute Bjorn Helge Riise to belt in the first goal of his loan spell from Fulham.
Leeds substitute Billy Paynter was sent off for violent conduct - an alleged butt on Shane Lowry, one of the former Leeds quartet.
Grayson said: 'That rounded off a bad day at the office. Billy said he didn't do it and he's not that sort of lad, but the DVD is inconclusive.'
The angry Leeds manager added: 'We are hugely disappointed because we got what we deserved. We didn't get going from the first kick.'
A beaming Adams said: 'From start to finish it was perfect. Leeds will have come expecting to win, but it's never that easy in football.
'We stifled Leeds, I had to get the players in the right frame of mind and they werwe certainly that.
'We know it is still going to be difficult to avoid relegation, but we have four home games to come.'

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