SMITH EARNS DRAW AGAINST PLAY-OFF HOPEFULS

SMITH EARNS DRAW AGAINST PLAY-OFF HOPEFULS

Matt Smith on target for United in end of season finale...

UNITED 1 (Smith 50), DERBY 1 (Dawkins 6).

United: Butland, Wootton, Lees, Pearce, Pugh, Murphy (White 46), Austin, Brown, Tonge, McCormack, Smith. Subs. Cairns, Thompson, Dawson, Poleon, Hunt, Walters.

Derby: Grant, Forsyth, Keogh, Whitbred, Wisdom, Hendrick (Bryson 90), Eustace, Hughes, Dawkins (Bennett 78), Bamford (Russell 90), Sammon. Subs. Legzdins, Naylor, Buxton, Thorne.

Referee: J Linington.

Booked: Brown (Leeds), Whitbred (Derby).

Att: 29,724

Derby County were the visitors to Elland Road for the final game of the 2013/14 season and United manager Brian McDermott named an unchanged side from the previous weekend's away victory at Birmingham.

The away side showed their attacking threat early on when Craig Forsyth broke forward. The Derby full-back split United's defence with a piercing run to then strike at goal, and it took a great save from Jack Butland to deny the defender.

Derby kept the early pressure on United and they were ahead in the sixth minute when Simon Dawkins bundled the ball home. Butland saved an original close-range shot from Jeff Hendrick but Dawkins was lurking in the box and pounced to put his side in front.

United responded well to going behind and were close to being level before the opening 10 minutes were up. Ross McCormack picked up the ball after a loose corner and played in Michael Tonge but the midfielder's shot was saved well by Lee Grant in the Derby goal.

Grant made another great save just minutes later when he denied Matt Smith after the striker headed a Luke Murphy cross goalwards from close-range. The Derby keeper was on hand to save again from Smith who headed at goal but an agile Grant tipped the ball over his crossbar.

As the half went on both sides were creating goalscoring opportunities. United had two attempts cleared off the line and Butland made a great save to prevent Dawkins getting his second of the game. Midway through the half McCormack had his first sight of goal but his chipped effort went just over the bar.

Prior to the 30-minute mark, and with United on top, Grant kept his side in front with another fantastic save. With no other options open to him in advanced positions Michael Brown struck a sweet shot from distance that looked to be heading into the bottom corner but the out-stretched hand of Grant turned the ball behind.

There was still to be further goalmouth action before the entertaining first half was over. Tonge found himself with time and space on the edge of the penalty area and he struck for goal. The shot was on target and looked to be blocked by the the arm of Derby captain Richard Keogh but the referee waved away United's advances.

United started quickly after the interval and Tonge went close after getting on the end of a Smith knock down. It wasn't long before United were level, though, when McCormack used his strength to keep the ball to play in Smith. The big striker controlled the ball superbly and chipped the onrushing Grant on 50 minutes.

Smith had a golden chance to put United ahead three minutes later. Danny Pugh mistimed a shot but it fell into the striker's path but Smith smashed his attempt over the bar.

United dominated the second half and all that was missing was the killer final touch in the Derby penalty area. United were still creating chances but the away side did threaten when Patrick Bamford broke the outside trap, but Butland was equal to his effort and saved comfortably.

With 10 minutes of the game remaining McCormack had an opportunity to get his 30th goal of the season when United were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box. The league's top marksman struck but Grant performed a great save to keep the contest level.

The closing minutes belonged to United. The Elland Road side continued to create chances with McCormack going close twice and Danny Pugh also had an opportunity towards the end but he headed wide.

Although United had a late flurry of chances it wasn't enough to get the win but they did earn a deserved point against one of the favourites to be promoted through the end of season Play-Offs.

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