A game lacking in real energy or chances. It sparked into life following Josh Brownhill’s red card for Bristol City which saw Leeds take adavantage with a 2-0 win.
Leeds had the early momentum in the game but a succession of crosses and corners amounted to nothing. Ezgjan Alioski almost grabbed a goal after Mateusz Klich managed to find him in the box – but volley was just tipped over my the Bristol Keeper.
Bristol weren’t able to create many chances in the first half but when they did it was largely from crosses – they were either claimed by debutant Will Huffer or put just wide.
Following the increasing City pressure it was Leeds that could’ve gone in front when Klich found Kemar Roofe out wide. The resulting shot took a deflection that was inches away from the far post.
Nothing really to shout about for either team after that first half neither of them looked like they wanted to win the game.
The second half started as it finished, Bristol City were looking to push on winning multiple corners. Poor crosses allowed Huffer to punch most of them away.
The game then changed in the 55th minutes as Brownhill’s late challenge on Kalvin Phillips earned the Bristol City Player his second yellow of the game.
Constant Leeds pressure from then on was eventually converted. Pablo Hernandez’s shot from the edge of the box was flicked in by Leeds’ top goal scorer making it eight goals in 12 games for Kemar Roofe.
Leeds then pushed on looking for a second which they eventually found after some Spanish magic. Samu Saiz as he has done so well for Leeds this season found space and the cross from 30-yards into the box was met by Hernandez, who for a second consecutive game looped a header into the far corner.
This result continues a win record against Bristol City at Elland Road stretching all the way back to 1979. The most important thing to take from this game is how well the youth played. Huffer and Aapo Halme both came into the side for their Leeds debuts and neither were intimidated by the occasion and both of them managed to keep a clean sheet.
Leeds United Player Ratings:
Huffer- 7
Dallas- 6
Halme- 7
Cooper- 7
Phillips- 8
Klich- 7
Foreshaw- 7
Alioski-6
Hernandez- 8
Roofe- 7.5
Subs-
Saiz- 6.5
Harrison- 6
Baker- N/A
My MOTM- Phillips
Picture Credit: Leeds United
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