McAllister beaten on Leeds return

New boss Gary McAllister made his mark on the team with five changes to the starting line-up, handing debuts to Anthony Elding and Alan Sheehan, with Lubo Michalik starting his second spell with the club, and Bradley Johnson and Matt Heath earning recalls.

McAllister received a tremendous reception from the huge home support, but it was Tranmere Rovers who threatened first with a free-kick from Paul McLaren which thudded against the crossbar. Leeds began to play their way into the game with Elding and Jonny Howson both forcing Rovers keeper Danny Coyne into action, before David Prutton hit the bar with a fine free-kick in first half added time.

Jermaine Beckford saw a header saved early in the second half before Seb Carole was brought on to replace Darren Kenton. On 57 minutes Tore Andre Flo also joined the action, replacing Elding, but it was Rovers who went in front on the hour mark with a terrific goal from Jennision Myrie-Williams, curling the ball beyond the reach of David Lucas.

Nine minutes later Ian Moore headed home to double the advantage on his Tranmere debut. The ex-Leeds striker had signed for his father Ronnie on transfer deadline day from rivals Hartlepool United. With seventeen minutes remaining McAllister was forced into his final change when an injury to Alan Sheehan saw the introduction of Paul Huntington. Leeds fought hard to save the game but to no avail, as the new boss's reign began with a damaging home defeat.