A much improved United clobber the Cobblers

Leeds United made five changes for the game against Northampton Town. Amongst them were new signing, Aussie International, Neil Kilkenny, making his debut and striker Tore Andre Flo, who started the game in place of Tresor Kandol.

With the crowd subdued for the first 20 minutes United had 65-75% of the possession without any real chances. The Cobblers seemed content with defending and the first real chance fell in the 22nd minute when a shot by Flo from 12 yards was cleared off the line.

Former Birmingham midfielder, Kilkenny, who looked good when he played on loan for Oldham against Leeds on Tuesday, impressed with his intellegent passing and showed he had already been working on free kick set pieces during his first couple of days at Thorp Arch.

As half time approached the whites were up to 80% possession. Frazer Richardson got the ball, in the 43rd minute, ran half the length of the pitch, flipped past three players and blasted a low shot into the back of the net from 20 yards, 1-0.

Seb Carole replaced the injured Ian Westlake at the start of the second half.

A corner by Kilkenny on 51 minutes found Rui Marques who headed in from 12 yards, 2-0.

The Cobblers began to throw a bit of caution to the wind and began to gain possession, with two up front instead of one, which had been the game plan in the first half. Their first and only real chance came in the 62nd minute when Ian Henderson volleyed over the bar from 12 yards.

Leeds, hoping for a clean sheet, remained on top and Beckford had a shot cleared from the line in the 72nd minute and hit the bar on 74 minutes.

Flo was replaced by Kandol in the 76th minute.

Nothing would go in for Beckford. Three more shots from the super striker were saved and another hit the bar in a three minute period from the 77th minute.

Curtis Weston came on for David Prutton in the last minute and scored with his first touch from 12 yards, 3-0.

Leeds deserved their win and were much improved from Tuesday but Northampton were weak opposition. Kilkenny did exceptionally well in his first game for the club and young Paul Huntingdon, making his first league start, looked very impressive. Could this be the start of a fresh run of victories?

Attendance 24,472.

Leeds United 3 Northampton Town 0.