Leeds 1-0 Birmingham: Kalvin Phillips strike lifts Leeds to second
- Published
Leeds United celebrated 100 years since their formation on Thursday
Kalvin Phillips' strike lifted Leeds to second in the Championship table as the club marked their centenary with victory over Birmingham City.
However, the game was marred by ugly scenes at full-time as Birmingham fans appeared to clash with stewards and police in the away end.
There was also trouble outside the ground and West Yorkshire Police made 11 arrests.
Midfielder Phillips netted the only goal on 65 minutes to break Blues' dogged resistance and clinch three points.
Leeds squandered chances in the first half in front of an Elland Road crowd of 35,731 - their highest of the season.
But Phillips eventually broke the deadlock, collecting Jack Harrison's pass to fire past Lee Camp.
The result is likely to be overshadowed by the crowd trouble which saw several stewards report minor injuries.
BBC WM commentator Richard Wilford, who was at Elland Road, described it as "some of the worst violence I've seen for a considerable period of time inside a football ground".
On the pitch, Leeds could not give their fans anything tangible to cheer for most of the opening hour as they were blunted by a solid Blues back line.
Camp kept out an early Ezgjan Alioski attempt from distance and also had to be alert to foil a follow-up from Stuart Dallas after Helder Costa's shot had been blocked.
Leeds sent on Eddie Nketiah - fresh from his England Under-21 hat-trick earlier in the week - to replace the misfiring Patrick Bamford for the second half.
But Birmingham threatened through Fran Villalba and Alvaro Gimenez before Maxime Colin's slip enabled Harrison to race clear and set up Phillips for his first goal since February.
Leeds never looked in danger of surrendering their lead, although Jude Bellingham's 25-yard effort brought a late stop from Kiko Casilla.
Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa:
"I am not happy with how we closed the game out. After we scored we could have finished the match. We gave them the ball and let them control the chances.
"We had one of the best first halves we have played. We started the second half with some doubt. After the goal, we had three chances. From then, little by little, we allowed the opponent to control the ball.
"Sometimes God put things in the right place. Phillips is playing at Leeds and now he will stay in the history of the club for this goal.
"I am proud to have this job at a club with such important history. The history of the club is very impressive. That increases the duty I have."
Birmingham City head coach Pep Clotet told BBC WM:
"Leeds started strongly, you have to give them that. It's a very special game for them and it's probably the toughest place to come as a visitor. But I think we defended our box very well and grew into the game.
"In the second half I think the players were even more confident and our offensive game began to roll. Some of the patterns were good and we managed to turn the patterns into chances and shots.
"Obviously you're not happy because you don't get the result and we had it close, but again the team showed massive spirit to build on what we were against Middlesbrough.
"We didn't come here and be sitting ducks - we went toe to toe against a team that's been playing this kind of football for a year and a half and having a lot of success."