Bielsa’s Leeds down Ipswich to go top of the table

LONDON: Marcelo Bielsa (pic) saw his Leeds side put an end to a slump in form by going top of the English Championship after a 2-0 victory over bottom club Ipswich.

The 63-year-old Argentine manager – whose team had won just once in their last five outings prior to Wednesday after making an explosive start – looked on as goals by Kemar Roofe and captain Liam Cooper secured the points in front of almost 30,000 fans at Elland Road.

That was sufficient to send them top on goal difference ahead of Middlesbrough and Sheffield United, both of whom had been held to draws on Tuesday.

Former England midfielder Frank Lampard appears to have slipped seamlessly into management as his Derby County side routed West Bromwich Albion 4-1.

Victory – their second over promotion rivals in as many matches having beaten Sheffield United at the weekend – not only handed out a second successive defeat to West Brom and prevented them going top but also moved the visitors to within two points of the top three.

Leeds took control of their game early on with Roofe heading home Spanish playmaker Pablo Hernandez’s cross.

Ipswich, with just one win all season, rarely threatened and the hosts should have sealed the three points well before the impressive Hernandez teed up Leeds’ second, passing to Cooper who rifled the ball into the net from the edge of the penalty area in the 66th minute.