Sky Bet Championship
Leeds United 2 (Solomon 4’, Bogle 13’)
Preston North End 1 (Kesler-Hayden 6’)
Leeds: Darlow (GK), Bogle, Firpo, Ampadu (C), Rodon, Piroe, Aaronson (Bamford 80’), Solomon (Byram 95’), Tanaka, Gnonto (Schmidt 80’), Gruev. Subs not used: Meslier (GK), Ramazani, Joseph, Guilavogui, Debayo, Wöber.
PNE: Cornell (GK), Meghoma (Keane 80’), Whiteman (C), Frokjaer-Jensen, Brady (Riis 64’), Storey (Porteous 64’), Hughes (Lindsay 87’), Gibson, Thordarson (Carroll 87’), Osmajic, Kesler-Hayden. Subs not used: Stowell (GK), Evans, Bauer, Mawene.
Referee: John Busby
Booked: Darlow, Gruev (Leeds) Hughes (PNE)
Venue: Elland Road
Attendance: 35,747
Leeds United faced Preston North End in the early kick-off at Elland Road in the Sky Bet Championship, producing another strong performance to seal three points.
Daniel Farke made just the one change from the midweek win over Middlesbrough, which was an enforced one, after Dan James picked up an injury after scoring the winner at the Riverside Stadium. His replacement in the starting XI was Willy Gnonto.
Under the sunshine of Elland Road, the Whites got off to a perfect start, taking the lead just four minutes after the referee had blown his whistle.
After some patient build-up play, Ilia Gruev found Manor Solomon on the left and the winger had no doubt about his next move, cutting back inside on his right and curling into the top corner of the net!
The visitors responded quickly though and levelled within two minutes, in a similar fashion. Kaine Kesler-Hayden was found on the right and he cut inside on his left and drilled powerfully into the top corner.
Looking to regain their lead though, Farke’s side quickly got back on the front foot and scored a second!
Solomon was thoroughly involved again, working space on the left and crossing in a dangerous ball into the six-yard box, where arriving late and in front of his marker was Jayden Bogle to volley home at close range!
The chances kept coming for Leeds who were on top and confident after their goals. Joel Piroe struck just wide of the post, before Gnonto forced Dai Cornell into a good save. Going even closer moments later, Piroe saw his goalbound effort blocked at the final moment and cleared away.
HALF TIME: Leeds United 2-1 Preston North End
Back out for the second half, it would be the visitors who had the first sight on goal in this 45 minutes.
A clever corner routine from the away side found Ben Whiteman on the edge of the box and he shot first time towards the top corner, but Karl Darlow was across to push the ball away to safety.
Continuing to cause problems to the PNE defence in the same way he had in the first half, Solomon created the next opening.
He cut down the left and played the ball into the box for Piroe, but the striker hit the bar this time! Just seconds later on the next attack and Brenden Aaronson was in a similar position, finding Gnonto in the middle, but the Italian fired over.
Further efforts on goal came. Piroe had two promising opportunities which went close, whilst Whiteman had another at the opposite end from a free-kick, but he struck the wall.
As we edged towards the final 10 minutes, Farke went to the bench. Isaac Schmidt and Patrick Bamford both entered, replaying Gnonto and Aaronson.
A hard-fought final 10 minutes or so saw the Whites having to stay focused and show resilience in defence, which they did, to hold onto a well-deserved three points and move back to the top of the table.
FULL TIME: Leeds United 2-1 Preston North End
