Controversial striker El Hadji Diouf netted twice as Leeds won a pulsating npower Championship encounter at Ashton Gate.
Signed by Whites boss Neil Warnock in the summer, the 31-year-old Senegalese forward opened the scoring in the 62nd minute.
Albert Adomah pulled City level with a spectacular header, but Hadji Diouf put Leeds back in front nine minutes from time.
Michael Tonge netted a third from ther edge of the penalty and Sam Byram's own goal came too late to rescue City.
In buoyant mood after dumping Everton out of the Capital One Cup in midweek, Leeds started the brighter of the two sides and threatened an early goal, Aidan White jinking his way past centre-backs James Wilson and Liam Fontaine and letting fly with a shot that flashed beyond the far post.
In equally confident mood after scoring 11 goals in three previous games at Ashton Gate, City demonstrated their new-found attacking prowess when Albert Adomah sent over a cross from the right flank and Ryan Taylor arrived a split-second too late to head in.
Their partnership restored, Robins strikers Jon Stead and Taylor then combined to open up the visitors, the latter testing fit-again Whites keeper Paddy Kenny with a stinging drive that he gathered at the second attempt.
Debutant George Elokobi was to the fore in City's next attack, the on-loan defender hooking his shot across the face of goal after Leeds failed to clear an Adomah free kick.
If Leeds had plenty of possession without particularly going anywhere, City were prepared to shoot on sight and Paddy had to be alert to hold Stead's drive from the edge of the penalty area.
Defences continued to hold sway and Robins keeper Tom Heaton proved equal to a shot on the turn from El Hadji Diouf.
Making his first start of the season, Neil Kilkenny was a real driving force for City in the middle of the park and his pass invited Richard Foster to whip in a cross from the right. Martyn Woolford stole a march on his marker, only for his flicked header to drift wide of the target.
Elokobi was just 40 minutes into his debut when his involvement was unfortunately cut short by injury. He collapsed while attempting to block a cross and was stretchered off to be replaced by teenage left-back Joe Bryan.
Leeds emerged for the second half all fired up and almost went ahead when an unmarked Rodolph Austin met Hadji Diouf's out-swinging free kick with a header that came back off the cross bar.
When City again left the midfielder unmarked from another free kick, Heaton was called upon to make a fine diving save to divert his powerful downward header.
City awoke from their slumbers and Kilkenny threaded a pass through a crowded penalty area to create an opportunity for Stead, whose shot was brilliantly blocked by Tom Lees.
City's defence suffered further unwanted disruption on 57 minutes when Bryan, who had only been on the field a short while, went to ground following a clash of heads with Austin.
Clearly dazed, he was unable to continue and was replaced by veteran defender Louis Carey, who slotted in at right-back with Foster switching to the other side of the back four.
City were still reorganising when Hadji-Diouf opened the scoring, ghosting in to turn in Sam Byram's low centre from close range.
But the lead lasted only eight minutes, Foster sending over a deep cross from an advanced position on the left for Adomah to score with a spectacular diving header from 10 yards out.
Hadji Diouf restored Leeds' advantage 11 minutes later, seizing upon a mistake by City skipper Liam Fontaine and sliding the ball past Heaton from close range.
City pushed hard for a second equaliser and were punished when Tonge lashed in a third goal from the edge of the penalty area.
Byram turned Adomah's corner into his own goal in time added on to set-up a thrilling finale, but it was too little too late for the Robins.
City (4-4-2): Heaton; Foster, J Wilson, Fontaine, Elokobi (Bryan 42, Carey 57); Adomah, Kilkenny, Pearson, Woolford; Taylor, Stead (Baldock 62).
Leeds (3-5-2): Kenny; Peltier, Lees, Pearce; Byram, Brown, Austin, Tonge, White; Diouf, Becchio (Gray 89).
Referee: Stuart Attwell (Worcestershire)
Attendance: 15,692
0 comments:
Post a Comment