Had they showed more clarity in front of goal the Whites would have boosted their impressive goal difference but Joel Piroe’s double was enough to earn only their second away win in eight games. Leeds leapfrogged Sheffield United who lost at home to third-placed Burnley thanks to their nine-goal advantage over the Blades. Much has been made of Leeds’ scratchy form on the road but this was an important victory to help prevent their away record becoming a psychological problem and they will be looking to back it up at Derby County on Sunday.
The Rams will surely provide a stiffer test than a poor Stoke outfit who slid to their fifth loss in six games and are now just three points from the drop zone. The Potters had the opening chance in the second minute when Lewis Koumas turned in the Leeds box and his shot was blocked by Illan Meslier. That proved Stoke’s only meaningful effort in the first half as Daniel Farke’s men seized control with the big surprise that it took until the 42nd minute for the visitors to take the lead.
Dan James and Jaydon Bogle were tearing Stoke’s left flank to pieces but City goalkeeper Viktor Johansson stood firm under increasing pressure. When Manor Solomon failed to convert a great James cross on the half-hour it looked like Leeds would be in for a frustrating evening. However, their patience paid off just before the break when Brenden Aaronson slipped the ball through to Piroe whose initial effort was blocked by Johansson but the Dutch str.