Leeds 2-0 Ipswich: Marcelo Bielsa's side return to top with win over bottom side
- Published
Leeds forward Kemar Roofe (left) has scored five goals this season
Leeds United returned to the top of the Championship with a dominant win over bottom club Ipswich Town.
The hosts took the lead when Kemar Roofe headed in from Pablo Hernandez's well-measured cross.
Liam Cooper doubled their advantage with a fine finish after a corner was worked to him on the edge of the area.
The visitors rarely troubled the home defence and would have lost by more but for Ezgjan Alioski's ferocious strike coming back off the inside of the post and Bartosz Bialkowski's fine save from Adam Forshaw's shot.
Victory moved Leeds from fourth to first after Middlesbrough and Sheffield United both drew on Tuesday and West Brom fell to a heavy defeat by Derby on Wednesday.
They were boosted by the return of Spanish playmaker Hernandez, who was making his first start since 25 August after a hamstring injury, and was instrumental throughout.
It took him just 22 minutes to have a decisive impact on the match, creating space with neat footwork before sending in a perfectly measured centre for Roofe and the outcome of the game was never in much doubt thereafter.
For Paul Hurst's side, it was another chastening night as they fell to a seventh league defeat of the season and remain four points adrift of safety.
They visit Millwall on Saturday, while Leeds will hope to build on this win when they host Nottingham Forest.
Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa:
"Our team was constantly offensive - we had 10 clear chances to score a goal.
"In the first half it was hard for us to get rid of the way the opposition played the game. The long balls of the opponent to their right full-back, this happened during half of the first half.
"We spent many minutes not playing and we had the obligation to change this. In the second half we defended well."
Ipswich manager Paul Hurst told BBC Radio Suffolk:
"We're going to need every single player to stick together and be ready for some battles that are ahead.
"All I will do is continue to go about the job and until I hear differently. Realistically if nothing's said, I will get on with it.
"If something's said, we'll deal with that message, whatever it is."