Match ends, Sheffield United 0, Leeds United 1.
Sheff UtdSheffield United0LeedsLeeds United1
Pablo Hernandez capitalised on a dreadful defensive error from Sheffield United to give Leeds United all three points in the Yorkshire derby and briefly send them top of the Championship.
Goalkeeper Dean Henderson had to chase John Egan's overhit backpass to avoid conceding a corner but then miscued his pass out of defence straight to Leeds winger Jack Clarke, who squared for Hernandez to tap in a crucial late winner.
There was still time for the hosts to hit the woodwork when Conor Washington teed himself up for an overhead kick only to see his acrobatic effort come back off the Leeds crossbar in stoppage time.
Before the late drama, home striker Billy Sharp headed over a fine chance and visiting forward Kemar Roofe saw a header flash by Henderson's upright.
Marcelo Bielsa's side were knocked back off top spot after Norwich beat Rotherham 3-1 later on Saturday.
Leeds were forced into an early change when captain Liam Cooper was forced off with a knee injury inside the opening 25 minutes and it was his replacement, Aapo Halme, who had the visitors' best chance in the opening half, Henderson getting down well to save the Finn's deflected shot.
Sheffield United targeted young Leeds keeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell with testing crosses into the box throughout and should have had their reward when Sharp headed over from David McGoldrick's fine centre.
Peacock-Farrell did well to block McGoldrick's shot after they had conceded possession close to their own goal and it proved to be a similarly self-inflicted error that gave the Elland Road side a first victory at Bramall Lane since 1992.
They host QPR next Saturday, while fifth-placed Sheffield United travel to struggling Reading.
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder:
"I thought it was a really good game. Credit to them in their approach. From the start of the season, it's been positive.
"There was no way they were going to come and sit back. I thought it was a similar approach from our point of view as well and maybe decided by a bit of magic, taking a chance or a mistake and unfortunately for us it's the final one.
"We've made a big mistake and we have to accept that. Dean [Henderson] is a big boy and he'll get on with it. I'm not going to rub his head for him. It's part and parcel of being a professional footballer and especially a goalkeeper."
Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa:
"The opponents dominated at the beginning of the game and at the end of the game, but between these two moments, without being excellent, we did an interesting performance.
"It is not convenient to make comparisons with other teams at this moment in the season. What I can say is that we played against a serious opponent.
"It was hard for us to find a solution to the project of play from Sheffield United. I'm always happy when I win and if this result puts us at the top of the table, even better."
Line-ups
Sheff Utd
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 1Henderson
- 6Basham
- 12EganBooked at 33mins
- 5O'Connell
- 2BaldockBooked at 53mins
- 16NorwoodBooked at 80mins
- 4Fleck
- 3StevensBooked at 25minsSubstituted forJohnsonat 84'minutes
- 21DuffySubstituted forWashingtonat 62'minutes
- 17McGoldrick
- 10Sharp
Substitutes
- 7Lundstram
- 15Coutts
- 19Stearman
- 22Johnson
- 25Moore
- 28Cranie
- 39Washington
Leeds
Formation 3-4-3
- 1Peacock-Farrell
- 23Phillips
- 18Jansson
- 6CooperSubstituted forHalmeat 21'minutesBooked at 85mins
- 4Forshaw
- 15Dallas
- 3Douglas
- 43KlichBooked at 90mins
- 19HernándezSubstituted forShackletonat 90'minutes
- 7RoofeBooked at 40mins
- 10AlioskiSubstituted forClarkeat 45'minutes
Substitutes
- 13Huffer
- 14Sáiz
- 22Harrison
- 34Baker
- 46Shackleton
- 47Clarke
- 52Halme
- Referee:
- Oliver Langford
- Attendance:
- 25,794
Match Stats
Home TeamSheff UtdAway TeamLeeds
- Possession
- Home56%
- Away44%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away6
- Corners
- Home9
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Sheffield United 0, Leeds United 1.
Post update
Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Stuart Dallas.
Booking
Mateusz Klich (Leeds United) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Hand ball by Kemar Roofe (Leeds United).
Post update
Foul by Jack O'Connell (Sheffield United).
Post update
Kalvin Phillips (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Conor Washington (Sheffield United) hits the bar with a right footed shot from the centre of the box following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Pontus Jansson.
Substitution
Substitution, Leeds United. Jamie Shackleton replaces Pablo Hernández.
Post update
Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Aapo Halme.
Post update
Attempt saved. Pablo Hernández (Leeds United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Billy Sharp (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Aapo Halme (Leeds United).
Booking
Aapo Halme (Leeds United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Billy Sharp (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Aapo Halme (Leeds United).
Substitution
Substitution, Sheffield United. Marvin Johnson replaces Enda Stevens.
Goal!
Goal! Sheffield United 0, Leeds United 1. Pablo Hernández (Leeds United) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Jack Clarke.
Booking
Oliver Norwood (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Comments
Join the conversation
Providing we stay up (hopefully!!) it will be great to play Leeds again. Always great atmosphere!
Good luck to us both!
Draw would have been a fair result, but I will take the win.
Need the shirt pulling to stop though. Both teams at it.
Overall summary? The referee was awful.
7 minutes ago
Thought this match would have attracted a decent crowd...rather than just over 25,000. "
Zero trains between Leeds and Sheffield, thanks Northern Rail for damaging the local economy.
Clown
4 different central defensive partnerships.
0 goals conceeded
9 points
How good is Bielsa