Wind assisted Leeds United hit back to beat Yeovil

Brian McDermott’s men looked in danger of another away day embarrassment as they trailed at the break to an Ishmael Miller header and could have been two down had it not been for Miller hitting the crossbar with a penalty.

But the strong wind proved a big factor as it helped United with their two goals and helped them to pin their bottom of the table hosts in their own half.

With a gale force wind blowing straight down the ground Yeovil had first use of the elements and the first thing to notice was how Paddy Kenny could not reach the half-way line with any of his kicks.

Leeds did have the first half-chance as McCormack hit a 25-yarder inches over, but they were soon penned in as Kieffer Moore could not quite reach a dangerous cross then headed another effort wide.

Moore went close again with an angled shot from just inside the box while McCormack twisted and turned at the edge of the box at the other end and pulled his shot wide.

Neither side played much football in the difficult conditions until Yeovil won a corner and went ahead when Miller outjumped Rudy Austin to head powerfully past Paddy Kenny.

Leeds had a let-off soon after when Kenny’s attempted clearance saw the ball bounce off chasing home player Joel Grant and loop back over the keeper only to bounce just wide.

United then had their best chance of the half as the ball bounced kindly off a defender for McCormack, but his attempted clever chip was saved by Marek Stech,

The Whites were given their big let-off in the last minute of the half after Sam Byram clumsily brought down Kevin Dawson in the area. Referee Paul Tierney pointed to the spot, but Miller went for power with his penalty and the ball cannoned off the bar to United’s huge relief.

Leeds now had the wind behind them for the second half and it helped them right from the start as Yeovil keeper Stech saw his kick blow back straight to McCormack, who promptly beat Stech with a fine shot from the angle of the box.

Now it was all Leeds and after Austin saw a shot well saved they went ahead from a 62nd minute free-kick as Stephen Warnock’s attempted cross from 45 yards out caught the wind and left Stech floundering.

United should have put the game to bed from then on after dominating, but McCormack sent a shot over, Austin had an effort well blocked and substitute Matt Smith headed wide from a corner.

Winger Jimmy Kebe missed a glorious chance on 81 minutes when blazing over with only the keeper to beat. A third goal would not come as McCormack saw his shot well saved by Stech.

Yeovil continued to struggle to make headway, although they had one last half chance in the fourth minute of injury-time only for their sub, James Hayter, to head wide under pressure.

Yeovil Town 1

(Miller 32)

Leeds United 2

(McCormack 46, Warnock 62)

Saturday, February 8, 2014

Skybet Championship

Att: 7,986

Yeovil: Stech; Ayling, Webster, Duffy, McAllister; Grant (Lawrence 83), Edwards, Lundstram (Hayter 89), Dawson (Morgan 83); Miller, Moore.

Leeds: Kenny; Byram, Lees, Pearce, Warnock; Kebe, Murphy, Mowatt (Smith 45), Austin, Stewart; McCormack.

Referee: Paul Tierney.