Warnock starts life at Leeds with goalless draw

Leeds United started life under Neil Warnock with a goalless draw against Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

The goalless draw was Leeds first of the season as Warnock looked to shore up the Leeds defence.

Warnock left the side almost unaltered from the side that beat Doncaster Rovers last weekend with just Michael Brown coming in for Andros Townsend who returned to Tottenham Hotspur in the week.

What was different though was the formation, with Robert Snodgrass playing in behind the strikers, Ross McCormack playing out on the left and Aidy White on the right.

Leeds were forced into an early change when Alex Bruce was forced off through injury shortly after ending up in the front row of the Portsmouth fans near the Leeds dugout. Leigh Bromby replaced Bruce in defence with almost 80 minutes remaining.

The first half saw very few chances with neither keeper having a testing shot to save until stoppage time.
Portsmouth goalkeeper Stephen Henderson making a good save low down to his left from an Aidy White shot from just outside the area.

Just before this, Portsmouth had a clear penalty claim turned down when Leeds defender Tom Lees clearly handled the ball inside the area.

The incompetent Phillip Gibbs and his assistants missing something that was clear to see 120 yards away in the Leeds end.

The officials were having a poor game. Gibbs was constantly stopping any chance of the game flowing with needless free kicks being awarded and the assistant on the dugout side of the pitch was not winning himself any fans in the Leeds end with a string of poor decisions.

The officials were to be at the centre of the action in the first talking point of the second half. McCormack saw his volley from the edge of the area hit the underside of the crossbar and Snodgrass was there to head home only for his effort to be ruled out for offside.

Having seen the replays since getting home from Fratton Park the ball clearly looks over the line.

Luciano Becchio then had the best chance of the afternoon when he got in behind the Portsmouth defence.

He looked like he had sent Henderson the wrong way but the goalkeeper did enough to keep the effort out.

Andy Lonergan had hardly been troubled in the Leeds goal but he made a great save to deny Joel Ward opening the scoring.

Ward`s shot from the edge of the area came through a crowded penalty area and Lonergan saved well to his right to keep the game goalless.

Portsmouth thought they had taken the lead when the ball ended up in the back of the net from a Greg Halford throw but the ball failed to touch any player on its way into the net and a goal kick was awarded.

Bromby then had a good chance to open the scoring for Leeds when he found himself unmarked at the back post but his weak shot was easily dealt with.

Michael Brown had the last chance of the afternoon for Leeds but his shot against his former club sailed harmlessly over the crossbar.

A point was of little use to either side with Portsmouth now second from bottom and Leeds missing a great opportunity to close the gap on the sides above them in the play-off places.

Leeds remain in tenth place, four points outside the play off places and they now faces four games against teams currently above them in the championship table starting with leaders Southampton at Elland Road next Saturday.

Teams

Portsmouth
Henderson, Ben Haim, Rocha, Mokoena, Halford, Pearce, Ward, Mullins, Futacs (Benjani 76), Allen (Norris 76) Thorne

Subs not used
Ashdown, Webster, Harris

Leeds
Lonergan, Bruce (Bromby 11), Lees, O`Dea, Pugh, White, Snodgrass, Brown, Clayton, Becchio, McCormack

Subs not used
Paynter, Sam, Thompson, Forssell

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