Leeds Utd Match Zone

Becchio earns Leeds replay

|
Image for Becchio earns Leeds replay

Leeds United battled back to earn a replay in their FA Cup tie with Birmingham City at Elland Road.

Luciano Becchio netted his nineteenth goal of the season in the second half to cancel out a Wade Elliott strike in the first half.

Despite the virus that had swept through the club this week, Leeds fielded a virtually full strength side.

Manager Neil Warnock was missing with the virus and Rodolph Austin was sent home before the game after feeling unwell.

Jason Pearce came close to scoring the first goal of the afternoon when his header came back of a post.

David Norris then had an effort well saved by Doyle in the Birmingham goal.

Elliott gave Birmingham the lead just past the half hour when he gave Jamie Ashdown no chance with a fierce strike from the edge of the area.

Leeds had little in response in the rest of the first half as Birmingham continued to look dangerous on the break.

Mick Jones made a double substitution for Leeds at half time with El Hadji Diouf and Sam Byram coming on.

Luciano Becchio had a great opportunity early in the second half when he got in behind the Birmingham defence but he hit his shot straight at Doyle.

At the other end, Ravel Morrison came close to extending the lead when he just failed to hit the target.

Ashdown then made a good save to deny Nathan Redmond from adding to Birmingham`s lead.

Birmingham were made to pay for the miss when Becchio netted his nineteenth goal of the season with a smart finish after good work from Norris.

A bad injury to Will Packwood shortly afterwards meaning a long delay to the game. When the game restarted, Birmingham went close when Redmond saw his shot go just wide.

The visitors were looking the more likely winners as the game entered the final fifteen minutes and Morrison blazed another effort over when well placed.

Leeds made their final substitution of the afternoon with eleven minutes remaining with striker Davide Somma replacing defender Alan Tate as Leeds made a late effort to win the tie.

Despite the change, Leeds never looked like finding a winner and the two teams must now do it all again at St Andrews on Tuesday January 15th.



Teams

Leeds
Ashdown, Lees, Pearce, Tate (Somma 79), Drury, White (Diouf 46), Norris, Hall (Byram 46), Becchio, McCormack, Brown

Subs not used
Kenny, Peltier, Varney, Pugh

Birmingham
Doyle, Packwood (Hancox 66), Davies, Caldwell, Robinson; Burke, Reilly, Gomis, Elliott, Redmond, Morrison (Hales 85)

Subs not used
Butland, Ibanez, Gordon, Gnahore, Henry-Francis

Join Vital Leeds
Join The Vital Debate


Vital Leeds are the proud sponsors of the Thames Valley Whites Regional Supporters club

The fastest growing Leeds United supporters club in the South of England, with over 200 members since its formation in April 2009, travel to all games home and away.

The branch has pick up points at Basingstoke, Reading, Didcot, Abingdon, Oxford, Bicester and Banbury and will consider other pick up points on request.


Vital Leeds offers everything that a Leeds United supporter could wish for. If you can think of something and suggest it, we`ll put it on the website!
With news and views, along with a forum, polls and article comments, everything you need in a fans site is right here!

You can even win prizes, by posting articles comments, posting on the message forum and voting on the polls.

Vital is also 100% interactive. Not only can you have your say on the articles and the forum but you can also suggest an article or a poll so you can air your views.

So why not join Vital today?

It’s easy to register here and enjoy getting involved

Message Board

To visit the message board, click here.

Get involved

This website is your website and we are looking for people to help run the site. Do you go to most of the games and have an opinion? Why not write a match report? Perhaps you are a budding journalist or even just someone who is very opinionated? Well why not join our team? If this interests you please contact Vital Leeds .



Bookmark and Share





Vital Leeds is now available on both facebook and twitter, so if you are that way inclined and more importantly understand all this new fangled dangled stuff, feel free to watch us, poke us or whatever else you are meant to do there!

Vital Leeds on: facebook



Vital Leeds on: twitter


Join Vital Leeds

It’s easy to REGISTER HERE, simply click the link and enjoy getting involved!



Share this article