Football Shorts

Green turned his attention to a “tasty game” at Elland Road after claiming the second goal in a valuable Championship victory against Ipswich on Saturday.

The midfielder’s 68th-minute strike secured a fourth win in five league games for Leeds and set the club up for a mouth-watering meeting with old rivals Chelsea.

The teams are preparing to go head-to-head for the last remaining place in the Capital One Cup semi-final draw and United are bidding to emulate the upset caused by Bradford City in their quarter-final win over Arsenal last week.

Chelsea have endured a troubled season and their squad were making the long journey back to England from Japan today after losing in the final of the FIFA World Club Cup.

They will face a crowd of more than 35,000 at Elland Road and Green said: “We know what it’s going to be like. We have to be ready for them.

“Every game we play in we want to win. We’ve beaten some Premier League outfits here and not many teams like coming to Elland Road to play Leeds United. That’s what it might be like on Wednesday.

“We have to take heart from the way Bradford played against Arsenal. They (Arsenal) had a fairly strong outfit out and anything can happen.

“It’s going to be great to play against a big team like Chelsea. I’ve played Arsenal, Man City and Man United but never Chelsea. It’ll be a tasty game because there’s a bitter rivalry there.”

BRADFORD City boss Phil Parkinson was full of praise for his players despite watching them surrender a two-goal lead in the final 10 minutes at Roots Hall.

Four days after the emotionally and physically draining Capital One Cup giant-killing of Arsenal, the Bantams looked to be heading for victory over promotion rivals Southend United.

A strike from Nahki Wells and an own goal had seemingly put them in charge, but they had to settle for a share of the spoils after the home side fought back.

“After what we have gone through in terms of the euphoria of Tuesday night, to come to Southend and be 2-0 up against a team which is up and around us in the top seven was a magnificent display,” said Parkinson.

“The players put themselves on the line for the club. It was a hard ask and I thought they were great.

“There is a tinge of disappointment because we want to win every game, but let’s be fair, we couldn’t have asked for any more, could we?”

James Hanson had headed against the bar before Wells gave an unchanged City side a 28th-minute lead after great build-up work on the left from Will Atkinson and James Meredith.

They doubled their advantage 10 minutes after the break when Luke Prosser sliced Atkinson’s cross into his own net.

Atkinson was denied a third by a magnificent save before Ryan Cresswell headed Southend back into it from a corner with 10 minutes remaining and Gavin Tomlin denied City maximum points in the first minute of stoppage time.

STEVE BRUCE accused Huddersfield Town striker Alan Lee of “cheating” following the ugly post-match clash that led to his son Alex being red-carded to take the gloss off a 2-0 win for Hull City.

The Tigers defender was sent off by referee Howard Webb after pushing Lee to the ground moments after the final whistle had blown.

Hull manager Bruce was left incensed by the incident, which, he claims, was sparked by Lee elbowing his son and then going “over like a big tart”.

He said: “It infuriates me, it really does. Just as the final whistle was being blown, Alan Lee ran past Alex and elbowed him. The ball was nowhere near them.

“Alex’s reaction was wrong but I defy anyone who is blatantly elbowed not to react. And he did only push him (Lee).

“The disappointing thing is what happened next, as Alan Lee rolled over. He is cheating in those 10 seconds.

“Now, there is no one who likes a more physical encounter than me. And I thought more of Alan Lee than that.”

Asked if he was surprised by the reaction of Alex Bruce – whom he managed at Leeds for 18 months – Town boss Simon Grayson replied: “He can be a hot-headed lad at times but he shouldn’t be reacting as he did.

“He pushed Alan in the face. No matter what Alan Lee has or has not done, Alex is stupid because Hull have won the game and he will now get a three-game ban.”