Leeds United earn draw at Bolton

Neil Warnock’s men were trailing to an early Kevin Davies header before Sam Byram equalised just before half-time and Luciano Becchio netted a penalty five minutes into the second half after Byram had been brought down according to referee Phil Dowd.

But United’s hopes of a second away win in three days were dashed 11 minutes from time when former England international Davies was on target with another header.

Leeds made one change to the team that had won 3-2 at Bristol City on Saturday, Adam Drury returning at left-back. As a result Lee Peltier was moved to his favoured right-back position with Byram preferred to Aidan White on the right flank.

It was Bolton that made most of the running in the first half and went ahead on 14 minutes when Davies, always dangerous in the air, headed home from a corner.

It could have been two soon after as keeper Paddy Kenny saved well to deny Keith Andrews then Chris Eagles hit the post with a fierce shot from outside the box.

Benik Afobe had another chance for the hosts only to see his shot over the advancing Kenny also go wide.

United finally got a decent effort in on the home goal as Byram curled a shot just wide and they levelled to have a somewhat fortunate 1-1 half-time score when a minute before the break Byram met El-Hadji Diouf’s free-kick and his flick sent the ball beyond keeper Adam Bogdan.

United made a flying start to the second half as Byram burst into the box and was brought down by Matt Mills. Referee Dowd pointed to the spot and up stepped Becchio to fire home his eighth goal of the season.

Bolton looked to hit back as Kenny saved from Andrews and Zat Knight headed a free-kick wide, but Leeds were also a bigger threat than in the opening half as they got in several crosses that needed to be defended well and Rodolph Austin hit a free-kick wide.

But on 79 minutes the hosts came up with an equaliser when a corner was once again headed home by Davies.

United could have snatched a dramatic winner, however, in the third minute of injury-time as Diouf found space just inside the box and was unlucky to see a shot hit the woodwork.

Match facts

Bolton Wanderers 2

(Davies 14, 79)

Leeds United 2

(Byram 44, Becchio 50, pen)

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Npower Championship

Att: 21,255

Bolton: Bogdan; Mears, Mills, Knight, Warnock; M Davies, Andrews, Spearing (Petrov 62), Eagles; K Davies, Afobe (Sordell 72).

Leeds: Kenny; Peltier, Lees, Pearce, Drury; Byram, Austin, Brown, Tonge; Diouf, Becchio.

Referee: Phil Dowd.