Steve Bruce's Hull City bounce back to put more pressure on Leeds chairman Ken Bates

Leeds United 2 Hull City 3

Elland Road

Steve Bruce does not really jig, but his delight carried him onto the Elland Road pitch three times last night.

Victory kept his side fourth in the table , they were worthy winners and the away section echoed to the sound of his name at full-time. Ten months since he left the vitriol of the Stadium of Light, Bruce is back enjoying his football again, leading Hull City to their first win at Leeds since 1987.

"Without question we deserved it," said Bruce. "Some of the football we played was very pleasing. Overall they're enjoying it and I have to say I'm enjoying it as well. I'm delighted for the players and I'm delighted for the fans.

"It's always nice to get off to a good start. The six new players have settled. I'm enjoying watching them."

There was much to admire in his team, including the performance of the on-loan Sunderland midfielder Ahmed Elmohamady, who, deployed as a right wing-back, scored an excellent opening goal in the 23rd minute. He created the second six minutes later with a delightful cross to the far post where Abdoulaye Faye crashed home a diving header, and then, with 14 minutes remaining, capped off a fine evening by teeing up Robert Koren to slot home the decisive third goal.

"I'm delighted I've got him," added Bruce. "I always knew at this level he would have no problem. The system suits him."

Bruce's mood contrasted sharply to the gloom among home supporters. Chairman Ken Bates may have admitted in his programme notes that the sale of this famous old club is "progressing slowly" but there were jeers at half-time, chants of "Bates out" just before the final whistle and, remember, we are only six league games into the season.

Leeds had gone ahead in the eighth minute, after El-Hadji Diouf tumbled under the challenge of Joe Dudgeon. The decision seemed to be that of referee Roger East's assistant, to the consternation of Hull's players and management team.

"It's not a penalty it was outside the box," said Bruce. Luciano Becchio scored from the spot. From there it was Hull's game, until injury-time as the game closed, when Andy Gray headed in a goal that was the merest of consolation for the home side.

"If I was managing a Sunday League team I would have been disappointed with the first two goals," said the Leeds manager, Neil Warnock. "They're naive for the goals we conceded. You have to grow up quickly in the Championship."

Leeds United (4-4-2): Kenny; Peltier, Lees, Pearce, White; Byram, Austin, Varney (Gray, 84), Tonge; Diouf, Becchio (Poleon, 61). Substitutes not used Ashdown, Kisnorbo, Pugh, Brown, Thompson.

Hull City (3-5-2): Amos; Chester, Faye, Bruce; Elmohamady, Koren (Rosenior, 87), Evans, Quinn, Dudgeon; Aluko, Simpson (Mclean, 89). Substitutes not used Oxley, Dawson, McShane, Devitt, Proschwitz.

Referee R East (Wiltshire).

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
Caption competition
Caption competition
News in pictures
World news in pictures
Sport blogs

A changing of the guards in English football: From Sir Alex Ferguson to Jose Mourinho

The guard has changed at Old Trafford for the first time in 26 years. Meanwhile, down the road, the ...

by The Sports Lawyer

iBet: Look each way for value in The Cote D’Azur Open

With the top nine players in the men’s world tennis rankings all missing this tournament to prepare ...

by Gareth Purnell

On The Road at the Giro d’Italia: We could have been on the tour of Siberia over past 72 hours

When cyclists look back on their careers spanning many hundreds (and in some cases possibly thousand...

by Martin Ayres

       
Career Services

Day In a Page

Watch out Watford: Here comes the secretive Bilderberg Group

Watch out Watford: Here comes the secretive Bilderberg Group

A meeting of global power brokers in a Hertfordshire hotel is exciting conspiracy theorists, but what are they really about?
'The ultimate all-in-one home entertainment system': Microsoft finally unveils its Xbox ONE console

'The ultimate all-in-one home entertainment system'

Microsoft finally unveils its Xbox ONE console
Plenty of Fish dating site founder pulls 'Intimate Encounters' option to ward off sleazy men

Plenty of sleaze

Dating website pulls intimate 'hook-up' section to curb harassment
Inferno author Dan Brown 'honoured' to be invited to join the Freemasons

The Freemasons’ Code

Dan Brown reveals the message that told him door to the lodge is open
How to say ‘I’m a sellout’: Tumblr’s David Karp’s message of reassurance to his staff sounded very familiar

How to say ‘I’m a sellout’

Tumblr’s David Karp’s message of reassurance to his staff sounded very familiar
Why clubs are keen to take a stand

Why clubs are keen to take a stand

There's a real desire around the grounds for safe standing. But will the authorities listen?
In the end the fans decided Tony Pulis had made a pig's ear of the job at Stoke City

In the end the fans decided Tony Pulis had made a pig's ear of the job at Stoke City

Disillusion with a siege mentality and negative playing style made change inevitable
James Lawton: The James Hunt I knew is the subject of a new F1 movie

James Lawton: The James Hunt I knew is the subject of a new F1 movie

British driver was fascinating man whose epic duel with Niki Lauda in 1976 was typical of an era of glamour and glory – but also the ever-present threat of death
Stuart Hogg: Ready to climb his own Everest

Stuart Hogg: Ready to climb his own Everest

Lions' cub, 20, joins long line of players from Scottish borders club Hawick given opportunity to make his mark at highest level
Carl Froch handed rare chance of revenge with dream rematch

Steve Bunce on Boxing

Carl Froch handed rare chance of revenge with dream rematch against Mikel Kessler
'There is a battle going on inside us that is never discussed'

Masculinity in crisis?

'There is a battle going on inside us that is never discussed'
Have US shock jocks gone too far?

Have US shock jocks gone too far?

An incendiary remark from Rush Limbaugh may be the beginning of the end for outspoken right-wing US broadcasters
The ‘Beverly Hills’ of Surrey pays more income tax than big cities of the North

The ‘Beverly Hills’ of Surrey

Elmbridge pays more income tax than big cities of the North
Heavenly Bodies

Heavenly Bodies

Michael Landy's artistic marriage made in heaven... and hell
'He will always be a friend': Jackie Stewart backs Polanski

'He will always be a friend'

Jackie Stewart backs Roman Polanski