Kemar Roofe’s 22nd minute goal has given Leeds United a 1-0 half-time lead over a much-changed Blues side at Elland Road.

Town boss Paul Hurst made seven changes to the team which lost 2-0 at home to QPR at the weekend with Bartosz Bialkowski, Jordan Spence, Jonas Knudsen, Flynn Downes, Tayo Edun, Jon Nolan and Kayden Jackson all starting.

Dean Gerken, Janoi Donacien, Trevoh Chalobah, Gwion Edwards, Grant Ward and Andre Dozzell all dropped to the bench, while Toto Nsiala was left out of the 18.

Ahead of Bialkowski in goal, Spence was at right-back, Knudsen at left-back with Matthew Pennington to the left of skipper Like Chambers at the centre of the defence.

Nolan was on the right of midfield with Edun on the left and Downes in the centre with Cole Skuse. Jackson started up front with Freddie Sears behind him.

Pablo Hernandez blazed an early shot over from distance after a Bialkowski kick had been closed down and deflected into the air by Roofe. On five, Nolan picked up an early yellow card for a foul on Samuel Saiz.

There was a big scare for the Blues in the 11th minute when Ezgjan Alioski’s low cross from the left was fumbled by Bialkowski but fortunately away from Hernandez and Chambers was able to clear.

Gaetano Berardi joined Nolan in the referee’s book in the 16th minute for a foul on Sears on the Blues’ left. From the freekick taken by Edun, Pennington headed into keeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell’s arms at the far post.

On 19 Nolan scuffed wide from 20 yards with the Blues starting to make an impression going forward.

However, three minutes later the home side went in front. Hernandez whipped over a cross from the right which flew over Pennington to Roofe, whose header from six yards was too powerful for Bialkowski’s outstretched arm.

Having got in front, Leeds began to put the Blues under pressure but on 27 they were forced into a change when Berardi was replaced by Stuart Dallas.

Two minutes later, Hernandez cut the ball back to Saiz but his shot was blocked, then on 31 Downes was booked for a foul on Klich.

Alioski hit a cross-shot over from the left with the Whites well in control but without having come close to a second.

On 36, Luke Ayling’s shot was deflected over after Spence had cleared poorly from a corner, then from the subsequent flag-kick Downes flicked the ball over Bialkowski as the keeper looked to catch.

As the half moved into its final five minutes Town began to probe in the Leeds half but without threatening an equaliser.

Two minutes of injury time yielded no further chances at either end and the scoreline remained the same at the break.

Leeds deserved their lead having been in charge throughout and having created the game’s few opportunities.

Town hadn’t been as poor as they were against QPR and had been better defensively, but had rarely threatened with Pennington’s header from Edun’s freekick their only real chance.

Leeds: Peacock-Farrell, Ayling, Alioski, Cooper (c), Berardi (Dallas 27), Phillips, Klich, Harrison, Hernandez, Saiz, Roofe. Subs: Blackman, Forshaw, Roberts, Pearce, Baker, Clarke.

Town: Bialkowski, Spence, Pennington, Chambers (c), Skuse, Downes, Nolan, Edun, Sears, Jackson. Subs: Gerken, Donacien, Chalobah, Edwards, Ward, Dozzell, Lankester. Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire).

Photo: Action Images

WalkRules added 21:39 - Oct 24 Worst start to the season by ANY town manager. Congratulations on achieving that landmark Paul. Now go.
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jocasaja added 21:40 - Oct 24 No guts, no fight, no quality , no leadership...caved in as soon as they got a goal !
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Edmundo added 21:40 - Oct 24 Where were we at this stage under Jewell? 7 points??
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jackson added 21:45 - Oct 24 Hurst - ENOUGH. Now hand in your resignation and GO !!!
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Suffolk_n_Good added 21:51 - Oct 24 “2-0 a dangerous score line” I remember Hurdt saying, well you're right Paul, it was looking f***ing dangerous for us!! No cohesion, a lack of control, no creativity, Chambers must of booted the ball anywhere at least a dozen times, a poor squad, no self belief, a manager who looks like a rabbit in front of headlights & an owner who doesn't give a s***. Sack Hurst by all means, he deserves it, but that's not the key issue here, Evans needs to invest proper money, or sell the club, either way, until one or the other happen I'm done, if Evans can't be arsed, I don't see why I should be

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BooM76 added 22:06 - Oct 24 I can hear MM laughing his ass off at the fools ...
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Poultman added 22:11 - Oct 24 Perhaps if we had had a reasonable rub of the green this season we might be 6-9 points higher and we wouldn't necessarily be having the conversations we are having on here......BUT my initial view on PH being appointed was with a few astute signings blended with faith in our youth, along side an ACTUAL vision from the top to bottom of our club we might be very much under estimated this season. But time works for no man, the practice of giving our mangers time is admirable and as long as it is seen that we do things in the our historically respected fashion, we need to move with the times and act quicker than we normally would. So many people on here have pointed out what we consider to be the basics and it is so obviously clear that at any level of our club things are not right. No disrespect to others of a differing opinion but you have to take a step back without any favouritism and call it how you see it. If the foundations aren't right the fortress of PR will fall. PH might be the right guy in the right place at the wrong time, who knows, likewise ME might be the wrong guy in place at the right time for the manger. The reality is though, the team walked off tonight with heads almost as low as their feet. We should try and separate ownership feelings and manager issues from the team. Our place is to let the team know on a match how they are performing and try and keep it to that, some sort of perspective, good or bad.

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