DEFIANT JONES
But Leeds push him closer to cliff edge
NATHAN JONES admitted he could lose his job if he fails to arrest Stoke’s alarming slump.
A classy display by Leeds kept them top of the Championship and pi led more pressure on the beleaguered Jones.
Well-crafted goals from Stuart Dallas, Ezgjan Alioski and Patrick Bamford earned Marcelo Bielsa’s pacesetters their fourth win in five with skipper Pablo Hernandez involved in all three strikes.
The result left Jones fighting for his managerial life. Leeds fans taunted the former Luton boss with chants of: ‘You’re getting sacked in the morning’ as their team strolled to a comfortable victory amid a torrent of boos from home fans at the final whistle.
Jones said: ‘ I’m brave and I’ll continue to fight but it might cost me my job. As far as I’m aware I’ve got the support from above but that won’t continue forever.
‘After the first goal went in we seemed to lose all belief. In the second half they overran us. They were much better than us. We’ve got to change the mentality.’
Jones had reacted to the 3- 1 midweek defeat at Preston with a total shake-up of his team. He made six changes including dropping England keeper Jack Butland — who made two blunders at Deepdale — skipper Danny Batth and Tom Ince.
It made little difference as Leeds controlled from start to finish, leaving Stoke bottom of the table with one point to their name.
Leeds boss Bielsa said: ‘The start of the game was a little bit complicated for us but then we started to manage it well. We defended well and attacked well too. It was a good performance.
‘Bamford scored and made a goal and I think he will continue to grow in confidence for us with more games. Hernandez did a pass that was very difficult for a goal that hurt the opponents.
‘We are playing the same way as last season. But it is very difficult to predict what might happen. One of the key things is the injuries, we don’t want as many, and t he confidence of the team will be important.’
Jones has won just three times in 25 League games since taking over from Gary Rowett mid-way through last season. One was against Leeds in January, but there was never a chance of a repeat here.
And it could have been far worse but for a string of saves from Butland’s replacement Adam Federici. Stoke showed plenty of honest toil but couldn’t match Leeds’ passing and movement.
That was underlined when the Yorkshire club took an overdue lead three minutes before half-time following a slick exchange between Adam Forshaw, Bamford and Hernandez who threaded a superb ball through for the overlapping Dallas to race away and score.
Leeds could have gone two- up just before the break but Federici saved well from Jack Harrison.
They didn’t have to wait long to increase their lead after another slick passing movement five minutes into the second half.
Again Hernandez was involved with some intricate exchanges just outside the Stoke penalty area before Bamford sent over a low cross that Alioski slid in at the far post.
It was no surprise when Bamford added the third in the 66th minute.
Again the imperious Hernandez was involved, this time threading a pass through for Alioski whose shot was parried by Federici but with Bamford despatching the rebound with some assurance for his fourth of the season.
It was so comfortable for Leeds that Stoke had to wait until the 77th minute for their first shot on target from substitute Ince. It was greeted by ironic cheers from frustrated home fans.
Leeds could have increased their margin of victory but the over-worked Federici tipped round a goal-bound shot from sub Helder Costa near the end.
The bad news for Stoke and Jones is that it could get worse before it gets better because they face Leeds again in the Carabao Cup at Elland Road on Tuesday.