Leeds United 1-1 Sunderland
Sunderland forced to settle for a point against Leeds United on Saturday following an action-packed afternoon at Elland Road.
Paddy McNair’s scorching finish handed Chris Coleman’s men the lead following the restart, but after George Honeyman struck the post, the home side levelled through Pablo Hernandez’s curling finish.
McNair was then denied by Bailey Peacock-Farrell before Ezgjan Alioski and Samuel Saiz struck the woodwork, with Gaetano Berardi sent off before five minutes of additional time.
But the Lads were unable to find a way through, as the spoils were shared.
KONE RETURNS
Coleman made one change at Elland Road as fit-again centre-back Lamine Kone replaced Bryan Oviedo in the starting XI. Available again following a two-match ban, on-loan Chelsea man Jake Clarke-Salter was named on the bench, with Ovie Ejaria and Joel Asoro also ready if called upon. Leeds, meanwhile, handed a debut to Paudie O’Connor, with the 20-year-old partnering Pontus Jansson at the back as Liam Cooper, Matthew Pennington and Conor Shaughnessy all missed out.
PRESSURE BUILDS
The pressure cranked up further before a ball was kicked in Yorkshire as Barnsley produced a stunning comeback to defeat Sheffield United at Oakwell, as Tom Bradshaw’s late header saw them move six points clear of the Lads, and two adrift of safety. As a result, Sunderland needed to start fast at Elland Road and they gave as good as they got during an exciting opening. And positive running from Ashley Fletcher yielded the first chance, but his cross was blocked, with opposition frontman Pierre-Michel Lasogga heading over soon after.
END-TO-END
The game continued at a frenetic pace and both sides enjoyed plenty of time on the ball, but Leeds moved up a gear after the opening 20 minutes and Lee Camp was forced into action. Ronaldo Vieira was first to test the experienced stopper but the midfielder was denied, as Camp somehow got a touch on a thumping effort to divert it onto the post. And three minutes later the Sunderland stopper had to be at his best again, with Hernandez exchanging a quick one-two with Saiz before sending a bullet towards Camp who turned it wide.
BOOM
Coleman’s men responded well and ended the half on top as Aiden McGeady headed at Peackock-Farrell following excellent work from Gooch, and the woodwork came to the hosts’ rescue on 41 minutes as Fletcher flicked a header onto the crossbar at the near post. Nothing could stop McNair’s effort after the restart, though, as the former Manchester United man thumped Sunderland into the lead. A cracking assist from Donald Love bamboozled the home side’s defence, and McNair’s ruthless finish sent the traveling red and white army into ecstasy with 49 minutes played.
HARD TO TAKE
Sunderland’s opener put the wind in their sails and they poured forward in the stages that followed, as the home side were pushed back and unable to find a way out. On 69 minutes, Honeyman weaved in and out inside the box before striking the foot of the post, and McGeady saw his follow-up blocked on the line as Leeds clung on. 60 seconds later, Honeyman was denied again as his thumping effort was blocked after great play from Fletcher. But a bitter blow followed, with the home side working the ball wide to Hernandez who curled a superb strike beyond Camp to level.
ACTION-PACKED FINALE
Coleman’s Lads rallied and went in search of a decisive second and they almost found one on 80 minutes, as McNair shot straight at Peacock-Farrell from inside the box. They were almost made to pay, though, as Alioski powered a diving header against the woodwork, albeit from an offside position, from close range, with Saiz denied by Camp as Leeds flooded forward on the counter. Substitute Caleb Ekuban was then stopped by a last-ditch challenge from Kone, but play was pulled back for an earlier foul and Saiz clattered the woodwork from the resulting free-kick. Berardi was then sent off with 89 minutes played, but the Lads were unable to find a late winner.
Leeds United: Peacock-Farrell, Dallas, Jansson, O'Connor, Berardi, Phillips (Roofe 65), Vieira, Alioski, Hernandez, Saiz (Anita 90), Lasogga (Ekuban 79).
Subs not used: Lonergan, Anita, Pearce, Nicell, Ekuban, Grot.
Sunderland: Camp, Love, O’Shea, Kone, Wilson, Cattermole (LuaLua 90), McNair, Honeyman (Ejaria 83), McGeady (McManaman 89), Gooch, Fletcher.
Subs not used: Steele, Matthews, Asoro, Clarke-Salter.