Northern Ireland midfielder Stuart Dallas was the hero for 10-man Leeds United after scoring twice for the Yorkshire outfit in their stunning 2-1 victory over runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
The former Crusaders player gave the visitors the lead just three minutes before the interval and sealed the points a cool finish in second-half stoppage time to record a memorable victory for Marcelo Bielsa side.
Commenting on his winning goal Dallas said: “Against these teams you don’t get too many chances, so when you are through and have a chance, you’ve got to be clinical, I think I took one touch and closed my eyes and hit it!
“It was great result for us,” added the 29-year-old, who now has seven goals to his name this season. “It was tough out there today, it’s hard enough against any team with 11 men never mind against Manchester City with 10.”
Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa was full of praise for the Cookstown man after the game: “It gives me great happiness for him because he’s a player whose game is based on a lot of generosity.
“He helps all his team-mates to recover the ball and not lose it. Goals give a lot of shine to whoever scores. For him to have scored two is normally an anomaly, it’s deserved, it’s good.
“This year has allowed Dallas to show a part of himself that we didn’t know he had.”
In the Championship in Scotland, Dundee and Raith Rovers’ failure to win their games and Hearts 6-0 demolition of Alloa Athletic meant Liam Boyce and Michael Smith were both celebrating promotion back to the top flight after the Jam Tarts clinched the title with three games to spare.
Boyce fired home a hat-trick in Friday night’s convincing home victory to take his tally for the campaign to an impressive 16 in all competitions for the Edinburgh outfit this term.
Also on target over the weekend was Josh Magennis who hit his 14th goal of the season as Hull City maintained pole position in League One with a convincing 3-0 away success at Plymouth Argyle.
In League One in Scotland, former under-21 international Ben Hall was among the scorers as Falkirk defeated Clyde 2-1 at home while on-loan midfielder Alfie McCalmont continued his excellent form for League Two Oldham Athletic with an assist and a ninth goal of the season from a sensational free kick in the 5-2 victory over Colchester United.
Meanwhile, winger Rory Holden registered his first goal for Walsall since returning from his long injury lay-off as the Saddlers defeated Forest Green Rovers 2-1 at the Bescot Stadium to ease their League Two relegation worries.
Goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell replaced the injured Nick Pope as Burnley fell to a 2-1 Premier League defeat at Turf Moor to Steve Bruce’s Newcastle United.
Peacock-Farrell told the Burnley website: “It was a proud moment for me to make my home debut but in the end the result didn’t go our way, so it’s disappointing.”
In the U18 Premier League, 17-year-old former Linfield player Charlie Allen was on the scoresheet for Leeds United, however, his second goal of the season for the side was merely a consolation as opponents Liverpool ran out comfortable 6-1 winners.
Finally, there were assists for Rangers’ skipper Steven Davis, Ross County’s Billy Mckay and Matty Kennedy of Aberdeen.
