McCORMACK STRIKE SECURES DRAW

McCORMACK STRIKE SECURES DRAW

Yorkshire derby ends all square...

UNITED 1 (McCormack 56), WEDNESDAY 1 (Zayatte 36).

United: Kenny, Peltier, Pearce, Lees, Warnock, Green (Tonge 46), Austin, Murphy, McCormack, Poleon (Diouf 85), Varney (Smith 72). Subs. Ashdown, Brown, Drury, Hunt.

Wednesday: Kirkland, Buxton, Gardner, Zayatte, Antonio, Prutton, Coke, Helan, McGuire (Johnson 65), Palmer, Nuhiu (Maghomna 69). Subs. Davies, Semedo, McCabe, Lavery, Llera.

Referee: D Whitestone.

Booked: McGuire, Buxton (Sheffield Wednesday)

Att: 24, 766

For the visit of Sheffield Wednesday United manager Brian McDermott made one change from the team that held Leicester City to a goalless draw the previous Sunday.

Dominic Poleon was installed in the starting line-up for the first time in the league this season with Noel Hunt dropping to the bench. A welcome addition to the United bench for Brian McDermott was, the fit again, El-Hadji Diouf.

The home crowd were in full voice as the game kicked off and the opening minutes of the match were typical of a derby with strong challenges happening all over the Elland Road turf.

Chris Kirkland was given a scare as the opening 10 minutes came to a close when he palmed away a Luke Murphy free-kick from the left of his penalty area.

United had the lions share of possesion as the game went on, with Poleon using his pace to cause problems in the Wednesday defence. Also a scramble in a packed away penalty almost brought the opener for United but Kirkland saved a downward header from Tom Lees.

Moments later it was Wednesday that had a chance in front of goal. Athde Nuhiu latched onto Chris McGuire's corner but the big striker's header was held well by Paddy Kenny.

United's first meaningful chance of the match came as the 30 mark pasted. Ross McCormack got on the ball just outside the 18-yard box and beat his man to find a yard of space to shoot, Kirkland made a good save to prevent to Scot giving United the lead.

But it was Wenesday who took the lead on 36 minutes. Kamil Zayatte was the man with the goal after Michail Antonio headed a corner back into the danger area. The centre-backs headed effort looped over the diving Kenny in the United goal to give the away side the lead.

The away side looked the more likely in front of goal and almost doubled their advantage when the first half went into injury time. It was another corner that caused issues for United and Antonio's headed effort went just wide of the mark.

United manager Brian McDermott made one change at the interval by introducing Michael Tonge into the game for Paul Green.

The first real chance of the second half came the way of United. After great hold-up play from McCormack, he played in Murphy who could only send his strike over the crossbar.

On 56 minutes a moment of individual brilliance from McCormack brought United level. The Scot carried the ball from just inside the away half of the field and beat Zayatte with his skill and pace to to leave him one-on-one with Kirkland. McCormack made no mistake and fired United level.

After McCormack's equaliser the noise levels inside Elland Road rose and the United side upped the tempo. United began to pile on the pressure and came close from two corners in quick succession.

The game began to open up as it went into the final 15 minutes. First it was Antonio for the away side that struck at goal but Kenny was equal to his effort and made a great save.

Then moments later United's goalscorer McCormack struck at goal after great play by Poleon and substitute Tonge but the striker saw his effort go wide after a deflection.

United midfielder Tonge was the next man to have a strike at goal but his effort was charged down and gave Kirkland the chance to save.

With five minutes of the 90 remaining the United boss made his final substitution by bringing on Diouf for Poleon.

Moments after the substitution Murphy tried his luck from distance but Kirkland got his body behind the ball and saved well.

With five minutes of injury time shown by the fourth official it was United pushing for what would be the winner.

In the second minute of injury time United had a free-kick on the edge of the area. McCormack stepped up to take the kick but his attempt hit the wall. McCormack's attempt proved to be the last action of the afternoon with the game ending all square.

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