Daniel Farke’s side knew that even a draw would take them top of the Championship after Leicester City’s defeat at Friday night hosts Plymouth Argyle and that a victory would send them two points clear in the automatic promotion places ahead of Ipswich Town’s 3pm hosting of Middlesbrough.
Leeds, though, ultimately left with nothing as an 82nd-minute strike from the division’s top scorer Sammie Szmodics condemned United to a first home league loss of the season, dealing a huge blow to the team’s automatic promotion hopes.
The Whites have now taken just one point from their last three games and the defeat left them one point behind both second-placed Ipswich and leaders Leicester but having played a game more than both sides.
Graham Smyth, the YEP’s chief football writer, hands out the scores from an extremely disappointing afternoon at Elland Road.
7. Ilia Gruev
7 - Lots of running, some big, important challenges, smart forward passing and a couple of dangerous set-pieces. Photo: Jess Hornby
8. Willy Gnonto
8 - Bright, dangerous, hard-working. Got into Blackburn, got at them and got shots off. Surprising to see him go off when others were so poor. Photo: Ed Sykes
9. Crysencio Summerville
5 - Held danger as he always does but the weight of some of his passing just wasn't quite right. Risked giving it away a few times, did give it away dangerously in the first half. Kept trying but created little. Photo: Ed Sykes
10. Georginio Rutter
5 - Just didn't happen for him in the first half after a bright first five minutes. Flickered to life in the second just before he was taken off. Photo: Ed Sykes
11. Joel Piroe
4 - Offered very little. Hold up play wasn't consistent or good enough. Just didn't make a telling impact. Photo: Michael Regan
12. Patrick Bamford (sub)
5 - Made himself a target and a nuisance, at least. Couldn't turn his moments into a goal. The header was probably his best chance and didn't make the keeper work. Photo: Jess Hornby