English League Championship/Leeds Utd - 0 Sunderland - 3: Marching all together is the anthem of Leeds United but it is Sunderland, led by Roy Keane, who are starting to stride purposefully through the Championship. A third successive victory for the Wearsiders still leaves them in the bottom half but Sunderland now possess the sort of momentum Leeds covet. A third successive home defeat for Kevin Blackwell's side makes it increasingly possible that Leeds and he will be marching in separate directions.
Just as it was on Sunday here in the 1-0 defeat by Wolves, "Blackwell, time to go," was the dominant chant. The biggest threat to Sunderland all night came from two Leeds supporters who tried to get to Keane as he re-took his seat after half-time. They were escorted away by bouncers showing the sort of alertness Leeds' defence lacked.
Liam Miller, Graham Kavanagh and Stephen Elliott - three Irishmen - had Sunderland cruising by the 48th minute and though Leeds kept going after that, the applause from the crowd was ironic. That is never a good situation.
Hands in suit pockets, Keane had made the walk along the touchline from the tunnel to the visitors' dugout, doubtless expecting a torrent of abuse. It did not come, at least not then and there, a sign perhaps of the depressed nature of the home spirit.Tony Warner had not made a save when Sunderland went ahead in the 29th minute. The goal came from a sweeping move that featured Elliott and Wallace and ended with Miller in space around 14 yards from Warner. Miller, who played for Leeds on loan last season, drilled in his first Sunderland goal.
With Leeds beginning to look loose all over the pitch, Sunderland burst forward seconds before the interval. A Daryl Murphy header found Miller and his pass had Kavanagh rampaging beyond the Leeds defence to volley home. It got worse. Elliott, on for the injured Connolly just before half-time, raced onto a flicked pass and belted a volley past the helpless Warner.
LEEDS: Warner, Kelly, Butler, Kilgallon, Crainey, Stone (Carole 54), Douglas, Westlake, Lewis (Nicholls 45), Horsfield, Healy (Blake 63). Subs Not Used: Gregan, Moore. Booked: Westlake, Butler, Nicholls, Kelly, Douglas.
SUNDERLAND: Alnwick, Neill Collins, Varga, Cunningham, Robbie Elliott, Liam Miller, Whitehead (Lawrence 80), Kavanagh, Wallace, Murphy, Connolly (Stephen Elliott 43), Stephen Elliott (Leadbitter 60). Subs Not Used: Ward, Danny Collins. Booked: Kavanagh, Liam Miller. Goals: Liam Miller 28, Kavanagh 45, Stephen Elliott 48.
Referee: A Marriner (W Midlands).
Guardian Service
