Leeds Utd Match Zone

Leeds into Second Round

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Leeds United made five changes from Saturday`s game for the Carling Cup tie at Darlington.

With Rui Marques and Patrick Kisnorbo on international duty, Paul Huntington and Lubomir Michalik were in the centre of defence.

Andy Hughes replaced injured Ben Parker at left back, Mike Grella and Enoch Showunmi replaced Jermaine Beckford and Luciano Becchio in attack.

Neil Kilkenny came back into the squad and got a place on the bench.

Leeds had the first chance of the game in the fifth minute when Snodgrass shot wide from twenty minutes.

A few minutes later Paul Huntington header over from a corner when in a good position.

Lee Thorpe was giving Leeds a hard time in the Darlington attack, he was winning every header that was coming his way.

Mike Doyle produced the only piece of quality in the first half when his twenty-five yard volley troubled Knight in the Darlington goal, the rebound fell to Showunmi but Knight was quick to react to deny the Leeds forward. It was the first meaningful save by either keeper in the half.

Darlington had a great chance when Thorpe beat the offside trap, instead of shooting, he cut the ball back to Chandler but Crowe blocked his shot in the Leeds defence.

In a first half of very few chances, Andy Hughes had the last chance in injury time but his long-range shot went well over the bar.

Leeds missed a great chance to take the lead early in the second half, after good work by Grella, Johnson hit the bar when he should have at least made the goalkeeper work.

Almost immediately after Howson`s crisp left foot shot was saved by Knight.

Leeds eventually took the lead when Showunmi just got a toe in ahead of the Darlington keeper, after a good ball in from Snodgrass.

Darlington thought they had equalised when Dowson found the back of the net but the flag was up for offside.

Showunmi should have wrapped the game up after some great work from Grella and Howson, the ball came to him ten yards out but he screwed his shot woefully wide.

Howson was unlucky when his curling twenty yard shot just went wide inside the last ten minutes.

Darlington`s best chance of an equaliser came in injury time but Bower sent his header wide when in a terrific position.

Leeds booked their place in the second round with a comfortable victory although a number of missed chances nearly cost them in injury time.



Teams

Darlington
Knight, Arnison, Bower, Foster, Miller, J. Smith, Lumsdon, Thorpe, G. Smith, Chandler, Dowson

Subs:
Plummer, Windass, Bennett, Liversedge, Main, Riley, Convery

Leeds
Higgs, Crowe, Huntington, Michalik, Hughes, Snodgrass, Howson, Doyle, Johnson, Showunmi, Grella

Subs:
Ankergren, Kilkenny, Becchio, Sheehan, Robinson, White,

Referee: N.Swarbrick



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