Sky Bet Championship

Leeds United 1 (Wood 24) Sheffield Wednesday 0

Leeds United striker Chris Wood took his tally to 20 league goals for the season, to give the Whites a crucial 1-0 victory over sixth placed Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday.

Head coach Garry Monk made two changes from last week’s 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town, with Liam Bridcutt and Souleymane Doukara returning to the side.

Wood had a good chance in the opening stages of the match, but he could only drag his shot across goal.

Hadi Sacko then showed some neat skill to nutmeg an Owls defender on the byline, he looked to pick out Wood, but the Owls were able to clear the danger.

Jordan Rhodes had Wednesday’s first opportunity in the 23^rd minute, he found the ball in the Leeds box, but could only fire over on the turn.

A minute later Leeds took the lead, Gaetano Berardi put a brilliant ball into the box and Wood was given the time to take a touch, before picking his spot and finding the back of the net.

Leeds then had a great chance on the counter attack, Wood sent Sacko downfield, but he was unable to play the clinical pass to Wood or Pablo Hernandez as the chance went begging.

Ahead of the break Fernando Forestieri had an opportunity, the ball fell to him in the box, but he couldn’t find the target with his effort.

Half Time: Leeds United 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday

After the interval, Chris Wood picked up possession before firing an effort on goal from the edge of the box and wasn’t far away from finding the top right corner.

Eunan O’Kane then had a penalty appeal turned away, Sam Hutchinson appeared to bring down the midfielder on the box, but referee Michael Jones didn’t agree.

Wednesday won a corner soon after, when Luke Ayling’s header couldn’t be prevented from going out for a corner.  From the set-piece the visitors were awarded a penalty as Doukara was penalised for a foul on Hutchinson.  Jordan Rhodes stepped up, but he was denied by a fantastic save from Rob Green, who tipped his effort on to the post, before Leeds cleared.

Glenn Loovens then went close for the Owls from a corner, he saw his header go over the crossbar.

Luke Ayling then put a brilliant ball across the face of goal, just waiting to be tapped home, but no-one was able to get on the end of it, as Leeds looked to double the lead.

Substitute Barry Bannan then went close for Wednesday with a long range strike, but his effort went just inches wide.

Wood then saw a second goal ruled out for offside, but United were able to hold on for the derby victory and a very important three points.

Full Time: Leeds United 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday

Leeds: Green, Ayling, Bartley, Jansson, Berardi, O’Kane (Vieira 83), Bridcutt, Hernandez (Dallas 86), Doukara, Sacko (Roofe 71), Wood.  Subs not used: Silvestri, Cooper, Pedraza, Barrow.

Wednesday: Westwood, Hunt, Loovens, Sasso, Fox (McManaman 45), Wallace, Hutchinson, Abdi (Bannan 68), Reach, Rhodes (Fletcher 68), Foresieri.  Subs not used: Wildsmith, Winnall, Palmer, Semedo.

Booked: Jansson, Doukara, O’Kane, Bridcutt, Wood (Leeds) Sasso, Wallace (Wednesday)

Referee: M. Jones

Venue: Elland Road

Attendance: 35,093