West Brom leapfrog Leeds
13 January 2020 | Sports
Leeds were knocked off the top of the Championship table following a 2-0 defeat at home to Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, as West Brom returned to pole position.
Former Leeds boss Garry Monk thwarted his ex-employers, as Jacob Murphy and Atdhe Nuhiu hit late goals against Wednesday.
Jack Harrison missed two good chances and Patrick Bamford had a goal ruled out for offside, as Leeds enjoyed the better of the first half.
But they found the second half tougher going, as Wednesday successfully stifled their creativity.
And Wednesday were given their rewards when Murphy beat Kiko Casilla from a narrow angle.
Nuhiu wrapped up the points deep into stoppage time after Adam Reach teed him up. It left Leeds six points ahead of third-placed Brentford in the race for automatic promotion.
“This is a situation we have seen before,” said Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa.
“We have to learn if we have weak points in the performance in the match. We didn't risk losing the ball in our half during 85 minutes. In this time, we created chances to try to make a difference.”
An own goal by keeper Sam Johnstone denied West Brom victory, but Slaven Bilic's side still returned to the top of the Championship following a 2-2 draw with Charlton at the Valley.
The Baggies twice took the lead, first through Kenneth Zohore and then through Hal Robson-Kanu at the start of the second half, after Josh Davison had levelled.
But they failed to claim a first win in five league games when Charlton equalised again when the ball deflected into the net off Johnstone after the goalkeeper had pushed Tom Lockyer's 76th-minute header against a post.
“It's very frustrating that we have conceded a couple of goals from set-plays,” said Bilic, whose team has a one-point lead over Leeds.
“And if you do that, it is unlikely you are going to leave the field unpunished.
“It can happen once, OK. But it can't happen as often as it has been. They didn't outplay us, but you can lose any game in the Championship.”
Brentford kept the pressure on the top two with a comprehensive 3-1 win over west London rivals QPR.
The goals were scored by Said Benrahma, Bryan Mbeumo and Ollie Watkins.
Ivan Cavaleiro's first-half goal gave Fulham a 1-0 victory at Hull, while Duane Holmes' stoppage-time equaliser earned Derby a 2-2 draw and prevented Middlesbrough from making it five Championship wins in a row at the Riverside Stadium.
Barnsley beat Huddersfield 2-1 and there were also wins for Birmingham and Bristol City.
Blackburn drew 1-1 with Preston and it was the same scoreline in the match between Reading and Nottingham Forest. The game between Stoke and Millwall ended goalless.
- NAMPA/AFP
Former Leeds boss Garry Monk thwarted his ex-employers, as Jacob Murphy and Atdhe Nuhiu hit late goals against Wednesday.
Jack Harrison missed two good chances and Patrick Bamford had a goal ruled out for offside, as Leeds enjoyed the better of the first half.
But they found the second half tougher going, as Wednesday successfully stifled their creativity.
And Wednesday were given their rewards when Murphy beat Kiko Casilla from a narrow angle.
Nuhiu wrapped up the points deep into stoppage time after Adam Reach teed him up. It left Leeds six points ahead of third-placed Brentford in the race for automatic promotion.
“This is a situation we have seen before,” said Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa.
“We have to learn if we have weak points in the performance in the match. We didn't risk losing the ball in our half during 85 minutes. In this time, we created chances to try to make a difference.”
An own goal by keeper Sam Johnstone denied West Brom victory, but Slaven Bilic's side still returned to the top of the Championship following a 2-2 draw with Charlton at the Valley.
The Baggies twice took the lead, first through Kenneth Zohore and then through Hal Robson-Kanu at the start of the second half, after Josh Davison had levelled.
But they failed to claim a first win in five league games when Charlton equalised again when the ball deflected into the net off Johnstone after the goalkeeper had pushed Tom Lockyer's 76th-minute header against a post.
“It's very frustrating that we have conceded a couple of goals from set-plays,” said Bilic, whose team has a one-point lead over Leeds.
“And if you do that, it is unlikely you are going to leave the field unpunished.
“It can happen once, OK. But it can't happen as often as it has been. They didn't outplay us, but you can lose any game in the Championship.”
Brentford kept the pressure on the top two with a comprehensive 3-1 win over west London rivals QPR.
The goals were scored by Said Benrahma, Bryan Mbeumo and Ollie Watkins.
Ivan Cavaleiro's first-half goal gave Fulham a 1-0 victory at Hull, while Duane Holmes' stoppage-time equaliser earned Derby a 2-2 draw and prevented Middlesbrough from making it five Championship wins in a row at the Riverside Stadium.
Barnsley beat Huddersfield 2-1 and there were also wins for Birmingham and Bristol City.
Blackburn drew 1-1 with Preston and it was the same scoreline in the match between Reading and Nottingham Forest. The game between Stoke and Millwall ended goalless.
- NAMPA/AFP
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