WYCOMBE 0, UNITED 1 (Becchio 61)
Wycombe: Shearer, Smith (Green 77), Oliver, Duberry, Woodman, Phillips, Montrose, Mousinho, Westlake (Pittman 62), Zebroski, Harrold (Beavon 73). Subs: Young, Johnson, Westwood, Spiller.
United: Higgs, Crowe, Marques, Kisnorbo, Hughes, Snodgrass (Prutton 84), Howson, Doyle, Johnson, Beckford, Becchio (Showunmi 90). Subs: Ankergren, Kilkenny, Grella, Michalik, Robinson.
Referee: S Attwell
Booked: Beckford, Howson (United).
Att: 8,400
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Leeds United manager Simon Grayson welcomed Jermaine Beckford back from a knee injury for the club's first ever competitive clash with Wycombe Wanderers. Andrew Hughes was also in the starting line-up in place of the injured Ben Parker.
Wycombe, newly-promoted to League One, had suffered an opening day defeat at the hands of Charlton, but they started in positive fashion against United and Chris Zebroski headed an early free-kick over the bar.
It was an untidy opening 10 minutes or so with neither side assuming any form of early control of the contest.
The home side did have an opportunity in the 14th minute when Matt Phillips escaped down the left and pulled the back for Chris Zebroski. United goalkeeper Shane Higgs was equal to the effort, though, making a comfortable save.
But it was Leeds who almost snatched the lead moments later. Beckford latched on to a long ball forward and his first time strike beat Wycombe goalkeeper Scott Shearer, but was inches wide of the mark.
Luciano Becchio was also fractionally off target when he fired over the top from distance after some good build-up play by Leeds. Wycombe were defending again on the half-hour when Leeds enjoyed the best passing spell of the half.
Wycombe had worked tirelessly closing men down during the first 30 minutes, but as the half wore on there were glimpses that United's passing play and movement could prove the undoing of the determined hosts.
One such opportunity came in the 33rd minute when Rui Marques laid the ball to Robert Snodgrass in the middle of the park. The Scot advanced before picking out Beckford with an incisive pass, but the striker's first-time effort was wide of the mark.
But the biggest threat to United was the pace of Phillips, on the Wycombe left, and John Mousinho almost profited from an excellent cross after the winger had shown a clean pair of heels to three Leeds players down the flank.
Four minutes before the break, another build-up from the back, involving Marques and Jonny Howson, ended with Beckford having a shot deflected for a corner.
United started the second half in positive fashion and Becchio saw an early opportunity flash wide of the mark. Leeds were enjoying more good possession play in and around the Wycombe box, but with the home side keeping nine and ten men behind the ball clear cut chances were remaining elusive.
But the breakthrough came in the 61st minute, courtesy of Becchio. The striker picked the ball up just outside the box and unleashed a terrific strike which left Shearer with no chance.
Moments later, Howson lifted a shot over the top from distance as United attacked again. And a good challenge from Adam Smith halted Bradley Johnson in full flow after a great ball from Beckford.
Leeds were looking more comfortable in the second period, and moments after Mousinho headed over with the home side's only chance of any note, Beckford had another effort deflected to safety following more good build-up play.
Johnson also had a shot deflected for a corner with 14 minutes remaining and it took some good defending to head clear a good delivery from Snodgrass.
It was another good spell of pressure from Leeds and Johnson went close again as United continued to press in search of a second goal. Micky Doyle also curled an effort the wrong side of the upright after good work by Becchio and Snodgrass allowed the midfielder the space to shoot.
And, when Beckford found the target with a fine spectacular overhead effort on 83 minutes, Wycombe goalkeeper Scott Shearer pulled off a fine save to deny the United marksman.
The home side had offered little in the way of a threat, but with 90 seconds of normal time remaining, United goalkeeper Higgs made a terrific save to turn a Stuart Green effort on to the post. Wycombe goalkeeper Shearer joined the throng for the resultant corner, but the ploy almost backfired when, as Leeds cleared, Beckford sent an effort wide from distance as Shearer scrambled to get back to his goal.
