DALLAS A REAL SHOWSTOPPER
Stuart seals win to pile on the agony for Redknapp as Leeds go top
LEEDS moved to the top of the Championship after grinding out a hard-fought win over Harry Redknapp’s strugglers. A first-half strike from Samuel Saiz and an injury-time effort from substitute Stuart Dallas ensured Leeds took advantage of Cardiff City’s slip at Preston North End. The victory extended their unbeaten start to the season to nine matches. But for Birmingham it is now four straight defeats and a place in the relegation spots. That said, veteran boss Redknapp will have taken heart from what was an improved performance by his team. Birmingham started brightly and, after Sam Gallagher saw a penalty appeal turned down, skipper Michael Morrison looped a header wide from a corner from new £6million man Jota. But Leeds started to take control and Emilio Nsue cleared a looped effort from Pablo Hernandez off the line before the menacing Saiz opened the scoring in the 17th minute. David Stockdale performed heroics to keep out a thunderbolt from Pierre-michel Lasogga. But the ball looped up for Saiz and he stabbed home from virtually on the goaline. Lasogga, the two-goal hero of the 5-0 weekend win over Burton Albion, wasted opportunites to increase the lead. Leeds were on the front foot at the start of the second half and only a vital clearance from Morrison denied Lasogga a tap-in. But Birmingham continued to carry a threat and Gallagher somehow dragged wide after being played in on goal. Leeds responded with the excellent Saiz, on Real Madrid’s books as a youngster, sending a drive toward the corner that Stockdale parried away. But Stockdale was beaten in injury-time when Dallas, rather than running toward the corner, cut inside and fired home. It sent the biggest Elland Road crowd for a midweek match in 13 years into raptures.