Leeds United 1-0 Bournemouth: Sweet Strike from Murphy Stuns Cherries

On a bitterly cold night at Elland Road, Leeds United produced a display full of guts, heart and more than anything fight.

With the club struggling in the Championship and with the Football League banning owner Massimo Cellino, Leeds needed a big win.

When you need luck, most teams want to play a weaker team. Leeds' opponents of course were flying high at the top of the table.

But that's the Leeds way. To work hard when the odds are stacked against you.

Leeds boss Neil Redfern made just one change from the 1-1 draw against Birmingham, bringing in Alex Mowatt for Mirco Antenucci.

As a result, Rodolph Austin played in behind striker Steve Morison, with Mowatt playing on the left-hand side of midfield.

After some early pressure from the Cherries, Leeds eventually found their feet on a boggy pitch at Elland Road. Austin and Morison both went close with chances in the box. Bournemouth's Simon Francis the hero at the back for the visitors as he stopped a certain goal after a brilliant cross from Morison.

Leeds' defence continued to give everyone in the ground heart palpations but the ball didn't seem to fall for Eddie Howe's side. With the crowd on their side, the Whites poured forward and could have scored a beauty when Luke Murphy let fly from the edge of the box.

Minutes later Murphy did what we tried to the first time with a left-footed thunderbolt into the top corner. With Bournemouth's defence standing off, Austin's lay-off was met by Murphy who picked his spot before curling it into the top corner.

Bournemouth responded immediately thanks to a tap-in from Brett Pitman but the linesman ruled the goal out for offside in what was a dubious decision. Leeds continued to get lucky at the back when Callum Wilson's header was stopped on the line by Marco Silvestri.

The second-half wasn't as frantic as the first but Bournemouth could have pulled level through Wilson. The former Coventry City striker showed his blistering pace but his effort curled back off the post much to the delight of the South Stand. Leeds forward Billy Sharp was thrown on in the 67th minute, with Morison struggling with a hip injury after working tirelessly all evening.

After withstanding the pressure, Leeds could have made it 2-0 when Byram was played in by Cook. Byram's shot could only be palmed away by keeper Artur Boruc and Austin's header was cleared off the line.

With many in attendance now feeling physically sick with nerves, United gave a penalty away when Giuseppe Bellusci was adjudged to have fouled Wilson in the box. The Italian was given a straight red but pictures after the game appear to claim it was outside the area.

Bournemouth substitute Yann Kermogrant stepped up but his effort clipped the crossbar and Leeds survived. After four minutes of injury time, Redfern's held on for a vital victory.

The win now means Leeds have completed the double over Bournemouth and of course given themselves plenty of confident ahead of the away trip to Huddersfield Town.

It wasn't pretty at all times but it was what was needed.

Passion and fight when everyone seems to be rallying against us once again.

ON ON ON!!!!