Brown sees red as sorry United sink into bottom half

The Whites made it five home games without a win after they had to play again with 10 men following the 25th minute sending off of midfielder Michael Brown.

A goal in each half condemned Leeds to their second 2-0 defeat over Easter and left manager Neil Warnock still without a home victory.

Derby’s win – their seventh in a row against Leeds - lifted them over United in the table and Warnock’s men now find themselves down to 14th.

The manager had challenged his players to prove their worth for next season, but their desperation for a better result led to them being over-anxious again at Elland Road and after a dull start the game suddenly exploded with a red card for Brown for a dangerous challenge with his foot high.

Leeds’ response was initially good as they created their first real chance with Darren O'Dea going close with a header from a free-kick.

But it was Derby who took the lead just after the half-hour when Craig Bryson found himself in space and hammered a strong shot past home keeper Andy Lonergan.

Ross McCormack went close as United looked to hit back, but it stayed 1-0 and Derby remained in front after the break when their keeper, Frank Fielding, saved well to deny a shot from Ramon Nunez, who had started his first game for Warnock.

Derby effectively killed the game off with a second goal on 65 minutes as Steven Davies fired home when seizing onto a loose ball after a block by O'Dea.

Warnock threw on Billy Paynter, Robbie Rogers and Danny Webber in a bid to pep up the attack, but United created little and it was the visitors who came closest to another goal when Jamie Ward got on the end of a break only to be denied by Lonergan.

Match facts

Leeds United 0

Derby County 2

(Bryson 32, Davies 65)

Monday, April 9, 2012

Npower Championship

Att: 21,363

Leeds: Lonergan, Connolly, Lees, O’Dea, Robinson, Snodgrass, Brown (sent-off 25), Pugh, Nunez (Rogers 77), McCormack (Webber 83), Becchio (Paynter 70).

Derby: Fielding, Buxton, Shackell, Roberts, Naylor, B Davies, Bryson (Carroll 88), Green, Hendricks, Tyson (S Davies 61), Robinson (Ward 82).

Referee: O Langford.