NO JOY FOR UNITED STOKE 3 (Sidibe 12, Ehiogu og 54, Fuller 77) UNITED 1 (Moore 41)
Stoke: Simonsen, Hoefkens, Duberry, Higginbotham, Hill, Lawrence, Diao, Russell, Hendrie (Berger 46), Sidibe, Fuller (Pericard 82). Subs: Brammer, Sweeney, Dickinson. United: Warner, Richardson, Ehiogu, Heath, Lewis, Douglas, Derry, Howson, Westlake (Kandol 62), Moore, Healy. Subs: Sullivan, Carole, Marques, Beckford. Referee: A D'Urso (Billericay) Britannia Stadium Ugo Ehiogu was passed fit at the 11th hour to spare United's potential defensive crisis, but boss Dennis Wise also made changes to his midfield and front-line. Jonny Howson was recalled to the midfield while Ian Moore and David Healy both returned to the starting line-up in place of Tresor Kandol and Jermaine Beckford. Kandol and Beckford both dropped to the bench and were joined by Rui Marques, who was figuring in the first team for the first time this season, Seb Carole and Neil Sullivan. For Stoke, Lee Hendrie passed a late fitness to make the final start of his loan spell with the club. It was the hosts who created a couple of early opportunities, but they were denied on both occasions by an offside flag. But they made no mistake in the 12th minute when after winning a corner, Mamady Sidibe got up well to head home from close range to give Stoke the advantage. United almost hit back straight away, though. Stoke failed to deal with an Ian Westlake corner and Jonathan Douglas fired a dipping shot inches over the top. The home side's response was immediate, but Darel Russell's finish was poor after he was released clear on goal by an inch-perfect pass from Hendrie. United enjoyed a good spell of pressure leading up to the half-hour mark and successive corners were followed by an Eddie Lewis free-kick which tested Steve Simonsen in the home goal. The Stoke goalkeeper also got down to well to deny David Healy with a shot from distance. Former United defender Michael Duberry headed away a Frazer Richardson cross as Wise's men continued to press. Healy was again involved when United had furious appeals for a penalty waved away after Carl Hoefkens appeared to haul the Ulsterman to the ground. Ian Moore The deserved equaliser finally came four minutes before the interval. Richardson did well down the right, Healy delivered a fine cross to the far post and Moore, pictured, crashed through to head home. And there was more panic for Stoke before the break when Salif Diao sliced a clearance over his own bar as United continued to press. Ian Westlake found himself in the book early in the second half, following two challenges on Hoefkens, but worse was to follow for Leeds moments later. Stoke had started the second period with a spring in their step and the hosts got their noses back in front on 54 minutes. Substitute Patrik Berger hit a shot from the edge of the box and the ball took a deflection off Ehiogu to leave Tony Warner with no chance. United re-shaped after Stoke's second goal with striker Tresor Kandol replacing Westlake shortly after the hour-mark. But the game was effectively sealed in Stoke's favour 14 minutes from time. Ricardo Fuller beat both Ehiogu and Warner to a long ball forward and after side-footing away from the stranded duo he tapped the ball home from close range to make it 3-1. Moments later, Sidibe was presented with a great chance to make it four, but Ehiogu reacted superbly to clear the danger and in the 85th minute Warner pulled off a great one-handed save to deny Stoke substitute Vincent Pericard. _______________________________________________ the Leeds List is an unmoderated mailing list and the list administrators accept no liability for the personal views and opinions of contributors. Leedslist mailing list [email protected] http://list.zetnet.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist 'I am in shock,' said Ferguson.
