Leeds back on top of the Championship after crushing win over Stoke

Leeds reclaimed top spot in the Sky Bet Championship in convincing style by thrashing Stoke 5-0 at Elland Road.

Mateusz Klich’s first-half penalty and goals from Helder Costa and skipper Liam Cooper inside 10 minutes of the restart put the Whites firmly in control.

Substitute Pablo Hernandez struck a sublime fourth and Patrick Bamford added a fifth in stoppage time as Leeds turned in a classy display to edge closer to automatic promotion.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side, who leapfrogged West Brom to sit one point clear at the summit, now need seven points from their last four games to guarantee a top-two finish.

Leeds kept their composure in the face of some stubborn first-half resistance and showed no signs of the nerves which unhinged their promotion push last season.

But for several excellent saves from Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland and some superb last-ditch defending, the margin of victory could have been bigger.

Tyler Roberts forced Butland into a flying save inside the first 60 seconds, but Leeds had to wait another 15 minutes for their next attempt on goal, with Bamford firing over from outside the penalty area.

Leeds began to find their passing range as the first half progressed and only some heroic Stoke defending kept them at bay.

James McClean and Danny Batth pulled off successive goal-line clearances to keep out efforts from Bamford and Roberts as Leeds cranked up the pressure.

Jack Harrison failed to keep his shot on target, but just as it seemed Stoke would hold out until the break, they gave away a needless penalty.

Tommy Smith’s rash challenge on Costa left referee Darren Bond with no option and Klich coolly converted his seventh goal of the season.

Hernandez replaced Roberts during the interval and within two minutes of the restart the home side had doubled their lead.

Dallas’s ball into the area behind Stoke substitute James Chester picked out Costa and the Portuguese’s toe-poked finish nestled inside the far post.

Bamford’s snap-shot hit the crossbar and the striker then forced an excellent save from Butland as Leeds looked to kill the game off.

Stoke were being pulled out of their defensive shape and Leeds’ third goal duly arrived in the 57th minute when Cooper slammed home from inside the area after being teed-up by Hernandez.

Leeds were running Stoke ragged and Hernandez crashed home a superb fourth goal in the 72nd minute after another sweeping move and Bamford’s dummy on the edge of the area.

Bamford’s low angled finish in time added on flew in off the inside of the far post and completed the rout.