Match ends, Leeds United 2, Blackpool 0.
LeedsLeeds United2BlackpoolBlackpool0
Recalled midfielder Luke Murphy scored twice to secure a first win for Leeds under new owner Massimo Cellino and heighten Blackpool's relegation fears.
Murphy, back in the starting line-up after three games on the bench, opened the scoring from close range.
Blackpool's best chance to level fell to Neal Bishop, who headed over.
Summer signing Murphy struck again after the break, dinking the ball over goalkeeper Matt Gilks from an acute angle to end a run of five losses.
The victory, Leeds' second in 13 games, puts 10 points between Brian McDermott's team and the relegation zone, but Blackpool are in trouble.
Now 20th in the table, Barry Ferguson's side are just two points adrift of third-bottom Millwall and have won just two of their last 26 games in all competitions.
The caretaker manager even restored himself to the team at Elland Road in an attempt to address the Tangerines ineffective form on the road, with their last away win coming on 2 November at Nottingham Forest.
However, it was Murphy - a £1m signing from Crewe in the summer - who was more instrumental in the outcome of this game.
He collected Ross McCormack's pass and neatly switched to his left foot, before finding the net for the first time since the opening day of the season.
It was Leeds' first goal in 319 minutes of football and they continued to put Blackpool's defence under pressure with McCormack heading wide.
Bishop should have equalised while David Goodwillie, playing alone up front, shot wide before the break.
But once Murphy scored his second there was no way back for the visitors, although goalkeeper Jack Butland prevented Gary MacKenzie from scoring a consolation goal.
Leeds manager Brian McDermott:
"The win was a great relief. It was a big result for us.
"We are on 50 points and that should be enough, but you can't think like that. I can only think about our next match at Barnsley.
"Thank God we have got Massimo Cellino in charge because I didn't know where this club was going. The fans gave him a really good reception and I am delighted for him. We've all got paid and this club feels like a different, more secure place now."
Blackpool assistant manager Malky Thomson:
"We are disappointed that we came away with no points at all, but the level of endeavour from the boys was great.
"We still have a lot of self-belief and we have to carry that on against Burnley. Our player-manager Barry Ferguson is totally self-motivated. Barry has the bottle to go out and play when the pressure is on. He will have no sad faces around the place and he was massive for us today."
Line-ups
Leeds
Formation 5-3-2
- 30Butland
- 22Wootton
- 15Warnock
- 5Pearce
- 24ZaliukasSubstituted forWhiteat 81'minutes
- 4Lees
- 18Tonge
- 17Brown
- 44McCormack
- 20SmithSubstituted forHuntat 65'minutes
- 6Murphy
Substitutes
- 10Hunt
- 14White
- 16Pugh
- 26Poleon
- 28Stewart
- 33Cairns
- 36Mowatt
Blackpool
Formation 4-5-1
- 1Gilks
- 2McMahon
- 3Robinson
- 16Ferguson
- 5Mackenzie
- 20Cathcart
- 17BashamSubstituted forHarounat 67'minutes
- 12Bishop
- 25Goodwillie
- 4Perkins
- 14HallidayBooked at 69minsSubstituted forKeoghat 74'minutes
Substitutes
- 15Haroun
- 18Osbourne
- 21Halstead
- 24Keogh
- 27Barkhuizen
- 33Dobbie
- 39Grandin
- Referee:
- David Coote
- Attendance:
- 23,416
Match Stats
Home TeamLeedsAway TeamBlackpool
- Possession
- Home45%
- Away55%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away3
- Corners
- Home5
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away17
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Leeds United 2, Blackpool 0.
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Corner, Leeds United. Conceded by Matthew Gilks.
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Attempt saved. Ross McCormack (Leeds United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
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Foul by Gary Mackenzie (Blackpool).
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Noel Hunt (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Andrew Keogh (Blackpool).
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Aidan White (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Craig Cathcart (Blackpool) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Matthew Gilks following a set piece situation.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match Stephen Warnock (Leeds United) because of an injury.
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David Perkins (Blackpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Noel Hunt (Leeds United).
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Offside, Leeds United. Jack Butland tries a through ball, but Ross McCormack is caught offside.
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Foul by David Goodwillie (Blackpool).
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Jason Pearce (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Andrew Keogh (Blackpool) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
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Offside, Leeds United. Michael Brown tries a through ball, but Ross McCormack is caught offside.
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Corner, Blackpool. Conceded by Jack Butland.
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Attempt saved. Gary Mackenzie (Blackpool) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Barry Ferguson with a cross.
