MX23RW : Monday, July 13 13:21:52| >> :120:72079:72079:
Feb 13, 2019 at 7.45pm UK at Elland Road (Leeds, West Yorkshire)
Attendance: 34,044
LeedsLeeds United
2-1
SwanseaSwansea City
Jansson (20'), Harrison (34')
FT(HT: 2-0)
McBurnie (87' pen.)

Result: Leeds return to Championship summit after seeing off Swansea

Result: Leeds return to Championship summit after seeing off Swansea
© Reuters
The Whites took another step closer to a Premier League return.

Leeds returned to the top of the Sky Bet Championship table as they took advantage of Norwich's defeat at Preston with a 2-1 victory over Swansea.

The clash had an edge after Swansea pulled the plug on Daniel James' move to Leeds late on deadline day and United channelled that frustration to make it 10 straight home wins against the Welsh side.

James, who had completed a medical and was waiting at Elland Road for the deal to be rubber-stamped, started the game and showed glimpses of why Leeds were so keen to sign him.

But the winger and his team-mates were left with an improbable task at half-time after goals from birthday boy Pontus Jansson and Jack Harrison had put Leeds in control.

United had gone on to win all 13 league games in which they had scored the opening goal this season and that record was never truly under threat despite a period of panic after Oli McBurnie's late penalty.

Buoyed by their 101st-minute equaliser at Middlesbrough on Saturday, Leeds made a lively start with Kemar Roofe dragging a shot wide.

Scoring first had become an issue for Leeds since the turn of the year but centre-back Jansson calmed the home crowd's nerves after 20 minutes.

Swansea failed to clear Pablo Hernandez's corner and Jansson was on hand to lash a left-footed shot into the bottom corner after Ezgjan Alioski's deflected effort had fallen into his path.

Leeds were visibly more confident and threatened a second goal when Roofe played a neat one-two with Mateusz Klich, only to miss the target with his guided effort.

Despite looking neat and tidy Swansea had struggled to break the hosts down, but when they did eventually fashion an opportunity they came agonisingly close to drawing level.

A free-kick routine left Barrie McKay with enough time and room to pick out a low cross that captain Mike Van Der Hoorn was inches away from sliding home.

Leeds quickly regrouped and almost doubled their lead when Harrison had a shot beaten away by Swans goalkeeper Erwin Mulder.

United did not have to wait much longer, Harrison directing a near-post header from Alioski's cross beyond the flat-footed Mulder in the 34th minute.

Patrick Bamford, making his first Championship start for Leeds at Elland Road, headed straight at Mulder as Leeds sought a third before half-time.

But their lead appeared in jeopardy immediately after the restart when Swansea won a free-kick right on the edge of the box, with former United loanee Matt Grimes seeing his effort deflected just wide.

The Swans survived a goalmouth scramble and were grateful for Mulder getting down low to save from Bamford and Roofe in quick succession.

James was withdrawn with little over 20 minutes to go and watched substitute McBurnie set up a nervy finish from the spot after Luke Ayling had brought down Joel Asoro.

Panic came into Leeds' play in the remaining three minutes plus stoppage time but Marcelo Bielsa's side held on for a vital victory.

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
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2West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom432215674413381
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4Fulham4322101158441476
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6Cardiff CityCardiff431616116056464
7Swansea CitySwansea431615125550563
8Preston North EndPreston431711155652462
9Millwall431517114946362
10Derby CountyDerby431613145758-161
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13Reading431511175448656
14Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds431510185459-555
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16Queens Park RangersQPR43158206070-1053
17Stoke CityStoke43147225666-1049
18Birmingham CityBirmingham431213185269-1749
19Middlesbrough431114184356-1347
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22Hull City43129225775-1845
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24Barnsley431013204667-2143

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