Rotherham 0 Leeds 2 - report

By Andy Baggott
September 21 2005

Leeds cruised into the next round of the Carling Cup with a comfortable victory at Millmoor last night. The game was as good as over after half an hour as the men from Elland Road turned in a professional performance.

Leeds rang the changes, with Cresswell, Moore, Pugh, Kilgallon and Richardson all starting, and it was Creswell who had the first chance, but his downward header hit the woodwork. He wasn’t denied for long though, and grabbed his first goal for the club on 18 minutes. Hulse ran on to a long clearance that came off the Rotherham defenders head – he got to the ball first, but the keeper blocked. The ball fell to Creswell though, and the former Preston man smashed home past the Rotherham player on the line.
Shortly afterwards, and it was 2. Cresswell the scorer again after Hulse caused panic in the Rotherham defence following a free kick.

From then on in, it was fairly easy for Leeds, as we tightened up, and gave Rotherham little space to play in. To their credit, the Millers never threw the towel in, and battled gamely for the full 90 minutes. If they had grabbed a goal in the second half, it could have been a tense finish, but if anything Leeds were the likeliest to score, with both Einarsson and Douglas going close.

It was a good run out for Blackwells men, and ther fringe players had the chance to impress. Creswell obviously grabbed the headlines, and should start again on Saturday, but Matthew Kilgallon had a strong game at the back as well. Ian Moore, out of position on the wing also worked hard in his first appearance of the season..