Leeds have fallen to third place in the Championship table after a frustrating defeat against Swansea City at Elland Road.

Substitute Wayne Routledge struck the decisive goal in the 90th minute, and in doing so sent his side to the top of the table and preserved their unbeaten run.

Leeds dominated possession but their profligacy in front of goal cost them the match. They started well enough, with Swansea’s Mike van der Hoorn almost turning a Stuart Dallas cross into his own net, and Patrick Bamford glancing a header wide.

The game settled thereafter, and the visitors thought they had taken the lead through ex-United loanee Matt Grimes’ free-kick, but it only rustled the side netting.

Leeds would come closest to the opening goal in the first half. With the break fast approaching, they forced a corner. Liam Cooper sent a powerful header against the crossbar, and then walloped the rebound over. An almighty let-off for Swansea.

As they did in the first half, Marcelo Bielsa’s side made a sprightly start to the second. Bamford fired a shot wide and Pablo Hernandez drew a save from Freddie Woodman in the Swansea net. Eddie Nketiah then replaced Bamford, latched onto a through ball, and fired his effort over the crossbar,

Swansea were firmly under the cosh, but a rare attack led to claims for a penalty. Sam Surridge went down in the box. The appeals were somewhat half-hearted. Referee Darren Bond allowed play to continue.

Leeds would fashion a great chance late on. Dallas produced a good cross, and Nketiah went to meet it but, under pressure from Woodman, he could only head the ball over the bar. His side would rue that miss just minutes later.

The hosts failed to clear a corner. Swansea sent the ball back in. Routledge mis-hit an awful shot, but it somehow bobbled past Kiko Casilla and into the net. A disaster for Leeds. A smash-and-grab for Swansea.

Fortunately, there are 40 matches yet to be played between now and the end of the season. It is important not to overreact. Leeds should have gotten a better result from this match, and failings all too familiar eventually cost them, but there is ample time in which to rectify this.

Leeds United (4-1-4-1): Casilla; Dallas, White, Cooper, Alioski (Douglas 83’); Phillips; Hernandez, Klich (Costa 72’), Forshaw, Harrison; Bamford (Nketiah 61’).

Unused subs: Meslier, Berardi, Shackleton, McCalmont.

Swansea City (4-2-3-1): Woodman; Roberts, Hoorn, Rodon, Bidwell; Fulton, Grimes; Ayew (Byers 85’), Dhanda (Routledge 63’), Celina; Baston (Surridge 63’).

Unused subs: Nordfeldt, Wilmot, Garrick, Naughton.

Match Statistics (Leeds / Swansea):

Possession: 62% / 38%

Shots: 21 / 7

On target: 3 / 2

Corners: 6 / 5

Fouls: 15 / 10

Match Details:

Referee: Darren Bond.

Booked: Alioski, Phillips (Leeds). Fulton (Swansea).

Attendance: 34,935.

Man of the match: Mike van der Hoorn (Swansea).

Photo: Action Images

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