Match report: Accrington Stanley 1-3 Leeds United
FA Cup: Leeds saw off a commendable effort from League One strugglers Accrington Stanley in a thoroughly entertaining FA Cup tie to book their place in the fifth round for the first time in seven years. Aaron Bower reports from the Wham Stadium …
Updated
Patrick Bamford: “We started very slowly,” he tells the BBC. “Accrington made it very difficult. They have their style, and it took us a while to adapt. I think after we got the first goal, we kid of started to go into the game. Second half, we were much better.”
On his own performance: “I’m feeling a lot better,” he says. “Today I was just missing a goal. I’ve been building the minutes up slowly, which is good … gradual progress. I’m feeling better with each game.”
Elsewhere in the FA Cup: Youri Tielemans missed a penalty for Leicester on their trip to Walsall’s Bescott Stadium, but FA Cup specialist Kelechi Iheanacho spared any blushes for the top flight side, scoring the only goal of the game in the 68th minute to send Leicester into the next round.
Updated
A quick recap: After a sluggish start in which Accrington didn’t give them a moment’s peace on the ball, Leeds scored against the run of play courtesy of a fine long-range effort from Jack Harrison. A quickfire double from Junior Firpo and Luis Sinesterra put the tie beyond Accrington, who did at least bag a consolation goal when the young substitute Leslie Adekoya scored with his first touch of the game moments after taking to the field.
Full-time: Accrington Stanley 1-3 Leeds United
Peep! Peep! Peeeeeeeeeeep! It’s all over at the Wham Stadium in East Lancashire, from where Leeds and their fans will go marching on together into the last 16 of this season’s FA Cup. It’s their first time to make the fifth round in seven years and while they didn’t have it all their own way in this game, particularly in the first half, it took a succession of fine saves from Accrington goalkeeper Toby Savin to keep the score down. Accrington can be proud of their performance but the Premier League class of Leeds prevailed in the end.
Updated
90+4 min: Adekoya is booked for a late shove on Kristensen a split-second after the Leeds defender had cleared the ball.
90+3 min: Leeds win a throw-in deep in Accrington territory and Kristensen sends the ball into the penalty area. Ethan Hamilton heads clear but Leeds win another throw-in.
90+2 min: Adekoya gets on the end of an excellent inswinging cross from the left but heads over the bar.
90 min: Leeds substitution: Mateo Joseph on for – I think – Jack Harrison.
89 min: Brenden Aaronson is unceremoniously felled by Tommy Leigh as he tries to cut inside with a jinking run.
87 min: Aged just 17 and on in the heart of the Accrington defence for his senior debut, Aaron Pickles does well to shepherd Rodrigo to the byline and force the Leeds man to put the ball out for a goal-kick.
86 min: Accrington substitution: Josh Woods on for Shaun Whalley.
85 min: Those Accrington subs: Nolan, Pickles, Adekoya and Quirke on for Longelo, Tharme, Pressley and McConnville.
84 min: Toby Savin saves well with his right foot, denying Rodrigo from a tight angle. The 21-year-old goalkeeper has had an excellent game despite letting in three goals.
GOAL! Accrington Stanley 1-3 Leeds (Adekoya 82)
Accrington pull one back. Seconds after coming on as part of a quadruple-substitution, 18-year-old Leslie Adekoya sweeps home into a gaping net from close range to score his first goal in senior football in only his eighth appearance as a sub.
Updated
79 min: Another good save from Toby Savin, who gets down well to divert a Kristensen shot out for a corner.
76 min: Leeds triple-substitution: Bamford, Rutter and Koch off. Sonny Perkins, Diego Llorente and Brenden Aaronson on.
75 min: Leeds substitution from a few minutes ago: Rodrigo on for Luis Sinisterra. Bamford sets up the new arrival on the pitch but his shot from close range is saved brilliantly by Toby Savin.
73 min: Some more good news for fans of the United States of Leeds.
Weston McKennie to Leeds, here we go! Understand Leeds will pay €1.2m loan fee — deal will include buy option clause for €33m plus add ons 🚨⚪️🇺🇸 #LUFC
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 28, 2023
Leeds president Radrizzani unlocked the deal with Juventus in the night.
McKennie has agreed personal terms with Leeds. pic.twitter.com/mY1g6Fuql0
72 min: Georginio Rutter can’t quite wrap his foot around the ball and sends a shot from distance wide.
70 min: Back to that second Leeds goal, where Firpo’s finish couldn’t have been simpler thanks to some excellent work by Bamford. He received the ball and was surrounded by defenders, but with a quick shimmy and swivel he found a yard of space and played a short weighted pass into the path of Firpo, who couldn’t miss from close range.
GOAL! Accrington Stanley 0-3 Leeds United (Sinisterra 68)
Leeds extend their lead! With Harvey Rodgers playing everyone in white onside, Jack Harrison runs on to a ball down the left channel. There’s a queue of three Leeds players waiting to smash home his cross and Luis Sinisterra does the honours.
Updated
GOAL! Accrington Stanley 0-2 Leeds (Firpo 65)
Leeds go two up! Junior Firpo sidefoots home from close range for his first Leeds goal after excellent work in a tight space from Patrick Bamford.
Updated
65 min: Accrington have more than one long throw merchant in their ranks and this time it’s Tommy Leigh who sends the ball into the penalty area from deep. Leeds clear.
63 min: With Rutter unmarked and in a great position to his right, Luis Sinisterra shoots high over the bar after from the edge of the penalty area after cutting inside from the left.
62 min: The ball comes towards the far post from the left and Rasmus Kristensen tees up Bamford with a cushioned header. His shot on the turn from a tight angle hits the side-netting.
60 min: Ethan Hamilton tries to send Shaun Whalley on his way with a ball in behind the Leeds defence from deep down the inside left. Offside.
59 min: Rutter spots the run of Sinisterra into the Accrington penalty area and tries to play the ball into his path. Ryan Astley, who has been limping for the past few minutes, intercepts and clears.
56 min: Georginio Rutter tries to open his account for Leeds with a spectacular bicycle kick. Rather than connect with the bouncing ball he catches Harvey Rodegers with a high boot. Free-kick for Accrington.
53 min: Tharme “Delaps” another couple of long throw-ins down the right touchline like a trebuchet catapulting the carcass of an ox over a medieval castle rampart. Leeds clear their lines.
58 min: Doug Tharme hurls a long throw into the Leeds penalty area. Not for the first time in this match, Ilan Meslier comes for the ball but drops it. Harvey Rodgers can’t steer the breaking ball on target.
49 min: Georginio Rutter goes down holding his head after being dragged back by Ethan Hamilton, who landed on top of him as the pair went to ground. It should be a free-kick for Leeds but they don’t get one.
48 min: Doug Tharme clatters into the back of Patrick Bamford, catching him on the thigh with his knee. That’s a sore one.
Second half: Accrington 0-1 Leeds United
46 min: Shaun Whalley wins a free-kick for his team moments after kick-off, drawing a foul from just inside the Leeds half. Accrington get the ball forward, it’s crossed from the right and breaks kindly for Harvey Rodgers in the penalty area. It’s a glorious scoring opportunity but the dyed-in-the-wool Leeds fans blasts over. He can’t believe he’s missed!
Updated
Elsewhere in the FA Cup: In today’s other early kick-off, it’s scoreless at half-time in the match between League One side Walsall and their Premier League visitors Leicester City.
Half-time: Accrington Stanley 0-1 Leeds United
Peep! The teams go into the dressing-room for their half-time brew with Leeds in front courtesy of a real moment of quality from Jack Harrison, whose second goal of the season was a real beauty. The goal came against the run of play following an excellent start by Accrington Stanley, who can be very proud of their first half effort and will be convinced they can claw their way back into this game.
Updated
45+1 min: Accrington free-kick, wide on the right. Sean McConville sends the ball into the mixer, where Ilan Meslier claims it.
45 min: Patrick Bamford and Doug Tharme briefly clash antlers off the ball, the Leeds skipper apparently unimpressed with some roughhouse tactics from the Accrington defender.
42 min: Jack Harrison overhits a cross to the far post but the ball eventually finds its way to the feet of Rasmus Kristensen. His low diagonal drive is pushed past the far post by Toby Savin. Instead of Leeds getting a corner and Savin the credit for another good save, a goal-kick is awarded.
39 min: Liam Coyle is booked for a foul on Bamford near the touchline, the linesman turning supergrass and advising the ref to caution the Accrington midfielder for what looked a fairly harmless challenge.
37 min: Sinesterra drives forward into the Accrington penalty area, tries to shoot but hasd his effort blocked. The ball breraks to Bamford, whose shot is saved by Savin, who can’t hold it. With two defenders between himself and the ball, Bamford falls over in his efforts to get to it first. The Leeds skipper and his side’s more optimistic fans appeal for a penalty but none is forthcoming. Bamford rises to his feet with a big grin on his face.
36 min: Close! Leeds almost double their lead but Toby Savin gets a finger-tip to a rising Luis Sinisterra drive and manages to divert the ball on to the woodwork.
35 min: From an Accrington throw-in, Shaun Whalley whips a vicious cross into the heart of the Leeds penalty area. Meslier can’t hold it but Leeds clear in the ensuing scramble.
33 min: Bamford runs on to a through ball from deep and tests Accrington goalkeeper Savin with a first-time strike towards the near post. It’s a very feeble effort that doesn’t trouble Savin in the slightest.
31 min: Good work from Rutter, who controls a pass from Bamford and tries to tee up Luis Sinisterra with an inviting, low curled pass through the Accrington penalty area. There’s a mite too much weight on the delivery and the Colombian can’t quite connect despite stretching every sinew.
29 min: Nothing of note comes from the set-piece and Leeds go on the attack again. From a promising position, a mix-up between Luis Sinesterra and Jack Harrison results in the Leeds goalscorer putting the ball out of play for a goal-kick.
27 min: From the corner, Accrington break upfield with Shaun Whalley on the ball. He picks out Aaron Pressley to his left and his low shot from a tight angle is put behind for a corner by Meslier.
26 min: Accrington win a fre-kick just outside their own penalty area and goalkeeper Savin takes it long. Leeds win possession and break forward in great numbers. Marc Roca’s shot on goal is deflected over the bar by a desperate Liam Coyle lunge.
25 min: It wasn’t in the top or bottom bin but somewhere in between. Either way, Accrington goalkeeper Toby Savin had little or no chance of getting anything on that Harrison howitzer.
GOAL! Accrington Stanley 0-1 Leeds United (Harrison 23)
Leeds go ahead! Jack Harrison runs on to a pass from Sam Greenwood and sends a screamer arrowing into the corner from at least 25 yards out. That’s a fine strike.
Updated
22 min: Accrington win a free-kick wide on the right, a long way out. McConville tries to stealk a few yards but is ordered back by referee Josh Smith. He subsequently floats the ball to the edge of the Leeds penalty area, where the ball is cleared.
20 min: A Junior Firpo delivery into the Accrington penalty area is headed clear by Harvey Rodgers. That Rutter miss aside, Leeds are struggling badly to create anything in the way of a decent scoring opportunity.
19 min: Luis Sinisterra cuts inside from the left and into the Accrington penalty area. He’s dispossessed by Roasarie Longelo, who he subsequently fouls. Free-kick for Accrington.
17 min: A Leeds attack breaks down when, receiving the ball with his back to goal on the edge of the Accrington penalty area, Georginio Rutter miscontrols and gives it away.
15 min: Shooting on the turn, Shaun Whalley tries to steer a low cross from the right inside Meslier’s near post from a tight angle. It’s too tight and the Leeds goalkeeper saves easily. Accrington are very much in the ascendency in these early stages.
13 min: Accrington win themselves a free-kick for a foul by Sam Greenwood. The ball’s placed about 35 yards from the Leeds goal, a little left of centre. McConville plays the ball sideways to Ethan Hamilton, whose shot is blocked. The ball breraks back in the direction of McConville, whose rising drive is straight at and saved comfortably by Meslier.
12 min: Accrington have settled into the game well, far more comfortably than their visitors from the Premier League, who have yet to hit their stride.
10 min: It’s worth noting that Rutter can probably be excused a little ring-rustiness as this is the first game he’s played since lining up for Hoffenheim against Wolfsburg in mid-November.
7 min: Playing five across the back, Accrington are playing long balls into the Leeds penalty area from a variety of angles. Leeds have lined up in a 4-4-2, with Georginio Rutter playing as a second striker behind Patrick Bamford. Rutter gets his first sight of goal in English football but, running on to a pass from the left, pulls the ball wide of the far upright from straight in front of goal just inside the penalty area. He should have scored there, or at the very least hit the target. Useless! Get him out before the window closes!
Updated
5 min: Accrington play a long diagonal into the Leeds box which Meslier doesn’t deal with particularly well. In the ensuing scramble, the ball is put out for an Accrington corner which Leeds clear.
5 min: Accrington wing-back Sean McConville tries his luck with a long range effort that doesn’t particularly trouble Ilan Meslier in the Leeds goal.
4 min: Sam Greenwood catches Liam Coyle with his arm as the pair contest a dropping ball and Accrington win themselves a free-kick.
3 min: Accrington’s Aaron Pressley is penalised for offside as he tries to run on to a ball from deep.
2 min: Leeds corner. The ball’s sent towards the far post, where Accrington goalkeeper Toby Savin leaps to claim confidently.
1 min: Accrington striker Shaun Whalley concedes an early throw-in, shipping a late challenge from Junior Firpo in the process. What looked like a foul goes unpunished and Firpo takes the throw-in.
Accrington Stanley v Leeds |United is go ...
1 min: On one of the biggest days in their history, Accrington get the ball rolling, with Ethan Hamilton doing the honours. Their players wear red shirts, shorts and socks, while those of Leeds are in all white kit.
Not long now: There’s a 50-50 split between the fans at the 5,450-capacity Wham Stadium and they make plenty of noise as the teams make their way out on to the pitch and line up either side of referee Josh Smith and his assistants.
Sign up! Sign up! Sign up!
It takes just a few seconds to subscribe to our free and occasionally funny dispatch from the football frontline.
Updated
Today’s match officials
Referee: Josh Smith
Assistant referees: Sam Lewis and Akil Howson
Fourth official: Stephen Martin
NB: There is no VAR in place for today’s match, which will be replayed if it ends in a draw after 90 minutes.
Accrington Stanley v Leeds United line-ups
Accrington Stanley: Savin, Astley, Longelo, Tharme, Rodgers, Coyle, Hamilton, Pressley, McConville, Whalley, Leigh.
Subs: Jensen, Nolan, Perritt, Martin, Quirk, Woods, Adekoya, Pickles, Fernandes.
Leeds United: Meslier, Firpo, Kristensen, Wober, Koch, Roca, Greenwood, Harrison, Sinisterra, Rutter, Bamford.
Subs: Robles, Van den Heuvel, Ayling, Llorente, Gyabi, Aaronson, Perkins, Rodrigo, Joseph.
Updated
Team news: John Coleman makes two changes to the side that beat Boreham Wood after extra time on Tuesday, with Aaron Pressley and Rosaire Longeleu coming into the side for George Nottingham and Dan Martin.
Jesse Marsch hands the captaincy to Patrick Bamford and a debut to record signing Georginio Rutter, two of six changes to the Leeds team that drew against Brentford in the Premier League last weekend. Rasmus Kristensen, Junior Firpo, Sam Greenwood and Luis Sinisterra also come into the side. Brenden Aaronson, Luke Ayling, Pascal Struijk, Rodrigo, Wilfried Gnonto and the injured Tyler Adams make way.
📋 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 #LUFC 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗫𝗜...
— Leeds United (@LUFC) January 28, 2023
🙌 A first start for Georginio
©️ Patrick Bamford named captain pic.twitter.com/Y01pR7czme
👥 𝙏𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙉𝙚𝙬𝙨…
— Accrington Stanley (@ASFCofficial) January 28, 2023
Here’s your #asfc starting XI for this afternoon’s @EmiratesFACup fourth round tie against @LUFC. pic.twitter.com/Nzy3QbQaGc
Early team news
Accrington are without midfielder Joe Pritchard and David Morgan, as well as Australian defender Jay Rich-Bagheuleu, who have all been ruled out for the rest of the season. Seamus Coneely and Mitchell Clark are also sidelined, while Mohammed Sangare is approaching full fitness but probably won’t feature today. Central defender Michael Nottingham is out after limping out of Accrington’s third round replay against Boreham Wood on Tuesday night.
Leeds are without Adam Forshaw, Crysencio Summerville and Archie Gray, while skipper Liam Cooper is rated at no more than 50-50 to start today. Jesse Marsch has stated that winger Luis Sinisterra will start today, while Leeds fans are also expected to get their first opportunity to run the rule over striker Georginio Rutter, their new record signing brought in from Hoffenheim for £35m.
FA Cup fourth round: Accrington v Leeds United
The Wham Stadium will be putting the boom-boom into the hearts of Accrington Stanley fans as their team hosts Leeds for the first in their history this afternoon. While these clubs are separated by just 55 miles on the map, they have met just twice previously, at Elland Road in the League Cup and EFL Trophy, with Leeds running out winners on both occasions.
Despite their struggles in the Premier League, Jesse Marsch’s side are hot favourites to prevail again today against their hosts from League One, although an upset would come as no massively seismic surprise. Kick-off in Lancashire is at 12.30pm but stay tuned in the meantime for team news and build-up.
