Leeds 2 Walsall 0

Leeds gave their best performance for some time, against a Walsall side who started the day above us in the table, but were made to look pretty ordinary.

Leeds had one enforced change to make, with Hughes being out through suspension and Sheehan returning to the left back slot, and the defence looked a lot more balanced having a specialist in that position. And despite the personnel being almost the same, this was a vast improvement on the showing at Port Vale last week, and we dominated the game almost from the kick-off.

Leeds were playing the ball to feet and put together some excellent moves, with Beckford and Freedman showing signs of developing a decent understanding up front. Beckford had some good chances in the opening stages, firing wide with his first effort, then forcing the keeper into a good save when put through by Prutton. He was also close to getting his head to a dangerous ball that Freedman bent into the box, but Ince just got there ahead of him to punch clear.

Prutton also seemed keen to shoot on sight, with one shot straight at Ince and one just over, but it was Beckford who put Leeds in front on 29 minutes. Kilkenny played him in with an excellent through ball, and he outpaced a defender before rounding the keeper and scoring from a narrow angle. And Prutton could have put Leeds further in front with a curling shot that Prutton just managed to palm round the post.

We were good value for the half time time lead, and began the second period where we had left off. But then Walsall finally woke up and had their best spell of the game. First Holmes went close with a free kick, then when the Leeds defence failed to deal with Holmes cross from the left, the ball fell kindly for Mooney. He should have equalized, but could only lift his shot over the bar. After this let off, Leeds were soon back in control and making chances of their own.

Sheehan tested Ince with a powerful free kick, and Johnson hit the post with a powerful header, with the ball cleared off the line in the ensuing scramble. And with ten minutes left, Beckford’s second made the game safe. A stray Walsall pass in midfield went straight to Kilkenny, and his through ball sent Beckford clear. I thought a bad touch had spoiled the chance, but this merely encouraged Ince to come racing out of his goal, and Beckford lifted ball over him into the net.

In the closing stages, Douglas came on for his first appearance since his injury against the same opposition before Christmas, a welcome return just in time for the run-in. In the final minutes Beckford was looking for his hat-trick, but it was Howson who had the final chance, finishing a powerful run with a shot that just cleared the bar. And that was it, a well deserved victory, and if we can keep this up, we might make the play-offs after all.

Photo: Action Images

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