Carling Cup - Showunmi puts Leeds through

Eurosport - Tue, 11 Aug 13:33:00 2009

A poacher's finish from Enoch Showunmi took Leeds United into the second round of the Carling Cup with a 1-0 victory at Darlington.

FOOTBALL Leeds United's Enoch Showunmi celebrates scoring in the 1-0 Carling Cup win at Darlington - 0

The first half of the opening domestic cup tie of the season was a low-key affair but Simon Grayson's Leeds side emerged from the break with vigour and edged ahead when Showunmi netted after 54 minutes.

The Yorkshire club, hoping to win promotion from League One this season, later saw Showunmi miss a golden chance but held on to their narrow lead to knock out a new-look Darlington who handed debuts to 11 players in their opening fixture of the season at the weekend.

Leeds could now face a Premier League side in the second round.

Intrigue surrounded Grayson's starting XI with last season's top scorer, Jermaine Beckford, missing. The manager insisted that a minor injury was the cause of his striker's non-attendance and not rumours of strong interest from other clubs.

Either way the absence of Beckford, who scored twice in a 2-1 win over Exeter City at the weekend, was obvious in a first half largely bereft of quality and goalscoring opportunities.

Leeds' on-loan Coventry midfielder Michael Doyle produced the finest moment of the half when he unleashed a stinging 20-yard volley after 28 minutes. Keeper David Knight only parried the effort but recovered well to block Showunmi's follow-up.

Darlington, a division below their opponents and shorn of 19 players over the summer, must have pleased Colin Todd with their commitment as striker Lee Thorpe caused the Leeds defence a few problems, heading wide from a Chris Lumsdon free-kick after 33 minutes.

Thorpe was involved again in Darlington's best move of the half as he collected Jamie Chandler's expert flick and, spurning the chance to shoot, returned the ball to his team-mate who fashioned a poor effort from 10 yards out.

Leeds started the second half in determined fashion though, and none more so than stand-in striker Mike Grella who proved increasingly influential as the game wore on.

The American, making his first start for the club, produced one attempt that was reminiscent of Thierry Henry's famous flick, spin and volley against Manchester United in 2000 and soon teed-up Bradley Johnson for a firm effort that struck the bar after 51 minutes.

Grella was influential again in Leeds' goal after 54 minutes as he retained possession down the left and cut the ball back for Snodgrass. His colleague then delivered a dangerous cross that Showunmi toe-ended past the stranded Knight.

The former Luton striker was unable to replicate his finish on 65 minutes though when skewing a shot horribly wide to waste a golden opportunity. Unsurprisingly, Grella had started the move with a neat pass to Jonathan Howson who, from the right, squared for the unmarked Showunmi.

Howson went close with a curling effort in the closing minutes and Mark Bower missed a great chance for the home side in injury time, but Leeds successfully defended their lead to enter the second-round draw.

Tom Adams / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 7 of 7

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  1. going to sell becford, and this was our replacement?­ christ div 1 must be laughing there socks off.

    From ALAN, on Wed 12 Aug 6:37AM

  2. I agree nemesis, we struggled and were disorganised all­ over the pitch. Think Grella might blossom with a few­ more games under his belt. As for Enoch Showunmi - see­ my previous comment!

    From rob, on Tue 11 Aug 10:20AM

  3. Enoch Showunmi ? Bless him. He thought the crowd were­ chanting his name - they were actually singing­
    "I'm sh-t, so sell me!"
    Please take note­ Larry-don't even sell him-let him go on a­ free!
    Scrap that-Ken would hear about a player going­ free and snap him back up!

    From rob, on Tue 11 Aug 10:17AM
  4. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    will Leeds ever make it far enough in the Carling or FA­ Cup so the Red Devils can get back to teaching them­ football?

    From Oluwatosin O, on Tue 11 Aug 9:35AM

  5. Mr Grayson must be concerned by the lack of quality in­ his second string defenders. Only the flag saved Leeds­ from ending this game with a draw or worse. Two games,­ two wins but neither in convincing fashion. Mr Bates­ says the money is there for him to improve the squad­ and I hope Grayson gets it spent sooner rather than­ later. As for the misfiring forwards I wouldn't­ give a cat in hells chance of this side getting­ promoted without Becford and only slightly more with­ him. Grella provides some pretty football but lacks the­ confidence (guts?) to impose himself on the opposition.­ Becchio has never scored more than once in any game.­ Howson in midfield for all his effort lacks vision.­ They may be the Bookies favourite to go up but if these­ two games are anything to go by its no done deal and­ like last year they may find themselves in the­ play-offs again. I hope we get there without that­ torment because my nerves wont stand it. again

    From nemesis, on Tue 11 Aug 6:48AM

  6. Rui has resssurected his career the VFb support used­ to ridicule him . a win is enough but got to keep­ beckford or else buy Jackson.

    From iancampbell11, on Mon 10 Aug 11:05PM

  7. Just hope they both return unscathed! Don't want­ Rui injured again!

    From rob, on Mon 10 Aug 12:14PM
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