Sky Bet Championship: Leeds beat Blackpool to end winless run

Leeds claimed their first win in nine Sky Bet Championship games with a 3-1 victory over bottom-placed Blackpool at Elland Road on Saturday.

United had not picked up three points since Neil Redfearn's successful caretaker spell in September, with the subsequent poor form under Darko Milanic leading to the former academy director getting the job full-time last week.

His first two games yielded a point but the slump was halted against the league's bottom side, with Liam Cooper, Souleymane Doukara and Mirco Antenucci doing the damage before half-time.

That ensured the second half was a less-than-entertaining affair, although an improved showing from Blackpool and a consolation from Nile Ranger at least offers new manager Lee Clark some hope for after the international break.

Leeds have struggled to start well in nearly all of their games this season but there was no suggestion of sluggishness here.

They were at Blackpool from the off and it took 10 minutes for the visitors to get a meaningful touch outside of their own half, but by then they trailed 1-0.

Antenucci set the tone, shooting inside a minute and testing Joe Lewis, while the Italian striker also had an effort bundled over the bar having overlooked an easier chance to shoot.

The resulting corner led to the goal, though, with the ball eventually sitting up nicely for Cooper on the edge of the box and the defender scoring his first for Leeds with a sweet half-volley that Lewis never saw.

Leeds twice conceded quickly after scoring in a 2-2 draw with Charlton on Tuesday so were desperate for a second. Antenucci should have given them one when his brilliant pull-down put him clean through, with his floated shot narrowly wide.

A second arrived on the 30-minute mark, however, with Doukara finishing off a length-of-the-field move. Sharp passing from Sam Byram and Tommaso Bianchi released Adryan and, after running 50 yards with the ball the Brazilian slid in Doukara who did the rest from just inside the box.

There would be not let-up either and before the break it was three. Alex Mowatt put Doukara away and his cross was cleared as far as Antenucci who was able to celebrate the birth of his first child in the early hours with a volley from the edge of the box which went in via a deflection off Charles Dunne.

It was a half to forget for the visitors and they at least started the second in a better manner, with Ranger sent on to add a presence and the one-time Leeds trialist heading wide from a corner.

David Perkins also whistled a shot just wide, giving a nod to stern words Clark will have delivered at the break, and when Ranger headed in a 74th-minute corner it was deserved.

Antenucci nearly hit back with a fourth as Lewis spilled his shot, with Peter Clarke getting in to clear as Doukara lurked, before Ishmael Miller nearly gave the home side a real fright with a low shot which was inches wide.