Leeds United seven-game Unbeaten run ended yesterday at Sunderland as Teenage midfielder Jobe Bellingham was again the team’s hero to make it two Championship wins from two for interim head coach Mike Dodds.
Leeds’ fearsome form under Daniel Farke, with three wins in a row during their in-form sequence, made them daunting opponents, but the Wearsiders executed a game plan to neutralise the attacking threat that brought eight goals in those victories.
It took until 12 minutes to go for the deadlock to be broken as Bellingham bravely put his head in as Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier looked to smother, and guided the ball into the net.
Before that it was both goalkeepers who had stood out with some hugely important saves, notably Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson tipping over Crysencio Summerville’s sizzling free-kick while Leeds’ Meslier pawed away a seemingly goal-bound Jenson Seelt header with a full-stretch palm away.
Trai Hume’s off-the-line clearance from Joel Piroe late on typified Sunderland’s doggedness, not allowing Leeds the chance to collect a point they craved.
