LEEDS UNITED 2 (Grella 8, Michalik 37), STOCKPORT COUNTY 0
United: Higgs, Crowe, Michalik, Bromby (Robinson 64), Hughes, Snodgrass, Howson, Doyle (Kilkenny 42), Johnson, Grella (Showunmi 72), Becchio. Subs: Ankergren, Prutton, Kandol, Huntington.
Stockport: Fon Williams, Mullins (Griffin 78), Rose, Bridcutt, Vincent, Tansey, Baker, Poole, Pilkington (Johnson 59), Havern, Bignall (Thompson 85). Subs: Rigby, Turnbull, Halls, Rowe.
Referee: D McDermid
Booked: Doyle (United), Rose, Mullins (Stockport)
Att: 22,870
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United manager Simon Grayson was forced into making three changes to his starting line-up as his side looked to make it a record breaking eight successive wins to start the season.
Patrick Kisnorbo and Rui Marques were both absent due to international commitments, and leading goalscorer Jermaine Beckford was sidelined with a hamstring injury. In came Leigh Bromby for his debut, Lubo Michalik, and Mike Grella with Tresor Kandol being named among the subs for the first time in 15 months.
The match referee, ironically, was Danny McDermid who was the man in charge when Dennis Wise's United were denied a record-breaking eighth successive league win to start the season back in 2007. It was the first time McDermid had refereed United since that 1-1 draw at Gillingham when Beckford and Kandol were sent-off.
As it was United started brightly and were in front after just seven minutes, courtesy of Grella's first goal for the club. The American showed good feet inside the box before delivering a good, clean strike beyond Owain Fon Williams in the Stockport goal.
Moments later, Fon Williams made a good save at his near post to deny Robert Snodgrass.
But the visitors did show plenty of early enterprise and after Bromby had headed clear a free-kick, Michalik was called upon to clear the danger at a corner, and Carl Baker fired over the top from distance.
It wasn't the most entertaining of openings. Stockport had packed their midfield, looking to out-number Leeds in the central areas, and chances were at a premium during the opening 25 minutes with Grella's goal the only effort on target.
But the diminutive American did go close to scoring a second when he headed narrowly wide after Michalik got up well to flick on a long throw in the Stockport box.
Another throw-in was scrambled away by the visiting defence, and it soon became clear that United now possess an additional weapon in the shape of Bromby's delivery from the touchline.
On the half-hour, the referee earned the wrath of the home crowd when Micky Doyle was booked for a stern challenge. Moments earlier, the ref had allowed play to continue after Snodgrass had been taken out by Greg Tansey.
Another free-kick, on 37 minutes, proved decisive though. Snodgrass launched the ball into the box, Bromby made a nuisance of himself to deny Fon Williams, and Michalik was on hand to stab the ball home to double United's advantage.
Moments before half-time, Grayson made what appeared to be a tactical change with Neil Kilkenny replacing an already booked Doyle in the middle of the park.
As the teams left the field at half-time, Stockport manager Gary Ablett followed in the footsteps of former Leeds boss Wise in being sent-off by referee McDermid during the break.
United again started brightly and Grella went close to adding a third inside the opening five minutes of the second half when he curled an effort over the top after good work by Bradley Johnson down the left.
But the Nicholas Bignall fashioned a chance out of nothing for the visitors on 55 minutes when he held the ball up well before turning and forcing Shane Higgs into make a good save, low to his right.
United had an opportunity to make it 3-0 when John Mullins was adjudged to have handled inside the box, but Fon Williams pulled off the save to deny Snodgrass from the penalty spot.
That prompted a spark for the visitors and Bignall again tested Higgs with a good strike after a quick break by Stockport.
Shortly after the hour, Grayson made his second change, replacing debut man Bromby with Andy Robinson, The change sparked a re-shuffle that saw Jason Crowe move to centre-back, Hughes to right-back, and Johnson to left-back.
And Johnson it was who delivered a superb cross from the left which saw Fon Williams do well to claw away a header from Kilkenny. The Aussie also had a shot deflected wide on 72 minutes.
Fon Williams also reacted well to deny Becchio with a close range header when a Snodgrass cross was turned goalwards by a Stockport defender. It took another good block from a defender to deny Robinson moments later as Leeds started to turn the screw when in possession.
Stockport didn't give up the fight and after enjoying a dcent spell during the closing stages, Higgs made a good save when a James Vincent shot was deflected towards the bottom corner.
But it mattered little in the scheme of things as United eased towards a eight successive victory to start the season and a 14th successive league win on home soil, bettering the records set by the great Don Revie sides of 1973 and 1969.
