Leeds United 3 Leicester 2: Yorkshire has not been without a team in English football's top tier for 20 years and Leeds United played last night as though determined to defend the county's honour. They had a Yorkshireman to thank, too, courtesy of Alan Smith's late and decisive contribution just as it seemed a Leicester comeback with two goals in as many minutes had left Leeds's toes tagged for the relegation morgue.
As relegation battles go, this had a bit of everything, including a stoppage-time sending-off for Mark Viduka after two yellow cards in quick succession.
For 75 minutes, Leeds had been on top and seemed to be coasting towards their third victory in four home matches. But then within the space of a minute Paul Dickov and Muzzy Izzet had turned the game upside down. Leicester might even have gone into the lead as they pinned their opponents back before Smith popped up with a goal that might rank as the most important of his career.
This was an emotional night for Leeds in more ways than one. A minute's silence had preceded the match to mark the fourth anniversary of that fateful night in Istanbul's Taksim Square when two of their supporters were stabbed to death on the eve of a UEFA Cup semi-final against Galatasaray.
Once the game started, however, it did not take long for the home fans to find their voices. The Leeds caretaker-manager Eddie Gray's team played with a fearlessness seldom evident at Elland Road this season.
Leicester may have a case that the two-goal lead flattered their opponents at half-time. Micky Adams's players had passed the ball better and, courtesy of Les Ferdinand and Marcus Bent, showed greater purpose in attack. Yet the visitors were undone by porous defending.
Viduka's strike in the 13th minute with a well-taken bicycle kick combining power and precision after he was teed up by Smith and some dubious Leicester defending just inside the penalty area.
It was his 10th goal of the season, which might not be a particularly handsome total for a striker of his undoubted talent, but more significantly it was his fifth goal in six games.
Once despised by sections of the Leeds crowd, Michael Duberry is more of a cult hero these days and for a centre-half has developed a handy knack of scoring important goals.
This was his first match since fracturing his ribs during a training session in mid-January and after 11 minutes he marked it with a free header from Seth Johnson's cross to beat Ian Walker in the Leicester goal. The visitors felt aggrieved because Viduka had been marginally offside a few moments earlier but the striker was not deemed to be interfering.
Ferdinand continued to be Leicester's most impressive performer in the second half but their profligacy in attack has contributed much to their perilous position and, once again, there was the sense that for all their endeavour and industry they did not have the guile or imagination to find a foothold in the match.
Steffen Freund brought a fine save from Paul Robinson shortly after the restart but it was the home side who swiftly regained the initiative.
Jermaine Pennant, in particular, posed difficulties for the Leicester defence almost every time he received the ball. One mazy run finished with him picking out Smith inside the six-yard area only for Walker to deny the striker from point-blank range and soon afterwards Pennant's created a chance for Johnson that was squandered.
LEEDS: Robinson, Kelly, Caldwell, Duberry, Domi, Pennant, Seth Johnson, Matteo, Milner (Harte 88), Smith, Viduka. Subs Not Used: Carson, Radebe, Lennon, Simon Johnson. Sent Off: Viduka (90). Booked: Milner, Viduka. Goals: Duberry 11, Viduka 13, Smith 86.
LEICESTER: Walker, Scimeca, Heath, Dabizas, Thatcher, Scowcroft, Freund (Nalis 76), Izzet, Guppy (Dickov 37), Ferdinand (Canero 76), Bent. Subs Not Used: Coyne, McKinlay. Booked: Thatcher. Goals: Dickov 77, Izzet 79.
Referee: M Dean.
