24-07-10: Hartlepool United (a) 5-0 (HT 3-0) Crowd (2,691)

After his side's 4-0 defeat at the hands of Bury, United Manager Simon Grayson still was without the services of Jason Crowe, Billy Paynter and now Fede Bessone, who had picked up a strain in training, but Richard Naylor warmed up with the team before the match, but was not included on the teamsheet as United visited Hartlepool United in their next friendly four days after the shock defeat. They lined up: Shane Higgs; Paul Connolly, Neill Collins, Leigh Bromby, Aidan White; Robert Snodgrass, Neil Kilkenny, Jonathan Howson, Bradley Johnson, Lloyd Sam; Luciano Becchio. Once more there was a large contingent from Leeds comprising well over a third of the crowd, there were an estimated 1,067 in the crowd of 2,691 as referee David Webb of Stanley, Co.Durham, started play. They soon had something to cheer about as Leeds took the lead after just five minutes, when Shane Higgs made a long clearance and, with lone striker Luciano Becchio causing havoc in the home team's penalty area, the ball fell to Robert Snodgrass, who scored with ease. It was Luciano Becchio who twice went close just a few moments later, when, after Lloyd Sam won a corner, which he took, the Argentinian could not believe his luck as he twice had a header cleared off the line. Bradley Johnson, after a fine run, saw his cross sail across the face of goal after eighteen minutes and then, soon after, Neil Kilkenny forced home keeper Scott Flinders to react quickly as his corner was curling under the bar. It was all very one-sided but it was not until five minutes before the break that United made their superiority count. It was Lloyd Sam who did all the lead upwork and his fine cross saw Luciano Becchio score with a fine header. It was not, however, an end to the scoring in the half as a short free-kick by Neil Kilkenny was taken further by Paul Connolly, who found Jonathan Howson pushing forward, to deliver a good cross which Bradley Johnson rose to head in. The second half started in the same vein as the first with Neil Kilkenny having an early shot blocked. After good work by Aidan White and Lloyd Sam, Neil Kilkenny was again unlucky to see his shot deflected for a corner and then it was Robert Snodgrass who was denied after Scott Flinders could only parry a shot from Bradley Johnson. The inevitable fourth goal duly arrived after fifty-seven minutes as Lloyd Sam found Jonathan Howson, whose shot found the net after hitting the inside of the post. There was a temporary change to the incessant United attacks as the home side hit the bar, but it was short-lived. Simon Grayson brought on Andy Hughes at right-back for Paul Connolly after fifty-nine minutes, followed a minute later by Max Gradel replacing Lloyd Sam. The Ivory Coast man was soon in the action when he quickly won a free-kick and from it he tested Scott Flinders with a curling shot. He then combined well with Aidan White down the left, but Jonathan Howson could only shoot over the bar. Robert Snodgrass was then close as his left foot shot was just wide, and it was he that supplied the cross in the sixty-eighth minute for Luciano Becchio to get his second and United's fifth, with another fine header. This was the signal for a double substitution in the sixty-ninth minute with Davide Somma coming on for Luciano Becchio and Mike Grella coming on for Neil Kilkenny.Kasper Schmeichel, Tom Lees and Will Hatfield remained unused on the Leeds bench. The home team's substitutes were: Goalkeeper Andy Rafferty, defenders Steven Haslam and Roberts, midfielders Leon McSweeney and Gary Liddle and forwards Adam Boyd, Denis Behan, Colin Larkin and Billy Greulich. Leeds-born Andy Monkhouse forced Shane Higgs to a good save with a long-ranged shot as the home side tried to find a consolation goal. However in the end there was nothing as Leeds looked the more likely to increase their lead as Bradley Johnson shot wide and Max Gradel caused the home side some anxious moments.

Teamsheet & Ticket: