Leeds United suffer first defeat

Centre-back Tom Lees celebrated his first start of the new season by heading home Ross McCormack's corner to give Leeds the start they craved on 16 minutes.

But Blackpool, who had more of the possession and created the better chances, hit back to score twice through Nouah Dicko and Martin Phillips in the last 15 minutes and ran out 2-1 winners to end United's unbeaten start to the season.

Leeds were without knee injury victim Paul Green and brought in Lees in defence with Lee Peltier switching to left-back and Aidan White onto the right wing.

Blackpool came at the Whites in the early stages and Paddy Kenny was forced into two saves to deny Tiago Gomes before Lees opened the scoring.

Kenny continued to deny the hosts as he pulled off fine saves from efforts by Kevin Phillips and Alex Baptiste while former Leeds player Stephen Crainey hit a shot narrowly over.

Blackpool came even closer early in the second half when Thomas Ince beat Kenny only to see his powerful shot hit the woodwork.

United came more into the game and Ross McCormack went close before Ince lifted a shot over at the other end.

El-Hadji Diouf came on for McCormack and Leeds went on the attack with Luciano Becchio's header forcing a good save from home keeper Matt Gilks.

But Blackpool finally got the goal they had threatened 15 minutes from time when Crainey's low pull back was finished off by Nouah Dicko.

Five minutes later they scored again as Ince got round young defender Sam Byram to the bye-line and pulled the ball back for Matt Phillips to score the winner.

It could have been 3-1 before the end as Ludovic Sylvestre hit the crossbar with a free-kick and Martin Phillips missed another chance.

United rarely threatened to hit back and ultimately could have few complaints about their defeat even if they had defended bravely until the final quarter.

Match facts

Blackpool 2

(Dicko 75, M Phillips 80)

Leeds United 1

(Lees 16)

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Npower Championship

Att: 14,315.

Blackpool: Gilks, Eardley, Cathcart, Baptiste, Crainey, Osbourne (M Phillips 64), Gomes, Angel (Dicko 64), Taylor-Fletcher, Ince, K Phillips (Silvestre 76).

Leeds: Kenny, Byram, Lees, Pearce, Peltier, White (Pugh 79), Norris, Austin, Varney, McCormack (Diouf 58). Becchio.

Referee: D Whitestone.