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Becchio at the double to boost Leeds United
LUCIANO Becchio was the toast of Elland Road as he bagged two goals in eight second half minutes to clinch a vital win for Leeds United over Oldham.
After a goalless first half the Argentine striker pounced for a close range tap in after Jermaine Beckford's low shot could only be parried by Oldham keeper Dean Brill on 53 minutes.
A second followed eight minutes later as Jonny Howson sent Robert Snodgrass clear down the right and the Scottish winger supplied a perfect cross for Becchio to net again with a header from close range.
Shane Lowry had a header cleared off the line and substitute Max Gradel went close twice as the Whites looked to add to the margin of victory, but they will be happy to have kept a clean sheet and to have got back to winning ways after three draws and a defeat in their previous four League One games.
When Oldham threatened late on, Casper Ankergren made a flying save to keep out a Chris Taylor shot and Andrew Hughes did well to clear a Jason Price effort following a goalmouth scramble. But Leeds fully deserved their victory.
With Howson impressive after being restored to central midfield and the pacy Aidan White brought in on the left flank there was more sharpness to their play than in the previous two games and they were unlucky not to lead at half-time.
Beckford went close in the sixth minute with a shot from a Snodgrass cross and was unlucky to be driven wide when latching onto a Howson shot spilled by Brill.
Snodgrass, back to his best after being rested on Saturday, fired a shot just wide, Michael Doyle was denied by Brill when well placed to meet a Becchio knock down and a dangerous Hughes cross-shot was cleared by Reuben Hazell.
Oldham were also lucky to avoid conceding two penalties when Hazell trampled all over Beckford inside the area in challenging for a header and when the same defender blatantly pulled back Becchio.
Match facts
Leeds United 2
(Becchio 53, 61)
Oldham Athletic 0
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Coca-Cola League One
Att: 17,635
Leeds: Ankergren, Hughes, Kisnorbo, Naylor, Lowry, Snodgrass, Howson, Doyle, White (Gradel 64), Becchio (Johnson 89), Beckford (Grella 83).
Oldham: Brill, Marrow, Gregan, Hazell, Jacobson, Smalley (Colbeck 59), Stephens, Furman (Lomax 75), Taylor, Price, Abbott (Eaves 80).
Referee: Paul Taylor
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