Sports News And Updates: Leeds 1 Burnley 0: McCormack's Winner Keeps Leeds Play-Off Hopes Alive

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Leeds 1 Burnley 0: McCormack's Winner Keeps Leeds Play-Off Hopes Alive

Filed under: Burnley, Leeds, Championship, Football, Match Reports

Leeds kept their slim play-off hopes alive thanks to Ross McCormack's first goal for the Yorkshire club.

McCormack ended a 13-month goal drought in the Championship by bagging the winner to all but end Burnley's late push for a top-six finish.

Both sides are now relying on Nottingham Forest to slip up - but Leeds have at least done all they could do by taking it to the final day.

But the team's first win in six games may just have come too late for Simon Grayson's side.

It was McCormack who bagged the 33^rd minute winner and it was the least they deserved after a dominant display.

The Scottish striker broke his Leeds duck after keeping his cool to slot home Bradley Johnson's pass.

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In between, Burnley goalkeeper Brian Jensen kept then visitors in it with fine saves from Billy Paynter, Jonny Howson and McCormack.

A keenly contested Roses clash saw a 20-man brawl, where Chris McCann was fortunate not to see a red card after sparking the melee on the hour mark.

But despite the let-off, Burnley rarely threatened with the closest they came to forcing a leveller was through Ross Wallace's late free kick.

REACTION:
Grayson hailed the Leeds win, but admitted his side could be left to rue not scoring more goals:
"We got the win that mattered. We had more opportunities to score more goals. We will have to wait and see if that proves crucial. But the important thing was to get the win. We played well and this performance is for the fans."

On the season:
"We've done well to be where we are. To take it to the last game is a credit to my players who have stepped up a level."

On his side's play-off hopes:
"Hopefully Scunthorpe can do us a favour against Nottingham Forest. We will have to wait and see and time will only tell now if we have done enough."

On McCormack:
"He was very lively all game. He's waited a long time to score his first goal so I'm delighted for him."

McCormack was delighted to break his drought:
"It's was sweet moment and it was nice to get the monkey off my back. Even though I haven't been in the team I have been working hard, scoring for the reserves and waiting for my chance."

Burnley manager Eddie Howe said his side was below-par:
"Both the result and performance were disappointing. I think it is out of our hands now and we have to look to next year. We were close but not close enough. We have just fallen short."

On next season:
"We are already looking ahead. We have to rebuild and look to the future.''

WHAT IT MEANS:
Leeds did their job to guarantee it will go down to the final day. They made heavy work of this and could have been out of sight which would have boosted their goal difference - something that could prove crucial. Burnley have been inconsistent all season and a poor display has cost them at the wrong time to burst their late charge.

LEEDS 1 (McCormack 33) BURNLEY 0

PLAYER MARKING:
Leeds (4-4-2): Schmeichel 7; Lichaj 6, Naylor 7, O'Brien 7, McCartney 6; Gradel 7 (Watt 88), Howson 7, Kilkenny 6, Johnson 6; McCormack 8 (Bromby 90), Paynter 5 (Snodgrass 75, 6).
Subs (not used): Higgs, Connolly, Bruce, Livermore.

Burnley (4-4-2): Jensen 8; Mears 6, Duff 6 (Wallace 74, 6), Bikey 5, Fox 5; Elliott 6, Cork 7, McCann 6 (Delfouneso 64, 5), Eagles 6, Rodriguez 6, Iwelumo 5 (Thompson 78, 6).
Subs (not used) Grant, Alexander, Carlisle, Bartley.

ATTENDANCE: 31,186

REFEREE: Phil Crossley

NEXT UP:
- Leeds v QPR (away), Championship, 07/05, 1245 BST
- Burnley v Cardiff (home), Championship, 07/05, 1245 BST

MAN OF THE MATCH:
Ross McCormack (Leeds): Rewarded Grayson's faith in handing him his first start since January by scoring the winner. Could have increased his tally on another day but will be relieved to be off the mark.