- Joel Piroe scored a stoppage time winner after Ryan Ledson gave away a penalty
- Will Keane opened the scoring in the second minute to give Preston the lead
- Daniel James found the back of the net to level the scores after just six minutes
- Football is changing… managers can’t rely on their reputation. Just look at the Golden Generation – It’s All Kicking Off
Joel Piroe scored a dramatic 94th-minute winner from the penalty spot as Leeds United bolstered their automatic promotion hopes.
Will Keane put Preston from close range inside the second minute before Dan James headed the hosts level four minutes later.
Despite largely dominating, though, Daniel Farke‘s could not find their way past an obstinate Preston rearguard until Ryan Ledson handled the ball and substitute Piroe fired home from 12 yards.
The Dutchman’s clinical spot-kick sparked wild celebrations for Leeds, who are the only side in the EFL yet to taste defeat on home soil this season.
Leeds went into the match buoyed by a run of three successive 3-0 victories since the start of the year and were unchanged from last week’s win at Cardiff.
Joel Piroe scored a dramatic 94th-minute winner from the penalty spot (above)
As a result, Leeds United ended up winning the Championship game 2-1 on Sunday
Daniel Farke’s side were drawing up until the 90+5 minute of the game on Sunday
They made a shocking start, though, and trailed inside the second minute courtesy of some shambolic defending.
Ben Whiteman’s free-kick was greeted by Liam Lindsay’s header and the ball fell to winger Liam Millar, who drilled the ball across the face of goal.
Keane was there to fire home from inside the six-yard box but the response from Leeds was impressive.
They were level four minutes later when James headed home at the far post to finish off a delightful move.
It started with Ilia Gruev and Glen Kamara combining to find Crysencio Summerville and his clever pass sent Junior Firpo racing down the left flank.
The left-back delivered a superb deep cross from the byline and James arrived to nod home and cap a frenetic opening.
Yet Preston proved pugnacious opposition for Leeds, as they had when beating them 2-1 at Deepdale on Boxing Day.
In the 11th minute, Millar escaped the clutches of Archie Gray and hit a fierce left-foot shot which Illan Meslier tipped over.
Gray signed a new long-term deal earlier this week but he struggled against Millar, who had struck Preston’s winner on Boxing Day, he was keen to reassert himself in this rematch.
Leeds players are wore black armbands after the death of Jaidon Anthony’s mother Donna earlier this week.
Anthony was on the bench and watched on as Leeds went close in the 33rd minute when James crossed from the right flank and Bamford connected with a header but could not find the net.
As half-time approached, Georginio Rutter headed over the crossbar after connecting with Gruev’s right-wing corner.
During the interval, Leeds fanatic Luke Humphries paraded his recently-won PDC World Championship title around the pitch.
‘It feels amazing,’ he said.
‘I was never going to be stepping on this pitch as a football player, but this is the next best thing for me.’
The team he loves struggled badly to find the quality required to unlock a resolute Preston rearguard during the second half.
Two minutes after the break, Leeds should have led when Summerville reached the left-hand byline and crossed low to Rutter, whose right-foot shot struck the outside of a post.
Will Keane opened the scoring in the second minute of the game to give Preston the lead
Daniel James found the back of the net to level the scores after just six minutes of action
Things started to heat up between the two sides as they battled it out for 100 minutes
Yet chances grew scarce for the hosts and Preston goalkeeper Dai Cornell was booked for time-wasting.
A late challenge by Ledson on Gruev saw the North End man booked and sparked a melee which saw Bamford shown a yellow card.
When Joe Rodon headed the ball goalwards in added time, it hit Ledson and referee David Webb pointed to the penalty spot, where Piroe stepped up to coolly fire home a precious winner.
More to follow…
