Coca Cola FOOTBALL LEAGUE ONE Leeds 1 Swindon 0
Sunday People
03:22, 10 Feb 2013Updated 06:43, 10 Feb 2013
Jermaine Beckford went from hero to villain as his late strike guided Leeds to a victory against Swindon.
The striker was denied by an excellent parry from Swindon goalkeeper Phil Smith before heading home the resulting corner after 87 minutes, but he was sent off in stoppage time for a second bookable offence.
Leeds showed their attacking intentions early on with a shot inside the opening minute. Rob Snodgrass' cross was volleyed wide of the right-hand post by Beckford.
Beckford was in the thick of the action two minutes later, but his effort was saved by Smith in the Swindon goal.
At the other end, Hal Robson-Kanu's long-range effort was saved by Casper Ankergren.
Leeds continued to push forward and almost opened the scoring after 16 minutes, but Snodgrass' effort was tipped around a post by Smith.
And Simon Grayson's men continued to waste chances as Beckford's right-footed volley was again saved.
Snodgrass then sent a lob over the crossbar and Jonathan Howson's volley was punched clear by Smith before Fabian Delph volleyed wide.
Swindon's chances were few and far between in the first half, with Gordon Greer heading wide before Simon Cox nodded off target.
The Robins created the first opportunity of the second half within a minute of the restart, but Owain Tudur Jones' overhead kick was saved by Ankergren.
Leeds struggled to create chances in the second-half and Swindon almost opened the scoring on the hour mark, only for Kevin Amankwaah to shoot wide from 20 yards.
United's first shot of the second half came after 64 minutes, but Snodgrass' effort was blocked by Greer.
Delph then tried his luck three minutes later, but his left-footed effort was blocked by Amankwaah before Howson's right-footed strike was saved by Smith. Leeds continued to push forward but were denied an opening goal when Luciano Becchio's overhead kick sailed wide of the post and Robson-Kanu blocked Beckford's effort.
With 11 minutes remaining, Liam Dickinson came off the bench for his debut, having joined Leeds on loan from Derby earlier in the week.
At the other end, Billy Paynter sent a right-footed shot wide of the post from 25 yards before substitute Jack Smith volleyed over the bar.
Swindon almost nicked a point after the sending off, but Sean Morrison's header was saved by Ankergren.