Four star Leeds take derby spoils

Leeds United made it three wins in a week with a well-deserved 4-2 win at West Yorkshire neighbours Huddersfield Town.

Neil Warnock made one change from the side that beat Crystal Palace and Leicester City in the past week with Ross McCormack making his first start since September in place of El Hadji Diouf.

Huddersfield started the brighter and had a couple of efforts off target before taking the lead on 12 minutes. Leeds were slow to react at a Huddersfield throw in and the ball fell to Adam Clayton and his through ball found Chris Atkinson who gave Paddy Kenny no chance in the Leeds goal.

The goal did seem to spur Leeds on but they were not troubling Alex Smithies in the Huddersfield goal until a howler by Smithies let Leeds back into the game.

Michael Tonge`s shot from the edge of the area looked easy for Smithies but the ball somehow found its way into the back of the net.

There was no questioning Leeds second just two minutes later. A good move eventually saw Luciano Becchio teed up and he gave Smithies no chance with his left foot strike.

The striker turned from hero to villain before half time, when he hauled back Anthony Gerrard in the penalty area and referee Mike Dean had no option but to point to the spot.

Former Leeds midfielder Adam Clayton sent Kenny the wrong way in the Leeds goal and he celebrated by posing in front of Leeds boss Neil Warnock who transfer listed him during the summer.

Leeds were much improved in the second half with the midfield bossing the game and the hard working Becchio and McCormack busy in attack.

The main turning point was when Ryan Hall replaced Jerome Thomas with just under thirty minutes remaining and he gave Leeds pace and guile down the left hand side.

Leeds went ahead after some tireless work from Becchio who chased down an over hit cross by McCormack. Becchio managed to keep the ball in play and after an excellent advantage played by referee Mike Dean, after a foul on Becchio, the ball fell to Norris who shot across Smithies and into the corner of the net.

The game was over as a contest with just four minutes remaining, after some patient build up play eventually saw Hall cross for Becchio and his powerful header gave Smithies no chance.

Leeds had chances to extend their lead in the closing moments to cap a great win to move them back into the top half of the table and into tenth place.


Teams

Huddersfield
Alex Smithies, Anthony Gerrard, Peter Clarke, Joel Lynch (Calum Woods, 56), Jack Hunt; Chris Atkinson, Scott Arfield (Adam Hammill, 74), Adam Clayton, Danny Ward; Alan Lee (James Vaughan, 63), Simon Church

Subs not used
Ian Bennett, Oliver Norwood, Sean Scannell, Lee Novak

Leeds
Paddy Kenny, Sam Byram, Tom Lees, Alan Tate, Lee Peltier, Michael Tonge (Michael Brown 90), Paul Green, Luciano Becchio (Andy Gray 90), Ross McCormack, Jerome Thomas (Ryan Hall 90)

Subs not used
James Ashdown, Jason Pearce, Aidy White, El Hadji Diouf

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