Two goals from striker Jermaine Beckford were the difference as Leeds United overcame financially troubled Swindon to move into the League One playoff positions.
Beckford found the goal either side of half-time, as Leeds saw off Swindon Town to move within 2 points of current league leaders Carlisle United, who were the first club to defeat Dennis Wise’s side.
Nearly 28,000 saw Leeds, who were without manager Dennis Wise as he sat out the final match of his 3 game suspension, defeat a Swindon Town side depleted of both money, and players with a number of key defensive squad members currently taking their places on the treatment table.
Following manager Paul Sturrock’s consistent promises that he was not prepared to risk players upon their return from injury, Swindon were boosted by the addition of star player Jerel Ifil, who miraculously recovered from a knock that seemed likely to rule him out of the fixture.
It was a dubious penalty decision from former Plymouth defender Hasney Aljofree that saw Leeds United take the lead, with Jermaine Beckford dispatching a penalty that resulted from the Swindon skipper handling within the 18.
Within 30 minutes Leeds were threatening again, with Tresor Kandol denied 3 times in quick succession by stand in keeper Peter Brezovan however the score remained as was until after the half time break.
If the half-time team talk hadn’t inspired the Leeds side, whatever was said during the interval by Town boss Paul Sturrock certainly did the business as Lee Peacock fired in from close range to restore parity to the match. 9 minutes later however, Leeds found themselves back in front as Beckford finished off a sublime move in which Kandol set up the former Scunthorpe loanee for his 10th goal of the season.
Following this Swindon went “tora tora tora” against a Leeds side that welcomed back loan-signing Radostin Kishishev on 61 however Dennis Wise’s men held out to seal all three points, and with just 2 separating Leeds and Carlisle, thinks are looking good for the Yorkshire side as they look set to fully bounce back from Championship relegation.
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