Leeds was the first game since he was named Sky Bet champions when it came from behind and defeated Derby 3-1.
After an open but lackluster first half at Pride Park, Chris Martin gave the hosts a surprising lead with a deflected attempt (54), but Pablo Hernandez restored parity within two minutes by going home after the first attempt ( 56).
Jamie Shackleton put the whites in the lead for the first time with his first professional goal (75) before Matt Clarke turned Ezgjan Alioski’s flank into his own net (84) to round out the win against the team that Leeds out of the play brought out offs over a year ago.
Jamie Shackleton scored his first professional goal in beating Derby
Leeds scores 90 points after the 27th win of the season, while Phillip Cocu’s men remain in 12th place before the final day on Wednesday.
How Leeds started his reign as a champion with a win
Despite Marcelo Bielsa’s decision to make seven changes to his lineup – including midfielder Mateusz Klich’s first start on the bench in his tenure – there was certainly no easing in intensity after the title win and Tyler Roberts made derby goalkeeper himself Kelle Roos announced and fired two warning shots early.
The guests dominated the possession of the ball and could have been ahead at half-time when Ian Carlo Poveda Roberts’ square ball beautifully rolled past Roos, but the former trainee from Man City and Brentford stayed behind with his head in the hands after a few meters had been sidelined under construction.
However, the first half was overshadowed by two serious-looking injuries. Tom Lawrence left the field with his arm in a sling in just seven minutes after falling awkwardly after a duel by Gaetano Berardi, who was later dismissed after a tangle of legs with Clarke.
The Rams seemed to have crashed the graduation party when Martin Kiko defeated Casilla after Craig Forsyth prevented Leeds from clearing the ball, but Hernandez made sure the feeling was short-lived when he was his second Ask goal in a week from the edge of the field at the second time scored
Moments after Shackleton calmed the nerves by transforming Roberts’ dismissal, Casilla was put into action after an early slip by Luke Ayling to refuse Martin, but any ongoing derby threat was erased within six minutes when Clarke Alioskis was wrong estimated delivery to add an accidental third for the champions.
What’s next?
Both teams will be in action on the last day of the championship season on Wednesday, July 22nd. Derby travels to St. Andrew’s to face Birmingham while Leeds welcomes Charlton on Elland Road. Both games start at 7.30pm.
