Plymouth 0 Leeds 1 - report

By Andy Baggott
September 15 2004

Leeds grabbed a thoroughly deserved win at Plymouth last night, and moved into the top half of the table as a result. Leeds produced easily their best away performance of the season, as the team starts to show the first signs of gelling together.

It was Plymouth though who started the brighter. Defending an unbeaten home record stretching back a year, the home side came out on the attack, and Leeds had to weather the early storm. After 20 minutes or so, United stepped up a gear, and started to take control of the match. Walton just failed to convert after great play down the wing by Wright, and Deane also went close. You could feel a goal coming, and for the second game running, it was a centre back who opened the scoring, when Captain Paul Butler converted following a corner. It went down as an own goal by Plymouths Marino Keith who desperately tried to clear, but Butler is sure to try and claim. Plymouth nearly equalised immediately, that man Keith breaking through again, but Sullivan was out to smother the shot.

The second half started as the first half, with Plymouth making the running, without ever really creating a chance. Again Leeds took control, and midway through, introduced summer signing Matthew Spring for his debut. The former Luton man almost grabbed a goal, but his rasping shot was well saved. Leeds really should have tied the game up, as chances came and went, but instead nearly threw he game away in the 8th minute of stoppage time – Sullivan making a great save.

A first away win of the season, and successive victories will have pleased Kevin Blackwell, as will another clean sheet. There was a good performance from Jermaine Wright, who seems to be improving every game, and with WBA Sean Gregan at Elland Road today for a medical, the future is suddenly looking a lot brighter for the Whites.