HIGH FIVE FOR UNITED AGAINST DONNY

HIGH FIVE FOR UNITED AGAINST DONNY

Five goals see Leeds to victory...

UNITED 5 (Gradel 12, Howson 50, Becchio 74, Gradel 82, Howson 90), DONCASTER 2 (Sharp 45+1, Moussa 49)

United: Schmeichel, Lichaj, O'Brien (Naylor 90), Bromby, McCartney, Johnson, Kilkenny, Snodgrass, Howson, Gradel (Watt 90), Becchio (Paynter 80). Subs: Higgs, Bruce, Somma, McCormack.

Doncaster: Woods, Hird, Friend, Mills, Thomas, Shiels (Coppinger 70), Oster, Moussa, Keegan (Hayter 78), Stock (Wilson 86), Sharp. Subs: Alnwick, Souza, Gillett, Kilgallon.

Referee: L Probert

Booked: Keegan (Doncaster)

Att: 27,027

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United manager Simon Grayson made two changes to his starting line-up, following the defeat at Swansea. Bradley Johnson returned from suspension in place of Davide Somma, and Leigh Bromby was recalled to the centre of the defence in place of Alex Bruce.

Max Gradel opens the scoring

Doncaster arrived on the back of a midweek win at Derby, but they had goalkeeper Gary Woods to thank inside the opening four minutes after Max Gradel cut in from the left flank and delivered a low shot. Jonny Howson's follow-up was over the top.

Robert Snodgrass also fired an early effort over the top as Leeds started brightly and Grayson's side were in front on 12 minutes.

In-form Max Gradel was the scorer, working himself an opening on  the edge of the box before whipping the ball past Woods to make it 1-0.

Moments later, it took some good defending to cut out a low cross from Eric Lichaj, and from the throw-in Gradel fired over after a Johnson flick-on.

United were threatening to rip Doncaster apart and Neil Kilkenny was next to go close when he had a shot saved by Woods after more good pressure.

Luciano Becchio was next to threaten when he drilled a low shot just wide of the upright. And Johnson also curled a shot wide of the mark.

Robert Snodgrass had two crosses cleared by desperate defending and when he got the ball back for a third time, with some assistance from Kilkenny, he rounded Woods at the tightest of angles, but slipped as he looked to convert.

The one-way traffic continued - it was the most one-sided first half-hour seen in a long while - and Gradel was again twice denied by blocks as Leeds looked to make the total domination count with a second goal.

Celebrations after Gradel's openerWoods then had to save from Snodgrass before Brian Stock broke up play when Gradel and George McCartney looked to link up after a good break.

Next, Gradel cut the ball back from the left and Becchio side-footed an effort over the bar, and moments before half-time, Snodgrass fired wide.

Then, right on the stroke of half-time, Doncaster scored with their only real attack of the half. John Oster played a ball over the top and after being denied in the first instance by Kasper Schmeichel, Billy Sharp converted from the tightest of angles to make it 1-1.

Leeds responded immediately, but the ball was cleared off the line, and that proved to be the last action of the half.

United started the second period on the front foot, Snodgrass firing wide, but Doncaster were amazingly in front on 49 minutes when Dean Shiels lifted a ball over the top and Franck Moussa was able to tuck home a shot beyond Schmeichel.

That lead lasted barely seconds as an advancing Jonny Howson took the ball from the re-start, advanced from midfield, and tucked a shot low in the corner.

Schmeichel was the next goalkeeper to be called into action, making two good saves, the second of which denied Sharp.

But it was Leeds who came within a whisker of bagging a third when former United trainee Paul Keegan made a hash of a clearance. Gradel seized and had a one-one, but Keegan did enough to ensure Gradel's shot was just wide.

Moments later, Woods came racing off his line to deny Gradel, who was again in acres of space, following a good ball from Howson. Kilkenny was also thwarted by Woods as United continued to put Doncaster under pressure.

McCartney was the architect behind the next chance, Snodgrass headed his cross over the bar, but Leeds were back in front on 74 minutes. Bromby chested down a Snodgrass cross and Becchio slammed the ball home.

Now, United were looking to maintain that lead, but Doncaster won a free-kick on the edge of the box after breaking quickly after Gradel was flattened at the other end. Joseph Mills took the set-piece and curled it over the top.

United came storming back in response and Gradel again came within a whisker when he forced Woods into making a good save.

But the Ivorian did look to put the game beyond doubt when he stabbed home from close range when a Billy Paynter shot was parried after good work by Snodgrass and Kilkenny.

And there was still time for a fifth when Howson latched on to a ball forward before applying the finishing touch.

 

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