Burton fears ease as Kightly strike helps down Leeds
BURTON ALBION 2 Sordell (75), Kightly (77) LEEDS UNITED 1 Bartley (80)
MARVIN SORDELL and Michael Kightly both bagged their fourth Burton goals of the season to edge Nigel Clough’s side to within a point of safety as Leeds’ promotion hopes suffered a blow at the Pirelli Stadium.
Goals after 75 and 77 minutes from the two January signings had Albion seemingly in control of their own destiny going into the last 10 minutes until skipper Kyle Bartley volleyed home Chris Wood’s angled header at the back post.
Sordell turned sharply on to Kightly’s pass to strike past the diving Rob Green and the former Watford man returned the compliment quickly afterwards as the Burnley loanee angled a shot across the keeper and into the back of the net.
Both sides were desperate for three points for vastly differing reasons.
Leeds knew that with the remaining fixtures for their play-off rivals pitting many of them head-to-head, three wins would see them definitely in the end of season race for promotion but their dreadful run of one win in six games is now seriously threatening to derail what had been up until now a prosperous campaign for Garry Monk’s men.
Albion meanwhile wanted the win to push them closer to securing a second season of Championship football and victory secured back-to-back league wins for the first time this season.
Pablo Hernandez fired wide early on as Leeds looked to settle any nerves and they thought they had the lead when Chris Wood headed home from close range after 10 minutes, although referee Darren Bond had long since blown his whistle for a foul on keeper Steven Bywater, making his full league debut for the Brewers in place of injured regular Jon McLaughlin.
Burton warmed to their task and both Sordell and John Mousinho fired wide looking to breach a defence that had not kept a clean sheet on the road since October.
The powerful presence of Wood and skipper Kyle Bartley worked a chance for Luke Ayling at the back post, but he headed into the side netting.
Leeds raised their game as half-time approached with a set piece looking the most likely route to breaking the deadlock. Albion only half-cleared a corner kick with Kalvin Phillips drilling over the bar.
Hernandez was guilty of failing to test Bywater with a deft header from Charlie Taylor’s cross early in the second half and Albion had half shouts for a penalty when Danish midfielder Lasse Vigen Christensen appeared to have his legs taken away from him as he shaped to shoot.
Leeds threatened again as Wood made his presence felt, using his body well to win a corner but the resulting set piece was disappointing as defender Pontus Jansson put an unchallenged header wide of the post.
It proved costly, as Albion grabbed the lead a minute later and Kightly looked to have wrapped up the points with a goal two minutes after that.
Leeds pulled one back through Bartley in the 80th minute, and also had a chance during a late scramble in the box but, after failing to convert Burton held on for a priceless victory.