Leeds United 1 Middlesbrough 0: Sharp nets winner on Elland Road debut
Yorkshire Post 16/8/14by Nick Westby
Billy Sharp, who has made a habit of scoring late winners in his career, grabbed another on his Leeds United debut to give the Whites a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough in the Yorkshire derby.
The former Doncaster Rovers, Sheffield United and Southampton striker, who only joined the Elland Road club on Wednesday, pounced three minutes from time with a trademark poacher’s goal.
Middlesbrough goalkeeper Tomas Meijas spilled Michael Tonge’s 20-yard strike and Sharp was on hand to slide in and steer home the rebound.
The scoreline may have a been a little harsh on Middlesbrough - who had a first-half goal wrongly ruled out for a high foot - but it was a game that was there for the taking and typical of Sharp that he would be the man to decide it.
The 28-year-old’s dramatic intervention gave Dave Hockaday the first win of his reign as head coach and also lifted some of the negativity that had hung over Elland Road since his inauspicious appointment in the summer.
Leeds had begun with a 2-0 reverse on the opening day at Millwall that did nothing to dispel those fears.
But a United side boasting fresh recruits in 28-year-old Sharp and defender Liam Cooper at least looked more resolute and adventurous against a Boro side who had made a bright start to the season.
Sharp was lively in the first half, his movement setting up an early chance for Nicky Ajose that was cleared off the line by Daniel Ayala, while Cooper - a midweek recruit from Chesterfield - looked accomplished bringing the ball out of defence and solid in the air.
Boro had the better of the possession and also legitimate claims for a first-half goal.
The Leeds defence allowed a George Friend throw to bounce in the box before Albert Adomah swivelled and swung a flying boot at the ball that sent it into the bottom corner, only for referee Stuart Attwell to blow for a high foot against the Middlesbrough player.
Lee Tomlin was central to everything good about Boro’s play when allowed time to dictate, but generally they did not supply striker Kike with enough chances to add to the two goals he has scored since joining in the summer.
Sharp could have pinched victory for Leeds with 13 minutes remaining when he headed Luke Murphy’s free-kick wide from eight yards.
But no matter, for he was there when it counted on 87 minutes, reacting quickest to Meijas’s parry to guide the ball home and give Elland Road a much-needed lift.
