Leeds United finally got their first home league win of the season by demolishing Crewe Alexandra.
Before the game the talk was of how much damage former Leeds striker Anthony Elding was going to do to Leeds United in the shirt of his new employer’s Crewe Alexandra.
But as it turned out it was teenage sensation Fabian Delph who made the impact in the game – he celebrated his new four year contract by scoring Leeds’ opener with a 30-yard shot. Young Alan Sheehan scored a second with another long range effort before Jonathan Douglas rubbed in Leeds’ superiority with a third.
Jermaine Beckford headed in a fourth – his eighth in seven games and Andy Robinson curled in the fifth goal, a just reward having hit the Crewe bar with a lob minutes before.
However, the game went sour for Leeds in injury time when Leeds’ Lubo Michalik was sent off in for violent conduct and Crewe took advantage of their numerical superiority to score twice: Calvin Zola headed in from a free-kick and Eugene Bopp added a second consolation goal with a fluky deflection. It was the first time David Lucas, favoured over Casper Ankergren, had had to touch the ball all afternoon.
So a sad end to a terrific performance by Leeds United, a result that us them into a play-off position in League One.
Leeds United: Lucas, Richardson, Michalik, Telfer, Sheehan, Hughes (Howson 64), Kilkenny (Robinson 65), Douglas, Delph, Beckford, Becchio (Snodgrass 69).
Subs Not Used: Ankergren, Prutton.
Sent Off: Michalik (90).
Booked: Michalik, Delph.
Goals: Delph 26, Sheehan 36, Douglas 49, Beckford 67, Robinson 82.
Crewe Alexandra: Collis, Woodards, O’Donnell, Baudet, Jones, Moore, Bailey, Rix (Bopp 63), Schumacher, Elding (Donaldson 63), Zola.
Subs Not Used: Abbey, Pope, Miller.Booked: Baudet.
Goals: Zola 90, Bopp 90.
Att: 20,075
Ref: Trevor Kettle (Rutland).
