Report: Derby County 0-1 Leeds United — Leedsunited.com 29/12/24

Whites end 2024 with another important win.

Leeds United rounded off 2024 in style with an impressive victory over Derby County away from home, with Brenden Aaronson’s late strike proving the difference at Pride Park!

Having made four changes to the team that recorded a 2-0 victory over Stoke City on Boxing Day, Daniel Farke’s side started brightly in Derbyshire, dominating the ball and looking to use the flanks to make the early inroads.

Jayden Bogle, against his former side, worked it cleverly into the path of the overlapping Wilfried Gnonto who flashed a dangerous delivery across the face of goal which Jacob Widell Zetterstrom parried away.

Italian international Gnonto, then in space on the left, was slid in behind the Rams’ defence by Sam Byram and picked out the onrushing Mateo Joseph though, under pressure, the striker was unable to bundle home.

The Whites, on the evening in yellow, were in the ascendency and looked particularly potent in the wide areas; an incisive pass from Gnonto found Bogle, with the full-back’s low cross diverted narrowly behind by a Derby shirt from the next incursion into the hosts’ territory.

Approaching the half-hour mark, excellent hold up from Aaronson released Joseph who marauded to the edge of the area, drawing a fine diving save from Widell Zetterstrom as the Spaniard’s low effort arrowed towards the bottom corner.

An electric counter then brought another good opportunity, when Gnonto surged forward, fizzed a pass into Joseph who laid it off for Aaronson to strike, but on the half-volley, the American international fired over the woodwork.

Moments before the break, United almost took the lead when Joseph played a teasing low ball across the face of goal, only for the retreating Nat Phillips to clear inches wide of the post as Paul Warne’s side heard the whistle for the interval.

HALF TIME: Derby County 0-0 Leeds United

Minutes into the second period, Widell Zetterstrom’s services were again called upon for Derby, making a superb diving save to deny Aaronson’s right-footed effort.

Largie Ramazani had darted past Phillips on the left and crossed dangerously towards the front post, with the loose ball eventually falling the way of the midfielder who tested the Rams’ keeper.

A cross-field pass from skipper Ethan Ampadu then found Bogle in space on the right as the Whites came forward once more, with the full-back’s searching delivery picking out the run of Joseph, but the forward was unable to guide a shot on target from the edge of the area.

Keen to stop the one-way traffic and wrestle back momentum, a set-piece allowed the hosts to send bodies forward, only for defender Phillips to head over at the back post.

Another Callum Elder set-piece, this time an in-swinging corner from the left, was then powered towards goal as both Phillips and Curtis Nelson rose highest, with Whites’ stopper Illan Meslier, on his 200th appearance for the club, clawing away the danger from underneath the crossbar!

Just after the hour mark it was Widell Zetterstrom’s turn to make an impressive intervention, parrying away Ramazani’s effort after the winger had latched onto a cross Gnonto had flicked on from inside the area.

With 20 minutes of normal time remaining, a triple change saw Manor Solomon, Dan James and Joel Piroe brought into the action, as Farke looked to alter his attacking options as they searched for the opener.

The two wingers introduced were immediately involved in the action, when Solomon expertly found the run of James. The Wales international brought the ball under control superbly as he charged through on goal, only to be denied by another fantastic save from Widell Zetterstrom.

From the resulting corner, Leeds went close once more as Ampadu glanced agonisingly wide, attacking Aaronson’s whipped, curling delivery.

The pressure finally told with little over 10 minutes remaining, as Aaronson rounded off a scintillating passage of play to hand his side a much-deserved lead!

The Whites, camped deep inside Derby territory, strung together pass after pass, before Piroe’s intelligent flick found Aaronson in behind, with the American slotting confidently beyond Widell Zetterstrom and into the corner, sparking wild scenes in the away end!

As the clocked ticked over 90, substitute Patrick Bamford had an opportunity to add gloss to the scoreline as he was put through by Ampadu though, with the angle narrowing against the forward, the impressive Derby keeper made another close-range smothering save.

When the full-time whistle sounded, it brought 2024 to a close for Leeds United and confirmed another big three points for the side, moving them back to the top of the Sky Bet Championship table heading into the New Year.

FULL TIME: Derby County 0-1 Leeds United