Foxes ruin Rio's Leeds debut

Muzzy Izzet celebrates the game's opening goal

Leicester 3-1 Leeds

Rio Ferdinand endured a torrid start to his Leeds' career as Leicester's first half show sunk the Yorkshire club at Filbert Street.

Goals from Robbie Savage, Ade Akinbiyi and Gerry Taggart in the first half hour stunned David O'Leary's side.

The visitors were seldom in the contest until the final quarter of an hour, when Mark Viduka scored a consolation.

  Key incidents

7 mins: Savage nods home after Robinson parries

17: Sinclair crosses for Akinbiyi to head home

29: Taggart makes it 3-0 after Davidson's cross

39: Leeds reshuffle defence as Woodgate taken off

67: Radebe sent off for second yellow

75: Viduka stabs home late consolation

By that stage, Leeds were playing with ten men after captain Lucas Radebe was sent off for two bookable offences.

The visitors adopted a three at the back formation to accomodate the talents of Ferdinand.

But despite his presence and that of fellow big men Radebe, Jonathon Woodgate and Dominic Matteo, all three goals came from headers.

Such was the confusion in the Leeds defence that Woodgate was substituted before half time as O'Leary returned to a 4-4-2 formation.

Savage's instinctive header

The result will almost certainly raise questions about Ferdinand's position in the side, for he can scarcely have looked more out of place.

One centre-back was at fault today, although I'm not going to name names. But I thought Rio played well

  Leeds' manager David O'Leary

The game had hardly caught fire when Savage opened the scoring in the eighth minute.

Darren Eadie's swerving shot seemed to deceive Paul Robinson, who could only palm the ball into the direction of Savage.

The Welshman's headed contact with the ball was either instinctive or very lucky.

The first attempt from a Leeds player came from Viduka, curling a weak right-footed shot wide.

Ferdinand's first contribution was from a Leeds free-kick but the country's most expensive player spooned a shot over the crossbar.

The runs of Savage and Muzzy Izzet caused the new look Leeds plenty of problems.

After a couple of minutes of pressure, Frank Sinclair's floated cross from the right found a posse of Leicester players waiting.

Akinbiyi rose highest to nod the ball down past Robinson for a two-goal lead after just 17 minutes.

Leeds' frustration was underlined by Alan Smith's late challenge on Callum Davidson in the 25th minute.

It earned the diminutive striker the first caution of the afternoon and captain Lucas Radebe followed him into the book for a challenge on Eadie.

An unhappy start for Rio Ferdinand

It was Davidson who played the creative role for the third goal.

He floated in a free-kick from 30 yards which Taggart had no problem heading past Robinson.

The third goal finally drew some life from the visitors.

But a goalmouth scramble came to nothing and Lee Bowyer's strong run and shot forced the first save from Simon Royce.

Leeds' change in formation was no surprise, with Woodgate replaced by Jason Wilcox.

The second half saw the visitors dominate possession and territory.

Possibly the best moment of the game for them came when Australian winger Harry Kewell came off the bench after lengthy injury absence.

Leeds fightback

The game should already have been stopped when Radebe's miserable afternoon came to an end.

A nasty tackle by Taggart started the Leicester attack but it was ignored.

Seconds later Radebe received his second yellow card for tripping Izzet.

I would say it was the best team performance I have seen by us at Filbert Street since I arrived

  Leicester manager Peter Taylor

Leeds were forced to reshuffle again with Matteo moving into the centre of defence and they showed plenty of late fighting spirit.

Fifteen minutes from the end Viduka smashed the ball into an empty net after Royce had failed to hold onto Smith's close range effort.

Dacourt hit the post from a free kick and Kewell missed a golden chance from ten yards but Leicester held on to their comfortable lead.

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Leicester City: Royce, Rowett, Davidson, Sinclair, Elliott, Taggart, Lennon, R. Savage, Izzet, Akinbiyi, Eadie. Subs: Price, Impey, Oakes, Guppy, Gunnlaugsson.

Leeds United: Robinson, Kelly, Dacourt, Radebe, Woodgate, Viduka, Bowyer, Smith, Jones, Matteo, Ferdinand. Subs: Kewell, Mills, Wilcox, Harte, Milosevic.

Referee: S Bennett (Orpington)