Unconvincing cup win

Simon Grayson's Leeds side hosted local rivals Bradford City at Elland Road after their dismal season opener. United were without wingers Robert Snodgrass and Max Gradel as they were called upon by their nations. Billy Paynter was also an absentee with a thigh injury he suffered on the south coast.

All the pressure was on the home side as City arrived with nothing to loose. But it was the Whites who had the best chance early on, Ramon Nunez should have put Leeds ahead after Adam Clayton broke down the right flank to deliver a perfectly weighted ball for the Honduran, only for Nunez to fire into row Z. The pressure was firmly on Leeds again when Compton put the visitors ahead on 31 minutes after Leeds' defense failed to deal with a surging Stewart run. The first half ran it's course with the fans seeing no real improvement from Saturday's disappointment.

Whatever was said in both dressing rooms at half-time it seemed that Grayson won the war of words as Leeds equalized just 25 seconds into the restart. Lloyd Sam twisted and turned after a clever dummy from McCormack, before he laid it off to Clayton allowing him to set up Nunez to score a well taken finish from inside the box for his first Leeds goal.

Bradford reacted superbly, Syers seized on a heavy touch from Paul Connolly and struck a low shot which whistled past Lonergan's post. However it didn't take the League 2 side to get back in-front, an inch perfect pass found Flynn who took it down superbly and smashed it into Lonergan's top corner.

Fans started to voice their frustration with 'Bates Out' chants ringing around the ground. But the men in white had some fight in them, Grayson made a double sub bringing on Bromby and Lees for the less than impressive O'Brien and Connolly. It was Lees to make the impact, he swung in a sublime first touch cross to find the head of lone striker Ross McCormack who lost his marker, the scotsman headed home to put Leeds back on terms for the second time of the night.

Sadly for the Bantams there would be no shock exit at Elland Road tonight Sam's cross got a small deflection from a City defender which took the ball away from the keeper, letting Nunez help the ball home for his second of the night and to put United ahead for the first time in the tie. Leeds milked the final 15 minutes and booked themselves a spot in the 2nd round.

Att. 17,667

Leeds 3-2 Bradford

Compton 31 - Bradford

Nunez 46 - Leeds

Flynn 57 - Bradford

McCormack 69 - Leeds

Nunez 75 - Leeds