Premier League 2

Chelsea 1 (Ballo 14’)

Leeds United 0

Leeds: Van den Heuvel (GK), Sutcliffe, Kenneh, Mullen, McCarron, Bate (Allen 60’), Jenkins, Gray (Joseph 67’), McKinstry (McGurk 85’), Miller, Dean. Subs not used: Christy (GK), Snowdon.

Chelsea: Sharman Lowe (GK), Hughes, Brooking, Humphreys (C), Williams, Simons (Hall 70’), Rankine (Webster 82’) McEachran, Wareham (Nunn 77’), Ballo, Vale. Subs not used: Bergstrom, Mbuyamba.

Venue: Stamford Bridge

Referee: S. Hill

Booked: Simons, Ballo, Nunn (Chelsea) Jenkins, Dean (Leeds)

A sun-drenched Stamford Bridge was the venue for the match and with roughly 1,000 supporters in attendance, the teams were welcomed out onto the pitch and quickly got the game underway, searching for an opener at either end. 

The Blues came closest to finding an early goal, when captain Bashir Humphreys looped a header over everyone and saw it come back off the top of the crossbar. 

With headers being the choice of early chances, Jeremiah Mullen then flicked one just wide for Leeds down the opposite end from Stuart McKinstry’s free-kick into a dangerous area. 

Just under 15 minutes in, Chelsea did take the lead. Brodi Hughes raced clear down the right wing and pulled the ball back to the edge of the box, where Thierno Ballo fired home to put his side one goal ahead. 

The two teams continued to exchange chances after the opener but were unable to create any really clear opportunities for quite some time. Both Max Dean and Amari Miller had efforts on goal but neither caused too much trouble for the home side. 

At the opposite end, Chelsea were continuing a theme of crossing into the box but the impressive due of Mullen and Nohan Kenneh dealt with most of the aerial battles they were being put into. 

The half-time whistle signalled the end of a first 45 minutes which had been relatively even, but the Blues had the only goal to take in at the interval.

HALF TIME: Chelsea 1-0 Leeds United

There were no changes on either side at the beginning of the second half and it would be the hosts who started on the front-foot. Dani Van Den Heuvel produced a stunning near post save to deny an early second, before a last-ditch Kenneh tackle prevented another clear cut opportunity. 

Dion Rankine was the Chelsea player causing most the issues at the start of the half. His trickery down the wing was causing problems and combined with his pace, resulted in chances, the latest of which was shot over the bar by Ballo. 

Leeds then created a chance of their own, in what was still an even game with few clear cut opportunities. Miller again did well on the wing and cut inside, only to see his strike go over the bar.

Andy Taylor went to his bench just after the hour mark and brought on Mateo Joseph and Charlie Allen, replacing Archie Gray and Lewis Bate. 

It would however be the combination of two starters who then created arguably the best chance of the match for Leeds. After being brought down outside the box, Max Dean forced an excellent save from his free-kick, before Miller slotted the rebound just wide of the post. 

Despite the best efforts of the Whites, the home side stood firm and would continue to defend their area in search of a vital three points in the battle to avoid the drop from PL2 Division One. 

The full-time whistle went and secured the points for the home side who moved out of the relegation spots, above Blackburn Rovers into 12th. Leeds stay in 11th place, three points ahead of Rovers who now sit 13th.

FULL TIME: Chelsea 1-0 Leeds United