Leeds power on
Leeds 2 Swindon 1
Dennis Wise’s formula for managerial success at this level is a simple one; assuming all other things to be roughly equal, fitness, organisation and power will make the difference. Their greatest supporter could not claim Leeds are passing their way out of this division, but few of their opponents are matching them for effort, application and conditioning.
Leeds almost went ahead in the sixth minute, when Jonny Howson – an academy graduate of misleadingly cherubic appearance, deputising for the injured Jonathon Douglas in midfield – gave Jermaine Beckford the chance to cross from the right.
The delivery hung in the air for so long it must have concerned Swindon manager Paul Sturrock that Tresor Kandol was still able to out-jump the defence to get in a header which Town keeper Peter Brezovan saved.
Leeds themselves were similarly lackadaisical soon afterwards, allowing Craig Easton a free header from Christian Roberts’ cross. Lack of power made it an easy save for Casper Ankergren, but Sturrock’s team were making it clear they had not come to sit back, and Ankergren had to make a far more difficult block to save from Simon Cox when the striker seized on a fortunate rebound.
Howson’s shot was touched over by Brezovan, Billy Paynter volleyed just wide for the visitors, and Jamie Clapham saw his shot kicked off the line. Leeds might have wondered if it was going to be one of those days. A gift was what they needed, and it came courtesy of Hasney Aljofree, the Swindon captain, who raised his arm as he tried to block David Prutton’s cross. The ball struck his elbow, and though Swindon maintained it was outside the area, their protests were half-hearted, and Beckford buried the penalty.
Swindon’s equaliser, just two minutes after the break, was unexpected, but not undeserved. Cox found himself in space on the right, made a determined run into the penalty area, and pulled the ball back for Lee Peacock to shoot through a crowd of players and into the net.
But Leeds’ self-belief is strong enough to withstand a setback. Back they came, by as direct a route as possible; Kandol’s through-ball fell perfectly for Beckford to smash home his second goal of the game, and tenth of the season, on 56 minutes.
Swindon, knowing United’s defence had shown itself to be less than secure, pressed for a point; sometimes, their efforts were too aggressive, judging by the seven bookings they picked up – though some were hard to understand – but they were making Leeds nervous.
Ten minutes before the whistle, Cox bundled the ball over the Leeds line after Barry Corr’s header was saved by Ankergren, but the linesman had already flagged for offside.
Star man: Jermaine Beckford (Leeds)
Player ratings.
- Leeds: Ankergren 6; Richardson 6, Heath 5, Rui Marques 5, Clapham 6; Prutton 6, Hughes 5, Howson 7, Carole 5 (Kishishev 64, 5); Beckford 8 (Constantine 87, 5), Kandol 7 (De Vries 81, 5)
- Swindon: Brezovan 5; Comminges 5, Ifil 6, Aljofree 5, Zaboob 6; Roberts 5 (McGovern 81, 5), Pook 5, Easton 6 (Corr 71, 5), Peacock 6; Paynter 6, Cox 6
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