Football: Leeds boast a Sharpe style

Sheffield Wednesday 2 Leeds United

Leeds fans could be in for a rare treat for the remainder of the season: some entertainment.

This League campaign has been far from memorable for the Elland Road faithful, who have relied on manager George Graham's defensive strategies to crawl clear of the relegation zone after a shaky start. Now that the drop is all-but a mathematical impossibility, however, Graham has told his team to go out and entertain in their remaining matches.

On Saturday, predictions of a dour Yorkshire derby proved completely groundless as players on both sides responded to the challenge. Even the Leeds full-backs, Tony Dorigo and Gary Kelly, joined in the act, hurtling down the flanks to feed the front men. Kelly's wanderings caused some anxious moments when Wednesday's Mark Pembridge exploited the gaps on the left, but the promptings of a revitalised Ian Rush and Lee Sharpe in midfield, and the tireless work of Rod Wallace up front, made Leeds worthy of perhaps more than the single point.

"We played really well and some of our passing was excellent," Graham said. "There were chances which we should have taken advantage of - we could have been three or four up in the first half - but I'm really pleased." Sharpe and Wallace gave Leeds a 2-1 half-time lead but Andy Booth's fierce second-half shot earned the home side a share of the points.

Goals: Sharpe (17) 0-1; Hirst (20) 1-2; Wallace (21) 1-2; Booth (51) 2-2.

Sheffield Wednesday: Pressman; Nolan, Stefanovic, Walker, Pembridge, Briscoe, Whittingham, Carbone (Blinker, 89), Hirst, Booth, Humphreys (Collins, 73). Substitutes not used: Donaldson, Linighan, Clarke (gk).

Leeds United: Martyn; Kelly (Wetherall, 77), Radebe, Halle, Molenaar, Dorigo, Sharpe, Bowyer, Wallace, Rush, Deane. Substitutes not used: Beeney (gk), Gray, Harte, Jackson.

Referee: P Danson (Leicester).

Booked: Sheffield Wednesday: Humphreys, Stefanovic, Booth, Hirst, Collins. Leeds: Rush.

Man of the match: Wallace.

Attendance: 30,373.