Sky Bet Championship

Leeds United 2 (Gnonto 33’, James 79’)

Millwall 0

Leeds: Meslier (GK), Firpo, Ampadu (C), Kamara (Roberts 90’), Bamford (Joseph 90’), Summerville (Anthony 74’), Rodon, Gray, Georginio (Piroe 90’), Gnonto (James 69’), Gruev. Subs not used: Darlow (GK), Cresswell, Cooper, Byram.

Millwall: Sarkic (GK), Cooper (C), Tanganga, Mitchell (McNamara 62’), Flemming, Bryan, Norton-Cuffy (Longman 62’), Leonard (Watmore 62’), Obafemi, Saville, Honeyman (de Norre 62’). Subs not used: Bialkowski (GK), Wallace, Hutchinson, Mayor, Essex. 

Referee: Stephen Martin

Booked: Gnonto, Firpo, Gruev (Leeds) Cooper, Flemming, Leonard, Honeyman (Millwall) 

Venue: Elland Road

Attendance: 34,813

Leeds United faced Millwall at Elland Road on Sunday afternoon and came away with an important victory, to move to the top of the Sky Bet Championship table.  

Goals from Willy Gnonto and Dan James were enough to secure the three points, with the side now having a two-week break for international fixtures. 

As expected coming into the game, the opening exchanges were physical. There were two yellow cards apiece on each side in the early stages, with Gnonto and Junior Firpo into the book for Leeds, along with Jake Cooper and Zian Flemming for Millwall. 

Sandwiched in amongst the stoppages were some efforts on goal. Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter had looked lively, both players saw efforts blocked and cleared. At the other end, Flemming looked to test Illan Meslier early on, but the ‘keeper dealt well with the effort. 

Set-piece opportunities regularly arrived. Firpo had got in well down the left and had a couple of blocked crosses and from them, the Lions scrambled away on more than one occasion from corners. 

The Whites went into the lead after the half-hour mark had passed at Elland Road, with a stunning finish from Willy Gnonto.

The forward received the ball from Georginio and ran towards goal, before striking an unstoppable effort on his left-foot, finding the back of the net. 

In a half that had seen many stoppages due to fouls and injuries, five minutes were added at the end of it. Daniel Farke’s side remained in control until the whistle sounded for the interval and his side returned to their dressing room with a one-goal advantage. 

HALF TIME: Leeds United 1-0 Millwall

No changes were made on either side for the start of the second 45 minutes and the first opening, following a similar pattern to the first half, came from a free-kick. Matija Sarkic was between the posts for the away side and he comfortably collected Summerville’s curling effort. 

Next into the book was Ryan Leonard. He had seen enough of Summerville running past him and brought the forward down this time in a crossing position, close to the box. Again though, the free-kick was collected by Sarkic and then cleared. 

Neil Harris went to his bench first and made a quadruple change. He brought on Casper de Norre, Duncan Watmore, Dan McNamara and Ryan Longman to freshen up his side for the remaining 30 minutes. 

Farke’s side almost doubled their lead with 25 minutes to go. Superb build up between Summerville and Firpo saw the full-back cross low into the box. Georginio struck first time and Sarkic saved well, before Georginio had another effort which Sarkic this time turned onto the post!  

Millwall then had a big chance of their own from a set-play down the opposite end. A deep corner into the box came to the edge and George Saville struck, but Joe Rodon was there to block, before on the rebound it was Cooper who shot just past the post. 

Meslier was then called into action again and forced to make a good save. Saville took a quick free-kick to Michael Obafemi and the forward cut inside, shot left-footed, but saw United’s stopper deny him. 

The Whites then went to their bench and replaced the wingers on each side. Jaidon Anthony and James entered, in place of goalscorer Gnonto, along with Summerville… and the changes made an instant impact!  

Georginio once again was the provider as he forced his way into the box after receiving a clever pass from Anthony and he crossed low to the back post, where James collected, remained composed and fired through bodies into the back of the net to double the advantage.  

From there, Farke’s side were able to stay composed and see the match out, claiming another big three points and continuing the unbeaten run in 2024.

FULL TIME: Leeds United 2-0 Millwall