Andy Booth rammed home his sixth goal of the season to continue Sheffield
Wednesday's amazing revival under Ron Atkinson and further damage Leeds manager
George Graham's European dreams.
United looked on course to at least grab a point in his Yorkshire derby battle
at Elland Road after Welsh international Mark Pembridge's own goal had dented
team-mate Jon Newsome's hopes of a second successive Premiership winner.
But Booth pounced seven minutes from time to hand Leeds their first home
defeat in the Premiership since September 20 and leave them with just one win in
their last seven top-flight games.
Graham's plan of a top-six finish and a place in next season's UEFA Cup is
rapidly been torn to shreds as his side appear to have lost the winning habit
which had propelled them to fourth just a month ago.
It was a tactical half-time switch by the normally defensively astute Graham
which led to Leeds' downfall as the rear-guard was twice exposed to hand
visiting Wednesday victory on a plate.
Graham had played a 4-4-2 formation in a first half in which Leeds were barely
troubled, but abandoned that at the break by playing his usual three at the back
- and this caused them problems.
Within six minutes of the restart Wednesday were one up through centre-back
Newsome, who netted the vital strike when his first goal in 14 months gave the
Owls a 2-1 victory over struggling Newcastle at Hillsborough last Saturday.
Paolo di Canio's short free-kick was whipped in by the overlapping Pembridge
for Booth to side-foot a first-time goalbound shot from just inside the six-yard
box.
Back-up goalkeeper Mark Beeney, making only his second start in two years due
to regular number one Nigel Martyn serving a one-match ban following his sending
off in the FA Cup third-round win at home to Oxford, could only parry into the
path of Newsome to fire home from two yards out.
But within eight minutes Leeds were level courtesy of left-back Pembridge's
goalline gaffe into the roof of his own net.
Rod Wallace, one of the double substitutions made at half-time by Graham,
supplied inspirational Aussie teenager Harry Kewell with a delightful through
ball inside the area.
The pacey 19-year-old rounded Newsome and flipped a byeline ball underneath
advancing keeper Kevin Pressman only for the unfortunate Pembridge to hack the
ball into his own net from just inches out.
But Wednesday's defence was again left wanting in the 83rd minute when Ian
Nolan supplied a pinpoint far-post cross to the awaiting Booth.
There was barely a white shirt in sight as the striker raced in to fire a
first-time left-foot shot from just five yards past the helpless Beeney, whose
only other start came a year ago in a goalless draw against Derby.
It is a measure of Wednesday's progress under Atkinson, with his side now
unbeaten in their last six league and cup matches, as the Hillsborough club were
hammered 3-1 by Leeds in only the second game of the season.
But the home side had the better of the first half in which five chances went
begging in the space of a 14-minute purple patch, with Pressman forced into
outstanding saves to deny Jimmy Hasselbaink twice as well as Kewell.
The Australian international also drove an eighth-minute left-foot shot into
the side-netting, while skipper David Hopkin was only inches away with a hooked
six-yard effort in the 19th minute.
Beeney, a substitute 152 times during his five-year career with Leeds, twice
denied Newsome as he blocked superbly from close range and also smothered a
near-post header just over half an hour later.
But it was his opposite number Pressman who again provided the inspiration -
after his penalty shoot-out heroics in the third-round replay win over Watford
in midweek - as he superbly denied Leeds a point in injury time with a
full-stretch fingertip save from sub Derek Lilley.
Teams
Leeds: Beeney, Kelly, Robertson, Radebe, Wetherall, Hasselbaink,
Ribeiro (Lilley 88), Hopkin, Kewell, Maybury (Wallace 46),
Molenaar (Halle 46).
Subs Not Used: Bowyer, Robinson.
Goals: Pembridge 63 og.
Sheff Wed: Pressman, Atherton, Nolan, Pembridge, Newsome, Walker,
Booth, Di Canio (Humphreys 79), Hyde (Magilton 87), Rudi,
Alexandersson (Whittingham 68).
Subs Not Used: Stefanovic, Clarke.
Booked: Hyde, Rudi.
Goals: Newsome 51, Booth 83.
Att: 33,166
Ref: M J Bodenham (East Looe).
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