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Live Commentary: Leeds 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday - as it happened

Relive the 1-1 draw between Leeds United and Sheffield Wednesday in Saturday lunchtime's Championship Yorkshire derby.
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Both Leeds and Sheffield Wednesday were hoping to pick up their first win in three games when they met in Saturday lunchtime's Yorkshire derby in the Championship.

The two teams are still without a maximum since last month after they played out a 1-1 draw at Elland Road, with new Leeds boss Darko Milanic seeing his side score for the first time since he took charge.

Read how it all unfolded in our minute-by-minute updates below.


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Goooooood morning football fans! The only lunchtime kickoff in the top two tiers today sees the Whites take on the Owls at Elland Road in what is always a fierce Yorkshire derby between Leeds and Wednesday.

Okey doke, no time to waste - let's get straight to the teams...

LEEDS XI: Silvestri; Byram, Bellusci, Pearce, Berardi; Austin, Bianchi, Mowatt, Sloth; Antenucci, Doukara
Subs: S Taylor, Cooper, Warnock, Murphy, Sharp, Morison, Adryan

That's two changes made by Milanic from the midweek stalemate against Reading. Gaetano Berardi returns to the defence after serving a two-match ban, while Rodolph Austin is also back in the side. Liam Cooper and Lewis Cook are the two who drop out.

Leeds fans will also be excited to see young Brazilian Adryan on the bench. The creative midfielder is yet to really make an impact with the Whites, but he is thought to have loads of potential and was once likened to Zico in his youth.

WEDNESDAY XI: Westwood; Palmer, Loovens, Lees, Mattock; Maguire, Semedo, Lee, Maghoma; May, Nuhiu
Subs: Kirkland, Buxton, Drenthe, Coke, Helan, Madine, Dielna

Owls boss Stuart Gray, like Milanic, makes two changes to his lineup. Wednesday also drew in midweek - 1-1 against Ipswich - and Kamil Zayatte had to come off injured so Tom Lees returns in defence. The other change sees Kieran Lee replace Lewis Buxton. So Lees and Lee in, got it?!

REFEREE WATCH! The man with the whistle today is James Adcock, who last Sunday was in charge for the thrilling 3-3 draw between Reading and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The last time these two met was in January when Wednesday humiliated Leeds 6-0 at Hillsborough. It was a hot-tempered affair as you can see below. Last season's game at Elland Road finished 1-1.

Chris Kirkland of Sheffield Wednesday breaks up a fight, after Matt Smith of Leeds United challenge on Reda Johnson of Sheffield Wednesday during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United at Hillsborough Stadium on Januar© Getty Images



Click here to see the full Championship table ahead of this weekend's fixtures. Visitors Wednesday start ninth after 10 games but will go fifth with victory. It's been a really impressive start to the season for Gray's side and they have one of the best away records in the league. As for Leeds, they start 12th and will leapfrog Wednesday if they come out on top.

PREDICTION TIME! Just five minutes until kickoff in Leeds so it's time for my prediction on the game. I reckon that it will be the same scoreline as when these two sides last met at Elland Road - 1-1.

What will be the keys to victory for either team today then? For Leeds, they need more consistent displays from their two strikers Antenucci and Doukara. Both have had their moments since joining this summer, but neither has been finding the net consistently enough. I think Wednesday have to be focussed on winning the midfield battle. Austin is a force in the middle for Leeds and if Semedo and Lee can overshadow him then that could give the more creative likes of Maguire and May more freedom.

Wednesday's front two of Nuhiu and May have been linking up really well together and they are bound to create chances. Leeds's best player so far this season has arguably been new keeper Silvestri and he'll have to be on top form again today you feel.

KICKOFF! Here we go then. Leeds, all in white, get us underway. Wednesday are in their all-yellow away kit.

Twenty-one seconds on the clock and we have our first foul of the afternoon as Mowatt is tripped up in midfield. Could certainly be a bitty game.

Loovens now brings down Antenucci and Leeds have a free kick in a very promising position about 25 yards out. Fantastic atmosphere at Elland Road, it has to be said.

It's Mowatt who shoots and he gets it up and over the wall but it's wide of the target. Westwood was never worried.

Wednesday's first foray into the Leeds half comes to nothing as Mattock's cross from the left is poor and easily swiped clear by a white shirt.

Mowatt is casual in possession in the middle and Wednesday nick it from him. May bursts clear and bears down on the Wednesday defence but he is soon crowded out with no-one around giving him an option.

Nuhiu is having a fine season and he is excellent in the air but this time can only head comfortably over the top after a precise first-time cross by Maguire. It's been an even start.

Stupid, stupid challenge from Berardi as he chops down Palmer when the ball was clearly going out of play. He's already been sent off twice this season and you can see that he has issues with discipline.

It's certainly a tactic of the visitors to swing in crosses as often as possible because of Nuhiu's aerial presence. The latest centre is again met by the big Hungarian, but he can't get it on target.

CHANCE! First real opening for either side as Bianchi threads the ball through to Mowatt. He was definitely onside but Doukara was a long way off and might have been flagged had Mowatt's cutback reached him. Luckily for Wednesday, Westwood was out quickly to block Mowatt's pass.

After the initial corner was cleared, centre-back Pearce is still in the Wednesday half and almost gets on the end of another incisive Bianchi through-ball.

CLOSE! Leeds are finding plenty of space in midfield and are playing good counter-attack football at the moment. This time it's Mowatt who slips in Doukara and his shot across goal bobbles a yard or so wide of the far post.

Semedo is furious with referee Adcock and he certainly has a case after what looked like a fair shoulder-to-shoulder challenge with Austin.

SAVE! What a hit! Austin with a piledriver from 30 yards that is dipping and swerving but can't beat Westwood's acrobatic dive. Superb shot and a superb save to match.

Really, really poor from Maguire after a lovely one-two with Nuhiu. The winger had plenty of men up with him and could have created a good chance had he not taken a heavy touch in the middle.

By the way, as things stand Wednesday would be staying ninth while Leeds would climb up one place to 11th. Of course, that could all change after the bulk of fixtures later today.

Wednesday with an inviting free kick just outside the area but it's a poor effort from Maguire - straight into the wall.

The game has gone a bit stale in the last few minutes and has just been summed up by an awful touch from Nuhiu which looped out of play. Who will be the team to grab this one by the horns?

Doukara heads over from an unmarked position at the back post, but fortunately for him he was offside so it wouldn't have counted anyway.

Selfish from Antenucci after an encouraging burst forward. He had options both left and right but didn't get his head up and was tackled.

Looking at the stats so far, Leeds have had an impressive 64% possession. The hosts have also had the one and only shot on target - Austin's rocket that was brilliantly tipped over by Westwood.



Almost a lovely move by the home side after some neat footwork in the middle from Berardi, with Antenucci receiving the ball and just having his through-ball cut out by Lees.

Oh and moments later they almost take the lead as Sloth finds space in the box but is denied by a Westwood's sprawling save. Even if it had gone in it wouldn't have counted as the Dane had been flagged offside. Replays show that he was clearly onside so if he had scored that would have been very contentious.



BOOKING! Nuhiu reignites the fire of the game after it had petered out a little with a late tackle on Byram. The big striker is the first to be booked by Mr Adcock.

Another great chance for Leeds is thwarted by the linesman's flag and this time it's the correct decision by the referee's assistant, with Antenucci a yard or so ahead of the play.

JUST WIDE! That's the closest Wednesday have come! Maguire's twisting and turning on the right frees up the space to cross and his centre is well met by May, whose looping header looked like it would nestle in the corner but just arced wide.

One minute added on at the end of the first half.

HALF-TIME: LEEDS 0-0 WEDNESDAY

So it's as you were after 45 minutes at Elland Road. A bit of a nothing half, with very few clear-cut chances. Both sides will think that they can go on to claim victory as neither has really grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck.

If you're only just joining us and want a quick update on the opening half, you can read our half-time report by clicking here.

Both sides have had five attempts on goal, with Austin's 30-yard bullet that drew a fine save out of Westwood the only shot on target from either team so far.

Here's some half-time reading for Wednesday fans in particular. Our 'On This Day' feature today focusses on a game for the Owls against Everton. Read more here.

BENCH WATCH! Leeds fans are likely to want to see Adryan get some action, but it's more likely that experienced striker Billy Sharp will be the first to come on if they need a goal. As for Wednesday, former Real Madrid man Royston Drenthe is available for some powerful wing play. Gary Madine is their only real forward on the bench.

If Antenucci and Doukara don't start to have more luck soon, Milanic will surely look to poacher Sharp. The new gaffer is yet to see his side score a goal in two games in charge and will be desperate to break that duck.

SUBS: Both managers make half-time changes, with Luke Murphy replacing Casper Sloth for the hosts and Madine coming on for Nuhiu for Wednesday.

KICKOFF! We're back underway at Elland Road. Will we see a goal in the second 45? I certainly hope things improve!

I have to say I'm really surprised by the substitution of Nuhiu. He's been in great form of late and you have to think that he might have picked up a knock in that first period to be taken off at the halfway mark.

CHANCE! Antenucci beats Westwood to the ball after a poor header back from Loovens. He loops the ball over the keeper but can't direct it goalwards so Palmer is able to head it up in the air for Westwood to claim.

CHANCE! After Maguire hit the side-netting at one end, Leeds break forward again and it's their best chance of the match so far for Antenucci, who tries to slide it into the bottom-right corner but can't beat the outstretched leg of Westwood. Another fine, fine save by the former Sunderland man.

GOAL! LEEDS 0-1 WEDNESDAY (MAGUIRE)

Maguire has arguably been Wednesday's best player since Gray took over last season and he's just scored a lovely goal to put the Owls in front. The ball came his way on the right and he pinged an unstoppable low shot into the far corner. Great finish!

CHANCE! Leeds almost hit straight back as Antenucci is again denied by Westwood, this time high up to his left. Westwood has made several good saves, but Leeds should really have put one of their chances away by now.

Another shot from Antenucci after space opened up for him left of the goal. This time he can't test Westwood as he slices his shot wide. The Italian has been bright and I'd be surprised if he is subbed off when Milanic brings on Sharp, which he will surely do soon. Doukara would be the one to come off I reckon.

This afternoon's attendance at Elland Road is 24,094, with 1,213 away fans from down the road in Sheffield.

CHANCE! Oh what a chance for Wednesday to double their lead! Madine's low cross from the right reaches May and it opens up for him all of a sudden as no-one closes him down. He just has to beat Silvestri, but pulls his shot wide of the far post.

BOOKINGS! A pair of bookings for Berardi and Maguire after a bit of handbags. That's Maguire's fifth booking of the season so he'll miss Wednesday's next game at home to Watford in two weeks' time after the international break.

BOOKING! Another yellow card is brandished by Adcock after Bellusci unnecessarily got involved in another scrap in the area.

LEEDS SUB: As predicted, it's Doukara off and Sharp on for the home side.

WEDNESDAY SUB: And it's a consolidatory one by Gray as he takes off goalscorer Maguire and brings on the more energetic Helan who will work hard at both ends of the pitch.

BOOKINGS! Two more yellow cards for Byram and Lees. After just one caution in the first period, Adcock has now shown five yellows in just six second-half minutes.

Madine heads straight at Silvestri after Maghoma's low cross from the right was sliced his way by Pearce. Good defending from Byram to unsettle Madine when he was trying to head home.

Looking at the match stats, Maguire's goal is the only shot on target that Wednesday have had! Leeds have hit the target on three occasions but been denied by fine Westwood saves each time.

Austin appeals wildly for a penalty after his well-struck left-footed shot smacks into Helan. The ball did strike his hand, but it was by his side and would have hit his body anyway. Definitely not a penalty and time running out fast for Leeds.

BOOKING! ANOTHER yellow card! This time its Owls midfielder Semedo who goes into the book for a rash challenge.

GOAL! LEEDS 1-1 WEDNESDAY (BELLUSCI)

It's a first goal for Leeds under Milanic and what a cool finish by centre-back Bellusci. Mowatt's inswinging free kick was headed up, not out, by Madine and Bellusci half-volleyed the ball with his instep through a crowd of players and into the far corner. Delightful.

"Marching on together!" is now being belted out by the home supporters. Can they complete the turnaround with around 10 minutes to go?

WEDNESDAY SUB: Gray makes his third and final change, taking off Semedo for Giles Coke.

Wednesday want a penalty as Madine gets his body in front of his man and tumbles to the floor. It was a very soft fall by the striker and didn't impress the ref.



Superb burst into the box by Helan but his cutback is intercepted before it can reach Madine. Leeds streak down the other end and have a shooting opportunity but Austin skies it high and wide.

Ooh, I missed that Leeds had brought Steve Morison on for Antenucci just after the equaliser. So it's now Sharp and Morison the two strikers for Leeds. They're going for it. As it stands, my 1-1 pre-match prediction is coming in!

Leeds win a free kick in a similar position to the one from which they scored but this time it comes to nothing as a white shirt commits a foul in the box. How much added time will there be? We're about to find out...

FIVE is the number on the fourth official's board so there's plenty of time for either to find a winner.

SHOT! Neat turn in the box from Madine but he can't get enough power on his left-foot effort and it's an easy save low to his right for Silvestri.

You would have thought that Leeds, being the home side, would be the ones pressing for a winner. It's not the case though and Wednesday now have a late corner after a terrible slice by hosts' scorer Bellusci. One last chance...

It's a terrible delivery and that should be that.

FULL-TIME: LEEDS 1-1 WEDNESDAY

One apiece it finishes then. It's a second straight draw for both sides and the same result as when they played each other here last season. Click here to see the latest Championship table ahead of the 3pm kickoffs.

As you can see, Wednesday stay in ninth place while Leeds move up one spot to 11th. The pair remain separated by a couple of points. Come 5pm that could all change though with sides around them kicking off in about 45 minutes.

Check out our form guide below. You'll notice that both Leeds and Wednesday have identical form over the last six games.


Anyway, time for me to bid you farewell. Thanks for joining us on SM. Don't you dare leave the site though as there's commentaries galore this afternoon from England and throughout Europe. All the fixtures can be found right here. Enjoy!

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19Blackburn RoversBlackburn441310215874-1649
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