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Leeds United picked up three points at Elland Road this afternoon against bottom-placed Hereford United thanks to an Andy Robinson header in the 72nd minute. The home side were dominant throughout, with Bulls' 'keeper Darren Randolph constantly denying the Yorkshire giants with a string of fine saves.
The Bulls made three changes to their starting line up with new loan signing Bruno N'Gotty replacing Dean Beckwith in central defence. Richard Rose started at left-back with Kris Taylor making way, whilst Simon Johnson played in the hole, with Ben Smith left on the bench. Leeds named highly-rated youngster Fabian Delph in their starting eleven, whilst top goalscorer Jermaine Beckford was partnered up front by one time Barcelona striker Luciano Becchio.
Robinson tested Randolph early on with a low-drive but the Charlton loanee held with ease, whilst Jonathon Howson volleyed wide after a corner wasn't cleared fully. Delph also saw a relatively tame shot held by Randolph, whilst good-work from Matty Done on the counter-attack saw the Welsh winger find the run of Steven O'Leary, but he sliced a volley harmlessly past the post. Aidan White tricked his way past the attentions of Bradley Hudson-Odoi and Richard Jackson on the right-hand side, and his shot from an angle took a slight deflection off Karl Broadhurst before falling inches past Randolph's far post.
Becchio cut in from the right to place a shot into Randolph's arms, whilst good control and a burst forward allowed O'Leary a sniff at the Leeds goal, but his powerful long-range effort failed to hit the target. Beckford showed a fine touch to set himself up from 25 yards, but his strike fell just past the post, whilst minutes later, he volleyed wide after fine defensive work from Rose denied Becchio a tap-in, following a low-cross from Robinson from the left. Paul Telfer took the advice of the home fans, after being urged to shoot, but the ball ended up with the Leeds faithful. Late on in the first-half, Randolph made a superb block from Becchio after Frazer Richardson's cross wasn't dealt with by Broadhurst, but the Argentinian's close-range finish was stopped by the on-rushing Irish 'keeper.
Leeds were being frustrated by the Bulls' defence, but they continued to probe from the off in the second-half with the majority of chances falling to Beckford. Becchio worked hard to create an opening on the right-hand side, before powerfully crossing for strike-partner Beckford, but the highly-rated former Wealdstone man glided a header past the post. Minutes later, he struck wide from inside the box after being found by Richardson whilst a Robinson cross also found Beckford, with a cheeky flick hitting the side-netting. A long-ball over the Hereford defence found Beckford on the run, but his left-foot shot didn't trouble Randolph. The impressive goalie was called into action once again, in quick succession to deny Beckford from a volley, and then a placed shot after a corner.
Robinson spotted Randolph off his line but his 35 yard chip lacked positioning. A switch of play for Leeds saw Beckford beat Rose to the ball, and then ghost past N'Gotty, but his final shot ended up in Randolph's hands. The away side bought on Moses Ashikodi for Nick Chadwick up top, but it was still the home side who continued to threaten constantly. Richardson's in-swinging free-kick was headed wide past Robinson. A cross saw Becchio's header excellent blocked at close-range from Randolph, before Beckford chipped over after collecting the rebound.
The breakthrough came eighteen minutes from time, to break the hearts of the travelling army, and Randolph too. Beckford crossed from the left-wing, and Becchio rose at the back-post to head towards goal; Randolph again denied the Argentinian with a block but the ball bounced up for Robinson to nod through the tight gap to open the scoring. Becchio should have made it two, when he barged Broadhurst off the ball in the box, but he couldn't beat the inspired Randolph from close-range. Beckford should have also wrapped up the match when he beat the offside trap, but he was twice superbly denied by Randolph.
Andy Hughes replaced White for Leeds, whilst Hereford introduced Smith and Taylor in hope of finding an equaliser with Hudson-Odoi and Johnson making way. The change injected some attacking force into Hereford's play, with Ashikodi heading weakly wide from a Taylor corner. Done, clearly struggling late on, nearly forced an equaliser after chasing down a long-ball, but his toe-poked shot was deflected past the post. Robert Snodgrass came on for goalscorer Robinson late on as Leeds looked to see out the match. Talented midfield man Delph again called Randolph into action with a placed shot, before in added time, Hereford had their best chance through Ashikodi. The on loan Watford striker used his power to beat two defenders following a Taylor pass, but his left-foot shot fell the wrong side of the post.
Few expected Hereford to gain anything from the match, and so the case proved although Randolph tried his best throughout to keep the scores level. The 'keeper was on inspired form, with Leeds having some 19 shots on target. N'Gotty made a fine debut in defence, looking superb in the air, and also showing good distribution. Beckford and Becchio looked dangerous throughout, but both really should have got themselves on the scoresheet, in front of 25,676 at Elland Road. Next up is Walsall at home, this is where the season really starts for The Bulls.
Hereford: Randolph, Jackson, Broadhurst, N'Gotty, Rose, O'Leary, Diagouraga, Hudson-Odoi, Done, Johnson, Chadwick.
Subs: Samson, Beckwith, Taylor, Smith, Ashikodi.
Leeds: Lucas, Richardson, Marques, Telfer, White, Howson, Delph, Douglas, Robinson, Becchio, Beckford.
Subs: Ankergren, Prutton, Kilkenny, Hughes, Snodgrass.
