Eric's fluked winner piles on the agony

14 April 2012

Three years ago Peter Reid celebrated a rare Sunderland cup win over Manchester United with a few quiet drinks with friends.

Last night, as Sir Alex Ferguson's reserves knocked Reid's Leeds out of the same competition, his reaction to defeat was probably the same, but it is hard to imagine the durable Scouser or his current club any lower.

On the day when the club revealed their devastating financial figures, Reid needed a positive result against the one side the supporters demand to beat. He nearly got it, but even against a team sprinkled with rookies in red, Leeds were found wanting.

A mis-hit extra-time winner from Cameroon midfielder Eric Djemba Djemba condemned Reid to a painful defeat and now he must prepare for the visit of a full-strength Arsenal to Elland Road on Saturday.

Djemba Djemba thumped his volley from Quinton Fortune's corner into the turf, resulting in a horrendous spin which deceived Leeds keeper Paul Robinson.

The goal, just four minutes from the end of extra- time, came seconds after referee Paul Durkin had denied Leeds a penalty. Substitute Cyril Chapuis fell to the ground under Fortune's challenge but Durkin, who also awarded two borderline goals, waved play on.

The defeat was a cruel blow for Leeds' fans who tried throughout a difficult night to lift their side. The sight of one of their own, striker Alan Smith, violently throwing a plastic bottle among them after it had been thrown on to the pitch in the dying seconds will sicken even the most diehard fan to his stomach.

So will the image of a forlorn Reid at the final whistle. The Leeds manager was 11 minutes from securing a significant victory after Roque Junior had put the home side ahead two minutes after half-time. But then former Sunderland striker David Bellion's golden boot returned to haunt his former manager after he survived another marginal offside shout.

It was Reid who first brought the slight young French striker

to the Premiership from Cannes, paying just £100,000 for a player who failed to win a regular place on Wearside. Ironically, Reid was among those who recommended the pacy striker to Ferguson, who agreed to pay Sunderland £2million for him last week.

The Manchester United boss, confined to the stands for the second and final game of his FA suspension, left eight out from the side which won 1-0 here 10 days earlier and drafted in Bellion, Roy Carroll, Kieran Richardson, Darren Fletcher and lively sub Chris Eagles.

Bellion responded with a lively performance, topped by the sprint to reach Djemba Djemba's pass and shoot between Paul Robinson's legs.

It was a massive blow for Leeds, who had taken the lead through under-fire defender Roque Junior two minutes after half-time.

The Brazilian, restored to the back four after three games out of the firing line, wasted Leeds' best chance before the break when his first effort hit James Milner and the second was blasted over the bar. Carroll also made saves from Salomon Olembe and Michael Bridges, preferred to £ 65,000- a- week striker Mark Viduka.

But the burly Roque Junior made amends when he rose above a sea of stricken bodies to head Ian Harte's corner beyond Carroll.

Man of the match Diego Forlan increased the pressure on Leeds in extra-time and tormented them before finally scoring his second of the season when he touched Fletcher's cross past Robinson, despite Leeds' appeals for offside.

Roque Junior also looked offside when he touched the equaliser home in the 113th minute, but there was no questioning Djemba Djemba's winner.

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