Leeds United 2-0 Sheffield United: Championship – as it happened

Here is Will Unwin’s report from Elland Road. Thanks for joining me. Goodnight!

Post-game thoughts from the two goalscorers, starting with Pascal Struijk: “It’s a massive win. We always knew it would be a really tough game. It’s a good thing we broke them down today. It’s way too early to start looking at the table – but the only way from here is up.”

And Mateo Joseph: “I feel great, helping the team get the three points, it’s a reward for hard work.” The striker also scored a hat-trick for Spain’s Under-21s this week and adds: “I was desperate to get on … really happy for this last week, and I’ll keep working hard.”

It wasn’t easy, or all that pretty, but Leeds have deservedly won this Yorkshire derby thanks to a set-piece finish from Pascal Struijk and a late Mateo Joseph clincher. Sheffield United’s unbeaten start ends here – they just didn’t have enough to keep their local rivals at bay tonight.

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94 mins: Ao Tanaka is named man of the match after an excellent all-round midfield display. Joe Rothwell, his midfield partner whose corner broke the deadlock, is also worthy of a shout.

93 mins: Campbell’s cross skids away from Moore, and that will probably be that.

Piroe is replaced by Patrick Bamford, while Sam Byram is on for Firpo. “Wilder, what’s the score?” ask the jubilant home fans, before a rendition of “one team in Yorkshire”. One more goal tonight, and Leeds will edge to the top of the table.

Just as a nervous five minutes of stoppage time comes into view, Piroe prods through a perfect through ball and Joseph holds off Peck before poking the ball past Cooper. A clinical counter attack, and a killer goal.

That doesn’t really matter any more, because Mateo Joseph has sealed victory for Leeds!

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89 mins: After what happened at Sunderland, Meslier will be very keen indeed to see out stoppage time without conceding …

87 mins: Just three bookings in this so-called derby: two for protesting decisions, and one for time wasting. What is this, mid-90s Serie A?

85 mins: A deep corner to the far post has Meslier worried, but the keeper gets a touch to prod the ball behind. The next corner is half-cleared and Arblaster’s attempted cross is blocked by Tanaka. The Blades midfielder goes overboard in appealing for a penalty, and gets booked.

83 mins: As it stands, Leeds will sneak above their opponents and into second place behind Sunderland, who face Hull on Sunday. Before then, either Burnley or West Brom could snaffle top spot with wins on Saturday. It’s up for grabs!

Back to tonight’s game, and Junior Firpo gets booked for time wasting.

80 mins: A scrappy spell as Leeds continue to hold Sheffield United at arm’s length. Perhaps Rhian Brewster can change that, as he replaces Vini Souza, who will miss the next game against Middlesbrough after getting booked tonight.

78 mins: Mateo Joseph is summoned from the Leeds bench, replacing Ramazani. That will probably mean Piroe drops deeper, with James and Solomon operating on the wings.

76 mins: Manor Solomon exchanges words with Anel Amhedhodzic after the two grapple for the ball. Another change for Sheffield United, with Jesurun Rak-Sakyi replacing Rhys Norrington-Davies in a decidedly attacking switch.

74 mins: Kieffer Moore, who hasn’t offered much beyond nuisance value, tries to connect with a cross from deep – but Meslier is able to collect it easily.

72 mins: So, Sheffield United are left with 20 minutes to find a leveller. They can take encouragement from that spell before the goal, and still have attacking options on the bench.

Sheffield United’s six-game streak without conceding is over, thanks to Leeds’ first set-piece goal for 21 games. Rothwell created it with a clever low cross towards Struijk at the near post, who buried the bouncing ball into the roof of the net!

And from the corner, Pascal Struijk breaks the deadlock for Leeds!

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67 mins: Now Leeds make changes with Dan James and Manor Solomon replacing Aaronson and Gnonto, who had just won the hosts a corner.

66 mins: The attacking momentum is lost as Sheffield United are penalised from the corner. Nothing happening in there you wouldn’t see at the Emirates, at first glance.

65 mins: They seemed to be hanging on, but the changes have rejuvenated Sheffield United, who go even closer as Arblaster’s shot from distance is deflected behind by Joe Rodon.

63 mins: The first chance in a long time for Sheffield United, with Rodon’s poor pass setting up Burrows, who exchanges passes with Moore – only for Rodon to redeem himself by blocking the shot.

61 mins: Three changes for Sheffield United – Alfie Gilchrist, Tyrese Campbell and Sydie Peck replace Shackleton, O’Hare and Hamer.

60 mins: Vini Souza waves an imaginary yellow card at the referee, asking him to book Junior Firpo. The only man getting booked is Souza himself, for waving said air card.

59 mins: More trickery from Gnonto down the right, and his cross pinballs into the path of Firpo, who swipes at air with his attempted volley. He wins the ball back and then tumbles down cheaply, but the referee waves his protests away.

57 mins: O’Hare almost gets a break of the ball on the edge of the area, but Leeds clear and Gnonto wins a foul, to ironic cheers from the home crowd. Leeds break at pace and Aaronson advances into the area, but can only earn a corner with his flick across goal.

56 mins: Ramazani penalised for clipping Ahmedhodzic but escapes a booking; that’s probably the first yellow-worthy challenge we’ve had in this slow-cooked derby.

55 mins: Tanaka has been very effective in the Leeds midfield, offering some tidy passing in the buildup and dropping back into defence when required.

53 mins: Piroe tries a shot from 30 yards that, if he had his time again, he might not bother with. Sheffield United have now gone 11 hours in the league without conceding.

51 mins: I’m not sure how effective this Sheffield United setup really is; both Burrows and Shackleton have looked shaky defensively, without offering much when they push forward.

49 mins: After a lukewarm start, Leeds create another good opening – but from Firpo’s searching cross, Aaronson, trying to bury the ball as it ricochets off Gnonto, only sends it sailing into the gleeful away end.

46 mins: A sloppy pass from Arblaster almost sets Leeds free, but Piroe can’t connect with the quick through ball.

We’re back under way. Goals please!

Some sad news from Blackpool, where Steve Bruce will miss Saturday’s game after the death of his four-month-old grandson, Madison.

Goalless at the break, but Leeds have been the better side after a slow first 10 minutes, and it feels like a matter of time until they score, unless Chris Wilder changes things up. More soon.

47 mins: Still time for another Leeds half-chance, with Firpo’s cross volleyed wide at the near post by Aaronson. And that’s half-time.

45 mins: Aaronson drops deep and tries to pick out Piroe with a cross, but the visiting defence deal with it. Not much joy for Joel Piroe so far, surrounded by tall centre-backs.

43 mins: Norrington-Davies also intervened to deny Gnonto in the previous move, and replays show the bouncing ball struck his arm before he cleared. Not one you’d want to see given, unless you’re a Leeds fan, of course.

42 mins: Gnonto tries to wriggle through three or four defenders and almost does so, before immediately getting the ball back from Kieffer Moore. His shot is blocked by Norrington-Davies, with Moore – who simply stood with his hands on his head after giving it away – grateful for the intervention.

41 mins: O’Hare is a little frustrated when a long pass is delayed and he runs offside. Sheffield United are yet to conjure a shot on target, or anything close to one really.

39 mins: After a drinks break while Ramazani got treatment, Leeds are presented with a chance when Michael Cooper’s weak clearance falls to Aaronson. He shoots, under pressure from Souza, but his shot is going wide even before Cooper gets a flying fingertip to it.

36 mins: The referee, Lewis Smith, continues to vex the home fans by not giving a free kick when Norrington-Davies brings down Ramazani. Turns out he was right – the Leeds winger went down very easily, then rolled back on to the pitch to ensure play stopped.