Sky Bet Championship
Bristol City 0
Leeds United 1 (Gnonto 48’)
Bristol City: O’Leary (GK), McCrorie (Bell 72’), Pring, James (C), Williams (Gardner-Hickman 59’), Knight, Conway, Dickie, Tanner, Wells (Mehmeti 59’), Vyner. Subs not used: Bajic (GK), Cornick, King, Roberts, Knight-Lebel, Nelson.
Leeds: Meslier (GK), Firpo, Ampadu (C), Kamara (Byram 86’), Bamford, Summerville (Piroe 90’), Rodon, Gray, Rutter, Gnonto (Anthony 83’), Gruev. Subs not used: Klaesson (GK), Cresswell, Cooper, Shackleton, Gelhardt, Joseph.
Referee: Stephen Martin
Booked: Dickie (City)
Venue: Ashton Gate
Attendance: 25,429 (2,982 away)
Travelling away from home on Friday night, Leeds United faced Bristol City at Ashton Gate in the Sky Bet Championship.
A second half winner from Willy Gnonto was enough to secure the points, sending the Whites into the top two in the table.
After an early spell of very few chances, with each team looking to figure one another out, Crysencio Summerville had the first opening by creating it for himself.
The Whites forward stole possession from George Tanner and raced through one-on-one, but saw his attempted chip over Max O’Leary well-saved by the out-stretched arm of the goalkeeper.
Just a couple of minutes later and O’Leary made another big stop. Georginio Rutter created the chance by sliding a ball through to Patrick Bamford and the striker powerfully hit the target, only to see the City stopper save again.
In the battle for United’s forwards to beat O’Leary, it was the home goalkeeper who was winning in the first half. He saved well again at close range to deny Georginio this time, after the ball had fallen to him in the box from Bamford’s clever run and cross.
Leeds had largely controlled the first half, but the final chance at Ashton Gate in the opening 45 minutes went to Bristol City. The Robins were awarded a free-kick just outside the area which was chipped in by Joe Williams.
It came back out and fell kindly for a shot on goal, but nothing came of the opening and the teams went back to the dressing room on level terms.
HALF TIME: Bristol City 0-0 Leeds United
Both teams came back out under the lights in the South West, and after being denied with their chances in the first half, Leeds opened the scoring quickly in the second!
Junior Firpo played a ball into the middle of the pitch from left-back, Gnonto collected and brilliantly dribbled through the remaining defenders before powerfully striking home left-footed!
A chance came for a second came shortly after. Summerville had won possession high up the pitch again and raced in on goal, this time he played Glen Kamara, but the midfielder was the next to be denied by O’Leary with a fine save.
City then had their best chance of the game and came close to equalising. Fresh from the bench, Anis Mehmeti was played in on goal and finding himself one-on-one with Illan Meslier, the Leeds ‘keeper spread his body well and made an excellent save to keep his side ahead.
The home side were throwing bodies forward looking for an equaliser and that left space at the back. Leeds had a number of openings where they exploited the City backline, but again, were denied.
The combination of near misses, along with O’Leary having a strong game between the posts kept Leeds from adding anymore to the scoreline, but the whistle blew meaning one was enough.
That win sends Daniel Farke’s team into second in the Sky Bet Championship table and they now turn their attentions back to the Emirates FA Cup next week, taking on Plymouth Argyle in the Fourth Round replay.
FULL TIME: Bristol City 0-1 Leeds United
