Derby County 0 Leeds United 1 – winning away days. Another clean sheet. Away poor form sorted out. Add to that our dominant home form. We are playing as a team to edge out other teams. Our winning current form whilst other teams like Sunderland and Sheffield United have dropped off has put us in a strong position at the end of the year to build on.
After Sheffield United dropped two points earlier in the day this match was an opportunity for Leeds to go top with two clear points that they took. Two away wins in the Christmas period was evidence of Leeds breaking free from their poor away record when they needed to, to go top.
Farke has the confidence in his depth of squad to rotate his squad this December. Joseph was given a rare start. Ramazani, after his injury, was finally given a start. Gnonto and Tanaka, after being dropped from the last match against Stoke City, got to start for this one.
Leeds were dominant from the start. It took Derby County 15 minutes to make an impact on the match. Leeds moved the ball too quickly for them to press. Derby were reduced to speculative long range shots, except for one cross that nearly drifted into the net.
Derby started to muscle Leeds out of the game plan, with Ampadu getting kicked in the head. It was a physical match with a moment in extra time of the first half with a physical battle that ended in a Leeds free kick and the referee being booed off the pitch.
Aaronson had the first big chance for Leeds but the ball bounced too highly for him. That elusive goal didn’t come in the first half as that final ball to break through the defence went astray rather than testing the keeper.
Leeds could have been two up in the first three minutes of the second half as Aaronson’s close shot was saved and then Joseph ballooned a clear winner. But it was Derby who grew in confidence, with Meslier making a rare save.
Leeds lost their way and for a change Farke’s substitutions worked. The game opened up with James a shot having a shot saved. Leeds then made the breakthrough with the subs Piroe and Solomon passing the ball efficiently around the Derby penalty box working the ball for Aaronson to break through and slot the ball past the keeper. The lively Derby crowd are quietened.
The Leeds defence mostly held up with Struijk kept busy, Tanaka intercepting Derby passes and Rodon taking lots of knocks for the team. But it was Ampadu commanding the line.
Leeds had one final chance on goal with Bamford’s first touch of the match but the keeper made an excellent save. This was a much more confident team compared to last year with quick forward one touch football as the players grow to know each other’s game. Derby were reduced to long hopeful punts up field.
Man of the match: Ampadu back on form commanding the game from the back.
