Leeds United 3 Swansea City 1: Whites survive early mayhem with extra boost as rivals falter — YEP 29/11/23
Leeds United quickly returned to winning ways after Friday night's draw at Rotherham United in eventually easing to 3-1 win at home to Wednesday night's Championship visitors Swansea City after a frantic start at Elland Road.
By Lee Sobot
Leeds looked to have gone ahead inside 45 seconds but Dan
James was flagged offside after netting from close range upon connecting to a
cross from the left. Instead, as part of a crazy opening, Swansea went ahead
themselves barely 15 seconds later through Jamie Patterson who made the most of
Pascal Struijk's weak header as he looked to deal with a long ball over the
top.
Patterson raced in between Struijk and Illan Meslier before
producing a neat first time lob into the back of the net to put the Swans ahead
with less then one minute on the clock. Leeds, though, hit back to equalise
just four minutes later through Joel Piroe who latched on to a lovely through
ball from Crysencio Summerville before sliding the ball past Carl Rushworth
into the opposite corner of the Swans net.
Leeds then looked like getting on top and the Whites had
strong claims for a penalty turned down in the tenth minute as Sam Byram's
cross was stopped by a Swansea hand. Referee Sam Allison turned down the Whites
appeals and Swansea gradually began to pose more of a threat, much to the
frustration of the Elland Road faithful as both Josh Key and the lively Jamal
Lowe squandered half chances for the visitors.
The superb Summerville again offered the chief Leeds threat
but the winger saw his shot from the edge of the area deflected just behind for
a corner which Swansea survived. Another chance was wasted when Georginio
Rutter was unable to find Glen Kamara as the duo raced away on the counter.
Swansea cleared for a corner from which Struijk sent a free header straight at
Rushworth.
The first half looked destined to end all square but Leeds
went ahead in the third and final minute of added time through a lovely goal
from Rutter. Ethan Ampadu sent a fine weighted pass over the top of the Swans
defence and Rutter got himself away from Bashir Humphries before showing great
strength to hold off the defender before producing a composed finish to put
Leeds ahead at the break.
Leeds made a bright start to the second half and squandered
a great chance in the 54th minute as Summerville blazed a shot over the bar
after latching on to Rutter's first time reverse flick to a Glen Kamara pass.
Swansea continued to get forward themselves but another fine
Whites opportunity went begging just before the hour mark as James failed to
beat Rushworth from the edge of the box after his own brilliant high press
created the chance in intercepting Key's pass out of defence.
Yet James made absolutely no mistake a few minutes later as
he hammered home a clinical finish into the roof of the net having been played
in by Rutter after a superb Sam Byram tackle in the middle of the park.
Leeds then pressed for a fourth goal and substitute Patrick
Bamford twice went close after replacing Rutter, the Whites no 9 flicking a
shot wide from a Summerville cross before seeing a powerful drive from the edge
of the box saved.
Bamford then saw another shot from a tight angle blocked and
turned behind for a corner from which a Rodon header was cleared off the line.
Another chance then presented itself in the fourth minute of stoppage time for
another substitute in Jaidon Anthony who sent a header over the bar from an
Archie Gray cross.
But three goals was more than enough for Daniel Farke’s side
for whom victory narrowed the gap to leaders Leicester City who were held to a
1-1 draw at Sheffield Wednesday for whom Jeff Hendrick bagged a 93rd-minute
leveller.