Leeds United secured a third consecutive win in all competitions as well as a fifth home league win of the season on Saturday, with a 2-0 home success against newly-promoted Burton Albion.

United, fresh from eliminating Norwich City from the EFL Cup in an enthralling tie on Tuesday, continued their fine form of late thanks to second-half goals from Chris Wood and Souleymane Doukara.

After coming on as a second-half substitute with the scoreline level at 0-0, Doukara contributed significantly to the game’s opening goal in the 83rd minute, winning a penalty after being neatly played through on goal by Pablo Hernandez. The resulting spot-kick was rifled home by Chris Wood to hand the hosts a late lead, an advantage that was doubled 13 minutes later in the sixth minute of added time; Wood turned provider to slot in the Frenchman, who coolly sealed the points for his side from close range. The former Catania forward’s introduction in place of Kemar Roofe proved a masterstroke from head coach Garry Monk, and it was unquestionably the turning point of the match.

The result not only lifts United up to ninth place in the Championship table, but it also brings to an abrupt halt Nigel Clough’s perfect record against the Whites - the 50-year-old had won in all of his six previous encounters against Leeds while manager of Derby County.

Leeds now sit merely a point away from the play-offs, while Burton slip to 18th; just three points above the relegation zone. Up next for United is a trip to Carrow Road to once again face Norwich City, who were today soundly humbled by Brighton and Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium. The Canaries were swept away by the rampant Seagulls, with Chris Hughton’s side scoring on no less than five occasions without reply in a comprehensive 5-0 home victory.

Team Lineups

Leeds United (4-2-3-1) - Green; Ayling, Jansson, Bartley, Taylor; Phillips, O’Kane; Sacko (Mowatt 90+5’), Hernandez (Vieira 89’), Roofe (Doukara 73’); Wood.

Unused Substitutes: Cooper, Antonsson, Silvestri, Berardi.

Burton Albion (3-5-2) - McLaughlin; Brayford, McFadzean, Turner; Akins, Williamson, Palmer, Irvine, Dyer; O’Grady, Ward.

Unused Substitutes: Flanagan, Mousinho, Bywater, Miller, Choudhury.

First-Half

Prior to kick-off, everybody in attendance respectfully observed a minute’s silence as the game was the club’s last home fixture before Armistice Day.

It was the visitors Burton who kicked off proceedings, shooting toward the Kop. The Brewers would almost make a dream start to the match with two minutes played; a corner was met by the head of defender Ben Turner but the former Cardiff man’s goalbound effort was cleared off the line by Eunan O’Kane.

Leeds would then create a set-piece chance of their own just seven minutes later. Pablo Hernandez’s corner resulted in a mini game of penalty area pinball before Burton managed to scramble the ball behind. The following corner then culminated in Luke Ayling seeing his volleyed effort strike the knee of Jackson Irvine.

On 13 minutes Leeds’ Hernandez raced through onto a flick-on from Chris Wood, but Albion stopper Jon McLaughlin was quick off his line to gather the ball before the Spaniard could pull the trigger.

The hosts would go close again on 24 minutes when Kemar Roofe almost netted the opening goal of the game. Chris Wood fed Hadi Sacko, who proceeded to cross hard and low for Roofe, but the former Oxford talisman failed to attack the ball and McLaughlin in the Albion goal was able to make a comfortable save. Ten minutes later, and Sacko himself went close to a second goal of the season; heading Charlie Taylor’s deep cross onto the roof of the net at the far-post.

Despite United having the better of the first period, the most clear-cut chance of the half fell to Ben Turner just ten minutes before the break. Matt Palmer put a sumptuous set-piece delivery into the box from the left channel that was met by the head of Turner, who saw his looping header meet the crossbar before being punched away by Rob Green in the Leeds goal.

The half’s final act rather encapsulated the opening 45 or so minutes - for both sides. Jamie Ward’s audible yell of “f*** off” after failing to bring the ball under control was most symbolic of the respective frustration felt by both sides throughout the game’s first-half.

HT - Leeds United 0-0 Burton Albion

To be truthful, the half was rather humdrum, bereft of any invention with quality play from either side proving a rarity. Although Leeds had marginally played the more entertaining football, the best chances to this point had fallen to the visitors. Had Ben Turner refrained from demonstrating profound profligacy in spurning said chances, Nigel Clough’s side would most certainly have taken a lead into the break.

Second-Half

There was one half-time change of personnel to speak of, as Stuart Beavon replaced Jamie Ward in attack for the visitors, to the delight of the scant number of Burton supporters who’d made the trip from Staffordshire.

As Burton had kicked off the first period, it was the right of United to begin the second, although it would be the visitors who would carve out an early opportunity once again. With five second-half minutes played, substitute Stuart Beavon played a cross into the box from the left channel that was then nodded back across goal by O’Grady, only for Ben Turner to once again miss the target - the defender sending a free header over the crossbar much to the dismay of his manager. Just moments after three successive Burton shots had been blocked on the edge of their box, the hosts would have a glaring opportunity to take the lead with an hour played. Luke Ayling received the ball from Pablo Hernandez before slipping in Kemar Roofe, who could only fire narrowly wide of McLaughlin’s left-hand post.

Despite that miss, Leeds began to take control of the match, with their newly-promoted counterparts experiencing difficulty trying to emerge from their own half. On 67 minutes, Roofe almost made amends for his earlier error after being played in ten yards from goal, but the 23-year-old’s first-time effort was straight down the throat of McLaughlin who saved with relative ease.

Two minutes later, and the hosts would continue in their relentless pursuit of an opening goal; Chris Wood did superbly to hold the ball up inside the Burton penalty area before laying off to Hernandez, who could only blast over from 18 yards. United head coach Garry Monk then opted to make his first substitution of the match on 73 minutes, with Souleymane Doukara coming on in place of Kemar Roofe, whose undeniable endeavour had gone unrewarded with a goal. Three minutes after that tactical change, and Burton would be handed a rare opportunity of their own. Pontus Jansson was booked having been adjudged to have clattered Beavon just five yards outside of United’s penalty area, but before the free-kick could be taken, visiting manager Nigel Clough used the second of his three permitted substitutions to take off Lee Williamson and throw on Tom Naylor. Matt Palmer then drove the free-kick straight into the defending wall with the ball smacking Leeds’ Kyle Bartley directly in the face.

With time ebbing away, and Burton looking ever likely to return to the Pirelli Stadium with a valuable point, Leeds surged forward on 83 minutes. After receiving the ball from Chris Wood, Pablo Hernandez played a sublime volleyed ball from the left into the path of the onrushing Souleymane Doukara. The Frenchman ran onto the pass and broke through on goal, but just as he took aim to shoot, the hapless Turner took him out with a reckless and completely unnecessary challenge before he could pull the trigger. A penalty was correctly awarded, and Turner received a yellow card for his troubles. Up stepped Chris Wood, who struck the penalty straight down the middle with real aplomb to give his side a deserved lead in the 83rd minute of the match. The goal was the New Zealand international’s tenth of a prolific season in all competitions, and his second of the week after he netted a crucial extra-time goal against Norwich in the EFL Cup on Tuesday.

Five minutes later, United head coach Monk decided to bring off Pablo Hernandez and put on the more defensively adept Ronaldo Vieira in an attempt to consolidate United’s winning position.

On the stroke of added time, Burton would go close to pulling level when the industrious O’Grady flicked on a long throw-in only for an unmarked Tom Naylor to volley straight at Rob Green from close range. A minute later, and Leeds would come close to extending their lead at the other end of the field. Chris Wood closed down an aimless Jon McLaughlin clearance before Kalvin Phillips sprinted onto the loose ball. The central midfielder ignored pleas for a pass from Hadi Sacko before striking toward goal, only to see McLaughlin make amends for his earlier error, standing firm to turn the stinging shot behind for a corner.

With just a minute of added time to play, Garry Monk attempted to run down the clock by replacing flying winger Hadi Sacko with Alex Mowatt. Burton then won a free-kick 18 yards from goal shortly afterward. Lloyd Dyer took, and the ball bounced around the penalty area before Leeds managed to break on the Brewers. Wood played Doukara in with a precise pass, and after running onto said ball, the Frenchman made the points safe from close range despite being taken down in the area for the second time in the match. The forward then received a yellow card for wildly celebrating in the Kop, but he didn’t seem at all bothered about being reprimanded for it - after all, his goal was his first of this season and it had all but secured United a third consecutive win in all competitions!

FT - Leeds United 2-0 Burton Albion - Wood, 83’ (Pen), Doukara, 90+6’

After a below-par opening hour, Garry Monk's side began to dictate the tempo of the match and carve their workmanlike opponents open. The goals eventually followed, and were reward for United adopting a more positive stance toward the end of the game. Burton will be left rueing Ben Turner's hat-trick of glaring misses, as they were punished for their inability to take their chances by Chris Wood's 83rd minute penalty and Souleymane Doukara's close range finish in added time.

Man of The Match

MOTM - Souleymane Doukara, Striker.

After demonstrating an abundance of diligence on Tuesday night against Norwich City in a match in which he was granted a rare start, the 25-year-old came on and made all the difference for his side. Not only did he win the penalty that culminated in the opening goal of the game, but he also scored his first league goal since January, and deservedly so. After receiving a contentious eight-game ban that saw him sidelined for much of the closing stages of last season, the Frenchman has had to work hard to regain his place in the matchday squad and he was rewarded for his efforts today. As he did on Tuesday night, he was powerful in possession and he played a significant role in United’s victory.

Media: Victorious Leeds United head coach Garry Monk and losing manager Nigel Clough

Garry Monk, speaking to the BBC:

"It wasn't the best of performances, considering the context of the week we have had. We are not overly happy with the performance but are delighted with the desire to get the win.

"I was pushing the players to put on a good performance but I knew it would be hard after Tuesday night.

"We showed real character and determination to fight to the end. We had to scrap but we knew we would get chances and it was about taking those chances."

Nigel Clough, also speaking to the BBC:

"That's what it's been like for us away from home, things are just not falling our way.

"Leeds are a good team and this is a very hard place to come. This season is a great learning curve for the players who are learning all the time.

"I thought that we defended and battled well today. We stuck in there for a long time and were very close to getting what would have been a valuable point."

Match Statistics and Facts

Stats - (Leeds/Burton)

Possession - 49/51
Shots - 12/22
On Target - 5/2
Corners - 5/8
Fouls - 18/10

Referee - Jeremy Simpson

Booked - O’Kane, Jansson, Vieira, Doukara (Leeds), Turner, Akins (Burton).

Attendance - 24,220

Writer's View

Another respectable victory for us against a regimented and industrious Burton side who, despite being well-organised defensively for much of the game, were profligate in attack as the statistics show. Watching the opening sixty minutes was an altogether vexatious experience, but from the 60th minute onward we began to really seize control of the match, dictating proceedings and imposing our style of play onto our opposition. After coming excruciatingly close through both Kemar Roofe and then Pablo Hernandez, I was delighted when our vehement claims for a penalty when Souleymane Doukara was shamefully taken out by Ben Turner as he beared down on goal were answered with the correct decision - although much of the officiating was, in my view, frustratingly inconsistent as well as imprecise.

Chris Wood hammered home the penalty with aplomb, and then we wrapped up the points with Doukara somehow managing to put the ball into the back of the net despite being taken out once more by a desperate Burton defender. I felt that after our slow, sluggish opening sixty we took the game to the visitors and we were deserving of the win, despite Burton having as many shots as they did. What must be taken into account is the fact that only two of Burton’s 22 efforts were actually on target, and they wasted the opportunities that did come their way while Wood and Doukara kept their composure to convert the chances that fell to us.

I awarded my man of the match to Doukara because I felt that he made a significant contribution to today's victory after coming on for Roofe, but the efforts of Luke Ayling are also deserving of a mention. The right-back is something of an unsung hero at Elland Road having signed from Bristol City in the summer transfer window, and he had a fine game today, demonstrating tremendous efficiency not only when defending, but also when on the offensive.

Like Garry Monk, I must be truthful and concede that today’s performance was largely second-rate and not befitting of the calibre of players on the books at Elland Road, but we battled away until the last and our endeavour was rewarded with a third consecutive win of the season and a fifth home league victory of the campaign. Under Monk’s premiership, Elland Road has truly become something of a fortress once again, and it is encouraging to see that we are capable of winning ugly. But because we’re Leeds United, and many in the media do not look favourably upon us when commenting on our exploits, this victory will go down in the press as a scrappy one and nothing more. But if, for example, Newcastle, put in a similarly disappointing display yet still emerged with the full share of the points, they’d be heralded as heroes and the success would be dubbed as ‘the mark of champions’. Today’s result is evidently a rather good one given that Burton have already upset the apple cart on a number of occasions in their inaugural Championship season, and now focus switches to the game away to Norwich City at Carrow Road next Saturday.

Photo: Action Images

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