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FA Cup | Fourth Round
Jan 27, 2013 at 2pm UK
 
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2-1

Live Commentary: Leeds United 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur - as it happened

:Headline: Live Commentary: Leeds United 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur - as it happened: ID:66239: from db_amp
Live text commentary as Leeds United defeated Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup fourth round.

Leeds United hosted Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup fourth round, looking to add to the list of weekend Cup surprises.

Leeds took the lead with their first real chance through Luke Varney's fine curled effort after being put through by Michael Brown.

Ross McCormack doubled Leeds's advantage with a fine curled finish after cutting in on his left foot, before Clint Dempsey got Spurs back in it.

However, Leeds hung on for a big win.

Read how the action unfolded below.

Hello and thanks for joining us this afternoon for coverage of what should be a fine game of football.
It's the fourth round of the FA Cup and on a weekend that has already seen upsets - with another possible as Brentford are beating Chelsea - this is a very tricky one indeed for Spurs.
Team news coming right up.
LEEDS UNITED XI: Ashdown; Byram, Peltier, Lees, White; Green, Brown, Austin; Varney, Diouf, McCormack
SPURS XI: Friedel; Naughton, Caulker, Vertonghen, Assou-Ekotto; Huddlestone, Parker, Lennon, Bale, Sigurdsson; Dempsey
First to Leeds. As expected, there is no Luciano Becchio. The striker handed in a transfer request last week and is expected to be sold in the coming days, although Leeds have rejected a bid.
In for him is Luke Varney. Also Jamie Ashdown is in for Paddy Kenny and Paul Green replaces Ross Barkley.
For Spurs, Andre Villas-Boas has made a number of changes. Including no recognised striker in his lineup.
Clint Dempsey will start up front following his last-gasp equaliser last weekend against Manchester United, with only Jonathan Obika has a striker option from the bench. Dempsey will have Gylfi Sigurdsson in support, who will play ahead of Scott Parker and Tom Huddlestone in the middle.
It's an interesting decision against what is a typically attacking Leeds side. The Portuguese's lineup does include some big players but it is not full-strength, with Moussa Dembele a key omission. The Belgian is on the bench, however.
UPDATE: Brentford 2-1 Chelsea (Forrester, pen)
Leeds have been knocked out by either Arsenal or Tottenham in each of the last three seasons. If they win today they'll have reached the fifth round for the first time in 10 years. Lots of omens for them to break.
Here is our full team news, courtesy of Liam Apicella.
The head-to-heads between these two sides is a close run thing. They have met a total of 96 times, with Leeds winning 31 and Tottenham triumphing in 36.
UPDATE: Brentford 2-2 Chelsea (Torres)
Spurs have been knocked out at this stage in three of the past five seasons. However they do have an enviable overall record in the Cup with eight wins. Only Manchester United and Arsenal have more.
Leeds beat Spurs in 1972 in the FA Cup - the same year they went on to win the whole thing. So that's something positives for today's hosts. They'll certainly be up for it with a full Elland Road behind them.
A look at the odds tells me that Spurs are favourites for this one. You may not be surprised to hear that.
If you want a punt on the visitors, the best odds you can have are 1/2. A Leeds win can be backed at as long as 5/1, with a draw available at threes.
Personally, I'd take those draw odds. I'm expecting Spurs to have to come from behind and the lack of genuine strikers could be an issue. I'm plumping for 1-1.
The players are just emerging on to the pitch now, we're just a few minutes away from kickoff.
With El-Hadji Diouf comes controversy, so expect some today. I'm also anticipating cards with two battling midfields on display.
It's Spurs to kick us off, and we're away.
An early piece of miscontrol from Parker. He then plays a sloppy pas which Varney latches on to and eventually it goes for a corner. Good, bright start from Leeds.
Leeds doing all the early pressing and win a series of throws. Spurs win one themselves but the directness of Leeds's football is causing some early issues.
Spurs try to work something with Dempsey and Sigurdsson, but Green mops up well.
Spurs too are playing it forward quite quickly. Huddlestone is keen to look for the early pass to Dempsey where he can. They're just starting to keep it down here and Bale is threaded through by Dempsey, but Lee Peltier does well to clear for a corner.
CHANCE! Jan Vertonghen looks for Sigurdsson with a cross from deep, but he puts his header straight at Ashdown.
Good work in the midfield again from Spurs and this time Dempsey is put through by Parker, but the American's shot is way wide from an angle in the box.
Parker almost gets himself in trouble, but is brought down in the Leeds half and Assou-Ekotto will whip it in.
It comes to nothing and Leeds are able to clear through Michael Brown.
Sam Byram does well against Gareth Bale, not allowing the Welshman to cross or get by him and gets the ball away for a corner.
CHANCE! Dempsey is left within about five yards of space in the box. Fortunately for Leeds Huddlestone's corner is just too high for the American and he heads well over. They can't defend like that.
Decent cross put in on the right, but Brad Friedel is alert to it and gathers comfortably in the end. Leeds have come back into this a little more the last couple of minutes.
GOAL! Leeds 1-0 Spurs (Varney)
Told you. That is utterly atrocious from Spurs. They let a speculative ball from Brown go all the way through to Varney on the left, who cuts into the box in space and curls past Friedel. If you defend like that you deserve to concede. First blood Leeds.
I suspected Leeds might score first in this one. That was clearly the best chance of the game so far and, while not deserved, Spurs cannot complain that they have gone behind.
CHANCE! Neat passing on the edge of the box from Spurs. Parker passes wide to Naughton, but his cross is too high for Sigurdsson who heads well over.
Assou-Ekotto blazes an effort high and wide from 30 yards. He was left in a bit of space, but there was no danger of that finding the net.
CHANCE! Another sight for Varney, but this was a harder chance. McCormack lays it back to him at the corner of the box but he puts it clear over the bar going for power.
It's definitely being played like a cup-tie this one. Chances are coming at both ends and there's a great tempo to it. Spurs now are controlling the possession, but Leeds are holding their shape well.
Parker tries to thread Bale through - who has moved to the right. He's not getting much joy either side, Peltier and Byram have both dealt with the pace out wide well.
CHANCE! The ball breaks to Aaron Lennon who runs at pace before threading the ball to Dempsey. The America shoots with the outside of his boot but it's straight at Ashdown. He should have done better.
First late tackle of the game here from Parker, who brought down fan-favourite Diouf. The Senegalese will take it, but it doesn't trouble Spurs and goes for a goal kick.
Leeds are doubling up on Lennon, with Green and Byram trying to stop him.
CHANCE! Fantastic effort from Huddlestone! He flicks the ball over his head and shoots left-footed. Ashdown has to be alert to palm it away from the bottom corner.
CHANCE! Selfish from Bale! He does really well to skin Varney and Peltier but from almost the byline Bale shoots instead of cutting back to Sigurdsson. Poor decision-making.
Plenty of chances are now falling Spurs's way, but a combination of poor finishing and not good decision-making is keeping them behind in this. By contrast, Leeds have created a couple, but one was really good and very well taken. That's the difference so far.
Again poor decision-making! Assou-Ekotto finds Lennon over the top with a marvellous ball, but Lennon tries a powerful cross and it ends up in the hands of Ashdown. Too close to the goalkeeper.
More frustration for Bale. White beats him to the ball for pace, and Bale brings down the Leeds man with a push in the back. Top defending.
Spurs dominating now. Parker runs down the right and looks for Dempsey with a low cross but Lees is there to clear from the American's toes.
More excellent defending against Bale. The Welshman is appealing for a dive against White, but it was a clear push, he can't complain.
Half-chance for McCormack there. Brown finds him over the top from the half-way line, but it was a difficult chance with the snap-shot and out for a goal kick.
CHANCE! Dempsey tests his range from 25 yards and Ashdown needs to get down quickly to stop it. A decent effort from the American.
It's hit a bit of a lull. At least in terms of the tempo of the game before. Chances are now hard to come by, with both defences strong at the moment.
Brown is right in the thick of everything this half. He's leading his team fantastically. I usually dislike his too-strong tackling, but he's tempered his aggression perfectly so far.
Minor stoppage here after Rodolph Austin clipped Sigurdsson.
CHANCE! What a chance! More poor defending from Spurs sets McCormack through. He's running slightly wide and goes for goal but Friedel makes a big save. He perhaps could have rounded the American there, but that's probably the second best chance of the game.
Two minutes to play at the end of the first half.
Byram does really well again, this time to cut out Parker's pass towards Dempsey.
HALF-TIME: Leeds 1-0 Spurs
A very good half of cup football. Leeds took the lead with their first chance of the game through Varney's excellent finish. Spurs have had numerous efforts in response but have been wasteful without a genuine striker up top.
Spurs have probably edged it in terms of chances but could even have been two behind with McCormack having an excellent chance well saved by Friedel right at the end of the half.
I wonder if AVB will be thinking about bringing on Obika at any point. It's hard to see them scoring, despite their dominance in possession and chances without a proper striker. Dempsey is good, but far better arriving late in the box than leading the line - likewise Sigurdsson.
Just a few minutes away from the second half here. I suspect it could start getting feisty should the score stay the same for another 15-20 minutes.
Leeds kick off for the second half.
Just as they did in the first minute, Leeds force an early corner. This time through Byram.
It's mishit by Diouf but almost turns into a chance for McCormack. They come again with Varney bursting into the box and Huddlestone wins the ball with a super - if risky - sliding tackle.
Spurs haven't come out firing like I was expecting them to. Instead, Leeds are in control of the early exchanges.
GOAL! Leeds 2-0 Spurs (McCormack)
McCormack and Diouf play a midfield one-two with the latter playing the former in over the top. He cuts on to his left inside Caulker and bends into the corner. Fantastic goal and Spurs are in huge trouble!
What can Spurs manage now? Surely AVB will need to haul Dembele off the bench? They've had most of the ball but the driving from the middle has not been there without the Belgian.
CHANCE! What a chance for Spurs! Lennon gets in behind and cuts back to Dempsey at the far post from three yards out but he puts it wide with his left foot! Oh dear.
Leeds can now sit back and play on the break. Diouf looks for Byram down the right but his pass is just overhit.
GOAL! Leeds 2-1 Spurs (Dempsey)
It's a typical Dempsey goal. Bale finds space on the left for a cross and the American gets in front of his marker to nod in. Spurs right back in this all of a sudden. Couple of changes from Spurs: Huddlestone and Sigurdsson are off for Obika and Dembele.
We're in for a blockbuster of a final 30 minutes here. With Dembele on Spurs should now dominate the possession, but will they be able to grab another, or even two?
As I suspected, it's getting a bit tetchy in the middle there. Brown takes out Parker, with the two players you might expect to clash doing so.
Austin combines with Varney on the break, following what should have been a clear foul by Byram on Assou-Ekotto. However it goes out for a throw.
Green loses out to Vertonghen, who is then fouled by the player he robbed. Dembele looks to play in Bale but it's too strong and Ashdown gathers low down. Very finely poised this one now.
SPURS SUBSTITUTION: Naughton comes off for Kyle Walker.
Leeds break with McCormack bettering Vertonghen. Spurs eventually clear following a Diouf cross, but there's a threat on the break from Leeds.
Poor defending from Spurs. Caulker lets it bounce before Assou-Ekotto tries to play it out but they eventually manage to clear.
Dembele strikes from 25 yards. He's walking away from it but it's given as a corner, which Walker will take.
CHANCE! Friedel keeps Spurs in the FA Cup! McCormack is through after Assou-Ekotto slips. This time he takes it on his right foot but Friedel makes himself huge and gets his body in the way, really good save.
CHANCE! Bale goes one way, then the other before a low cross. It falls to Dempsey but Lees blocks it behind. It's been heroic defending at times from the Championship side.
Leeds edging themselves on top now. Spurs have 15 minutes to get themselves level. In truth at the moment it doesn't look likely.
Counter-attack from Spurs as Parker looks to get Obika in through the middle. Lees does really well to slide and and win the goal kick off the striker.
YELLOW CARD: Even with Dembele on, Spurs are sloppy. Vertonghen gets booked trying to make up for his countryman giving the ball away. Free-kick to Leeds about 35 yards out.
It's entered a very scrappy period here. Diouf also goes into the book, for delaying that last free-kick.
Leeds defend well again. Lennon is stopped by Peltier and Varney hoofs the rebound into the stands. Ten minutes for them to hang on.
Byram does really well, first to attack down the flank and then to win the ball back after Diouf had given it away.
Bale runs a long way but a poor touch allows Byram in for the tackle, and the young right-back looks injured from that tackle.
Diouf is shoved to ground by Vertonghen, then wins a corner off Parker from the resulting free-kick. This is the part of the game he excels, Diouf.
Ashdown hangs on well from an outside of the foot Bale cross. The crowd were celebrating a bad ball before the goalkeeper got that, which made him a touch nervous.
They're trying to squeeze it through the eye of a needle now, Spurs, but Leeds are just about holding firm.
CHANCE! They will not get a better chance! Assou-Ekotto finds Obika over the top and Peltier gets across brilliantly to get a touch on it for a corner!
LEEDS SUBSTITUTION: Spurs boos ring round as Diouf comes off to a rousing ovation from the Leeds fans. It's centre-back Jason Pearce on in the first of four added minutes.
LEEDS SUBSTITUTION: McCormack is coming off for Davide Somma. Warnock is using up his subs late on here.
YELLOW CARD: Brown gets booked, just as I thought he wouldn't. It's a silly foul wide on the Spurs right. Here comes Friedel...
FULL-TIME! Leeds 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Austin found the net after the free-kick was cleared, but the whistle had already gone and it's a great win for Leeds. They've battled here, and they've deserved to hang on.
That's all from me today. Thanks for joining us and be sure to stay tuned in for the reaction and fallout. Goodbye.

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