Leeds 1-0 Burnley: Match Report

The new Leeds manager had previously beaten the Clarets five times as Reading manager and he maintained that impressive run tonight against the Lancashire outfit.

McDermott made three changes from the side that beat Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday. Tom Lees, Michael Tonge and El-Hadji Diouf brought in to replace Adam Drury, Steve Morison and David Norris.

It was quite a tentative opening to the game with neither side really creating anything of note. Leeds however were trying to pass the ball about something that the side weren’t permitted to do under Neil Warnock.

The first real opening went to the home side after 30 minutes. Luke Varney struck the crossbar with a header from a Stephen Warnock cross when it was easier to score four yards out.

The away side started to creep back into the game just before half time. Ross Wallace had an effort fired wide of Paddy Kenny’s goal. Also Martin Paterson came close for the visitors as he struck the side netting after getting the better of Warnock.

Burnley were forced into a change just before half time as full-back Ben Mee was replaced by Daniel Lafferty with a suspected knee injury.

Leeds went in at half time 0-0 making it 111 days for the Whites without a first half goal.

The home side came out flying at the start of the second period and after 16 seconds Varney was once again guilty of missing another great chance after Diouf sprung the offside trap and crossed in for the striker.

Leeds continued to press with McCormack free-kick’s finding the head of Varney who forces Lee Grant to tip over the bar.

The pressure was mounting on the Clarets but Leeds were struggling to break the Burnley backline with Jason Shackell and Kevin Long getting their body in front of everything.

Leeds did however finally break the deadlock on 62 minutes through Jamiacan international Rodolph Austin. Diouf the architect as his silky skills opened the Clarets defence and he crossed in for Austin to volley home.

With fifteen minutes left Burnley should have equalised on the counter attack. Chris McCann had a shot that went just wide of the right-hand upright after good build up play from substitute Junior Stanislas.

At the other end McCormack came close with a free-kick after a foul on the ever-impressive Sam Byram with ten minutes left on the clock.

With five minutes remaining Leeds brought on Davide Somma to replace McCormack and both players received a warm round of applause.

With Burnley involved in the relegation dog fight they started to press the home side in a desperate attempt to grab an equaliser. Leeds held out and grabbed a deserved three points and a well earned clean sheet.