Leeds sinks Derby to finish year on top
Brenden Aaronson finished a superb passing sequence to lift Leeds United to a 1-0 win over Derby County and secure top spot in the EFL Championship to see out 2024.
The last time Leeds was top of the second tier at the end of a calendar year was in 2019, a season that ended with its promotion to the Premier League as the title winner.
Daniel Farke's side dominated proceedings in the first half but without reward, as Mateo Joseph forced Jacob Widell Zetterstrom into a smart save with the only shot on target in the opening 45 minutes.
Leeds continued to push for the goal their display merited after the break, with Zetterstrom thwarting efforts from Aaronson, Largie Ramazani and Daniel James.
Derby did, however, have a chance to snatch an unlikely lead when Curtis Nelson's header from a corner was brilliantly saved by Illan Meslier later on.
But the Rams' resolve was eventually broken in the 79th minute when substitute Joel Piroe slipped in Aaronson, who placed the ball beyond Zetterstrom to seal the triumph.
Leeds' victory saw it win three successive Championship away games against Derby for the first time since between 1954 and 1960.
