Leeds United 2 Preston North End 1: Whites reclaim top spot with enormous additional boost — YEP 12/4/25
By Lee Sobot
Leeds lined up against Preston having dropped back to
second.
Leeds United returned to the top of the Championship with
just four games left with a 2-1 win at home to Preston North End as Daniel
Farke's Whites also received an enormous extra boost.
Leeds needed to beat Saturday lunchtime's visitors Preston
to reclaim top spot on goal difference after Friday night’s 2-1 win for Burnley
at home to Norwich City sent the Clarets top as the Whites dropped back to
second.
Saturday’s hosting of the Lillywihites acted as a Leeds game
in hand and the Whites took care of their own business as goals from Manor
Solomon and Jayden Bogle sealed a 2-1 success for Farke’s side.
But in an absolutely enormous extra boost, key automatic
promotion rivals Sheffield United also suffered a third defeat on the spin as
they lost 2-1 at Plymouth Argyle, despite leading 2-1 at the break.
Leeds now have a five-point cushion in the division’s
automatic promotion places back to the third-placed Blades who still have to
play Burnley at Turf Moor.
As Farke’s side saw out victory against Preston, news of
developments at Plymouth sent Elland Road wild in a cup final atmosphere as
Farke’s side took a massive step towards sealing automatic promotion.
In beautiful sunshine, Leeds made another brilliant start
and went ahead with just four minutes on the clock via a Manor Solomon
screamer.
Receiving the ball on the left side of the box, the
Tottenham loanee cut inside before unleashing a beautiful curled effort that
flew into the top right corner of the net.
Preston, though, equalised with their first attack just two
minutes later in not too dissimilar fashion through Kaine Kesler-Hayden.
The Lilywhites worked the ball to Kesler-Hayden on the right
side of the area and the Preston player also produced a fine finish past Karl
Darlow into the bottom left.
After a dangerous Preston attack was ended by an offside
flag, Leeds looked to respond but Bogle fired wide from the edge of the box.
Bogle, though, then fired the Whites back ahead with just 13
minutes on the clock after more fine work from Solomon.
This time the winger worked space for a cross on the left
flank and his low delivery flew across the face of the goal, Bogle showing
great anticipation to nick in front of his man towards the far post and poke
the ball home from close range.
Leeds were on top, albeit Preston offering a threat on the
break, and the Whites twice went close to bagging a third through first Joel
Piroe and then Willy Gnonto.
Piroe twisted and turned on the edge of the box before
unleashing a low shot which trickled just wide.
A few minutes later, Preston keeper David Cornell saved the
day to keep out a strong low drive from Gnonto which was tipped wide for a
corner which was cleared.
Leeds then looked certain to go 3-1 up in the 35th minute as
good work from Brenden Aaronson and Junior Firpo led to the ball landing at the
feet of Piroe six yards out with the goal gaping but an outstanding block
forced his strike for a corner.
A couple of Preston attacks were then ended by strong
goalkeeping by Karl Darlow who raced out to clear a long ball over the top
before again showing safe hands to gather a dangerous corner.
Back up the other end, good work from Gnonto led to Aaronson
being played in but the American's low shot was well saved by Cornell and
Aaronson's attempt to net with a follow up header on the rebound was weak and
dropped wide.
After Preston's Andrew Hughes was booked for fouling Piroe,
the half ended with one more Leeds chance for Piroe whose looping shot on the
turn after a lovely pass from Gnonto dropped just wide, much to the Dutchman's
despair.
There were no changes at the break and the second half began
with Preston being thwarted by a fine Darlow save, the keeper flying through
the air to keep out Ben Whiteman's firm strike from the edge of the box after a
well worked corner.
But Leeds then squandered several more good chances to bag a
third goal, Preston saved by the frame of the goal as a Piroe strike from the
middle of the box crashed back off the crossbar after a Solomon cross.
Piroe had earlier dragged a first time shot just wide after
an Aaronson through ball and another chance went begging as Gnonto blazed over
shortly after Piroe had hit the crossbar.
Yet again, the next chance fell to Piroe but a difficult
one, the striker heading wide on the stretch to a fine Bogle cross.
Solomon was next to go close with an effort that flew wide
before Preston survived a golden chance at a Leeds corner, the ball trickling
wide off Gruev after a Joe Rodon touch.
But Preston still remained a threat when they got forward
and the Lilywhites were presented with a fine chance in the 75th minute when
Darlow was judged to have handled the ball outside the box as he looked to
punch clear a cross.
Whiteman stood up to take the free kick right on the edge of
the box but his powerful effort hit Aaronson's head in the wall and flew over
the bar.
Back came Leeds with another rapid attack which again with
Piroe firing wide as the crowd called for Patrick Bamford.
A few minutes later they got their wish, the Whites no 9 and
Isaac Schmidt brought on as Gnonto and Aaronson were taken off with ten minutes
left.
News then emerged that Plymouth Argyle had equalised against
Sheffield United, noticeably raising the noise levels inside Elland Road.