Match ends, Leeds United 2, Huddersfield Town 0.
Premier League promotion hopefuls Leeds United went top of the Championship and moved seven points clear of third-placed Fulham with a comfortable win over local rivals Huddersfield.
The hosts raced into a third-minute lead when full-back Luke Ayling smashed home a superb volley from Jack Harrison's deep cross.
Patrick Bamford wrapped up the win with a close-range finish after Town goalkeeper Jonas Lossl could only tip Ben White's header into his path, while Harrison also hit the woodwork for the hosts.
Huddersfield manager Danny Cowley described Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa as a "genius" after the match and is sure they will be playing top-flight football next season.
"If you are going to be outmanaged, then be outmanaged by a genius," said Cowley, who is in his first season as a Championship boss.
"I'm not sure we've ever got to that level of performance that Leeds did today. You look at the energy and intensity. He must be relentless in his demands of them to play with that physical output.
"I will be interested to see how the Premier League copes with them when Leeds go up."
Leeds take advantage as rivals slip
Leeds, who have now won their past five games without conceding a goal, made the most of West Bromwich Albion's 0-0 draw at Swansea to go back to the top of the table for the first time since 14 December.
Added to Fulham's draw at Bristol City and Nottingham Forest's home defeat by Millwall, Leeds were the only one of the Championship's top four to win this weekend.
Ayling opened the scoring in the first five minutes in last week's 4-0 win at Hull City and repeated the trick at Elland Road with a wonderful flying volley from Harrison's lofted centre.
Town, who had won their past two games to climb away from the bottom three, offered little but came close to a leveller when Trevoh Chalobah's shot threatened to squirm past Leeds keeper Illan Meslier.
Bamford ended his eight-match run without a goal to put the game beyond Town in the 51st minute and thereafter it was just a matter of whether Leeds could add to the score.
Marcelo Bielsa's men visit Cardiff a week on Sunday, while the Terriers, who are now just three points clear of the bottom three, host Wigan.
Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa told BBC Radio Leeds:
"We defended well, we didn't receive real chances, just the one in the first half. In attack, we could have scored maybe one more goal.
"I am happy for (Patrick Bamford), centre-forwards need to score. Today he scored a typical goal for a centre-forward."
Line-ups
Leeds
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Meslier
- 2AylingBooked at 19mins
- 28BerardiBooked at 38mins
- 6Cooper
- 15Dallas
- 5WhiteBooked at 80mins
- 17Hélder Costa
- 19Hernández
- 43KlichSubstituted forShackletonat 83'minutes
- 22HarrisonSubstituted forAlioskiat 90+3'minutes
- 9BamfordSubstituted forRobertsat 79'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Douglas
- 10Alioski
- 11Roberts
- 25Caprile
- 34Struijk
- 46Shackleton
- 49Casey
Huddersfield
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 49Lössl
- 17Simpson
- 12StearmanBooked at 15mins
- 26SchindlerBooked at 51mins
- 3Toffolo
- 8Chalobah
- 39O'Brien
- 10WillockBooked at 35minsSubstituted forPritchardat 67'minutes
- 32Smith RoweSubstituted forBacunaat 72'minutes
- 16Grant
- 22CampbellSubstituted forMounieat 61'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Bacuna
- 9Kachunga
- 13Coleman
- 21Pritchard
- 24Mounie
- 27Stankovic
- 29King
- Referee:
- Oliver Langford
- Attendance:
- 36,514
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home61%
- Away39%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away2
- Corners
- Home2
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away18
Live Text
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Leeds United 2, Huddersfield Town 0.
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Tyler Roberts (Leeds United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Lewis O'Brien (Huddersfield Town).
Substitution
Substitution, Leeds United. Ezgjan Alioski replaces Jack Harrison.
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Corner, Huddersfield Town. Conceded by Gaetano Berardi.
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Tyler Roberts (Leeds United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Richard Stearman (Huddersfield Town).
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Offside, Huddersfield Town. Jonas Lössl tries a through ball, but Steve Mounie is caught offside.
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Foul by Tyler Roberts (Leeds United).
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Christopher Schindler (Huddersfield Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Offside, Leeds United. Tyler Roberts tries a through ball, but Jamie Shackleton is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Leeds United. Jamie Shackleton replaces Mateusz Klich.
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Offside, Leeds United. Jack Harrison tries a through ball, but Tyler Roberts is caught offside.
Booking
Ben White (Leeds United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Ben White (Leeds United).
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Karlan Grant (Huddersfield Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Leeds United. Tyler Roberts replaces Patrick Bamford.
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Offside, Leeds United. Ben White tries a through ball, but Jack Harrison is caught offside.
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Pablo Hernández (Leeds United) wins a free kick on the right wing.