REPORT: LEEDS UNITED 2-2 BRISTOL CITY

Whites fight back to draw.

Sky Bet Championship 

Leeds United 2 (Lasogga 72, Roofe 80) Bristol City 2 (Diedhiou 11, Reid 16)

Leeds United came from two goals down, to earn a point in Paul Heckingbottom’s first game in charge of the Whites on home soil, at Elland Road.

Heckingbottom made three changes from the side that started against Sheffield United, with Vurnon Anita, Pablo Hernandez and Caleb Ekuban coming into the side.

Leeds had the first chance of the game when Ekuban picked up a loose ball in the centre of the park and fed Stuart Dallas, but the Northern Ireland international saw his well struck shot palmed away by Frank Fielding.

Bristol City took the lead on 11 minutes when Felix Wiedwald failed to collect a long throw from Hordur Magnusson and Famara Diedhiou found the net.

The Robins doubled their lead five minutes later, another long throw by Magnusson fell to Marlon Pack, he fired across goal and Bobby Reid slotted home at the back post.

Leeds had a good opportunity to level, when Anita played a fine pass to send Hernandez into the Bristol box, he played the ball across goal, but no Leeds player could get on the end of it.

Pierre-Michel Lasogga then tried his luck from distance couldn’t find the target, before Felix Wiedwald prevented the Bristol lead from being extended, when Reid teed up Ryan Kent to strike in the area, but the Leeds goalkeeper produced a fine stop.

Half time Leeds United 0 Bristol City 2

Leeds started the second half brightly and had an opportunity to level three minutes in, Lasogga did well down the left and found Ekuban in the box, he couldn’t get his shot away, so laid the ball off to Hernandez on the edge of the box, but he saw his effort blocked.

Dallas then played Lasogga through on goal, but Aden Flint made a superb challenge to ensure the United striker couldn’t get his shot away.

Diedhiou the chance to add to Bristol’s lead, after Josh Brownhill won possession, he broke into the box and crossed to the forward at the back post, but Wiedwald made another super stop to deny his header.

As the Leeds supporters in fine voice lifted the atmosphere around Elland Road, United pulled a goal back in the 72nd minute.  A lovely cross from Hernandez was met by a Lasogga volley, as the German netted his fourth goal in five games for the Whites.

United then levelled matters ten minutes from time, when Kemar Roofe slid in at the back post to convert a Hernandez corner, as Elland Road erupted.

Leeds continued to press for a winner, Adam Forshaw did well to break into the Bristol box, before curling a shot just past the post.

The Whites then went close from a free-kick in stoppage time, Hernandez delivered, Pontus Jansson flicked it on, but substitute Kalvin Phillips couldn’t keep his header down.

United almost did take all three points with virtually the last kick of the game, once again another Hernandez cross was met by Lasogga, whose header hit the crossbar, as the Whites had to settle for a draw, leaving the field to a standing ovation.

Full time Leeds United 2 Bristol City 2

 

Leeds: Wiedwald, De Bock, Jansson, Pennington, Anita. Forshaw, O’Kane (Phillips 73), Dallas (Sacko 64), Hernandez, Lasogga, Ekuban (Roofe 64).  Subs not used: Lonergan, Alioski, Vieira, Denton

Bristol: Fielding, Wright, Flint, Magnusson, Bryan, Brownhill (Paterson 79), Smith, Pack, Kent, Diedhiou (Woodrow 81), Reid.  Subs not used: Steele, Kelly, Walsh, Eliasson, Paterson, Diony

 

Referee: S Hooper

Booked: Pennington, Phillips (Leeds United) Wright, Brownhill, Pack (Bristol City)

Venue: Elland Road

Attendance: 28,004 (536 Bristol)