Leeds United 2-0 Rotherham United: Marcelo Bielsa's side get third successive league win
- Published
Luke Ayling's goal was his first in 78 appearances for Leeds United
Leeds maintained their perfect start under Marcelo Bielsa with a comfortable win against Rotherham at Elland Road.
The hosts started brightly, though they were fortunate not to fall behind when Millers winger Jon Taylor's shot came back off the inside of the post.
Luke Ayling put Leeds ahead after the break, following up with a diving header after Liam Cooper's effort was pushed back across goal.
Samuel Saiz had a shot cleared off the line as Leeds pressed for a second, before Kemar Roofe slotted in from a tight angle to seal the victory.
Roofe's goal, his third in four appearances this season, ensured Bielsa became the first manager to win his opening four games in charge of Leeds.
His side could have been well clear at half-time, with Ayling, Roofe, Mateusz Klich and Gaetano Berardi all going close.
Rotherham, who had won their two previous games in league and cup, also had decent chances fall to Ryan Williams and Kasey Palmer, but they offered little after Ayling scored his first goal since joining Leeds at the start of last season.
Ayling required help from goalline technology to put Leeds ahead, but there were no doubts about Roofe's second, as his pinpoint finish confirmed the Millers' 10th successive defeat in Yorkshire derby matches.
Leeds United boss Marcello Bielsa told BBC Radio Leeds:
"The problems we had in the first half were more linked to our own goal rather than with the lack of concretising the offensive actions.
"We built too much from the back. We built on a lateral way, not on a vertical one. It was not easy for us to go from a defensive position to an offensive one. On the left, we had less offensive actions. Our crosses were not very good.
"But in spite of all this, we were faithful to our style. In the second half, the opponent was a little bit more tired so we had more spaces to attack."
Rotherham boss Paul Warne said:
"The lads had a real opportunity to upset the apple cart today - and they didn't take it.
"I thought we set up well against an excellent team. We had a couple of good chances and we limited them to a few chances in the first half.
"They're great human beings, my lads - but they have to believe they are better than they were today. We want to get better and really compete. We've got to be realistic but I hope they all think we need to improve, even by 5 per cent - that would benefit us."
