27-07-10: SK Brann (a) 3-1 (HT 2-1) Crowd (5,400)

Simon Grayson stuck with his lone striker Luciano Becchio, but made four changes to the team that easily beat Hartlepool United for the trip to the Continent to play strong Norwegian side SK Brann. Richard Naylor came in at centre-back for Leigh Bromby who dropped to the bench. Fede Bessone returned in place of Aidan White at left-back, Kasper Schmeichel was in goal in place of Shane Higgs and Andy Hughes came in at right-back for Paul Connolly, with the three replaced players joining the bench. The Leeds line-up was: Kasper Schmeichel; Andy Hughes, Neill Collins, Richard Naylor, Fede Bessone; Robert Snodgrass, Neil Kilkenny, Jonathan Howson, Bradley Johnson, Lloyd Sam; Luciano Becchio. There was a turn out of 5,400 in Bergen to greet the two teams with Brann expected to test United to the limit as they were in mid-season. Brann soon showed it was going to be a physical encounter and picked up a booking in the first four minutes after two over the top challenges on Neil Kilkenny. From the last of the two free-kicks United won a corner and Neill Collins rose to force a terrific save from the Brann keeper, Jorgen Mohus. Continuing their bright start Lloyd Sam almost created a chance for Luciano Becchio. Leeds were playing some good free-flowing football and in the fifth minute Bradley Johnson won the ball in midfield to provide Robert Snodgrass with a chance, but his shot cleared the bar, and more good play led to Luciano Becchio missing a chance from close range. United deservedly took the lead after eighteen minutes when Lloyd Sam and Robert Snodgrass both played their part to allow Luciano Becchio to score with a powerful header for his third pre-season goal. There was bad news for United as Robert Snodgrass was the subject of an horrendous tackle which resulted in him being carried off on a stretcher, to be replaced by Max Gradel after twenty-five minutes. Undaunted, United pressed on and immediately increased their lead to 2-0 after a Neil Kilkenny cross was forced home by Lloyd Sam from close range at the far post. After Bradley Johnson had rattled the bar, Fede Bessone made good ground down the left for Neil Kilkenny to have similar luck as his shot hit the woodwork on the half hour. Luciano Becchio was unlucky not to earn a penalty after being brought down by the Brann keeper as he pounced on a loose ball after the keeper could only parry a Bradley Johnson shot just before half-time. Brann did cause Kasper Schmeichel to abandon his role as spectator to make a save from Cato Hansen in the forty-second minute but Neil Kilkenny, who had received a first half buffeting almost created United's third before the break but Luciano Becchio headed his corner wide. It was, however, the hosts that found the net as Cato Hansen found himself in space to score with ease just before the half-time whistle. No sooner had the second half got under way in torrential rain than Lloyd Sam was on the end of another bad tackle, but Leeds overcame both obsticles to continue to dominate and made the score 3-1 after fifty-seven minutes. It was Lloyd Sam who made the running with a charge down the right flank and squared to Neil Kilkenny who laid it in the path of Luciano Becchio who made no mistake to score his second of the night and Leeds' third. This was the signal for several changes by United, with Davide Somma coming on in the striking role for Luciano Becchio, Paul Connolly replacing Andy Hughes at right back, Leigh Bromby replacing Richard Naylor in central defence and Aidan White replacing Lloyd Sam on the left flank. It took a while for the new formation to settle but first Davide Somma almost connected with a Fede Bessone cross and then Aidan White saw his shot deflected wide. From the corner that resulted Jorgen Mohus made a poor attempt to cut it out but did enough to put Max Gradel off as he sought to capitalise. Mike Grella was sent on for Bradley Johnson after seventy minutes and soon tested the Brann keeper with a skidding shot from distance. United made their final substitution of the night as Tom Lees replaced Neill Collins in central defence, leaving Shane Higgs unused on the bench. They had a shout for a penalty after Davide Somma was brought down in the box, but it was not to be as United cruised to an easy victory. The home substitutes were: Goalkeeper Hakon Opdal, defender Birkir Saevarsson, midfielders Rodolph Austin, Eric Mjelde and Jan Gunnar Solli and strikers Erik Huseklepp and Diego Guastavino.