More misery for Leeds United on south coast

Jack Butland, beaten four times at Bournemouth.Jack Butland, beaten four times at Bournemouth.
Jack Butland, beaten four times at Bournemouth.
Embarrassments have become commonplace for Leeds United in 2014 so no-one should have been surprised that they should suffer more humiliation at Bournemouth.

With little but pride to play for this season it seemed the players were already thinking of their holidays as United trailed 3-0 at the break then conceded a fourth early in the second half.

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Top scorer Ross McCormack restored a bit of pride with a neatly taken goal on 69 minutes, but the final score of 4-1 meant a long journey home for the travelling fans.

United manager Brian McDermott was forced to make a change to his team from the one that beat Millwall on Saturday with Noel Hunt brought in to replace Connor Wickham, who had been recalled by Sunderland.

Aidy White was back on the bench while young forward Lewis Walters was also a substitute the first time in his career, but was not put on in the losing cause.

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He was left to look on as Bournemouth took just two minutes to open the scoring as Yann Kermorgant flicked the ball into the net after a hopeful shot fell in his path.

United were two down on 18 minutes when full-back Simon Francis got free down the right and crossed for Lewis Grabban to score.

The same two players combined again 10 minutes later with Grabban adding his second to make it 3-0.

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The floodgates did not quite open, but it could have been worse than 3-0 at half-time for the Whites as Kermorgant hit the post.

Bournemouth did not have long to wait in the second half for another goal, however, as Francis crossed for Kermorgant to head home his second.

Only a great save by Jack Butland denied Grabban his hat-trick soon after.

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United boss McDermott threw on White and Cameron Stewart to try to give the side more width and they pulled a goal back after McCormack made a chance for himself with a fine dribble and his shot brought him his 27th goal of the season.

They could not manage a second and the game fizzled out to prove another bad night for Leeds in their season to forget.

Match facts

Bournemouth 4

(Kermorgant 2, 51, Grabban 18, 28)

(McCormack 69)

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Sky Bet Championship

Att: 10,109

Bournemouth: Camp; Francis, Surman (O’Kane 54), Arter, Harte; Elphick, Cook, Grabban, Pugh; Ritchie (Rantie 78), Kermorgant (Pitman 83).

Leeds: Butland; Byram, Lees, Pearce, Pugh; Murphy (White 58), Austin, Mowatt; Hunt (Stewart 58), McCormack, Smith.

Referee: J Adcock.