http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/Carlisle-United-1-Leeds-United.6224638.jp
Carlisle United 1 Leeds United 3: Spirited United move back into second
place
Published Date: 14 April 2010
By Richard Sutcliffe at Brunton Park
ON a day when it emerged there was possible Antipodean interest in Leeds
United, a display of true Yorkshire grit ensured the initiative in the
race for automatic promotion was wrestled back from Millwall.
At a venue where their Wembley hopes had perished just two months
earlier amid chaotic scenes that saw three visiting players attacked on
the pitch, United's character and resolve was always going to be given a
serious examination.
It was a challenge Simon Grayson's men rose to in admirable fashion to
reclaim second place from Millwall, who rescued a point with a late
equaliser at Yeovil Town, with comfortably their best league display of
2010.
Nowhere was this desire and determination to succeed more apparent than
up front with Max Gradel and Luciano Becchio flourishing in the absence
of top scorer Jermaine Beckford, who was dropped for the first time in
three years after a series of ineffective displays.
Becchio netted twice with Gradel adding the other on what, come the
season's end, may just prove to be a defining moment of the season.
Certainly, on the evidence of last night, United seem to have every
chance of delivering on Grayson's Easter Saturday vow that his side were
capable of winning their final seven games.
Since then Yeovil Town, Southend United and now Carlisle have been
beaten to send United to Gillingham this weekend a point clear of the
chasing pack.
Adapting quickly to a difficult and bobbly pitch, Grayson's side were
clearly in no mood to mess around.
Showing intelligence and craft whenever in possession, Leeds created a
host of chances that, with steadier finishing, would have seen the
Yorkshire side out of sight by the break.
Just eight minutes were on the clock when Gradel was presented with the
first clearcut opening of the game courtesy of Ian Harte's blunder.
Now employed in the centre of defence, the former Leeds
left-back made a complete hash of an attempted back header only for
Gradel to hesitate and allow him to make amends with a last-ditch tackle.
From the resulting corner, Richard Naylor then had a 'goal' disallowed
for a foul by Becchio before Leeds took a deserved 13th-minute lead when
Adam Collin failed to hold a dipping free-kick by Robert Snodgrass.
Becchio was the first to react, the Argentinian slamming a fierce shot
past the prone goalkeeper.
Leeds continued to dominate but Becchio somehow shot wide from three
yards when found by Snodgrass before Michael Doyle released Gradel with
an incisive pass. The speedy Ivory Coast fronman, in turn, raced into
the area to drill a centre intended for Jonny Howson that was
brilliantly cleared by Evan Horwood.
Gradel was then presented with an excellent chance by another poor
header from Harte only for Collin to make amends for his earlier mistake
by pulling off a smart save.
Despite United's dominance in the first half, there was always a
suspicion the home side might muster up a decent chance courtesy of a
set-piece.
Cue Harte, so deadly in a Leeds shirt with the ball at his feet, to whip
in a sublime free-kick that allowed Richard Keogh to steal a march on
his marker to power an unstoppable header past Shane Higgs.
The fact it was Carlisle's first effort on goal only added to the
frustration of the 2,500 travelling fans after a first half in which
their team had been in charge.
Any fears that Leeds might crumble were blown away within 107 seconds of
the restart when another sweeping move culminated in Leigh Bromby's
inviting cross being headed powerfully past Collin by Gradel.
Clearly in no mood to repeat the mistakes of the first half where
profligacy had allowed Carlisle a way back into the game, United poured
forward and were rewarded with a third goal just four minutes later.
Gradel was this time the creator with a clever pass that allowed Becchio
to race clear courtesy of a perfectly-timed burst from halfway.
Then, as goalkeeper Collin rushed from his line in an attempt to narrow
the angle, United's south American coolly rolled a shot into the net to
send the travelling fans into raptures.
So impressive had the display been that even Jon Obika's dramatic
93rd-minute equaliser for Millwall at Huish Park could not detract from
a hugely encouraging night for the Yorkshire club.
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Carlisle United: Collin; Keogh, Aldred (Raven 64), Harte, Horwood; Dobie
(Bowman 81), Taiwo, Thirlwell (Bridge-Wilkinson 60), Marshall; Clayton;
Madine. Unused substitutes: Pidgeley, Kavanagh, Rothery, Kane.
Leeds United: Higgs; Bromby, Naylor, Collins, Hughes; Howson, Kilkenny,
Doyle, Snodgrass; Becchio (Grella 88), Gradel (Beckford 88). Unused
substitutes: Ankergren, McSheffrey, Parker, Lowry, Watt.
Referee: M Halsey (Lancashire).
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