PABLO HAS A ROYAL CRUSH
Leeds’ Hernandez two good for sorry Reading
PABLO HERNANDEZ fired Leeds back to the top of the table with two goals in a scintillating first-half display.
The veteran Spaniard took his tally to nine this season with a double to sink hapless Reading.
Mateusz Klich opened the scoring as the visitors crushed the life out of the contest with three strikes before the interval.
Marcelo Bielsa’s men will go into Saturday’s derby at Elland Road against third-placed Sheffield United in high spirits.
This was their fifth win in the last six Championship games – and put the pressure back on automatic promotion rivals Norwich, who play tonight.
Defeat leaves the Royals in the thick of a relegation battle and looking anxiously over their shoulders. Tyler Roberts picked up an early booking for a tackle on John Swift and Leeds keeper Kiko Casilla blocked a fierce cross-shot from Andy Yiadom.
But Leeds took the lead with a superbly-worked goal after 14 minutes. Luke Ayling ran to the byline, Patrick Bamford got the call and sold a neat dummy, allowing Klich to coolly stroke the ball past Emi Martinez.
And there was more delight for the 2,000 travelling fans eight minutes later.
Reading surrendered possession too easily, allowing Ayling to tee up Hernandez – and the winger’s angled drive found its way in off the near post and past Martinez. Ayling was given a yellow card for a foul – and almost talked himself into a red with his protest to referee Gavin Ward.
The game was up for the Royals when Hernandez took a pass from Bamford and brilliantly picked his spot from 20 yards.
Ayling was lucky not to get a second yellow for a challenge on Mo Barrow and was wisely hauled off by Bielsa soon afterwards.
Lewis Baker, on loan with the Royals from Chelsea, failed to impress against the club he played for earlier this season.
Casilla tipped over from Yiadom after 66 minutes, while Bamford fluffed three chances to make the scoreline even more one-sided.