GERRY MURPHY dedicated Town’s dramatic derby win to the fans.

More than 13,000 home supporters in a total 16,413 turn-out saw Andy Holdsworth head a 76th-minute winner in a match which brought first-half red cards for Jon Worthington and Leeds skipper Jonathan Douglas, both of which Murphy thought were harsh.

“We owed our supporters a good win after the season we’ve had,” said the caretaker manager, who has now won one and drawn the other two of his three games in charge.

“I asked the players to give it a really good go and to make sure that by the final whistle, they had nothing left in the tank, and they were tremendous all the way through.

“When you work hard and put your bodies on the line, it’s amazing what can be achieved.

“When Michael Collins hit the bar (in the 52nd minute) I feared it was going to be one of those nights, but when the goal came, it was a beauty.

“Joe Skarz put in a great cross and Andy Holdsworth made a great run to head home.”

Of the red cards, both of which were for second bookable offences, Murphy, who because of suspension, will be without Worthington for Saturday’s home clash with Tranmere, explained: “I didn’t think either was justified.

“Worthy pretty much got his legs tangled up with Douglas, and then when he himself was sent off, he was clearly pushed into the goalkeeper, rather than fouling him deliberately.

“The Leeds lad (Lubomir Michalik) put his head in Worthy’s face, so if anyone should have walked, it was him.

“But there’s nothing we can do about it now, so you have to take it on the chin.”

Murphy, whose team climbed to 12th, added: “It was a good performance, and we’ll savour it for a few hours, but then it will be back to work to prepare for Tranmere.

“There are three games still to go this season, and we want nine more points.”

Chris Brandon, who again played up front alongside Andy Booth in a 3-5-2 system, was today having an examination on the hamstring injury which forced him to come off in the 62nd minute.