Brave Leeds beaten at last

United's 13 match unbeaten run came to an end this afternoon as Carlisle United triumphed 3-1 at Brunton Park, but the scoreline in no way reflected the balance of play. Despite arriving at the home of the league leaders, in front of their highest crowd since 1976, United bossed the first half. Leeds took a deserved lead when Jermaine Beckford tapped his 8th league goal of the season after 28 minutes. He then almost doubled the advantage in first half stoppage time when a dipping shot narrowly cleared the bar. Carlisle themselves had offered little to threaten United's supremacy.

Th second half saw an improved Carlisle grab an equaliser on 61 minutes when Simon Hackney beat Casper Ankergren from distance. Nine minutes later the Cumbrians had the lead when Joe Garner headed home from a corner. Leeds boss Dennis Wise threw Leon Constantine and Filipe Da Costa into the fray as United laid siege to their opponents goal, seemingly destined to conjure up another late salvo. But it was not to be, as a Carlisle break deep into stoppage time saw Mark Bridge-Wilkinson score the goal that confirmed the end of a fantastic unbeaten start for Leeds.

Although disappointed by the result Leeds United fans can take great heart from the way United took the game to the hosts, never giving up the fight. Wise's men can be proud of their progress so far, as they now plot another long unbeaten run. Today's battle may have been lost, but the war is far from over.