Good Morning. It's Friday 10th July, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
Five star display widens gap at top of Championship
Leeds returned to the top of the Championship in style, thumping Stoke City 5-0 in the process.
Following a host of missed opportunities, Klich broke the deadlock on the cusp of half time from 12 yards following a rejuvenated Helda Costa being bought down on the corner of the penalty box. The Polish International sent Butland the wrong way as the ball seemed to travel in slow motion bobbling across the ground until it nestled in to the back of the net. It was no more than Leeds deserved. The Potters were living a charmed life up to this point due to a combination of goal line clearances and sturdy wood work which had kept the scoreline level.
Hernandez was introduced in place of Roberts at half time, and suddenly the flood gates opened! The rout began just two minutes into the second half when Dallas' through ball found Costa clean in on goal. The Portuguese star composed himself before toe poking the ball past a helpless Butland. Skipper Liam Cooper joined the party ten minutes later when his ferocious strike from the edge of the box rocketed into the back of the net off the woodwork following a delightful cut back from the magical Hernandez.
Supplier became goalscorer for the fourth. Ayling released Costa down the right wing. He cut the ball back towards Bamford who intelligently stepped over the ball, and there was Hernandez who recocked a first time shot into the corner of the net. Having been denied by a combination of last ditch defending and woodwork, Bamford completed the 5 star display with an impressive strike across goal from an acute angle following a sixty yard diagonal pass from Ayling.
If Leeds can replicate this form for the next two weeks, it doesn't matter who their opponents are! They are a class above the Championship, from anyone's point of view. Bring on Swansea on Sunday!!!
Post Match Press Conference
Marcelo Bielsa...
Every match is a new story. What happened in the previous game is not definitive for the next one. Safety and confidence are not linked 100% with the previous result. It was a positive performance. The manager always values a positive impact.
Being able to score at the end of the first half was very important. In the second half our early goal made it much easier for us, but in any case it was an exaggerated result.
Michael O'Neill:
"'d be very surprised if they don't go up. They're the best team we've played. We couldn't deal with them physically. (Bielsa) has done an amazing job. Two years of work here and you can see that in the team. They're hungry players. That's key and we are a long, long way from where they are. It will take time to change that.
Tonight you saw the difference between a team at the top and one which for two seasons has been at the bottom end of the table, a long way off where they need to be.We gave a decent account in the first half, but you can't give them a leg up, which we did with the penalty. Once behind, it was always tough.