MANAGER Eddie Howe was left to rue a tardy start as Cherries failed to break their Elland Road jinx tonight.

Luke Murphy capped a bright opening from the hosts when he netted the only goal of the game with a stunning strike after 36 minutes.

It maintained the hosts’ 100 per cent winning record against Cherries at the venue, with Yann Kermorgant’s late missed penalty proving costly.

Howe said: “We created a number of chances in the second half and a couple at the end of the first half when we finished very strongly.

“But the big disappointment for us was the way we started and the way we gave Leeds a chance to get their crowd behind them early in the game. Our game-plan had been to quieten the crowd and try to make a fast start but they put us under pressure and I thought they played well in the first half.

“Physically, we probably weren’t at our best and I didn’t think we looked as fresh as we have in recent games so that was a concern and it took us a while to get going.

“We were better towards the end of the first half when we had a couple of chances to get the equaliser which would have changed the game.

“I thought we got into some great attacking positions and some of our forward play was very strong but for the final part. Our record would say we have been very strong in that department and it’s unlike us. The penalty summed up our night in front of goal.

“They scored a good goal and, unfortunately for us, it just seemed like one of those nights when the ball wouldn’t go in.”