Leeds go third as pride is restored

Flair and elegance have never been as important to David Batty as the end product, and the manner of his homecoming at Elland Road last night could hardly have emphasised that more strongly.

Leeds went third in the Premiership, and Batty even provided the flick which set up David Hopkin's first-half goal, but it was a fidgety, unconvincing victory, given an extra gloss by Lee Bowyer's injury-time goal after a Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink cross from the left was deflected into his path.

For Batty, a Leeds loyalist, there was no denying the pride generated by his return. The childsize T-shirts on sale outside the ground, emblazoned "I was born to play for Leeds United" might have been designed for him.

Batty predictably honoured his devotees with a sacrifice - George Boateng lay prone on the damp Elland Road turf within five minutes, and was duly booked.

Both in giving youth its head, and in making Batty his first major signing, David O'Leary has shrewdly restored West Yorkshire pride, which had been offended by George Graham's prolonged decision to join Tottenham Hotspur: a Londoner rushing back to London with indecent conviction.

Last night, though, Leeds began diffidently and were immensely fortunate not to fall behind after 17 minutes. Boateng had recovered sufficiently from Batty's attentions to sprint down the right, Stephen Froggatt had touched his cross on to the near post, and Noel Whelan, under pressure, poked it against the other one. Soltvedt even collected a cut forehead as Jon Woodgate headed clear.

Leeds' urgently needed a moment of invention and, five minutes before half-time, it came from an unforeseen quarter - a Batty back flick. Coventry's defence was opened in an instant, leaving Harry Kewell to feed Ian Harte on the left of the area and David Hopkin to pop in a low, cross from no more than three yards out for his first goal for 14 months.

Nigel Martyn's alert low save from Noel Whelan ensured that Leeds held their lead at the interval. Coventry, who had hustled to good purpose, were again rueing their inability to finish.

Leeds might have stretched their lead through Robert Molenaar but, surprised to find himself unmarked six yards out after Hopkin's deep free-kick, he failed entirely to follow up his back-pedal with a back-header.

As the rain teemed down, Martyn had to save from Whelan and Boateng in quick succession. As Batty, short of match practice and feeling the pace, was withdrawn 18 minutes from time, he could not jog down the tunnel with total confidence that victory would arrive on schedule.

Leeds: Martyn, Woodgate, Molenaar, Radebe (Halle 61), Hopkin, Batty (McPhail 72), Bowyer, Kewell, Harte, Smith, Hasselbaink. Subs Not Used: Wetherall, Wijnhard, Robinson. Booked: Batty, Hasselbaink, Hopkin. Goals: Hopkin 40, Bowyer 90.

Coventry: Hedman, Nilsson, Williams, Shaw, Soltvedt, Whelan, McAllister, Boateng (Hall 77), Clement (Jackson 53), Froggatt, Edworthy. Subs Not Used: Breen, Shilton, Ogrizovic. Booked: Soltvedt, Shaw.

Referee: G Poll (Tring).