Leeds United 5 Stoke City 0 - Naked truth is Whites look destined for promotion

There were two blankets over Elland Road in yesterday’s first half game between Leeds United and Stoke City, a grey one hanging over the roofs of the stands and a black one over the final third of the pitch as the visitors sat back and challenged Leeds to break them down.
United's Helder Costa scores to make it 2-0. Picture Jonathan GawthorpeUnited's Helder Costa scores to make it 2-0. Picture Jonathan Gawthorpe
United's Helder Costa scores to make it 2-0. Picture Jonathan Gawthorpe

For nearly 45 minutes, it looked like they might get away with it but as soon as the on-field blanket was lifted, Stoke were left horribly naked.

As soon as they were in front, Marcelo Bielsa’s side put on an exhibition of football that deserved a better audience than 15,000 cardboard cut-outs. If the Argentinian meant what he said afterwards about not being able to enjoy their 5-0 win, he must either have a heart of stone or be a secret Potters fan.

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Leeds even waited until stoppage time to get Patrick Bamford on the scoresheet and put their goal difference beyond title rivals West Bromwich Albion’s.

More importantly, Leeds are two wins and a draw away from the Premier League, with four matches to play. Even bearing in mind the crazy unpredictability of the Championship, it looks a matter of time.

Michael O’Neill sent his Stoke side out in what looked a bit like a Christmas tree formation but within minutes they had switched to a back five with James McClean, who revels in the role of offensive player, switched to left-back.

Leeds are used to tactics like this, especially at Elland Road. They knew it was just a question of patience.

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Bielsa happily admitted in the build-up his team feels the pressure, but they rarely panic in possession.

Their main approach was to hit sweeping passes from the central defenders and holding midfielder Kalvin Phillips to switch the play and release their wingers.

But for some incredible defending by McClean it might have paid off, but in the end a temporary drop in Stoke’s defensive discipline opened the door a crack, and that was all the Whites needed.

Jack Butland was busy from the second minute, tipping a shot from the impressive Tyler Roberts around the post, but largely the blanket protected him.

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Bamford shot off target from distance, and Mateusz Klich’s attempt was blocked after a gorgeous ball from Roberts, and a feint from the Pole.

Jack Harrison missed the target at the end of the move started by a lovely driven pass from Ben White.

At that point it seemed the emblematic moment of the first half might have come midway through when Leeds again played with invention, only to be denied by Stoke determination.

Bamford played a lovely one-two with Harrison and dinked beyond Butland, only for McClean to brilliantly clear off the line.

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But Stoke are in the relegation battle for a reason, and it was always asking a lot to keep up that approach for 90 minutes against a team of such quality.

In the 43rd minute they cracked, Tommy Smith catching Helder Costa as he ran away from goal, making contact as he briefly entered the penalty area. Klich sent Butland the wrong way and the roar of the fake crowd, augmented by plenty of genuine delight from the directors’ box, signalled a significant breakthrough.

The second half was an exhibition. Pablo Hernandez came off the bench oozing quality as Leeds too switched to a back three but they could have played more or less any formation, any personnel and strolled to victory, their football was so well-oiled, Stoke so exposed once behind. That is not to downplay their football, just to point out that everyone in White played to Bielsa’s tune.

The second half was just three minutes old when the game was done and dusted, Costa taking his time from an exquisite Stuart Dallas pass and finding the net.

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The third and fourth goals were works of art, Phillips finding Hernandez, who pulled the ball back for central defender Liam Cooper to drill in, and Costa doing similar for Hernandez, with Bamford dummying over the ball to add to the beauty.

Include added time and there was 20 minutes to go but Leeds could take it steadily, with Dallas, Klich, Harrison and Cooper given time off for good behaviour.

It looked like centre-forward Bamford might miss out on the fun, hitting the bar and denied by Butland from a tight angle, but in stoppage time he pinged a goal in off the far post.

Leeds threw it away with four games of last season remaining. It would be a massive shock if that particular piece of history repeated itself.

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Leeds United: Meslier; Ayling, White, Cooper (Berardi 83), Dallas (Douglas 75); Phillips; Costa, Roberts (Hernandez 46), Klich (Shackleton 78), Harrison (Alioski 78); Bamford. Unused substitutes: Poveda, Miazek, Struijk, Stevens.

Stoke City: Butland; Smith, Collins (Chester 46), Batth, Martins; Campbell (Gregory 61), Cousins, Clucas (Thompson 81); Powell, McClean; Vokes (Diouf 61). Unused substitutes: Ward, Lindsay, Ince, Davies, Sorensen.

Referee: D Bond (Lancashire).

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