Leeds United 3 Peterborough United 1

The two sides were very evenly matched for the first hour of the game, but the introduction of Beckford finally swung the game in Leeds favour, and we went on to secure a fine win against one of the best teams in this division.

There was just one enforced change from the starting eleven who got us back to winning ways last week at Brighton. With Frazer out injured Robinson came into the side, with Hughes once again filling in as an emergency right back.

For much of the first half Peterborough had plenty of the game, playing some good passing football, with Boyd looking particularly impressive. A few weeks ago the Leeds defence would probably have crumbled before our very eyes, but Grayson new recruits have made a noticeable difference in the short time he’s been here, especially Naylor, who was captain for the day.

I’ve thought for some time that one of our problems was a lack of leadership out there in the middle, as I’m not convinced that Frazer has the sort of forceful personality a captain needs to bring the best out of his colleagues. Yesterday Naylor showed obvious relish in playing for Leeds and helped to organise the defence, while helping Hughes to cope with an unfamiliar position. Let’s hope that Grayson manages to sign Naylor on a permanent basis and that he makes Naylor his full-time club captain.

With our new-found defensive prowess we always looked likely to keep Posh at bay, though Boyd forced Casper into a couple of decent saves and Mickail-Smith had a shot over the top. And we had a couple of chances of our own, with Lewis doing well to keep out shots from Douglas and Trundle, while Trundle also went close with a glancing header.

The second half started in a similar vein, with Boyd and Maclean both having shots over the bar for the visitors. But the turning point of the game came on the hour mark, when Beckford was introduced for the ineffectual Becchio, and took only two minutes to get his name on the scoresheet. A free kick from Johnson’s found it’s way through the wall, and when the keeper failed to hang onto it, Beckford reacted faster than any of the defenders to knock the ball over the line.

Suddenly our attacks carried greater menace, and Delph set up Trundle, only for Lewis to spread himself well to keep the big man at bay. But the second arrived in the 71st. minute, again coming from Beckford. Trundle seemed to have delayed his through ball for too long, but when he finally made the pass Beckford was still onside, and he was able to beat the defender and side-foot the ball past the keeper into the net.

Lesser visiting teams would have crumbled, but Fergie junior’s side showed enough spirit to battle back into the game as Leeds tried to sit back and protect their lead, and they pulled one back with ten minutes left. Whelpdale got a cross in from the right at the second attempt, and when Boyd headed against the bar the ball dropped invitingly for Mickell-Smith to hammer into the net.

That set the game up for an anxious finish, but Grayson’s two final substitutions gave us some fresh legs up front, with Howson and Snodgrass replacing the ex-Swansea contingent of Trundle and Robinson. And as the game moved into injury time it was these two who combined to deliver the third Leeds goal that finally killed the game off.

Howson was put clean through on goal, yet seemed to have wasted the chance when instead of shooting he played a poor ball behind Snodgrass, who was rushing through to his right. But the Scot never gave up on it, and beat a defender to cross it back to Howson, who made no mistake second time around.

By the end of the season this could prove to be a vital win for Leeds, as we climb to seventh but still five points behind the play-off positions. And although we’re nine points behind second-placed MK Dons, we have yet to play them at home, and with the form we showed yesterday I don’t think we’ll drop too many more points till the end of the season. Can we still achieve automatic promotion?

Photo: Action Images

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