Premier League

Sheffield United 0

Leeds United 1 (Bamford 88)

Sheff U: Ramsdale, Baldock, Stevens, Basham, Robinson, Ampadu, Lundstram (Norwood 64), Berge, Osborn, Burke (Sharp 74), McGoldrick (McBurnie 74).  Subs not used: Foderingham, Fleck, Lowe, Jagielka.

Leeds: Meslier, Ayling, Koch, Cooper, Dallas, Phillips, Klich, Costa (Poveda 66), Harrison, Roberts (Rodrigo 45) (Alioski 90+1), Bamford.  Subs not used: Caprile,  Struijk, Davis, Shackleton.

Booked: Lundstram, Baldock (Sheff U)

Referee: Paul Tierney

Venue: Bramall Lane

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

Patrick Bamford’s late header and a fine goalkeeping display from Illan Meslier secured Leeds United back-to-back Premier League wins, as Sheffield United were beaten 1-0 at Bramall Lane.

Leeds started brightly and went close inside three minutes.  Luke Ayling did really well to work room for a shot from 25 yards and only Aaron Ramsdale’s fine save prevented him from opening the scoring.

Three minutes later the home side created their first opportunity when Sander Berge slid John Lundstram into the Leeds box and he fired just wide.

The Whites went close from a set-piece when Kalvin Phillips delivered a lovely cross from the right flank, with Patrick Bamford rising highest, but he could only head over.

Jack Robinson saw a diving header go wide following a Blades free-kick, before the home side had a great chance to open the scoring.  Ben Osborn broke down the left and crossed low and David McGoldrick knocked it on to Lundstram, but he was denied by an unbelievable stop from Illan Meslier.

At the other end, Leeds then almost made a breakthrough when Bamford met Jack Harrison’s cross from the left flank, but he saw his header drop just over onto the roof of the net.

Kalvin Phillips saw a whipped cross go just wide at a free kick, before Liam Cooper made a superb block on Oliver Burke’s shot after he broke into the box from the flank.

Stuart Dallas played a fine one-two with Harrison before unleashing a strike from the edge of the box, but Ramsdale in fine form, made another superb stop to prevent his strike from finding the top corner.

Five minutes before the break Meslier was again called into action, this time denying George Baldock who turned well in the Leeds box before striking at goal, but once more the Frenchman refused to be beaten.

Half time: Sheffield United 0-0 Leeds United

Leeds came out of the blocks quickly in the second period winning an early corner and Helder Costa saw a volley really well saved by Ramsdale.

Bamford did well to drive his way into the Blades box 10 minutes into the second half, but he saw his strike from a narrow angle denied by Ramsdale once more.

At the other end, the some good build up play from Lundstram and Burke led to Enda Stevens striking from the edge of the box, but Meslier was on hand to make another great save.

Leeds came so close to taking the lead in the 61^st minute.  An Ayling pass sent Dallas through and he rounded Ramsdale before shooting for goal, but he saw his attempt cleared off the goal-line by Chris Basham.  The ball then came out to Ayling, but he could only strike wide.

Dallas then did really well down the left flank and found half-time substitute Rodrigo in the box, but the Spaniard couldn’t direct his header on target.

Leeds again went close, catching Sheffield United on a counter-attack following a Blades corner.  Bamford and substitute Ian Poveda combined, with the latter seeing a strike from the edge of the box well saved.

With nine minutes remaining, Sheffield United went close from a corner, with Oliver McBurnie’s glancing header bouncing just wide.

McBurnie sent Baldock through with a clever pass, but Meslier made a brave low save, before Ramsdale saved Dallas’ long range strike and Meslier denied a deflected Billy Sharp shot.

With two minutes of regular time remaining Leeds got the crucial breakthrough.  Harrison whipped in a lovely cross from the left wing and Bamford was on hand to head home his third goal in three matches, securing Leeds all three points.

Full time: Sheffield United 0-1 Leeds United