Hillsborough played host to an all-Yorkshire derby in the first of the latest round of Championship fixtures on Friday. Danny Rohl’s hosts were looking for a fifth straight win following a narrow victory over Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday, while Leeds looked to continue their charge back towards the Premier League with a fourth win in six, coming off the back of a 1-0 success against Stoke.
SHW: Beadle; Valentin, Bernard, Diaby, Famewo; Johnson, Musaba, Palmer, Bannan, Gassama; Ugbo
LEE: Meslier; Gray, Rodon, Ampadu, Firpo; Gruev, Kamara; Rutter, Gnonto, Summerville; Bamford
It was no surprise that this all-Yorkshire derby got off to a fierce start from both teams, with the two sides looking to catch each other sleeping early on.
However, it would be Wednesday to threaten first, as Djeldi Gassama’s close-range effort from a corner was saved superbly by Illan Meslier in the Leeds goal. Liam Palmer also sent a long-range strike well over the bar a few moments later.
In a first half that severely lacked in goalmouth threat, Leeds saw Georginio Rutter denied twice in quick succession, as the Dutch international saw his first effort saved well by James Beadle and his second attempt blocked by Bambo Diaby.
Right on the brink of half-time, however, the away side did take the lead – and through that man again. Wilfried Gnonto got forward down the left hand side and picked out Patrick Bamford, who managed to skip past Akin Famewo to steer the ball home to give Daniel Farke’s men the advantage at the break.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe visitors started the second half quickly and were rewarded with their second goal, when Illan Meslier’s long ball forward found Patrick Bamford thirty yards out from goal. The goalscorer of Leeds’ first then flicked the ball to Georginio Rutter, who found Wilfried Gnonto breaking away and the Italian fired the ball home past an on-running James Beadle.
Both sides return to action next weekend, when Sheffield Wednesday travel to promotion-chasing Ipswich Town on Saturday, and Leeds host Millwall at Elland Road the following day – both games kick off at 3pm.
