Leeds United moved up to second in the Championship with a deserved 2-0 win over Yorkshire rivals Sheffield United at Elland Road.
Both sides paid tribute to former Blades defender George Baldock before the match after his death at the age of 31 last week.
Largie Ramazani and Brenden Aaronson had good chances for Leeds in a goalless first half that the hosts had dominated.
Daniel Farke’s men continued to have the upper hand after the break and were rewarded when Pascal Struijk blasted in from a 69th-minute corner as the Blades conceded for the first time in more than 11 hours.
Substitute Mateo Joseph sealed the derby success with a 90th-minute second goal as he finished well from Joel Piroe’s pass.
The victory meant Leeds leapfrogged the Blades on goal difference with both sides having 19 points as Chris Wilder’s men lost for the first time in the league this season.
Sunderland lead the table on goals scored before their trip to Hull City on Sunday.
Unbeaten in 15 previous derbies against Yorkshire sides, Leeds had the better of a tight first quarter as Junior Firpo looked dangerous down the left, while Sheffield United threatened with long balls over the top.
Ramazani had the first effort of note after 25 minutes as the Belgian attacker struck the outside of the post from a tight angle after a good run from midfield by Joe Rothwell.
Two minutes later, he forced Michael Cooper into a full-length low save from the edge of the box as the hosts began to assert their control on the game as their high full-backs pinned the visitors back.
Aaronson twice went close in the final five minutes of the half – first with a deflected effort after a poor Cooper clearance and then firing over from a Firpo cross.
The American midfielder fired over five minutes after the break as Leeds continued to press forward and it took 20 minutes for the visitors to finally have any second-half efforts, although none were on target.
First Harrison Burrows had a shot blocked by Joe Rodon after the Welsh defender’s mistake offered a chance for the Blades, and less than two minutes later Rodon deflected Oliver Arblaster’s goalbound strike wide from 20 yards.
But Leeds eventually broke the deadlock when defender Struijk got across his marker and blasted in Rothwell’s corner with an expertly-controlled left-footed effort as Wilder’s side conceded for the first time after six successive clean sheets.
It was also a first set-piece goal for the Whites in 21 games, a run dating back to February.
The win was confirmed when Joseph latched on to Piroe’s perfectly-weighted through-ball and showed great strength to hold off Sydie Peck and slot past Cooper for his second league goal this term.
Source – Leeds 2-0 Sheffield United: Daniel Farke’s side go second after derby win – BBC Sport
