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Manor Solomon makes the breakthrough for Leeds - PA/Andrew Matthews
Manor Solomon’s goal proved decisive as Leeds United moved closer to a return to the Premier League with a crucial victory at Oxford United to keep Daniel Farke’s side top of the table.
Solomon scored the game’s only goal on 33 minutes to earn Leeds a third successive victory and means they need just five points from their remaining three fixtures to clinch promotion.
Leeds remain ahead of Burnley at the Championship summit on goal difference with promotion rivals Sheffield United five points further back.
Opponents Oxford missed the chance to all but secure safety and they remain five points clear of the relegation zone.
More to follow...
10:21 PM BST
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10:13 PM BST
Solomon reacts:
10:06 PM BST
Leeds on the brink
Leeds can secure automatic promotion if they beat Stoke on Monday and Sheffield United fail to beat Burnley later in the day.
09:58 PM BST
FULL TIME: Oxford 0 Leeds 1
All over. Oxford put the pressure on but didn’t test Darlow and Leeds deservedly take the points.
09:55 PM BST
90+4mins: Oxford 0 Leeds 1
Sub for Leeds:
OFF Aaronson
ON Guilavogui
09:52 PM BST
90+2mins: Oxford 0 Leeds 1
Yellow card for Bogle after a bit of time wasting.
09:51 PM BST
90mins: Oxford 0 Leeds 1
Wow. Seven minutes added on. Plenty of time for Oxford to salvage something from the game.
09:49 PM BST
88mins: Oxford 0 Leeds 1
Sub for Oxford:
OFF Goodrham
ON El Mizouni
09:48 PM BST
87mins: Oxford 0 Leeds 1
Tanaka hits the post. The midfielder strikes from distance and his effort hits the inside of the post and bounces clear.
09:47 PM BST
86mins: Oxford 0 Leeds 1
Solomon is down and looks unable to continue.
Sub for Leeds:
OFF Solomon
ON Schmidt
09:44 PM BST
83mins: Oxford 0 Leeds 1
Yellow card for Mills after he hauls down Rodon.
09:41 PM BST
81mins: Oxford 0 Leeds 1
Play is stopped again. Home fans aren’t happy that play continued while there was an issue in the crowd.
09:40 PM BST
80mins: Oxford 0 Leeds 1
Subs for Oxford:
OFF Placheta and Matos
ON Mills and Bradshaw
09:38 PM BST
78mins: Oxford 0 Leeds 1
Stoppage in play due to an incident in the crowd. After about 90 seconds, the game continues.
09:36 PM BST
75mins: Oxford 0 Leeds 1
Subs for Leeds:
OFF Piroe and Gnonto
ON Bamford and James
09:35 PM BST
72mins: Oxford 0 Leeds 1
Leeds have got a firm grip of this match at the moment. Frustration building among the home players as Leeds pass the ball around them effortlessly.
09:25 PM BST
65mins: Oxford 0 Leeds 1
Subs for Oxford:
OFF Harris and Bennett
ON Leigh and Romeny
09:23 PM BST
61mins: Oxford 0 Leeds 1
From the resulting free kick, Gruev takes it but it is a tame effort and catching practice for *******. Oxford then try to break away and Gruev is booked for a late tackle on Matos.
09:21 PM BST
60mins: Oxford 0 Leeds 1
Helik now booked after he hacks down Aaronson, who was bursting towards the Oxford box. Leeds aren’t happy. They wanted the referee to play the advantage.
09:19 PM BST
59mins: Oxford 0 Leeds 1
Vaulks is booked for cynical trip on Aaronson. No argument from him on that.
09:18 PM BST
56mins: Oxford 0 Leeds 1
Leeds are trying to take the sting out of Oxford’s positive start to the half. Good game management really.
09:14 PM BST
52mins: Oxford 0 Leeds 1
Chance for Leeds. Bogle breaks away with the ball and drives towards the Oxford box. He lays it off to Aaronson, who is tackled on the edge of the box. From the loose ball, Bogle picks it up and shoots wide. Probably should have gone with his left foot.
09:10 PM BST
49mins: Oxford 0 Leeds 1
More intent from the home side in the opening minutes of the half. They’ve had a couple of set pieces and been able to test the Leeds defence, who have stood up to the challenge.
09:05 PM BST
SECOND HALF Oxford 0 Leeds 1
We are back underway here. If things stay as they are, Leeds are going to the top of the Championship.
08:49 PM BST
HALF TIME Oxford 0 Leeds 1
Leeds lead at the break but it is only by one goal so Oxford are still in it if they can improve in the second half.
08:48 PM BST
45+2mins: Oxford 0 Leeds 1
Gnonto tries to slip in Aaronson but overhits it and ******* is able to collect.
08:45 PM BST
45mins: Oxford 0 Leeds 1
Three minutes added on.
08:42 PM BST
41mins: Oxford 0 Leeds 1
Placheta is the first player booked tonight after his boot makes contact with Ampadu’s head. It was accidental but clearly the referee feels some form of punishment is needed.
08:37 PM BST
36mins: Oxford 0 Leeds 1
When they have scored first, Leeds have won 42 of 48 games and never been beaten under Daniel Farke.
Uphill task for Oxford now.
08:34 PM BST
32mins: Oxford 0 Leeds 1 GOAL
Deadlock broken. Once again Leeds get in behind but this time it is on the right wing. Bogle gets free and plays the ball across the box to an unmarked Solomon, who has the simple job of firing into the net.
08:32 PM BST
31mins: Oxford 0 Leeds 0
Brilliant goal line clearance by Nelson. The ball is played over the top to Solomon, who has got past his man. Solomon cuts the ball back and Nelson is there to prevent any Leeds attackers opening the scoring.
08:29 PM BST
28mins: Oxford 0 Leeds 0
Patrick Kluivert is in the crowd. He is the manager of Indonesia and will be hoping Oxford’s Ole Romeny comes off the bench.
08:24 PM BST
22mins: Oxford 0 Leeds 0
Better spell for Oxford. They are getting on the ball and confidently passing it around the ball. Leeds are well organised though and regain possession to mount their latest attack.
08:18 PM BST
16mins: Oxford 0 Leeds 0
Piroe is at again. He drops deep to collect the ball, then flicks it to Aaronson, who is bursting into the box. The American takes a shot and ******* is forced to make a save.
08:17 PM BST
15mins: Oxford 0 Leeds 0
First big threat from Leeds. Piroe turns his man and plays a lovely pass out wide to Firpo. The left back then fizzes a ball across the box and fortunately for Oxford, Gnonto and Solomon can’t get a decisive touch.
08:13 PM BST
12mins: Oxford 0 Leeds 0
Leeds need to show a bit more care on the ball as Oxford look threatening on the counter. Matos in particular has made a couple of driving runs forward.
08:08 PM BST
7mins: Oxford 0 Leeds 0
First shot on target for Oxford. Matos robs Tanaka of the ball and drives forward. The ball is then played to Brannagan, who bends an effort to the far post but Darlow makes a fine save to block the shot and parry the ball away from danger.
08:05 PM BST
4mins: Oxford 0 Leeds 0
The away side are dominating the ball in the early stages. Full backs Bogle and Firpo are very high up the pitch and pinning Oxford back.
08:01 PM BST
KICK OFF: Oxford 0 Leeds 0
Leeds get the match underway.
08:00 PM BST
A reminder of the teams
Oxford: *******; Long, Helik, Nelson, Bennett; Brannagan, Vaulks; Placheta, Matos, Goodrham; Harris.
Subs: Ingram, Phillips, Romeny, El Mizouni, Rodrigues, Leigh, Kioso, Bradshaw, Mills.
Leeds: Darlow, Bogle, Firpo, Ampadu, Rodon, Piroe, Aaronson, Solomon, Tanaka, Gnonto, Gruev.
Subs: Meslier, James, Bamford, Ramazani, Joseph, Guilavogui, Byram, Schmidt, Wöber.
07:44 PM BST
Sheffield United put pressure on Leeds
Just five points separate the top three after Sheffield United beat Cardiff 2-0 to move to within two points of the Yorkshire club.
A win for Leeds would move them to 91, level with leaders Burnley and with a better goal difference.
07:32 PM BST
Team news explained
Oxford make two changes from the 1-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday last weekend. Przemyslaw Placheta and Mark Harris are in for Stan Mills and Tom Bradshaw.
Leeds start the same team that beat Preston. Daniel James returns to the subs bench after recovering from injury.
07:15 PM BST
Leeds United starting XI
07:14 PM BST
Oxford United starting XI
07:02 PM BST
Key battle for both ends of the Championship
Hello and welcome to coverage from the Championship as title-chasing Leeds United visit relegation-threatened Oxford United.
Leeds started the day with a five-point cushion over Sheffield United, who are currently playing Cardiff.
They also trail Burnley by three points after they beat Watford earlier today to equal their club record of 30 games unbeaten.
For Oxford, three wins in their past five games have edged Gary Rowett’s side towards safety. This is Leeds’ first visit to the Kassam Stadium, and their first visit to Oxford since January 1994.
Much will be on the line tonight and Leeds boss Daniel Farke says he is expecting a tough match.
“Impressive three wins in the last five games,” Farke explained.
“An impressive win against Watford, also with a clean sheet away, and at Sheffield Wednesday, also with a clean sheet, so it’s not easy to score goals against them.
“Gary Rowett is a very, very experienced manager. He knows this league inside and out. He knows how to make sure that his team is competitive and they’re also well-structured, also against the ball.
“It’s not easy to create chances against them, not even speaking about scoring against them. So three of their last five opponents missed scoring, so it will be difficult.
“A team who is, especially in their home games, always competitive. I’m pretty sure they will play with good confidence and also with a big will to win, perhaps the final one or three points that they perhaps need to stay in this league.
“The challenge is big and it’s a tough place to go, especially at this stage of the season.”
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