AS RAFA’S MEN SLOG ON THE TYNE
LEEDS: SHEFFIELD WEDS:
Rob Green’s stunning second-half save denied Jordan Rhodes from the penalty spot as Leeds clung on to claim a valuable three points in the race for promotion.
But it was prolific New Zealander Wood who made the crucial contribution, keeping his head to stab home his 22nd goal of the season.
The win moves Garry Monk’s side further into the play-off pack – and three points clear of the Owls who remain sixth.
Afterwards, Monk felt his side were deserving winners. “We were playing a very good side,” he said. “I thought they put some pressure on but we dealt with it extremely well.
“I can’t remember them having any shots on goal apart from the penalty so that was very pleasing.
“The pressure that’s there to win these types of games, both teams on the same points, a derby game. I thought we handled the pressure really well today and I’m very pleased with the players.”
Despite a lively opening, neither keeper looked troubled, but the game was in the balance until Wood pounced to put the home side ahead.
Souleymane Doukara sent Gaetano Berardi down the left wing, and the left-back fired in a cross for Wood that eluded Vincent Sasso, leaving the striker to take a touch before poking in from six yards.
The visitors picked up the pace before the break, with Fernando Forestieri curling over from inside the area before Green blocked a dangerous ball from Adam Reach.
Wood shot wide at the start of the second half, before Wednesday’s Eunan O’Kane could have been awarded a penalty after going down in the box.
Referee Mike Jones pointed to the spot at the other end shortly after as Hutchinson was pulled down on the penalty spot by Doukara.
Green was equal to Rhodes’ penalty attempt, tipping the ball on to the post and out before his defence scrambled it clear for a corner.
Forestieri headed over from the set-piece as Wednesday continued to pile on the pressure against a nervy Leeds defence.
The Owls threw everything they had at Leeds in the dying moments, but Leeds held firm to claim a vital win to cheer the Elland Road crowd.
Despite Rhodes’ penalty miss, Wednesday boss Carlos Carvalhal refused to blame his January signing for the defeat.
He said: “We win together and we lose together. The responsibility is not on any one player. Individual mistakes are part of the game and we must understand them. It is normal in football.” (KO 3pm unless stated) PREMIER LEAGUE WLWLLD ......................... Leicester Hull...........................................LLLLdL dLLLDW........................... Liverpool Arsenal............................... WWWLLW (5:30pm) DWLDDW ..............................Stoke Middlesbrough ........................ DLLLdL WDdLdL ...................... Sunderland Man City............................. WLWWWd (Playing Sunday, 4pm) WLLLWW......................... Swansea Burnley.....................................LLLdLL WWWWWW .... Tottenham Hotspur Everton ................................ LWDWDd (Playing Sunday, 1:30pm) WDLWdW .......................... Watford Southampton ........................LDLWLW WLWLWW .................... West Brom Crystal Palace........................ DLdLWL Man Utd v AFC Bournemouth (12:30pm), West Ham v Chelsea (Monday 8pm)
SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP WDWLWL ....................... Blackburn Wigan.................................... dWLLWL LLdLDW........................ Bristol City Burton Albion ........................ WLLWLd dWDDLd ............................... Derby Barnsley ...............................WdLWdW LWWWWL .......................... Fulham Preston North End ............... WWDLdd WWWWdW ................Huddersfield Newcastle ............................ LDWLWD
(5:30pm) WDWLDD ........................... Ipswich Brentford ............................... WLLLLW LLWWWL................... Nottm Forest Brighton ............................... WLLLDW WLDLLW ................................ QPR Cardiff ................................. DWLLWW WLWWdW ........................ Reading Wolverhampton ....................dWLWWL LLWLDL ........................ Rotherham Aston Villa ................................LLLLLL WdWWWL ..................... Sheff Wed Norwich .................................. dLLWDL
Birmingham v Leeds (Friday 7:45pm) SKY BET LEAGUE ONE WdLLWW..............................Bolton AFC Wimbledon ...................... LddLLD dDWDDD .......................... Bradford Peterborough ........................ LLWLWL LLWDWd ................................ Bury Gillingham .............................. DLLDDL WdWWWd .......................... Millwall Milton Keynes Dons ............... LdLWLd LLLWWW................... Northampton Charlton .............................. WDWDLD dWWWWL .................... Oxford Utd Bristol Rovers ......................... LLLLdD WWLLdD .........................Rochdale Sheff Utd ............................ WWWLWd WDWWLd .................... Scunthorpe Fleetwood Town .................WdWWDW WLWWWW .................. Shrewsbury Coventry ................................ DLDLLD WDLWWD ...................... Southend Port Vale ................................. LdLLDL DdDLLd ............................ Swindon Chesterfield............................. LLLLDd DLWWWW.......................... Walsall Oldham .................................. LLLWLd
SKY BET LEAGUE TWO LDWDWW ........Accrington Stanley Barnet ................................. WLWDLW dDDDdD ......................... Blackpool Morecambe ......................... LDDWWD WLdLLW ................ Cambridge Utd Colchester............................WWDLDL WWLLDW ................... Cheltenham Mansfield .............................LWdWWL WWWWLL ................Crawley Town Doncaster ........................... WDWWdL WdLWDW ......................... Grimsby Wycombe .................................LLLLLL LWLWDD ....................... Hartlepool Exeter.................................. dWWWLD LDWddD ............... Newport County Leyton Orient ......................... LLLLDW DWWLWL ........................ Plymouth Carlisle ............................... DWLDWW dWWLWW ................... Portsmouth Crewe...................................... LdLLLD LLWWWW .....................Stevenage Notts County .......................... LLLLLW dWLWDD .............................. Yeovil Luton .....................................LLWDDD
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE WDWWdD .......................Aldershot Lincoln City ....................... WLWWWW LWWLWd ............................ Barrow Sutton Utd .............................. LDWLLL LLWdWD ............... Boreham Wood Bromley................................ LWWLDL WWLWdW .............. Braintree Town Wrexham................................ DLLLDD LLDDWD .............................. Dover Solihull Moors .......................LDWdLW DDDDDW ..................Forest Green Macclesfield ........................DLWWDW
Chester FC v Tranmere (Friday 7:45pm), Gateshead v Dag & Red, Maidstone Utd v Southport, North Ferriby Utd v Woking, Torquay v Guiseley, York v Eastleigh
Leicester, Watford, West Brom, Fulham, Nottm Forest, Bradford, Millwall, Shrewsbury, Walsall, Blackpool
Liverpool, Stoke, Tottenham Hotspur, Blackburn, Derby, QPR, Sheff Wed, Bury, Northampton, Scunthorpe
Man City, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Bristol Rovers, Sheff Utd, Chesterfield