Norris goal earns point for Leeds United

A FIRST league goal for Leeds United from David Norris and an outstanding injury-time save by Paddy Kenny earned Leeds United a point despite a flat performance against Charlton at Elland Road.

The Whites did at least stop the rot of Tuesday night defeats in home matches, but manager Neil Warnock admitted his side was poor and not worth any more than the 1-1 draw they came out of the game with.

United managed only one effort on target all night and while Charlton were little better they did carve out three late openings that could have seen them travel back to London with a victory.

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Leeds did have a couple of half chances in the first 15 minutes, Jason Pearce heading an El Hadji Diouf corner wide and Norris seeing a goalbound powerfully struck volley bravely blocked by Leon Cort.

Charlton wasted some decent approach play with overhit passes and crosses, but saw Cort head wide from a free-kick and Johnnie Jackson shoot wide when well placed.

United finally put a few moves together and went ahead on 36 minutes when the ball fell in the box for Norris to turn smartly and fire a shot past keeper Ben Hamer.

They were fortunate to still be ahead at the break as a Charlton corner deflected off United defender Tom Lees and crashed to safety off the crossbar.

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But Four minutes into the second it was all square when Dorian Dervite found space on the edge of the area and fired a low shot past unsighted home keeper Kenny.

Leeds responded with a sweeping move that ended with Sam Byram heading an Adam Drury cross over and Luciano Becchio was denied by another great block after Pearce had headed down a Diouf corner.

But although Warnock threw on three subs the Whites could not create any more chances and they were left holding on for the point with Kenny making three late saves.

First, Kenny came out to block Lawrie Wilson in a one-on-one then saved a close range Bradley Wright-Phillips shot with his feet before saving the best until last, a stunning acrobatic tip over of a well struck Wright-Phillips shot in the fourth minute of injury-time.

Match facts

(Norris 36)

Charlton Athletic 1

(Dervite 49)

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Npower Championship

Att: 17,484

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Leeds: Kenny, Byram, Lees, Pearce, Drury, Green (White 64), Brown, Norris, Varney (Tonge 64), Diouf, Becchio (Gray 79).

Charlton: Hamer, Solly, Cort, Morrison, Evina, Wilson, Dervite, Jackson, Pritchard, Kerkar (Hollands 90), Hulse (Wright-Phillips 86).

Referee: Nigel Miller.