Leeds 2 Everton 1: Grit and polish on show as Leeds pull off shock

A week on from a demoralising derby defeat to Hull City that left many supporters writing off their side’s chances of success even though the season was just six games old, United last night pulled off a shock to dump in-form Everton out of the Capital One Cup.

Goals from Aidy White and Rodolph Austin either side of half-time may have been the undoing of a team who sit third in the Premier League.

But, in truth, every single member of Neil Warnock’s heroes in white deserve credit for the manner of their performance on a night to remember at Elland Road.

No tackle was shirked, no quarter given, and when Leeds had the ball at their feet there was sufficient polish to ensure that Everton rarely looked like claiming the victory that the bookmakers had suggested ahead of kick-off was little more than a foregone conclusion.

Even when Sylvain Distin pulled a goal back for the visitors with nine minutes remaining, Leeds merely redoubled their efforts to see the game out.

It was, in every way, a stunning team display and one that made a mockery of the struggles Leeds had experienced in losing 3-2 to Hull just a week earlier.

United’s win merely added to the woes Everton have experienced at Elland Road down the year.

Just one league win for the Toffees in six decades says everything about how dominant the Yorkshire club have been on their own turf when the Merseysiders have headed across the Pennines.

The 5,000 fans who followed their side down the M62 in the pouring rain last night must have sensed that wretched record was not going to be improved within four minutes of kick-off.

That was how long it took United to take the lead courtesy of a stunning solo effort from White.

A loose pass from Kevin Mirallas saw El-Hadji Diouf collect possession before finding White, who then showed a superb turn of skill to nip past Maroune Fellaini before firing an unstoppable shot beyond Jan Micha to claim his first senior goal for the club.

United really should have doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time with Luciano Becchio being guilty of wasting a gilt-edged chance when picked out unmarked by an incisive cross from Diouf.

The Argentinian had just Mucha to beat from six yards out but could only head straight at the Everton goalkeeper, who was then relieved to see Steven Naismith hack the ball to safety as it trickled towards the line.

Michael Tonge also had a free-kick that fizzed just wide during a first half in which Leeds were by far the better side, and Mucha had to be alert to hold on to a shot from White.

Everton, who had made wholesale changes from the side that had won so convincingly at Swansea City three days earlier, were a big disappointment in those opening 45 minutes.

Moyes’s side threatened just once, a neat 28th-minute move seeing Fellaini beat White to the ball before finding Bryan Oviedo on the left flank.

He, in turn, looked up and picked out Victor Anichebe, who could only side-foot a shot wide of the target despite being in yards of space inside the penalty area.

Moyes, clearly not a happy man at the interval judging by how he stormed down the touchline the moment Lee Mason blew his whistle, responded to his side’s poor display by introducing Phil Neville and Steven Pienaar from the bench.

As expected, the appearance of two such reliable performers transformed the visitors and, for the quarter of an hour that immediately followed the interval, chances started to flow.

First, Pienaar blazed over before Naismith headed wide with the goal at his mercy when picked out by Anichebe.

On the hour, Anichebe then went close with a shot across the face of goal that beat the far post by just a yard or so and it seemed only a matter of time before an equaliser arrived.

Instead, Leeds dug deep and doubled their advantage on 69 minutes with a cleverly worked free-kick on the left flank that saw Diouf roll the ball to Danny Pugh.

The former Stoke City midfielder, standing on the edge of the area, then fired a shot goalwards that Austin turned past Mucha with the deftest of touches.

The Leeds fans – who had movingly sung Gary Speed’s name continuously for 11 minutes from the 11th minute in memory of their former midfielder, who played for both clubs – celebrated wildly.

There was, though, still one 
final twist to come with Distin giving Everton a late lifeline with a header that looped over Jamie Ashdown and into the net.

Nikica Jelavic, brought on by Moyes shortly before Austin had put Leeds two goals ahead, then had one final chance to send the game into extra-time but he could only shoot straight at Ashdown to ensure the home supporters headed home happy and looking forward eagerly to tonight’s fourth round draw.

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Leeds United: Ashdown; Bryam, Lees, Pearce, Pugh; White, Brown, Austin, Tonge; Diouf, Becchio. Unused substitutes: Rachubka, Drury, Kisnorbo, Varney, Gray, Poleon, Thompson.

Everton: Mucha; Coleman, Heitinga, Distin, Oviedo; Mirallas, Fellaini, Junior (Neville 46), Gueye (Pienaar 46); Naismith (Jelavic 65), Anichebe. Unused substitutes: Howard, Jagielka, Vellios, Duffy.

Referee: L Mason (Lancashire).

Reports and results from last night’s football: Page 22.