The Match

Pre-Match

United boss Kevin Blackwell rang the changes at Hillsborough with four changes to the side that drew with Brighton at home.

Perhaps the biggest surprise was the return of Neil Sullivan in place of Ian Bennett.  Bennett had let three goals in against Brighton but could hardly be held at fault for any of them.

A more predictable change was Dan Harding dropping out and Stephen Crainey coming in to face the team now managed by his former manager at Southampton, Paul Sturrock.

Jonathan Douglas was rewarded for his late equaliser at the weekend by a starting place on the right hand side of midfield which meant Frazer Richardson dropped down to the bench. 

The most notable inclusion for Wednesday fans, and Leeds' last change, was that of former Owls striker Richard Cresswell who made his first start for United since arriving from Preston North End.  Cresswell had plenty to prove to the home fans, who never quite saw the best of him during his short spell at Hillsborough.

Kick-off was delayed by 15 minutes due to crowd congestion, but there an earlier bomb threat that saw the turnstiles opened late also played a part. 

The Match

United got off to the worst possible start at Hillsborough when Wednesday took the lead after being awarded a highly contentious free-kick.

Shaun Derry had gone for a ball with a two-footed jump- but there had been no opposition player around him - and mysteriously the referee Mr Taylor blew for a foul.  A foul on whom was what Leeds were asking? 

Despite their protests, Chris Eagles, on loan from Manchester United, lined up the free-kick and delivered a ball across the face of goal where no-one managed to get a touch on it and, finding Sullivan flat-footed, it fell made the back of the net.

Leeds felt hard done by but it was now a case of whether they could respond just as they had against Brighton when they found themselves 2-0 down but still came back.

It was the hosts though who threatened to score again though, Leeds were fortunate when a shot was deflected narrowly wide from Owls stand in skipper Glenn Whelan, although Sullivan may have got a touch on the ball.

Disaster nearly struck again just before the half hour when Einarsson inadvertently deflected a cross into the path of  Wednesday striker Lee Peacock who suddenly found himself with just Sullivan to beat from six yards, but the United keeper pulled off a stunning save to keep Leeds in the game.

United were stuttering going forward, their main problem being the lack of a final ball but Eddie Lewis's cross from a free-kick was once occasion when they got it right, Richard Cresswell met it well but the keeper was there to frustrate him on his Hillsborough return.

Two minutes before half time Leeds put themselves under un-necessary pressure when Gylfi Einarsson played a dreadful backpass to Sullivan that the Scottish international was fortunately quickly out for and hastily beat the ball away.

Richard Cresswell was booked just before the break for a late challenge.

United's first real attempt at getting back in the game came five minutes after the break when Cresswell chased a ball by the corner flag and played it back into the path of David Healy. The waist high cross was difficult for the striker to collect but his left footed shot wasn't far off target as it went the wrong side of the post.

Leeds were starting to put pressure on the Wednesday defence, Einarsson managed to barge his way though just before the hour mark but when the ball fell to Healy, the striker misfired and a glorious chance went begging.

Derry won a free-kick 20-yards out when he was fouled by Peacock but Leeds' quick free-kick didn't pay off as Kelly curled his shot well wide of the target.

Shortly after the hour Blackwell made his first substitution, bringing Frazer Richardson on for Einarsson in a change that saw Douglas move into centre midfield.

David Healy's evening came to an end on 67 minutes when he was replaced by Robbie Blake in a change that did not exactly receive the support of the travelling Leeds fans.

On 70 minutes Neil Sullivan produced what could prove to be the save of the season when he kept out David Graham's header with a save that required him to fling himself backwards to get an outstretched hand to the ball and palm it away from underneath his own crossbar. 

A minute later Blackwell made his final substitution, bringing on Rob Hulse for Richard Cresswell - the former Wednesday man was booed off by the same fans who once cheered him.

Leeds then went close twice, first Blake saw his shot deflected wide from a corner and then Hulse headed over as he met Richardson's cross back into the penalty area.

Hulse then drew a fine save from Lucas with a header six yards out that the Wednesday keeper managed to tip over his crossbar.  Leeds were getting closer but time was running out for them.

Wednesday's Chris Brunt nearly scored out of the blue with a thunderous left foot shot from 30-yards that rattled United's crossbar.

Hulse collected a ball on the edge of the Owls area with three minutes to go but his snatched shot was straight into the arms of David Lucas.

United pushed hard for an equaliser right at the end but Wednesday held firm and Leeds came away from their first Yorkshire derby of the season with nothing to show for their efforts.