Leeds hold their nerve to pile pressure on Norwich

LEEDS UNITED closed the gap on Championship leaders Norwich City with a dramatic 1-0 win over Reading after their promotion rivals were held by lowly Hull City yesterday.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side climbed above Middlesbrough into second place, moving one point behind Norwich ahead of Saturday’s trip to fellow high-flyers Sheffield United.

Stuart Dallas grabbed Leeds’ winner on the hour, but the points weren’t secure until Bailey Peacock-Farrell saved a lastgasp penalty at Elland Road.

Northern Ireland international Peacock-Farrell kept out Marc McNulty’s spot kick in the final moments to secure Leeds’ second successive victory.

That was bad news for Norwich, who couldn’t break down struggling Hull at the KCOM Stadium.

Norwich went closest to scoring in the first half when Tom Trybull saw his shot saved by David Marshall. But Trybull was guilty of a bad miss after the break when his header failed to find the target.

Jarrod Bowen had Hull’s best chances to break the deadlock, heading wide in the first half before shooting into the side netting after the break.

Fourth placed Sheffield United stayed in touch with the top two thanks to a 3-2 win at Brentford.

Marcus Tavernier’s second half strike extended third placed Middlesbrough’s unbeaten run to eight matches, but a 1-1 draw at Preston saw Tony Pulis’ side drop out of the automatic promotion positions in the Championship.

Elsewhere, Sheffield Wednesday beat Bolton 1-0 and Rotherham drew 2-2 with QPR. – AFP