Daily Star

SAMUEL’S TOP STRIKE

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MIDDLESBRO­UGH battled to a point despite Adama Traore’s moment of madness which saw his side reduced to 10 men after just four minutes.

The winger saw red on his return to Villa Park after a reckless lunge at Conor Hourihane that earned his marching orders from referee James Linington.

Villa’s best chance of breaking the deadlock saw Robert Snodgrass crash a volley against the bar early in the second half, but they too had a man sent of when Henri Lansbury fouled sub Marvin Johnson.

Steve Bruce’s side had been under the cosh in the early stages and keeper Sam Johnstone came to their rescue with a fine stop to deny Dael Fry.

But Traore’s dangerous challenge took the sting out of Boro’s flying start, even though Bruce’s side struggled to make the most of their advantage.

Britt Assombalon­ga fired wide at the near post in the second half for Boro, while Villa were denied late on when Hourihane’s goalbound effort was blocked on the line by teammate Scott Hogan.

SPANISH summer signing Samuel Saiz fired Leeds to the top of the Championsh­ip with a deadly first-half finish.

The £3.1m arrival from Segunda Division Huesca struck his sixth goal of the season in the 17th minute.

And Stuart Dallas sealed a crucial victory when he made it two in the second minute of stoppage time.

Pierre-Michel Lasogga broke clear before releasing the Northern Ireland winger who drilled home a low left-foot shot into the far corner. Harry Redknapp’s Birmingham had arrived in Yorkshire looking to end a three-match losing run that had seen them slump to fourth from bottom.

They went close to making a great start when skipper Michael Morrison landed a header inches wide following a corner from Jota, their club-record £6m new signing from Brentford.

Birmingham striker Sam Gallagher, who had an early penalty appeal turned down, then saw a goalbound shot bravely blocked by United’s’ Swedish centre-back Pontus Jansson.

Looped

But Thomas Christians­en’s men soon started moving through the gears and, after Pablo Hernandez had a looped effort cleared off the line by Emilio Nsue, they went in front.

Keeper David Stockdale did brilliantl­y to deal with a thunderbol­t from Lasogga.

But the ball looped up for Saiz to stab home from virtually on the goal-line.

A whopping 31,507 – the biggest crowd for a midweek match at Elland Road since Leeds were relegated from the top flight in 2004 – sensed more goals.

And Hernandez and Lasogga had opportunit­ies to provide them only for their efforts to fail to trouble Stockdale.

Leeds began to lose their way and on-loan Chelsea starlet Jeremie Boga should have done better after leaving Luke Ayling for dead on the byline.

But the defender recovered to make a vital goal-line clearance in first-half injury-time to deny Maxime Colin an equaliser.

Leeds attempted to regain control at the start of the second half and Morrison denied Lasogga a tap-in.

But Birmingham continued to look dangerous and Vurnon Anita hacked behind a cross from Colin before Gallagher dragged wide after being played down the wing.

Leeds responded and livewire Saiz saw a drive destined for the bottom corner kept out by Stockdale. BARNSLEY booked a Carabao Cup third-round clash with Spurs at Wembley next Tuesday after beating Derby 3-2 at Oakwell.

Adam Hammill fired the Tykes’ 88th-minute winner after County had gone into the break 2-1 up through Johnny Russell and Mason Bennett with Adam Jackson replying in between.

Tom Lawrence levelled before supersub Hammill’s late strike turned the game on its head. CAMERON Carter-Vickers smashed home a debut goal for Sheffield United as Bolton’s woeful form continued last night.

The on-loan Tottenham teenager showed a touch of class to bring a drab clash to life with a fine 33rd-minute finish.

The Trotters have been pig sick so far this term and are still without a Championsh­ip win while the Blades had won their last three league clashes.

There was nothing in it early on but Chris Wilder’s men looked hungry to build on their recent form.

Leon Clarke and Mark Duffy were both sharp for United but Bolton did enough to keep them quiet early on and the game soon flattened out.

Gary Madine had two tame efforts for the home side in the opening 20 minutes before Bolton winger Will Buckley was forced to limp off.

And life got worse for Phil Parkinson’s team as Carter-Vickers, 19, blasted into the roof of the net after some dozy defending from a corner. let the ball run loose 12 yards out.

Adam Armstrong lifted Bolton after the break but the Blades absorbed all their pressure.

 ??  ?? HAVE SAM OF THAT: Samuel Saiz celebrates Leeds goal
HAVE SAM OF THAT: Samuel Saiz celebrates Leeds goal
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