Sky Bet Championship

Leeds United 1 (Hernandez 57)

Reading 0

Leeds: Casilla, Ayling, White, Cooper, Dallas, Phillips (Alioski 37), Klich, Hernandez (Shackleton 85) Costa, Harrison, Bamford.  Subs not used: Meslier, Douglas, Roberts, Augustin, Casey.

Reading: Cabral, Morrison, Moore, Rinomhota, Swift (Adam 76), Olise, Yiadom, Meite, Richards, Pele, Puscas.  Subs not used: Walker, Baldock, Obita, Araruna, Osho, Blackett.

Referee: J. Gillett

Booked: Ayling (Leeds), Swift, Meite (Reading)

Venue: Elland Road

Attendance: 35,483 (806 Reading)

Pablo Hernandez’s second half strike secured Leeds United all three points at Elland Road against Reading.

Leeds made a bright start to the match, inside a minute Pablo Hernandez won possession high up the pitch and crossed looking for Patrick Bamford, who was just inches away from getting his head to the ball.

Helder Costa stole possession on the right wing and drove into the Reading box, before firing just wide of Rafael Cabral’s goal.

Jack Harrison whipped in a dangerous low ball which Bamford couldn’t make contact with, before Mateusz Klich forced a save following a good advantage by referee Jarred Gillett.

Reading’s first opportunity came in the 25^th minute when George Puscas forced Kiko Casilla into a really good save with a strike from 25 yards.

Leeds were dealt a blow in the 37^th minute when influential midfielder Kalvin Phillips had to be withdrawn after picking up an injury earlier in the match.  Ezgjan Alioski replaced him, with Marcelo Bielsa shuffling around the back line.

Hernandez played a neat one-two with Harrison before striking off target under pressure, whilst Costa so nearly opened the scoring when he met a Harrison cross, but for some fine defending by Liam Moore who made a superb block.

Luke Ayling unleashed a powerful strike following a corner which went narrowly wide, before substitute Alioski had a great chance in stoppage time after being played in on goal by Harrison, but he couldn’t get the better of Cabral.

Half time: Leeds United 0-0 Reading

As with the first half, Leeds made a blistering start to the second period, with Klich firing just wide from the edge of the box.

The Whites went close from a set piece in the 53^rd minute, Klich saw a strike hit Liam Cooper before the ball fell to Costa who struck wide.

Bamford saw a strike on the turn saved, before Leeds took the lead.  Hernandez’s initial attempt was blocked and the ball fell back into his path, he then weaved room for a shot and fired into the top corner, erupting Elland Road.

Yakou Meite fired a well placed free kick well over, whilst the Whites almost added a second from a corner, when the ball pinged around the Reading box, before Ben White’s strike hit Bamford and bounced wide.

Hernandez almost doubled his goal tally from a free kick with 10 minutes remaining, but he was denied by a superb save from 25 yards.

Bamford saw a long range effort go just over the bar, before the Whites had Casilla to thank for taking all three points when he made a superb save to deny Liam Moore with virtually the last kick of the game.

The win, coupled with results elsewhere, means Leeds are now five points clear of third placed Fulham in the Sky Bet Championship.

Full time: Leeds United 1-0 Reading