Daniel Farke praised the quality of forward Georginio Rutter after he played a part in two goals in the 3-0 Championship victory over Watford at Elland Road.

Second-half goals from Joel Piroe, Sam Byram and Jaidon Anthony sealed three points for Leeds as Rutter put in perhaps his best performance in a United shirt.

Piroe gave Leeds the lead midway through the second half as he volleyed home to finish off a fine move by Farke’s side.

Byram capped his return to the side as he headed in from a corner and Anthony’s late goal moved Leeds up to fifth in the table having seen off a Watford outfit who rarely threatened.

Farke said of Rutter: “I think we can be absolutely happy with him today, his work ethic. He is great in linking the play.

“He is still a relatively young lad, it’s important that we were concentrated on scoring the first goal.

“He had great assists, it was a top-class performance. He deserves all the praise today.”

Despite seeing his side score three goals, Farke claimed he was most pleased with keeping a clean sheet.

Farke explained: “It was an exciting game, especially the second half. That we were able to return to the dressing room with a clean sheet was pleasing.

“We created so many chances in the first half. In the second half we were able to turn our domination into goals.

“The focus was very pleasing for me and I am very pleased with the clean sheet.”

Leeds could not find a way past Watford goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann until the 67th minute when Piroe volleyed in at the far post from a Dan James cross after Rutter’s strength on halfway had seen him release the winger down the right.

Leeds made it 2-0 within four minutes as the unmarked Byram got on the end of James’ corner to power a header past Bachmann.

When Watford did get into the Leeds area half-time substitute Vakoun Bayo steered his shot off target which said a lot about the lack of quality shown by Valerien Ismael’s side.

Substitute Anthony sealed the win as he was released by Rutter on halfway before steering his shot past Bachmann with a minute remaining.

Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier was finally called into action in stoppage time when he tipped over a rising shot from Giorgi Chakvetadze.

Ismael admitted Leeds had been better on the day and deserved to take three points.

He said: “Congratulations to Leeds, I think they deserved the win. They had more desire.

“We knew when you come here you have to be strong. Second half we changed the shape and I think we were more stable but when we conceded the first goal we knew after that it would be difficult.”

Ismael admitted his players had failed the make the home side work as hard as he would have liked.

He said: “From our side when you come here we know we have to make it harder. We lost the ball too easy, we did not have the confidence we have normally.

“We have to learn, to make sure we compete at that level and show that quality. We wanted to play well but in the first half they put us under massive pressure.

“They were better today, it was as simple as that. They didn’t make mistakes, they were clinical in the second half.”

Second-half goals from Joel Piroe, Sam Byram and Jaidon Anthony earned Leeds a deserved 3-0 Championship win over Watford at Elland Road.

Piroe gave Leeds the lead midway through the second half as he volleyed home to finish off a fine move by Daniel Farke’s side.

Byram capped his return to the side as he headed in from a corner and Anthony’s late goal moved Leeds up to fifth in the table having seen off a Watford outfit who rarely threatened.

Leeds nearly took an early lead when a low shot from Ethan Ampadu was kept out by Daniel Bachmann after five minutes.

Georginio Rutter got on the end of Dan James’ clever ball into the box but could not steer his touch wide of Bachmann as Leeds continued their fine start to the game.

Leeds thought they had taken the lead 20 minutes in when Rutter controlled the ball on the edge of the area and beat Bachmann but the forward had been offside when he collected a pass from Piroe.

Leeds were again denied when Crysencio Summerville saw Bachmann dive to his right to save his low shot with nearly half an hour gone.

Rutter required lengthy treatment after being fouled by Francisco Sierralta 25 yards out but the home side failed to capitalise from the free-kick.

Summerville shot straight at Bachmann 10 minutes before the break as Watford continued to soak up pressure.

Piroe’s pass with the outside of his left foot sent James clear but when he collided with Jamal Lewis in the area referee Jeremy Simpson awarded a goal-kick.

Watford enjoyed a brief period in the Leeds half towards the end of a first period during which they had failed to produce an attempt on goal.

The lively Summerville was at the heart of most of Leeds’ attacking moves but when he got on the end of Rutter’s pass he found Bachmann was again equal to his low effort just before the hour.

Summerville set up Piroe but his shot from the edge of the area was well over the bar as Leeds were frustrated once again.

Leeds finally broke the deadlock after 66 minutes when Piroe volleyed in at the far post from a James cross after Rutter’s strength on halfway had seen him release the winger down the right.

Leeds made it 2-0 within four minutes as the unmarked Byram got on the end of James’ corner to power a header past Bachmann.

When Watford did get into the Leeds area half-time substitute Vakoun Bayo steered his shot off target which said a lot about the lack of quality shown by Valerien Ismael’s side.

Substitute Anthony sealed the win as he was released by Rutter on halfway before steering his shot past Bachmann with a minute remaining.

Daniel Farke admitted to conflicting emotions after 10-man Leeds claimed a goalless draw at Hull.

The visitors created the best chances, most significantly in the first half, but Joe Rodon’s second-half dismissal altered the complexion of the game.

Yet Hull failed to build upon their one-man advantage until late on when Adama Traore incredulously missed an open goal.

Farke, whose side have now kept three consecutive clean sheets, said: “If you offered me a point from the game – on the road and a clean sheet – I wouldn’t have taken it as I always want to go for a win.

“But after the game I’m a little divided. We were so dominant after a good starting period and we created so many good chances.

“But, obviously, after 89 minutes they had a monster chance. Normally you lose such a game like that. So, for that, I would say it was definitely a good point.

“We looked rock solid against a good football team. I’m pretty pleased about how well structured we were.

“The only thing I can criticise is not putting the ball in the back of the net.”

Leeds, so impressive against Millwall at the weekend, must have fancied their chances at half-time and should have been 1-0 up after 26 minutes.

Georginio Rutter was cutely played in by Crysencio Summerville, a replacement off the substitutes’ bench for the injured Willy Gnonto.

Goalkeeper Ryan Allsop pulled off a fine save – one of many in an inspired debut performance – but Rutter should have scored.

But the game turned on its head when Rodon was shown a second yellow card for a crude challenge on Aaron Connolly on the hour mark.

Leeds were understandably then forced to backtrack and got lucky when Traore somehow struck a post when it was far easier to score.

Farke said: “Sometimes you have to accept that their goalkeeper had an outstanding game.

“We also conceded a second yellow and red card so you can’t press as much – we had to sit a bit deeper.

“In terms of the mentality, to dig in and bring home the point, we’re pleased with the clean sheet and the performance.”

On Rodon’s sending-off, Farke said: “For him to not allow to finish the game feels harsh.

“The first half, it was never a yellow card – no-one can explain to me why it was – but if you’re booked you have to be a bit smarter.”

Head coach Liam Rosenior felt a point against Leeds was a useful barometer by which to measure Hull’s good progress this season.

He said: “These are the teams we want to compete with, but we need to keep pushing. There are a lot of really, really positive signs and that’s pleasing.

“We were close to beating what is a very, very good team. First half, they were the best team. Second half, we were the better team. And then from the red card onwards it was domination as it should be.

“It (Traore’s big chance) was coming as we built up so much pressure. But what you can’t do is throw the kitchen sink against a team like Leeds, who scored three on the transition against Millwall on Sunday.

“We kept pushing and knocking on the door and then we had that great chance at the end. We’re a very young team. It’s not belief, it’s managing moments.

“Throughout the squad and in every position, we have competition and that’s what I want.”

Leeds boss Daniel Farke hailed his side’s mentality to overcome the hostile atmosphere of The Den and return home with three points as they beat Millwall 3-0.

Striker Joel Piroe scored once in each half to put Leeds in control before Georginio Rutter added a third 10 minutes from time to seal a memorable visit to the capital.

Farke’s side weathered an early storm from the hosts before Piroe opened the scoring after 15 minutes and the German lauded the way his side stood strong in trying circumstances at times.

“I’m proud of my guys today because I’ve played here several times at The Den, I know it’s an unbelievably tough place to come,” he said. ”You have to be on it and it was a pretty complex performance.

“There are periods of the game where you have to show some steel and reliance. You have to be there and show these qualities because you can’t win all these long balls and all these long throw ins and sometimes they’ll have a corner kick.

“It is so difficult, you have to dig in and give your life in these moments and also to stay cool and mentally strong and wait for the moments where you can let your qualities shine and that’s what we did today.

“To return back from such a tough place with a clean sheet to the dressing room and to score three goals is pretty amazing.”

A comprehensive defeat at home continued Millwall’s slow start to the season, with the Lions taking just seven points from their opening six matches.

But manager Gary Rowett insisted the scoreline did not accurately reflect the balance of the contest.

“It felt a little bit harsh,” he said. “You concede three goals, and the opposition don’t concede then of course a 3-0 scoreline is what it is.

“It doesn’t look a fair reflection of the effort the players put in.

“I thought we got up against them, I thought we pressed really well, I thought we took a gamble in playing a little bit higher.

“We won a lot of good balls in and around the Leeds half and got into some good areas, forced lots of corners and (had) moments around the box without really creating obvious chances. But I don’t think Leeds did either.

“We go from those periods of pressure where we’re doing a lot of things well and a lot of things right to concede a poor goal.

“To be 1-0 down felt a little unjust and maybe gave Leeds a tiny bit of a lift, but after that we continued to put them under pressure, continued some of those moments.”

Joel Piroe’s double fired Leeds to a 3-0 victory away at Millwall.

The Dutchman opened the scoring after 15 minutes despite a strong start by the hosts before doubling his tally just over 10 minutes from time.

Georginio Rutter then made sure of all three points just minutes later and seal Leeds’ second win of the season.

Millwall took the game to Leeds in the opening stages and Tom Bradshaw and Kevin Nisbet had shots blocked from close range within the opening five minutes.

Leeds held firm, however, and edged into the contest as Rutter raced through on goal only to be denied by Lions skipper Jake Cooper.

That opportunity gave Leeds momentum and a flowing counter-attack led to the opener when Wilfried Gnonto’s pass found Rutter on the edge of the area, before the Frenchman played a deft through ball into Piroe, who curled past Bartosz Bialkowski into the bottom corner.

Leeds almost doubled their lead midway through the first half after Crysencio Summerville raced on to a long through ball over the Millwall defence and his first-time chip over Bialkowski nearly found the net but bounced just past a post.

Millwall pushed for a leveller before half-time and almost struck when Nisbet held the ball up and released Ryan Longman inside the area who struck a powerful swerving shot towards the bottom corner that Illan Meslier palmed to safety.

The Lions started brightly after the break and Casper De Norre’s through ball released Bradshaw in the area but the striker fired his shot straight at Meslier from six yards.

As Millwall pushed for the equaliser, Leeds continued to show their threat on the counter and Gnonto dribbled past his marker and whipped a dangerous cross into the six-yard area that the Millwall defence managed to clear.

With 30 minutes reaming, Millwall tried to keep the pressure on and worked the ball out to Longman who evaded two challenges and attempted a 25-yard shot that sailed over the crossbar.

The hosts pushed players forward late on which allowed Leeds space to create two late goals.

First, Rutter and Daniel James played a quick one-two in the box before the former teed up Piroe to tap into the net from inside the six-yard box.

The visitors then sealed all three points minutes later when James raced into empty space on the right wing and crossed for Rutter, who took full advantage of Cooper’s misjudged clearance and fired high into the net past Bialkowski.

Daniel Farke was disappointed his side could not crack open Sheffield Wednesday’s dogged defence and had to settle for a 0-0 draw in the Championship at Elland Road.

Leeds dominated possession and created plenty of openings but could not find the finishing touch in front of a capacity crowd for this Yorkshire derby.

Farke admitted: “We dominated the game and in the end it’s just a draw. The overriding feeling is definitely disappointing.

“We expected an opponent who would sit deep, wasting time a little bit and breaking our rhythm.

“My players created more than enough to win this game. Normally it’s more than enough to win two or three games.”

Farke was left to rue poor finishing one more than one occasion.

He said: “If you don’t find the first goal it’s difficult. We found it difficult to find the back of the net. Today we lacked the quality to bring the ball over the line and sadly this is crucial.”

Farke had encouraging words for striker Georginio Rutter who wasted more than one chance.

Farke said: “I think he has proved performance wise he’s in really good shape. Sometimes as a striker you find it unbelievably difficult to take your chances.

“The solution is not to over think things too much. Don’t try to be too artificial in your approach. It doesn’t have to look great it just needs to find the back of the net.

“Sometimes the ball is deflected in and the curse is broken. All strikers have these periods.”

Leeds came closest to a first-half goal but Rutter’s shot from the corner of the six-yard box was kept out by the right arm of Wednesday keeper Devis Vasquez.

Crysencio Summerville saw Vasquez beat away his effort early in the second half and both Jamie Shackleton and Luke Ayling went close.

Rutter could have won it late in the second half but was guilty of poor finishing when he shot weakly at Vasquez from Ethan Ampadu’s floated pass.

There were also second-half openings for visiting pair Michael Smith and Josh Windass as the game began to come to life but both were denied by Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier.

Callum Patterson then had the best of Wednesday’s chances but failed to find the target as his shot into the ground from a low Windass cross saw the ball bounce over.

Wednesday manager Xisco Munoz was happiest with the commitment of his players who earned their first point following a difficult start to the season.

He said: “Most important for me was the level of the performance of the players. We had spoken a lot about the consistency we need and to keep clean sheets.”

Munoz will use the international break to work on building on his side’s first point of the season.

He added: “The team every day is better and now we have two weeks because we need to work really hard.

“It was a point in a stadium where it is really difficult. I am happy because they gave a good performance.

“They are experienced players and they know exactly what they must do. We need to continue, this is only one step, this is only one performance.

“We need to continue working every day in training. I am happy for the point but we made mistakes and we need to work very hard.”

Sheffield Wednesday earned their first point of the season with a determined defensive display in a 0-0 draw against a Leeds side still adapting to life in the Championship.

Wednesday were promoted from League One last season and battled hard at Elland Road as Leeds, who suffered relegation from the Premier League, struggled to convert their possession and chances into goals.

Leeds came closest to a first-half goal but Georginio Rutter’s shot from the corner of the six-yard box was kept out by the right arm of Wednesday keeper Devis Vasquez.

Crysencio Summerville saw Vasquez beat away his effort early in the second half and both Jamie Shackleton and Luke Ayling went close.

There were also openings for Wednesday pair Michael Smith and Josh Windass as the game began to come to life. Callum Patterson then had the best of Wednesday’s chances but failed to find the target following a corner.

Archie Gray’s tackle forced an early opening but Joel Piroe shot wide across goal when well placed as Leeds started the game brightly.

A flowing move by the home side saw Summerville shoot over from the edge of the area after exchanging passes with Piroe.

Pascal Struijk stretched to divert a Barry Bannan pass behind for a corner as Wednesday made a rare foray into the Leeds area midway through the first half.

Summerville whipped in a free-kick from the right but Rutter failed to get a telling touch in a crowded area as Leeds struggled to find the opening goal on the half-hour.

Summerville’s pass split the Wednesday defence and Rutter’s run and shot from a tight angle six yards out forced a save out of Vasquez as the game remained goalless at the break.

The game needed a spark and Shackleton nearly provided it two minutes into the second half but his curling shot was just over.

Smith then got onto the end of a long ball into the area and shrugged off Struijk only to shoot straight at Illan Meslier from a tight angle.

Rutter claimed a loose ball and his pass set up Summerville but his shot was at Vasquez as Leeds again searched for an opening.

It nearly came just after when Wilfried Gnonto’s cross to the far post picked out Ayling but his header into the ground bounced over.

Wednesday responded but Meslier was alert to block from Windass as he ran onto a ball behind the defence by George Byers.

Patterson should then done better from a low Windass cross but hit his shot into the ground and the ball flew over with 20 minutes remaining.

Rutter was also guilty of poor finishing when he shot weakly at Vasquez from Ethan Ampadu’s floated pass and the game finished goalless.

Leeds boss Daniel Farke was unhappy with the retaken decisive spot-kick as Leeds suffered a dramatic 9-8 penalty shoot-out loss to Salford in the Carabao Cup.

Ossama Ashley scored at the second attempt after Karl Darlow had saved an initial effort only to be yellow-carded for moving off his line.

Farke said: “It was the only penalty to be retaken, but I can’t change the referee’s decision.”

Despite Leeds’ almost total dominance, the Ammies led at the break thanks to ex-Elland Road striker Matt Smith’s header.

Leeds skipper Pascal Struijk levelled it up with 14 minutes left, but they could not find a winner and Georginio Rutter and Jamie Shackleton missed as every outfield player stepped up in the shoot-out.

Farke said: “It’s disappointing, but we have to accept the loss.

“We hit the bar and the post, and had numerous chances to put the ball in the net, but we didn’t and we must improve on that.

“It’s not for me to punish or accuse anyone after going out of this competition – it’s just been one of those days.”

Salford boss Neil Wood has urged his players to take confidence from their latest scalp.

After beating Preston on penalties in the first round, the League Two Ammies went the distance again.

Wood said: “We really had to work hard, particularly defensively, so huge credit to the lads for that.

“There were moments when we had to defend for our lives, then once it goes to penalties, it really could go either way.

“We’ve been there before, so the lads know they’ve just got to keep their focus and hope for that little bit of luck.

“We got that, we’re through, but we’ve earned the right to be in the third-round draw.

“It’s great to test yourselves against sides from the Championship, so the lads need to take huge confidence from this victory.”

League Two Salford stunned Championship big guns Leeds with a thrilling 9-8 penalty shoot-out victory after their EFL Cup clash ended 1-1 after 90 minutes.

Jamie Shackleton missed Leeds’ vital sudden-death spot-kick when he thumped the bar, after which Salford’s Ossama Ashley notched the winning kick – dramatically at the second attempt after Karl Darlow had moved off his line to save the first.

As expected, with 46 league places between the two teams and visiting boss Daniel Farke going with a strong starting line-up, Leeds bossed the opening half-hour at the Peninsula Stadium.

Crysencio Summerville saw a free-kick saved by Alex Cairns, while Willy Gnonto was denied by Liam Shephard’s smart block.

The woodwork saved Salford when Summerville turned past Stevie Mallan before curling a shot against a post.

Despite Leeds’ dominance, it was Salford who broke the deadlock after 34 minutes. Ex-Leeds youth prospect Luke Garbutt crossed in for former Elland Road striker Matt Smith and he headed powerfully past a stunned Darlow.

Leeds piled the pressure on after the restart. Skipper Pascal Struijk headed straight at Cairns, while Summerville forced the Ammies keeper into another superb save.

Leeds finally struck in the 76th minute. Struijk bundled home from close range after sub Sam Greenwood’s free-kick was not cleared by the Ammies’ overworked defence.

The brilliant Cairns later denied £36m man Georginio Rutter, then Greenwood thumped the bar, meaning the game was to be settled in a shoot-out. Rutter and Connor McLennan also failed to score as all 20 outfield players had to step up.

Daniel Farke had no hesitation in playing scoring duo Wilfried Gnonto and Luis Sinisterra in Leeds’ 4-3 win at Ipswich.

The pair have been missing for a fortnight; Gnonto after submitting a transfer request as he tried to force a way out of the club and Sinisterra as his own future remained unresolved.

Farke sidelined the pair and was firm when discussing them in the week, particularly on the subject of Italy international Gnonto who he said had apologised after refusing to play.

The duo came back into the side as Farke secured his maiden league win as Leeds boss, with first goals for Georginio Rutter and Joel Piroe on his debut ending Ipswich’s perfect record.

“I wasn’t too concerned about these two decisions (to pick Gnonto and Sinisterra) to be honest because I’ve watched them during the training week and they looked really, really sharp and disciplined and I had a really good feeling with this decision,” Farke said.

“I was in general pleased with our offensive firepower, especially because we played a side who just conceded one goal over their first four games.

“It’s a difficult place to come here, they played full of confidence and excited the home fans in the stadium and for us then to dig in and to grind out a result and to score four times is really, really good and especially the offensive play on the scoresheet.

“I am pleased for my offensive players that they showed real quality today and also clinical finishes and it’s good for the mood, good for the confidence, good for the table, good for them also to be off the mark in terms of goals and I am happy with this.”

Ipswich went ahead through a Joe Rodon own goal and pulled further strikes back through Nathan Broadhead in first-half injury time and Conor Chaplin late in the second.

It was not enough to extend Town’s unbeaten run to 22 games, though, and boss Kieran McKenna said. “I thought there was a lot more good than bad (from us), there are so many positives to take in the game.

“I thought we were the better and more dominant team in so many aspects of the game on and off the ball and there’s lots to be pleased about.

“On another day the game could have went differently.

“There was of course things for us to improve, big lessons to learn. Of course disappointment with the goals that we conceded in the first half.

“But that’s part of the adjustment about playing against a much better team, with much higher players – we’ll improve and we’ll learn from those mistakes and continue working to get better.

“I think overall there are so many things to give us confidence.

“It was a really intense start to the game … we were competing and got the goal, we were in a great position to go on and take control of the game and if we had been able to do that for a little while we would have been able to build up a lot more momentum.

“I had a feeling that today would be a high scoring game.”

Kayden Jackson’s darting run led to the first goal after seven minutes when his cross took a big deflection off Rodon to beat goalkeeper Illan Meslier.

Leeds equalised three minutes later through Rutter’s individual brilliance and the visitors took the lead in the 14th minute through Gnonto.

They went further ahead with 19 minutes on the clock when Town goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky could only parry a shot from Sinisterra to Piroe who gobbled up the rebound.

Ipswich got their second through Broadhead but Sinisterra netted the fourth before Chaplin’s goal.

Resurgent Leeds picked up their first three points of the season, coming back from a goal down to win a thriller at Ipswich 4-3.

It was the first loss of the Sky Bet Championship campaign for the former leaders, ending their 100 per cent record and a record-breaking run of 21 games without defeat.

A dynamic opening 20 minutes at Portman Road saw four goals, all coming from Leeds players.

Joe Rodon netted an own goal to give Ipswich the lead, before the visitors replied with strikes from Georginio Rutter, Wilfried Gnonto and debutant Joel Piroe.

Ipswich kept the game alive when Nathan Broadhead netted for the Tractor Boys with virtually the last kick of a pulsating first half.

However, Leeds struck the killer blow in the 75th minute when Luis Sinisterra netted a fourth goal.

Although Conor Chaplin pulled one back for Ipswich in added time, they could not find an equaliser.

The hosts took the lead in the seventh minute when Kayden Jackson followed a lightning run down the left with a cross that took a big deflection off Rodon and beat goalkeeper Illan Meslier.

Leeds equalised three minutes later with Rutter’s first goal for the club. The £36million signing from Hoffenheim weaved his way through the penalty area and saw his shot go in off the base of the left-hand post.

The visitors took the lead in the 14th minute when Sinisterra’s cross found Gnonto, who drifted behind Leif Davis to scramble the ball home from close range.

It was 3-1 to Leeds with 19 minutes on the clock when home goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky could only parry a shot from Sinisterra, with Piroe – who joined from Swansea this week – converting the rebound.

Ipswich probed the Leeds defence in a bid to get back into the game and Broadhead got them a second goal after seven minutes of added time. He produced a cool finish after Jackson nicked the ball ahead of Meslier and pulled it back from the byline for the Welsh international to score.

Sinisterra had a wonderful opportunity to extend the lead for Leeds when he was found alone in the Ipswich penalty area but he shot straight at Hladky.

The visitors posed a threat on the counter-attack and Hladky had to divert a first-time shot from Piroe behind for a corner before Colombian international winger Sinisterra breezed past substitute Brandon Williams to make it 4-2.

Chaplin drilled a low shot into the bottom corner of the net with seconds remaining and soon after the 2,008 visiting Leeds fans in a crowd of 29,606 were pleased to hear the final whistle.

Leeds boss Daniel Farke knows he has a “hell of a task” on his hands at the club this season.

The Whites boss was talking after his side’s 1-1 draw with West Brom.

Brandon Thomas-Asante opened the scoring with a controversial goal which came off his hand before captain Luke Ayling rescued the hosts a point at Elland Road.

Willy Gnonto has this week handed in a transfer request after a string of high-profile departures since the club were relegated from the Premier League.

Farke, whose side are searching for a first league win since the start of April, said: “It’s a hell of a challenge. We were expecting to keep a few of our quality players.

“We also have a few injuries to our key players which is also unlucky.

“We had to wait so long for the financial restrictions to get some incomings so it’s not been easy.

“Hopefully we can get better and better as the season goes. There were many encouraging signs today.

“It’s a long road, a bumpy road, a hell of a task. If it was easy then everybody would do it and I’m looking forward to this challenge.”

On the Albion goal, Farke added: “I wasn’t aware their goal was handball. I was thinking it might be, but I was too far away to judge it.

“We can only concentrate on what we can influence and that’s our performance.

“I only have compliments for the lads. I like this attitude, the lads never know when they are beaten.

“You have these periods in the season where you find it hard to win games so you have to make sure you don’t lose.

“I’m pretty pleased with our performance. It would normally be enough for three points, but I’m pleased with our spirit and the comeback attitude.”

Baggies boss Carlos Corberan spent three years as U23s coach at the club.

But hopes of a happy return to the club were dashed by Ayling’s equaliser.

He reflected: “I think it was a fair result. But we didn’t use our attacking advantages as well as we could have.

“We put pressure on them, but we conceded chances with our mistakes which gave Leeds the mentality that they could hurt us.

“We scored the goal early in the second half and that made us more focused to defend the result.

“I liked how the team’s intensity didn’t decrease after we conceded the goal. We stayed concentrated and we reacted enough and didn’t allow them to keep that momentum and attack us.

“I liked the reaction from the team, I liked the way we showed our personality early in the second half.

“But it is true that we need to avoid the mistakes and to take advantage when we’re attacking to harm the opponent.

“I don’t want to review the actions which may have been complicated for the referees.

“Maybe after we scored the goal we were too focused on defending and maybe we should have been more aggressive. That’s the only thing that maybe I will review and tell my team in terms of managing the game better.”

Leeds’ wait for a first league win since April 4 went on after they came from behind to secure a 1-1 draw with West Brom.

Baggies boss Carlos Corberan, who spent three years at Elland Road, thought he had earned bragging rights over his old club thanks to Brandon Thomas-Asante’s controversial opener, which came off his arm, early in the second half.

But Luke Ayling clinched the hosts a welcome point with his bullet header.

Both sides hit the post in an entertaining encounter under the lights in Yorkshire.

Leeds boss Daniel Farke made two changes to his injury-hit side as big-money French striker Georginio Rutter made his first start of the season.

For the Baggies, Thomas-Asante returned to the starting line-up to lead the line.

It was a slow start in front of a raucous home crowd, with Sam Byram flashing a shot across the face of goal the only real action in the opening 10 minutes.

But you could tell the hosts, roared on by their vocal support, were up for it as Dan James forced Alex Palmer into a good low save after a deflection.

Albion were indebted to the woodwork as Leeds went agonisingly close. Jamie Shackleton’s speculative effort took a wicked deflection off Cedric Kipre as it hit the base of the post.

When West Brom were finally presented with a decent chance Darnell Furlong fluffed his lines at the back post after being found by a deep Matty Phillips cross.

After the break, it was Albion’s turn to be denied by the furniture. Leeds stopper Illan Meslier produced a super save to palm Jed Wallace’s effort, after getting on the end of Thomas-Asante’s drilled cross, onto the post.

But it was not long before the deadlock was broken by Thomas-Asante in the 52nd minute. It was a scrappy goal, but the visiting fans did not care.

Leeds failed to clear a near-post corner as Jayson Molumby’s strike went through a sea of bodies before being diverted goalwards off the striker’s arm.

Leeds upped the ante with time running out, with Palmer pulling off a stunning fingertip save to keep out a James thunderbolt which was destined for the top corner.

And it was the former Manchester United winger who created the equaliser as Ayling made a superb run to get on the end of James’ cross and head home the 72nd-minute leveller.

The hosts almost led within the blink of an eye as Palmer made another smart stop, this time to keep out Joe Gelhardt.

Birmingham received an inspirational pep talk from NFL great Tom Brady before a last-gasp victory against Leeds that boss John Eustace dedicated to the late Trevor Francis.

A sold-out St Andrew’s celebrated the club’s greatest ever player and an exciting future under new ownership as Daniel Farke’s relegated side came to the second city.

It is a month since American businessman Tom Wagner completed his takeover at Birmingham, who nine days ago saw seven-time Super Bowl winner Brady join as minority owner.

The former NFL star enjoyed a memorable first trip to St Andrew’s, visiting a local pub before meeting the players and watching a 1-0 stoppage-time win.

“The new owners came into the dressing room just as I was coming out and congratulated the lads,” Blues boss Eustace said. “It’s great to see Tom Brady in there as well.

“Tom spoke to the group before our meeting today, so that is great to have one of the most famous sporting people in the world come down and chat to the group.

“They were all very excited to listen to him and he gave us some real good words of advice.

“I think you can see today his presence at the club (is a benefit), the vision that he’s got for the football club is amazing.

“He wants this football club to be a world brand, he wants this Birmingham City family now all over the world, which is what we all want.

“We want this magnificent football club to grow and get better and be known all around the world.

“We’ve got a great person to come in and do that.”

Substitute Lukas Jutkiewicz’s stoppage-time penalty was the difference at the end of a tense match that began with a heartfelt tribute to Birmingham great Francis following his death in July.

“I’m delighted with the performance for the whole game,” Eustace said. “We dedicate that winner to Trevor Francis and his family. I think it marked a real special occasion.

“The boys today were outstanding with and without the ball.

“Tactically you have to be spot on against an excellent Leeds team and I think the level of concentration and the way the boys went about their business today was superb.”

Leeds counterpart Daniel Farke felt like a point would have been deserved from Saturday’s performance at St Andrew’s where the relegated side’s shortcomings were obvious.

“(This job) is exactly what I would have expected because I have been in the situation before,” the Leeds boss said.

“I know after relegation it’s never easy for the club. There is a hangover.

“It’s more like you’re getting used to having disappointing results (when relegated), there’s always question marks especially in the first transfer window.

“What makes it a bit different is the situation with the contract. We spoke quite openly about it, that there are exit clauses that makes the situation obviously also quite difficult.

“But I knew this before and, yeah, my decision for this massive club was really with full commitment and also totally convinced that we can lead the club in the middle and long term to success.

“We knew that the start would be bumpy and would be tricky and it’s not the easiest shop at the moment, but I mentioned before if it would be it would be easy everyone could do this and it wouldn’t be that much fun to turn our fate around.

“I know that it’s a hell of a task. I said this even in my first press conference and especially during August we have to be a bit patient.”

Lukas Jutkiewicz smashed home a stoppage-time winner against Leeds as Birmingham celebrated the life of Trevor Francis and the start a new era in front of NFL great Tom Brady.

There has been precious little to cheer about since the Blues’ relegation from the top flight 12 years ago, but the recent takeover led by American businessman Tom Wagner has finally brought hope back to the club.

Brady went onto join as minority owner nine days ago and the former quarterback made his first trip to a rocking St Andrew’s on Saturday as Birmingham secured a 1-0 win.

Substitute Jutkiewicz fired home from the penalty spot at the death in a dramatic end to a drab encounter on an emotional day in the second city.

Birmingham paid a touching tribute to their greatest ever player before-kick-off, with Jasper Carrott leading the tributes to Francis following his death last month.

The comedian said Francis was “a hero, a role model and a symbol of a time when there was real hope in this stadium” – a feeling of hope he felt was now back at St Andrew’s.

The positive feeling around the club brought the biggest crowd since February 2020 but the occasion did not live up to the hype in a poor first half devoid of opportunities.

Both sides improved after the break and pushed hard for a late winner, which went Birmingham’s way after Daniel James brought down Ethan Laird in the box.

Illan Meslier got a foot on Jutkiewicz’s thumping penalty but could not stop it finding the back of the net as seven-time Super Bowl champion Brady celebrated a successful first visit.

The performance, as much as a result, will alarm Daniel Farke’s Leeds – who were without wantaway Willy Gnonto and fellow forward Luis Sinisterra at St Andrew’s.

Neither team did anything of note in a first half that appeared to be impacted by the emotional start to proceedings.

The fact there was only one minute of added time at the end of the opening period highlighted just how uneventful it had been.

The second half began in brighter fashion and City’s Keshi Anderson met a Siriki Dembele cutback with a shot that deflected narrowly wide.

Leeds responded with a James cross-shot that forced John Ruddy into action, before Georginio Rutter saw a fierce drive blocked by Krystian Bielik moments after coming on.

John Eustace’s hosts had a huge chance in the 80th minute but Kevin Long powered a free header from six yards just off target.

Bacuna saw a driven effort held before Birmingham hearts were in mouths as Sam Byram glanced an effort across the face of goal in front of the 2,213 away fans.

But City were pushing hardest for the win and were gifted a chance by James’ late error.

The former Manchester United flyer brought down Laird as he attempted to stop the lively right-back meeting a diagonal ball, with referee Tim Robinson pointing to the spot.

Newly-introduced Jutkiewicz leathered home the penalty and chants of “USA, USA, USA” filled the air as Birmingham saw out victory.