Polish CHRIS SLIPS IN TO WRECK OWLS AGAIN
Possession Shots On Target Shots Off Target Blocked Shots Corners Fouls Conceded Offsides Yellow Cards Red Cards 48% 52% 1 1 3 6 2 3 2 5 18 14 2 1 5 2 0 0
The New Zealand striker, a £3million buy from Leicester two years ago, struck midway through the first half to sink the team he loves playing against.
This was Woods’ third league outing for Leeds against the Owls – and he’s notched in all of them. And his latest strike gave boss Garry Monk’s men a win they thoroughly deserved.
But Wednesday were left cursing the cost of Jordan Rhodes’ missed penalty in the 54th minute.
Leeds boss Monk said: “It was a fascinating contest that had all the ingredients to make it a very good game. I was delighted with the way we managed the match, and we deserved the win.
“We always looked dangerous offensively and in control defensively. It was a good allround performance.
“All credit to Woody for the way he took his goal.
“He is full of confidence and looks like scoring every time he goes out on the pitch.
“We are committed and fully focused on delivering wins, but we haven’t achieved anything yet. I am a very balanced person, and my players are as well, so we’re not getting carried away – that’s for sure.”
Owls boss Carlos Carvalhal has been pilloried by the Hillsborough punters for what they perceive to be negative tactics.
But caution was clearly not on the agenda as his side made their attacking intent clear right from the first whistle. Morgan Fox flicked a near-post header inches off target from Ross Wallace’s flighted freekick, then Rhodes fired a rising drive on the turn high and wide from Jack Hunt’s cross. But Leeds made the decisive breakthrough when Wood latched on to Gaetano Berardi’s cross before drilling home from six yards with Wednesday appealing in vain for offside. Carvalhal showed his critics in the crowd that he does have an adventurous side by bringing on attacking midfielder Callum Mcmanaman for left-back Fox at the start of the second half.
Wednesday, who looked better for the change, blew a great chance to equalise when Robert Green pulled off a brilliant penalty save to deny Rhodes.
Referee Michael Jones had no hesitation in pointing to the spot when Souleymane Doukara needlessly hauled down Sam Hutchinson.
But Rhodes’ 12-yard effort was magnificently pushed against the foot of the post and away by former England No.1 Green.
Carvalhal admitted: “We tried hard to win the game but conceded a goal we shouldn’t have done and missed a penalty.
“Of course I am disappointed with the result, but not with our performance.
“Without those two moments we played well enough to get something out of it.”
He added: “But I take responsibility for individual errors and, at our club, we win together and lose together.”
Without two moments we did enough to get something CARLOS CARVALHAL