WOOD’S OUT BUT SAM STEPS IN...
SPANISH schemer Samuel Saiz left Simon Grayson spitting mad as the former Leeds manager suffered his first defeat as Sunderland boss.
Saiz struck in the 21st minute to take his goal haul to four since his £3million summer signing from Huesca – he hit a hat-trick on his Leeds debut in the 4-1 home Carabao Cup victory over Port Vale.
It ended Leeds’ league goal drought, which had lasted four hours and nine minutes, and capped a satisfying week for Saiz, who was cleared of an allegation that he spat at a Vale opponent.
And it was Saiz, looking suspiciously offside when receiving the ball from Ezgjan Alioski, who provided the cross for substitute Stuart Dallas to head home Leeds’ second goal on 76 minutes.
The visitors were without striker Chris Wood as he closes in on a £15m move to Burnley. The New Zealand international, who hit 30 goals for Leeds last season, is expected to undergo a medical today.
Leeds boss Thomas Christiansen said pointedly: “I only work with a player who fights for the team. These are my players and for them I die.
“I understand Chris’s situation, but he could always have grown with Leeds. It’s his decision and I accept it, and the club have decided to accept the bid. It’s right that yesterday, we made him an offer he rejected and that means his mind is not with Leeds.’’
Wood issued a statement on Twitter, saying: “Due to strong interest from a Premier League team, the ongoing discussions with the club, and given it has always been my ambition to play at the highest level, I don’t feel it is right that I play.’’
This fixture always evokes memories of Sunderland’s fairytale 1973 FA Cup final triumph over thenmighty Leeds at Wembley.
But for Grayson, the significance was a meeting with the club he supported as a boy and managed for just over three years until his sacking in February 2012.
Grayson kept faith with the starting line-up he has now named in all four league games and saw his side carve out two early openings. Leftback Brendan Galloway pulled the ball in from the left, but it was just beyond the reach of Lewis Grabban.
Then Leeds’ ex-Newcastle man Vurnon Anita almost had an embarrassing return to the north-east when George Honeyman blocked his pass and it ran invitingly for James Vaughan before Pontus Jansson made a last-ditch challenge.
Grabban and Vaughan were also in the thick of it on 20 minutes, combining to produce an outstanding move that was agonisingly close to making the breakthrough but Leeds skipper Liam Cooper’s header glanced on to the bar.
But a minute later, Sunderland were deflated. The home defence dithered and Alioski found Saiz, who expertly executed an angled finish into the far corner.
Pablo Hernandez then headed over in front of goal as Sunderland reeled from the sucker-punch.
After the break, keeper Jason Steele parried a stinging free-kick from Alioski, but he was powerless against Dallas’ header. Grayson said: “It looks slightly offside, but I’m not going to complain. Leeds are a good side and they’re unbeaten this season, but if we’d got the first goal I think there would have been a different outcome.’’
Grayson is keen on West Ham’s Robert Snodgrass, who played under him at Leeds, but said: “I can tell you now we won’t be buying him.’’