WINNALL TAKES ALL

Double from Sam rocks Leeds

LEEDS boss Thomas Christiansen felt the pressure mount after Sam Winnall won it for Derby.

The Whites have now lost five of their last six Championship games as the wheels start to come off their promotion bid.

Leeds dominated the first half, but the Rams delivered a sucker punch as Winnall struck twice to give Gary Rowett’s side their fourth consecutive win. And the heat is now on Christiansen with his side unable to recapture their impressive early season form which saw them top the table.

The Rams were punished for a dozy start and Joe Ledley’s poor touch was seized on by Ronaldo Vieira.

He sent Samuel Saiz scampering forward and the Spaniard’s clever ball with the outside of his boot was met by a thunderous low drive from Pierre-Michel Lasogga. Scott Carson dived the right way, but the power of Lasogga’s shot gave the former Leeds man no chance.

Saiz, Kemar Roofe and Ezgjan Alioski carried the most threat and Leeds were unlucky not to win a penalty shortly before half-time.

Roofe’s high ball to the back post was aimed at the head of Alioski, who was bundled over by Derby right-back Andre Wisdom.

Alioski’s ambitious volley just after the interval was palmed away by Carson, but from that point on it was all Derby.

They equalised when Winnall tapped home Craig Forsyth’s superb low cross.

And it got worse for Leeds when referee Simon Hooper pointed to the spot with eight minutes to go after sub Hadi Sacko brought down Tom Lawrence.

Winnall confidently buried his penalty past Andy Lonergan.