Leeds 2-0 Huddersfield: Hosts boost promotion bid with comprehensive derby win

Luke Ayling has scored four goals this campaign, two more than he had managed in his first three seasons with the club

Premier League promotion hopefuls Leeds United went top of the Championship and moved seven points clear of third-placed Fulham with a comfortable win over local rivals Huddersfield.

The hosts raced into a third-minute lead when full-back Luke Ayling smashed home a superb volley from Jack Harrison’s deep cross.

Patrick Bamford wrapped up the win with a close-range finish after Town goalkeeper Jonas Lossl could only tip Ben White’s header into his path.

The Whites, who have now won their past five games without conceding, hit the woodwork through Harrison as they made the most of West Bromwich Albion’s 0-0 draw at Swansea to go back to the top of the table for the first time since 14 December.

Added to Fulham’s draw at Bristol City and Nottingham Forest’s home defeat by Millwall, Leeds were the only one of the Championship’s top four to win this weekend.

Ayling opened the scoring in the first five minutes in last week’s 4-0 win at Hull City and repeated the trick at Elland Road with a wonderful flying volley from Harrison’s lofted centre.

Town, who had won their past two games to climb away from the bottom three, offered little but came close to a leveller when Trevoh Chalobah’s shot threatened to squirm past Leeds keeper Illan Meslier.

Bamford ended his eight-match run without a goal to put the game beyond Town in the 51st minute and thereafter it was just a matter of whether Leeds could add to the score.

Marcelo Bielsa’s men visit Cardiff a week on Sunday, while the Terriers, who are now just three points clear of the bottom three, host Wigan.

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Leeds

• 1Meslier
• 2AylingBooked at 19mins
• 28BerardiBooked at 38mins
• 6Cooper
• 15Dallas
• 5WhiteBooked at 80mins
• 17Hélder Costa
• 19Hernández
• 43KlichSubstituted forShackletonat 83'minutes
• 22HarrisonSubstituted forAlioskiat 90+3'minutes
• 9BamfordSubstituted forRobertsat 79'minutes

Substitutes

• 3Douglas
• 10Alioski
• 11Roberts
• 25Caprile
• 34Struijk
• 46Shackleton
• 49Casey

Huddersfield

• 49Lössl
• 17Simpson
• 12StearmanBooked at 15mins
• 26SchindlerBooked at 51mins
• 3Toffolo
• 8Chalobah
• 39O'Brien
• 10WillockBooked at 35minsSubstituted forPritchardat 67'minutes
• 32Smith RoweSubstituted forBacunaat 72'minutes
• 16Grant
• 22CampbellSubstituted forMounieat 61'minutes

Substitutes

• 7Bacuna
• 9Kachunga
• 13Coleman
• 21Pritchard
• 24Mounie
• 27Stankovic
• 29King

Referee:Oliver LangfordAttendance:36,514

Match Stats

Home TeamLeedsAway TeamHuddersfieldPossessionHome61%Away39%ShotsHome16Away6Shots on TargetHome5Away2CornersHome2Away3FoulsHome13Away18

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Leeds United 2, Huddersfield Town 0.

Source