George Burley was disappointed that his side got nothing out of this afternoon's game with Leeds after leading for most of the match. Town had chances to go even further ahead after Marcus Stewart had scored a first. Leeds hit back through Robbie Keane and, for the second year running in this fixture, a Mark Venus own goal gave Leeds the points.

Town lined up much as at the Luzhniki Stadium except with Jermaine Wright in for Jamie Clapham. Martijn Reuser and Titus Bramble missed out with injury.

The first real clearcut chance of the half fell to Alun Armstrong when a long ball from the back appeared to confuse the defence and the ex-Stockport man was allowed a free header in the box. Armstrong didn't appear to realise quite how much time he had and the ball looped harmlessly to Martyn.

The England keeper had a major flap at a cross on 8 minutes from the right. At the other end John McGreal put in a fine challenge to stop a Bowyer ball through to Viduka when the Australian was well-placed.

There was a shout for a penalty on 12 when Stewart ran into the Leeds area with a go at goal looking on. As he tried to go past Matteo a hand appeared to stop it, Andy D'Urso, as ungenerous to Town as ever, saw nothing.

A minute later Stewart pounced on a ball knocked down as Armstrong and a defender challnged in the air. Stewart hit a shot which beat Martyn but hit the post. A couple of minutes later Stewart almost got on to a ball over the top as Town were largely the dominant force.

On 17 Robbie Keane made Sereni act for the first time as the Italian dived to put his shot around the post.

Town went ahead in the 21st minute. They were awarded a freekick as Magilton was fouled at the left corner of the penalty area. Venus hit a powerful cross into the box and Stewart headed home on the far post for his third goal of the season. It was a deserved lead against an up to then ordinary looking Leeds side.

A minute later Sereni once again impressed as he saved from Bowyer as Kewell put him through with two Leeds players looking suspiciously offside.

On 27 Armstrong and Stewart linked well to almost put Stewart away, but a defender just got across to him. For Leeds Keane shot wide when in a promising position.

Town were, however having much of the possession and around the half hour forced a series of corners but couldn't add to their lead.

The Leeds strikers were having trouble staying onside with Bowyer and Viduka having particular difficulty avoiding the flag.

With five minutes of the half left Sereni made another good save, this time from Kewell. The chance had come for the Australian after a blatant handball on the right of the box and hesitancy from the defence expecting a freekick.

Town's players were applauded off at half-time as they had been the better side against David O'Leary's men. The break saw no changes and Finidi George almost added a second just a couple of minutes into the half. Marcus Stewart had crossed from the right and the Nigerian, again not to the level of his Derby performance, just failed to connect.

It was to be a half of missed chances at both ends, but with Town particularly profligate. Ian Harte, booed constantly by Town fans for his crime against Marcus Stewart last season, headed over for the visitors when he ought to have done better before Jim Magilton hit the ball over from a good Alun Armstrong header.

Armstrong himself hit a shot from a corner on 56 which was diverted for a corner. Mark Venus took the kick short with Magilton and cut in and hammered a shot against a defender.

In the 57th minute Lee Bowyer had the ball in the net, however he was once again offside, despite his vehement protests.

On 59 A stooping Finidi George header cannoned off Harte and to safety with Town's number 33 only a few yards out. Five minutes later Jermaine Wright hit a fine effort from just outside the area after a corner was cleared. His shot appeared to be going goalwards with Martyn beaten until it struck a defender. More penalty appeals were were turned away.

In the 65th minute Jim Magilton almost played in Finidi George as he had against Blackburn. George was harshly penalised by D'Urso as he and a defender tussled for the ball.

A minute later George, getting more into the match, wasted probably Town's chance of the half. He was found on the right in acres of space and ran forwards, cut in and tried to chip Martyn from the edge of the area. While he was doing this Marcus Stewart was completely unmarked on the other side of the box with Danny Mills, ex-Norwich and also booed, caught well up the field. Stewart was furious and so were many in the crowd.

On 67 Magilton hammered a shot just over from another Armstrong header down after good work from Finidi.

That was Finidi's last action as he was replaced with Jamie Clapham. Town's number three had been waiting to come on for some while so perhaps the earlier failure to find Stewart was not entirely the reason for the substitution.

The 68th and 69th minutes saw Town's up to now excellent offside trap beaten twice by Robbie Keane. The Irishman was thwarted by another good Sereni save from the first but when put through again made no mistake and levelled the scores. Town had clearly had the chances to put the game beyond Leeds but as so often when in the ascendency this season the chances were not taken.

On 73 Bowyer escaped a booking for a two-footed foul on Clapham and Rio Ferdinand fluffed an excellent chance to put Leeds ahead when he miskicked when free inside the box after a corner.

Danny Mills picked up his usual booking for a late challenge on Jamie Clapham who seemed to be on the end of most of the more over the top challenges.

On 83 Mark Venus, having an excellent game, made an important tackle on Robbie Keane as Leeds broke quickly froma Town corner.

Two minutes later and Venus was on the scoresheet, and as at Portman Road in the corresponding fixture last season, it was for a goal at the wrong end. It was Chris Makin, however, who can take the blame for the latest in a long series of bad goals given away by Town. The right-back tried a cushioned header to take the ball down but only succeeded in putting Kewell away on the left inside the Town penalty area. He crossed the ball and Venus, trying to cut the cross out, diverted it into his own net. It was a travesty of justice over the whole afternoon, but again showed that defensive errors in the Premiership will more than likely end in goals.

On 88 Hermann Hreidarsson headed well but his effort was cleared. Sub Pablo Couñago hit a shot on the turn which was deflected to Martyn and that was it for Town's fightback.

Another home game and more points dropped. Largely a better display than against Blackburn and Charlton, but the failure to take chances, as well as the tendency to give away poor goals at the back, were again all too evident.

Town now have a free weekend while half the squad go off and play internationals. Crewe and then a run against sides we ought to beat, starting with Everton at home, follow. The Blues are now fourth from bottom, but it is after this run that we should really assess the direction our season is going in.

Sereni, Makin (Wilnis), Hreidarsson, Venus, McGreal, Holland, Magilton, Wright (Couñago), George (Clapham), Stewart, Armstrong.

Att: 22,643

Photo: Action Images

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