Match Report: Blackburn 0-0 Leeds

Blackburn and Leeds played out an uneventful goalless draw at Ewood Park - a result that does little for either side's npower Championship play-off hopes. Leeds pinned the hosts into their own half for much of the early action but the only save of note in the opening 45 minutes came when Paddy Kenny denied Rovers forward Colin Kazim-Richards. Ross McCormack wasted Leeds' best chance shortly after half-time while Blackburn's top scorer Jordan Rhodes brought Ewood Park to its feet with a shot into the side netting. Rovers returned to their miserly defensive ways following Tuesday night's 2-0 defeat at Hull to keep a fifth clean sheet in nine games under Michael Appleton but strike pairing Rhodes and DJ Campbell were badly starved of service. It was a similar story for Leeds, whose attacks lacked the bite given to them by Luciano Becchio before his deadline day move to Norwich. If Middlesbrough beat Millwall in this evening's late kick-off, Neil Warnock's Whites will lie eight points shy of the top six with 13 games to play - one more than Boro - and a point ahead of Blackburn, who also hold a game in hand.

Middlesbrough 1-0 Leeds

Neil Warnock faced calls for his head as Curtis Main claimed a dramatic late winner. Middlesbrough stole the points as Main sent a looping header past Paddy Kenny from Ishmael Miller’s raking cross eight minutes from time to end a five-game winless run. It left Leeds further off the play-off pace after an undeserved defeat – as 2,000 travelling fans left the Elland Road boss in little doubt as to their feelings by chanting ‘Warnock, time to go’. In a dramatic finale, there was still time for Main to earn a second yellow card for time wasting, as sub Habib Habibou forced a stunning last-minute save from Jason Steele to give Boro a vital three points. Warnock’s men must now pick themselves up for Sunday’s FA Cup trip to Man City. Jonathan Woodgate kept Boro on level terms before the break with a cool goal-line clearance to deny Ross McCormack after keeper Jason Steele slipped in his attempt to clear a dangerous throughball. The first 45 mintues was dominated by Warnock’s men and David Norris twice went close. Luke Varney’s shot from 20 yards then had Steele scrambling to his left to cover, as Boro were left to rue an early miss from Rhys Williams. It took Boro 45 minutes to muster a serious threat on goal but Paddy Kenny ensured Leeds were not caught out in first-half stoppage time. Faris Haroun burst through on goal after some great work from Chelsea loan star Josh McEachran but Kenny was out at the striker’s feet in a flash to block. Chances dried up after the break but Leadbitter floated a free-kick inches wide after Williams was upended on the edge of the box as Boro took control in the last 20 minutes. It almost led to a winner - but Leeds escaped. Morison should have won it for Leeds with 14 minutes left but headed straight at keeper Steele.

Leeds owners reject takeover bid

Leeds United's owners GFH Capital have confirmed they have turned down a bid by an undisclosed party to buy a controlling stake in the club. It has been reported that a Yorkshire-based consortium made an offer for a 51 per cent share of the npower Championship side with a view to securing a phased buy-out. The identities of the consortium members have not been disclosed. "We are aware of growing speculation regarding new investment at Leeds United," GFH Capital said in a statement on Leeds' official website. "As can be expected with a club as fantastic as Leeds United, since our acquisition we have received several offers to invest in the club alongside us. "The most recent offer was for a majority stake and has not been accepted. "Although we continue to seek strategic investors, we will only bring on board those who we feel can make a positive contribution to the sustainable success of Leeds United." GFH Capital, a Dubai-based investment bank, completed their takeover of Leeds from Ken Bates in December. Former Hull chairman Adam Pearson indicated earlier this week that he would like to return to football and gave Leeds as an example of a club he would be interested in. Pearson, the current owner of rugby league side Hull FC, was the commercial director of Leeds for six years before he left the position in 2001. However, it is not known if he is part of the consortium involved in this latest offer.

Warnock points finger at ref

Leeds manager Neil Warnock claimed his side should have had two penalties in their 1-0 defeat to Cardiff. The Whites went down to Frazier Campbell's second-half effort and Warnock accused referee Mike Dean of being in a bad position when Cardiff captain Mark Hudson appeared to handle the ball. "It is a cruel game sometimes. Everything about this match was cruel," he said. "We missed open goals and the young lad (Byram) made a schoolboy error. I thought Mike Dean was brilliant but he didn't see the handball, when we all appealed, because he was in a bad position and should have been in a better one. "He had three or four bodies in the way. The linesman could have helped him out, but they don't, do they. Then there was another handball in the 93rd minute that wasn't given. "Our two centre-halves were magnificent, we played some good stuff against the top-of-the-table team and were better than them, so it's very frustrating that we got nothing."

Max Gradel Leaves Leeds United

Leeds winger Max Gradel looks set to leave the club after French side St Etienne agreed a fee for his services.The Ligue 1 club announced the double swoop of Gradel and fellow winger Banel Nicolita on their website on Tuesday.
'ASSE has gone on the offensive,' a statement said. 'On Tuesday evening, agreements were reached for the arrivals of Romanian midfielder Banel Nicolita and Leeds striker Max-Alain Gradel.'Both players, who have been in the sights of St Etienne for several weeks, will on Wednesday undergo the traditional medical before completing the final terms of their contracts with ASSE.'Gradel, 23, was the club's player of the season last term after scoring 18 goals and making seven assists.The French club have not disclosed any details about the transfer fee, but said Gradel would undergo a medical on Wednesday before completing the deal.

The Ivory Coast international joined Leeds from Leicester in January 2010 after a successful loan spell.

Match Report: Ipswich 2 Leeds 1

Late goals from substitute Jason Scotland and Keith Andrews helped Ipswich come from behind to beat 10-man Leeds at Portman Road.Ross McCormack headed the visitors into the lead during a first half they largely dominated.But Aidy White's dismissal for a professional foul on Jay Emmanuel-Thomas changed the balance of the game.With 13 minutes to go, Scotland fired in an equaliser from 25 yards before Andrews struck to win it for Town.The former Blackburn midfielder's late strike brought great cheer to the Ipswich fans, who had seen their side lose their previous four matches, including 7-1 and 5-2 losses to Peterborough and Southampton.However, it was cruel on Leeds, who had performed well in the first half and looked in control of the game until White's sending off in the 48th minute for fouling Emmanuel-Thomas as he bore down on goal.Prior to that, the visitors created a number of chances, with keeper David Stockdake saving well from McCormack and both Robert Snodgrass and Max Gradel firing wide.It was no surprise when Scottish striker McCormack broke the deadlock, stealing in to convert a free header from Snodgrass's cross.But, after White's dismissal, the home side used their numerical advantage to come to the fore.United held out until the 77th minute, but they were powerless to prevent Scotland firing his side level with a sweetly-struck effort, five minutes after he had entered the fray.Gradel saw a penalty appeal turned down for the visitors and, with a point apiece looking the likely outcome, up stepped Andrews to drill a deflected effort into the net to send fans at Portman Road wild and consign Leeds to their worst start to a league campaign in 14 years.

Match Report: Leeds 4 Hull City 1

Leeds finally recorded their first league win of the campaign with an impressive performance against Hull.Ross McCormack headed United into the lead before Tom Lees put through his own net after inadvertantly converting Robbie Brady's cross.Lees made amends when he was on hand to poke in after Ramon Nunez's ball from a corner was spilled by Peter Gulacsi.Robert Snodgrass added a third with a 25-yard free-kick before Nunez made it 4-1 with a precise finish.The win places Leeds in 13th while Hull are in 18th spot.Scotland winger Snodgrass had an excellent game and went close when he forced Gulacsi to scramble at his near post.Hull then failed to deal with a Snodgrass cross but Nunez sent a weak shot wide before new signing Andy Keogh cut inside and drilled an effort over the bar.

The visitors had few clear-cut chances in the match. Substitute Aaron McLean had their best opportunity of the second half, but his header at the back post was comfortably saved by Andy Lonergan.

Match Report:Southampton 3 Leeds 1

Southampton made the ideal start to their return to the Championship with an emphatic home win over Leeds.Nigel Adkins' side were the more fluent attacking force throughout and struck twice in an entertaining first half.Dean Hammond fired home a long range effort to give them the lead, before Adam Lallana doubled it with a neat, curling finish from inside the area.The win was sealed by a third from David Connolly, but Max Gradel scored a late consolation penalty for Leeds.The result continues Southampton's fine form from last season, which saw them gain promotion from League One.For Leeds though it is an extremely poor start, following what was an impressive campaign last term, in which they just missed out on a play-off place.The home side made most of the early running at St Mary's, but it was Leeds who had the first clear sight of goal when Jonny Howson found space to strike at goal from inside the area. However, his shot was straight at home keeper Kelvin Davis, who blocked.A minute later, the visitors were behind when Hammond was allowed to charge to within shooting distance and curl a shot past the diving Andy Lonergan from 22 yards.Both teams sought to push forward, but it was Southampton who looked the more dangerous and they extended their lead in the 25th minute.

Rickie Lambert found Lallana on the right and he cut inside in the area before curling a shot into the far corner.

The midfielder could have added a third for the home team when Guly Do Prado's cross found him in the box with only Lonergan to beat from six yards, but the keeper blocked superbly.

Leeds began the second half with intent, seeking to gain a foothold in the match, but instead they soon conceded a decisive third goal.

Connolly found Lallana wide left before collecting the midfielder's return pass and slotting into the far corner of the goal from the edge of the area.

Leeds boss Simon Grayson introduced Billy Paynter and the striker was given a superb chance to give his side a lifeline when he was put clear on goal by Adam Clayton, but he dwelt on his shot and Davis was able to save.

In stoppage time, United did register on the scoreline when Aaron Martin was adjudged to have handled in the area and Gradel fired in the resulting spot kick.