STOKE CITY had not visited Elland Road in 15 years before this game and, as an attacking force, they barely turned up last night. Unlikely leaders of the Coca-Cola Championship recently, their subsequent three draws, including this fortunate one against Leeds United, have brought more realism to the Potteries. The visiting team’s goal survived with a mix of blocked shots, spectacular saves and near-misses, particularly in the second half.

“We rarely threatened, but there won’t be many teams who keep a clean sheet here this season,” Tony Pulis, the Stoke manager, said. “Leeds played well tonight but we’ve got a bit of resilience about us. We’re squeezing everything we’ve got out of the players.”

So settled has been Stoke’s team that ten players have started at least ten of their 11 league games, while Carl Asaba has appeared as a substitute in every match, but Leeds thrived without familiarity. Brett Ormerod, pacy and persistent up front, and Sean Gregan, dominant in midfield, fared well despite having made their debuts only within the past fortnight.

Ormerod’s first appearance on loan from Southampton last Friday against Sunderland was marked by a missed penalty and a head wound that required stitches and his ill-luck continued last night. His goalbound shot was blocked by Wayne Thomas and he was clattered into three times, including a bad foul from behind by Gerry Taggart, who was booked.

Ormerod had earlier been denied by a last-ditch sliding tackle by Taggart after he had been sent clear by Frazer Richardson. Ed de Goey, the Stoke goalkeeper, made acrobatic saves to deny Jermaine Wright and Stephen Crainey, Ade Akinbiyi cleared off his own line, Danny Pugh should have done better than send Richardson’s cross over the crossbar and Brian Deane headed inches wide in stoppage time.

Kevin Blackwell, the Leeds, manager, said: “That was a first-class performance. We played with some real style. We passed the ball and moved it quickly. If Lady Luck had smiled on us in the box this season we’d have another six or eight points. There was an invisible wall up there tonight and it just wasn’t going in.”

LEEDS UNITED (4-4-2): N Sullivan — G Kelly, C Carlisle, P Butler, S Crainey — F Richardson (sub: J Joachim 86min), J Wright, S Gregan, D Pugh — B Deane, B Ormerod. Substitutes not used: S Carson, M Ricketts, J Joachim, M Spring, M Duberry. Booked: Deane, Clarke.

STOKE CITY (4-4-2): E de Goey — J Halls, W Thomas, G Taggart, C Hill — D Russell, D Brammer, C Clarke, M Hall — A Akinbiyi (sub: C Greenacre 90min), G Noel-Williams (sub: C Asaba 83min). Substitutes not used: S Simonsen, L Neal, K Henry. Booked: Taggart.

Referee: L Mason.