Yeovil 1-2 Leeds: Warnock and the wind combine to snare victory after week of off-field turmoil
Mail 8/2/14By PETE EVANS, PRESS ASSOCIATION
Brian McDermott's return to the dugout saw Leeds come from behind to earn a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Yeovil at Huish Park with Stephen Warnock and a strong breeze conspiring for the winner.
McDermott had been advised to stay away from Elland Road last weekend in the midst of the controversial takeover by Miami-based Italian businessman Massimo Cellino, having been told his time at the club was over.
But after being reinstated on Monday as Cellino waits for Football League approval for his £25million takeover, McDermott was serenaded throughout by his side's supporters despite seeing their side trail at the interval to Ishmael Miller's header.
Ross McCormack's hat-trick heroics in Saturday's 5-1 win over Huddersfield were somewhat overshadowed by the off-field soap opera that was unfolding but he would prove to be the United hero once more with a wonderful curling effort to draw them level seconds after the break.
And McDermott would celebrate victory thanks to a 40-yard free-kick from Warnock which caught the wind and looped over Yeovil goalkeeper Marek Stech.
The only change for Leeds saw McDermott back on the sidelines and it was a player the former Reading boss made captain who had the game's first chance in the second minute. Having been teed up by Rudolph Austin, McCormack's fizzing effort flew inches over the crossbar.
Both sides were struggling with the swirling wind inside Huish Park and even the most simplest of passing moves were breaking down.
McCormack and Yeovil's own in-form forward Kieffer Moore both failed to make the most of half-chances that came the way before the latter's curling 20-yard effort flew just wide of Paddy Kenny's goal.
And it was his strike partner Miller who broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute when he leapt above Austin to head John Lundstram's inswinging corner across goal and into the bottom corner at the start of an eventful end to the first half for the Nottingham Forest loanee.
Yeovil were enjoying their best spell of the match with Miller agonisingly close to meeting Joel Grant's through ball before Grant nearly doubled the lead with an effort that he knew little about when Kenny raced out to meet the winger.
Their visitors then had two chances in quick succession to level, with McCormack underhitting his chip straight into the grateful arms of Stech before former Glover Cameron Stewart shot wide.
Yeovil were then handed the perfect chance to take a two-goal cushion into the break when Sam Byram fouled Kevin. And the visitors would make Miller pay for his profligacy just 35 seconds into the second half when McCormack grabbed his 23rd of the campaign with a stunning 25-yard effort that flew across goal and into the top corner after Stech's goalkick hit the wind and fell to the former Cardiff man.
Five minutes later Stech was called into action to make a fine one-handed save to push away Austin's thumping right-footed drive and then only a vital block from Joe Edwards denied Stewart.
While Leeds' leveller was a stunning strike in difficult conditions the wind paid a big part in their winner. Left-back Warnock floated a 40-yard free-kick from the right wing into a packed goalmouth only to see his effort catch the breeze and fly over the head of Stech who had come off his line.
Warnock's second goal for the club sparked crazy celebrations from the away supporters left open to the elements behind the goal, who once again serenaded their beleaguered boss.
Their side responded and continued to pin Yeovil in their own half. McCormack bent an effort wide, Austin's drive was blocked by Duffy before McDermott's men missed a huge chance to kill off the game with nine minutes remaining when Jimmy Kebe fired over the bar from close range after the ball fell kindly at his feet.