Sky Bet Championship

Leeds United 1 (Alioski 85)

Birmingham City 2 (Adams 8, 29)

Leeds: Peacock-Farrell, Ayling (Dallas 34), Cooper, Phillips, Jansson, Douglas (Edmondson 71), Klich (Forshaw 62), Alioski, Harrison, Saiz, Roberts.  Subs not used: Blackman, Pearce, Baker, Shackleton.

Birmingham: Camp, Pedersen, Colin, Adams, Jutkiewicz (Bogle 82), Dean, Maghoma, Gardner (Kieftenbeld 58), Jota (Harding 88), Morrison, Lakin.  Subs not used: Trueman, Roberts,  Mahoney,  Solomon-Otabor.

Booked: Saiz, Forshaw (Leeds), Gardner, Morrison, Kieftenbeld, Pedersen (Birmingham)

Referee: P. Bankes

Venue: Elland Road

Attendance: 34,800 (1,314 Birmingham)

A first half brace from Che Adams handed Leeds United a first league defeat of the 2018/19 league campaign, ending an unbeaten run of eight matches.

Head coach Marcelo Bielsa named an unchanged side for the third game running for the visit of Birmingham City, but there was one change on the bench with Jamie Shackleton returning from injury in place of Jack Clarke.

Birmingham took the lead inside eight minutes, following a free-kick, the visitors kept possession and a long distance strike from Adams beat Bailey Peacock-Farrell.

Chances were few and far between during the opening stages, Jack Harrison did really well to get to the byline, but no Leeds player could get on the end of his cross.

The Blues doubled their lead in the 29^th minute.  Leeds were on the back-foot and Jacques Maghoma played the ball to Adam, he stepped over a challenge from Pontus Jansson and found the back of the net via the post from 25 yards.

Leeds’ first effort on goal came five minutes later, Ezgjan Alioski put a dangerous cross into the Birmingham box, but Tyler Roberts at full stretch could only head wide.

Stuart Dallas replaced Kalvin Phillips just after and almost had an immediate impact, he put a fine cross into the box which was headed on by Roberts, but Alioski couldn’t make contact at the back post.

Jota then played a ball into the Leeds box, which deflected of Alioski and just over the crossbar and from the resulting corner, the ball fell to Jacques Maghoma, but he couldn’t beat Peacock-Farrell who made a superb save.

At the other end, following a Leeds free-kick, the ball fell to Liam Cooper in the Birmingham box, his effort was blocked, before Dallas put in another fine cross which found Alioski, but he could only blaze his attempt over the bar.

On the stroke of half time Leeds won a corner, which Alioski delivered and Cooper headed across goal, with Roberts just inches away from getting on the end of it.

Half time: Leeds United 0-2 Birmingham City

Leeds had a good opportunity six minutes into the second half, Mateusz Klich played Roberts into the Birmingham box, but his effort was well blocked.

Saiz then put a dangerous cross into the area, Alioski did really well to get something on it, but couldn’t direct an effort on target.

Dallas then won Leeds  a free-kick on the right flank, Douglas delivered and his cross hit Cooper, but deflected wide.  From the resulting corner, the ball fell to Leeds substitute Adam Forshaw on the edge of the box, he fired a volley at goal but couldn’t beat Lee Camp.

Cooper then found Saiz in the Birmingham box, he tried to turn and shoot, but his effort was well blocked.

Ryan Edmondson, making his second league appearance from the bench, teed up Dallas to strike from the edge of the Birmingham box, but his shot deflected just inches wide.

With five minutes of normal time remaining, Alioski gave Leeds hope, when he brilliantly fired home into the bottom right corner following a ball into the box by Saiz.

Alioski then went close again, this time from range, Camp nearly fumbled in the Birmingham goal, but just managed to hold onto the effort.

Eight minutes of added time followed and Edmondson teed up Dallas on the edge of the box, but he was denied by a fantastic save from camp, to ensure a first league defeat of the campaign for the Whites.

Full Time: Leeds United 1-2 Birmingham City