Stockport County 1, Leeds United 3

Leeds made it four points out of six for Simon Grayson today as the new manager celebrated his first win since walking out on Blackpool just before Christmas.

United’s first away win in Coca-Cola League One since November 1 included goals of true quality from Fabian Delph and substitute Malcolm Christie after Luciano Becchio had cancelled out Johnny Mullins’ early goal for Stockport.

Christie’s goal emphasised Grayson’s inspired use of substitutes, as it was Robert Snodgrass who equalised against leaders Leicester after leaving the bench on Boxing Day.

Former Middlesbrough and Derby striker Christie, 29, has struggled with injuries and illness since landing a short-term deal with Leeds and his first goal for the senior side in only his third appearance will have done his prospects of gaining an extended contract no harm.

Grayson said: “Fabian has built a reputation for scoring special goals and he showed his quality by scoring from distance.

"Malcolm also showed his quality by getting into the box and finding the bottom corner. He has been frustrated by injuries over the last few years but when you’ve got a fit Malcom Christie, you’ve got a real player on your hands.

“His goal-scoring level in the past has been outstanding and you don’t play for Derby and Middlesbrough in the Premiership, as he has done, without being a good player, so we know what he is about and we have good competition up front at the moment.”

Grayson added: “To get four points from my first two games is a good start for us.

"The players showed a lot of resolve and character. We went a goal down but from then on we looked a half-decent team.

“There is still a lot of hard work to do. We need to get a bit more discipline into our play and need to be a bit more difficult to break down but the opposition passed the ball around well.”

Jermaine Beckford was withdrawn soon after the hour mark with a tight hamstring but he could be fit for the visit to Hereford next Saturday.

Grayson made two changes to the starting line-up, Snodgrass and Andrew Hughes coming in for Andy Robinson and David Prutton, but United made a nightmare start to their first visit to Edgeley Park since 1924.

Although the goal was officially and mysteriously timed at three minutes, the game was less than two minutes old when Carl Baker skipped past three players who should have closed him down.

The ball cannoned to former Mansfield Town right back Mullins, who drove it past Casper Ankergren with the aid of a deflection off Jonathan Douglas.

It was the second time in Grayson’s two games in charge that United had fallen behind but they were almost level in the 13th minute when Beckford tried an inventive overhead shot which struck the bar.

The equaliser duly arrived on 19 minutes when a corner from Snodgrass was helped on at the near post by Douglas for Becchio to get the final touch - his 12th goal of the season and his first since November 22.

The Argentinian was booked for running into the Leeds fans to celebrate.

Stockport made an early substitution, Liam McSweeney replacing left back Michael Rose in a tactical change on 25 minutes and they stepped up the tempo.

Alan Sheehan and Douglas picked up bookings in rapid succession and there were goal-line clearances from Sheehan and Hughes as United clung on.

Ten minutes into the second half, Delph became the fourth Leeds player to be shown a yellow card. Sheehan needed another goal-line clearance as Stockport put the Leeds defence to the test and Grayson made a double substitution in the 64th minute, Jonny Howson and Christie replacing Snodgrass and Beckford.

Stockport were still looking the more likely to pounce again when Delph scored out of the blue in the 73rd minute.

Stockport keeper Owain Fon Williams tried a low clearance which flew to Delph a long way out on the left and the youngster’s superb half-volley left the keeper groping.

Stockport manager Jim Gannon surprisingly replaced strikers Baker and Craig Davies with Paul Turnbull and Peter Thompson, but it was Leeds who scored again.

Ankergren’s long ball cleared the defence and substitute Christie raced through to send a crisp half-volley in off a post to make to 3-1.