Leading scorer Joel Piroe scored both before and after halftime.
Leeds manager Daniel Farke has encouraged his squad to “keep going” in the second half of the season after moving to the top of the Championship with a 2-0 victory over struggling Stoke.
Leading goalscorer Joel Piroe scored either side of half-time to lift the Whites over Sheffield United, who were defeated by fellow promotion contenders Burnley earlier in the day, at the top of the table on goal difference.
Leeds had briefly slid to third after Burnley’s victory, but a seventh win in their last nine games puts them in first place with 23 out of 46 games played.
And Farke wants his team to take advantage of the opportunity presented to them at the halfway point of the season.
“They’re on a really good run,” he explained.
“In the last four games, we’ve taken 10 points, which is fantastic.
“But then, over time, because other teams win some points, you fall – without a mistake – out of the top two.”
“And, of course, there is more pressure to perform because we want to remain in the top two.”
“But then to deliver such a mature performance – again, not our best, but an important three points – demonstrates a winning mindset.”
“We can rejoice the fact that we are not only in the top two, but at the top of the table.
“It feels much better right now. I’m quite pleased with this, and with what the fellas are doing right now.
“You could literally feel our spirit, unity, and togetherness on the field, after the game, and in the locker room.”
“But it’s just half-time at the moment and we have to keep going.”
Stoke are in 19th place, three points above the relegation zone, having gone nine games without a win.
The hosts created the first chance of the game early on, with Lewis Koumas denied from close range by visiting goalkeeper Illan Meslier after Junior Tchamadeu had brought the ball back to him.
However, Leeds grabbed complete control of the game after the Potters struggled to make an impact.
“It (the quality) dropped off because of the quality that Leeds has,” stated manager Narcis Pelach.
“You have ideas and try to put them into action, but at the end of the day, when the ball is there and a player in front of you waits for you to move before finding a free player, you drop.
“So I believe we tried for the first seven or eight minutes, and we were more present.
“We had a huge opportunity with Lewis Koumas, which might have altered the night.
“This is exactly what we need. In those moments, you must punish Leeds in order to win. That’s why few teams come close to defeating Leeds.
The Spaniard went on to say, “You are aware that this is a difficult game. We prepared the team in the greatest way possible to try to be resilient.
“You have to be resilient against these teams because they force you to defend a lot.”
“They have a high level of ball possession. And then, if you press them high and go late, they beat the press and score an open goal.
“But then if you sit, it’s just [perceived] that you’re not trying, and it’s difficult.”
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