Daniel Farke's Leeds cruised to an emphatic 4-0 victory at shell-shocked Swansea to continue their brilliant start to 2024-and grab second place into the bargain.
Crysencio Summerville (eight mins), ex-Swan Joel Piroe (ten) and Willy Gnonto (35) put Leeds in the driving seat by half-time and Gnonto added his second on 72 minutes to seal the deal.
German boss Farke said: "It was a massive win on the road and perhaps the best execution of a game plan this season.
"Swansea are a good possession side so we knew we had to press them and we were spoton with that to create so many turnovers.
"We could have been more than 3-0 up at half-time and could have been more aggressive in the second half, but it was such a disciplined performance with a clean sheet that the players deserve huge praise. There's a great unity and team spirit here right now."
Southampton slipped back to third, albeit with a game in hand, after crashing to a 3-1 defeat at Bristol City. All the goals came in the second half at Ashton Game Sam Bell (52), Rob Dickie (72) and Harry Cornick (82) were on the mark for the Robins, while Adam Armstrong netted a consolation penalty for Saints in injury time. "I'm gutted and frustrated and it ends the run, but I'm so proud of the players and have so much love for them," Southampton boss Russell Martin told BBC Radio Solent.
"This actually wasn't that far away from being a really good performance. At half-time I thought we'd go on and win it as we had two better chances before they scored.
"But we conceded a rubbish goal for the first. We should have dealt with the cross better and we should have dealt with the corner for their second.
"We just need to make sure this is just a bump in the road.
This story is from the February 18, 2024 edition of The Football League Paper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the February 18, 2024 edition of The Football League Paper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
I'd still want to keep Pat on side
Patrick Bamford has always been a player who divides opinion amongst Leeds supporters.
WHITES & THE BLADES SPEED ON
LEEDS and Sheffield United maintained their pace at the top of the table with comfortable home victories - but Sunderland slipped off the summit.
BAILEY: WE'LL GIVE POPPIES THE RESPECT THEY DESERVE
OWEN Bailey knows exactly how pumped up seventh-tier Kettering Town will be when Doncaster Rovers roll into ramshackle Latimer Park today.
TOWN EARN THEIR CORN!
HARROGATE mon Weaver breathed a sigh of relief after his side edged past Gainsborough Trinity at a rain-sodden Exercise Stadium.
OH MY JOSH - O'S KEEPER IS THE HERO!
RICHIE Wellens praised keeper Josh Keeley as Leyton Orient reached the third round following a dramatic win over National League Oldham.
'IT HASN'T BEEN MY WHOLE FOCUS AND THAT HELPED ME
SHAUN Barker never attempted to conceal the fact that he had no burning desire to play football.
MATT'S BOYS SHOW CLASS
WYCOMBE side-stepped a tricky second round fixture by defeating Wealdstone at Grosvenor Vale.
LUKE SEETHES OVER SLOPPY SWANS START
LUKE Williams admitted he gave his players the hairdryer treatment at half-time after seeing them come into the break trailing against bottom of the table Portsmouth.
UPSET FOR HARRIS AS TYLER HITS STUNNER
Neil Harris insisted the fact that Millwall were bitterly disappointed to claim only a point shows the progress his side have made over the past 10 months.
ANTE AT THE DOUBLE FOR ON-SONG CITY
NORWICH head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup paid tribute to the home fans after watching his side come through a tough test against Luton to win comfortably in the end.
