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Howson keeps United on target for play-offs
LEEDS United's ninth straight home win kept them on course for the League One play-offs on Saturday afternoon.
A single goal scored by midfielder Jonny Howson in the first half proved enough to give the Whites all three points from their game with Stockport County.
In their first visit to Elland Road since 1924, County put in a big effort but were always second best and only managed two shots on target while being lucky at the other end not to concede more than the one goal that divided the teams at the final whistle.
Leeds went ahead on nine minutes when Luciano Becchio flicked on a right wing cross and Howson was left with a simple task to score from close range.
The visitors almost hit back immediately as Casper Ankergren had to save with his feet to deny Tommy Rowe's low shot through a crowded goalmouth.
But for the rest of the first half it was all United and they came within a whisker of doubling their lead on 17 minutes. Becchio set Robert Snodgrass free down the right wing and his cross landed perfectly for Liam Dickinson only for the ex-Stockport striker to see his close range shot cannon back off the crossbar.
The rebound fell for Becchio, but his goalbound shot was cleared off the line by James Tunnicliffe, whose stretching effort brought about an injury that led to him going off.
Two minutes later Richard Naylor's header beat the keeper only for Michael Raynes to get back to clear the ball off the line to County's obvious relief again.
Later in the half, Snodgrass, Neil Kilkenny and the impressive Howson all fired long range efforts over, but the score remained 1-0 to the interval.
Stockport reorganised and looked more of a threat in the early part of the second half, but the home defence, well marshalled again by Naylor, coped well.
Leeds had to make a change and went to a 4-3-3 formation when Andy Robinson came on for the injured Becchio and after weathering a bit of a storm they regained control again with Robinson at the heart of things.
Taking the game by the scruff of the neck, the winger hit two efforts narrowly over then danced his way into the box only to see his well struck effort hit the woodwork.
Snodgrass also came within inches of adding to the lead before Robinson's curling free-kick brought a save out of Conrad Logan.
United had not put the game to bed like they should have done after wasting several chances to break on their opponents and they almost paid in the last minute when the ball fell invitingly to Josh Thompson in the box, but he could only send his shot straight into the grateful arms of Ankergren.
United saw out the remainder to earn a deserved win which stretched their unbeaten run to 11 games and saw them pull eight points clear of zeventh-placed Scunthorpe.
They now play leaders Leicester on Monday with the Midlands club needing one more win to be sure of promotion to the Championship.
Match facts
Leeds United 1
(Howson 9)
Stockport County 0
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Coca-Cola League One
Att: 24,967
Leeds: Ankergren, Douglas, Marques, Naylor, Parker, Snodgrass, Kilkenny, Howson, Delph, Dickinson (Grella 86), Becchio (Robinson 54).
Stockport: Logan, Tunnicliffe (Halls 19), Raynes, Thompson, Rose, Vincent, Tansey (Johnson 45), Blizzard, Turnbull (D Rowe 60), T Rowe, O'Grady.
Referee: P Crossley.
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Weather for Wakefield
Thursday 24 May 2012
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