Redfearn delighted after Morison hits Leeds United winner in derby

Steve Morison emerged as the derby hero with a winning goal as he scored for the second week running after ending his 31-match Leeds goal drought at Charlton last week.

Charlie Taylor also claimed his second goal of the season after Chris Maguire had put the Owls ahead with a first half penalty.

Leeds boss Neil Redfearn was understandably delighted his side ended their poor run of result and felt they had fully deserved the win.

He said: “It was a very good performance,

“I thought we were the better side, even at 1-0 down.

“I thought the decisions – the penalty for us and the penalty against us – were dubious at first.

“But, having seen them, the referee got both spot on. I saw him at half-time and pulled him over to one side and apologised because I had got a bit carried away with myself. You want to win and you think everything goes against you. “But the performance merited a win. So did the application of the lads and their understanding of how to play on this surface. I thought we got it spot on.

“In the end, we broke away and we got in front of goal half a dozen times – we could have had more goals so I’ve got to be pleased.”

Redfearn made one change to the team from the Charlton game with Gaetano Berardi back in at left-back, Taylor moved back into midfield and Billy Sharp left out with Morison in a lone frontman role. There was also a return to the squad for Aidy White on the bench after being out of action all season with an ankle injury.

The game started at a fast pace and United had an early chance with Sam Byram putting Alex Mowatt in only to be denied by home keeper Keiren Westwood.

At the other end, Wednesday’s Caolan Lavery cut in to curl a shot over.

Leeds threatened again on 15 minutes with a Mowatt free-kick from the edge of the area.

Mowatt saw another shot blocked as United looked to have the edge.

But it was Wednesday who opened the scoring on 36 minutes when Leeds gave away yet another penalty, Byram adjudged to have tripped Lloyd Isgrove just inside the area.

Maguire stepped up to put the spot-kick away and Leeds were a bit unlucky to be behind.

It could have been worse as soon after former Leeds player Tom Lees got a header in that needed to be tipped over by Stuart Taylor.

The two sides re-emerged unchanged and Wednesday soon had the second half’s first sight of goal, but Taylor comfortably held Maguire’s ambitious free-kick from distance.

Leeds looked to hit back in the second half and levelled thanks to a bit of luck on 57 minutes as Luke Murphy’s free-kick hit the defensive wall, Morison then scuffed a shot and the ball fell kindly into the path of Charlie Taylor, who made no mistake for his second goal for the club.

Wednesday tried to hit back through Maguire, who hit a shot over, and substitute Stevie May, who headed a chance over from a corner.

Sharp came on for Mowatt as Leeds went to two up front for the final 20 minutes and the sub was quickly involved, setting up Byram who put Morison through. Although his first effort was kept out by Westwood he was able to slot into the net from the rebound.

Charlie Taylor then saw a shot blocked after collecting the ball from a Morison pull back and United were seeing the game out well after going in front.

Rudy Austin hit a half-volley over then went on a big run only for Charlie Taylor to be unable to get his shot away.

There were no big late chances and Leeds were home and dry for their local derby win.

Match facts

Sheffield Wednesday 1

(Maguire 36, pen)

Leeds United 2 (C Taylor 57, Morison 72)

Saturday, April 25, 2015

Sky Bet Championship

Attendance: 28,227

Wednesday: Westwood, Buxton, Semedo, Vermijl, Lees, Isgrove (Keane 64), Helan (Bus 85), Lavery, Maghoma (May 64), Maguire, Lee.

Leeds: S Taylor, Wootton, Bamba, Cooper, Berardi, Byram, Mowatt (Sharp 70), Murphy, Austin, C Taylor, Morison.

Referee: R Madley.