Leeds streak further ahead at summit as Piroe and Bogle wrongfoot Coventry

The Guardian

05-02-2025

First-half strikes from Joël Piroe and Jayden Bogle helped Leeds stretch their advantage at the top of Championship to five points with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Coventry.
The visitors were a class above Frank Lampard's side, who came into the game on the back of four successive league wins. Coventry could only blame themselves for being two goals down at the break. Piroe's expertly taken finish made Ellis Simms pay for a mistake before Bogle was handed a gift by the goalkeeper Oliver Dovin.
Leeds could have had more but for Dovin, who denied Manor Solomon, Piroe and Largie Ramazani, as the league leaders cruised to a sixth successive clean sheet in all competitions and extended their unbeaten run to 14 games. Daniel Farke's side have made a habit of scoring early in recent games and this time they struck in the 17th minute.
Simms played a loose back pass deep into his own half and straight to Solomon who slipped through Piroe to clinically dispatch his 13th goal of the campaign. Coventry were the creators of their own downfall and could only look at themselves when their opponents surged into a 2-0 lead. Bogle looked like he touched the ball too far into the grasp of Dovin after a run into the area, but the goalkeeper spilled it back into the path of the defender who slotted into the back of the net.
Leeds pushed for more and Daniel James latched on to a long ball over the top but he shot straight at Dovin. The visitors were in complete control, with Coventry struggling to play out from the back against a ferocious press.
Leeds picked up where they left off after the interval. Solomon proved to be a menace for the Coventry defence and picked out James who could only fire into the side netting.
Coventry thought they had got themselves on the scoresheet but Illan Meslier got down low and produced a fine save to keep out Simms' header. They were almost punished on the break but Dovin was on hand to deny Solomon's rocket 10 seconds later.
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The hosts were getting caught on the counter as they chased a way back into the contest. Dovin twice denied Leeds by stopping low drilled efforts from Solomon and Piroe. The goalkeeper may have been to blame for Leeds' second but he kept his side in it, spreading himself to stop Ramazani with his feet. Meslier kept his clean sheet intact by tipping Bobby Thomas's header on to the bar while Wilfried Gnonto's late effort was belatedly ruled out for offside at the other end.