Leeds grabs 3-2 victory over Crewe Alexandra

While it was far from a classic performance, Leeds returns home with a 3-2 victory over Crewe Alexandra. The much needed victory allows the Whites to maintain their fifth place position and puts them squarely in-line for the playoff battle.

With Jermaine Beckford in the sin-bin, it is came to no surprise that Liam Dickinson was started upfront alongside Luciano Becchio. However Bradley Johnson lost his spot to Neil Kilkenny Bradley Johnson for Neil Kilkenny with Jonathan Douglas returning to the starting eleven giving indication how Simon Grayson would treat Guðjón Þórðarson’s tactical 3-4-3 plan. Effectively after a number of fine jousts the direction the match was heading with a debatable red-card for the host's Billy Jones eighteen minutes in. Following a foul call on the Crewe defender and a resulting confrontation with Robert Snodgrass he was shown a yellow but the situation took another turn where it appears the referee changed the course of the match by showing him a second yellow for dissent. Unfortunately this likely could have been dealt differently at the onset and the situation diffused without spoiling the balance of the match. However with the man advantage, Leeds took control quickly and sent in three goals prior to the break. Three minutes before the half hour Neil Kilkenny powered the ball to the back of the net from the edge of the box and moments later young Scot Robert Snodgrass crossed for the Argentine maestro Luciano to head home. Running rampant the young Scot added a goal of his own two minutes later and all of a sudden Leeds was coasting, or at least it seemed, with a 3-0 margin.

After the great Guðjón Þórðarson’s side came out with intent and was within a whisper of grabbing a point. On the hour Iceland's brilliant young midfielder, on-loan from Reading, Gylfi Sigurðsson sent in a cross that Julien Baudet nodded in. Down by one, the man disadvantage meant little to the hungry home side and the they brought the match to within one with seventeen minutes remaining as Tom Pope headed in the ball from close range. The hearty Railwaymen supporters cheered their side on and were nearly rewarded with a draw as Gylfi Sigurðsson's free-kick in added time was held back by 'keeper Casper Ankergren to give Leeds the 3-2 victory.

Leeds return to play next Saturday in a crucial match against MK Dons.