Joe Rodon's only goal before he scored for Leeds against Derby came for Rennes in the French top flight in August 2022
Joe Rodon and Max Wober scored their first goals for Leeds United as the Whites moved back to the top of the Championship table with victory over Derby County.
Rodon's first-half header to open the scoring was the former Tottenham, Swansea and Rennes centre-back's first goal in English football and just the second of his career.
Fellow defender Wober got forward to add a second soon after with a tap-in finish after a cross was deflected into his path by Derby striker Jerry Yates, who had dropped deep to try help fortify Derby's besieged backline.
Derby goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom made a string of second-half saves, the best of them to turn a Joel Piroe effort around the post, to limit the damage as Leeds made it seven successive wins at Elland Road.
Leeds were prevented from returning to the summit a week earlier by Blackburn, but their ultimately convincing victory against the Rams - who have now lost three in a row and won just one of their past 10 games - lifted them above Sheffield United on goal difference.
The Blades, however, have the chance to reclaim top spot on Sunday if they avoid defeat at West Bromwich Albion.
Leeds, who have now conceded only one goal in their past seven home games dating back to mid-September, dominated possession - in the early stages controlling as much as 86% of the ball - against a Rams outfit that was set up to stifle their high-flying opponents in blustery, wet conditions.
The hosts were forced into a 21st-minute change, with injured attacking left-back Junior Firpo replaced by the seemingly more defensive Wober, before Leeds managed to carve out their first chance when Brenden Aaronson had a fierce shot blocked by Eiran Cashin before Rodon sent a free header wide from the resulting corner.
Another Aaronson effort, this time on the turn, forced Zetterstrom into a smart save, but led to centre-back Rodon making up for that earlier miss, as he powered home his header from a Joe Rothwell corner in the 39th minute.
Wober then showed great attacking instincts to make it 2-0 just before the break, pouncing on an Aaronson cross that was diverted invitingly to his feet by Yates after he attempted to block the ball.
Leeds piled forward in search of a third after the break, but Zetterstrom did well to keep out a swerving shot from Dan James and an Ao Tanaka effort in quick succession, before Piroe forced the Swede into the finest save of the afternoon with a shot that was destined for the bottom corner.
Derby struggled to create any meaningful chances in response, with their only shot on target coming in the 80th minute as Liam Thompson struck a long-range effort straight at Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier.
Leeds boss Daniel Farke told BBC Radio Leeds:
"For the first 10, 15 minutes, we were a bit hectic in our decision making but after that we were all over them, didn't allow them to have one chance.
"We created many chances and could and should have scored a few more, but overall it was a pretty dominant performance and to deliver this after an unlucky loss (at Blackburn) makes me pretty happy.
"We were struggling with a few injuries during the game, but you couldn't see at all that this affected us - this is our way at the moment, we find solutions."
Rams boss Paul Warne told BBC Radio Derby:
"We came into it knowing it would be a tough one, I don't think there's any shame that we haven't come away with a win.
"Defensively we were pretty good, limited them to very few chances in the first half - you've got to quieten the crowd down - but when we got the ball, we didn't really do anything with it.
"This is a very good team that made it difficult for us when we had the ball. Every single one of the players is quicker than ours. I don't know, apart from being tidier on the ball, how we were going to create a chance - I know that sounds negative, but that's the truth."
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke says his side fully deserved to beat Derby County 2-0.
Derby County head coach Paul Warne gives his thoughts following the 2-0 defeat to Leeds.
