August 15/16

Luciano Becchio celebrates with Jermaine Beckford
GET ON - Luciano Becchio celebrates with Jermaine Beckford

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LUCIANO BECCHIO stepped out of strike partner Jermaine Beckford's shadow to grab the winner that kept up Leeds' perfect start to the season.

The Argentine hitman banged in a 61st-minute, 25-yard shot to seal victory.

It makes it three wins in a week for Simon Grayson's side - but it only came after the boss gave his boys a half-time rollicking.

Boss Grayson said: "In the first half we were off the pace, didn't pass well and didn't close them down.

"But, after the break, we were a different team. We squeezed Wycombe into their own half and hardly ever allowed them out of it.

"On another day we would have buried a team with that performance.

"I told my side we have to shoot more, rather than walking it into the net.

"And Luciano scored with a great shot. We have to come to places like Wycombe and Walsall and get results if we're to be promotion contenders.

"I told them at the break that someone had to take the game by the scruff of the neck and the whole team did.

"My strikers will give Premier League and Championship defenders a run for the money. And I expect 50-60 goals between them this season."

Wycombe, who have lost all three of their openers, started quickly out of the blocks and could have been ahead in the first 15 minutes.

Striker Matt Harrold escaped defender Rui Marques but sent a header over the bar.

Winger Matt Phillips darted down the left and sent over a menacing cross that just eluded the outstretched leg of hitman Chris Zebroski.

And there was more alarm for Leeds when Harrold and Phillips combined to set up another chance.

But Zebroski tamely side-footed his effort from the edge of the penalty box into the arms of Shane Higgs.

Leeds striker Beckford, who fired two goals in the 2-1 opening-day win over Exeter, burst into life on 16 minutes. He got behind defender Luke Oliver, only to see his shot graze the outside of a post.

Beckford caused more danger when he skipped on to Robert Snodgrass' clever through ball but his 15-yard effort was inches wide.

He could have broken the deadlock seconds before the break when he took delivery of a Jonny Howson pass - but his 20-yard shot deflected off the leg of former Leeds defender Michael Duberry.

It was one-way traffic after the restart and Leeds showed their intentions quickly enough when Snodgrass' header tested keeper Scott Shearer.

And they grabbed their winner from Becchio's low 20-yarder.

Beckford produced a spectacular overhead kick on 83 minutes that was tipped over the bar by Shearer.

Wycombe finally came out of their shell in the last six minutes and almost stole a leveller. Phillips slung over a cross from the left flank that was inches too high for Zebroski's jump.

Then, on 89 minutes, Leeds clung on when keeper Higgs plunged low to his right to tip a 25-yard shot from sub Stuart Green on to a post.

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EXETER 1, NORWICH 1

RICHARD LOGAN came off the bench to inflict more misery on crisis-club Norwich.

Jens Berthel Askou looked to have lifted the gloom following manager Bryan Gunn's dismissal when he crashed home a 52nd-minute header.

But Logan snatched an equaliser with his very first touch.

Norwich chief executive David McNally dismissed speculation that ex-Chelsea star Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has been lined up to succeed Gunn.

He said: "I have no association with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and don't even know who his agent is. We have not got anyone lined up and the board have asked me to lead the recruitment process.

"We needed to make the decision regarding Bryan with enough of the season to make a real difference. It wasn't about taking just one game into account."

The Canaries, thrashed 7-1 by Colchester on the opening day, came close to opening the scoring after two minutes when £400,000 summer signing Grant Holt planted a close range header wide.

Simon Whaley rattled the crossbar at the start of the second half before Berthel Askou grabbed the opener, rising above Matt Taylor to power a header past Paul Jones.

But Logan rescued a point with a glancing header from Marcus Stewart's right-wing cross in the 60th-minute.

Exeter boss Paul Tisdale said: "We earned that point. It just shows you at this level you have to work really hard for every point.

"Richard scored a really good goal and this point gets us off the mark."

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TRANMERE 4, GILLINGHAM 2

HEADERS from skipper Ian Thomas-Moore after five minutes and in added time helped flatter Tranmere.

In between, John Welsh and sub Terry Gornell scored with terrific strikes.

Boss John Barnes said: "I can't complain but I would more consistency over 90 minutes."

Gills twice hit back to level with goals from Curtis Weston and Andy Barcham.

Manager Mark Stimson said: "We didn't deserve to lose 4-2."

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STOCKPORT 0, BRISTOL R 2

STOCKPORT boss Gary Ablett feared there was no way back after they went two down inside 10 minutes.

Jo Kuffour profited from a mix-up between Michael Raynes and keeper Owain fon Williams. Then Danny Coles headed home No 2.

Ablett said: "It was a disastrous start. We created chances after the break but the damage had been done."

Rovers' boss Paul Trollope said: "I don't think anyone can begrudge us the three points."

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LEYTON ORIENT 1, OLDHAM 2

OLDHAM boss Dave Penney hailed striker Pawel Abbott after his double strike.

Penney said: "Everybody needs a goalscorer and he is a goalscorer. He has had his injury problems but now he looks fit and sharp."

Abbott opened with a 20-yarder, the O's levelled through Ryan Jarvis before Abbott scored from the spot after Sean Thornton tripped Andy Holdsworth.

Orient's Geraint Williams said: "It was scrappy and we gifted them two goals."

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HARTLEPOOL 0, CHARLTON 2

CHRIS TURNER had few complaints after his side were well beaten.

Deon Burton and Nicky Bailey scored in the 23rd and 27th minutes, while Hartlepool's best effort came from Antony Sweeney late on.

Director-of-sport Turner said: "You could see the difference in quality.

"We have thrown a team together in a short space of time and that was obvious against one of the best in the league."

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BRENTFORD 0, BRIGHTON 0

ANDY SCOTT reckons his newly-promoted Bees are buzzing along nicely.

The Brentford boss saw midfielder Sam Wood miss the hosts' best chance.

But keeper Lewis Price was at full stretch to deny Seagulls ace Mark Wright a second-half winner.

Scott said: "If one side was going to win, it was us. We are looking to progress and ticking along nicely."

Albion boss Russell Slade said: "I am pleased with a point. We did well."

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COLCHESTER 2, YEOVIL 1

DAVID FOX and Ashley Vincent made sure the U's remained early-season pacesetters.

Fox volleyed home from the edge of the box on nine minutes and Vincent headed No 2 on 18 minutes.

Yeovil hit back with Ryan Mason's free-kick after 82 minutes but boss Terry Skiverton said: "I'm angry with our first-half display."

Colchester manager Paul Lambert said: "We were fantastic. Until their goal we were well on top."

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HUDDERSFIELD 3, SOUTHAMPTON 1

RICKIE LAMBERT maintained his goal-a-game start but rock-bottom Saints will be hauled in for training today.

Lambert cancelled out Jordan Rhodes' 50th-minute opener, a follow-up after Saints keeper Kelvin Davis had saved his penalty.

Rhodes grabbed No 2 before Antony Kay sealed it.

Saints boss Alan Pardew said: "That was a bad day at the office."

Town boss Lee Clark said: "How it was 0-0 at half-time I don't know."

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MILLWALL 0, CARLISLE 0

KENNY JACKETT'S Lions twice knocked on wood but came up with a big fat zero.

Striker Steve Morison hit a post early in the second half before sub Dave Martin clipped the crossbar.

Yet Carlisle could have won had on-loan Chelsea kid Tom Taiwo, 19, not fluffed a close-range sitter.

Carlisle boss Greg Abbott said: "It would've been nice to see that one go in but it's a useful point."

Lions chief Jackett said: "We're a work in progress."

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SWINDON 0, MK DONS 0

DONS duo Dean Lewington and Mathias Doumbe were taken to hospital after a horror clash of heads.

Lewington had 12 stitches above an eye while Doumbe needed 15 stitches to his head.

The game was held up for 18 minutes before the two defenders were whisked away at half-time.

MK assistant-boss Karl Robinson said: "We're relieved. It looked nasty.

"Although Dean didn't lose consciousness, we feared he had fractured his skull."

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WALLSALL 2, SOUTHEND 2

STEVE TILSON was furious after Lee Sawyer's naive tackle gifted Walsall a 90th-minute penalty.

Sawyer brought down Sam Parkin, who stepped up to convert the leveller.

Southend boss Tilson said: "We should've won."

Steve Jones nodded Saddlers in front but they had Dwayne Mattis sent off for two bookings.

Lee Barnard levelled after keeper Clayton Ince's howler before Dougie Freedman fired home No 2.

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