Match Recap: Leeds United blank 10 man Bristol City 2-0

Leeds United came out of the international break, somehow less fit than going into it, with Pontus Jansson out through injury, leaving only Liam Cooper as the sole fit senior central defender. Additionally, Leeds were forced into starting Academy goalkeeper Will Huffer after Northern Ireland international Bailey Peacock-Farrell went down with a knock in training after Chelsea loanee Jamal Blackman broke his leg in a U23 match against Birmingham City.

The match started out fairly quiet for both teams, with Leeds looking to try and establish some possession while Bristol City looked to take advantage of the two Leeds players who were making their debut. Bristol City’s attack didn’t really look very threatening, even from set pieces, where Leeds have been vulnerable this season, but Leeds weren’t able to put any real pressure on Bristol City either.

The first half-hour or so featured a few attacks from Leeds with Bristol City perfectly content to avoid risking any real chances while looking to take on Leeds on the counter attack, exploiting Stuart Dallas and the inexperienced Leeds keeper Will Huffer.

Kemar Roofe created a few chances, perhaps none better than around the 38th minute when Roofe’s shot dribbled past the far post and out for a corner kick. From the resulting corner, Roofe had the ball near the touchline, but his centering pass found no one in the box, and instead of a shot, the ball ended up all the way back at Huffer.

It remained scoreless at half-time, with only a single shot on goal for Leeds and a single

The second half started more or less the same as the first half ended, with Leeds looking to try and get a goal without much doing and Bristol City looking to be perfectly content to leave with a 0-0 draw.

Bristol City was reduced to 10 men in the 54th minute as Brownhill was booked for a second time after a bad tackle on Roofe. Leeds immediately tried to bring some more pressure on the Bristol City end.

Attacking reinforcements were brought on after the dismissal, with Aapo Halme, who had a fine debut in central defence, coming off for Samu Saiz and Gjanni Alioski, who had been wasteful, coming off from Jack Harrison.

Leeds broke the deadlock in the 68th minute after what seemed to be 15 corner kicks in a row. Roofe did well to direct a Hernandez past the keeper, and while the Bristol City players looked to the linesman to be saved by the offside flag, it never came and Leeds were able to celebrate the opening goal.

Leeds continued to heap pressure on the goal, with Hernandez getting a second late in the match to put the match to bed. A wonderfully floated pass from Saiz was met by Hernandez who put a looping header over the helpless Bristol City keeper.

And all’s well that ends well, as Leeds get a vital three points to keep pressure on the top of the table, with the win taking Leeds second in the table. A debut clean sheet for Will Huffer and a fine assist and goal from Hernandez.