Key events
Time to sign off, I’ll leave with you a roundup of all today’s Football League action. Thanks for reading me, and go easy on the eggs.
Gary Rowett: “Against Leeds, you can’t switch off for a second. The goal was a perfect example – that’s the challenge, you’ve got to be perfect. I thought we hung in there, put them under pressure – we’ve done everything we can, and made Leeds defend for their lives.
“I’m pretty proud of the performance, especially in the second half,” adds Rowett. Oxford probably need one more win to be sure of safety; they host Cardiff on Monday and would love to get the job done then.
Here’s Daniel Farke: “Like expected, really difficult. We wanted to score the second goal, because anything can happen. If you don’t bury the game, you have to show resilience. They sent all their centre-backs up, they used long throw-ins; we showed steel and we deserved to win. It’s not like you create a lot of chances here, look at their results.
“It’s a priceless three points for us. This league is relentless, you have to be relentless yourself. It’s not over, but we feel we have a good chance to do something amazing. Crazy things can happen, we have to fight for every point, and keep going.”
Some Leeds reaction: here’s player of the match Joe Rodon and the winning goal scorer, Manor Solomon.
Joe Rodon: “I thought we could have scored more in the first half, but we knew Oxford would make it very difficult and we worked so hard. The last couple of weeks we’ve just been focused on us, doing what we’ve been doing all season.”
Manor Solomon: “The three points are so important for us, the job’s not done yet we have to stay humble, but I can’t wait for Monday! Joe, what a man, what a player.”
What it means is that Leeds are back on top of the Championship, and five points clear of Sheffield United in third place. If they beat Stoke at Elland Road on Monday and the Blades fail to beat Burnley in the later game, then Leeds will seal automatic promotion.
Full time: Oxford 0-1 Leeds
It wasn’t pretty, and Oxford made them work for it – but Leeds have the three points they desperately wanted, and are one step closer to the Premier League thanks to Manor Solomon’s fine first-half goal.
teammates celebrate Leeds’ victory with their fans. Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PA
96 mins: Guilavogui makes an important clearing header, but from another decent Leigh delivery, Mills gets above Firpo at the far post. He can’t keep his header down, and that may be that.
95 mins: Consternation from the home fans as a Bogle challenge goes unpunished, and further groans as El Mizouni is whistled for clattering into Bamford on the right touchline.
94 mins: Josuha (yes, Josuha) Guilavogui is coming on for Aaronson, which I think means that Daniel Farke is pulling down the shutters.
93 mins: Helik in the box = panic in the box for Leeds, as Leigh’s deep cross is headed back into the danger area. Thankfully for the visitors, it travels just too far for a teammate in yellow to turn it in at the far post.
91 mins: I think the tactical tweak Rowett has introduced is for gangly centre-back Michal Helik to play up top for the last few minutes. He almost latches on to a through ball, but Rodon makes an excellent challenge. He’s been terrific.
90 mins: Seven added minutes, good news only for Oxford fans, who are still backing their team noisily.
88 mins: Goodrham is replaced by Idris El Mizouni, who hands a note to one of his Oxford teammates. At this stage, surely it can only say “Get it in the mixer!” or something similar.
87 mins: Ooooof! Neutrals (and MBMers) who have stuck with this game almost get their reward, as Tanaka hits a cracker from 25 yards that skids low onto the far post. In fact, Jamie Cumming got a finger tip to the ball – that’s an excellent save.
86 mins: Manor Solomon, scorer of the only goal thus far, is replaced by Isaac Schmidt. The Swiss international is usually a left-back, so we might see Junior Firpo pushed upfield.
85 mins: “Somehow, you’d imagine the well-spoken, erudite-sounding Patrick Bamford to do well at Oxford,” writes Justin Kavanagh. “But they’ve nightclubs there too, presumably.” I’m not sure, perhaps he should ask Patrick Kluivert.
83 mins: Another Vaulks long throw is dealt with, before Mills slips on the ball, allowing Rodon to canter downfield, eventually winning a free kick.
82 mins: To be honest, I expected Leeds to pull away in this second half, but they’re still holding on to their one-goal lead. Oxford haven’t troubled them too much, but you know what they say.
81 mins: We’re back under way, and Bamford is penalised for a pointless shove under a high ball.
79 mins: Oxford make more changes, with Placheta replaced by Stanley Mills, who is Danny Mills’ son. The lively Alex Matos is also off, replaced by Tom Bradshaw.
78 mins: Play continues but boos ring out from the home fans, who are urging the players to stop again. I think there’s a medical issue in the stand behind the goal, but can’t be certain.
77 mins: We’re able to resume after just a minute or so. The corner is overhit, and James can’t keep the ball in on the other side.
76 mins: Leeds have a corner, but play has been paused due to an incident at the other end of the ground. Not sure what exactly has happened.
75 mins: Piroe is going off, with Bamford coming on. Willy Gnonto’s night is also over, with Dan James replacing him. The winger has just recovered from a hamstring injury, and I bet Oxford’s weary back four are delighted to see him.
74 mins: Oxford are sticking to their task well, but Bogle and Aaronson link up down the right before the right-back’s shot is blocked by Nelson.
73 mins: Gruev’s cross towards Gnonto is dealt with; with Joel Piroe generally dropping deeper, aerial deliveries aren’t really the way to go.
72 mins: Patrick Bamford, Leeds’ best option to nick a goal since about 2014, is warming up on the touchline.
71 mins: The enterprising Bogle wins a corner which is headed up in the air and then punched away by Cumming, before Leeds are caught offside.
70 mins: Joe Rodon leads the charge as Leeds’ back four sprint out, leaving two or three Oxford players offside when the ball is played long.
68 mins: Karl Darlow dallies on the ball and is closed down by Matos, who looks to have won a corner – but Matos is penalised for fouling the keeper. Looks a harsh call to me.
67 mins: Gnonto has a go from 25 yards out, and his shot on the turn flies just wide of the far post.
65 mins: Ole Romeny comes on for Oxford, which is good news for Indonesia coach Kluivert, who hasn’t made a wasted journey. He’s on for Mark Harris, with Jamaica international Greg Leigh replacing Bennett at left-back.
63 mins: Tanaka sweeps a pass out wide to Solomon, who does well to control it with an outstretched boot. He cuts inside and crosses towards the far post, where Gnonto is denied by Ben Nelson. From the rebound, Firpo hits a rising missile that flies over the bar, and dangerously close to one of those van-dwelling Leeds fans.
62 mins: Gruev takes the free kick, about 30 yards out – it’s whipped straight at goal, but is easy for Cummings to gather. Oxford then break, and the Bulgarian races across to upend Matos, and pick up Leeds’ first yellow card of the game.
61 mins: A poor clearing kick from Cumming is seized upon by Aaronson, who is brought down by Helik. Leeds still have possession and numbers forward, but the referee stops play to show Helik a yellow card.
60 mins: Bogle links up with Aaronson, who slips when crossing under pressure from Goodrham. Leeds starting to move through the gears again …
58 mins: Solomon gets out of a tight spot with a pass to Aaronson, who is brought down unceremoniously by Will Vaulks. That’s a second booking for the hosts.
56 mins: Leeds enjoy a spell of possession, Ampadu almost toying with Oxford’s attackers with his precise square passes. At the other end, Helik does well again to intercept with Junior Firpo advancing.
54 mins: Bennett combines with Goodrham, who is held up by Tanaka while Bogle gets back in place. Whenever I watch Leeds, Tanaka is so consistent and quietly impressive at what he does.
52 mins: Bogle brings the ball forward and finds Aaronson – and while he’s tackled well by Helik, the Leeds right-back is there to fire the rebound at goal. It flies a few feet wide of the far post; he might feel he could have done better.
50 mins: Matos jinks upfield but a heavy touch leads to him clipping Firpo’s heels. A free kick, but no yellow card from Dean Whitestone, who is not a favourite among the home faithful.
49 mins: Gnonto takes down Goodrham but the referee allows an advantage. The hosts would rather have had the free kick, and Bennett’s swirling cross is gathered by Darlow.
48 mins: Oxford are pushing further upfield in this second half, and the press gets to Ampadu, who had all the time in the world in the first half. Vaulks has the chance to launch a throw into the mixer, but it’s cleared.
46 mins: As discussed, Oxford’s ground is missing a stand at one end – and a few enterprising Leeds fans are stationed on van roofs and even a makeshift scaffold. They’ll miss these kind of away days if they make it up, and it’s the Vitality and Craven Cottage every other week.
Second half
Here we go again – no changes at the break for either side.
The more I see the Leeds goal, the more I love it. Rodon’s standing close to the centre circle, sees Bogle’s run, and precisely two touches later, the ball’s in the net.
“I still think of Nightclub Patrick Kluivert’s nickname every time I see him,” writes Zach Neeley. Yes, he reportedly was a little too keen on the Tyneside nightlife while at Newcastle – given the success of Geordie Shore since, maybe NPK was ahead of his time.
Half time: Oxford 0-1 Leeds
One moment of real incisive quality, with Jayden Bogle crossing for Manor Solomon to earn Leeds a deserved lead. Oxford have been second-best, but they’re still in the game. More soon.
47 mins: Leeds continue to look menacing on the break, and Cumming has to race off his line to deal with a dangerous through ball.
46 mins: After Goodrham and Gnonto get tangled up in midfield, Leeds break away through Solomon, who looks to jet-heel past Long down the right – but the defender doesn’t rush out, instead shepherding the ball out of play.
44 mins: Can Oxford cause their opponents any trouble before half-time? There’ll be three added minutes.
43 mins: Piroe unwittingly gets in the way of Gnonto’s attempted through ball to end a promising Leeds attack.
40 mins: Eek, this is a bit of a nasty one – Placheta stretches for the ball but kicks the onrushing Ampadu in the head. It looked accidental, and Ampadu is not badly hurt – but he can’t really complain about the yellow card that comes his way.
38 mins: This has felt more like a Cup tie than a league game, with underdogs Oxford a little unsure what to do now that Leeds have gone in front.
