ANOTHER extraordinary late surge by leaders Leeds United tightened their grip on the Championship as they came from behind to win 3-1 at title challengers Sheffield United.
The victory puts the Whites five points ahead of the second-placed Blades and seven in front of Burnley in third spot with 12 games remaining.
Just as they had against Sunderland the previous Monday Leeds found themselves trailing late on but after Junior Firpo’s thumping header drew them level on 72 minutes Leeds looked the most likely winners.
Daniel Farke’s men are pumped-up with self-belief and relentless drive, even without injured skipper Ethan Ampadu. They went for the win and snatched it with an 89th-minute header from Ao Tanaka capped off by a rocket from Joel Piroe 90 seconds later.
The thrilling finale didn’t seem on the cards as Sheffield threatened to blow Leeds away in the opening half hour after an error-prone start by goalkeeper Illan Meslier.
The Frenchman had already dropped a couple of crosses and needed a headed goal-line clearance by Ilia Gruev to bail him out after spilling the ball.
Leeds were struggling to cope with the home side’s physicality and it was no surprise when Chris Wilder’s men went ahead after 14 minutes.
Callum O’Hare’s header was flicked on to the bar by Meslier and fell for Tyrese Campell who headed against the post when it looked easy to score. The ball span free but Meslier slipped and could only pat the ball over his own line.
Illan Meslier's own goal gifted the Blades a deserved lead just before the quarter-hour. (Image: PA) The Blades pushed hard for a second goal but didn’t get it and the visitors gradually got into the game with Manor Solomon down the left proving a major threat.
Sheffield began the second period on the front but after Meslier saved well from the feet of Campbell in front of the Shoreham End the home side’s attacking threat diminished by the minute and Leeds began to seriously test the home defence.
The pressure paid off when Dan James finally found a good cross for the onrushing Firpo to plant an equalising header beyond net-minder Michael Cooper. The goalkeeper then produced a brilliant flying save to tip away a curler from substitute Willie Gnonto which was destined from the top corner.
From the subsequent flag-kick Firpo headed the ball down for Tanaka to nod the ball into the opposite corner and spark pandemonium in the away end.
Punch-drunk Sheffield lost possession at the restart, James scuttled away down the right, fed the ball inside to Piroe who thrashed the ball past Cooper from 20 yards for his 15th goal of the season.
Ao Tanaka put Leeds ahead in the 89th minute before Joel Piroe struck his side's third 90 seconds later.
Leeds, unbeaten in 16 league games, have not lost in the Championship since 30 November but Farke is taking nothing for granted.
He said: “We are right now on 75 points. We have to keep going and show consistency. Stay humble, stay grounded. If we stay on 75 points we won’t finish anywhere near where we want to be. In this league the momentum can change quickly.”
