Battling Leeds start with a win

Neil Warnock`s new look Leeds United started the season with a fine 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Elland Road.

Warnock gave league debuts to nine players and the side showed the passion and desire you expect to find from a side managed by Warnock.

From the first minute, Leeds were tenacious in the tackle, never giving the Wolves side a moment`s peace.

The Leeds fans lacked a side full of passion for a while but it was there in abundance.

Leeds created a few chances early doors. Rodolph Austin, Paul Green, Jason Pearce and Sam Byram all having chances from one corner.

Ross McCormack then saw an effort go just wide as Leeds continued to press the Wolves defence.

The only goal of the game came on 17 minutes when two great passes led to Luciano Becchio diving in at the far post to head home. The move started with a great diagonal ball from Paddy Kenny to pick out McCormack and his ball into the middle was inch perfect for Becchio, who made it two goals in two games.

Leeds continued to press and frustrate Wolves and Kenny was having an easy afternoon in the Leeds goal.

The one sour note in the first half was the withdrawal of Paul Green with a knee injury. Green had been a constant threat for Leeds and despite trying to carry on playing; he was replaced by El Hadji Diouf on the stroke of half time.

The second half continued with plenty of endeavour, with plenty of closing down and tackling from the Leeds players that had the fans showing their appreciation.

Both goalkeepers were quiet, with defences and midfields on top. Becchio had one effort from the edge of the area that was easy for Carl Ikeme in the Wolves goal and Luke Varney wasted a great chance with a poor first touch when in behind the defence.

Wolves came into the game in the final twenty minutes but some great defending, poor decision making and poor shooting, Kenny continued to have a relatively quiet afternoon.

Leeds ran down the five minutes of injury time to secure their first opening day win since returning to the championship in 2010.

They now prepare for a tough fixture at Blackpool on Tuesday night, where Leeds will be hoping to rectify their poor midweek form of recent seasons.

Teams

Leeds
Kenny, Byram, Peltier, Pearce, White, Green (Diouf 45), Austin, Norris, McCormack (Lees 75), Becchio, Varney

Subs not used
Ashdown, Kisnorbo, Drury, Brown, Gray

Wolves
Ikeme, Stearman (Edwards 82), Ward, Johnson, Jarvis, Henry, Ebanks-Blake (Sigurdarson 69), Forde (Peszko 46), Doumbia, Doyle, Zubar

Subs not used
De Vries, Hunt, Berra, Davis

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