Leeds 5 Kettering 1: Whites through to face Manchester United after late show

Published: 09 Dec 2009 - 01:39:59

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Leeds 5 Kettering 1: Whites through to face Manchester United after late show

Leeds will face Manchester United for the first time in almost six years next month. The FA Cup third round will stage the revival of the great trans-Pennine rivalry and Leeds chairman Ken Bates has estimated that the financial reward from the trip to Old Trafford will be £750,000. But the result was a bitter blow for Kettering, and after the match it got worse in bizarre circumstances. Grayson: Leeds boss can look forward to a New Year date with Manchester United Michael Owen sends World Cup message to England boss Fabio Capello with stunning Manchester United hat-trickKettering 1 Leeds 1: Goal hero Roper dreams of Elland Road and Old TraffordLeeds and Huddersfield produce a derby to put sharpshooters in shade'More mature' England hopeful Paul Robinson wants winnable World Cup groupPlayer-manager Lee Harper revealed that his assistant John Deehanhad been sacked by chairman Imraan Ladak straight after thefinal whistle. Goalkeeper Harper said: 'My assistant manager, John Deehan, has beensacked and I have to consider my future. Apparently the chairman didn'tlike the substitutions. I love the club but there are principles.What's been said is not fair. Every one of the players is disgusted.I'm flabbergasted. 'We've just made the club £200,000 and every player gave 100 per cent.' Goal-getter: Jermaine Beckford scored in the FA Cup replay It took the League One leaders more than three hours over the tie tobeat their non-League opposition after former Leeds striker AnthonyElding forced extra-time in front of only 10,000 at Elland Road. Luciano Becchio had given the hosts a 20th-minute lead but the home side then missed a host of chances. Not until the second half of extra-time did Elland Road relax. Aspurt of goals from substitutes Mike Grella and Tresor Kandol, followedby one from Jermaine Beckford, gave the scoreline an air of unreality. What Manchester United will make of it is hard to tell. 'Are youwatching Manchester?' was chanted. The answer was presumably 'No' giventhat red Mancunians were watching European football on another channel. This was a lesson that gulfs in class need to be proven. Initially, Leeds looked capable of that but their superiorityneeded a goal reward, so there was relief when Becchio headed homeRobert Snodgrass's cross. Beckford could have made it 2-0 twice before half-time, while NeilKilkenny hit a post from 25 yards. B ecchio struck an upright with a50th-minute header when it seemed easier to score and Elding made himpay when he headed in Richie Partidge's cross. Leeds' four goals in extra-time set up the trip to Old Trafford andboss Simon Grayson said: 'It's a game everyone's looking forward to,it's where we used to play. We'll be going there to give our bestaccount, try to give them a decent game.' Harper added: 'Over the two ties I thought Leeds deserved it. Theyare a Championship side, that's where they're going. But there's someupset people in there and things have been said.' Michael Owen sends World Cup message to England boss Fabio Capello with stunning Manchester United hat-trickKettering 1 Leeds 1: Goal hero Roper dreams of Elland Road and Old TraffordLeeds and Huddersfield produce a derby to put sharpshooters in shade'More mature' England hopeful Paul Robinson wants winnable World Cup group Explore more:People:Ken Bates, Simon GraysonPlaces:Leeds, Manchester, Elland Road