Byram at the double as Leeds United end long wait for win at Wolves

Sam Byram made a successful return to the starting line-up as he struck twice to help Leeds United to their first win at Wolves in 31 years.
Sam Byram celebrates scoring at Wolves with his team-mates. Picture : Jonathan GawthorpeSam Byram celebrates scoring at Wolves with his team-mates. Picture : Jonathan Gawthorpe
Sam Byram celebrates scoring at Wolves with his team-mates. Picture : Jonathan Gawthorpe

Stuart Dallas also got his first goal in a Leeds shirt as the Whites came from behind to win 3-2 and climb to 14th in the Sky Bet Championship.

It did not look so rosy for United early on as Wolves were all over them and could have been three or four up in the first half-hour.

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Leeds did make a decent start as Dallas was unlucky to hit the woodwork with a superb volley after chesting the ball down 25 yards from goal.

But they were given an early warning of the hosts’ ability as Benik Afobe got in behind the Whites defence only to pull his angled shot wide.

Afobe did not make any mistake on 10 minutes, though, when he got in behind again and produced a composed finish past Marco Silvestri.

It was becoming the Afobe show as he failed to direct a header on target after being put off by Dave Edwards jumping just in front of him and was given time to turn in the box only to see his shot flash inches wide.

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Leeds survived and made their opponents pay after head coach Steve Evans made a key change, taking off the ill Tom Adeyemi in midfield and putting on Souleymane Doukara up front to give more support to Chris Wood.

Suddenly United started seeing more of the ball and after Byram, playing as a wide midfielder, had a cross-shot blocked he marked his return to the starting line-up with a goal a minute before half-time.

The 22-year-old, who has refused a new contract, produced a low finish after a good build-up involving Doukara and Wood and it was 1-1 at half-time.

Leeds should have been in front within a minute of the restart as Doukara robbed a defender of the ball and instantly put Wood through, but the big striker took an extra touch and saw his shot blocked.

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They did make it 2-1 on 52 minutes, however, when Dallas ran onto Doukara’s nice flick inside and with defenders backing off he advanced into the box before beating home keeper Carl Ikeme at his near post.

Wood saw a header saved two minutes later as Leeds were well on top now and then failed to put away a real sitter as the ball nicely for him in the box. He had loads of time only to hit his shot too close to keeper Ikeme.

A third goal was not far away, though, with Charlie Taylor producing a perfect cross for Byram to climb at the far post and send a header into the top corner of the net.

From this point it was about seeing the game out and United looked to be cruising until Wolves sub Nathan Byrne volleyed past Silvestri from one of a number of dangerous crosses supplied by impressive young winger Jordan Graham.

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Danny Batth headed over another Graham cross, but the Whites defence held out well to late pressure and it was all over for the hosts when Byrne shot over from the edge of the box.

Match facts

Wolverhampton Wanderers 2

(Afobe 10, Byrne 81)

(Byram 44, 60, Dallas 52)

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Sky Bet Championship

Attendance: 19,592

Wolves: Ikeme, Iorfa, Batth, Ebanks-Landell, Golbourne, Price (Coady 84), McDonald, Henry (Byrne 67), Edwards (Le Fondre 59), Graham, Afobe.

Leeds: Silvestri, Wootton, Bellusci, Cooper, Taylor, Byram, Cook, Adeyemi (Doukara 30), Bridcutt, Dallas (Mowatt 85), Wood (Antenucci 80)..

Referee: Stuart Attwell.