MATCH REPORT: Leeds United 2-0 Derby County

Derby County fell to a 2-0 defeat at Elland Road in a spirited display against table-topping Leeds United in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday afternoon.

Joe Rodon and Max Wöber’s quickfire goals late in the first half gave Leeds a two-goal cushion before the half-time break.

The hosts held firm and kept control of the game in the second period, with their quality showing to deny the Rams’ attacking efforts.

The home side had the lion’s share of possession in the first knockings of the game as they looked for an opening in Derby’s defence, while the Rams aimed to play Kayden Jackson in behind on the break on a couple of occasions. However, both sides were unable to mount a real threat in terms of clear chances early on..

Nat Phillips and Craig Forsyth both made crucial blocks in the Derby penalty area as the home side had a spell presser in the 13th minute.

Eiran Cashin made a vital block in the 23rd minute when Brendan Aaronson drove a low shot towards goal, the Rams' defender stretched his leg to deflect the ball out for a corner.

The resulting corner delivery found Rodon at the back post but the Leeds centre-back could only head wide of the post.

Jacob Widell Zetterström was called into action in the 37th minute when Aaronson pirouetted in the box and unleashed a shot towards the Swedish shot-stopper’s left-hand side, but he was alert to the danger and made a diving save that saw the ball out behind for a Leeds corner.

Rodon gave the hosts a 1-0 lead seconds later as he rose highest in in a packed penalty area to steer the ball into the back of the net with his header from the set-piece.

Wöber doubled Leeds’ advantage in the 45th minute as he emerged in the box to steer Aaronson’s low delivery into the back of the net from six yards out.

The hosts had the opening opportunity in the second period too, as Aaronson shimmied on the edge of the box and set-up Dan James to shoot. Curtis Nelson was first to the shot though, as he sent it behind for a corner.

Zetterström made two firm stops in the 59th minute, as he dived to reach two long-range efforts from James and Tanaka. He was called into action again a minute later and got down low to parry an effort from Joel Piroe in the penalty area away from danger.

Liam Thompson combined with Nathaniel Mendez-Liang and Ben Osborn in the 63rd minute as they looked to create an opening against a stubborn defence. Osborn played a neat one-two that found Thompson in space to cross, but the resulting pass couldn’t find an attacker in the box.

Paul Warne made Derby’s first changes of the game in the 65th minute as Kenzo Goudmijn and Marcus Harness were introduced to the field, with Jackson and Mendez-Laing making way.

Thompson had a speculative strike from distance in the 80th minute, after his tenacious work pressing won the ball on the edge of the area. The resulting shot was claimed by Illan Meslier in the Leeds goal.

Derby made three changes with ten minutes of regulation time remining as James Collins, Tom Barkhuizen and Joe Ward entered the field of play in place of Jerry Yates, Thompson and Kane Wilson.

A professional defensive display from the hosts allowed them to see out the game, with chances for Derby being snuffed out well.

Leeds United: Meslier (GK), Bogle, Firpo (Wöber 21), Struijk (C), Rodon, James (Ramazani 85), Rothwell (Guilavogui 85), Piroe, Aaronson (Joseph 68), Solomon (Gnonto 68), Tanaka.

Unused Substitutes: Darlow (GK), Ampadu, Bamford, Schmidt.

Derby County: Zetterström (GK), Wilson (Ward 81), Forsyth, Nelson, Phillips, Cashin, Thompson (Barkhuizen 81), Osborn, Mendez-Laing (C) (Harness 65), Jackson (Goudmijn 65), Yates (Collins 81).

Unused Substitutes: Vickers (GK), Bradley, Brown, Blackett-Taylor.

Referee: Matt Donohue

Assistant Referees: Paul Hodskinson, Shaun Hudson

Fourth Official: Scott Tallis

36,468 (2,838 Away Supporters)

The Rams are back on the road with a trip to Turf Moor for their latest Sky Bet Championship fixture against Burnley on Tuesday 10th December (7:45pm kick-off).