Luciano Becchio leads Leeds to 1-0 victory over Colchester

Leeds promotion efforts continued with a 1-0 defeat Colchester United. With the victory Simon Grayson's side its winning streak to five matches and is well situated for a likely playoff challenge for the move up the Championship. Without any change to last weeks lineup, the Whites pressed forward with Jermaine Beckford and Luciano Becchio up-top and the youthful lineup of Fabian Delph, Robert Snodgrass, Neil Kilkenny and hometown boy Jonny Howson.

Gaining confidence by the minute the young guns started the match with a reasonable up tempo cadence and threaten with early chances by Jermaine Beckford and Luciano Becchio each through the work of Robert Snodgrass. The young Scot, who came to Leeds through the superb eye of Gary McAllister has quickly as a superb play-maker with boundless energy. However it was former Leeds great other signing that added the needed goal as Luciano Becchio, accepting a Snodgrass provision, sent the ball to the back of the net from the edge of the area. Billowing with confidence the young side searched for another goal and while the Argentine maestro came within a whisper before the half, the match went to the break without further mark. After the restart the hosts started to threaten more as Leeds lost its aggression and exhibited a typical characteristic of a young side under siege. Colchester was controlling the general run of play, albeit without the needed bite in the final third. As the match lingered challenges began to boil over with a number of altercations but still Leeds showed quality defending and held back Colchester's efforts in route to a 1-0 victory.

With six matches remaining thoughts of gaining ten points on Peterborough United, even with an extra match to play, seem unlikely however they must press on. Leeds returns to play this Tuesday in a mid-week class at Leyton Orient.