Stoke 3-1 Leeds

Leeds scored their first goal in five games but were swept aside by two second-half Stoke goals.

Dennis Wise's side responded well to going behind to Mamady Sidibe's header from Lee Hendrie's right-wing cross and were level before the break.

Ian Moore's stooping header gave the visitors hope but Stoke struck when Ugo Ehiogu diverted a Patrik Berger shot beyond goalkeeper Tony Warner.

Stoke killed off the game when Ricardo Fuller profited from poor defending.

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Stoke boss Tony Pulis:
"We've done fantastically well to put ourselves into this position and we have to make sure we are even stronger in the new year.

"We had a great start and scored early, but the players got tense and nervous and started to give the ball away.

"We had words at half-time and were much better. We created lots of chances and could have scored five or six."

Leeds assistant boss Gus Poyet:
"It is difficult to analyse because the first half was the best we have played in the last month.

"Most people probably expected us to fold after going behind early, but we proved them wrong and played very well.

"But the pace of our play slowed and we got punished for making mistakes. Things are not going for us and we must work hard to make sure the tide turns."

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Stoke: Simonsen, Hoefkens, Duberry, Higginbotham, Hill, Lawrence, Russell, Diao, Hendrie (Berger 46), Sidibe, Fuller (Pericard 81).
Subs Not Used: Brammer, Sweeney, Dickinson.

Goals: Sidibe 12, Ehiogu 54 og, Fuller 77.

Leeds: Warner, Richardson, Ehiogu, Heath, Lewis, Westlake (Kandol 61), Douglas, Derry, Howson, Healy, Moore. Subs Not Used: Sullivan, Carole, Rui Marques, Beckford.
Booked: Westlake.

Goals: Moore 41.

Att: 18,128.

Ref: A D'Urso (Essex).