Leeds dominated the opening exchanges but were continually thwarted by heroics from Palace keeper Sam Johnstone and only had a fine Patrick Bamford header to show for their efforts for a 1-0 lead. The Eagles then equalised in first-half stoppage time as Marc Guehi beat Illan Meslier to a close range finish from a set piece after the visitors had earlier been denied by the post.
But the Whites were then absolutely blitzed after the interval as Palace netted twice in two minutes to go 3-1 up approaching the hour mark through strikes from Jordan Ayew and Eberechi Eze. United’s afternoon then got even worse as an Odsonne Edouard strike and second goal from Ayew brought up the Eagles nap hand as Elland Road emptied by the minute.
Graham Smyth, the YEP’s chief football writer, hands out the scores from a real game of two halves at LS11 that has left Leeds fifth-bottom and only two points clear of the drop zone.
1. Illan Meslier
5 - Slow to react for the first goal but generally hung out to dry as the game got away from Leeds. Photo: Matt McNulty
2. Luke Ayling
3 - Didn't have a bad first half but struggled badly after the break. Defending for Ayew's header in both the build up and the finish was poor. Confidence looked shattered. Photo: Matt McNulty
3. Robin Koch
4 - Couldn't stem the tide or organise the defence sufficiently at set-pieces in the first half or in open play as Palace ran riot in the second. Photo: OLI SCARFF
4. Pascal Struijk
4 - Fine before the break, rabbit in headlights at times after it. Photo: Stu Forster
5. Junior Firpo
4 - Played well enough in the first half and wasn't as culpable as others as things went awry but looked powerless to prevent it. Went off with a bang to the face. Photo: OLI SCARFF
6. Marc Roca
3 - A decent first half and then his head seemed to go completely in the second half. Gave the ball away, struggled to cope with Palace on the break. Photo: Matt McNulty