Kemar spearheads a Leeds slaughter of Rams
KEMAR ROOFE struck twice to help rampant Leeds wreck Frank Lampard’s first home league game as Derby manager.
Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa (right) set up his team to play attacking football and they dealt out a brutal lesson to management rookie Lampard.
The respected Argentine has already steered his side to two impressive wins, with this thumping win following their success against Stoke.
Leeds have spent 14 years outside of the top flight, but pulses will be racing at the dazzling start they have made to this campaign.
They looked a class above Derby in this match, despite the home side being fancied by many to make a promotion push.
Lampard said before this clash that his players should relish a contest between “two of the great names in English football” – and they did, initially.
Derby had the chance to snatch an early lead but Mason Mount shot wide from close range – and they were soon ruing that miss.
Leeds punished them when they broke forward with a swift counterattack involving some nice passing.
The move ended in Pablo Hernandez teeing up Mateusz Klich, who took a cushioning touch then curled his shot in from 20 yards.
Lampard was soon out of his dugout, clapping and cajoling his players as they looked for a response.
And his players delivered a reaction, as Tom Lawrence earned a free-kick in a dangerous position after being fouled by Liam Cooper.
Lawrence took advantage, smashing in his free-kick with a dipping, swerving effort in the 12th minute.
Leeds goalkeeper Bailey PeacockFarrell had to be questioned though, as he got into a tangle trying to stop it.
It was a wide-open game at that stage – but that was as good as it got for the Rams and Leeds went back in front within 10 minutes.
Ezgjan Alioski delivered a teasing, curling cross and Roofe leaped impressively to head in from 10 yards and send the travelling fans wild again. Roofe got in between young Derby defenders Max Lowe and Fikayo Tomori, who were powerless to stop him. Samuel Saiz was causing problems and he struck a long-range effort at goalkeeper Scott Carson as the Yorkshire club looked to add to their lead. Lampard responded at halftime by bringing on Bradley Johnson for the struggling Joe Ledley. A glorious chance went begging for Derby at the start of the second period when Harry Wilson teed up Mount, who dragged his shot wide. Then Roofe came close again when his point-blank header was brilliantly kept out by Carson. The striker made amends moments later as he smashed in from a tight angle following Klich’s pass. The game was then wrapped up when Hernandez crossed and Alioski headed in beyond Carson.
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