Saturday 29 March 2008

Seagulls grab a valuble point at Elland Road

An unchanged Leeds United team took on Brighton and Hove Albion at Elland Road.

Albion started the game, at Elland Road, in seventh position, two points and one place ahead of United. Both teams are within touching distance of a play-off position.

Dougie Freedman came close in the 13th minute with a shot from inside the penalty box that was cleared off the line.

Another chance for Freedman went wide in the 21st minute.

The Seagulls matched United for effort and the first half ended on equal terms but not before free-kicks and corners at both ends of the pitch as both teams had late chances but could not make them count.

United started the second half strongly and Jermaine Beckford came close with two early chances.

A long-range shot in the 56th minute from Jonathan Howson, who had three or four chances in the first half, was saved by Michel Kuipers in the Brighton goal.

Jonathan Douglas came on for Bradley Johnson, who was carrying a first half injury, in the 58th minute.

In the 61st minute a long ball from Casper Ankergran found Freedman who came close but was denied by Kuipers. Brighton quickly rallied and had the ball in the net only to have it disallowed for offside.

Neil Kilkenny was replaced by a third striker, Tresor Kandol, in the 76th minute as United pressed for that elusive goal. Anthony Elding came on for Freedman with 5 minutes to go.

Chances came at both ends of the pitch but United had the majority of them and were much the better side.

This was a game that United needed to win and must now pull something out of the bag at Doncaster on Tuesday if they want to maintain their push for a place in the play-offs.

Attendance 22,575.

Leeds United 0 Brighton and Hove Albion 0

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