MATCH FACT LEEDERS OF THE PACK Bielsa boys flatten Fulham to take top spot

IT WILL take several more drops of blood, and gallons of sweat, but the Premier League is almost within touching distance for Leeds United.

Goals from Patrick Bamford, Ezgjan Alioski and Jack Harrison secured a precious and surprisingly comfortable victory, the true value of which will not be known until next month.

Leeds fans with half-full glasses were putting it somewhere around the £170million mark – the price of gaining access to football’s promised land.

It has been 16 years since this famous club last graced the top flight, but a potentially season-defining success fired them 10 points clear of Fulham, eight points clear of Brentford in third, and three points ahead of West Brom at the Championship summit.

Fulham battled gamely and could even claim to be the better side in the first half.

But scheming Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa made a double substitution at half-time that swung the match back in his team’s favour.

Fulham’s star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic was fortunate to escape a red card for a shocking challenge on Ben White inside two minutes.

The imposing Serb caught White with a late elbow which poleaxed the on-loan Brighton defender.

Referee Tony Harrington and his assistants ignored the challenge, but the FA may yet take retrospective action on the Championship’s jointleading striker.

With him or without him, Scott Parker’s Fulham team now look as if they will have to resign themselves to a place in the play-offs.

But with just seven games remaining, it would take a monumental meltdown for Leeds not to go up.

And only a fool would turn his back on Bielsa and his marauding men now.

There is too much energy and too much drive in this side, from top to bottom, and they could soon be looking forward to renewing famous old rivalries with the likes of

Manchester United, Chelsea and new Premier League champions Liverpool.

Leeds blasted out their famous ‘Marching on Together’ anthem over the Tannoy before kick-off, and held a minute’s silence to honour the memory of Leeds legends Norman Hunter and Trevor Cherry, who both passed away in April.

And they took the lead when winger Helder Costa advanced down the right flank before cutting the ball back with a dangerous low cross.

Bamford, arriving at pace on the edge of the 18-yard box, was perfectly placed to sweep home a well-struck left-foot shot which flew past Fulham keeper Marek Rodak.

It was the striker’s 14th goal of the season and United’s’ director of football Victor Orta rose from his seat and punched the air like a madman in celebration.

Fulham nevertheless steadied themselves and enjoyed plenty of possession and created several half-chances.

Tyler Roberts escaped a handball claim inside Leeds’ penalty area and Mitrovic saw

■ Jack Harrison has been involved in 14 goals in the Championship this season (six goals and eight assists), twice as many last term. a fierce long-range volley parried by Illan Meslier.

Bielsa withdrew Bamford and Costa at half-time and brought on Alioski and master craftsman Pablo Hernandez.

In the 56th minute Leeds broke down the right flank and Harrison’s low cross was collected by Alioski, who drilled a low left-foot shot into the far corner.

Further delight came for Leeds in the 71st minute when Hernandez’s brilliant firsttime pass sent Harrison hurtling down the right flank, and the on-loan Manchester City winger squeezed the ball past Rodak for the third.

Fulham substitute Neeskens Kebano’s late dismissal for a second yellow card merely added to the visitors’ woes.