Diouf holds nerve to complete turnaround

Birmingham 1 Leeds 2

Wade Elliott put Blues ahead shortly after the half-hour mark, just as he had done in the initial meeting which finished 1-1 10 days ago.

But once again Leeds levelled after the break, this time courtesy of Ross McCormack. Then El-Hadji Diouf, celebrating his 32nd birthday, completed the turnaround from the penalty spot.

The first shot on target arrived in the 35th minute as Marlon King forced Jamie Ashdown into a save.

The hosts did not have to wait long for a deserved opener. King fed Nathan Redmond down the right and he sent a cross to the far post which Elliott converted.

Leeds, who had failed to manage a shot on target in almost three hours of football, finally broke their duck in the 53rd minute, Rodolph Austin’s speculative effort pushed away by Colin Doyle.

And they went on to draw level in the 70th minute.

Paul Green’s ball into the box was pulled back by Diouf at the far post and McCormack scored.

The third arrived when Austin’s cross struck the hand of Paul Robinson and, after much deliberation between the officials, Diouf converted the spot kick.

BIRMINGHAM: Doyle, Caddis, Caldwell, Davies, Robinson, Burke, Morrison (Lovenkrands 77), Gomis, Elliott, Redmond (Zigic 83), King.

LEEDS: Ashdown, Byram, Peltier, Lees, Drury (White 11), Green, Austin, Brown, Varney, Diouf (Pearce 90), McCormack.

Referee: Andy Woolmer.