Leeds United 2 Bristol City 1: Lonergan spot on with his penalty prophecy

The reason for the Leeds United goalkeeper’s confidence was simple. He had saved one in training the previous day from team-mate Robert Snodgrass and had woken up on Saturday morning firmly believing it was his destiny to keep out another spot-kick against the Robins.

Happily for United and the vast majority of the 22,655 crowd, Lonergan’s confidence proved well-placed with Maynard’s driven penalty being blocked by the goalkeeper’s legs.

It proved to be a defining moment in the game with Leeds, who had been reduced to 10 men after Paddy Kisnorbo had been shown a red card for the professional foul that led to referee Fred Graham pointing to the spot, going on to claim all three points courtesy of an 86th-minute winner from Ross McCormack.

“If I am honest, I have mixed emotions over the penalty,” admitted Lonergan to the Yorkshire Post after helping Leeds to within two points of the play-offs.

“I am obviously delighted to have saved it but Paddy being sent off is something that can be put down to me.

“It was my poor clearance that went straight to the Bristol City player (who passed the ball to Maynard). I slipped as I went to clear and ended up kicking it badly.

“I felt the penalty was down to me and was determined to try and make amends by saving it.

“I was confident, mainly because I had saved one off Snoddy in training on Friday. It was during a practice game between the whole squad and he hit it to the right but I kept it out.

“It sounds weird but I just knew that if Bristol City got a penalty then I was going to save it. I can’t explain it but I just knew.”

Asked to expand on how he kept out the spot kick, Lonergan added: “It had been quite a while since I faced a penalty. Last season, I seemed to be facing one every couple of weeks with Preston but since coming to Leeds in the summer I hadn’t faced one.

“I fancied him (Maynard) to go pretty firm and down the middle. I didn’t want to stand still so went to my right but also made sure I was still covering the centre of the goal.

“I have not watched it back since but I don’t think he hit the penalty too well.”

Lonergan’s block to deny Maynard from 12 yards was one of two crucial saves by the United goalkeeper, the other coming seven minutes before the break when he spared the blushes of Darren O’Dea, whose poor back pass had gifted Albert Adomah a clear run on goal.

The importance of keeping Adomah’s shot out and the second half penalty save from Maynard cannot be overstated, as had either chance been taken then it is highly unlikely Leeds would have been able to claim any reward from a game in which they were second best for long periods.

United’s main problems were in midfield with Jonny Howson having an off day and neither Ramon Nunez nor Robert Snodgrass being able to make much of an impression out wide.

Snodgrass was handicapped by City’s ability to double up on him, something made possible by Tom Lees not getting forward often enough to take away one of the Scot’s markers.

Despite this constant attention from the Robins, Snodgrass did manage to play a leading role in the home side’s third-minute opener with a pass into Adam Clayton’s path that the Manchester-born midfielder finished with an unstoppable shot into the top corner.

It was the perfect start but, as with the previous week’s game against Crystal Palace, not one they were able to build on.

Instead, by the 11th minute the visitors were level courtesy of a sublime finish from midfield play-maker Neil Kilkenny on his first return to Leeds since his summer transfer.

Clearly feeling he had a point to prove, the Australian international then raced to the touchline and pointed to United chairman Ken Bates and chief executive Shaun Harvey in the directors’ box before blowing the pair a kiss.

For the rest of the first half, Leeds seemed intent on kissing the points goodbye with basic errors and poor decision-making allowing the visitors to prosper.

Only the profligacy of Adomah, who wasted three excellent openings, allowed United to remain on level terms at the break.

The Robins’ wastefulness in front of goal continued after half-time with Maynard’s penalty miss preceding a trio of spurned opportunities by Marvin Elliott before the home side struck the killer blow against the run of play with four minutes remaining.

Substitute Leigh Bromby’s long throw was the catalyst, Luciano Becchio soaring high above the City defence to flick the ball into the path of McCormack, who made no mistake from close range to claim his seventh goal of the season.

Even then, there was still time for the visitors to get the ball in the net only for Jamal Campbell-Ryce’s finish to be ruled out for an earlier foul on Lonergan.

The United goalkeeper added: “This is a great win. We have taken six points from two games and that is what matters. We certainly will not remember in a few weeks’ time how we played against Bristol City and Crystal Palace, just that we won both games.

“We have a big couple of games this week coming up with Manchester United (in the Carling Cup tomorrow) and Brighton (on Friday), and we will go into them full of confidence because of the two wins.”