Leeds United 1 Hereford United 0.

AN excellent goalkeeping display from Darren Randolph was unable to prevent Hereford from slipping to another single-goal away defeat at Elland Road.

The Bulls have now lost all five of their away games this season, but four of them by the odd goal.

Randolph performed wonders between the posts, bringing off a string of excellent saves from the lively home attack before being beaten 19 minutes from time.

Even then, there was an element of fortune as the keeper had pulled off an excellent stop from Luciano Becchio but was powerless to prevent Andy Robinson from heading home the rebound.

Hereford’s defence, which featured loan signing Bruno N’Gotty and the recalled Richard Rose, was given plenty of work to do in a busy first half.

Richard Jackson produced an excellent interception when Jermaine Beckford threatened to break clear, but it was largely Randolph who was at centre stage.

The keeper left his line to block from the dangerous Beckford, who has already scored 11 times this season, and performed a similar feat to deny Becchio.

He was then quickly out of his area to head clear when Beckford, for once, got clear of the Hereford defence.

Hereford, on the other hand, were rarely able to threaten at the other end although Stephen O’Leary sent a couple of long-range efforts wide.

It was a similar tale in the early moments of the second period, although Beckford should really have hit the target instead of blasting tamely wide when he was left alone 12 yards out.

The striker gave Randolph another chance to show his skills on the hour-mark, however, with another excellent block.

Randolph produced another fine save from Becchio just before the goal and then, with Hereford starting to press forward in search of an equaliser, foiled Beckford again withy the striker clean through.

Late on, with three substitutes thrown into the fray, Hereford came close to snatching a leveller.

Matt Done’s shot was blocked away for a corner and then Moses Ashikodi should really have done better than shoot wide of the target when his pace left him with only keeper David Lucas to beat.

Hereford: Randolph; Jackson, Broadhurst, N’Gotty, Rose; Hudson-Odoi (Smith, 81 min), O’Leary, Johnson (Taylor, 81 min), Diagouraga, Done; Chadwick (Ashikodi, 67 min). Subs not used: Samson, Beckwith.

Leeds: Lucas, Douglas, Marquis, Richardson, Beckford, Robinson (Snodgrass, 81 min), Telfer, Howson, White (Hughes, 80 min).

Referee: G Laws (Tyne and Wear).

Attendance: 25,676.

Yellow cards: Hereford – O’Leary, 14 min, foul; Broadhurst, 70 min, foul.

Goal: Robinson, 71 min, 1-0.