United: Lucas, Kenton, Heath, Michalik, Sheehan, Prutton, Hughes (capt), Howson, Johnson, Beckford,, Elding. Subs: Huntington, Martin, Carole, Flo, Sweeney.
Tranmere: Coyne, Stockdale, Goodison, Kay, A. Taylor, Myrie-Williams, McClaren, Jennings, Sherriff, Zola, Moore. Subs: Achterberg, Greenacre, Charley, Mullen, Curran.
Ref: S. Mathieson
A standing ovation greeted new Manager, Gary McAllister as he walked out at Elland Road, smartly dressed in suit and tie. Macca made six changes to the team that lost at Southend and he included new signings Alan Sheehan, Lubo Michalik and Anthony Elding.
The first real chance in the game, that began at 100 miles per hour, fell to Rovers when they were awarded a freekick, twenty yards out, which Paul McClaren bounced off the crossbar.
Play continued at a fast and furious pace, the Whites just edging it with three shots on target to Rovers one. The best chance for Leeds came just on half time when a David Prutton freekick hit the bar from 30 yards.
But Leeds were struggling with crosses and passing. Clearly, the unsettling nature of the events over the past week and the changes to the team were having an adverse effect. Teams take time to gel and Macca has not had time to work his magic.
Seb Carole came on for Darren Kenton in the 53rd minute and Tore Andre Flo came on for Elding four minutes later. United and the crowd were temporarily lifted by these changes but disaster struck on the hour when Jennison Myrie-Williams curled in a left-footed shot from 12 yards to put Rovers in front, 0-1.
It just got worse as Tranmere piled on the pressure and a freekick, taken by Alan Taylor, was headed in by former Leeds man Ian Moore on 69 minutes, 0-2.
Paul Huntington came on for Alan Sheehan with 16 minutes remaining.
United piled on the pressure in the final ten minutes but all efforts came to nothing and the Whites were once again beaten at home by a better side.
Attendance 24,907
Leeds United 0 Tranmere Rovers 2
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