Leeds United win the third game in a row after defeating Sheffield 2 – 1. Leeds were firmly on top at a sunny Elland Road and took an early lead as Raphinha squared for Jack Harrison to tap in his seventh goal of the season. Leeds United scored early in each half to beat Yorkshire rivals Sheffield United and move into the top half of the Premier League.
The hosts were made to rue their missed chances in first-half stoppage time as Ben Osborn forced the ball over the line after Oli McBurnie’s shot deflected into his path.
But Leeds were back in front inside four minutes of the second half, Phil Jagielka turning Harrison’s low cross into his own net.
Substitutes Rhian Brewster and Oliver Burke went close to a late equaliser for the relegation-threatened visitors, who are now 14 points from safety with eight games left.
But Leeds were worthy winners on a day they remembered fans Chris Loftus and Kevin Speight, who were killed in Turkey before their Uefa Cup game against Galatasaray in April 2000, and the club’s record goalscorer and former captain Peter Lorimer who died last month.
Leeds’ only change to the side which won at Fulham before the international break saw current captain Liam Cooper return in defence, but Raphinha and fellow midfielders Tyler Roberts and Stuart Dallas shone as Leeds edged above Aston Villa into 10th place. Sheffield United’s interim manager Paul Heckingbottom returned to Elland Road for the first time since having four eventful months in charge of Leeds at the end of the 2017-18 season, and he found a club revitalised under his successor.
The appointment of Marcelo Bielsa in June 2018 was a statement of intent and marked an end to the managerial revolving door at Leeds as they fought to earn a return to the Premier League.
The Argentine transformed the team’s playing style and led them back to the promised land at the second time of asking. Now they’re targeting their first top-10 finish in the Premier League since 2001-02 and continue to play the free-flowing, high-pressing football Bielsa demands.
His team swarmed around the visitors from the outset, earning a free-kick inside 10 seconds which Raphinha curled over. Kalvin Phillips caught John Lundstram napping to test Aaron Ramsdale, who also parried a Dallas shot from outside the box.
Dallas then won back possession from Enda Stevens deep inside the Sheffield United half, Roberts found Raphinha and the Brazilian winger ghosted past George Baldock before gifting Harrison an open goal.
Another flowing move resulted in Luke Ayling having a shot blocked and Harrison fired wide from Roberts’ slide-rule pass, before Roberts fired wide himself.
And although their Yorkshire rivals drew level on the stroke of half-time, Leeds regained the lead shortly after the break. Roberts hit a superb cross-field ball to Harrison on the left and the on-loan Manchester City winger’s ball behind Jagielka forced an own goal from the veteran defender.
Moments later, Dallas curled towards the top corner, only to see his shot clip the angle of crossbar and post. The Northern Ireland midfielder also dragged a shot wide as Leeds spurned several chances to snuff out Sheffield United’s hopes of a late leveller.
Source – BBC News
