Report: Stoke City 0-2 Leeds United | OneFootball

Sky Bet Championship

Stoke City 0

Leeds United 2 (Piroe 42’, 63’)

Stoke: Johansson, Gooch (Bocat 56’), Burger (Lawal 79’), Cannon, Koumas, Wilmot (Gallagher 66’), Tchamadeu, Gibson (C) (Rose 45’), Moran, Phillips, Sidibe (Junho 56’). Subs not used: Bonham (GK), Seko, Ennis, Tezgel.

Leeds: Meslier (GK), Bogle, Ampadu (C), Struijk, Rodon, James (Gnonto 76’), Rothwell (Tanaka 79’), Piroe (Joseph 79’), Aaronson, Solomon (Ramazani 76’), Byram (Schmidt 90’).Subs not used: Darlow (GK), Bamford, Guilavogui, Debayo.

Referee: Stephen Martin

Booked: Phillips, Tchmadeu, Wilmot (Stoke)

Venue: bet365 Stadium

Attendance: 24,738 (3,383 away)

Leeds United secured a big three points away at Stoke City thanks to a double from Joel Piroe, to move to the top of the Sky Bet Championship table.

A Boxing Day clash away from home saw the Whites travel to the bet365 Stadium, to take on a Potters side looking to end a run of eight matches without a win.

Under the lights in Staffordshire and contending with plenty of fog which was making visibility tough, Daniel Farke’s side were supported superbly as always by the travelling 3,300 fans in the far corner of the ground.

The hosts started brightly and had the first opening. Junior Tchamadeu crossed low from the right and found Lewis Koumas, who struck first time, only to be denied by an excellent Illan Meslier save at full-stretch.

Also from a low-cross into the box, Leeds came close to opening the scoring. Dan James burst free and was looking for Manor Solomon at the back-post, but between Ben Gibson and Ben Wilmot, the home side managed to clear the danger, narrowly avoiding an own-goal in the process.

Viktor Johansson was properly tested and forced into a good save after a quarter of an hour had been played. James found Brenden Aaronson infield, the attacked turned well and struck powerfully on goal, seeing the Stoke stopper tip it behind for a corner at full-stretch.

Farke’s side were pushing forward and probing their opposition, searching for a way through. Jayden Bogle was one player to break into space, exchange a clever pass with Piroe and find James, but the winger then shot over the bar left-footed.

The fog in Staffordshire had started to clear up and that allowed everyone to see Bogle taking the front foot in the game. The full-back burst forward through midfield twice and with one run, he struck from just outside the box, only to see Johansson save well again.

Down the right-hand-side of the pitch, the Whites were creating chances. James was the next to go free and again he delivered a dangerous ball into the box, it found Solomon at the back-post, but on the volley the winger sent his shot wide.

The first player into the book was Ashley Phillips. As Piroe pushed forward over the halfway line, Stoke’s towering central defender pulled his shirt and despite the fog coming back, referee Stephen Martin had a clear view, then booked the home player.

Nothing and nobody was stopping Piroe moments later though, as the striker thundered Leeds into the lead! Aaronson fed the forward in behind the defence and after looking to be pushed away from goal, he composed himself before smashing home right-footed off the underside of the bar.

The goal had come at a good time and would be the final real action of what had been a strong first half showing from the away side. Leeds took a one-goal advantage into their dressing room when the whistle sounded.

HALF TIME: Stoke City 0-1 Leeds United

Back out at the bet365 Stadium, the Potters had made a change, replacing their captain Gibson with Michael Rose in a straight swap in defence. Leeds remained unchanged from the XI which had opened the match.

Taking over as captain, Wilmot quickly familiarised himself with the referee, by picking up a yellow card for fouling Solomon with a trip to stop the winger progressing.

From the resulting set-play, the ball went behind for a corner, from which Piroe had a good chance but powered his header wide of goal when searching his second of the game!

The next opening also came from a header, but down the opposite end. Fresh off the bench, Eric Bocat whipped a dangerous ball into the box and found the head of Phillips, but up from the back, the defender flicked it narrowly past the post.

Just after an hour had been played, Leeds had a second, and it was Piroe again! Bogle played a clever ball over the top for James, who held off the Stoke defence before delicately chipping to back-post for Piroe to head home at close range!

In search of more, Farke saw his team continuing to push forward. Clever play to work it out from defence saw Ethan Ampadu release Solomon on the left, he cut inside and curled low at goal, which went just past the post.

Turning to his bench, the Boss brought on four fresh faces for the final 10 minutes or so. Largie Ramazani, Willy Gnonto, Ao Tanaka and Mateo Joseph all entered the action.

Late chances continued to come. Joseph saw an effort go just wide after coming on, Aaronson forced an excellent save from Johansson to tip it over his effort, before Joseph again went close at the back post from a corner.

That was to be that though and the full-time whistle sounded through the fog, to confirm an excellent win away from home for the Whites, sending them top of the table in front of the packed out away end in Stoke.

FULL TIME: Stoke City 0-2 Leeds United