REPORT: LEEDS UNITED 2-0 BIRMINGHAM CITY

REPORT: LEEDS UNITED 2-0 BIRMINGHAM CITY

Saiz and Dallas sink the Blues.

Sky Bet Championship

Leeds United 2 (Saiz 17, Dallas 90+2) Birmingham City 0

Goals from Samuel Saiz and Stuart Dallas gave Leeds a narrow 2-0 victory over Harry Redknapp’s Birmingham City at Elland Road.

Leeds created a good opportunity inside seven minutes, some good build up play let to Saiz playing a neat low cross looking for Lasogga at the back post, but David Stockdale made a crucial interception.

Birmingham had a decent chance from a corner, Sam Gallagher won the initial set-piece and Michael Morrison’s looping header went just wide.

Gallagher was then picked out in the Leeds box by the visitors, he turned well, but his effort was superbly blocked by Pontus Jansson.

From Jansson’s block, Leeds broke up-field and had a great chance, Eunan O'Kane found Pablo Hernandez, but his effort is headed off the line by Chiekh N'Doye.

A minute after the Hernandez chance, Leeds took the lead, Lasogga showed great strength, before firing a thunderbolt of an effort from a narrow angle, Stockdale made a great save, but couldn’t prevent Samuel Saiz from tapping home his sixth goal of the season.

In the 19th minute Leeds almost had a second, Luke Ayling took a quick throw to Saiz, he crossed for Lasogga, but the striker at full stretch could only head over.

Saiz was again provider for Pablo Hernandez four minutes later with a lovely cross, but he couldn’t guide his volley on target.

Leeds had Ayling to thank that they still had the lead at the break, saving a certain Birmingham goal with a super goal-line clearance.  Maxime Colin beat Felix Wiedwald to the ball and headed over the Leeds stopper and would have scored but for the United full- back’s intervention.

Half Time: Leeds United 1-0 Birmingham City

After the break, Saiz played Alioski into the box well, but the Macedonian international saw his shot blocked. 

Hernandez then put in a brilliant cross for Lasogga, but Morrison provided a superb interception to stop the German striker from netting.

Lasogga almost latched on to a lose Birmingham back-pass, but Stockdale reacted quickest and made another good save.

In the 63rd minute, Birmingham caught Leeds out with a quickly taken free-kick, Gallagher went through on goal, but he could only pull his shot wide.

O’Kane did well when raced up field, before playing Saiz into the box, but the Spaniard’s audacious finish couldn’t get the better of Stockdale. 

Birmingham had the ball in the net in the 74th minute after the Blues latched on to a low kick from Wiedwald, but luckily for Leeds, Che Adams was flagged for offside.

A fine O’Kane flick then gave Saiz space on the edge of the box, he struck at goal and was denied by a fine save from Stockdale.

Birmingham continued to press for an equaliser, throwing everyone forward, Liam Walsh struck on goal and Wiedwald made a good save, with the ball bouncing just in front of him.

Leeds continued to defend for their lives as Birmingham threw the kitchen sink at the Whites.  United continued to resist and in the 92nd minute countered up the field through Lasogga.  He found Stuart Dallas, who decided to break into the box, rather than take the ball to the corner and he fired a low effort into the back of the net, to send Elland Road into delirium.

Vurnon Anita almost added a third in the dying seconds, with a deflected effort which went just wide and Elland Road, once again erupted at full time, with the Whites continuing their amazing start to the season, sending supporters into dreamland.

Full Time: Leeds United 2-0 Birmingham City

 

Leeds: Wiedwald, Anita, Cooper (Berardi 69), Jansson, Ayling, O’Kane, Phillips, Hernandez (Dallas 80), Saiz, Alioski (Roofe 60), Lasogga.  Subs not used: Lonergan, Grot, Dallas, Cibicki, Vieira.

Birmingham: Stockdale, Nsue, Colin, Dean, N’Doye, Gallagher (Adams 69), Boga, Loew, Davis (Maghoma 80), Jota (Walsh 80), Morrison.  Subs not used: Grounds, Roberts, Jutkiewicz, Kuszczak.

 

Referee: P. Bankes

Booked: Phillips (Leeds), Gallagher, Lowe, Morrison (Birmingham)

Venue: Elland Road

Attendance: 31,507 (614 Birmingham)

 

 

 

 

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