Paul Ince began life as manager of Blackpool with defeat at Leeds.

David Norris opened the scoring in the second half when he scored with a well-controlled half-volley, before Steve Morison recorded his first goal for the club with a lovely lofted finish.

Leeds also went close through Luke Varney and Ross McCormack.

Blackpool's Ludovic Sylvestre had a 30-yard strike tipped over and Gary Taylor-Fletcher had the ball in the net, but he was ruled offside.

The result is Leeds' first win in four league games and moves Neil Warnock's side to within six points of a play-off place.

Ince's return to management

The defeat by Leeds was Ince's first game as a manager since April 2011 when his Notts County lost 2-0 to Oldham

They were the better side in the first half with Varney twice going close with headers, the second well saved by Matt Gilks.

Scotland forward McCormack then made a mess of a shot from three yards before he had an effort cleared off the line by Craig Cathcart.

The visitors came back into the game later in the half. Sylvestre was first to test the goal with a fantastic strike that was heading into the top corner only for Paddy Kenny to deny him with a superb stop.

Moments later, Taylor-Fletcher thought he had scored after he tucked the ball past Kenny after the keeper had parried Matt Phillips's shot - unfortunately for Ince's side the forward was offside.

The second 45 minutes was also entertaining, but it was Leeds who made the most of their chances.

They took the lead when Norris, who had quite a quiet game, gave Gilks no chance with a great half-volley.

But that finish was bettered by Morison, who got himself between both centre-backs before lifting his effort over the Blackpool keeper.

Tom Ince nearly gave his father something to smile about in the closing minutes, but directed his header over the bar.

Leeds manager Neil Warnock:

"I couldn't pick a star tonight. They were all nine or 10 out of 10.

"We started on the front foot and limited them to just a couple of opportunities, which would have been cruel if they'd gone in. Paddy made a couple of great saves and I couldn't see him being beaten.

"If you brought another manager in I couldn't see him getting more out of those players than you saw tonight."

Blackpool manager Paul Ince:

"It would have been nice to start with a win, but this time last week I was sitting in my lounge or walking the dog in the garden, so it's good to be back in football.

"Paddy Kenny made two or three outstanding saves for them and in the second half we had chances which didn't quite fall for us. I was disappointed with the goals we conceded, but we played some good stuff at times.

"It is early doors. I've only been through the door for two days and there is a lot to work on. We are not organised or structured at this moment, you can see that.

"We have a match on Saturday, then a free week when we can get the lads out on the training pitch and get a few things sorted out."

Lineup, Bookings (0) & Substitutions (4)

Leeds United

  • 01 Kenny
  • 02 Peltier
  • 04 Lees
  • 15 Warnock
  • 07 Green
  • 11 Varney
  • 18 Tonge (Brown - 84' )
  • 19 Norris (Pearce - 90' )
  • 25 Byram
  • 09 Morison
  • 44 McCormack

Substitutes

  • 12 Ashdown
  • 05 Pearce
  • 14 White
  • 17 Brown
  • 30 Hall
  • 21 Diouf
  • 22 Habibou

Blackpool

  • 01 Gilks
  • 03 Crainey
  • 15 Baptiste
  • 20 Cathcart
  • 42 Broadfoot
  • 07 M Phillips
  • 14 Sylvestre (Derbyshire - 74' )
  • 16 Ferguson
  • 18 Osbourne
  • 11 Ince
  • 12 Taylor-Fletcher (Delfouneso - 70' )

Substitutes

  • 21 Halstead
  • 04 Wabara
  • 05 Eardley
  • 17 Basham
  • 31 Angel
  • 38 Derbyshire
  • 40 Delfouneso
Ref: Boyeson
Att: 25,532

Match Stats

Shots

16 11

On target

10 6

Corners

7 5

Fouls

8 3

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:11 Full time

Full Time The referee brings the game to a close.

90:00 +2:03

Alex Baptiste produces a cross, clearance by Jason Pearce.

90:00 +0:58

Inswinging corner taken by Tom Ince, clearance by Lee Peltier.

90:00 +0:58 Substitution

Substitution Jason Pearce on for David Norris.

90:00 +0:29

Corner taken by Isaiah Osbourne, Luke Varney manages to make a clearance.

89:51

Samuel Byram challenges Nathan Delfouneso unfairly and gives away a free kick. Stephen Crainey delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from left wing, Luke Varney makes a clearance.

88:32

Centre by Matt Phillips, Matt Derbyshire has a headed effort at goal from close range which goes wide of the left-hand post.

85:58

Ross McCormack challenges Craig Cathcart unfairly and gives away a free kick. Craig Cathcart takes the direct free kick.

84:38

Tom Ince fouled by Michael Brown, the ref awards a free kick. The ball is delivered by Tom Ince, Header from deep inside the area by Alex Baptiste goes harmlessly over the crossbar.

83:34 Substitution

Substitution Michael Brown replaces Michael Tonge.

83:26

Luke Varney produces a cross.

83:03

Short corner taken by Ross McCormack from the left by-line.

82:50

Volleyed left-footed shot by Paul Green. Barry Ferguson gets a block in.

82:44

Ross McCormack delivers the ball, clearance by Alex Baptiste.

82:06

Inswinging corner taken by Tom Ince, Tom Lees makes a clearance.

81:03

Alex Baptiste sends in a cross, Samuel Byram makes a clearance.

79:38

Alex Baptiste takes a shot from inside the six-yard box clearing the crossbar.

79:38

Alex Baptiste produces a right-footed shot from inside the six-yard box that clears the bar.

77:01

Tom Ince takes a shot from 25 yards. Save by Patrick Kenny.

76:32

Samuel Byram has an effort at goal. Save made by Matt Gilks.

75:44

Outswinging corner taken by Ross McCormack from the right by-line.

73:40 Substitution

Substitution Ludovic Sylvestre goes off and Matt Derbyshire comes on.

73:25

Shot from just outside the box by David Norris misses to the right of the target.

69:50 Substitution

Substitution Nathan Delfouneso on for Gary Taylor-Fletcher.

67:25

The ball is delivered by Ross McCormack.

66:57

Free kick awarded for a foul by Kirk Broadfoot on Steve Morison. Stephen Warnock takes the direct free kick.

62:04 Goal scored

Goal - Steve Morison - Leeds 2 - 0 Blackpool Steve Morison finds the net with a goal from deep inside the penalty box to the top left corner of the goal. Leeds 2-0 Blackpool.

60:31

Stephen Warnock delivers the ball.

60:17

A cross is delivered by Samuel Byram, clearance by Alex Baptiste.

59:26

The ball is sent over by Matt Phillips.

59:02

The ball is sent over by Ross McCormack, Alex Baptiste makes a clearance.

56:07

Assist on the goal came from Ross McCormack.

56:07 Goal scored

Goal - David Norris - Leeds 1 - 0 Blackpool A goal is scored by David Norris from just inside the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Leeds 1-0 Blackpool.

55:42

Corner taken by Ross McCormack,

53:09

Matt Phillips takes a shot. Stephen Warnock gets a block in.

52:14

Close range effort by Ross McCormack misses to the right of the goal.

49:10

Corner taken by Ludovic Sylvestre from the left by-line to the near post, clearance by Luke Varney.

48:32

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Gary Taylor-Fletcher by Tom Lees. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Stephen Crainey from left channel, Luke Varney manages to make a clearance.

48:10

David Norris takes a shot. Matt Gilks makes a save.

47:16

Alex Baptiste fouled by Luke Varney, the ref awards a free kick. Barry Ferguson takes the direct free kick.

45:01

The second half begins.

45:00 +2:27 Half time

Half Time It is the end of the first-half.

45:00 +1:50

Gary Taylor-Fletcher has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

45:00 +0:12

Matt Phillips takes a shot. Patrick Kenny makes a save. The referee blows for offside against Tom Ince. Indirect free kick taken by Patrick Kenny.

39:12

David Norris gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kirk Broadfoot. Alex Baptiste takes the direct free kick.

38:31

A cross is delivered by Steve Morison, Luke Varney produces a header from inside the area that goes over the bar.

35:29

Tom Ince has an effort at goal. Save by Patrick Kenny.

33:16

Corner from the right by-line taken by Ross McCormack, Effort on goal by Paul Green from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the goal.

32:10

Ludovic Sylvestre has a drilled shot. Save by Patrick Kenny.

30:45

Tom Ince has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the left of the target.

29:28

Luke Varney crosses the ball, save made by Matt Gilks. Ross McCormack takes a shot. Save by Matt Gilks.

27:26

Corner taken by Ross McCormack from the left by-line played to the near post.

25:43

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ross McCormack by Isaiah Osbourne. Free kick crossed right-footed by Lee Peltier, clearance by Kirk Broadfoot.

24:05

Ross McCormack produces a right-footed shot from just outside the penalty box that misses to the left of the goal.

23:41

Samuel Byram delivers the ball, Barry Ferguson manages to make a clearance.

22:54

Isaiah Osbourne concedes a free kick for a foul on David Norris. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Ross McCormack, clearance by Stephen Crainey.

22:18

Matt Phillips has an effort at goal. Comfortable save by Patrick Kenny.

20:31

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Isaiah Osbourne by Stephen Warnock. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Alex Baptiste, clearance by Lee Peltier.

20:17

Isaiah Osbourne fouled by David Norris, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Isaiah Osbourne.

19:46

The ball is delivered by Stephen Warnock, Luke Varney takes a shot. Save made by Matt Gilks.

16:40

The ball is sent over by Alex Baptiste.

13:58

Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Ross McCormack.

13:45

David Norris takes a shot. Blocked by Ludovic Sylvestre.

13:04

The ball is delivered by Ross McCormack, Luke Varney takes a shot. Matt Gilks makes a save.

12:42

The ball is crossed by Ross McCormack, Craig Cathcart manages to make a clearance.

11:50

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Tom Ince, save by Patrick Kenny.

7:00

The referee blows for offside. Alex Baptiste takes the free kick.

4:14

Luke Varney has an effort from just inside the box that misses to the left of the target.

2:28

Luke Varney takes a shot. Kirk Broadfoot gets a block in. Corner from right by-line taken by Ross McCormack.

1:19

The assistant referee signals for offside against Gary Taylor-Fletcher. Indirect free kick taken by Patrick Kenny.

0:00

The referee starts the match.

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