Leeds run riot to hit summit
A Pablo Hernandez masterclass at the Madejski Stadium helped leeds to a straightforward win over relegation battlers Reading and back to the top of the Championship.
Two stunning strikes from Hernandez and a third from Mateusz Klich saw leeds leapfrog rivals Norwich, who could return the favour when they host Hull tonight.
For leeds, this was another significant step towards automatic promotion to the Premier league following a 15-year absence.
For Reading, this was another day to forget.
They never looked like laying a glove on leeds, who face Sheffield United next.
leeds were wearing their bright yellow kit and perhaps Reading’s players were a little dazzled throughout the first half. They were unbeaten in their last five league games at the Madejski Stadium but found themselves trailing by three goals at half-time.
after 10 minutes, news broke of a goal at bramall lane. Sheffield United were leading, which meant leeds had been leapfrogged and were outside the top two.
Not for long, however, as luke ayling sent in a low cross moments later. Patrick bamford executed a clever dummy and Klich tapped in for his eighth strike of the season.
Now, leeds were top of the table, and they scored their second goal in the 22nd minute. ayling fed Hernandez, who had his back to goal. The 33-year-old Spaniard turned smartly and squeezed a shot in at the near post beyond Emi Martinez.
‘Na na na,’ sang the visiting fans. ‘leeds are going up, going up, leeds are going up.’
lewis baker began this season on loan at leeds but returned to parent club Chelsea after being left frustrated by a lack of opportunities. He was then sent to Reading.
He started here and may have been regretting his decision mid-match as the home side struggled to have any sort of impact. It was all leeds, who made it three before the break.
Hernandez, 25 yards out, fired the ball into the far corner. It was a thing of beauty and flew beyond Martinez like a rocket.
Kaiser Chiefs, the leeds-born band, were in attendance. Despite these two sides’ league positions, even they might not have predicted such a riot. boos rang round as the whistle was blown for half-time.
leeds protected their lead in the second half to clinch a first league double over Reading since 1928, and will sit top for 24 hours at least.
It was the ideal way to prepare for their clash with fellow promotion chasers Sheffield United.
Close to the leeds support was a pocket of Reading fans. They are supposed to be the ‘ singing section’ but we hardly heard a peep.
In their defence, the team gave them nothing to shout about.