Rotherham 2 - 1 Leeds United

Leeds United's Italian 'revolution' failed to gain momentum last night in the Championship match against local Yorkshire rivals, Rotherham at the grandly titled New York Stadium as they ended up 2-1 losers. After going ahead in the first half through Italian Mirko Antenucci, they were pegged back after the break by Alex Revell's equaliser and then ultimately defeated when Jonson Clarke-Harris struck the winner. The win hoisted the Millers up to 15th place in the table, now only behind Leeds on goal difference.

The loss will have done little to placate the Leeds' owner and entrepreneur, Massimo Cellino, who has ploughed millions of pounds of his own money into attempting to resurrect the once mighty club since he formally took over back in April after months of behind the scenes' wrangling.

Indeed, at first it had seemed that he would be prevented from taking the club over as a result of a past conviction by an Italian Court. Leeds have never been far from the sporting back pages ever since, as Cellino first installed Dave Hockaday as Head Coach in June and then replaced him in September with new man Darko Milanic from Sturm Graz. Milanic, a former Yugoslavian and Slovenian international defender, has yet to taste victory in the league with his new club and must wonder how long he will be given by his 'hands on' boss to turn the results around. His role at the club effectively means that he will have to work with the players at his disposal, as Cellino and Sporting Director Nicola Salerno look after the transfer strategy.

The derby yesterday will have brought into sharp focus the problems that the Slovenian faces in pushing Leeds higher in the table.

In a lively and at times fractious match, Leeds looked the more composed side in the first half and took the lead on the half hour mark when Antenucci scored his third goal of the season for them after being put in by Souleymane Doukara.

Alex Mowatt also showed some bright and creative play through midfield during the opening half, which suggested that United might be in for a successful night and they had a chance to add to their lead just before the end of the half. Doukara had two chances to score, but after a well timed tackle from Joe Skarz had stopped him in the first place, he then miskicked the rebound and the chance was gone.



The second half saw Rotherham rally and they deservedly equalised in the 58th minute after they had battered their rivals from the start of the second period, Revell hooking in his first goal of the season after the initial shot by Lee Frecklington had been parried by Italian goalkeeper Marco Silvestri. The South Yorkshire club continued to push forward against their more illustrious Yorkshire rivals but were almost undone on 62 minutes when Doukara thought he had nudged United back in front only to be ruled offside.

It proved a key moment in the match as three minutes later Rotherham went 2-1 in front instead. Clarke-Harris was allowed to run virtually unchallenged through the Leeds midfield to slam home a swerving shot past Silvestri, only two minutes after coming off the bench.

Leeds had introduced the on loan signing from Flamengo, Adryan on 63 minutes to add some trickery and goal threat, and on 69 minutes his crisp right foot shot after a wriggling run was turned around the post by keeper Adam Collin.

Rotherham's greater physicality and direct approach was a constant problem for the Leeds' defence.

The bad feeling that had begun to creep into the game continued into the last quarter as Revell and Silvestri were both booked after the keeper went down following a high cross that both players had contested for.

With twelve minutes left, the increasingly influential Adryan dragged his right foot shot just wide after another positive run at the heart of the Rotherham defence.

Leeds must have known that it would not be their night when, on 83 minutes, Antenucci's strong shot was somehow pushed on to the post by Collin and a minute later Adryan shot just over the bar after a neat set up to disappoint their fans once more.

Leeds tried their best to grab an equaliser in the dying passages of play but couldn't as the dangerous Revell almost added a third in injury time, but his goalbound shot was turned away for a corner by Silvestri.

With the increasingly perturbed Rotherham manager, Stevie Evans signalling to the officials that time was up, the game ended after five minutes of injury time had been played to give Rotherham the spoils.