Leeds United returned to the Championship’s summit on Tuesday night with a wholly merited and hard-fought victory over Hull City at the KCOM Stadium.
United, still without Pablo Hernandez, Gaetano Berardi and Kemar Roofe, were not at their best and spurned several opportunities, but Tyler Roberts’s exquisite second-half strike proved decisive.
The opening half hour was bereft of event, but the game burst into life in the 36th minute, when a fluid, flowing move presented Ezgjan Alioski with a gilt-edged chance to open the scoring - just moments after Leeds ‘keeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell denied Kamil Grosicki with a low block.
But the Macedonian could only drag his low effort wide before Luke Ayling dissipated another good opportunity from inside the penalty area by directing his looping header over the bar from Pontus Jansson’s flick-on.
The chances continued to come for the visitors, with Barry Douglas losing his footing and shooting well wide after Alioski drilled a low cross into the box.
United, though, finally took the lead just six minutes into the second period, when Roberts placed a laser-guided shot into the bottom corner - his third goal of the season - from all of 25 yards to send the travelling fans into raptures.
And Kalvin Phillips nearly doubled their money just moments later as his fierce volley flew into a forest of defiant Hull bodies.
Leeds dominated possession throughout the second half, but were unable to fashion any further opportunities to extend their lead.
Instead, a largely impotent City gave them an almighty scare with just four minutes of normal time remaining.
Substitute Nouha Dicko fired an unorthodox shot toward goal that Peacock-Farrell rushed out to save, before Jarrod Bowen saw his attempt to scramble in the rebound foiled.
And Bowen was involved again in added-time, eliciting a timely block from United substitute Stuart Dallas with a low effort inside the area.
It would ultimately be Leeds’s night, as they negotiated the remainder of the match with ample composure to return to the top of the table.
United were not at their best, but were still able to fashion several clear-cut chances and dominate possession, and were thus good value for this victory - their first on this ground since 2007.
Hull City (4-4-1-1): Marshall; Burke, Elphick, Lichaj, Kingsley; Kane, Henriksen, Irvine (Stewart 28’), Grosicki (Dicko 65’); Bowen; Martin (Campbell 64’).
Unused Subs: Curry, Keane, McKenzie, Batty.
Leeds United (3-4-3): Peacock-Farrell; Phillips, Jansson, Cooper; Ayling, Saiz (Forshaw 74’), Klich, Douglas (Shackleton 82’); Harrison (Dallas 74’), Roberts, Alioski.
Unused Subs: Blackman, Pearce, Baker, Clarke.
Match Statistics (Hull / Leeds)
Shots: 10 / 11
On target: 1 / 1
Possession: 33% / 67%
Corners: 3 /4
Fouls: 12 / 12
Match Details
Referee: Darren Bond.
Booked: Henriksen (Hull). Jansson, Saiz, Douglas (Leeds).
Attendance: 13,798
Man of the match: Tyler Roberts (Leeds).